The moon was full in the sky, creating ominous shadows throughout the courtyard of the castle. Torches flickered near guard shacks and the portcullis creating moving shadows. Armsmen patrolled the courtyard at its perimeter and atop the battlements. Their numbers had been increased since the death of Arthur. Word had been spreading of a new breed of raiders and thugs. The invaders were said to be a 'new breed' indeed, if the outlandish descriptions were to be believed. Where possible, men strolled the light and harried to pass quickly in the shadows. Tension gripped all those on duty.

Marrel hunched at one of the archways that led to the practice yard. He saw racks for practice equipment that stood empty and stuffed training targets swaying slightly in the cool evening breeze. From his vantage point, Marrel could not see any of the patrols, though he knew the men were out there. After 4 days of shoveling manure at the direction of Squire Derk, including working half the day of Sabbath, Marrel had decided enough was enough. Disgust for Derk's cruelty had overridden his desire to become a squire. His jaws clenched at the thought of him. He decided to make his own fortune outside the walls of Camelot. Many paths awaited him outside the gate, but only one path was traveled under the blanket of Camelot's protection; one that led straight to the horses stables.

Marrel's heart was true to his realm, but he had endured many hardships for a boy his age. The death of his parents was a fading memory whose details faded with each passing day. He had been barely out of the crib when the scouting party of Mordred's invading hordes sacked and looted the distant farm his family held. Marrel's mother had hidden him in the root cellar at the first sign of trouble. Only a patrolling band of Armsmen, led by Captain Helworth, had turned the invaders and saved Marrel. His life since his rescue had been one of ridicule and disappointment as other children of the castle had berated him constantly for his missing heritage, or his defiance to authority, or one of a hundred other things, but mostly because of his small size. Marrel had had enough. Loaded in a small bundle over his shoulder were foodstuffs, snare, an extra smock and sandals, and his prized sling. Buttoned in the pocket of his smock was a small rat he had found earlier in the day. The rodent was munching contently on a piece of bread. His use of the rat would be for diversionary purposes only. Standing orders had been passed to pursue and kill all rodent to prevent disease. The only thing lacking was a stout knife or blade. He figured the stores for the practice yard would yield him some steel.

Marrel crept slowly forward, hugging the walls and taking advantage of the shadows cast in the courtyard. He moved deliberately, padding with his toes before placing his weight on the next step. The door to the practice stores was locked, but he had learned just recently he could jimmy the lock with the coil of smithy's wire he had palmed from the castle's blacksmith. Crouching at the doorway, Marrel took out a rag dripping with wetting oil and rubbed the cloth over each of the hinges on the door to keep a creak from alerting the guards. With that done, he swung the door open slowly went in at a crouch.

Inside, the room was illuminated by faint torchlight from one of the three corridors. Edging toward the source of the light, Marrel saw the torch mounted on the wall next to the wooden door that led to the stores. The corridor curved slightly and ended in a set of stairs rising into the castle. He made his way to the door and saw the latch held by a large iron lock. Taking his oil rag out, he rubbed the lock thoroughly and worked the tumbler with his smithy wire.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps on the stairs coming his way. Quickly, he laid the lock back on the latch, making it look as if the mechanism were still secure, and reached into his pocket while moving back to the courtyard entrance. Laying flat against the wall just to the side of the hallways entrance, he tossed the rat down the corridor. It landed in front of the doorway to the stores, scurried to the opposite side along the wall and footed towards the stairs.

"Agg! Come here you little rodent!" The voice of the armsman was loud against the earlier silence.

Marrel could hear the sound of a small dagger being drawn and the boots of the armsman thudded on the stone floor in pursuit of the rat. The sounds headed towards the small room Marrel was in and he crouched low.

The rodent zipped into the room, its small legs a blur, followed immediately by the guard. The man began lifting his knee in line with his waist and stomping wildly. The rat, in no mood to end it's career, began running in circles, darting back and forth. The armsman tried vainly to hit the creature, seeming to forget he held a dagger in his hands. His leg was pumping up and down as fast as he could manage in studded leather. He soon was using both legs, alternating between them as if this would double his chances of victory. His legs and arms were pumping so erratically, he almost looked to be trying to dance. The thought made Marrel smile and he covered his mouth with his hand to hide his smile.

The rat jumped out of the fray and stood quickly sniffing the air.

"I've got you, you little�" The armsman stopped in mid stomp and moved slowly. The rat went to all fours as if the guard was gone.

The armsman smiled, let out a yell, and charged the rodent. Just as he had hoped, the rat flew down one of the remaining darkened corridors with the man in tow. That's one problem out of the way, though Marrel. With a smile, he headed back to the lighted door.

Marrel pulled the torch out of the wall mount and stripped a small burning sliver. It would not last long, but then he didn't need long to get the job done. He removed the lock and went inside.

The small light was barely enough to see the practice weapons that were stored in racks and on tables. Padded armor, wooden swords and polearms lined the walls. The room was full, but orderly. Moving quickly, Marrel went to a small chest in one corner. His days of watching the Armsmen practice and asking questions was about to pay off. Inside the chest, he knew there were knives and sharpening tools used to maintain the practice weapons. The chest was not locked and was only used to keep moisture off the metal. Slowly, he opened the lid and began rummaging through its contents.

With a loud bang, the door to the storeroom was thrown open. Spinning on his heels, Marrel was blinded by the torch the figure held. Raising his hand to his eyes, he could only see a black silhouette with the outline of a sword at the hip. Marrel could only look in shock as the man strode towards him.

Marrel knew it was over. He had been caught in an attempt to steal and would be beaten and thrown out of the castle; or even worse, imprisoned. Looking franticly for an escape that wasn't there, Marrel wondered what his fate would be. The figure stopped and rested a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"So, young Marrel, pilfering from the practice stores, or just having a look around?"

Marrel's eyes had become adjusted to the torchlight and he recognized the man and the voice. Captain Helworth stood impassively waiting for a reply. He was covering Marrel's only chance for escape.

"No�no sir! I was just�I mean�it isn't what it looks like!" He was stammering and flustered. He could think of no way out of this.

"Is this the life you've chosen boy? Is this the path you journey? You must surely abandon all hope of becoming a squire, you know that don't you?"

Marrel began to fill completely with fear. He was rooted to the floor and could not think of words that would free him. He could only stare at Captain Helworth.

Captain Helworth reached out his hand for Marrel. "You are coming with me."

Marrel didn't want to find out where Captain Helworth wanted to take him. He feigned to the right, planted his right foot on its toes, and leaped for all he was worth to the left in hopes of confusing the captain and slipping past. Captain Helworth's hand shot out like an arrow to Marrel, obviously not falling for the trick. His thick fingers grabbed a handful of brown hair and held Marrel fast. Marrel grabbed for the wrist, twisting and squeezing as hard as he could. A sharp and intense pain filled Marrel's right leg as Captain Helworth's boot caught him in the calf. He buckled, but did not fall. Fingers still held tight to his hair.

"Do not yell or call out boy. There is no one to help you now." His voice was even and stern.

Turning with the boy dragging and fumbling behind him, Captain Helworth walked out of the storeroom as if on a leisurely stroll. He walked down many darkened hallways and passages. He began taking a long and narrow stairway down. Some more poorly lighted hallways and two more flights of stairs down and it hit Marrel. The captain was going to take him to the dungeons! He was going to be a prisoner! The thought left Marrel cold and even more frantic.

"Please Captain!" whispered Marrel. "I will never do such a thing again! Please sir, I don't want to die in a cell!"

The captain looked down and said, "You've chosen the road you shall travel. The only thing to do is accept your choice and face the responsibility." His words had softened a bit and his face had lost some of its edge. The captain's hand let go of his hair and cupped around the nape of his neck, not gripping, but certainly firm.

Some of the tension eased from Marrel and he stood straighter. Captain Helworth's words provided little solace, but he could find no fault with his tone.

The pair continued deeper into the castle. The lone torch made the stone corridors dance as they moved. They were in a part of the castle that Marrel had never known about. He surmised that few did. He thought about what he knew of the castle and discovered the dungeon must be at least one or two floors above them. He did not know if that made him feel better. If the dungeon wasn't their destination, what lay ahead?

The torch began to flicker. It was running out and Marrel had not seen a replacement for quite some time. He began to worry the light would run out before they arrived, wherever that might be.

"Almost there." The captain actually seemed to grin. Marrel had been looking right at the captain when he said it. It was brief, but it was there nonetheless. It was the face one had when they knew a secret no one else knew. Curiosity began to creep into Marrel's fear.

They stopped before a door in the middle of a hallway. It was plain and resembled the thousand of other doors in the castle. It looked old and had rust on the bindings. No lock held the latch. When Captain Helworth pushed the latch and swung the door, no sound was made, although the apparent rust said otherwise.

Behind the door was an earthen tunnel. It was slightly lower than the castle hallways and a man of normal height would have to stoop. The captain pushed Marrel ahead. Marrel's head came nowhere near the top. The captain had an inch to spare.

"Go straight ahead Marrel. There is enough light for you to see by." He turned and began to close the door.

"Wait! What are you doing captain? Where does this go? Wait!"

"Have no fear Marrel. Ahead is the road less traveled by most. Your future lies at the end." He smiled briefly and had nothing but concern in his eyes. "I always did take a shine to you."

He stood up and placed his fist on his chest and gave his head a slight nod. "May fortune favor the lucky and may luck follow your travels."

He slowly closed the door. Marrel stood there in amazement. He could not figure out what was going on and he always took pride in figuring out things others had trouble with. He reached for the door, but found no handle or latch. The darkness was complete for a while until his eyes adjusted. He noticed the tunnel went for twenty paces and turned to the left. A soft and steady light glowed around the corner. He crept forward, straining his ears to pick up the slightest sound, but the earth walls did not carry sound well.

Peeking his head around the corner, he could see a room with tables, chairs, and a few other furnishings. The light came from a lantern on one of the tables. There was no one in sight, but the room opened further to the left.

Marrel stood straight and eased round the corner, ready to accept what Captain Helworth had thrown him in to. As he entered the room, he noticed strange devices lined the tables. There were other lanterns were in the room to even the lighting, but it was still very dim. Various weapons were in a corner rack, most of which appeared smaller than the arms he had seen used in the practice yard. There was another exit on the far wall that appeared to lead deeper into the earth. At the opposite end of the room, the wall curved down to meet a small pool with a small wooden dock that had an even smaller dingy tied to it. Marrel could make no sense of this room.

"Glad to see you've arrived in one piece Marrel."

Marrel jumped with a start. He had seen no one in the room and even though he heard the voice, he could still not find the speaker. His head was turning back and forth.

"Where are you and who are you!"

A figure seemed to step out of the shadows near the only other exit of the room. The shape didn't step out so much as flow from the shadows. Marrel saw a man shorter than normal. He had a hooded cloak about him that blended with the dark. It seemed to be made from the shadows themselves. The hood was up, hiding all features.

"Who are you!" demanded Marrel.

The figure moved silently around a table and turned to Marrel. With a speed that Marrel had never witnessed before, the figure swirled the cape from around its torso, revealing black studded leather armor and a long and delicate sword at the hip. High, black leather boots and gauntlets completed the outfit. A hand reached for the hood and pulled it back, revealing golden, long hair and a delicate face with deep green eyes.

"You're a girl!" exclaimed Marrel. Dealing with a girl seemed to lessen the danger, despite the armor and sword. "You're going to tell me where I am and who you are!"

The young woman looked at Marrel and offered a wicked smile that held Marrel. She casually began to move around the table, rubbing her finger along its edge.

"This is your first lesson. Appearances are meant to be deceiving," she replied devilishly.

With that, she put her hand out flat on the table and whirled her cloak with her free hand around to her back. With incredible agility and quickness, she leapt up and turned at the same time, her right leg extending straight, heel forward.

Before Marrel could even think of reacting, her heel connected with the side of his temple, dropping him instantly to his side. He raised his hands to shield his face and rolled to his back, only to discover her standing astride him, her hands on her hips.

"I am Serena and I am your teacher" The shadows from the poorly lit room made her smile more menacing. She offered a gloved hand to him.

"Welcome to the Guild of Shadows Marrel."

Marrel could only close his eyes and groan.

END CHAPTER 2. CHAPTER 3 COMING SOON!