CHAPTER TWO

Evenstar Keep

Evenstar Keep, sitting proud atop its hill in an elegant array of elder trees and manicured gardens. Built of the whitest stone that flashed blindingly whenever the rays of the sun crossed its gleaming towers, it was once built for elegance and luxury.

Over the ages that had changed.

Defensive walls, gates, mazes and death traps had been built around what was once, ornate outer walls and were so successful that the keep had never been taken by force. These newer additions blended so well with the old keep that it was hard to tell where the old and the new met.

Evenstar Keep was now at peace and had been for the last six generations. During this time a town had sprung up around its walls which catered to the keep and its occupants, for Evenstar Keep was now the centre for learning and wisdom in the country of Hadria. The children of high borns, Kings and Lords are sent here to learn the way of war and the way of peace from the teachers and wise men. No one of common birth can enroll unless they wish to become teachers, a law that was declared by the High King four generations before and none since has seen fit to annul it.

The young woman that now ran joyfully through its main gates out into the afternoon sun is the exception to this long established rule.

Laughing as she left the confines of the town, she turned her feet towards the long swade of grassland and trees that terminated at the steep cliff which fell into the Bay of Balfast.

Running through the bright flowers with her long brown hair streaming loose behind her like a knight’s banner, the front of her skirts caught up in her hands to prevent them from tangling with her legs. Eowyn laughed out loud at being able to enjoy the beautiful afternoon.

She seemed a wild thing, spirited and free. She kept running until the edge of the cliff appeared suddenly before her out of the wild mass of grasses and wildflowers.

Throwing herself down by the drop, Eowyn untidily swung her legs over the edge and sat starring over the wide expanse of swirling ocean beneath her.

The sea breeze danced merrily across the waves to play with the glittering expanse of sand that swept in a golden carpet to the stony cliff face.

Sea birds floated gently with the wind or bobbed contentedly across the surface of the water, their calls drifting over the sea. To the north and west, the water stretched as far as the eye can see, but to the south sat the large island of Balfast which seemed to stand firm against the might of the sea. It was to this island that Eowyn now gazed.

Eowyn Tsarland is a foundling who came to Bretton, the Lord of Evenstar Keep, with a man called Irregard under mysterious circumstances. Lord Bretton adopted and raised Eowyn as his own daughter and she received all the privileges accorded her new status and rank.

Eowyn sat staring wistfully at the island, wondering what it would be like. Would it be different from her life in Evenstar Keep? What would the people be like? What would being on a boat be like?

Having never been away from the Keep or its surrounds, she looked excitedly to the time when she could travel and see the world.

Her father has been making preparations for a business trip to the island of Balfast and Eowyn has suspicions that she will be travelling with him since new dresses and riding clothes as well as her very own travelling bags have been ordered for her.

Over the last week she had been exercising her horse, a black mare called Crow, in preparation for the coming journey. Lord Bretton had also been dropping teasing hints in conversation concerning whether he could take his beautiful only daughter away with him and risk her being stolen away by a press of unwanted suitors.

Eowyn laughed at this and told him that would never happen. He just gave her one of his knowing smiles and turned the conversation to how she was going in her studies.

Eowyn indulged herself in a smile as she gazed across the sea; she had already set her heart on a man.

The distant thunder of hooves bought her mind back from its wanderings.

A look over her shoulder bought a smile to her face and she pulled herself up from the cliff edge to wave her arms frantically above her head.

The horse abruptly slowed its stride and the rider raised an arm in acknowledgment before turning the beast in her direction. The horse was beautiful and Eowyn never cease to be amazed by the stallion’s beauty. His coat was as black as charcoal and as shiny as satin, his mane and tail, socks and nose was as white as the purest snow.

Too bad his temper wasn’t.

Shatal was a war-horse to be admired and he knew it. His rider on the other hand, was the complete opposite. A tall man in his early twenties with golden locks and startling blue eyes set in a strikingly handsome face which had the girls of the keep swooning whenever he walked by. His athletic body sat his horse well and was dressed in the colors of his Princedom of Armagh, the emblem of a tan bear embroidered on an emerald green surcoat. The Seat of Armagh is always held by the heir to the Hadrian throne and at this point in time, this man was Armagh.

Both man and animal acted with the same mind; obvious in the fact that Shatal wore no bridle, but held his head imperiously high as he trotted over.

When both horse and rider stood sweating before her, Eowyn bowed in the deepest curtsy she could manage without laughing.

“Welcome Godwin Thurad, Prince of Armagh and Heir to the throne of Hadria. I humble myself in your illustrious presence.”

A satisfied snort from Shatal brought her composure down and Eowyn collapsed to the ground in a fit of laughter.

“Very funny, Lady Eowyn of Evenstar.”

The emphasis on her title sobered her immediately. Godwin was one of her best friends and never called her by her title except on formal occasions.

Godwin dismounted from Shatal and helped Eowyn to her feet. Eowyn quickly brushed the grass from her skirts.

“What’s wrong? Why the formality?” Eowyn gestured to his formal attire, watched as his right hand gripped nervously at the hilt of the ceremonial blade which swung at his hip.

“I have to ask your father to discharge my service so that I can leave the Keep,” he said falteringly, he continued. “I’ve just had word that my father is dead.” Godwin seemed to let his words hang mournfully in the wind and his blue eyes stared out blankly over the ocean.

Eowyn enclosed Godwin in a fierce hug while whispering “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Godwin let a strangled sob escape him before bending to bury his face in her hair.

“There is nothing for you to be sorry about.” He breathed near her ear. When his sobbing had quieted and his shaking body had subsided, she released Godwin from her embrace.

Eowyn knew that apart from his mother and Harold, Godwin’s younger brother, she was the only person that Godwin would show his personal sorrow too. It made her feel strangely honored.

It hurt her to see him in this much pain, though she did not know his father well, she knew him to be a good man and a just and fair High King. There would be more than Godwin’s family that would mourn his passing. Eowyn had faith that Godwin would live up to the reputation of his father. She hoped that he felt the same.

“Have you spoken to father yet?” She gently asked him.

“No,” he shook his head in emphasis, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. “I was going to…” Godwin gestured to his clothing, “but I had the overwhelming urge to be alone, so I took Shatal out riding and now I’m here.” Godwin placed a hand that Eowyn could see was still trembling on Shatal’s neck. “It’s just a shock.” He paused and pressed his head against the neck of his horse. “It still doesn’t seem to have sunk in that he’s gone.”

Eowyn then saw the anger that had lurked beneath his pain in the glint of the blue eyes which turned to her. His voice seemed to lash the air around them.

“He was fine the last time I saw him. That was two months ago when he and mother came to visit. Poor mother!” He sobbed before turning angrily to Eowyn.

“Do you know what happened? He was thrown from his horse and hit his head on a stone. He said he was fine but within a week Father was dead. Joson told me he didn’t suffer but I should have been there with him!”

“What’s done is done Godwin.” She said wanting to touch him to take away his pain and anger. “Being angry at yourself won’t help you or your mother and brother.”

Godwin stared fiercely at her for a moment before nodding slowly as her words sunk in.

“You’re right as usual,” he said softly to her.

Godwin drew a large intake of breath and slowly released it before saying, “I think I’m ready to see your father now, Joson should have told him the news by now so that will make it easier for me.”

“You’ll not see my father smelling of that monster you call a horse,” Eowyn said giving Shatal an affectionate pat on the muzzle. Shatal thrust his nose eagerly forward to receive as much attention as he could get away with. This sparked a giggle from Eowyn that Godwin soon couldn’t resist and finally gave into. Godwin’s laughter seemed to ease the set of his features, to make them gentle again.

“Thank you” he said gently to her.

Mounting the war-horse he leaned down and offered an arm to Eowyn.

“Need a ride back?”

Eowyn took the offered arm and was neatly lifted across Godwin’s saddle in a sea of skirts.

Out of nowhere, Godwin asked Eowyn, “Where is Irregard?”

Irregard was Eowyn’s chaperone and bodyguard and he had been with her for as long as she, or anyone, can remember.

“I managed to slip away from him in the keep, it’s nice to be alone sometimes,” Eowyn told him.

“Irregard will not be happy when he finds you.”

“He will have to find me first.” She then twisted her hands into Shatal’s mane and was ready for the powerful spring that launched the horse into his fastest gallop.

It was a rare opportunity to ride Shatal and Eowyn exhilarated in his speed and power and the care he took for his riders. It made her feel as if she was flying, she also felt secure with Godwin’s arms free to hold her legs and body close to him. She did not see the longing and the agony in Godwin’s eyes or notice the way that his arm trembled as he held her close.

***

On a nearby hillock, unseen by both riders were two dark figures on horseback, cloaks blowing slightly in the sea breeze.

Turning the dark steeds, the figures followed them discreetly back to town.

***

They entered Godwin’s rooms to find Joson putting to rights the last pieces of up-ended furniture.

“I’m sorry…” Godwin started to say before Joson cut him off.

“Don’t worry about it. I expected worse.”

Godwin’s pale features suddenly turned to red and Eowyn had to stifle a giggle. She did not know how to react around Godwin at the moment. The news he bought seemed not to be real.

Joson looked at Godwin and then Eowyn.

Joson was a well-built man about the same age as Godwin, with a mess of brown hair, which tried to cover the equally brown eyes that regarded them. Joson was being trained by his own father to become Godwin’s Chief Adviser when he inherited the throne. The position of High Lord Chancellor ran in the family.

“Are you alright?” he asked, a quizzical expression on his face.

“I’m fine.” Godwin replied and strode across the room to pick a rumpled shirt from a cupboard door. He shook it out and held it up for scrutiny. It’s tattered remains hung limp before him. He suddenly threw the shirt away from him cursing it with such vehemence that Eowyn and Joson stepped back towards the door.

Godwin did not notice.

He stopped cursing and stared at it before saying. “My father gave me that shirt and I ruined it! I tore it from my back when Joson told me he was dead.”

Godwin collapsed into the window seat, the scabbard of his sword scrapping angrily against the stone floor. His anger evaporating in the warm evening sunlight that streamed through the window.

Eowyn was going to say something sharp but with great difficulty held her tongue.

She gave both men an elegantly practiced bow and said, “I will leave you now to change, for my father does not like the smell of stale horse sweat.” She grinned “I will see you both in half an hour?” and looked to Godwin.

“I’ll be ready.”

***

Exactly a half an hour later, Godwin was standing before Lord Bretton in his private apartments.

Eowyn stood behind her foster-father, watching the two nervous men with knowing eyes.

She could see Godwin’s grief wallowing beneath his formality; And Joson’s concern for his Prince as he stood behind Godwin.

Eowyn’s attention was brought sharply back to her father’s words by the mention of her name.

“…Eowyn will be accompanying you on your journey home. I knew your father very well and I grieve for his loss.” Lord Bretton paused before saying. “You will start your journey first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you Lord Bretton” Prince Godwin said numbly.

“I will send a porter to inform you new honor guard about the arrangements so all you need to do is rest.”

“Thank you” Godwin dully repeated before leaving the room with Joson in close attendance.

“Father, can I really go?” Eowyn said as soon as the door closed.

“Of course you can. It would not be seemly if my only daughter was not present at the funeral and at Prince Godwin’s coronation. As Keeper I am traditionally forbidden to attend both funeral and coronation, but a member of the Tsarland House must be present.”

Lord Bretton then looked sternly at his daughter.

Eowyn suddenly knew she was going to get a severe talking to.

“Also know that Irregard will be going with you and you will do well not to slip away from him while on your journey. It can be a dangerous trek.”

Eowyn visibly paled.

“He told you?” Eowyn said in surprise. Irregard would never admit to anyone that he lost her.

“I heard him shouting for a horse and saw him leave the keep with Sergeant Williams. I just put two and two together,” her father looked at her downcast face.

“He still hasn’t returned to the keep, so I think you should apologize to him in the morning, for now you must ready your things for tomorrow’s journey.”

“Yes father.”

She half turned to leave when a well-used question re-entered her thoughts.

“Why do I need a bodyguard?”

“Because the man swore on his life to protect you and I am not about to dishonor the man by dismissing him.” He waved his hand ending the conversation.

Eowyn paused to look at her father before leaving.

Eowyn knew he was not telling the full story about Irregard but one-day she hoped to learn the truth.