Disclaimers: With the exception of a few familiar characters, everything bloody thing in this story is mine.

Chapter Two

The sun was just over the horizon as Aleaha walked into the quiet inn. Although she was cloaked and hooded, the burly proprietor instantly recognized her and gave a welcoming nod.

"Shadow. It's good to see you. Been a while."

"You're up early Gregor."

Gregor smiled at the low familiar voice. "You know how it is when you run a place like this, up with the sun, down with the moon. How've you been?"

"Well enough."

"Oh, I almost forgot, a man came by looking for you a few weeks ago. Said it was urgent."

"Did he leave a message?"

The inn keeper disappeared into the kitchen, returning momentarily with a folded sheet of sealed parchment. "Said if we saw you, to give you this."

A quick glance at the seal revealed the crest matched the one on the leather bound journal she was reading from last night. Not bothering to open it, she slipped it into a pocket. "Did he ask about anything else?"

"Yeah, he wanted to know a lot about you, where you were from, how recently we'd seen ya. I just told him that we hadn't seen you in months and that you may have headed back up north to visit your family."

Aleaha pulled out a gold coin and slipped it casually across the bar top. Just as casually the inn keeper dropped it covertly into his pocket with a practiced gesture. "We have your old room available if you're interested."

She nodded. "I'll probably be around for a few weeks."

"Sure thing lass, I'll get the missus to get it ready for you." At the fond name Aleaha suddenly froze. Just as quickly she recovered with a nod of thanks, but not before Gregor noticed. "Something wrong?"

It's just no one's called me lass for quite some time," she sad quietly.

The bald man smiled, folding his hamhock like arms over his chest. "Well, you'll always be a pretty little lass to this old man, no matter how old you get. Speaking of which, you ever get lonely, you let me know, alright." Aleaha smiled slightly at the overly lecherous wink Gregor gave her.

"And Hildi would have both of our hides."

Gregor smiled fondly at the mention of his sharp tongued wife. "That she would. One of the reasons I love her."

"Who do you love, you overgrown letch?"

Both turned to see the tiny woman coming down the stairs, a mock glare on her face. As small as her husband was large, she barely came up to his shoulders. "Shadow of course."

A small fist punched him lightly in the arm. He grabbed at it, moaning dramatically. "You wound me darlin'. You know you're the only one for me."

She snorted, even as she rubbed affectionately at the arm she had hit. "The only one who'd put up with you, you mean." Hildi gave Aleaha a warm smile. "Good to see you Shadow. You going to be around for a bit?"

"A while, yes."

"Well, sit down and have something to eat while I get your room ready. You looked half starved."

Obediently Aleaha wandered into the kitchen and cut herself a chunk of a strong yellow cheese to go with the crusty brown bread that still had steam rising from it. As she ate, Gregor came in to check the stoup that was bubbling happily on the hearth. "Has the Trannyth family been in this region long?" she asked casually between bites.

Gregor paused in his stirring and gave her a knowing glance out of the corner of his eye. "As far as anyone can remember they've always had the family estate here. Goes back some five hundred years or so. Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity. Know anything about them?'

A sip of the soup and several shakes of a seasoning container gave the innkeeper time to think. "Last two hundred years or so have been a bit odd. Tales say that most of the men in the family have gone mad. There was whispers about people hearin' voices and some dark things going on. People disappearing, screams in the night, that sort of thing. Stopped suddenly about seventy-five years ago, but that family still isn't quite right. Lots of accidents around the property, if you get my drift."

"What about the wives?"

"Who do you think the accidents happen to?"

"Any of the men die young?"

Gregor thought about it and shook his head. "Not that I know of. You might want to talk to ol' Nayan though if you can find her. She would know a lot more. She's a storyteller from a ways back, so take what she says with a grain of salt."

Aleaha stood up and tossed another gold coin down on the table, much more than what necessary to cover the meal. Gregor didn't even glance over as he put the final ingredients into the soup but when he spoke, his voice was concerned. "You know I don't like to ask too many questions, but watch yourself Shadow. That family is powerful and they're a nasty piece of work.'

Nodding her thanks for the food and the information she headed up the stairs towards her room in the back. The corner room on the third floor was easily defendable if need be. The two windows had vertical drops on the other sides and only one wall adjoined another room. As Aleaha stepped into her room, she blinked at the cheery sunlight streaming in. Eager to stop the pain in her light sensitive eyes she pulled the heavy curtains over the windows throwing the room into immediate twilight.

Once more at ease she looked around the room. The bedding was fresh and Hildi had thought to bring a pitcher of water and a large bowl so she could wash up. Although not an overly frequent guest, Aleaha had come there enough over the last few years that the couple had developed an understanding to her needs. Pulling her gloves off with her teeth, she set them on the nightstand and poured some of the cool water into the basin. Dipping a nearby towel in the water she raised it to her face and began to scrub off the accumulated dirt.

Her eyes were heavy with a need for sleep, but she lingered over her washing. Twisting her hair into a knot and pointedly ignoring the bed she unclasped her cloak and laid it carefully over the chair in the comer. The short bow strung across her back was propped up against the head of the bed within easy reach if needed. Etched leather bracers were loosened and slid off, resting neatly on top of the previously discarded gloves. The leather armor and undershirt followed suit until she stood bare chested.

Dipping the towel back into the water, she squeezed until the water ran out through her fingers and back into the bowl. Damp towel dripping water down her skin, she wiped off the smell of sweat and horseflesh.

All too soon she was done. Once the buckles on her armor were refastened, she pulled a blade out of the sheath at her thigh and slid it under the soft clean pillow. Another blade on the nightstand, and yet another went under the mattress. There were weapons enough to protect her from anything brave enough to attack her, but nothing could protect her from what she knew was coming.

Settling onto the bed and with her cloak draped over her as a blanket, she closed her eyes and waited.

*****

Downstairs Gregor and Hildi stood side by side in the kitchen, getting breakfast ready for the early risers among their patrons. Hildi punched down the dough that had been rising since the previous night and asked about Shadow.

"Did the girl eat anything? She's looks like she hasn't had a good meal in ages."

Gregor smiled at the concern in his wife's voice. Childless themselves, Hildi nonetheless had a strong mothering instinct when it came to their patrons. "She ate, but not much. Seemed more interested in asking questions." Gregor's smile turned to a worried frown as he reached for the egg basket. "Wanted to know about the Trannyth family."

"What'd you tell her?"

"Some of the stories that ol' Nayan used to tell. Told her she would be the best person to talk to if she wanted to know more."

"Did you warn her that that family is no good? Never has been. Bad blood I say."

Gregor stepped away from where he was cracking the eggs and gathered his wife in his arms. "Of course I did. Don't worry about Shadow. She's a grown woman and something tells me she can take care of herself." He bent to kiss a smear of flour off of Hildi's nose. "Besides, it's not our place to stop her from chasing after old ghost stories."

Hildi tightened her flour covered arms around him. "Maybe not, but the poor girl has ghosts enough in her eyes. I don't understand why she would want to run after more."

*****

"Aleaha, move it! This whole place is coming down!

"Where're Khelgar and Neeshka? We have to get them out of here!"

Aleaha's shadow self was frozen, the panic rising like bile in her throat. It was like being a spectator in one of the dockside plays, only the play she was watching was her own life. She watched as her physical body searched around wildly for her friends and felt the scream of anguish tear at her own throat when she spotted the two bodies crumpled together. In life they bickered like children, but in death Khelgar had covered the wounded Neeshka with his own body lo protect her from the falling debris.

An ominous rumbling came from above and larger chunks of the old ruin started to come down. Knowing what was coming, the shadow Aleaha struggled to pull herself out before she had to see anymore.

Heart pounding and sweat cold on her brow, Aleaha bolted upright. Pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes she took several deep breaths. Every time she went to sleep it was the same thing. Each time she closed her eyes for four years she's had to relive the deaths of her friends over and over again. It was no wonder she slept as little as possible.

A glance out the window put the sun barely at midday. Today was better. There were some days when she didn't even get two hours of sleep before the dreams caused her to wake with a pounding heart and adrenaline coursing through her body.

She pressed the cool towel against the back of her neck, calming her racing heart. Tossing the wet towel back into the basin with a careless splash she leaned against the night table. Head bowed, she didn't bother looking into the tiny mirror that hung on the wall. She knew what she's see. Haunted eyes more grey than blue that were underlined by a persistent shadow and hollow emptiness looking back at her. Pale, nearly translucent skin, a testament to her lack of time in the sun and spoke of too much time hiding in dark places. Her hair… she remembered a time when her hair was lighter, streaked from long marches under the noon sky. Now it was dark blond, nearly brown, more fitted bending in at night.

A few deep cleansing breaths chased away the last of the nightmare. When she did look up, the mirror reflected a calm unflappable person who had steadfast determination written all over her face. The haunted Aleaha of just moments before had disappeared and in her place stood the strong, resourceful woman that habit and rumor had dubbed Shadow.

Rolling her neck to relieve some of the tension at its base, she gathered her scattered weapons and placed them back into their sheaths. Hooking the clasps of her cloak at her throat, she gave the room a last look and headed back down stairs.

The taproom teemed with life when she arrived, a sharp contrast to when she originally went upstairs. People from all walks of life were sitting down for luncheon at one of the few inns along that coast where a person could get a decent meal. A nod to Hildi and she was out the door, blinking at the brilliance of the midday sun. She pulled her hood up to block the glare and started to make her way to the edge of the woods where Gregor had mentioned that the storyteller Nayan lived.

It didn't take long to find the little hut nestled in the trees. The small house was crude, but it had a certain homey quality to it that Aleaha found appealing. The wood pile was stacked high and covered with oil cloth in preparation of the cold winter that was almost on the doorstep. A hole lined with rocks and partially covered with an old barrel lid stood ready, waiting to be filled with dairy and cheeses, and other things that needed to be kept cool, yet close by.

Aleaha knocked on the door and entered when a surprisingly strong voice called out for her to enter. Inside the hut the packed dirt flood was covered with rushes. Sweet smelling herbs hung from the rafters and a haunch of salted venison was tied to a hook in a comer. An old woman sat hunched near the hearth waiting for the kettle hanging over the fire to start steaming. With a gesture of her wrinkled hand, she motioned for Aleaha to take a seat on the stool opposite her.

"What can Nayan do for you child?" Her voice cracked and warbled with age, her hands shaking as she probed the fire with a long stick.

"Gregor said you could tell me about the Trannyth family."

"Ah, yes, Lord Trannyth. Nasty man," she murmured as she stared into the fire.

Aleaha looked at her expectantly, the minutes ticking by slowly as the old woman remained silent. Finally, thinking that perhaps the Nayan had dosed off with her eyes open, Aleaha cleared her throat loudly.

Nayan tore her unfocused gaze away from the fire and gave Aleaha a brilliant smile. "I'd love a big bushel of apples. Some nice red juicy ones to last me through the winter."

Getting the hint, Aleaha rose from her chair with a wry smile. Women like this had no use for money as payment. From the piles of chopped wood and the edible goods around the house, it seemed that Nayan made a fair living from her trade. Grabbing an empty basket on her way out the door, Aleaha headed out towards some apple trees that she had spotted growing along the path.