William

*Flashback* (We seem to be doing a lot of those lately.)

*Days after William, age thirteen, returned to the monastery from being kidnapped and tortured.*

"You have to start this training William my son," Master Moomow said, he commonly called William and Randy, and other young monks that. He appeared to do it more with William but no one noticed.

"Why I just got back from a dungeon. Don't I even get a little break?" I pleaded.

"No," He retorted. "One day you will be needed to disappear and become less than a shadow on the wall and when that day comes you need to be ready."

"How does one become less than a shadow?" I asked, then I laughed at him. "That's not even possible."

"Be less than a shadow by existing in plain sight, where everyone can see you and no one suspects you. Get a normal life, away from everything you knew previously," The answer had been unexpected. Next year would be time to take the oaths and become a true monk, able to enter the inner sanctum of the Order, so what came next was even more strange. "I'm giving you five gold pieces. You must go out and live for a month without help from anyone at the monastery and without breaking any laws and no one must know you are a monk."

*Back to present*

The purpose of that training was to teach me how to live as a normal person if I had to, but that, combined with my recent torture and escape, made me not wish to take the oaths. Master Moomow was downhearted by the event but I had learned a valuable lesson. I can't be a monk if I'm going to hide.

I looked down at the little vagabond and sighed, "Yeah well it wasn't exactly an open invitation. I mean I wasn't offering that to anyone within earshot. Besides you should be home with your family and no one likes an eavesdropper."

Whether she was looking for my friend Randolph or not it didn't matter. If he wasn't to safety by now he would be dead. It was a little creepy that a little girl was out in the woods all alone though.

The little girl sniffled, "Ok, but I don't have a family and he's the only friend I've got."

Bonita looked at me like I was being a little too harsh and I whispered in her ear, "Look I can't go around saving people all day and night. I have knowledge of something far too important to let anyone know who I am Bonnie."

Bonnie climbed down the tree and I followed and spoke to the little girl again, "Look it's really dark right now but, I can get you a place to sleep for the night inside the city but that's all I can do. You can start your search in the morning when it's safer."

We traveled across town to the merchant district and found a nice small inn. We had traveled the long way to avoid the dark district. I smirked at the skinny host standing at the counter half asleep. I strolled up to him and asked, "One room, three beds if you got it."

The man woke from his slumber and his mind began to process the request, a few moments later, "Nope sorry we only got rooms with one bed or two. Shouldn't be a problem unless you are having troubles with the misses."

He obviously didn't get a good look at her because most people wouldn't assume we were married as she was a tribal person and I was not. Bonita made a look as if to protest but I cut in.

"Well we aren't married yet but hopefully that will change," I grinned and knew I'd either she'd be happy or very, very angry.

"Ten gold for a night," The man leaned over and saw Tamitha, "She's a pretty little thing ain't she?"

"Yes well, she was looking for a place to stay for the night," I chuckled as I handed him the amount for the room.

He handed me the key, "Room one oh six. You have the room till noon or I'll charge you for tomorrow as well."

"Thank you," I went down the hall with my two companions and opened the door and let them in first.

"You two each get your own bed," I sighed. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"So is she your girlfriend?" Tamitha asked.

I nodded, "I'd like to think so."

I took one of the spare blankets and got underneath it on the floor and prepared to sleep.

She asked another question, "So where are you two from?"

"I'm from the old Thrisfalen kingdom," I said. "I met my beautiful friend Bonita while I was traveling and I kind of fell for her."

"Why are you traveling?" The obvious question was asked.

"I'm an orphan but I'd heard some of my cousins might be living in Westport."

"What are you going to do now?"

Does this kid ever shut up? "Look Tamitha, I'm really tired and would like to get some sleep," I said it much nicer than I intended to. "If you want to talk to Bonnie that's fine if she doesn't mind and if you keep your voices low."

(Ok for clarification this is not the same inn Randy had been at. LOL I figured if Tamitha is who she is from the last post, assuming it's the same Tamitha. She would ask this complete stranger a lot of personal questions trying to figure out who he is.)