Morgruse Kay, A Time Warden Story

Chapter 1

Someone was in the old chapel. It had been closed for some time. Queen Ozcroft had it shut down after she married Morgruse Kay's father, King Barnabus Vay Gareen ten years ago.

Morgruse Kay at fourteen was the youngest of three children born to Queen Gwenifar Gareen, King Barnabus second wife. Morgruse Kay's older siblings were Prince Tristan Vay Gareen, a stubborn, spoiled brat and heir to the throne of Gareen, and Edith Kay Gareen. She had been a beautiful young woman with a kind disposition. With the most beautiful green eyes and a main of thick red curls.

Tristan murdered Edith, or so everyone believed. It could not be proven, but most evidence suggested Tristan was the culprit. Though the court system of the Freelands would not allow a Royal to be convicted without definite proof. So the new queen Astrud 'Ozcroft' Gareen exiled Prince Tristan from the castle. He lost all his titles and rights as a Royal. Morgruse believed it was Astrud's who had Edith murdered to frame her brother. Queen Astrud would have had Tristan killed if she had the chance. Morgruse often wondered if Astrud had had her father assassinated. Most likely she did.

Running along the curtain wall of the rear bailey of Hidlins Castle, Morgruse skidded to a stop in the slushy snow to peer through the battlements. A rabbi in his gray priest attire and a dark blue cloak looked up and waved to Morgruse. Not getting a response, the rabbi turned and gathered a small, dark-haired girl into his arms, dusting off snow and straw from the toddler.

Morgruse walked along the castle wall and checked if anyone was watching her. When she saw the sentinel wasn't looking, she tied her cloak around her waist and climbed over the wall. She landed on a stone block and used her hands to move along the wall until she reached a rusty drainpipe. The castle had been rebuilt many times because of the wars that happened in the Freelands. Morgruse slid down the pipe and landed on the roof of an old barracks, which was now used for storage. She climbed over the edge and stepped onto a windowsill before jumping to the ground and fixing her dress. The yard was being used by carpenters who were constantly fixing things in the castle.

With her hood up, Morgruse wound her way through the laborers to exit into a causeway that led to a side gate. The young guard station there quickly snapped to attention, his musket held parallel with his body as Morgruse approached. She was trying to sneak out unnoticed, but apparently her disguise did not work. It had to be her unruly red hair. Even though cut short, it stood straight in every direction in a frizzy mess. There was no way to hide that, even with their hood tight around her head.

So she settled for the next best thing. Morgruse produced a small silver coin, then forced it into the guard's hand. The young man tried to protest but could not disobey the princess."Your Highness, if I'm caught letting you leave, it'll be my head," the young guard spoke nervously. Morgruse had paid this man well over the last few months. She knew she shouldn't jeopardize his career or his life. But Morgruse didn't know how else to leave the castle without Hedrick, the captain of the guard, finding out.

She gave him a wink and a smile, which caused him to step back, bumping against the open gate. Morgruse had forgotten about the nasty scar on her upper lip that always made her look mean. Smiling only made it worse. Like a snarling beast. She had spent hours in front of the mirror trying to find a way to smile less threateningly, to no avail. It was bad enough that her hair made her look foolish, but now the scar made her look even more of a freak.

Her step sister, Princess Mirtis Ozcroft had a bad temper. Morgruse had only wanted to be friends with her new sibling. Morgruse couldn't ever remember what she had said, something trivial, when Mirtis had lashed out with the small knife she always carried.