The young woman stood near the gates of the city, her brown eyes flashed in the darkness. Two blades gleamed at her hip, their sharp edges glistened in the moonlight. She smiled wickedly, knowing her quarry was at hand. She walked to the gate, quietly, slowly. A guard stood watch, in aware of the angel of death approached him.

The whoosh of the blade against the sheath startled the guard, but it was too late. Blood flew as the man’s head rolled across the ground.

The warrior advanced further into the city, weaving through the square. Finally she reached her destination- the Ambassador’s residence. Letting a cool breeze push back her black hair, she closed her eyes, and then she whispered something.

Slowly she was lifted into the air. She stepped onto the terrace and then opened her eyes in satisfaction. She walked to the terrace doors and pushed them open, not suprisingly they were unlocked. The assassin walked through the open doors, she drew her twin daggers, ready to kill. She crept up to the bedside of the man she was to kill: Ambassador Enkidu. She silently drew herself up, near the pillows, and a malicious smile crept across her lips.

"Prepare for Tartarus, you scum of the earth." She raised the dagger high in the air and suppressed a cackle.

All of a sudden a sword glinted in the dark bedroom.

"I knew I sensed bad vibes!" a voice spoke from the dark doorway.

The assassin turned, weapons at ready. She threw herself into a fighting position.

"Who are you?" the assassin whispered harshly.

"An Amazon!" cried the warrior. Then she loosed a battle cry and hurled herself at the assassin.

They wrestled. The assassin pushed her dagger forward and sliced into the Amazon’s shoulder. The Amazon cried out in pain. The other warrior jumped to her feet and moved towards the wall. She concentrated briefly and the already downed Amazon was assaulted by a flying painting. The Amazon fell face down onto the thick carpet.

The other warrior laughed maniacally. She had won yet again. She turned, ready to kill Enkidu, when she felt a presence near her shoulder.

"Now you see me, now you don’t!" the Amazon’s shrieked, and dug her sword into the assassin’s shoulder.

The assassin howled on pain and fell onto the bed. Enkidu, finally woke up.

"Oh, hello my pretty." He whispered dreamily.

The warrior took her good arm and elbowed Enkidu in the face, breaking his nose. Blood dripped from his shattered nasal structure onto the expensive white sheets.

"Oops! My bad." Said the enraged assassin. She vaulted over the bed, kicking Enkidu swiftly in the stomach and then had the bed between her and her invisible opponent.

"I know you’re here," said the assassin. "I can smell you." She said, narrowing her eyes.

Then a marble bust came flying at her head. Luckily, timing was on the other warrior’s side. She spun and thrust her dagger into the air. Blood flew into the air, as the Amazon became visible again, grasping her forearm in pain.

"Ouch!" she cried. She met the other warrior’s deathgrip and they barreled towards the terrace.

The two warriors came dangerously to the edge and the assassin was about to fly off of the balcony when a shout came from the darkened room.

"Oh my Gods! The ambassador’s dead!"

"Yes!" the assassin said happily.

The Amazon punched the assassin hard in the face, causing her to reel about drunkenly. The assassin fell to the ground, and then the guards emerged onto the terrace.

"This is the culprit!" said the Amazon, placing her foot on the assassin’s head.

And then the guards picked the assassin up with malicious intent and then the assassin’s world went dark.

*****

The next morning, the chained assassin woke up in rags, Her armor had been confiscated and she felt alone and for the first time in ages, scared. She cowered in the corner of the cell like a frightened mouse. In her entire fourteen years of life, she had never been in this kind of situation. She was supposed to live by the code of Ninja, the code that was grounded on honor and pride. She should commit suicide now, according to her master’s wishes… Those were the rules… But she did want to die by her own hand.

Then, interrupting her train of thought, the door of the cell opened, and in walked the warrior from the previous night. In the light the Amazon looked powerful and agile. A worthy opponent. At the moment, the assassin felt like a child compared to the young warrior staring down at her, although they had to be close in age.

The assassin spit on the Amazon’s boots. The Amazon looked at the girl in disgust and then said to the guards "Leave us."

They complied, and the assassin prepared to be beaten.

To her surprise, the Amazon merely said. "What’s your name, girl?"

"What’s it to you, you Amazon freak."

"Tell me." The warrior said firmly.

"Loa." The assassin replied, looking away.

"I’m Rae." The Amazon said.

Loa stared at the Amazon carefully. What did she want? She had won the battle, and disgraced Loa… Loa could never return to her master now. This Amazon had destroyed her only chance at a life.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Rae asked.

"Places." Loa replied.

"Answer the question." Rae said, firmly once more.

"I’m a Ninja, ok?"

"You don’t fight like one." Rae challenged.

Loa looked at the Amazon with hate. "You don’t know me very well. You took me by surprise. And what does it matter, I accomplished what I set out to accomplish."

"Yes, you did." Rae replied. "And now you will be executed for it."

"What do you care?"

"Well, now my treaty that the Ambassador was supposed to sign is worthless now."

"So, what? You wanna kill me? Go ahead. I’ve got nothing to lose."

"That isn’t the way I work." Said Rae.

"Then how do you work?" Loa asked.

"The way of the Amazon is not always paved with blood."

"Uh-huh… Okay Homer take a hike." Loa said, angrily.

"That kind of anger is dangerous. How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"You and I are the same age, yet you are on a path to death and the underworld. Is that where you want to be?"

"I don’t know. That’s where my master wants me to be."

"Your master?"

"Yes. My master, the one who raised me, and kept me from the streets and early death."

"Kept you from early death? You’re going to die now!"

"Who cares, my life is worthless now anyway. I lost to you and lost my honor." Loa said, feeling tears of shame well up into her eyes.

"Don’t cry…" Rae said.

"What do you care??? Why are you even here?" Loa said, trying not to meet the other warrior’s gaze.

"Because, last night, when we fought, I felt something. Your karma is not totally tainted, you can be saved, and be put on the right path. Come to the Isle of the Amazons, and become one of us… You’ll be happy there. We can teach you what it is to be alive… Not some puppet for destruction."

"You’ve gotta be kidding. Spouting all that peace and love crap. Give me a break. That kind of life doesn’t exist."

"It’s not all peace and love. I kicked your butt last night."

Loa thought for a minute and then closed her eyes. How could she forget all that she done in the past four years, She had taken countless lives and hurt so many innocents. She had sinned again and again, and what this Amazon was promising her was absolution… How could absolution from those sins exist?

"I’ve got nothing to lose… If I stay I die."

"Good. Now we have to set up your escape." Rae smiled. "Here." She handed Loa a cloth bag. Loa opened it to find her armor and her daggers. Loa quickly changed and Rae looked at her shoulder wound.

"My handiwork, I see. Hmmmm, shoulda cut deeper. Hang on." Rae reached into her bag and took out some poultice and rubbed it into the wound.

"That’ll help it heal."

"Thanks." Loa said, in spite of herself.

"Okay… We have to get out of here."

"I say we hack or way out." Loa said, grinning wildly.

"Noooooo." Said Rae. "I can become invisible, and you can too. Just hold on to my shoulder and don’t let go."

Loa’s face fell. "Man, I wanted to kill, to main, to bite butt!"

"Ahem, do you think that the Amazon’s will allow you to do that on the island?"

"Oh, ok." Loa said.

Rae smiled slightly. "Ok, here we go."

Loa placed her arm on Rae’s shoulder and then in a moment, Rae spoke.

"Okay, let’s go."

"What?" Loa asked. "We’re invisible now? I don’t feel any different…" she frowned, and then looked at her empty hand… At least tried to look at it.

"Come on." Rae said softly.

The two young women walked out of the cell door and down the hall. Guards stood around them and Loa couldn’t help but giggle. She found it hilarious that she could jump up and down in front of someone and not be noticed. Rae and Loa advanced further, towards the door leading out from the dungeon.

"Shhhh… There’s a lot of people out here, so be careful." Rae whispered.

Loa nodded and the two went forward into the bright light of the estates front square. They walked slowly past the guards patrolling the area and to the gate. The walked through quickly and quietly and then looked back.

They had gotten through undetected.

"We made it." Loa whispered excitedly.

"Now, RUN." Rae said urgently. "I can’t keep the spell up anymore."

Then Loa looked down and saw her hand. She swallowed, and then ran for her life. But she had a feeling the guards had seen her… and they had.

Loud footsteps pounded the cobblestones as she and Rae ran to the docks. Loa whipped her head around to see a small band of armed guards running at them. She put her head down and ran as fast as she could.

Finally, they reached the docks, but the guards were hot on their trail. Loa spun around and yelled to Rae.

"Go, get out of here!!"

"I can’t leave you!" Rae screamed back.

"We can’t win, their too strong… Too many!" Loa said, drawing her daggers.

"I’m not leaving you!" Rae said, first looking at the escape boat and then at Loa. "I’ll fight with you!" she drew her sword.

Loa turned, anger in her eyes. "Go!!! I have to regain my honor… And by saving you I’ll regain the code of Ninja. I will have protected the Innocent." She then pointed her dagger at Rae. "Go, or I’ll kill you." She advanced on Rae, death in her eyes.

Rae looked confused, but then realized Loa was serious. She boarded the boat and started to untie it from the dock. Loa faced her attackers with a fire in her eyes.

"You’ve met your master, boys." Loa said, narrowing her eyes. She began to hack and chop into the men. She sliced, blocked, and finally met with the head of the guards. She ran and sliced at him, but she took his fist and hit her bad arm. She slumped in pain and dropped her daggers. She looked up at the man with fear. He pointed his sword at her, and Loa shook with fear. She was face to face with death and yet… She felt calm. Her shaking stopped and then…

"Die, scum!" Rae screamed and dug her sword into the man’s back.

Loa looked up at the Amazon warrior, who withdrew her sword from the dead man’s body.

"Why’d you do that?" Loa asked.

"Cause I did. Now let’s go…" Rae said and threw Loa into the boat and jumped in after her. Then she cut the rope that held the boat to the dock with her sword, and released the sails. The small sailboat took up the ocean breeze and they were off.

**********

The next day, near noon, the small boat reached the shores of the Amazon Isle. It was a lush beautiful island… Full of life and activity. When Rae and Loa came ashore. Two women wearing Amazon garb came running up, looking surprised.

"Rae we’ve been waiting! Your mother has been worried sick!" the first Amazon said.

"Sorry, Corde, I got a little sidetracked." Rae said, glancing at Loa.

"Who’s this?" the other Amazon said, looking at Loa’s dark armor and sharp daggers.

"This," Rae said gesturing to Loa, "Is Loa. And Loa, this is Corde." She pointed to the first Amazon, "And this is Saran." She gestured to the other woman. "They run the Java Hut and have the best bagels in the whole village."

"Well, actually, we have the only bagels in the village…" Corde mumbled.

"Where do you come from, Loa?" Corde asked.

But, by then, Saran’s face had tightened. "I’ve heard that name before… Your that assassin! You’re the person they say killed the Ambassador! The Queen said so."

Loa backed away from Saran, warily.

"Look, guys! Loa’s not bad, she didn’t do anything wrong!"

"I don’t know Rae…" Corde said, now wary. "I think Saran is right.

"You’re not even giving her a chance!" Rae said.

"Why should I give an assassin a chance?" Saran said.

"She’s not an assassin!"

"Yes…" Loa said hesitantly. "I am, an assassin… But, I didn’t come her to hurt anyone."

Corde shrugged, not looking convinced. "Well… Rae, I trust you… But…"

Rae looked at Loa and then at the two Amazons. "Can we just go back to the village?"

"Yeah, whatever." Saran said. Then her and Corde began walking away from the beach.

Rae looked over at Loa as they began to walk. "Look, not all of us are gonna be like this… And they’re really friendly when you get to know them. You understand that right?"

Loa shrugged and just kept walking.

Finally, they reached the gates of the Amazon village. Loa looked at them dubiously.

"It’s gonna be okay." Rae said to Loa.

"If you say so." Loa said.

"It will… Now let’s go."

"Fine, you’re the boss."

Then Rae walked through the gates and Loa followed. Followed her destiny.

As she walked through the village common, Loa saw the various huts and the Amazons standing around talking, but as she passed, all of them stared. She put her head down, in a kind of silent shame. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She really didn’t feel like belonged there. Finally she saw Rae stop near the central hut where a few Amazons stood. Loa contemplated just standing alone, or joining Rae. Her stomach churned with fear and nervousness. What if they didn’t accept her?

Going against her fear, as she always did, she walked up to the large hut. Rae was talking to a woman near the entrance to the hut.

"Eponie, can I please see the Queen?"

"OK, I guess so… Is this important?

"Yeah, I have found another warrior to join the tribe…" Rae said, looking over at Loa.

"Ummm… All right. Right this way." Eponie led Loa and Rae into the hut.

Inside the hut sat Queen Cyan of the Amazon’s. She looked imperious and commanding, looking down at Loa and Rae as if they were merely specks of dust.

"Hello, my queen." Said Rae bowing deeply.

"Hello, Rae. What news do you have for me? I heard that Ambassador Enkidu was assassinated."

"Yes, he was, my Queen… And I did not get the treaty signed."

"Then I hope you helped bring the culprit to justice, as an Amazon should."

Rae nodded uncomfortably.

"Now, introduce me to your friend." Cyan said, raising an eyebrow at Loa’s slightly different appearance.

"This is… Loa." Rae said.

Cyan looked at Rae carefully. "Excuse me?"

"Loa is my name, you highness." Loa said, timidly.

"Labris received a carrier pigeon last night saying that the Ambassador was killed by a young girl named Loa. That couldn’t be you though… Could it?"

Rae began to speak. "My Queen, Loa isn’t bad… She saved me and…"

Loa stopped Rae, and started talking. "Yes… It is true that I killed Enkidu… But he was a corrupt man… and any treaty you might have had with him would have been broken."

"That’s no excuse." The Queen said.

"I know. I know… But, I have seen the error of my ways… I’m sorry for all I have done, and Rae has shown me how wrong I have been. Please, Your Highness, let me at least stay on the island. I realize you don’t want an assassin in your tribe… If I was in your shoes… But, I can’t go back… They’ll kill me." She looked down in shame.

Cyan was silent for a moment. Then she spoke. "Contrary to popular belief, I try to be fair… I realize that maybe your intentions are not evil… But I cannot just allow you to come into our tribe as if you have never done anything. I will allow you to say in the village, confined to one hut, with few visitors. I will lift that restriction when I consult with the other Amazons. Is that understood?" Cyan asked.

Loa bowed deeply. "Yes, your Highness."

"Good. Eponie!" she called.

The other Amazon came into the hut. "Yes, Cyan."

"Take this girl to the empty hut on the outskirts… Then call the others to a meeting at the square."

"Yes, Cyan." Eponie said. She then beckoned Loa to follow, which she did, and Rae was about to follow when Cyan stopped her.

"I want the whole story on this Loa girl." Cyan said.

"Yes, my Queen." Rae said.

"But, first go see your mother. She was very worried."

"All right."

"Go now." The Queen said, and then dismissed the young Amazon. As Rae walked away, the Queen sighed… How would she handle this situation?

Off in the hut at the outskirts of the village sat Loa. She had been given a little dinner and she now laid on the straw mat that was her bed for the time being. The dusky sky had slowly turned to a deep black, the stars creeping from their hiding places. She sighed. Could she do this? This was the hardest test she had ever faced… Ever. She thought of her mother… She wondered if her mother was looking upon her now. She had loved her so much… But somehow, she just couldn’t remember that love. It was coming back to her, like the cool breeze sweeping in through the thatched walls of the hut. She thought of the old days… When she was careless and free. She missed those days… Really she did. She was just about to fall asleep with her thoughts, when a rustling disturbed her.

"Can I come in?" Rae asked from the doorway.

"Yeah, sure." Loa replied, sitting up. She dusted off her armor and looked at Rae. "I guess the others had their meeting, right?"

"Yeah." Rae said. She was carrying a bundle in her hand, and sat down across from Loa.

"So, what was the verdict? They’re kicking me out, right? I wouldn’t be surprised…" Loa said, twisting a piece of straw in her hands.

"Actually, I told them the story, and we took a vote… It was split in half, and then the Queen voted, to decide…"

"I knew it… I should go right?" Loa said, standing. Her cheeks burned and tears were coming to her eyes.

"No! Why would you go? They voted to keep you here!" Rae said, standing.

"Huh?" Loa said, spinning around. "I… Get to stay?"

"Yeah." Rae said, smiling. She pulled the bundle up and gave it to Loa. "This is for you. A kind of welcome present from the others, and from me."

Loa opened the bundle and looked inside. There were two brand new, sharp daggers in their sheaths, a new set of armor, boots, and…

"Scrolls?" Loa asked pulling out the objects.

"Yeah." Rae said. "A present from me and my mom. I mean… I thought you might like them. I like to write, and was thinking that maybe you would enjoy it too. You don’t have to use them if you don’t want.

"No, no! I want them!" Loa said, happily. She couldn’t believe how generous everyone was being…

"Well, good." Rae smiled. She walked to the door. "I guess I should let you get some rest, it’s been a long day." She then walked out. In leaving she called out. "Welcome home."

Loa sat down, surprised and touched… All this, for her. She looked up and sighed… She had a home! She was being accepted! She held the scrolls in her hands, and opened one up. Then she began to write:

Dear Mom,

Can you believe it… I have a home after all this time. Mom, I never got to tell you how much I love you… And I miss you so much. I wish you could be here with me, to see this. But, I know you’re with me. I know that the road ahead is going to be a hard one… But, I know I can make it… I think of you all the time, mom, and I know you think of me… They say the dead hear the thoughts of the living… I hope you hear mine.

Loa then rolled up the scroll and looked up at the sky through the thatched roof. She could see the stars in the heavens above… and then she truly realized she was free…