Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places; (except for the ones I made up and the plot – all mine) they belong to Tamora Pierce.

15. The Shang Compound

Ilane felt her foot disappear beneath her and saw the triumphant gleam in Joplin's eye. Poor, stupid, cocky boy. He darted in toward her as she fell, ready with a kick that would finish the match. She was prepared for him. Just as his foot was about to strike her she twisted out from beneath him, on her feet and behind him in seconds, already aiming her own kick and forcing him to the ground. He lay there completely winded, but still starting to get up as she landed on his back and held him down.

The Unicorn chuckled appreciatively. 'Great tactics, Ilane. You haven't softened, have you? I wouldn't have thought it possible, but I do believe you have become harder. Help the poor boy up now, where are your manners?'

Ilane pulled an abashed Joplin off the ground. He had the good grace to grin at her and shake her hand. 'Good fight, Ilane.'

'The better girl won.' Her eyes were so cold they startled him. He stood there, shaking out the shoulder she'd kicked and frowning at the Unicorn. 'You could have warned me!'

She grinned at him. 'Welcome to the real world, boyo. Is every adversary you meet going to say 'oh yeah, by the way: I have six years of full Shang combat training and two years of page training, so be careful how you treat me'? I don't think so.'

Joplin was gaping at Ilane. 'You've trained here? No wonder you can fight. I recognized the style, actually.'

The Unicorn frowned at him. 'As you should have.' She jerked her head sharply. 'Get back to Tobin and Falier.' He ran back to his two combat partners. The Unicorn turned slowly to Ilane. 'Very good, girl. I honestly hadn't thought you would win. I wanted to show you what you could have been like if you hadn't left. But watching you fight, you should have finished it earlier. You were playing with him. It would have been good for that one to get a bit of a shock in the form of a quick defeat. Come with me.' She started running toward the buildings before Ilane could respond. The trainees just kept on sparring.

Ilane caught up with her quickly. She was breathing a bit hard, but kept up alright. She realized that it hadn't occurred to the Unicorn that she might be tired after a fight. She just assumed that Ilane would keep the pace and not complain, like any other trainee would. Ilane was not sure how she felt to be back here. It had been a while since she had been under such tough instructors. The Bear had been tough alright, but he hadn't been in charge of her all day everyday. And she wasn't even completely sure just why she was back, or how long she would need to stay. The Chamber hadn't been very clear.

You will need to find your own way. But I will guide you in the first step: return to Shang. There is something there you require.

She didn't know what it was she had to find, or even whether it was an object or just a certain lesson. It was hard to be sure. And it had sounded like the Chamber would not be talking to her again any time soon. That was a relief in its own way, but there were so many things Ilane needed to ask.

For now she followed with a certain amount of trepidation, carefully tucked away, as the Unicorn entered the long building in the centre of the compound. Ilane had never been here before. Only Shang warriors and those about to be raised could enter this building. No trainee had ever been allowed in. Ilane was not sure what that made her.

Inside, Ilane carefully went down three steps just within the door. The roof became surprisingly high, and the air was sweet and cool. Stepping inside out of the hot sun brought instant relief. There was a single room that ran the length of the building. The floor was compacted dirt; a low bench along one wall was the solitary furnishing. Ilane and the Unicorn were the only two people in the room. Two long slits high on the walls gave scant light, and left the interior dimly lit.

Ilane noticed all of this in her quick initial scan, and paused to let her eyes adjust to the gloom before studying the space once again. On her second look, she noticed what her sun-blinded eyes had missed the first time: in a far corner, the floor was broken by hair fine cracks that could outline only one thing, a trapdoor leading to somewhere below the building.

'That is where you can't go, Ilane. There is really nothing special about the rest of this building.' The Unicorn's voice was light and conversational. Ilane was not surprised that the woman had noticed her looking at the trapdoor.

She gave no sign that she had heard, and walked further in to the room. Reaching the bench she sat without invitation, leaning back against the wall and stretching out her legs to cross her ankles. There was nothing for her to fear from the Unicorn. She would not have been brought here only to be turned away. It was an interesting thing to know about this building, and the compound itself. How many rooms were underground? Were there always more people here than any one of them realized? She would have to come back to those thoughts later.

The Unicorn had settled on the floor facing her, and started to stretch out her long legs. This was one woman who did not have to resort to basic tactics such as standing over someone to exert authority and deadly power. With every movement smooth muscle rippled under her skin, and she did not so much walk as flow. Ilane realized that she was getting quite old. Her skin was more leathery than tanned, and seeing her in these surroundings showed a weariness shimmering in her eyes that Ilane had never seen before. But still a deadly grace went with her, and she exuded calm confidence. The Unicorn – those in the Order of Shang named after mythical beasts were the best in their order. Ilane had wondered before why the great warrior spent time teaching the trainees.

She had also thought of the ordeal those aspiring to join Shang went through before living in the world a year and then receive an animal's name. Ilane wondered if it was anything like the Ordeal of Knighthood – unlike pages and squires, trainees were never told anything of what they would face at the end of their training. Whatever it was, Ilane had been sure she would pass. She did not know what her future would be now. The Unicorn spoke as she stretched.

'Why did you come back, Ilane? I had expected to see you again, but not here. You would never be turned away, but I did not think that even you would have the courage to return. You are the first to do so. But then again, you are very unique.'

A part of Ilane wondered whether or not that was a compliment, but most of her considered her answer. Why was she back? Because whatever inhabited the Chamber had told her to come? Since when did she take orders from something she couldn't see? Nevertheless, Ilane knew it was more than that. The Chamber had spoken the truth. But how much should she tell the Unicorn? She was startled to realize that this was one person she trusted completely. But it had been so long since Ilane had trusted someone with everything she had that telling the whole truth was out of the question. She would not lie – could not lie – to the Unicorn, but some things would be left unsaid.

So she stated the basic truth, looking into the older woman's eyes. 'I don't really know. There is something here I need. But I do not know what.'

The Unicorn was silent for a while. She sat there, looking at Ilane with an unreadable gaze. Then she sighed. 'I know there is something you need. You have always been searching, little one. But I wonder why you return to this place for answers after leaving to find them.' Ilane was silent. The Unicorn had always called her little one, and to her surprise she felt tears pricking her eyelids. But she could not face baring her soul to anyone, and quickly locked up her emotions behind cold, lonely eyes.

The Unicorn sighed once again. 'You make me feel old, Ilane. But you will always be welcome here. You became more a part of this place in six years than many have been in a lifetime.' She sprung quickly to her feet, belying any former comment about her age. 'The next training round begins in, oh, ten minutes. Be there.' She walked out the door, leaving Ilane to stare at the wall.

A/N – Hope you like the long chapter. Please review!