The Blackguard.

CHAPTER 3!

THIRD PERSON P.O.V. 4 MOTHS LATER!

We have been riding for a few months and I know that my men are extremely tired. He had hardly given any rest since the time they had set off from Swiss few years ago and had been on the road a long time. Ever since the old Chief had asked to find his daughter and that they would be rewarded greatly. Of course, he knew what that meant for him. He had wanted to find his best friend from the moment that she was taken. But he was too young and he had been locked under roof and key for many nights to prevent his escape from finding her. Her name was Dominiah and she was the light of his world. She was the only one that meant anything to him.

His name was Devein, the Ruthlesser of the Swiss. He had made a name for himself and his men as he grew over the years. He stood at 6 foot 3 with dark hair near the shoulders with some brains in it. With a pointed nose and strong jawline that matched his sapphire eyes. His cold demeanor was displayed as he stood amongst his men. He had broad shoulders with his clan insignia stitched on his tunic. A dove and eagle holding a sword and arrow at each others hearts as if to destroy each other. Those that knew the real meaning would feel proud wearing the insignia, but to those onlookers as they walked by the group not only in awe but also in fear of who they were. True that these twenty men all looked handsome with some dark locks while others were light, they gave off an extreme face of STAY THE f**k AWAY. But that didn't stop some girls from drooling and gawking at them like candy. To the men, it made them irritated further and just want to search and leave. They didn't mind if they got a hot meal and a bath along the way. But to the women, it just made them want to gawk at them and come to the point of some of them touching the men.

"Sir, can we leave?" One of the men asked as another Trollip came to fawn all over him and give him the chills.

Devein looked back at his men and saw that some were being handled in so much manner that he had no choice in the matter that he came to decide next.

"Next one to lay a finger on any of you, cut them off!" He yelled out to the entire town. His men drew their swords as the women screamed and ran away from them to hide. Devein knew that sometimes that it was the only way to deal with horny town women. He knew himself that his men were handsome, but did they have to take things too far just to have them in bed? Devein knew that his kind was known to be good in bed. He took his turn when he needed and he was highly praised. But he didn't want their praise, he just wanted his girl. His one and only girl that took his joy away when she was taken. He just went through the motions day by day, year by year, and felt nothing.

Devein kept stalking forward, looking closely at everything with a gloomy mind as he thought about that day. They had gone from one town to another without so much of an inkling about where he was to find her. He had been the one that did all the planning since he had become of age. Or rather, since he realized what he was. You see, when the chief's daughter was born, our old chieftain had said that there would also be someone like her that would save their entire clan. It wasn't just the chief's daughter but also him, Devein. He was her other half as she was his. They had been united in union already since infancy and no one or anything would separate them. But when we were together, we were stronger. When we are apart, we feel for each other but want nothing more than be together. That was why Devein's father made the right decision in making sure Devein spent all the time with the chief's daughter. They had made a great bond over the years. It wasn't until she disappeared that he realized how much his soul wanted her near him. They were each other's half's, as he had learned the hard way over the years.It was as if he had felt her pain whoever she was. So he had made it his mission to find her no matter what. He knew that there were many obstacles in the way and at some point he almost gave up hope.

It was only a rumor that he followed that had brought him here to this village on the outskirts of the Kindome of England. There had been reports of a shadow lurking in the night attacking anything and everyone that came across it. It was told that whomever possessed an evil soul would disappear without a trace. Devein was born and bred a Blackguard, so he knew it had to be either one of the other clans or Dominiah. He only hoped that it was Dominiah. He was exhausted being on the road. He wanted to go back home. He knew his men had the same idea, but if he was this close, he might as well go all the way until there were no other options.

Gazing up at the sky, Devein knew that they should settle down for the night to be fresh in the morning. His men needed a good night's rest so he wouldn't hear their bickering. They had given him a headache for so many years that he was tempted to kill them himself!

"Kyros!" Devein yelled to his second in command. A similar dark-haired man with brown eyes came running towards him while holding his sword. Devein took a closer look at his second in command and wondered if he should have picked someone with more years on him. Not that Kyros was bad or anything, he just didn't have the rough side of a Blackguard that they all carry. Kyros may have a strong name, but his nature was that of a tamed lamb. Devein himself had noticed when he would take out his anger on Kyros, that he seemed to cower to everyone. That was one trait that you never want in a Blackguard.

Kyros stood under his commander's watchful eyes as he slowly gazed at him, making an assessment.

"Yes sir?" Kyros asked, still under his commander's watchful eye.

"Go and prepare a place to rest for the night." Devein said, handing him a purse with gold coins to him. "Make sure we have enough room and a meal."

Kyros nodded and started walking away from Devein as he looked for an inn, but the commander's next words stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Take Dale with you." Devein said, watching Kyros intentionally cringe as he looked at Dale. They never got along, even with other people around them. They hated each other to the core and everyone saw that every single day. There wasn't a day that went by when there wasn't something they were fighting about.

"Its not an option," Devein said as he watched Kyros turn towards him with a look, 'do I have to?'

Devein and the rest laughed as they watched the two walk away while giving nasty glances at each other.

"Just hold each others hand if you get lost." Jestin, one of the men, yelled as he had a smile on his face. Another round of laughs could be heard as they kept watching the two walk away from the group.

"I want the rest of you split up in pairs and find any information," Devein said as he turned towards his other men with eager eyes. "I want at least some before nightfall."

His men nodded as they spread in twos or threes groups and walked away from him. This was a very abundant village so they had to have some kind of news that travelers through here.

Turning around, Devein saw a monastery that looked like it was recently built. The stone walls stood out amongst the other buildings, so you can tell that they had to have money coming from this kind of place. No one in their right mind would waste money on stones on a house. So it meant that this was a very prosperous town or a very rich nobleman. But the carving on the walls suggests otherwise.

What a waste, he thought as he walked into the monastery. White walls covered every inch of light as far as he could see. It was a very long monastery. He had never been to one before and he wondered why anyone would want to live here or even come here. It just looked like a white hallway to your inevitability and he didn't like that feeling. Made him want to reach out and shrink the building to its normal size. Where he could see all four walls and nothing else. This place looked like a walk into a tomb. Walking further into the building he saw many varied drawings that some looked beautiful while others he wanted to know the meaning of. They just simply didn't make sense to him as he kept on looking at them.

"May I help deliver you to salvation?" A voice spoke out, snapping him out of his daze.

What the f**k?" he thought as he turned around and looked at the person that spoke to him. He had to glance down to be in order to see but he came face to face with a red-haired girl with green eyes starring back at him. She wore a white dress that was tied around the waist with a rope. She wore simple flat shoes that looked like they had been worn all her life. The girl gave a startle as he looked at the handsome man that came into the sanctuary. She had never seen a more handsome person in all her life or in this village before.

He must be a stranger, she thought, as she looked more closely. He had the most beautiful eyes that she had ever seen. He was a gorgeous man, as it were, but it was the eyes that she loved most about him.

My first man, she thought, as she gazed more at him as he did at her. Does he find me beautiful? That would be great. I can get out of this place if I find someone for me.

Devein didn't know such thoughts were running through the girl's head, but he had to say that she was beautiful. Not as beautiful as Dominiah, but she was just fine in her own way. It just wasn't his taste for red hair, so it threw him off.

Devein gathered his courage and decided that he should do it fast and get out of here as soon as possible. This girl was looking at him like a prized pig on a market and he didn't like it. He had never liked the stares of girls and it really never bothered him before. But she was looking at him so much that he felt as though she would eat him.

" Have there been any sittings about dark shadows around these parts?" He asked, looking at anything except the girl's. Her eyes were like green oceans that he had witnessed in his younger years and he didn't like that feeling horrible. He hated the sea.

"No" She answered, shaking her head while never taking her eyes off him. "What kind of shadows?"

"Shadows of those that make evil of this world," Devein said as he watched the girl's face pale and take a step back in fear. He wondered if she thought that he would do something to her and frankly felt amused at her action. But he didn't show it. His face was expressionless as it was from the beginning.

"What kind of shadows?" She asked again with a more quiet tone, not even daring to look at Devein's face again. She was afraid of him now and he was glad about that. He was getting worried there for a minute that she was thinking about some other things about him which he didn't like at all.

Devein took a good look at her and knew that this girl had no idea what he was talking about. It was clear that she had been staying in doors most of her life and lived like a hermit rather than a person, more than anything. He didn't think that a person would keep themselves indoors all the time just because of their beliefs, but this was ridiculous. Did she even know what was going on in the world outside of this place?

Taking a deep breath, Devein started telling her about a few people that saw shadows that take evil people and that they were never heard or seen from again. That the shadow comes out every night. Not that he knew that for sure, but oh well, she didn't need to know that part. He was just giving her the small truth that was floating out there. She starred at him as if he had grown two heads and ran into god-knows which doors to hide. From him or other things that he wasn't sure about. He just couldn't believe that there was someone that stupid to live in seclusion as she had.

Shaking his head, Devein walked out of that freak show and back to his men. He already knew that his men probably had lojins and food for the night and he knew exactly where to find them. Walking back to where he left his men, he took a few turns left and right and then walked ahead to where he saw an Inn that they had walked past when they came.

The Inn was crafty built with trees and wood as its main source of covering. It looked like a very old and large hut that was built many years ago by the ancients. It had many green vines and flowers growing all over it, making it look like a fairy shelter. Not that he believed creatures actually exist. He knew that there were several that did but some had already gone instinct.

The inside of the hut looked even better, as chairs and a table with a large fire burning in the middle with a pig on its hook was enough to make any stay. It gave off homely appeal as he scanned around for his men.

The hut's entrance was directly at the north of to the point. So when Devein walked in, there was no trouble at all looking for his men. They were exactly east of the east of the hut with many sitting around the pit and laughing at a joke. Making long strides to their table, his men made room for him at the head while others on both sides of him.

Devein took a good look at his men as he grazed his short beard that had grown over 4 years. They all needed a good bath and a shave if they ever got back to their people. They also needed new clothes as the ones that they had were very worn out. He knew that they probably had enough for maybe three more nights at any place to get food and shelter. But the money for clothes was going to have to wait until they figured out something in the future. He didn't mean to be gone this long. He knew that searching for his half would be not be easy, but he didn't know it was going to take him this long. If he had known, he would have made other arrangements. His clans had sources of income with many villagers and some traveled so far that they might come across them. But so far, he had not seen a sign of his clan's crest on anything or anyone that he had come across.

Shaking his head, Devein knew his men were strong. They could survive for many years in the forests themselves if that is what it took. But they would definitely not die of anything. They were the Blackguards!

"What have you found?" He asked as he watched Kyros bring him a plate of pig and potatoes with a biscuit on the top. Kyros set his own plate down before looking at Devein from his bushy eyebrows.

"I have heard that there is an abandoned castle not too far away from here and some of the villagers think that the shadow might come from there." Kyros answered as he took a bit of his potatoes and chewed veery carefully before continuing."The baker thinks that the shadows only come out when the ruckus begins. Whatever that means."

"What ruckus are you talking about?" Devein asked as he looked at Kyros from the top of his drink.

"I don't know, that's what the baker said," Kyros said, and continued on eating.

"Yeah and his wife was very bitchy." Lad popped up as he chewed on his own food with grease running down his chin.

Devein raised a brow as he took a good look at Lad. He had grown into a great man over those years. He was very small and scrawny for his age, which was why his mother had asked us to take him with us. So it would give him experience in life, as she called it. Devein knew that she had made the right decision by sending him. She had wanted her boy to become a man when he came back. Now, as Devein looked at him, muscles were visible everywhere that the eye could see. He had a more tanned body than he had before and, with his light hair and brown eyes, Devein knew that he would be a heartbreaker.

"What makes you say that?" Devein asked as he looked at the rest of his men and wondered if they knew something which he didn't.

Several of his men shook their heads as if no and Devein wondered if it was just Lad's observing skill that made him think that way.

"Care to elaborate?" Devein probed again as he left his now meal, untouched and folded his fingers together and placing them on the table.

Lad shook his head and pointed across the table towards another, who was Leone. Who was busy munching on his food as if starved. His biscuit was left untouched as he looked up at his commander's gaze. Swallowing hard, Leone was stuck as he looked around and saw that all the men were looking at him for explanation of what Lad had said. He was dumbstruck for a minute before returning to the present. Shaking his head, Leone swallowed hard before thinking about what Lad had said. If he recalled right, it was just a few things that were said by the baker's wife that sent a few alarm bells off in his head. And even with that, there was nothing that they had to worry about at that moment except for finding the chief's daughter.

"I'm still waiting," Devein asked again as he was slowly losing patience and that had happened a lot over the years that he had spent among those men that he picked to take with him on the quest.

"Well, it was just a few things that made sense." Leone began. "I think that the shadow is actually one of ours. Or our other clans.From what she said, it seemed like the shadow is using inner demons to destroy those that it thinks are evil."

"I was thinking the same thing," Devein said as he shook his head. He had overheard some whispers as he had walked through the village that pointed to that possibility. "What else?"

"Anyhow, if she had her way, she would kill the king with all his subjects with him if she got the chance."

"She is off her coot." Lad added as he took another bite of food. "She wanted the queen to be bragged down the streets naked by a horse to tell everyone how much of a w***e she really was."

"And I think she hopes that the shadow will kill the Pope." Leone added as he took a drink of his water. "That crazy lady is hoping everyone that she hates or has a squawb with will die."

'That is one hard woman to live with."Aden, the second in command, gave in his two seances. Devein had to agree. There was no way in the world that anyone would want to live with someone who threatened him every single time. It is hard to live your life constantly looking over your shoulder.

"She also said that if we really wanted to investigate, then look into that monastery that they have here. She was sure that there was something wrong with that place," Lad added. Turning towards Aden, he asked, "Did she say that it gave off an unholy feeling?"

"Yeah, something like that," Aden said as he shook his head in agreement. "But definitely weird."

Devein's other men cringed at the thought. They all had their own version of a perfect woman and, by the sound of this, it made them wonder if they should just rethink their lives about being single forever.

"Not all are bad." Evern popped in his opinion.

"You should talk." Leone stated. "You have a woman that has waited for you for eternity."

Nobody could refute that. Evern had been promised a girl all his life and when the time came, well, he wasn't given a choice but to take her as his wife. She had been smitten with Evern since the moment she had learned that he was to be her husband. It was a matter that was settled between the parents. No one had a say in it. Devein shook his head again as he looked at all his men. They all knew of Evern's wife, and he couldn't help but chuckle. She had her own way of doing things and it meant all of them against Evern. She gives him hell every single time whenever she has the chance.

"Other than that quack, everything else is normal." Lad said, glancing at Devein and hopefully got the thought of what he was referring to.

"Alright, then hit the sack for the night." Devein replied, running his hand through his long hair. He defiantly needed a cut and a shave. If he ever found Dominiah, he wanted to look his best.

Standing up, he walked to one of the rooms that was held for him. He knew that he had the room all to himself as their commander, so he didn't mind dropping his armor and tunic on the floor as he jumped into the fresh-made bed. He hoped to get a good rest tonight. It had been a few nights for him without a good sleep but he was in the middle of the woods with wolves surrounding him. It made him self-conscious like that. Why didn't he know? He just wished it would stop. He was a warrior and yet he preferred to sleep in a bed rather than the woods.

Rubbing his face with his free arm while the other under his head, he heard the door sneak open as he saw if maybe one of his men was coming in and informing him about anything. He was surprised when a woman came in wearing a green sleeveless dress with her hair tied in a braid down her back. She gave a surprise look at the man when she realized that he was still very awake. Which seemed to Devein, that was not how she wanted it. He carefully observed her as she stood a few feet away from his bed and looking intently at him.

"Why are you here?" He asked, his voice very gruff and hard, making the girl flinch. She stood with her fingers fidgeting around her dress and did't answer him as Devein's gaze turned even colder. She was a beauty, he had to give her that. It seemed that this village was full of them. But it was not working for him. Especially the way that she was looking at him, like he was her next meal.

"Speak!" Devein roared, getting tired of the silent treatment that she was giving him.

"I want to know who you are and what your doing here?" Devein said as he stood up from the bed and right before the girl. He looked toward her like a giant who subconsciously shrank her neck into her head as if she was a turtle.

"I don't have time for this shit." He muttered, running his hand through his hair again and looking at the girl with squinted eyes. "I'm going to give you two minutes or I will throw you out the window," Devein said as he watched the girl's eyes become hug and held amount of fear in them.

"No!" She exclaimed, running towards him and holding on to his arm. She felt the muscles and warmth flowing through the man's body. She felt herself getting worked up just from touching him. She had seen him as he walked into the Inn and had wanted to experience him first, before all the other girls came. That was why she took this opportunity to sneak into his room hoping that she would be successful. She didn't expect him to be awake. Her plan was ruined no matter what she did next. The next words out of his mouth terrified her even more.

"So you thought you could take advantage of me."He replied more to himself than to her, "I should just let my men see how much you want before I start."

The woman looked up at him and felt even greater fear just being this close to him. Sure, he gave off a deadly aura when he arrived. But now that she was this close to him, he gave it off even deadlier. It made her rethink her decision. She didn't know anything about him. It was just his looks and the way that his body was built that she wanted. She never wanted the extra that came with it. She subconsciously began to shake terribly. She was beyond afraid of this man now. She should never have gone through with this idea.

"Please, let me go. It was a mistake." She said, trying to reason with him.It was her last reserve. "I just wanted to know how it felt."

"You will know, alright," Devein said, pulling her hands from his arms and holding her wrist in a vise grip. "I will let you experience everything."

Devein knew exactly what she wanted from him. But he hated women except Dominiah. But he hated whores even more. They were the last straw in his sanity. At first he wasn't sure why it gave him a clue when she entered secretly or the fact that she was startled when she saw he was awake. But he knew after that, she had come here to r**e him in his sleep or was rather hoping that it would be willingly have her in his bed just because he was a worrior. But how wrong could she be if she found out that she slept with a Blackguard. Everyone hated them. He wasn't sure about whores, but that didn't matter. They were all the same, in and out. They all had their own judgments and most of them were against the Blackguards.

"Evern, Kyros!" He yelled as he opened his door and shouted across the entire Inn. His voice boomed across the fourteen rooms that were occupied, making everyone awake in an instant. In a few minutes, his two men, among three others that were rooming together, came as well. There were 25 of them, so they made it four or five to a room while others were for the other travelers.

"What's wrong?" Kyros was first to ask as he looked at his commander. That was when he noticed his commander's hand was holding a wrist and the gaze slowly became higher and higher until it reached the face. A beauty was standing there with a woman, a beautiful-eyed girl with brown hair with a long nose.