Another person plopped himself down uninvited and Chaos was surprised to see Thanatos sitting across from her. She swallowed her mouth full, trying to salute with a messy spoon in her hand. Thanatos stopped her with one hand held up, "We don't have to do that here."

"Sorry, habit." She said.

"Don't let me interrupt your meal, Chaos." He told her, glancing down at the half full plate before the girl. She smiled and set her spoon down anyway.

"I have something I want you to do for me." He told her, "Tomorrow morning, go down to the barn where they are practicing weapons and talk to Nemesis. Find out if any of the boys he's working with can be jumped into blacks. We're short handed, and can use all the Shadows we can."

"Is Nemesis weapons master now?" she asked.

"Not officially, Trouble was hurt in the escape, and Nemesis is filling in. He feels indebted to one of the trainees."

"Why?"

"It's not my story to tell, Chaos. If he feels that way, and it doesn't interfere with his work, I don't have a problem with it." Thanatos shrugged, "Just go, and get back to me as soon as possible."

"Are the numbers so bad? How many were lost?"

"Before the attack, we numbered 26 D-ranks, 17 C-ranks, 11 B-ranks, and 6 A-ranks. When we arrived here, we had 20 D-ranks-of them 17 were injured; 12 C-ranks-8 of them were injured; 9 B-ranks-2 of them were injured.; and 4 A-ranks. Of course, some were promoted in your absence, but the numbers are still relatively the same."

"And we are going to fight with such a low number?" she asked skeptically.

"Even I have to follow orders." He said simply.

Chaos worked her way out to the barn, where Nemesis was reported to be. Breathing in the smell of sun warmed hay, she ambled around the perimeter of the barn, watching the young men in the square practicing their moves. Had the Shadows remained in Krynica, where they belonged, the young trainees would be working in nice, dry weapon's building.

She supposed the young would adapt, and working in the warm barn wouldn't hurt them. She easily picked out Nemesis's tall form in the center. He held a sword in his hand, and he was directing the men in the square like a true weapons master. He saw her, and with several curt orders left the young men practicing. Waiting while he jogged over to her, she watched the boys move.

"They look so young." She greeted him. Nemesis smiled, looking over the boys. She looked at him, studying him while he wasn't looking, "You seem to make a good weapons master."

"Perhaps if my life had been different, I might have been." He said simply. He seemed distant for a second, but came back quickly, "However, I don't waste to much time worrying about what might have been."

"How did you get stuck with this job?"

"It was Burin." Nemesis nodded vaguely in the direction of one of the trainees. She settled on one of the boys, wielding an ax with an ease that spoke of practice.

"Burin?"

"I owed him a favor, and since his sponsor died during the escape, I am filling in." Nemesis said simply. Wondering what debt Nemesis could have to a trainee, Chaos turned back to eye the group again.

"Thanatos wanted to know how they are progressing. With numbers being small, he wants to jump any who are ready into blacks."

"There are only two I would recommend, Burin and Kyat." Nemesis told her, "They are not ready completely, but they have the weapons skills to survive."

"I'll pass that on. Go back to your students, Weapons master." She smiled at him. He snorted, and headed back toward his students. Chaos watched him for a moment before returning to Thanatos to report.

The two boys entered the tavern looking a little apprehensive. Thanatos had claimed one of the tables in the back as his own, spreading papers, ink jars and pens across its much-abused surface. Thanatos sat on the bench facing the door, looking up as the two boys approached his table. Chaos and Mayhem stood behind Thanatos, the traditional place of the Lord's seconds. The two boys stopped in front of Thanatos and saluted. Their fists banged over their hearts in almost perfect unison.

"Which of you is Burin and which of you is Kyat?"

"I'm Burin, my Lord." The boy on the left said.

"I'm Kyat. Oh, right, my Lord." Kyat added.

"Due to the times, we need every Shadow that can be called to their blacks. As Lord of the Shadows, I am jumping you through training. You can consider yourselves D-ranks, and full Shadows. However, if you are not on a job, you are expected to continue with your training, weapons work and whatever else you can obtain during the length of this campaign. I am sorry that we are denying you your official graduation, but..."

"We understand, my Lord. We are happy that we are able to serve in any capacity you deem fit." The one called Burin replied formally. He seemed to be a very serious boy. Again, Chaos wondered what debt Nemesis could owe the boy.

"Great, Burin, as of now, you will be known as Discontent. Kyat, you have obtained the name of Affirmation." Thanatos nodded at each of them as he named them, "Now, you go, return to your work and don't let me hear of any slacking off now. You can be punished as Shadows, not as trainees."

"Yes sir." The newly named Affirmation and Discontent saluted again before heading out of the tavern. The trio were silent until the pair had shut the door behind them.

"I've been meaning to ask, how do our names get decided?" Mayhem asked, walking around to the front of the table. Thanatos glanced up, before turning his attention back to the pile in front of him.

"I pull them out of a hat." Thanatos told him. Mayhem froze, looking down at the older man.

"You do what?" he asked in shock.

"Pulled them out of a hat." Thanatos looked up, his lips twitching as he fought down his mirth, "You didn't really think I put deep thought into each of the trainees name, did you? Good God, man, do you know how many trainees have gone through training since I've been Lord?"

"But...but..."

"It makes sense." Chaos told Thanatos. He looked back over his shoulder, giving her that boyish grin of his, "It saves time as well, Chaos."

"I'll remember that." She told him. Mayhem just stared at them both. When he finally shut his mouth, he stalked off, heading up the stairs. Chaos grinned at Thanatos, "I think you shattered his illusions. He probably believed some deep thought was involved with his name."

"You better go talk to your husband, Chaos." Thanatos told her. She sighed loudly, then banged up the stairs behind Mayhem.

Mayhem was lying on the bed, staring up at the dusty rafters that lined the ceiling. She sat down beside him, resting one hand on his chest. He turned his blue eyes from the ceiling, to look at her.

"Are you okay?" she asked. With a sudden devilish grin, he pulled her down to rest on his chest. He kissed her, and for a few minutes neither spoke. When they finally broke apart, he gave her his grin again, "I'm fine. But, I was hoping to steal my wife into the privacy of the empty attic for a bit."

"Mayhem! There is so much to do, we don't have time..." but Mayhem cut her off with another kiss and Chaos conveniently forgot what she was going to say. After all, it was a very rare occurrence to steal any privacy in the crowded attic, and such times should definitely be taken advantage of.