The Morningstar

Chapter 15

Shaxx sat on skys back and watched the wagons of the cult of stars burn

"My lord where to now?" Scott inquired sat on top of his own trusty steed

Shaxx rode south east "castle Morningstar time we scare this would be king into submission" his voice was cold. Something had stirred inside of shaxxs head. It seemed to him that no matter what he did he could not save everyone, of course he knew this to begin with but his anger was starting to take hold of him as he mind ran wild with thoughts of death and his past. Shaxx Morningstar paladin of the third company and demon of steel. He scoffed at these names for he was no hero he was a soldier attempting to do right his comrades and his country men and women.

Evaline rode along side shaxx "shaxx everything ok?" She had concern in her voice and had her helmet dangling from her steeds saddle.

Shaxx however wore his helmet and turned to look at evaline "ride to Morningstar with the men and Scott i have somewhere else to go for the time being" he whipped his reigns and ride north in a haste.

"Evaline let him go" Scott was riding in front of her "he needs time alone the old war wounds are coming back".

"How can you tell" evaline questioned.

Scott sighed "after shaxx had killed my brother in front of me I replayed that moment in my head for weeks now bear in mind it's only been a year since the war ended" he rode along side evaline now "I hated myself for the longest time and to be honest I still do I let my older brother get cut down I had failed him and my father, but eventually I accepted his death but every now and then I hear his name or smell something that reminds me off him and that moment replays in my head all over again, just watching his body fall off the ramparts, but when that happens I find myself a quiet place and I read imperial texts to take my mind off it all" Scott smiled at evaline "we all carry wounds from the war but we all cope differently"

"I am sorry Scott that sounds awful everything you've been through" a tear formed in her eye

He nodded "it was war shit happens now let us enjoy the final night of winter" Scott whipped his reigns and lead his men to castle Morningstar

The company of two hundred and two people rode all night under the watchful eyes of trandors cracked moon and then rode all day without stop to finally reach their destination of castle Morningstar.

"HALT IN THE NAME OF THE ONE" bellowed a voice from the ramparts of the castle

Evaline and Scott looked up concerned as no one was supposed to be here.

"LORD MORNINGSTAR SENT US HERE MY GOOD SIR" yelled Scott

The two armoured  guards spoke when finally a solider bearing full plate armour walked up the steps "oh did he now" the soldier was wearing his helmet and evaline couldn't make out his face "how do I know you're not deceiving me after all I see a host of two hundred men at my gate" the armoured soldier chuckled slightly.

"There's a bedroom behind the wardrobe in the western wing" evaline said loud enough for the solider to hear

The soldier took of his helmet and smirked "lady evaline you're a wanted lady"

"Sir Rodrick" she smiled brightly

Scott looked at evaline "you know him?"

"Of course he was kings guard alongside shaxx" evaline dismounted her horse "may we come in lord rooster?"

"Aye you may RAISE THE PORTCULLIS" Rodrick barked his order and shortly after the iron portcullis of the great castle rose and Scott and his elves entered with evaline leading them

Evaline dismounted her new steed and walked over to Rodrick "shaxx has gone north he told us to wait for us here, I fear he wishes to go to war against the crown" she looked around to see the entire third company occupying the castle.

"Aye that sounds like shaxx" Rodrick lower his chainmail coif, his hair was no longer long how evaline had remembered it was now short and graying.

"But where would he have gone?" She questioned

"Don't you worry about that he's fine, now come eat" Rodrick walked over to the great hall of the keep where a feast was being prepared "TOBIN come here paladin"

A shorter man than Rodrick ,Rodrick was 6,1, walked over "ahhh you must be the maid that has a real nice bounty on your head" Tobin had scruffy brown hair and had a goatee for a beard

"Lord Tobin" Evaline curtsied

Tobin chucked lightly "lass we don't do that we are brothers and sister in the arms of death" he grabbed a mug of ale and handed it to evaline "drink and don't worry about any of men trying to touch you they all know you're associated with shaxx they wouldn't dare touch you"

Evaline took the mug and drank "I can look after myself you know"

"Well being trained by shaxx aye I would hope so" Rodrick smirked "speaking of, Tobin are the men ready?"

"The third company is awaiting your orders my lord" Tobin bowed slightly

"Ready for what?" Evaline stopped drinking at looked up at Rodrick

"We aren't here for a get together" Rodrick leaned in "we are here for a war" he sat down at the great table "come sit"

Evaline obliged and sat down next to Rodrick "why would rebel against your king?"

"I could ask the same of you and shaxx my lady" Rodrick drank and watched as Tobin walked outside the great hall to help the elves settle in. "When Matthew came to the throne he brought Zoe Morningstar out of her room and by the one she looked as pale as an odium dog and her eyes were bruised, so I left the service as a kingsguard and Matthew had no problem with that he has replaced all of the kings guard with mercs from the imperial continent"

"May the one help us all" evaline drank "how do you plan on fighting him?"

"Well with shaxx arriving soon he will have a better plan then I will" Rodrick laughed "the bedroom is all yours, me and the men inhabit the barracks" he stood up "if you want I'll place an armed watch on your door?"

Evaline stood up and yawned "thank you lord rooster but I'll be fine" she curtsied and walk up the western stairs to the bedroom.

Scott was in the courtyard and approached Rodrick "my lord nice to finally be on the same side of a conflict" he held his hand out.

Rodrick shook Scott's hand "agreed little cub" he laughed slightly

"You know who I am?" Scott looked confused

"Lad after serpentine bay we had a list of all the highest ranking elves that could Unite any of clan lions forces, I am grateful we did not hunt any of you" Rodrick let go of Scott's hand "now make yourselves at home the church has been turned into additional space after all the castle can hold two thousand troops not two thousand two hundred" he chuckled slightly

Scott bowed "thank you my lord"