Chapter 2

"Lord Starbright I humbly apologize for the unannounced interruption into your home but I'm Justin Tyler Blackheart. I would hope that you will let your daughter and her husband stay here till we leave for Chorral milord," Justin said as he used his skill in speech craft to persuade Lord Starbright to let them in.

"My dear boy just call me father, you are part of this family anyway and I would humbly allow the husband of my daughter into my house," he said as he motioned them inside out of the rain, "please make yourselves at home, and my dear child I have to speak with you. You have to meet your younger brother Prince Darkheart."

Prince Darkheart was twenty-five years old and he was growing up to be the future ruler of the Starbright clan. As she walked in he stood up to greet his guest like a gentlemen and his hazel eyes sparkled like sapphires as she blushed and gratefully bow in respect. He then turned to Lord Starbright to see what her name was.

"Prince this is Savannah Danielle Blackheart, she is your older sister that married the knight Justin Tyler Blackheart," he said as the prince's attention turn back to her.

"So prince what is your favorite gem stone," Savannah asked as she pulled out an opal stone from her pocket in her dress.

"Madam Blackheart my favorite gemstone is the ruby of Argonia and can only be found in the land of the Black Marsh," he said in a monotone voice.

"Really, why is it your favorite," she replied with another question.

"Have you ever seen the Ruby of Argonia, or the Diamond of Oblivion," he replied with a question equal in tone.

"Why yes I've seen the Diamond of Oblivion, that's Justin's favorite gem stone, but I've only read about the Ruby of Argonia. They say its color changes to the mood of the holder and know me it wouldn't stay one color for a single second," she said as she looked at the opal in her hand, "do you know what this gem is?"

"I'm guessing the Opal of Balmora. Correct," he said as he looked over the opal stone in her hand.

"Why yes it is prince. Father he is extremely well educated in the gem stones but what about magic and alchemy," Savannah said as she looked at Lord Starbright.

Justin was in the basement while Savannah was meeting her family. He wanted to take a tour of the Starbright mansion before they left in the morning to Chorral. He was surprised to see that the basement was full of training equipment and dummies for blade practice along with a machine the swings around for training block.

"You find what you we're looking for Master Blackheart," someone said as Justin quickly jumped around and saw Prince Darkheart behind him.

"I'm thought you we're talking to Savannah up stairs," Justin said as he looked back at the room.

"I was but she began to talk to father. She talks highly of you and she says that you defeated a Daedra single handedly," the prince said as he looked at Justin's armor, "you must be a knight am I correct?"

"Yes but I'm the only imperial knight left and I'm not going to stop until I end this oblivion invasion," Justin said as his armor shifted as he turned to look at Prince Darkheart.

"I'm curious about your talent with a blade and a shield. Would you mind to show me a few tips that the Imperial knights are taught," the prince asked as he held out a sword by its scabbard.

"Sure I will," Justin said as he took the handle and quickly swung the sword over handed to see how fast Prince Darkheart could react. To his surprise he could react quick enough to stop his attack with the scabbard of his own blade and his sword, "reacting and being on top of your game is the number one rule of any knight but it is also a weakness. Do you know why that is?"

"Reacting quickly makes you look weak and doesn't let you study your opponent's skills and weaknesses, but it also help you stay alive and not get hurt," Prince Darkheart said as he countered the next strike from Justin's blade.

"That's right and this is also another reason to stay on top of your guard," he said as he dropped to the floor and kicked Prince Darkheart's feet out from under him.

"That is also your weakness that you just gave away to me master Blackheart," as he shoulder hooped to his feet and elbowed Justin in the jaw, "you don't go for the face like most people do to delay their opponent, but instead you go for the feet to give you the advantage over the enemy, but I have a trick to show you about that that may happen as you fight various creatures and people."

As Prince Darkheart spun around behind Justin and forced him two feet forward and held his blade out just as Justin turned around to see a blade at the tip of his chin. Justin quickly realized the situation and dropped to the floor slid under Prince Darkheart and lifted himself to his feet and wrapped his arm around his neck and lifted him off the ground and forced him against a wall in front of them. Justin then realized that the prince had his feet against the wall and ran up and flipped behind him and held his blade up to his throat. Justin admitted to defeat and dropped his blade. As Prince Darkheart lowered his blade Justin quickly grabbed his wrist and spun his arm around to get the grip on the handle and slid the sword out of the prince's hand.

"And this is another reason you don't lower your weapon to an enemy," Justin said as he held the sword to Prince Darkheart's throat.

"What's going on here," savannah said as she saw Justin pinning her brother against a wall with a blade to his neck.

"Sis he was simply showing me a few moves that he learned while he was an Imperial knight," the prince said as he patted my shoulder telling me to lower the sword.

"He's telling the truth he found me down here and he handed me a sword and asked me if I could show him how the Imperial knights use a sword in a fight," Justin said as he sheathed the sword into its scabbard.

"It's about midnight we should get some sleep and get ready for tomorrow. Good night Taylor," she said as she turned around swinging her night gown in a ring and walked out the door.

"Prince Darkheart if you wish to join us in our journey you can come with us to Chorral in the morning and I'll teach you a few moves with a sword," Justin said as he shook hands with Taylor Darkheart.

"Thanks for the offer I will think about it over the night and respond to you in the morning," he replied as he turned and began to practice on the dummy holding a sword.