The sounds of festivities filled the great hall of the palace. Lutes, tambourines, bells, and drums played merry songs as people danced around. Some of the men held mock battles, claymores, daggers, sabers, and scimitars flying here and there. Abruptly, the two huge oak doors swung out and there stood Zadok.

The festivities stopped.

He was dressed in brand new white plate armor with a flowing gold cape behind him. An empty rapier sheath hung at his left side on a belt of new leather. Light flowed in from behind him, giving even the dust in the air a merry appearance. He stepped forward and Tamar presented herself beside him. Her dress was vibrant red. Rubies were sown into the cuffs of the sleeves. She slipped his arm through his and strode forward. Samuel stood at the opposite end of the room holding an elegant sword. The rapier was stunning. The reinforced steel blade had carved figures that, in Hebrew, meant "Stealthy Warrior". This was Zadok's title. Every level five received one. Samuel's was "Wise One". The handle was made up of five seamlessly fused bands of speckled ivory. The hand guard was solid gold. Three prongs emanated from the base of the steel blade to make it up. The three gold prongs met at the bottom of the handle in a sharp point. The gold was inlaid with authentic rubies, all the way down to the point. Behind Samuel was another sword, a richly ornamented broadsword. As Zadok took another step, the crowd separated to allow him to pass. Abiathar followed appeared behind. At his side was Ahinoam. Abiathar was dressed in light blue armor, a similar style to Zadok's. Behind him flowed a dark sea blue cape. At his side was also a scabbard, fit for a broadsword. Ahinoam was wearing a dark indigo dress with sapphires in the cuffs. The procession strode forward. The gathered men and women applauded as Zadok and Abiathar separated from their escorts and accepted the swords from Samuel. They both turned around and raised their blades. The audience cheered all the more as they took them and slammed them down into their scabbards. Abiathar was now a level four. Zadok, now a five. Abiathar grasped Zadok's shoulder and shook his opposite hand. He then left the platform and retook Ahinoam's arm. They melded with the rest of the observers. Tamar gazed up at Zadok and Samuel with awe and admiration. Zadok briefly smiled at her and then turned. He strode up to the thick red velvet curtain that Samuel then drew back. The noise died down yet again as they solemnly watched the event. Zadok would now be told The Secret. Samuel followed him as he stepped over the threshold and the curtain fell. The music picked up and the festivities continued. In the meeting room, Zadok took his place on the floor around a low, round table. Samuel sat on his left, and an empty chair on his right. This was the Elder's chair, but he was not here presently for obvious reasons. Zadok saw Aries among the group. He looked up and flashed Zadok a grin before one of the other Elder's stood to speak.

"That's Eli," whispered Samuel.

"Welcome to the table," said Eli in a jovial voice. "Again, thy Elder's, another falls victim to the skill of the sword." Everyone chucked at this irony. In a more serious tone, he continued. "You have now earned the right to be held rank among the masters. And now, your reward." The veteran members leaned forward with anticipation. Every one of them had heard this secret before, but it was habitual to apprehend it's foretelling. "You know well of the king, yes?" asked Eli.

Zadok shuddered, and then nodded.

"I see that you cringe at the mentioning of Ahab. As did all of us in this meeting. We are working in secret to overthrow him. You must travel to Endor to speak to the duke there. We are on friendly relations with him, and he is our eyes and ears in the castle. He must know of you advancement and availability."

Zadok was speechless. Everyone hated this ruthless king, but no one dared challenge him. His marriage made him the strongest military force in the world. Betrothed to Jezebel, the strongest army in the world was at his fingertips to do his bidding. The nation grumbled to them selves about his taxation and oppression, but everyone feared him and they were silenced in the presence of anyone loyal to him. Zadok was still trying to comprehend this but Eli continued.

"No one other than the most elite warriors can know this. You must take an oath that you will tell no one of this except other level five Sword members. Only they can be trusted with the loyalty of keeping the secret. They know and understand the consequences."

Zadok took the oath and then cut his palm with his new sword and signed the documents in blood. Then Eli dismissed them to the festival for the new level five and level four. Zadok slowly left the room. As he pondered this new amount of knowledge, Aries met up with him at the curtain.

"Hey, don't be so excited to get out there. You'll hurt yourself," he said chuckling. Zadok smiled.

"Tamar will get worried that you left her," Aries went on, still grinning. Zadok lightly punched him in the shoulder.

"You win."

After the festival, Zadok and Abiathar trudged out to their horses. Samuel had already left in his carriage. The moon cast a sliver light over the palace steps, making the armor of the men shine. They were half walking with, half dragging the girls. Abiathar was on his mount first, with Ahinoam sitting in the saddle behind him draped dozing across his back. Zadok lifted Tamar into the saddle and put his foot in the stirrup.

An arrow whizzed past his head.

He reached for his sword and knocked a second arrow out of the air that was targeting Tamar. The flinthead struck steel with a spark that illuminated the area and spooked Solomon. Rearing up, he threw Tamar through the air and caught a third arrow in his chest. The poor horse screamed in pain and fell onto his front knees, blood already pooling in front of him. Abiathar vaulted off of his saddle, broadsword ready. Tamar crawled over to the crippled beast and slowly began to remove the arrow. Samson bolted with Ahinoam away from the scene. Abiathar nodded to his beast as it turned, making it stayed put, out of reach from the projectiles. Zadok and Abiathar ran into the now steady stream of arrows, their armor dented and scratched from them. An arrow hit Zadok's hand. He grit his teeth and ripped it out with a grunt, never faltering in his pace. The arrows stopped coming as they got closer and they heard the retreat of boots on cobblestone. The pair halted until they were sure the would-be assassins were gone. Blood dripping from his left palm, Zadok grimly turned and strode back to his wheezing horse. Ripping a section from his elegant cloak, he made a temporary torrent for Solomon. With Abiathar's permission, he rode atop Samson back to Samuel's farmhouse, galloping the entire way. Patting the horse's nose, he silently he drew out the carriage used for transporting goods to town. After kicking out the back panel, he hitched it to Samson. Ignoring the burning pain in his hand, he galloped as fast as he dared push his brother's animal back to his own horse. When he got there, Tamar was crying.

"No!" Zadok screamed.

Abiathar shook his head. "He's still alive, but he lost a lot of blood. I don't know if he'll make it.

"If he doesn't, those coward bowmen will regret the day they ever laid eyes upon me. This horse saved my life. That third arrow was aimed at me." He then alighted to Solomon and hoisted him into the cart. The axels groaned with resistance. Turning to his brother, he said, "Can you take him back to the farm? Samuel will know how to heal him. I would, but he needs to get back as fast as possible, and only you know Samson's full potential. I would, but I would probably exhaust him dangerously."

Without a word, Abiathar and Ahinoam mounted Samson and galloped off into the night.

Zadok kneeled down next to Tamar.

"Samuel will heal him. I know that man too well."

Tamar looked hopefully up at him. He smiled down to her. It was too much. She buried her face in his right shoulder and let out another long sob. Zadok was overwhelmed.