Willow awoke sharply as the sounds of armoured men’s feet reached her ears. There was a loud commotion going on throughout the inn. Rosa bolted awake looking around widely.

“Calm yourself Rosa ‘tis just the watch.” Willow soothed not bothered as she yawned and stretched out her muscles. Willow’s hunch was right as someone banged on her door. She moved the chair away from the door and sat back down tossing her empty bottle onto her packs.

“This is the watch, open up.” A booming voice called out.

“The door is open, why don’t you try turning the handle.” Willow replied amused.

“Willow,” Rosa hissed. “Don’t insult them.” She had had many dealing with the soldiers and not all of them where gentle with women.

The door was thrown open, a burly man in the royal uniform walked in he looked around bemused. “I seek Dame Willow is she here?” he looked ruffled and had the air of one on a wild goose chase.

He was suddenly pushed aside as Prince Larimar walked into the room. “Dame Willow I have found you at last.” His pale blue eyes blazed with fury he looked like he had had a bad morning and Willow suppressed her chuckle.

“Prince Larimar good to see you again though when we last met you seemed less…tired perhaps.” she smiled still calmly seated her amusement had not gone unnoticed.

“When we could not find you at the Lion Inn I began to worry and yes I am tired we have been searching some time for you,” he turned his attention to Rosa his eyebrows snapped together, “Problems?”

Rosa stood to leave but Willow restrained her. “No this is my friend Rosa she had a rough night.”

He frowned. “Well if you and your… friend will come with me then the harassed inn keeper can get back to his rather shady dealings.” He finished exasperated.

As they followed Prince Larimar and his guard Rosa turned on Willow. “What are you doing? I have no business up there in the higher city.” She hissed panicked.

Willow frowned. “Rosa please I need some help that only you can offer just stay long enough for us to speak without being overheard.”

“Okay, I owe you after all.” Willow mounted and reached down for Rosa, Rosa stared at Odin frightened.

“He will not hurt you.” Willow whispered, Odin’s ears flickered but he remained still as the frightened Rosa mounted.

Ten minutes later the strange group passed through the gates into the castle courtyard. The groom’s apprentice, barely more than a child was in tears as Odin bit his unprotected skin drawing blood. Bellowing angrily Willow grabbed both his ears and twisted the horse whined in pain but Willow didn’t give an inch. Ignoring the fact the courtyard had stilled Willow turned to the Royal groom, whom the boy was now hiding behind.

“Warhorses are unusual this far south, Dame.” The groom commented looking at the horse in admiration.

Willow dismounted with a sigh and helped the petrified Rosa down. “I hate hurting him,” she whispered to the groom. “But, he leaves me little choice.” She approached Odin and took his reins pulling his face close.

“Be nice Odin or no apples for a month, or sugar cubes.” The horse lifted his front hoof and tried stamping on her foot but Willow side stepped with a sigh she elbowed him in the ribs causing the horse to exhale winded. She turned to the groom, “Good luck to you kind sir and I’m sorry little one.” She whispered to the boy she took a silver coin from her pocket and placed it in his startled hand she stood and looked at her horse exasperated.

Prince Larimar just stared, his brother had tried to warn him but he hadn’t believed him, clearing his throat he plastered a shaky smile on his face. “Well then let us proceed.” Rosa and Willow followed the prince up to the castle.

He led them into his council chamber where a man in his forties with brown hair shot with grey awaited them. He turned when they entered and bowed to the prince.

“This is Commander Antonus. Commander, this is recently knighted Dame Willow Alexandra daughter of High Commander Richard and this is…”

“A lady of the night,” Willow cut in smiling Rosa snorted at the look on the Commander and prince’s face. They sat down and Prince Larimar regained some of his lost wit Willow kept pulling the rug from under him.

“So what have you been doing since you left my brother’s side?” Rosa gasped and stared at Willow, she had even more high connections. “He wished me to thank you again, though he complains of bruising he is glad to be alive.”

Willow gave a husky laugh. “I think I got a little over excited and pushed harder then I meant to.”

He smiled. “Incidentally how is your shoulder?”

“Better thank you, but back to you initial question. I travelled here and went to the inn King Edward told me to but the innkeeper did not like me so I ended up in the Rogue Merchant,” she paused as the Commander gasped. She pointed to the decanter, “May I?” The prince nodded. “Anyone else?” she asked they all nodded and she handed out drinks then she continued her tale.

“I met Rosa in the common room. Later that night, I found myself rescuing her, from a rather rough and ready client. Then we had your wonderful wake up call by the by how many places did your good captain shout out my name? The last thing I need is for someone to try and kill me to get to my father, though I doubt it would worry him with everything else that is going on.” She added downing her drink.

“Your father,” they turned at the commander’s angry tone. “High Lord Richard is a great man who deserves respect and obedience from his children and you dishonour yourself as a knight by sullying him with such nasty words!”

By the time he finished speaking Willows olive green eyes were devoid of life she turned to the stunned Prince. “Excuse me a moment.” She stood and left the room.

Prince Larimar turned to Rosa to angry to correct his adviser. “Madam Rosa, I may need your help with a problem, I may need ears in the lower city especially with all the things happening.”

Rosa bit her lip. “I owe Dame Willow for more then just helping me but showing me kindness not cuz she’s from the streets and as lived our ways but just because she is filled with compassion, so if this will help her then I will do so to a degree.”

“It will help keep her and her family alive.”

“Forgive me your highness, but I ain’t heard her talk of any but a brother who she clearly loves, and a sister but when she mentioned her sister there was something missing.”

“Love, love is missing from Willow’s life. Her bother and sister are twins and the apple of their parents’ eye.”

Rosa shook her head. “But, she is so unique, powerful but soft. Wait Alexandra you mean she is the daughter of the noble house secondly only to your own?”

Prince Larimar nodded surprised she knew. “As to Willow if you wish to know more you should ask her. She is not always bitter about it but from what I have learned a recent event has filled her with doubts of her worth again.”

Rosa shook her head “How sad not to see her worth.” But she was secretly worried about who she had ended up befriending in the inn that day a child from a house who have as much control as the king, she wondered what had she got herself into this time.

Prince Larimar nodded touched by the depth of feeling and the words the whore had spoken he was again reminded that people where different and even those from lower birth had worth. “I’ll have a page escort you and Willow to the green room I am sure Willow will wish to speak with you.” Rosa stood and followed the page from the room they found Willow further up the corridor she was staring at a beautifully rendered battle scene her eyes where dark with sadness.

The green room they were led to was spacious and richly decorated. There was a king size four poster bed with rich green and gold curtains. A fire burned in the stone fireplace warming the room invitingly Rosa stared around amazed seeing how the other side lived. Willow sent for water for baths and sat she picked at the food that was brought them whilst Rosa watched in silence struggling to understand her new companion. Their baths where soon ready both stepped in with content sighs enjoying the warmth spreading through their bodies. They chatted about many things, and Willow learnt a lot about Rosa and her life.

“Willow?” Rosa asked tentatively.

“Yes, Rosa.” Willow pulled herself out of the bath and began drying herself. “Why are you being kind to me?” Rosa looked over and noticed all the scars on Willow’s back and winced, they had been done with cane and whip she frowned wondering why anyone would harm the child, she noticed the scars of battle but then when she turned to answer Rosa noticed burn marks from what looked like the marks of a hot poker and failed to hide her horror.

“I’m being kind to you for two reasons Rosa. One, I just like to help where I can. Two, is that I need your help. I need to pass in the lower city I heard troubling reports that might endanger my liege.”

Rosa shook her head. “You need a spy.” She knew that was what Prince Larimar had been hinting at when he had spoke with her.

Willow gasped horrified. “No! That would put you in danger. A spy is a unique creature it takes years and certain talents to go unnoticed and to be one with the shadows.”

Rosa frowned. “You seem to understand more then you should.”

Willow chuckled “I was brought up on the frontier you learn quickly or die. There have been spies within the keep before, they do not live long.” She added a cold expression hardening her features.

“I see.” Rosa shook herself from the grim images that assaulted her mind. “I’m not sure how much help I can be.”

“All I need is to see the Keeper of the Shadows.”

Rosa gasped horrified. “Are you mad you want me to take you to the leader of…of…?” She trailed off.

“I know who it is that he leads, murderers, thieves, mercenaries, whores, cut throats, beggars I may seem innocent Rosa but I’m not I wish to meet on of the Four.” She turned there was a hard glint in her eyes and her cold expression was one that Rosa had seen often.

Rosa sighed. “I will see what I can do but anything asked of him comes at a heavy price.” She warned.

“I know I will be careful I promise.” She sighed.

Willow listened as Rosa told her more about the streets and the way people had to live. Willow absorbed all the information. She told stories of the frontier. The harsh realities had been forgotten by those who lived safely within the great cities walls.

As the night closed in on them Rosa fell asleep on the plush bed. Willow grabbed a blanket and pillow and settled on the floor, she was not used to the softness of a bed. Her hand closed around the hilt of her sword and she soon drifted off to sleep. She found herself dreaming of her secret friend but he seemed sad and didn’t stay in her dreams long.