Zander and Kelsie stood with their brethren waiting. Nearby Kelsie could see the items surrounding the stone in a circle.

"We cannot engage here. We will need to cross the boundary line," Kelsie said, "are the archers ready?"

"Yes," Zander and Alyx nodded.

"I'm going to leave the offense and defense to you both," Kelsie said, "under no circumstance are they to get near the stone or the House."

Nodding, Zander and Alyx started silently giving orders. Turning toward the House, Kelsie saw her father on the porch. They locked eyes, pride shining in his eyes, bringing a smile to Kelsie's lips. She nodded her thanks for the silent message of confidence. Keeping eye contact, he laid his right fist over his heart; she mimicked his actions before turning to take her place near the stone. The brethren made way for her to walk to her appointed spot.

"Today, we defend our way of life, our lives and all innocents from the oncoming evil," Kelsie shouted.

A roar rose around her, fists pumping the air as the first wave moved to meet the front runners. A small group surrounded the stone. Kelsie standing on the boundary line, ready to defend it with her life and, if possible, to say the words to end this. If he was the kind of coward she had known, he would be last on the battlefield, giving the order but not getting his hands dirty.

A volley of arrows flew over their heads as the clash of swords began, and the hand to hand combat followed in some places. The one precaution Zander had taken was to place snipers in the area should guns be brought to what should be an honourable battle. Nothing about their attacking force was noble. The preparations had been extensive; every Assassin had various weapons dripping from their bodies. Kelsie only hoped it was enough.

A fast-moving small group of leather-clad, black-caped figures paused at the fork in the road.

"They went to the right," a tall, muscular man said, "They took the ruler's path as should everyone."

"That is everyone who doesn't know another way," Caelin said, "we need to defend, not attack. We go to the left."

"Everyone who agrees with Everett, raise their hands," came the call from the back of the group.

One hand raised.

"Everyone who agrees with Caelin, raise their hands," the voice called.

Hands raised in the air drawing a mutter of protest from Everett.

The voice called again, "The way of the Order has been followed ... we go left."

The group moved to the left, taking to the trees while others stayed on the ground. Soon the sound of fighting could be heard over the raging roar of the river thundering down from the mountain. They paused at the bridge running ankle-deep in water.

"Take to the railings if you can," the call dispersed the group into two. Some pranced lightly along the railings toward the other side; others used the railing as a climbing apparatus, crab crawling to the other side until everyone was assembled. Finding their direction, they raced toward the fighting. A fisted hand held high in the air on the edge of the clearing stopped everyone in mid-movement.

"They are grossly outnumbered," the call came, "both sides have a variety of weapons, including guns. Cape's off. Display your leathers."

The Capes were opened, hanging from the attachments at the shoulders. The battle cry was heard. They joined the skirmish on the edge of the field, slowly working their way into the main fighting and hopefully toward redemption.

Alyx noticed the groups of leather-clad fighters join the fighting from the forest edging the clearing. He tracked them into the action; they appeared to be brethren. Still, he had learnt never to assume anything, especially when it came to appearance or intentions. A group of them formed a circle fighting back to back. It took much energy and remembrance of their old school training to defeat the black-clad attackers. Alyx looked up from a kill and marked a figure in black fatigues, firing into the fighting. It was only the speed and awareness of his brethren that they did not get hit. Anger boiled in his veins, signalling a sniper; he pointed to the imbalance in the field. Moments later, the graze of a bullet on the arm had the man changing to his sword, displaying an inept fighting style. Alyx frowned. It couldn't be. Pausing as the man turned toward him, locking gazes and a mocking sneer marked his otherwise beautiful face.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Zander," Alyx yelled, drawing his captain's attention, "he is here. Make for the House."

The evil gaze turned toward Zander's movement through the fighting, a new target and toy to play with. Alyx moved through the fight to intervene and hopefully buy much needed time. He would not allow Zander or Kelsie to be harmed. He felt the pull of his pledge as he swung into action ploughing through the black-clad attackers who seemed propelled out of their commander's way.

Anne watched from the window. She wasn't used to feeling helpless and didn't like that she was obliged to follow orders. Turning away from the fighting, she found Jackie and Jason waiting in the doorway.

"I thought you would be out there," she frowned.

"Our pledge is to you and George," Jackie answered, "what do you need?"

"We have been tasked with defending the House and those taking refuge inside," Anne said, leaving the room, "please put something in place. I will be in my private library."

Nodding, the pair moved toward the computer and war room. Anne watched them until they were out of sight before heading for her suite of rooms. Kim rose from the sitting area, worry on her face.

"Everything is fine, Kim," she said, hugging the young woman, "but I need your help."

"Anything," Kim whispered, returning the hug.

"Terrified women and children hide in our war room and the cave network behind the house," Anne said, "I need you to look after them. Ensure they have everything they need and, if necessary, get them evacuated. Jackie and Jason are setting up defenses and offenses now, but I feel Kelsie is missing something. I need to check on something, so I'm asking you to make sure those areas are covered for me."

Kim frowned, taking in everything, "I can do that. Focus on what you need to, and I'll look over the women and children."

"Thank you," Anne hugged her tightly, "I'm so glad you're part of the family."

Kim flushed before leaving the room. Anne waited until she had turned the corner in the passageway before closing the door and leaning against it closing her eyes.

It was unheard of for a previous ruler to connect with the House, but this was no ordinary time. Anne didn't know if the House would respond, so she waited.

The connection came slowly as though reluctant to connect. Anne coaxed the link, pleading for help. Finally, she felt the tug and made her request quickly before she was rejected.

A scene came to mind of Connie looking through an old genealogy book in the library. She had a piece of paper in hand. Anne watched her look between four different books before scrawling on the sheet and hurriedly pushing it into a book and placing it on the shelf. A child's voice called Connie's name from the passageway. Connie smiled as a young Kelsie came in, twirling in a beautiful dress.

"You look lovely for the ceremony, my dear," Connie gave Kelsie a hug, "let's find everyone."

Kelsie ran from the room, "Connie," Jezebel called from the passageway, meeting her sister in the doorway, "did you do it?"

"Yes," Connie nodded, "as mother asked."

"Will it work?" Jezebel asked.

"I don't know," Connie shrugged, "but it has to be someone of the two bloodlines."

"I'm grateful that Anne listened when I mentioned to her to follow her heart," Jezebel said, "I know a few others have suggested it. Thankfully if overthrew Clive's scheming, and I'm hoping Kelsie can do this."

"Not now as a child, but when she is older," Connie said, "I believe Kelsie has the makings of an extraordinary ruler. Receiving the correct training and knowledge is necessary, but she seems resistant to the change and ... other things."

"She takes after George that way," Jezebel smiled, "but she has Anne's determination."

"They are arriving," Connie sighed, "I cannot believe this will be the last night we will be here."

"It is as it must be," Jezebel said, linking arms with Connie as they left the room.

Turning to the bookshelf, Anne focused on the book Connie had put away. Suddenly she was back in her own room. Slowly sinking to the floor. She had forgotten the mental strength required to link to the House.

Breathing heavily, she closed her eyes, bringing to mind the book Connie had placed on the shelf. Snapping her eyes open, she gasped, "Geneology and the lineage of the ages," pushing to her feet. She ran to the library. Opening the door and checking if anyone was there before going to the shelf and finding the book. The dust moved through the air as the book landed on the table, the paper still protruded at the top. Swatting at the dust swarming around her, Anne opened the thick volume to the marked page and began reading.

"What were you putting into place, mother," Anne whispered as she looked over the pages, finding a marked section. "Destroying the Tainted One," she read, stopping as a name was mentioned next to the paragraph. "Dear heavens ... Leilani knew ..." she hesitated as she saw the name of another book and the page number. Quickly Anne pulled it from the shelf and flipped to the page, finding and reading the marked paragraphs.

"They lived through the making of the tainted one," Anne shuddered. "It should have been ended then by the baby's death ..." Anne looked back at the page in the genealogy book. "His father stole him and forced Everett to make the Black Assassin's..." her finger traced a line, "Everett ...is his ...Uncle."

Suddenly the words Kelsie needed to say and the instructions Connie had left made sense. Everything was required to save their brethren and end the line of their persecutors forever.

Kelsie needed to see this. She needed to see this now.