I was still working out a plan the next night. I contemplated it for some time, and ducked behind some rocks whenever a patrol passed by. I looked down at my sword, which was still in its sheath. I had thought several times about fighting my way out, just killing everyone in my path, but I decided on a plan that didn't come at such a loss of life. I thought of infiltrating their ranks and joining the Black Shadow for a while, so they would trust me enough to send me out on a raid, and then I would fake my own death and return to The Order. I ignored that plan however, because I would be failing my mission to bring down the Black Shadow. I liked the idea of joining them for the time being and taking them down from the inside, so I decided to work on a plan around those details. I started walking out of the cavern, and avoided a few patrols, until I heard an angered voice behind me. "Who're you?" Athad said. I turned towards him and looked him over as he approached me. "I am Marius." I said. I bared my fangs so he knew I was a fellow vampire. He nodded. The anger in his voice faded. "And why're you here Marius?" he asked. "I have come to join the ranks of the Black Shadow." I lied. He nodded. He looked me over again and nodded. He pointed to my sword. "You any good with that?" He asked. I brought my chin into the air slightly. "Good enough to kill the guards around me." I said, sensing the oncoming guards. They all stopped their progress, and Athad waved them off. He grinned. "You are confident, and good with a sword. I think you will find your place here among the Black Shadow." Athad said. He clapped me on the shoulder and I followed him to the entrance of the castle. I frowned. I had gotten in too easily. The guards behind me were never more than three feet away, and I expected an attack, but none came. Nevertheless, I was suspiscious of Athad. I considered the fact he might betray me at some point, but I would deal with him when the time came. I stopped thinking about it when I realized he was talking to me. I nodded my head a few times and answered statements with a "Yes" or "I suppose so". We entered the castle, and we walked through a long corridor until we came to a large, round, dimly lit room. All along the walls were swords of every kind: broadswords, sabers, long swords, short swords, falchions, claymores, and several silver bladed swords as well. The room had a large black marble circle in it, which was as polished as the rest of the castle's marble. "What is this place?" I asked. Athad pulled his sword from his sheath and pointed its tip towards me. I knew he was going to try something like this, so my hand went for the hilt of my sword. I half expected him to say "I've caught you, the filthy vermin who was sneaking around my castle", but he smirked. "This is where I spar new recuits to see how good they are with their blade." he said. I sighed inward, and slowly pulled my sword from its sheath. He attacked first, as I suspected he would. He swung low, which I easily blocked. I put some force behind my blade, and shoved him backward, putting him off balance. He almost fell to the ground, and gritted his teeth as he prepared to strike again. I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly in my gloved hand and readied for the attack.