Nicholas rode his horse as fast as it could. He had to reach the Kingdom as early as possible, else there was no way he could keep the promise. He has seen the power of Morpheous, he had seen what he was capable of. So probably Balthazaar was right. He was as mightful as Nubeous, or even more. He was protected by an angel just like Nubeous, so if they both fought then probably it could annihilate their entire kingdom.
So his aim was now not to save Morpheous, but to save his kingdom.
Earlier while riding through the forest of the forbidden in the morning, he was time and again looking all around as if a series of alarming invisible things were taking place in the forest of the forbidden, based on the tales that he had heard. But now while going back, the only fear that was gripping him was his inability to keep his promise.
Soon they covered the mysterious stretch of the forest of the forbidden and reached the outskirts of the kingdom.
"How far from here?", asked Damianos, getting all restless as they had been riding for hours.
"Few miles. Not much. We will take the back road and enter the palace pastures. That way we can avoid the palace guards," replied Nicholas and pulled the reins even harder.
"But why do you have to avoid the guards? You have been sent here by Nubeous himself! Why do you have to hide?" questioned Daminaos.
Caught off-guard by him, Nicholas stuttered and said - "Erm... Yes. True. Nubeous has sent me. True. Why do I need to hide?
"I do not need to hide, right?
"But... But what about you? Ah... also did you forget I was with Morpheous. The soldiers have seen me. They will fill my master"s ears against me and probably know better than me as to how vengeful my master is."
"I see," replied Damianos with an unconvinced tone as Nicholas took the detour. The crossed the foothills and Damianos could see a section of the land lined by tiny lavender-colored flowers. The same flower that Nicholas had given to Morpheous. But what bothered him the most was a flag next to those flowers, which read,
"Caution!"
.
.
On the other hand, the soldiers who had brought Morpheous back to the kingdom sent their message to Master Nubeous through the central tower doorkeepers.
The doorkeepers were hesitant to convey the news to their Master as it was not an ominous one. They were scared that their Master might silence them to death, just for conveying the message. Shuddering with fear, the youngest of the keeper was forced to take up this onerous task.
At that time Nubeous was taking bath, preparing himself for the auspicious ceremony in which he wanted to wear the newly forged ring that would make him the invincible one. Uniting the broken pieces of the guide was his dream, that had remained unfulfilled since ages.
"Knock Knock"
"Come in!", said Nubeous while sipping onto the finest wine which had been aged for decades. He was soaking his body in milk and turmeric in the royal bathing chamber as directed by his royal physician.
But the keeper couldn"t dare to inch further. Taking just a step inside the room, he announced himself and then mustering up all the courage that he could he dared to say,
"Master! Few of the soldiers of the royal army have come back to the Kingdom and they had a message for you, my Master. I am here to convey the message."
His voice was as polite and as meek as possible.
"They are here already?" queried Nubeous with an elated voice for he couldn"t believe that his men were able to find the ingot so soon.
"Yes, master!", replied the keeper with his head hung low as he was contemplating how to give the bad part of the news to him.
"Then what are you waiting for? Ask our Royal goldsmith to bring in the ingot. And here..." saying that Nubeous flung a sapphire ring towards the keeper. "Here is your reward for bringing me the good news."
"Clank"
Nubeous heard his ring landing loudly on the floor.
He was angered as to why the keeper was not able to catch it.
"You fool!", he muttered. Had it been any other day, he would have chopped his hand for this impertinence, but not today!
Covering himself in his silken robe, he came out of the bathing chamber. He pulled his hair back with his hands and tied it in a knot. Water was still dripping through his robes, but he didn"t care as today, after centuries, his longing was finally over.
As he walked ahead he saw the keeper kneeling on the floor with his head hanging low. His ring was lying just in front of the keeper.
"He still didn"t pick it up," muttered Nubeous under his breath as he tied his robe near his waist.
"Master forgive me to inform you this, but they do not have the ingot," said the keeper and bowed with his head touching the floor.
"They do not have the ingot?
"They couldn"t find it?
"I had sent an army of three hundred men, and still they couldn"t find it.
"Then why did they dare to return back empty-handed?"
Nubeous fumed and paced in the chamber and then looking at the keeper he said,
"Execute them all!"
"Master!", exclaimed the keeper in disbelief.
"Execute all the three hundred of them!", screamed Nubeous.
"But master, only three of them have come back!", replied the keeper, with his head still hung low.
Pinching the s.p.a.ce between his eyebrows, unable to understand what the keeper meant to convey, Nubeous looked at him with silent anger and asked,
"What about the rest?"
Gulping his own spit the keeper stuttered,
"Master... They have...".
Getting irritated, Nubeous thundered,
"I sent three hundred men to get my ingot sentry, why only three have returned?"
.
"Becasue... Becasue only three have survived my Master!"