A lord and a princess

A group of mounted warrior's rode on a road, these men where clad in mail armour and black coat of arms which displayed a stag's skull. They had long kite-shields on their backs and sword or axe's on their belts. One of them was armed with a tall lance, flying a banner with the same skull. In front of them rode a figure, different from the others. Most notorious was the great helm he wore, coloured black and decorated with two antlers. He carried black wooden shields on his shoulders, displaying the stag's skull as well, same for his kite shield that hung from his saddle. A long broad axe hung on the other side of the saddle, well within hand reach of the rider. They galloped, seemingly they where in a hurry. An eerie blue glow was visible behind the slits of the riders helmet, each time the horse hit the ground with his hooves. The horses had different colours, some black, other's chestnut and some grey. The leader, with his antlered helmet, rode on a white horse. Not with a shiny clean fur as you would expect from a knight, it's fur seemed odd. Not necessarily filthy but it didn't looked healthy. The horse's eyes where red and it's mouth was covered with a yellowish foam.

The leader of this band was lord Godfrey of house Ushil, count of Ushio and Crichton. He was exiled from the kingdom of Pergrande. Where he was banished and outlawed and fled the kingdom before the king's army would bring justice upon Godfrey. He fled to Fiore, where the infamous guild 'Savage Skull' was located. The whisper's of this crucial and powerful guild had reached Pergrande long ago, it might have even triggered the witchhunts. The king's and lord's where ever fearful for witchcraft and it's potential's to remove them from their thrones. It took Godfrey months and many men to reach Fiore and finally the rumoured lair of the guild, yet he was told there the guild was faded into the nothingness. It was however a member of Savage Skull who told him that and Godfrey was eventually led into their ranks, gaining their protection. The protection was what Godfrey needed, he needed to rebuild strength to retake his fiefs and if he was at it, why not take the whole kingdom... or destroy it all. He had send out spies around Fiore to gather any information of things or creature's to add him in his revival. Godfrey had been waiting eagerly for any crumb of knowledge. His guildmember's had suggested him to take a job or contract to pass the time, yet Godfrey thought it was beneath him. Thus he spends his days in the agony of boredom and drank his sorrows in wine until one of his spies returned. Word of a young woman in Hargeon town, she was supposedly the daughter of the fallen star, Samael. The described as having blue hair and mismatching eyes. There was no confirmation of this yet Godfrey didn't cared. He would meet her and find it out, if the spy was wrong... then he would pay for it with his head.

Godfrey sighed, I haven't missed saddle sore's. He stood in the saddle to relieve his bottom and seated himself back in the saddle. It hadn't helped much but they would soon arrive in Hargeon. "Sloweth down!" Shouted Godfrey with a hoarse voice. "Colum!" He wanted his men to arrive in Hargeon in a uniform way and presentable. Not chattering and bantering all the time as they had done on the travels so far. Finally, there it is, thought Godfrey, the outskirts of the city where visible on the horizon. They could be at the city center at noon, search for an inn and then they could look for girl on the morrow.

A few hour's passed and they arrived in the busy street's of Hargeon. The people stepped out of the way for the column of armed men passing through the street. Some guards looked nervously as Godfrey moved by. They still rode in a steady pace, searching for an inn. Godfrey looked to his right, at a board, seeing if it was an inn. It wasn't and he looked back to what was in front of him. There was a girl, crossing the streets right before him. He managed to hold his horse in time, otherwise she would have been overrun by almost 1700 pounds of bone and muscle. His initial reaction was to shout about the insolence of the person's actions. He opened his mouth but no sound came. He was overwhelmed with emotion, the young woman beauty was irresistible. He stepped of his horse, all the time keeping an eye on her. It seemed like the world faded and kneeled. "Mine own pardons my lady, I hadn't seen thee. Are thee hurt in any way?" Godfrey's heart pounded in his throat, his pale cheeks gained some colour and his blue eyes grew stronger as he admired her looks. Having not realised that whom he seeked stood in front of him.

It was a relief to Godfrey that she remained unscathed from the incident. His face gained even more colour when Isabella noted that he had not removed his helmet when addressing her. His hands found their way to the buckle on his chin and opened it. He took off his helmet and placed it under his right arm while he moved the mail coif to his back with his left hand. He removed the padded coif as well and kept it in his left hand. His sparse morbid face was now visible, his skin was pale, and his white hair looked brittle as if even the slightest breeze could break it into smithereens. His eye’s where pale blue and had a peculiar glow to them. “Mine apologies once again. I am lord Godfrey of Ushill, counteth of Ushill and Crachton from the lands of Pergrande.” Proclaimed Godfrey himself, still kneeling in front of the lady. Isabella picked up her cloak and Godfrey thought for a moment that he saw something, a particular symbol on the back of the cloak. But she had it hanging on herself before he could take a proper look at it. He heard footsteps beside him, one of his men had come to hold his steed. Whom had begun to be impatient, the yellow foam littered the ground beneath. Godfrey stood up and handed his helmet to the man to free his hands. He turned back to Isabella, “Is there anything I can do to make up for the likely feareth I brought upon thee?” He didn’t fully know what he had to do, most people had avoided him his entire life especially the girls.

“Follow me if you’d be willing.” The words echoed in his mind, his light in his eye’s pulsed. “It would be mine honour, my lady.” Said Godfrey with his hoarse voice and he bowed his head slightly. “I can offer thee a mount.” Godfrey raised his voice and one of his dismounted and walked forward. Godfrey helped Isabella in the saddle and mounted his own horse. After that he realised he was still holding his padded coif in his left hand, he tucked it between his belt. Who shacked his head, spreading foam everywhere. They rode side by side, through the dirty streets. Five of his men-at-arm road ahead and the other road in a column behind them, with one on foot. They rode in silence through the city, passing by many wandering townsfolk and peasants. They all made way for the impressive column that paraded itself through the streets. Surely a sight they didn’t see often. Godfrey noted that the animals seemed almost nervous, without any reason to be. It must have been the journey, though he. They found their way out of the city, where the house’s made way for meadows and farm fields. They stopped near a tall maple tree, standing in solitude in the meadow on a hill. Isabella dismounted, and he did the same, his squire took over both horses. He whispered a command in the ears of him and his men would take a distance. His squire road off, in search of an inn where Godfrey’s men could stay the night.

Isabella sat down at roots of the mighty tree and motioned that he should do the same. His brows raised as he looked at her, yet he cropped himself up against the tree and tried to find a good way to sit. They looked at each other while Isabella broke the silence. She spoke differently than before, and he looked puzzled at her. He tried to find words to say but looked up when he noticed leaves falling from the tree. She continued, her real name was Lilim. The world seemed to stand still and all sounded faded except hers when he heard it. His eye’s widened and flashed brightly.  “Daughter of Samael, the Fallen Star.” The words echoed in his mind, it was as if he was struck by lightning. “What? That can’t be true.” Called Godfrey out, and the tree burst open at that moment. His mail rattled as he jumped up, his sound came back. The odour of rotting vegetation prickled his noise. She had her back turned at him, and there he saw the small emblem embraided on the silken cloak, a pentagram. The pieces came together, and he fell on his knees. “Princess Lilim!” Said Godfrey, his voice trembled slightly. “I had been called a monster, a bastard. I hadst been denounced by mine own father. I had been accused by my people to have caused the plague.” His eye’s pulsed again. “Your father saved me from death, he promised me my father’s lands and a place as one of his horsemen. I am at thine service.”

Godfrey listened to Lilim’s response, the answer shocked Godfrey. She rejected his offer, he felt an unconvertable feeling in his stomach. She continued to speak, and for a moment she paused and looked at him. He looked down at the ground to hide the pain carved in his eyes. She continued after that. “Part Angle, a half-breed.” The words echoed in his mind, long after she stopped talking. A torrent of thoughts erupted in his mind, not of his own. But that of Bator, Bator was enraged by the rejection and her being an angle. Bator had been absent today until now. A fight ensued in his mind, a fight over the control of Godfrey’s body. The last and the first time that it happened, was when Bator won. The brute in him slaughtered the girl he loved in front of his eyes, with his own hands and dagger.

His muscle’s tightened in his body, the tension made him sweat and he closed his eyes. His left arm tried to move against his will, towards the dagger on his belt. A stalemate, his hand was half its way. No, thought Godfrey. But Bator laughed hysterically, she rejects us. Shouted he in his mind, his voice echoed, She’s even an angle. Nay, half she is. And from the seed of Samael. He would kill us if I allow thee do what thee want, we promised to serve him! Shouted Godfrey back at him. It seemed to have an effect, Godfrey gained control back of his body. Though it took much energy to let it do what he wanted. He managed to stand up, his muscles unclenched somewhat. Sighed, he felt tired. He straightened his back and sighed again. Sweat dripped from his forehead, dripping on the ground and fallen leaves.

Godfrey took a few steps back and stared at her back, at the black silken cloak with its little pentagram. “Thee are right,” Godfrey took a deep breath and continued in a slightly croaky voice, “My service belongs to thy father, to whom I promised it.” He grabbed his left arm with his right, holding it in front of his chest. It felt as if a muscle had been torn. “But,” He paused again, “it doesn’t mean we cannot help each other. An alliance of sorts.” He looked at his feet, “Do what thee wish.”