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[Steel Samurai]

Steel nodded as Kitsune rode off. He then turned his attention to the two girls clinging to him. Whatever their story was, he knew it had to be interesting, but for now it would have to wait. It seemed the war was beginning. Steel thought for a moment and made up his mind. He mounted his horse with the girls and took them to the village from which he had acquired the horses. He dismounted just outside the city limits and slapped the horse on it's buttocks. The steed galloped off, presumably in the direction of the stable it was from. Steel walked slowly down the street, and turned in at a house on his right. In it was an elderly woman, well into her 90s. "Excuse me old one, may I have a word?"
"Eh? Speak up sonny!"
Steel smiled and knelt down next to her.
"Would you be willing to take care of some children for me? I will give you money for their board."
"I'm too old to be havin' children around again . . . let me see the little whippersnappers."
Steel brought them to her. The old woman looked deep into their eyes, and then an unexpected smile broke across her wizened face.
"Well . . . maybe just for awhile . . . how long did you say you needed me to take care of them?"
"I do not know. I will return as soon as I may."
The old woman nodded slowly and pulled the children inside. Steel sighed. Well. That was one problem taken care of, for the moment at least. A sudden spasm of pain rocked his arm. He could feel the heat from the tattoo burning his flesh. He limped out of town into the forest which covered the hills, and knelt, slowly drawing the mystical shapes in the ground. drop of blood from the skin which contained the tattoo, and Steel slammed his hand to the center of the design. The shapes lit up with an unearthly blue light, and suddenly Steel appeared back in the fortress, on the highest tower of the citadel. Lord Juno would be wanting him.