"Watch it, Carter!"

The serving maid stepped on the girl's foot and tripped. She cursed aloud as the tray of food decided to fly off and land on the floor. She followed quickly after, landing right on the mess. "Don't you watch where you're going?!" Maryl screamed. She sighed, getting up from the floor and began to clean up the mess. The other girl, Carter, bent down to help.

While both girls detested each other, they were instant allies when at risk of angering the innkeeper, Harold. It was the end of the week and everything in the inn was busier, rowdier, and definitely a lot riskier.

A loud laugh exploded in the inn and both serving maids froze. They glanced at each other and quickly shoved the mess onto the tray. "Get inside," Maryl hissed. Carter went into the kitchen without a word of protest. As she did, she heard Harold's laugh behind the door. A sigh of relief gushed out.

Carter began to wash down the food, brushing off whatever food that had fallen onto her skirt. She frowned, irritated at her worn clothes. Not the first time in her life did she wish she could leave Harold. He was an innkeeper who was stupid and overweight. The only talent he did have was making more noise than anyone in the city and he could easily have her caught if she ran away. She brushed her copper hair aside and smiled bitterly. Not for very long, though.

"Hey, what's keeping you so long?" Maryl stuck her head in the kitchen. "If that food isn't out, someone will complain, and I'm not going to be the one who gets her head bitten off," she said and went back out. Carter sighed. Considering her relationship with Maryl, it was the closest Maryl would ever give her the better of a consideration. Both knew how heavy the hand of Harold could be.

"Psst."

Carter didn't even turn around. "What is it, Levi?" she whispered.

"If you want our help, you've got to come tonight. When the moon's high."

Carter cursed silently, fighting the urge to turn around. "You've got to be mad! It's the end of the week. You know I'd be asking for my death if I quit Harold tonight."

Levi chuckled. "That's why he's asking for tonight. You don't get in because you want to. You get in because you want to. Look, girl, it's only high moon. Everyone'll be drunk, plus one fat cow," referring to Harold, "Maryl will know to keep quiet or she'll have to deal with us. She knows better. Remember, it's high moon for shelter for a cat."

Carter sighed. "You're not making this easy." When she didn't get a reply, she turned her head. The only evidence that he had been there was the opened window.

"You're asking for your death," Maryl whispered. Carter flashed a bitter grin and pulled at her tattered shawl. She pushed herself up on the window-sill and looked out. The alleyway was silent with shadows.

"Give me until tomorrow morning. If I'm not back then, you can say whatever you want," Carter told the other girl, giving her one look. Maryl sneered and tossed her head defiantly. "Why should I?" she challenged. At this, Carter smiled sweetly. "Because if you don't know what's good for you, you'll have some unwelcome company to deal with," she replied and jumped off with the satisfaction of seeing Maryl's face paled.

Carter headed down the alleyway, keeping herself alert. She paused and hugged at herself. She eyed a section to her left, but kept her head straight ahead. "It's high moon for shelter for a cat," she said, barely getting the words out. As she anticipated, a shadow on her left stepped out. "This way."

He went back into the shadows. It wasn't until she followed that she realized the shadows had concealed a small alleyway. Her guide was soundless, but she kept up with him, following all turns just a moment after he had taken them. He stopped and bent down. She couldn't make out what he was doing, but heard something move. Light emitted from the floor, revealing a small hole in the ground. Her guide beckoned her down. She found a ladder and climbed down.

When her feet touched ground she turned around. Surrounding her were three men; one she recognized as Levi. He had a large scar on his left cheek that made him look more menacing than the others, but ironically, was the only one smiling at her. It wasn't a friendly smile, but it wasn't threatening either. He held a small torch and waited until her guide had sealed the hole. With a nod down the tunnel, they proceeded down. They came to a wooden door and the scarred man opened it. He bowed mockingly and gestured that she go in.

As she entered, the door closed and she found herself surrounded by darkness. Her eyes scanned around her. She couldn't make out where she was, but she could see three figures in front of her. Suddenly, hands gripped her shoulder and a blindfold was tied. She heard something being lit.

"Carter, is it?" The speaker had a low, melodic voice.

"Yes," she replied, turning her head slightly to where he was.

"A strange name for a female, isn't it?"

"I'm no normal female." She heard a few chuckles surround her. There were certainly more than three men with her.

"No. That you're not. You realize you are the first female to request membership with the Shadows?"

"I was told."

"We are considered to be a rough company, and not exactly high on the King's list. We aren't exactly pure and good. Many would gladly have our heads on their walls. Aren't too soft to be with us hardened men?"

Carter smiled slightly. "Not very many are on the top of the King's list and not many are pure as white and I haven't seen too many heads on walls for me to worry." Her smiled hardened. "And you're damned wrong if you think I'm soft."

"Ya seem to be a pretty soft bitch, girl, 'specially under that innkeeper's hand," someone hissed. Carter turned her head slowly to the speaker. "You look under that same damned innkeeper's arm and you'll see one bloody scar," she retorted. The first speaker laughed, almost as low and melodic as he spoke.

"Will, she has the mask of no fear to be one of us," he said. Others chuckled in agreement. "I hear you have a knack in the dark. How many of us are there?"

"When I came in there were three in front of me," she said and paused in thought. She turned to him. "Now, you're straight ahead. One more is behind me and another two in front. One's to my left." No one spoke. She felt something move and she was aware of the air around her. Her face screwed in thought. "You're now to my left, two behind me, one's in front," she said, concentrating.

No one spoke for an unmeasurable amount of time. Carter began to realize all that she heard was her hiss-like breathing. She wondered if they were that incredibly quiet, or that she was too apprehensive to even keep her breathing silent. Then, "Untie her blindfold, Levi."

She blinked once and saw five men around her. So she had missed one man who was standing very still in the corner. Even with her own eyes, she could barely see him. All of a sudden, she held her breath and dared to look around, wondering if she had made a fatal mistake.

The one she figured was her speaker was dressed in a sharper attire than the rest. He had on a tight fitting black tunic, leggings, and even black boots. His hair was pulled back in a short ponytail. This man was unexpectedly handsome, even his scar on the bridge of his nose that ran to his cheek. The image of dirty, rugged thieves was immediately dashed.

"Don't be mistaken that this is all there is to it to being one of us. There's a lot more, but you're right," he said, "You're not one normal female. From now on, you're not really a female at all. You're going to be considered one of the men, no exceptions because you're one bloody girl. Understand?" His tone only got a nod for a response.

"You've to take the oath, Carter. Give me your left hand," he commanded. She felt the roughness of his skin as he took her hand. She couldn't tell where he got it, but the next moment he had a dagger in his hand. "Listen, and listen closely.

"Now ends your life as an outsider. You are now a Shadower and your life is tied to the ways of the Shadows. Your life, your service, your knowledge, everything of yourself do you submit to the Shadows. Should you break this oath, you forfeit yourself. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she whispered.

Efficiently, the dagger cut across her hand and the wound flooded with pain and blood. He took his own hand, and cut his own palm reopening an old scar. He gripped her hand and allowed their blood to merge. He said, "Do you understand?"

"Yes."

He nodded and released her hand. Someone handed her a cloth.

"Take care of that wound. We don't want it infected," he advised. "I'm known as Nathan. You know Levi. He'll show you around. Normally this relationship we term as First Brothers, but in this case it'll be a First Brother and Sister," he said, grinning. "Welcome to the Shadows, Carter. In a world of nightmares, I hope this one isn't your worst."

"Better, better. Except for that hair, you look like one of us," Levi said, approvingly. Carter had changed from her normal dress to a dark brown tunic and trousers the brotherhood had provided. She pulled on her boots, admiring them briefly.

"Minus the additional curves," agreed another voice.

Levi turned around and laughed. A large man, towering Levi by a full head, stepped into the room and grinned. He gave a mock bow to Carter. "So, this is the reason we can't call the Shadows a brotherhood anymore, is it?" the large man joked, pulling on his beard. He laughed. "The name's Will. A little short, isn't she?" Will commented to Levi. "You think she'll survive?"

The words were said in jest, but Carter knew they held serious truth. She began to tuck Levi's dagger into her boot, then thought twice. With a graceful flick of her wrist, the blade marked a spot right above Will's head, touching his hair. The large Shadower stared for a moment before laughing and plucking the dagger out of the wood and handed it back to her. "I think you'll do, girl, I think you'll do," he said, and left the room.

Levi eyed her carefully. "Since when did you throw like that?" Carter tucked the dagger back into her boot and shrugged, giving him an embarrassed grin. "Actually, I wasn't planning to throw it at him, it slipped when I jerked it too hard," she admitted. Levi guffawed. "Don't let Will know that," he advised.

"Levi?"

The Shadower leaned against the wall and crossed him arms. "Yeah?" he said. Carter pulled her wavy hair back and tied it tightly. "Is Nathan the Master Shadower?" she asked. Levi looked at her incredulously.

"The Master Shadower? Girl, even I haven't seen the Master Shadower. Who ye haven't seen, ye can't identify, and that keeps him safe. No, Nathan is the second guy."

Levi took out his dagger and inspected it. "Rumor has it, Nathan was the Master Shadower 'fore. He's a lot older than he looks. You can see his hair's greying. But who knows? I kinda doubt it; if you're the Master Shadower, you should stay that way 'til you're dead. But unless the Master Shadower comes along, Nathan is as good as him.

"By the way, Maryl kept her mouth shut."

Carter raised her eyebrows. "I didn't think she had much choice," she remarked. Levi chuckled in agreement. "Nope, but she was pretty good. Made it like she had a choice and that she was doing us a favor for keeping her mouth shut. We'll have to visit her, don't you think?"

"So soon? Harold's probably got the guards after me," she said.

Levi grinned and pointed the dagger at her. "You forget, you're a Shadower, now."

"You're Maryl?"

Maryl nodded, not trying very hard to hide her irritation. She glanced at her employer's way and saw Harold shouting his frustration at the captain. She sighed, and glared at the royal soldier. The young man in uniform looked equally irritated.

"Look, I'd rather not question you myself, but it's my orders. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we go our way," the soldier explained. Maryl shrugged. "How old is Carter?" he asked. She mumbled she didn't know. The young man raised an eyebrow. "No idea?"

"Nope."

"How old are you?"

"How in Risidia's Domain should I know?" she snapped at him.

"Okay, okay. You have no idea where she may be?" he tried again.

"No, I told Harold, I told the captain, and I told ya. I don't know where she is, and see if I care. She could've run off with some boy and outta of the city now," she said. The guard looked at her for a moment, then nodded with resignation. He turned to leave her.

"Ya're damned right ya're gonna do what ya can!" Maryl heard Harold yell. Some drunkards shouted "Hear, hear!" and clanked their metal cups on the table. Encouraged, the innkeeper continued to waved his arms around declaring that Carter was like a daughter to him.

Maryl sighed. By that evening, Harold would be drowning in ale and she would most likely take a beating. The barmaid averted her eyes from her employer and foster father, wondering whether she hated Carter or envied the girl.

It was a little past the moon's zenith, when from the kitchen, Maryl could still hear the clanker of mugs on the table. Someone belched; most probably Harold himself. Maryl gritted her teeth as she balanced the stack of dishes. Only to her ears, she heard the sound of plates knocking each other caused by her own trembling. It was only time until she felt the heavy hand of the innkeeper. She dreaded it, but wished he would get over it. The longer he celebrated, the worse the beating would be later.

"Hello there, Maryl."

Maryl spun around and gasped. She saw no one, and instantly she knew her mistake. The voice came again from behind her and this time, she didn't turn.

"You forget the code, Maryl... but you're learning."

"What do you want? I didn't tell them anything," she hissed. A low chuckle sounded behind her.

"No, you didn't and of course we thank you, Maryl," he said, sarcastically.

Maryl ignored the comment and went to stack the dishes. She tried to sound casual as she asked, "So, she made it in, did she?" Her skin crawled as she heard the voice in her ear. "If she did, she did. If she didn't, she didn't," the voice said, menacingly. Then the person retreated.

"Of course, since yer have done us such a generous favor, I'll let yer in on it," he said.

"Hello, again, Maryl," another voice said. Maryl had to clench her fists to remind she wasn't to turn. "So you made it in," she said. Her anger flared when she heard Carter laugh. "No, Maryl. They've killed me and I'm a ghost that'll haunt ya ever and ever," Carter replied.

Maryl couldn't bear it any more and she whipped around. She only saw one Shadower looking very much like a shadow. The Shadower shook its head and sighed. "You really should control yourself," Carter said.

The other girl sneered. Unknown to her, she had clenched her fists tight enough that the knuckles turned white. Hatred was what she felt, but there was also envy. And that only intensified her resentment. "You're mad," Maryl spat, "Harold'll only bring in 'nother. A younger girl.. A child he'll destroy her. I hope y'll be glad to know it's on yer head." It was a pathetic insult, but it hurt.

From the female Shadower came a soft sigh. She took one step towards Maryl, and held out a purple vial. "It's a sleeping drug," Carter said. "Three drops should be enough." When the serving girl did not take it, Carter forced it into her hand. "Take care of yourself, Maryl," Carter said. Then, almost with the skill of a trained Shadower, she melted into the dark.

Another whispered in Maryl's ear. "Well. Bye-bye, now." She blinked and squinted for the two Shadowers. They were gone. Looking down at the vial, she realized she was shaking visibly. Then, dirty fingers pried the cork from the vial, and she began to pour the liquid into an ale mug.

Part two.

Copyright © 1996 Juliana Ng

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