Chapter 2

After setting up the computer in a tiny office next to the forge, Joe and Todd started to work. The other two immortals were left to explore the building on their own. However, on the first sight, there wasn't much to explore.

The forge was an old industrial warehouse with brick walls that was rebuilt into a workshop with the forge, the office, a small recreational area with a couple of small tables, uncomfortable looking chairs, a coffee machine and a vending machine with knick-knacks, and a huge storage room that was also a garage for the delivery van.

Duncan sighed and Methos scowled, this was going to be one long and boring night. They decided to return to the workshop and watch Todd. Once there, Todd looked up and remembered what he had forgotten. He took out a key from his jeans pocket and handed it over to Duncan, "Sorry guys, I forgot to give these to you. There is a hidden door to an apartment somewhere around the building. Have fun finding it." With that and a big grin on his face, Todd turned back to his work without saying another word.

Just before the two were about to give up searching, Duncan finally found a locked door at the outside of the building. After unlocking it, they walked down a staircase and stood in front of another door. He opened it and fingered the wall for a light switch and illuminated the room when he finally found it.

Methos was the first one to react with a whistle at the sight in front of them. The room was a large living area with a kitchen. Walking through the basement, they found out that it also had two bed rooms with separate bathrooms, and, to their delight, a big workout area with a high ceiling to accommodate any kind of sword fight and on one wall were all sorts of weaponry in pairs; swords, daggers, axes, in both wooden and metal and sticks for stick fight. The opposite wall was one big mirror so that the person training could check on his own movements.

The two men quickly agreed on a training session and worked out until they couldn't even hold a sword anymore.

After taking a shower, Methos' next move was to see into the fridge and smiled at the sight of a shelf full of beer bottles and one of soft drinks. Looking into the pantry, Duncan found some dry condiments and canned vegetables, fruits and soups. Not gourmet food, but they could at least have something to eat.

Soon they sat down to a bottle of beer each and a bowl of vegetable soup. After dinner, they went to bed to get some rest.

One level up, 5 am the next morning

Joe had finally gone through all the files on the computer and later connected it to the internet to do some more research on the Watchers' database. Utterly amazed about all the info about this Maya Caras, he finally sat back, sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. Half way through the night he had taken off his prosthetics; no one had been in the office anyway. Now he put them back on, got up with long yawn and stretched his back and arms. He needed some coffee or better some booze to drain down the pictures of the little bastard killing her. Todd would have a lot of explaining to do on who she was.

Leaving the office, Joe went over to watch the immortal smith silently for a moment. Then he had a look around and found three finished swords in their scabbards lying on a table, two in the shape of a katana and one that reminded him of Methos' Ivanhoe. He had a closer look at the handles and was surprised to see simple, but still beautiful designs, as they were all made of wood. Finally the Watcher's curiosity took over and he picked one of the katanas up.

Joe was stunned to find it light weighted, but extremely well balanced. Then he withdrew it from the scabbard to find a beautiful blade with an unusual dark shimmer to it. The shiny cutting edge looked a little lighter and looking closer at it, the pattern displayed a mingling of two different kinds of metal. This sword was one of a kind and a true piece of art and mastery. Joe sheathed the katana back into its scabbard and carefully put it down again next to the other two swords.

"Do you like it?" Joe startled for a second and turned to see Todd standing right next to him. He nodded and grinned. Then Todd told him to take up the other katana. Joe was surprised to find it heavier than the first; looking at the blade, he found it to be a normal blade, though the weapon itself was still beautiful and well balanced. Joe looked questioningly at Todd, "What kind of metal is that first katana made of? Where is the difference?" Todd shook his head in response and said, "I can't tell you, yet. The katanas are for MacLeod, the other one and the one I have just finished are for Methos."

"So, Joe, have you found out anything useful?" Joe looked up at him but stayed silent. Todd smile and understood, "You are still not sure if you can trust me. I can understand that, but I need answers to who killed my wife. Perhaps it would help, if I answered some of your questions first?" Joe sighed and nodded slightly. Looking at the man in front of him, he sighed again. Todd looked tired and the eyes reflected the sadness and the deep sorrow on his soul.

Joe nodded again, "OK, fine. And I do have a lot of questions for you! I don't even know where to start!" Todd chuckled slightly, "OK. Do you want some coffee, Joe?" "Yeah, that would be great!" "Then come on, let's go down to the apartment."

Joe followed Todd to the staircase and groaned. The immortal looked a second at the watcher and then grinned, picked him up and carried a very upset Joe Dawson down the stairs. "Sorry about that, Joe, but there is no there way to get to the apartment." Joe grumbled and cursed the immortal, but was really grateful on the inside. This guy was very different from Methos indeed and he asked himself how these two had become friends in the first place.

After making some fresh coffee and sitting down at the dining table, Todd took a few sips out of his mug and sighed. Another minute passed in silence, before the immortal started to talk, "OK, Joe, so go ahead and ask me what you want to know." Dawson shook his head and grimaced, "I have so many questions; I don't even know where to start."

"How about I tell you something about me first then?" The watcher's eyes started to sparkle and a big smile appeared on Joe's face.

"I was born around the year 2852 B.C, the year that Raneb - or Nebra, how he is called today, became Pharaoh of Egypt. I was told that I was found, washed ashore one afternoon when the winter floods set in, by an old scribe named Horam who took me into his own family, gave me the name of the god of scribes, Djehuti, or Toth, how he was called later, and raised me as his own son. I was a quick learner and so he taught me reading and writing. At the age of ten, he had taught me everything a scribe needed to know. But I wanted to learn more, so I also learned the trades of a merchant. My appetite for knowledge was insatiable. One day, when I was about 23, I was told to take my 5 years younger sister to Memphis, to give her away to a good husband of my choice."

Todd paused a moment to get another sip of coffee and then continued, "Now, even today it is not easy to travel from the site of former Abydos to the ancient grounds of Memphis. Back then, it was even harder. The only possible ways were either through the desert or by boat up the big river. Both choices were dangerous and often deadly. I chose to attach ourselves to a caravan that was passing through our village, about a three months' travel away from our destination. "

"With the caravan travelled another man who soon fell in love with my sister, and she with him. I became friends with him. As we reached Memphis, though, Pharaoh Raneb caught a glimpse at her and demanded her to be taken into his harem as a concubine. If I wanted to live, I knew I had to oblige. My new friend growled in agony and together we made a plan to rescue her."

Joe intervened, "Who was that guy?"

Todd smile broadly and nodded into the direction of the bedrooms.

Joe made a face, "do you want to tell me that it was Methos?"

Todd nodded and chuckled, while Joe continued to ask, "So, did you two rescue your sister?" Todd frowned and shook his head. "No, we couldn't. There was no way we could enter the palace without suspicion. So I got myself hired as a scribe and spied on the people in the palace. "

Todd's face saddened, "Two years later, we finally had a plan to get her out when we heard that the pharaoh had abandoned her and had her killed by one of his men."

"I was only sad at first, but Methos was furious. He led me away and trained me in every way to become a warrior. Once I was ready, we attacked the palace at night. We killed the guards and went to Raneb's bedroom. But as soon as we reached the pharaoh's quarters, Methos' face went strange. Raneb appeared within a few seconds with an axe in his hands. He threw his weapon at me and hit me off guard. The axe went straight into my chest and everything around me went black."

"When I awoke, I looked at myself in wonder; my head and body was hurting, but the axe and the wound were gone. I was lying in a small chamber just off the pharaoh's quarters, where lamp oil and fire wood was stored. I went to the door, opened it and got a glimpse of Methos completing a swing with his sword to sever Raneb's head from his body."

"What happened next, was unbelievable! Some kind of fog appeared out of the headless body and went straight into a surprised looking Methos. Just a second later, everything around me exploded and burned me and the palace down. I died for a second time, this time in pure agony."

Todd stayed silent and a shudder ran through him. Joe wanted to say something, but couldn't. There was nothing he could say after such a story.

To their relieve, one of the bedroom doors opened and a sleepy Methos appeared, only in shorts dressed and with ruffled hair, and went directly to the coffee machine to get a cup of coffee. After a few sips, he let out a big sigh, followed by some more coffee, a big groan, even more coffee and swearing. It was still much too early for Methos and the training session with MacLeod had been intense and painful for both of them. When his mug was finally empty, he let out another sigh and mumbled a "good morning" at the two guys sitting at the dining table and went to take a shower.

Just a few minutes after the water tap was turned on, an even more tired looking Duncan appeared out of the second bedroom. With a "good morning" and a small grin on his face, he went over to the coffee machine and groaned - Methos had taken the last coffee without making some new.

When a second batch of coffee was finally brewing - a 400-year old Highlander wasn't supposed to be knowledgeable on how to use an electric device - he, too went to take a shower in the second bathroom.

The two men sitting at the table and watching the two immortals, started to chuckle and laugh as soon as the bathroom door was closed. At least the laughter would ease some of the tension between the Watcher and Todd that had built up after the conversation. Joe still wanted to know more about Todd, but it had to wait until later.

Five minutes later, Mac and Methos reappeared fully dressed and looking much more alive.

Both men took a cup of coffee, refilled Todd and Joe's mugs and joined them at the dining table.

After taking a few sips of coffee, Duncan asked Joe if he had found out who had killed Todd's wife. Joe nodded but stayed silent. Looking back and forth at one pleading and two expecting faces, Joe rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright - yes I found out who killed Maya. It was," looking at Duncan, "one of your old acquaintances. It was Kenny." Then he continued to explain to Todd and Methos who Kenny was and how many immortals he had killed within the last week. Duncan asked for names and the Watcher obliged.

Kenny had taken five heads within seven days and with each name that Joe listed, Todd's face became whiter and more horrified. After Joe finished talking, Todd got up without another word and left the apartment.

Joe wanted to go after him right away, but Methos held him back and shook his head. "Leave him alone for now! I will go after him in a moment. Joe, why don't you try to find out where Kenny is right now? We need to keep a close eye on him!" Joe nodded and sighed. Then he got up before Methos could hold him back. "What Methos, can I not even go to the bath room anymore? I am getting too old for this crab!" The two immortals chuckled and let Joe go. Methos went to his bedroom, retrieved his Ivanhoe and told MacLeod to keep an eye on the Watcher and to keep him informed if there were any news. Then he left the apartment to find Todd.

Right out of the Bath room, Joe noticed that Methos was missing and wanted to go after him, but Duncan held him back and asked, "Joe, what's going on here? Is there something you want to tell me?" Joe sighed and looked up, "the immortals Kenny killed were all students of Maya." "Are you trying to tell me that Todd could be the next on his list?" "I don't know - I told you before that we Watchers don't know everything! Hell, I didn't even find her under the name Maya in the files; instead, I found bits and pieces about her in about 10 different files from the last 100 years. So, we might not even know who else her students were. Until now I only know of three others. Oh, and Todd isn't even mentioned in any of them what so ever! Now, could you please help me up those damn stairs, please? I want to know what's going on between those two really old guys." Duncan shook his head. It was best to leave those two alone for the moment. Joe grumbled and took out his cell phone to call Kenny's watcher.

One floor up, Methos knew where to find Todd. Reaching the forge, he found it in a state that could have been caused by a bomb explosion. Todd was sitting on the floor in a corner with his back to the wall. He had his head between his knees and his arms covered the rest of his head. Methos lay his Ivanhoe on the table, went over to his sobbing friend and sat down next to him.

With a clam voice he asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" Todd only shook his head. Slipping into Egyptian, he asked again, but only got the same reaction. "Phoenix, talk to me! Who are the dead?" It wasn't a question, but an order and Todd obliged. "Students, Maya's students, or at least of four of them. The fifth, Maya found, but he was my most recent student. He was still in his first life, damn it!" "There is more to it than that, isn't it?" Todd nodded, but stayed silent. He got up and started to clean the forge. Methos helped and soon it was in a workable state again. Todd started to work on the Ivanhoe by refitting the handle to the new blade while Methos cleaned up the rest of the forge.

Methos finished long before Todd and watched him cleaning up the oven. When done, Todd wanted to grab his works and leave for the apartment, but Methos held him back. "Let's talk!" Todd only shook his head. "Phoenix, you talk to me now or I am leaving and I am taking MacLeod and Dawson with me. Then you can see how you can handle this situation alone! Damn it, why are you always this stubborn? Why do you never give anything of yourself away?" Todd chuckled, "Because, Methos, we never do and you know that. Maya taught us too well in these regards." Methos nodded, "The part you are hiding is about her isn't it? It's that thing that neither of you have ever wanted to talk about." Todd nodded, "Yes, you are right. I swore an oath once that I would never give away her secrets to anyone, as long as she was alive..." He stopped in his tracks and looked up while Methos completed his sentence, "but she is dead now. So you either keep quiet and lose me as a friend or you tell me and we can see what I can do to help you."

Todd hesitated, but finally asked, "what did Maya tell you about her age?" "Nothing and she never said anything about it. So I always assumed that she was around my age, perhaps a little younger. Why?" "Do you remember the talk Maya, you and I had not too long ago about old and powerful immortals?"

Methos chuckled, "your idea of short while ago is funny! Wasn't that talk something like 250 years ago?" Todd grinned and nodded. "So what does this talk have to do with Maya?" "Do you still believe that odd Quickenings can't happen?" "Phoenix, I have changed since then and yes, I now believe that something like a dark or polar Quickening is possible. I saw what one did to MacLeod a few years ago. But what does all this have to do with Maya? As much as I know, she was a good immortal."

Todd sighed, "She might have been a good immortal, but Maya made me take an oath to never tell you anything about her as long as she was alive, because she thought it might be dangerous. Now she is dead and I have to tell you - our lives might depend on it. Until she died, Maya was the oldest living immortal ever. She told me tales about going Mammoth hunting and going to North America with the first settlers during the last ice age!"

"You might ask yourself why she never told you. It was because she met you just after you had left the four horsemen. She could still sense Death lurking strongly just under the surface. She told me about her age and her powers back then and about the dangers, if you would have received her Quickening. And she wanted to live, just like we still love to be around after so many millennia."

The look on Methos' face went from stunned to shocked and back again. When he, Todd and Maya had talked about odd Quickenings, he had wondered on how much of it was true. He had decided to stop fighting back then whenever it was possible and had found enough ways to avoid them. Then he saw what happened to MacLeod when he received a dark Quickening and knew right there that Maya was right.

When the silence in the room got unbearable, Todd got up and said, "I am hungry! Let's get something to eat for everyone. I know a good restaurant nearby that serves great breakfast and even as take-away."

The two of them packed the swords and Todd's equipment into the van, got in and left for the restaurant.