The shadows are no place for a paladin

Mira crept forward, pressing her naked body to the cold stone walls of Marus' castle she kept to the shadows. The keys that had released her feet from the restraints and opened the door felt heavy in her hands and seemed to threaten her with guard alerting jingles.

"There she is," three dreadful words.

She had been as silent as a mouse. It was the shadows themselves that had betrayed her. Mira had watched in horror as the black had boiled up, apparently lifting up from the floor and peeling backward like an oily skin. The paladin found herself alone in the corridor, armed with only a set of keys facing five guards.

Taking the initiative, Mira rushed forward, swinging the keyring down overhead and clocking the first guard on his forehead. This was the type of action Mira was more used too; she knew what she was doing in this situation and the guard went down.

The second guard was caught with a kick. Mira span on one bare foot and rammed her ankle into the belly of the man. He was wearing leather armour, better at stopping short blades than reducing the impact from a blunt blow. He staggered backwards and clattered onto a wooden table that sat in the alcove. Cards from the guards' poker game flew everywhere.

The third guard was faster, better, sneakier. He grabbed the warrior of light from behind; looping his arms under hers and locking around her shoulders. He was strong too.

"How many of us do you think you can take at once?" mocked one of the remaining men. The two left standing in front of her looked similar; brothers perhaps. They exchanged knowing glances as they circled in front of Mira while their colleague held her from behind.

Mira tested her muscles. If she was lucky she'd be able to throw the guard behind her over her shoulder in a wrestling flip. She would have to be quick, though, as the two guards she had floored seconds ago started to get to their feet.

Further down the corridor, the shadows coiled knowingly, waiting, watching.