The Morningstar

Flashback 1

Shaxx cautiously walked across an oaken bridge that was in the east of Norsia, he turned to his right to see the candle light of the port city Jericho flicker

"Beautiful isn't it" spoke a warrior at the opposite end of the bridge, his long sword was resting against the arm rail of the bridge and he was holding his steel great helm under his arm. His steel plate armour glistened In the moonlight

Shaxx turned and Drew his dragon steel long sword from its scabbard "it is I suppose"

The warrior nodded "how old are you boy?"

"18 years of age my lord" shaxx took his stance holding his sword in-front of him and his legs spaced

The warrior put his helm on and armed himself with his long sword "I'm sorry kid"

"Don't be" shaxx roared and lunged forward taking the old warrior by surprise.

The warrior deflected his blow and attempted to strike shaxx with a fatal blow but shaxx whilst being lightly armoured with only a gambison and a coat of plates he was fast enough to block this blow and continue swinging at his older opponent. They clashed swords all throughout the night neither warrior appearing to fall victim to others blows and strikes. When the day turned midday the duel stopped temporarily.

"You know for a boy you fight well" the old warrior removed his Helm and threw it over the bridge landing on the bank of the river, and took a swig from his water skin and offered it to shaxx

"Thank you my lord" shaxx took the water skin and took a swig of water himself

The old warrior smiled "it's a perk to fight honourably boy" he took his stance with his sword raised high

Shaxx threw the empty water skin to the floor and took the same stance as he had when the fighting began.

The warrior attempted to delivered a fatal blow from above but shaxx blocked it and kicked the armoured warrior back and swung his sword toward his sword arm

"Well done kid" the warrior was clenching his right hand with his left hand which was now covered in blood

shaxx looked at his opponent to see that he had sliced of the warriors sword hand

The old warrior chuckled and fell to his knees, shaxx raised his sword ready to deliver the final blow

"WAIT" the warrior bellowed "what is the price on my head?"

Shaxx lowered his blade "three hundred gold my lord"
"Haha, is that it?" the warrior looked at shaxx "you deserve it kid but I have a final request if you'd be kind to grant me it"

"Of course my lord, you taught me a great deal of things other the past night and morning" shaxx looked at the dying warrior

"Once you kill me bury me, In my bag there is a book, that book is a holy book go to centurions two and read the passage please" the warrior looked up at shaxx defeated and drained.

"You have my word" shaxx pulled the steel chest plate forward and through the slit in the armour thrust his blade into his opponents heart.

The warrior smiled at shaxx as the life was drained from his eyes. Shaxx drew his bloodied sword from the corpse and sheathed it into its scabbard.

He dragged the armoured corpse across the bridge and took a hand shovel from the warriors bag that was resting against a tree and began to dig a grave.

As shaxx dug all he could think of was killing that man was it really worth it? They had fought for thirteen hours non stop and whilst fighting the warrior would correct shaxxs movements.

Shaxx became overwhelmed with grief and sat in the grave and began to cry. Who had given him the right to take this life, a life that would change him for the better and encourage his choice To join the imperial norsian army.

Shaxx wiped his tears away and buried his opponent in a grave marked by the warriors sword adorning its owners helmet. Shaxx opened the book Of "the One"and flicked through till he got to centurions two

"Because of you generations will live, because you have bled some one will live, because you have taken a life many more will live, because of you generations will live" shaxxs voice was stale as he had realised why the warrior made him read that passage. It was not because the warrior had guilt and wished to ascend to "the ones" land above, it was because the warrior had made shaxx understand why it may be necessary to take a life even though it may seem wrong.