Two large fires crackled in the clearing, the mix between black and white gave Jackie hope, there was much work to be done to get them to where they once were but tonight was a start. Once Kelsie had completed the journey started, the Order would have the anchor it desperately needed. Raised voices drew her attention. The closer she got, the more she heard, anger boiling in her soul.

"What is the issue?" Jackie asked, her quietly spoken words bringing deafening silence and gaining everyone's attention.

"Just venting, Jackie," the shorter of the two said, "isn't that right?"

Jackie turned to the taller of the two Assassins, "Is that right?"

"No," he said, anger rolling off of him in waves. "I say the one is moving toward the true location of Jezebel's house, and soon the true Royals will be ruling again. He indicated the small group behind the shorter man, "they all say it is a myth, an urban legend and a fairy tale."

"I see," Jackie nodded, "all of you, follow me."

Jackie moved to an area between the two fires, finding a large log to stand on, attracting everyone's attention. The group was more extensive than she remembered, which meant her churning gut knew of infiltration before the evidence could be seen. Smothering a knowing smile, waving for everyone to move within earshot. She waited for silence to fall before drawing a deep breath and speaking.

"It has come to my attention that the order's teachings are being replaced with fallacy and lies," she said, looking over the crowd. "I'm here to set a few things straight which you can answer yourselves."

A confused whisper fluttered across the group; she waited for silence again.

"Remember we are brethren," she said, noting sideways glances, "there is no judgement here. Those who were taught the way of the Order is a concocted series of myths, legends and fairy stories, please move to my left. Anyone taught the way of the Order is to think for oneself, make a judgment call of corresponding facts and variables, make a complete picture, and believe in the return of the Royals. Move to my right."

Jackie waited while the large group split in two, making a large area in the middle of the two. She noted a mix of uniforms on the right, whereas only black fatigues were on the left, leaving the centre for the tiebreaker of who she could trust.

"Who knows what I mean when I say we have a pledge to fulfill and an allegiance to keep?" she asked. Many hands went up, some not as high as others, but they rose in the air.

"Good to know," Jackie nodded. "The next question is personal. Only you can answer it by being true to your convictions, instinct and gut knowledge."

"Seriously," someone on the left muttered, making the others bristle.

Silence fell as Jackie's hand rose, halting any movement and keeping them in place. One down, she thought, noting who it was and remembering her to be part of the group backing the shorter of the two in the argument.

"If any of you will defend the ruling Royal, knowing in your heart and soul that the person will show themselves," she said, observing everyone. "You will fulfill the pledge made to the Royal and the Guard, standing for what is right and true ... move to the middle."

Silence fell. Some looked around while others shifted from side to side. Jackie waited. The silence stretched long, becoming uncomfortable and still; Jackie waited. From the middle of the group on the right, a young, short woman made her way through the crowd finding a place middle of the two groups, standing tall. Alone.

"I will fulfill my pledge and hold to my allegiance, even if I stand alone," her voice sounding determined. "If I find the Guard of the Order, I will be honoured to defend our way, people, and Royals."

Jackie smiled at the woman, "Welcome."

The silence continued for a moment or two before someone on the left moved to join her, repeating the words stated. Jackie stared at the man for a moment; his eyes were clear, and there was no malice in how he stood or held his head.

"Why the change?" Jackie asked, "who trained you?"

"My training came from Connie," he said, shifting as muttered words flew at him from the left. "I only stood on that side because my family has been threatened, but I cannot lie about my pledge or allegiance."

"Who is your family?" Jackie asked.

"Sommertines," he said, "I haven't seen them for weeks and am afraid for their lives."

"Rest, brethren," Jackie smiled, "your family is free."

"How do you know?" he asked.

"It was part of my mission to clear the prisoners," Jackie said, "it was achieved some time ago. You will see your family again."

The man breathed in hard, holding his breath before releasing it while blinking swiftly, "Thank you."

Jackie nodded acknowledgement before waiting once more. Slowly men and women joined the courageous pair in the centre, repeating the words supplied. Jackie nodded, smiling as they allowed their awakening to progress from the niggle to knowledge.

Turning to those still on the right, Jackie waited until they were all meeting her gaze before asking a question.

"Who trained you?"

"Connie," was the unified answer.

"What are your intentions toward Kelsie Conrad?" Jackie asked, watching those on the left bristle and bridle at the question.

"She is brethren," one woman answered, stepping forward into the centre, "if she were in danger, I would defend her."

Jackie nodded, "Does everyone feel that way?"

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Some nodded; some seemed unsure of who Kelsie Conrad may be but seemed ready to defend their way to the end.

Turning to the right, she repeated the question, hardly finishing the words before they all started talking at once. They talked over each other, shouting obscenities about Kelsie and what would happen to her if they found her.

"Enough," Jackie bellowed, "you will cease now."

The small group stopped speaking, sidling from side to side, uneasy as an operative who had blown an operation.

"Do you know who I am?" Jackie asked, staring them down.

"You're the traitor who we will be happy to kill," one said.

"What makes me a traitor?" Jackie asked.

"You insulted our King," another said, "you do not follow his orders."

"That does not make me a traitor," Jackie shook her head, "so you know ... our Order has had a Queen since ...two decades ago," Jackie said, her voice hardening. "I have not disobeyed one instruction from my Queen, nor shall I. The only traitor is the imposter who refuses to do his dirty work. He prays on the weak, innocent and sick, steals what is not his and demands total obedience even to death. That is not the way of our Order."

"We know all of that is false," another shouted, "our King knows where Jezebel's House is, and he is sending his people to burn it to the ground."

"No, he isn't," Alyx said, moving toward Jackie. "He sent those people to a location where bees reside to set a fire and be killed by those angry swarming forest bees."

"That is a lie," one of the left-hand group shouted, "he would never do that."

Before Jackie could answer, a tall, dark-haired man from the right stepped away from the group. "It is truth. I was part of that hunting party. If not for these two," he indicated Alyx and Jackie, "we would all be dead. That is not the way of the Order. Tying up loose ends by dishonorably using a sniper rifle on a fellow assassin or nature in its innocence to obtain your goals. It is a coward's way out."

An enraged cry came from the small group on the left. A sudden flurry of flying fists and knives erupted. The fighting was fierce and fast and over quickly.

Some of the attackers were dead, but others had been subdued.

"Do we kill them?" Alyx frowned, "they did attack us."

"Is that the way of the Order?" Jackie asked.

"No, it is not," someone from the edge of the clearing said, "but it is the second time these miscreants have attacked their own."

Turning, Jackie watched a solitary hooded man move forward into the light. She could sense others. Scanning the shadows, Jackie could see many shapes. Aware that this may be an attack under the guise of a friendly brethren member, she stayed on the alert.

"Who did they attack and when?" Jackie asked.

"Two weeks ago," the man said, "a small refugee party of the white had found shelter in a cave to get out of the inclement weather. These ... people cornered them and attempted to rape and murder."

"Did they succeed?" Jackie asked.

"No, they were surprised by a visiting band of Old Order trained brethren," the man said. "They were driven off, but their faces were sketched and handed around to those who know and acknowledge the way."

"There are only two of you left," Jackie said, "go with a warning; there will be no leniency next time."

"Take them out of the clearing," Alyx said, "secure them to a tree and let us remove these corpses."

The group began to move, working as one, lifting and carrying away the dead. The two prisoners were led reluctantly past Jackie. Suddenly one broke free, diving at Jackie and tackling her to the ground. Jackie reacted quickly, rolling her attacker onto his back and rolling to her feet on the other side. Coming to her feet, she felt for a weapon but found her waist bare, looking around the area, she looked for anything that she may use. The man rolled to his feet, drawing a long-bladed knife. Adrenaline pumped through Jackie as she dropped to a fighting stance, carefully reading the man's movement, expression and body language. The blade cut through the air extending toward her. Jackie arched her back, watching as it missed her torso by a hair's breadth.

Swinging as hard as she could, she connected with the man's jaw. She heard the crunch, his deep moan, but she did not have time to do more than move out of reach as he came at her again, the knife skimming past her eye and grazing the side of her face. He was going to kill her, now and as viciously as possible. Raising her knee, she connected to the groin and shoved him to the ground. Stepping aside before his weight could take her with him. She stood, breathing hard, waiting. He remained on the ground, groaning. Turning, she moved toward the waiting, watching group. The hairs on her neck rose suddenly, turning. She gasped at the descending knife, and there was nowhere to go. The sudden clash of blades startled her. A sword met the descending knife deflecting it, twisting in the air; the length was driven through the attacker's heart. Jackie sucked in air, deep and urgently. Stepping away from the pair, she watched as the newcomer followed the attacker to the ground keeping pressure on the blade before pulling it out and cleaning it on the pant leg of the dead attacker.

Jackie turned to the newcomer staring at him hard; something about him was familiar yet new.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

"Leonardus," he said, pushing the hood off his head and looking Jackie full in the face before kneeling to one knee and saluting with his right fist over his heart. "My father pledged to be your protector. He is no longer with us; therefore, the duty falls to me."

Jackie gasped, "Leo," she stared at him disbelievingly, "I remember you as a child kneeling with your father. Thank you for protecting my life, but there is no obligation to continue the pledge as your father is dead."

"What you do not know," Leo said, raising his head and staring directly at her, "I took the pledge alongside my father that day. There is no obligation, only a promise to fulfill."

Jackie sighed, shaking her head, "Wow!" she whispered before moving in front of him and placing her hands on his shoulders, "I accept the pledge and your protection."

Standing, he extended his hand in greeting, but Jackie pushed it aside, hugging him to her. He flinched slightly before slowly returning the hug.

Alyx cleared his throat, "We have another corpse to remove."

Turning to the remaining member of the Black Faction, he asked cheerfully, "What are your plans now?"

The man was pale and shaking in every limb, making it difficult to move him from the clearing. Alyx glanced over his shoulder, seeing Jackie quietly talking to the man named Leo. Strange how pledges and alliances still meant more than sleep and food after all these years.

Loyalty and trust ... the foundation of who they were.

"Leo," Jackie shook her head, belatedly accepting his extended hand, "you brought company."

"I did," he said, "a band of refugees from the compound, everyone a legacy of an allegiance or pledge."

"Then they are welcome," Jackie said, "there is food at the fires, and I'm sure Alyx can find places for them to sleep."

"That would be wonderful," he said, waving to the edge of the clearing, "we have had a hard physical day and eventually had to take to the trees to catch up with you."

"That is what I heard," Jackie said.

"Where are you headed?" Leo asked.

"Jezebel's House," Jackie said, turning when Leo stopped walking.

"Then it is true?"

"Yes, all of it," Jackie smiled.

"It is Kelsie," Leo nodded, "and Zander. Both," Leo grinned, "then we join happily."

"Wonderful," Jackie said, turning to the clearing once more, "it's as though the past hour did not happen."

"The way we live," Leo said, "fast and full of life."

Jackie grinned, "That is the truth. Come and eat before there is nothing left."

Settling the newcomers, Jackie watched the others move around the clearing, eating, talking and settling to sleep. Some moved to positions to guard for the night, allowing others to rest before the next grueling day as they moved as one toward Jezebel's House.