The Stargazer - chapter 5

Willow tried to walk past the pale faced stranger, feeling angry because she had to be rescued.  But, of course, he blocked her way.  “A ‘thank you, Jupiter’ would be nice” he said.1

“For what?” Willow replied angrily, feeling her face begin to burn red.2

“For rescuing you!”3

“I could’ve done fine without you!” She spluttered.4

“Not from where I was standing.” He replied, “Then you should have stood somewhere else!” he looked at her incredulously 5

Willow took the chance to walk out and did.  She pushed past him and started to walk purposefully to where Sparrow was anxiously looking for her.6

But of course, Jupiter followed her.  “Wait!” he cried as he leapt after her.  Willow carried on walking but he grabbed her arm, whisking her round to face him “I need a lift, and I need to get away quickly-you look like you’re in a hurry.”  7

“Why should we take you with us?” she replied as she shook herself free.  Was it really that obvious that she wanted to get as far away as possible from her homeland?8

He considered the question for a moment, his pale face creasing, and his hazel eyes narrowed.9

“Because we’re going the same way.  And besides, a girl like you needs protecting” he replied cheekily.10

Willow gave him a look that would have done justice to a sphinx and mumbled “Only if you have a horse”11

“No problem” he replied as he vanished into a nearby stable.  He returned with a horse that was fully tacked up and stood lazily in the sun before her.  “Let’s go then!” he spoke cheerfully.  What kind of name was that anyway? Willow thought angrily-she was determined to find something wrong with Jupiter.  He walked lopingly and silently in front of her.  He was extremely pale, and skinny with a shock of almost white hair.  He must have been about Willows age and he walked barefoot, his feet surprisingly clean compared to the rest of his body.  She noticed as she watched him thoughtfully that his hands bore deep scars and he had no right earlobe; probably from some swordfight Willow concluded to herself.  This boy called Jupiter was obviously well travelled and in desperate need of a wash.  Well, she thought, he can have a bath at the nearest inn.12

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *13

As they approached the “Red Fox Inn” a burly man with a greasy beard stepped out of the midnight shadows.  Jupiter gave a startled look, dismounted silently, and led his horse quickly into a murky shadow whilst motioning to Willow and Sparrow to follow him.  They waited in silence for over 15 minutes, while the man searched the darkness looking confused.  Finally, he gave a dissatisfied grunt and walked off.  Jupiter let out a jet of breath which tickled in Willows ear.  “Who was that?!?” she demanded loudly.  “Shhhh! that was just, um, someone I know from work” 14

“Oh really!” Willow replied sarcastically “then would you kindly explain why we have to hide from him?!?” 15

Jupiter opened his mouth to say something but then quickly snapped it shut again.  He looked behind her and Willow noticed his hand absent-mindedly reaching to his sword belt where a small dagger hung.  His eyes widened and he lunged forward as the great figure knocked Willow from where she was standing.  There was a blinding flash of white light as Jupiter’s dagger was forced through the heart of the man.  He gasped and slumped to the floor.  Within a moment, the dagger began to glow a deep midnight blue.  It got brighter and brighter until it finally shattered.  Willow and Sparrow stared at it, and then both started to back away.  “Th-th-that’s a Nigro blade!” Sparrow stuttered.  “Run, Sparrow!” Willow screamed, the image of the deadly blade stuck in her mind-The blade made by the assassins.  From a small child, Willow and Sparrow had always been taught to flee at the sight of an assassin or his dagger, for they were both deadly and cunning.  The Nigro blade was wrought from the assassins of old in the blue mountains. Made from pure crystal, deadly poison inserted into the blade made it the most deadly form of weapon in the kingdom and it could only be used once.  Willow ran, but she could hear light padding footsteps behind her. Jupiter was easily keeping up with them. Finally, she saw sparrow throw himself into a shadow and immediately followed suit, dragging the frightened horses behind her.  They heard Jupiter, hardly out of breath turn the corner and stop.  Willow held her breath in terror.  The moon rode the clouds like a ship tossed in stormy seas.  The horses rolled their eyes and stamped the grassy earth.  The trees creaked and stirred. Then all was silent.  Willow looked up fearfully, and found herself staring into two eyes. Two hazel eyes with yellow flecks. Jupiter.16