Taris adjusted the girl’s stance and the way she held a dagger. Envy had taught her well, but Envy was also a thief, not an assassin. There were things she still didn’t know about. “Much better, Arauka, remember where your opponent’s vital spots are. There is no such thing as a fair fight, only survival.” He smiled at the youngster’s enthusiasm, she was a quick learn and listened well. Already he was finding ways she could be useful to him. He watched her run through the stances he’d taught her a few times with approval, until he felt the pendant heat against his chest.

[i]Already? What could he need so soon?[/i] Taris thought. “Keep running through your stances, Arauka, I need to talk to Envy,” he told her and went into the other room. He pulled out the pendant and placed it in a bowl. Immediately the bowl filled with shadows and Envy’s face came into view. Taris frowned, “Already, Envy. What’s happened?” He paused, “She doesn’t want me around, does she?”
Envy shrugged, “I’m not sure, she didn’t say.” He glowered through the shadow, “She deserves better than you, you know.”
Taris nodded, “I kn…”
“But the thing that upsets me most is that you can give her the happiness she deserves. And that is why I’m helping you, and why I need your help. Kentaro is going to kill her.”

Taris stared for a minute, “What?” His voice was ice, and his curved daggers flashed into his hands. Even in the pool of shadow Envy stepped back a moment. “She better still be there, Envy.”
The Kartaian shook his head, “No Taris, listen, she went back to protect the orphans. I wanted her to disappear, but she made a good point. Kentaro knows about the tunnels, and he’d come here first. Taris, he knows you are behind the murders, and he knows how you feel about her. You need to kill him, and get her out quickly. He won’t let her out of his sight, or at least have guards on her at all times.”

The assassin glared, “He’s a dead man. I told him he’d have 7 weeks if he didn’t piss me off. He’ll be dead by the end of the night, Envy. You have my word. Then we can talk about you letting her go back to that castle.”
Envy nodded, “Deal, assassin. But the moment you are seen in the castle, she’s dead. Can you move that quickly?”
“Don’t worry about it, Envy. They won’t know I’m there till they’re dead. Be ready and keep the pendant on you.”

Taris scooped the pendant from the bowl and the darkness dissolved. Behind him Arauka stood silently, he hadn’t even heard her approach. “You were listening?” he asked softly.
“Yes Master,” the girl replied, a hint of unease in her voice.
A smirk pulled at his face, “Good girl.” He kneeled in front of her, “Aera is in trouble and we need to get her out of the castle. But I’ll need your help to do it.” He smiled fully when she nodded eagerly, “Anything, Master!”
“Good, time to train you to walk in the shadows, my girl.”