STEEL BORN

THE SECOND SIGN

Faro had fully assumed the position of a servant, there were other servants assigned to Santux in the Palace, but Faro was his closest. He was assigned chambers in the servant's quarters, there were two large rooms and a parlor, one small kitchen, one bathroom and a latrine. The chambers were fully furnished excepting clothings and other little things. It was expected that a servant's family should occupy the chambers, since servants spent most of their time in the Palace. Faro was yet unmarried, but he had an intended.

He was heading towards the chambers that had been assigned to Santux over a month ago. They had been surprised two mornings after their visit to the Palace by a note from the Princess. The note had informed Santux that he would be moving into a section of the Palace in the evening of the same day.

Santux was bathing in the large wash room of his chambers, alone, when Faro was ushered in by the Eunuch assigned to him. Santux had found it uncomfortable to be bathed by n***d females or anyone at all, and had refused the services of the slaves in his wash room. His parents had taught him how to serve himself, and he intended to do just that when necessary. The only duties for the slaves were to fill the large bath tub, place his soap and bathing materials by the tub and leave through the entrance made for them. No one was bowing to him yet, except the slaves who bowed only slightly. People bowed to him though when he was around the Princess or any member of the Royal family. He was highly respected and addressed as "Sir".

Santux was comfortable only around Faro. "Where have you been?", he questioned, scrubbing his body with a soft brush.

"I'm sorry sir, I've been trying to put my chambers in other",

"Ah, you finally visited your chambers",

"Yes, it is nothing like you have here, but it is magnificent", Faro was saying as he arrived behind Santux. He collected the brush and began scrubbing his back. He handed the brush back after he was done and went to sort out towels. He was also to sort out clothings in which Santux was to dress.

"You have sword practice this morning", Faro said.

"Yes, as if I can't use a sword",

"You understand this is just protocol",

"Now you are sounding like the Princess",

"Just be gentle with your teacher, that is all I ask... There's a good thing happening here, I would hate for it to end", Faro said as he entered the large walk-in closet to select suitable attire for swords practice.

"I will like you to visit Ludia", Santux announced when Faro returned, he was coming out of the tub. The slaves will come in through the back door after they were gone, to empty the tub.

"When exactly?", Faro questioned.

"Soon, I need to speak with the Princess first". Santux noticed he was happy, it had been over three months since they left their homeland. He misses home as well, but there were duties to perform in Worth. He wanted his parents to know he was safe, and Faro was to bring them to Worth if they accept his invitation. He had began making arrangements for suitable accommodation for them in the Noble city.

"Why are you smiling?", He questioned.

"I intend to get married when I arrive Ludia, I will return with her",

"Good for you". Santux said smiling.

His relationship with the Princess was filled with bliss, they saw regularly now that he was living in the Palace. They ate together almost every evening in his chambers, especially evenings when dinner was not a family affair. She sometimes returned late at night and left few hours later. But she hadn't started talking about marriage and who was he to ask? She was the author and finisher of their entire affair. He was certain they would be getting married by the way things were going, but he wasn't sure when.

The sword practice was intense, his swords master was very light on his hills and extremely swift. He had noticed from the first instant that Santux was skilled, he therefore concentrated on increasing his speed. Santux took a hard fall while trying to block an attack.

"You must learn to move all that bulk swiftly my dear sir", the Master said while whipping him once on the buttocks with the sides of his wooden sword. Santux arose, and the training resumed. Elias du Pakins laughed aggressively, "Put some stamina in those legs my friend", he advised. He was standing by one corner observing, a cup of wine in hand.

A note had arrive at Castle Pakins three days after Santux had arrived in Worth, it was an invitation from Santux Bogina - the interestingly huge young man he had met a little over two years ago during the harvest festival. It was for him and his friend, the one who had accompanied them around during the festival. They were to visit Santux that afternoon. Elias had picked up his reluctant friend from his home, he was now married to a pretty girl from a noble family. They had shown their identity cards to the soldiers at the gates of the Royal city and were granted entrance. They asked for Santux Bogina at the common room of the Royal visitor's quarters and were asked to wait. They were led to Santux's chambers few minutes later by a servant who had come to get them. It was a wonderful reunion, they were introduced to Faro.

"Oh you are the Faro he was always talking about", Elias had said shaking hands with Faro.

"Faro would like this, Faro would like that", his friend mimicked Santux and they laughed. Faro had liked them at once. They'd had a mini reunion party, drank to stupor, ate everything available, swam in the wash tub and Elias had done more than flirting with the slave girls. They had remained a part of Santux's entourage since then.

* * *

Princess Cara watched Santux training from her father's balcony far away from the training grounds. She was flanked by her father.

"He seems to be doing fine", the King commended.

"I don't want him injured father",

"I strongly doubt he would be, relax my dear, he's a strong man and a fast learner",

The King was making Santux train incessantly. His schedule for each day was filled with one form of learning or the other. If the boy was to be his son by marriage, then he must meet up to the task.

"Your highness", Kudo said arriving behind them, "The chief commander is here to see you". The King went into the house, taking Cara along. They went to the parlor where the soldier stood waiting, he was fully dressed in shiny armor, carrying his helmet. He bowed as the King and his daughter entered, "Greetings my King, my Princess", the King and his daughter sat. Kudo stood behind them, Amand was standing by the Royal guards at the entrance. The Eunuchs were deadly soldiers, their weapons were unique, slim and small enough to fit into their robes. It was a well hidden secret among the Royal trainers of the Eunuchs and the throne. They were backup plan against sudden attacks. Their weapons were forged on the same Island where they are trained, it was treasonous to speak about it. That was their main purpose, they camouflaged as stupid half-men attached to members of the Royal family in the public sight.

"What is this pressing matter Detro", the King questioned with his baritone. The King was to be disturbed at the residential quarters only if the matter was pressing.

"Your highness, it was brought to my knowledge yesterday evening that a Royal sarcophagus has been desecrated, it is the tomb of Buldagrash", the soldier said. A keeper of the Cave was cleaning when he noticed something strange, the cover of the sarcophagus was shifted. He had sent a message through his servant to the soldiers at the gates of Worth. The soldiers had in turn informed their leader.

"What?", the King questioned in amazement. "And the sword?",

"It was taken", the soldier responded. Cara had been astonished by the effect of the news on her father. She knew it was a terrible omen for a tomb to be opened, she had studied about King Buldagrash. But the knowledge of the sword was preserved to be passed down only after she became Queen. Only a select few were allowed to have the knowledge - the Priestess of light, the chief commander of the army, and the Chief of Worth.

"That is not all", the soldier was saying. "I took a few men and began investigating at once, we haven't been able to find any suspects, but we discovered late last night that the grave of Docarock in the place of the dead had broken, the chains are also broken". Cara also knew about Docarock the evil druid, she had been taught in class with other Royal kids.

The King arose without saying another word, he went into his closet followed by Kudo. He reappeared few minutes later dressed in Royal armor. He stumped out followed by the soldier and Kudo, he had to see for himself.

* * *

That night, Niobe retrieved the decapitated sword from where he had hidden it few months ago. The city had been filled with chores during the day, there were uncoordinated movements of soldiers. He knew they had found the tomb he had desecrated and a search had been launched for the perpetrator, and probably the sword. He was almost ready, if they began searching every building in the city, they might find the sword in his custody. It was a risk he wasn't willing to take, "not now, not ever", he thought. He carried the sword to the waterfall at the back of the Temple and threw it away, into the waters below.

Soon, he would raise the army of the dead. They would destroy Xion starting from this stupid city, they would take the lands one after the other bringing chores to the Earth until he could open the gates of hell. Niobe had been taken over entirely by the spirit, only his body existed and only because the spirit needed a host. He approached the compartment where the scepter he had made was kept, it was rotating within a glassy globe filled with smoke. He resumed fortifying it with incantations, reading from a book before him.

The two paralyzed apprentices had been replaced. Niobe had carelessly placed the chief apprentice in charge of the Chapel maters. It was he whom the few soldiers who had been sent to the Temple, to question the inhabitants had met the following morning. He told them his boss was sick as he had been told to do. They informed him of the happenings at the burial places and inquired as to what had to be done.

"We must reseal Docarock's grave and perform another burial rights for King Buldagrash", He had listed the required materials necessary. A date was fixed for the processsion to Arden, and the grave of Docarock was resealed that night. But the spirit had grown in strength and the chief apprentice who performed the rights was no match for him. He didn't know the spirit was already free and never returned to the grave as he called. Niobe didn't attend, it was safer fighting imprisonment from the confines of his secret room, than beside the prison.

The Processsion was announced all over Worth and was done a week later. Santux and the entire Royal family attended. He rode in the large carriage this time with the Royal family and stood by the sarcophagus of Buldagrash with them. The Priest who was now feeling better had performed the burial rights. The tomb was resealed without opening it again, and also without the sword which was not found.

That evening, the Royal family returned to the Palace to find the Priestess of Light waiting. She was seated on her horse, standing outside the gates of the Royal city. The Priestess followed the Royal carriage in. She was carrying a bundle slung across her shoulder.

"The spirit of death is still large, it was not sent back to the grave. It grows stronger by the day", she informed the King and his daughter, when they were seated on their thrones in the throne room. "The sword of Buldagrash was brought to me this evening", She placed the bundle on the ground and untied it revealing the contents. She had gone to take an evening swim in the waters below the Temple, the sword lay on the rock by her clothes when she came out of the water.

"Where is the ruby of power?", the King questioned. Cara stood, went over to the sword and lifted it, studying it. She had been trained in the act of swordry and knew she was looking at a good blade.

"That was how it was brought to me", the Priestess was saying.

"What is to be done?", the Princess questioned.

"You must go to Nocera my Princess",

"My daughter will not be taking that risk",

"When", the Princess questioned ignoring her overprotective father.

"We begin tomorrow night, I will take you to the gates",... "bring the boy and the sword along". She said over her shoulders as she was leaving.

* * *

A Royal Ship was sailing speedily on the seas towards the North, Faro was on board. The Ship had cleared the Wharf that evening. He was the main occupant of the Ship, he was given a Royal cabin similar to the one he and Santux had occupied while heading to Worth. There was a carriage in the cargo room for his ride from the Northern Wharf to Ludia. There were horses in the area made for animals, there were slaves for his comfort. He was being treated like a member of the Royal family.

Santux had given him bags of gold coins, two were for him and his family. He was to bring Bogina and his wife to Worth, but if they refused to come, the other five bags were to be given to them. Faro was happy, he was snoring loudly on the large bed in his cabin, when pirates attacked the Ship.

The Captain had seen them from afar, his crew and the two dozen soldiers accompanying his passenger were ready. They fought strongly against the pirates, the ones who survived ran away. By the time the battle was over, three soldiers and five crews were dead. A few were injured, they were being treated in the medical room. The Ship was littered with bodies of Pirates.

Faro awoke in the morning not knowing what had happened. He was served breakfast by a pretty slave, bathed and dressed. He had told Nina - his girlfriend, to wait for his return. She was a very beautiful lady, tall and fair. He would hate to miss being married to her. He had a week to stay in Ludia and he fully intended to be properly married before it ended, he would hate to marry a different person, but if Nina had left him, then he must. He anticipated his arrival in Ludia.