Taris gathered his equipment, checking that each was in good condition. Beside him, Arauka waited eagerly, full of the excitement only youth seemed to find. Taris envied her that, knowing that if she stayed with him, he’d destroy that youth. He slipped the last blade into its sheath and nodded to the girl. “Do you remember what I taught you? How to move through the Shadow Realm towards a beacon?”
She nodded with determination, “Yes Master, I won’t mess it up.”
“One more time then: What’s the plan?”
Arauka’s face became serious. Her brow furrowed slightly, “We go through the shadows, find Aera in the castle. You kill the guards and go after Kentaro. I take Aera and shadow walk back to Envy, using the pendant you gave him as a beacon to guide me and pull me through the barriers. I wait with Aera until you return as well.”
Taris gave her a look, and she rolled her eyes a little. He cuffed her lightly on the back of her head. “OW! Okay, okay! And I stay with her in the tunnels and don’t leave her side at all until you are there. I keep her safe for you.”

The assassin smiled slightly, “Very good.” He sliced open the darkness in front of them and placed a hand on her shoulder. The void shut around them like a set of jaws. Arauka tried, with only partial success, to hide the wonder on her face. Taris slammed through barrier after barrier, his haste shattering the weak ones, and leaving a ripple in the others. Taris’ jaw set as they began to pass openings to the castle. He scanned her room first but it was deserted.

Arauka tugged on his arm, “Where to now, Master?”
Taris thought for only a moment, “His room.” They passed a dozen more openings out of the void before finding the right one. From inside the Shadow Realm Taris could see two guards flanking Aera, swords drawn. Across the room were two more guards, and Kentaro who was speaking with a man in long robes. A mage then, likely. Damn, the assassin thought,I hate mages. But the immediate threats were the two nearest Aera. As soon as he entered, their weapons would find her. Unless the assassin moved faster than they could.

The two guards were leering at the elf between them, when suddenly two curved lengths of steel materialized from the bit of shadow behind them, slicing through their throats. Blood sprayed as Taris quickly followed the daggers into the room. The other two soldiers brandished their weapons and charged the Shadow Elf, only to fall a moment later with throwing knives from the little thief girl in their legs. Taris stepped forward and plunged the tips of his blades between their ribs, into their hearts.
He stood and advanced on the mage, “Aera, go with Arauka and get out of here, now.”
She looked down at the small waif beside her, and back at Taris, “No, Taris, they’re ready for you.”
“Just go Aera, I’ll be fine,” he said as Kentaro moved between him and the mage. Arauka tugged fervently on Aera’s arm, but to no avail.

Kentaro sneered, “I knew it was you, Dark Elf bastard. Now you die.” He struck.
Taris parried with ease and returned with his own attacks. He didn’t even smirk, “That last person that called me that, ended up hanging in the lobby of a brothel. I told you to use your time wisely, idiot.” Their blades met in a flash of steel. Kentaro was good, keeping Taris away from the wizard. He needed to kill the mage before he finished the spell.

Taris flipped one blade forward and caught the guard of kentaro’s sword, flinging it wide. In came his other dagger, slicing once in the Prince’s belly, then back across his chest, and back across his throat. He heard Aera try to warn him when a massive white light flared to life before him, sending searing pain through his eyes. Blinded, he knew almost every shadow was gone in the light. He stumbled back until Aera caught him by the shoulders. “Damn it Aera I said get out of here!” he shouted. He grabbed her and the girl, opening the only shadow he knew was there. His own.

Taris shoved them both through, slamming it shut behind them. Trying to go through his own shadow was suicide, the magic would tear him apart. Another light flared on the other side of the room, and Taris screamed in agony, barely maintaining consciousness. A mailed fist caught him in the temple and he collapsed to the floor.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Arauka stumbled into the tunnels, pulling Aera behind her. It was much harder without Taris to help her shadow walk. Envy was there next to them immediately, “Where’s Taris, dove?”
The girl shook her head, “Back there, he’s in trouble.”
Aera shook her head, “We need to go back and help him.”
“No!” shouted both Envy and Arauka. The Kartaian looked at the girl in surprise. She stared at Aera, “My Master gave me orders to stay with you here in the tunnels. Do you know how much he cares about you? I won’t let you go back, he made me promise to keep you safe.”