STEEL BORN

THE EAST AND THE NORTH

The Royal family bid farewell to the chief on the fourth day and continued on their journey. Two large chests of gold had been sent off towards the Royal Ship before their departure. They arrived at the East two days later, ducking at the eastern Wharf which was located at the Capital city - Meal. Princess Cara's mother - Queen Euria, was born in this city, she was excited to be here.

They were received by Jirus - the chief of the east at the Wharf. He was accompanied by his family and few soldiers of Meal. The Wharf was covered by citizens of Meal, they had come to welcome their King. The King waved from the top of the Royal Ship, flanked by the Princess. Chief Jirus had brought carriages with which to convey the Royal family to his castle. Darkness had descended by the time they arrived at the castle. He had prepared a banquet, there was dancing, entertainment and a lot to be eaten.

Early the following morning, chief Jirus took the Royal family including Kudo, Morinda and Amand to the Diamond Island where the mine was located. It was few kilometers away from the capital city. They were accompanied by few Royal soldiers and few soldiers of Meal. They first rode on horses to the Wharf where a boat had been prepared for the journey. Breakfast was served on the boat, the King and chief Jirus drank wine all the way to the mines. When they arrived, the keeper of the mine had horses ready on the shore. The King, chief Jirus and the Princess accompanied by few soldiers were led into the Island. They rode few miles heading to the mine. It was similar to what the Princess had seen at the gold mine, except there was water far below the large circler opening. There were hundreds of slaves working here as well. They returned to the boat few minutes later after observing for sometime.

"How do you like the view, my Princess?", chief Jirus questioned on their way back to the boat.

"It is similar to the gold mine I saw few days ago",

"Ah, you've been to Ishikawa... How's the old goat doing?", the chief questioned generally, smiling. The Princess blushed, she had no response. It was the King who responded as the two men continued their conversation.

"Here's a gift for you my Princess", chief Jirus pressed the bluest diamond the Princess had ever seen into her palm. They were in the boat heading back to the city of Meal. "Let it not be heard that you left my home with nothing from me", the Princess smiled broadly.

King Raul took his daughter to visit her mother's home the following day, it was a large farm house on the suburbs of Meal. It had been a smaller house before he married Euria. Gaius - Euria's father and his wife were waiting at the entrance for their arrival. Princess Cara had seen her grandmother once when she had visited the Royal city many years ago. She had never seen her grandfather. He was a tall black man, she jumped off her horse and ran into his arms. They had seen them from afar and the King had pointed Gaius out to her as they galloped towards the building. He kissed her on the forehead, and her grandmother did the same.

"Greetings King Raul", Gaius said while bowing when the King alighted from his horse. His wife did the same as they turned towards the house.

"I like what you have done with the place", King Raul complimented.

"I am forever grateful to you my King", Gaius responded.

"Mother sends her greetings", the Princess announced. They had late breakfast with Gaius and his family. The Princess met some other members of her extended family. She pressed something into her grandfather's palm as he kissed her farewell few hours later. He opened his hand after they had left and was amazed by what he saw. It was the diamond chief Jirus had gifted Cara. It was the largest diamond Gaius had ever seen.

The King had told the Princess that they had somewhere else to visit before they returned to chief Jirus's castle. She was riding alone with her father and a dozen soldiers. They arrived at the foot of a mountain and alighted, they climbed through a path that had been created many years ago and retouched for the purpose of this visit. Chief Jirus knew the tradition and all that was expected of him during this period. He had made sure the path to the top of the mountain was ready.

"Look around you Cara", the King said when they got to the top, he was pointing towards the distance. She followed his finger, they turned round and round. "From here, you can see almost my entire Kingdom, that way lies the North, we will be visiting there tomorrow... All these will be yours when you are Queen, will you take care of it like your fathers before you?".

"Yes father, by all the gods, I won't fail you". King Raul hugged his daughter.

It was dark by the time they returned to the castle.

* * *

The following day, the citizens of Meal filled the streets to bid farewell to their King and his daughter. They returned to the Royal Ship carrying a small chest filled with diamonds, and headed towards the North. They arrived the Wharf at the North two days later, it was located three cities from the capital of the North. They had to travel by land using the carriages and horses. They traveled through the woods for hours until they arrived at a place where they stopped to rest in the evening hours. It was a large clearing with low grass, there was a fountain nearby. The slaves pitched two large tents, one for the King, and the other for the Princess.

The King accompanied by few soldiers went hunting in the surrounding forest on horses, the Princess was accompanied by Morinda, Amand and a few soldiers to the river where she swam. She had learned to swim in the wash tub in her chambers, she was joined by Morinda. Amand stood by the banks, hands tucked beneath his robe watching. Slaves were fetching water from the fountain back to the tent, where a cook had started dinner.

"We must head back to the tents my Princess, it is getting dark", Morinda warned.

"Just one more minute", the Princess pleaded swimming around. She had never swam in an open river, she was f*******n to swim in the river back at Worth.

"Alright... That's enough, let's go", Morinda commanded. The Princess reluctantly obliged. Morinda robbed her dry with a towel, dressed her in a bath robe and they left for the tent, which was few miles away.

The King and his daughter sat outside their tents after dinner discussing. Kudo, Amand and Morinda were standing nearby. The Deer the King had shut during the hunting was roasting on a fire few paces in front of them, the cook was busy around it. A small table was placed in front of the Royal family, they were served chunks from the Deer with wine few minutes later. It was quite an experience for the Princess, the King told her how he had sat on this spot years ago with his father. He bragged that it was he who had shot the Antelope they had eaten that day. The rest of the meat was shared among their companions, the cook made sure everyone got a slice including himself.

They arrived at Kastaly - the capital of the North, in the early evening of the following day. There were people on the streets hailing their King and throwing flowers. They were joined by the soldiers of the capital city as soon as they got to the bother. Chief Barry was waiting with his family at the entrance of his castle, he was a fat man. They bowed as the King and his daughter alighted from their carriages. The king hugged the fat round man tightly to his chest, they had been best of friends during their young days when the chief had come to study at Worth.

"You don't stop getting larger, Barry",

"What am I to do? I've always been like this", the chief responded. He introduced the members of his family after greeting the Princess. There were his two wives, two daughters and a son many years younger than the Princess.

"You must be very tired", the chief said as they entered the castle.

"Is it not obvious Barry?", the King questioned.

"Yes... Yes, dinner will be brought to your rooms, tomorrow we party", the chief responded.

There was a dinner banquet the following day at the castle. Many Notherners had traveled from their various cities to attend, the news about the coming of Royal family had spread far and wide. The banqueting hall was large, it was built in the same pattern as the Great hall of Worth. The Great hall of Worth was larger in many dimensions, but this hall also had a section above for the common people, the ground floor contained the various noble men of the north and their families.

Santux was seated with Faro on the first row of bleachers above, he had heard about the coming of the King, and had convinced Faro to accompany him to Kastaly. Ludia - his city, was one city away from Kastaly. They had arrived yesterday riding on horses. He believed there was definitely going to be a way he could look upon the face that had stolen his heart two years ago, during the harvest festival.

A heavy trumpet sounded interrupting their discussions, the hall went silent. "Chief Barry, son of Zullum, chief of the North". The chief entered the hall, a cup of wine in hand. He was accompanied by his wives. His children - Princesses and Prince of of the North were already seated among the nobles in the center of the hall. There was an elevated area, a huge throne sat far within, it was surrounded by heavy pillows, a large banqueting table sat in the center. The chief and his wives sat on the pillows by the right of the throne.

When they were seated, the trumpet sounded again... "Behold Raul, son of Karrh, son of Cush, King of Xion", the crowd arose, including chief Barry and his family, as the King walked in. He was dressed in the befitting Royal regalia of Xion, gold glistening on his body. He was holding a scepter by his right, on his left, he held his daughter. The crowd bowed and arose when he was seated. He sat on the throne, and his exceptionally pretty daughter sat on the pillow by his left. The servants and slaves began to bring in the food and wine. There were dance groups, coming in and leaving as the banquet continued. Kudo stood behind his King, Amand and Morinda behind their Princess.

"Is that her?", Faro questioned in amazement.

"Yes... She has grown more than I remember, but nonetheless, that is her", Santux responded.

Santux gave a written note to one of the slaves, "it is very important that you see that this paper reaches the woman behind the Princess", he instructed. Almost thirty minutes later, Faro called his attention pointing towards the throne area, "Look", he said. Morinda was speaking into the ears of a servant who nodded repeatedly, as she accepted something from him. They knew their message was delivered.

Morinda had accepted a paper from one of the servants, but she couldn't look at it just yet. She held it behind her back. She looked at it on their way back to the chambers allocated to the Princess who couldn't stay till the end of the banquet. It was addressed to the Princess, sealed with a strange seal. She kept it and gave it to the Princess while she was tucking her in.

"A servant gave this to me during the banquet, it is addressed to you". She said. The Princess broke the seal at once and read the contents aided by the bedside candle.

"It is from Santux, the young man I met two years ago during the harvest festival", the Princess was smiling happily hugging the paper.

"I remember", Morinda said, sharing in her joy.

"He is here... Morinda, he was in the banquet hall",

"That is very possible, where did you say he was from?", Morinda questioned.

"Ludia... Ludia is a northern city", they laughed merrily. Morinda knew how the Princess had suffered after the young man had departed years ago. She had watched her hopes hit the rocks festival upon festivals when he had not come. She had helped her recover from so much longing.

"What do you intend to do?", she questioned.

"I will demand that he is found and brought to me tomorrow... First thing in the morning",

"Wise decision my Princess, very wise... Chief Barry must see that it is done... Now go to sleep your highness". Morinda kissed her goodnight and turned off the bedside candle.

Few soldiers arrived at the small Inn where Santux and Faro were lodged the following afternoon. They questioned the owner of the Inn and he asked them to wait, he returned with a huge handsome young man and another not quite as big as he.

"Santux Bogina from the city of Ludia?", one of the soldiers questioned looking at the two men.

"That would be me, even though Ludia is yet to be a city... It is a small village located a city away from here", Santux responded.

"You are to come with us", the soldier said. Santux bid Faro farewell, Faro in turn wished him luck, and he followed the soldiers. They gave him a horse and he relaxed a bit, he had taken a risk when he had sent the note to the Princess, he wasn't sure what the out come would be. But a horse such as this meant he wasn't being arrested.

At the Palace, the Princess was seated in a comfort room with her father, he had insisted on staying so he could see this man who has so disturbed his daughter. He had refused to listen to every plea the Princess had made, trying to get him to leave her side. The room was a small one, the walls had been lined with soft cushions, the windows were covered with heavy drapes. There was a table in the center, a fire place by the side and a chandelier of candles hung from above. The room was brightly lit. The door opened and a black young man as huge as Kudo was led into the room, the King sat facing the entrance, his daughter was seated on the next cushion by his side. The young man bowed, he was dazed by the glory of the King. He had never been this close to the Emperor of his Kingdom.

"Ge... Ge... Greetings King Raul, Emperor of Xion", he stuttered. The Princess looked at her father with annoyance. She hated what the sight of him was doing to the young man, it had been just as she had predicted. The King sat staring at the huge form in front of him, he lifted his glass to his lips without making a sound. The young man was dressed in a flowery linen robe on black harem. He stood holding his hands together below his stomach.

"What is your name young man?", the King's deep baritone rumbled in the room.

"I am called Santux... Santux son of Bogina... I am from Ludia", he responded shakily, he was looking from the Princess to the King. The gold on the Kings face and body glistened.

"You are a commoner", the King observed.

"Yes... Yes I was born a... ", Santux was saying.

"Please father", the Princess interrupted, placing her hand on the King's lap and beginning to kneel. The King quickly grabbed her on the arm, he placed her firmly back on her seat, rising. He took one look at the young man, who fixed his eyes on the floor, and left. He was followed by the two Soldiers who had been standing at the door observing.

Princess Cara looked at Santux, he had been frozen in place... "You may sit". She said, touching the cushion by her side.

Santux sat on the cushion she had indicated, the door opened and Morinda came in carrying a large tray. She had a big smile on her face, she placed the tray on the table and left, the door was shut. There was every form of edible on the tray, fruits, a big pitcher of wine and two glasses, a lap of roasted goat, two glass plates and cutleries, a small cake, bread and pepper sauce.

"You disappeared", the Princess said looking at Santux.

"No... I couldn't afford to visit the capital... But believe me, you are glued to my mind". He responded. He was shocked by what followed, the Princess stood and fell into his arms. She smelled of many flowers, she placed her mouth on his lips before he could decide how to react. He was still recovering from the brief meeting with the King. She kissed him repeatedly and finally he relaxed, he began to respond, hugging her tight. They separated few minutes later, dined and talked at length. By the time Santux left the castle, darkness had descended.

The King and his daughter left Kastaly the following day, people were on the streets cheering in farewell. They were followed by a long open carriage carrying different kinds of food. Santux and Faro waved from the window of their room at the Inn. He would receive a mini bag of gold coins and a written note of instructions few minutes after the King's departure, the Princess had told him to wait for it before he traveled back to Ludia.