Jason stared at Zander, watching his movements, attention to Kelsie's wellbeing and surroundings, yet wanting to know, learn, and achieve more understanding. Zander thought he was under Jason's command throughout the entire journey, but it was the other way around. These young rulers of their world had all the knowledge to do what was required; however, they had no understanding. They had one thing lacking ... elder knowledge. A process of passing down information from the older generation to the younger generation. Completing the link between those serving and those rising to serve or be served. Those protecting to those rising to protect or be protected. Could he follow this young man who had so much to learn? Did he hand over the keys to the Guard of the Order?

"Zander, tell me what you know of the Guard of the Order?" Jason asked.

"The Guard ..." Zander frowned, "what has this to do with the closed-loop?"

"Everything," Jason smiled, "humour an old man, tell me what you know."

"Let's see," Zander sighed. "The Guard is a group of Assasin's commissioned usually by bloodline, allegiances and pledges to protect the Royals, leadership and the knowledge of Orders meeting location and secrets."

"Correct," Jason nodded, "you are well learned. Do you know who they are?"

"No one does," Zander frowned, "it's the best-kept secret in the Order. Only those in the Guard know who is in the Guard."

"Who runs the Guard?" Jason asked.

"Also, only know within the Guard," Zander said. "Only those in the new guard will learn who is truly in the old guard when the previous leader relinquishes his authority to the new leader."

"How does the old leader know who the new leader is?" Jason asked, his gaze following Kelsie as she stood and began circling the fire.

"Oh, that is where the closing of the loop comes into play," Zander said, glancing at Jason before turning back to Kelsie at the fire, "why didn't you just tell me?"

"Connections to understanding need to be made by the person who needs to understand; otherwise, true clarity will not come naturally," Jason said. "I'm quoting the old leader of the guard."

"Old leader? How would you know ...." Zander stared at Jason, "you're Anne and George's bodyguard," Zander said, "you knew they were in that cave we stayed in."

"Yes to all," Jason said, "that is how I knew you were the leader of the new Guard. You knew your father was there and Anne and George, but you never gave them away nor left a note for anyone but your father."

"You looked in the book?" Zander frowned.

"No," Jason said, "you had ink on your fingers where you held a pen."

"Tell me of the loop," Zander said, "I need to understand."

"There is a ceremony the elders do when a new Queen is brought to rule," Jason said. "The new Guard pledges allegiance, as you did. A separate ceremony is performed where the words Connie said are uttered in the presence of your King or Queen. This cuts the last tie the elders have as a security against the possibility of Assassination. Relinquishing to the new ruling royal and the Guard places them under the new rule and makes them a normal Assassin."

"Hold up," Zander said, "Connie said that to me when I was thirteen, and she relinquished early to Kelsie when she was ten. You're saying we've been ruling for decades, except it's been in secret."

"Correct," Jason said, "when the time is right, I shall give the leadership of the Guard to you, but until then, we fight side by side, I for those I still Guard and you for those you currently guard."

"Agree," Zander said, extending his hand and gripping Jason's. "It will be an honour to protect our family, brethren and world with you fighting at my side."

Jason smiled, watching as Kelsie started a second walk around the fire. Zander felt himself smile for the first time in a long time as more puzzle pieces fell into place. There were fewer floating puzzle pieces as this journey continued. Soon there would be none, just a picture of what this meant.

Kelsie glanced at the sky, walking around the fire chanting the words from the paper.

Was she saying it right?

Were her actions what they were meant to be?

How would Aunt Jezebel do this?

Panic began to rise as the inky blackness of night grew around her; only the flickering flames could be seen. Breathing in deeply, she pushed the alarm aside as she read the next step on the paper. Seating cross-legged, she followed the instructions and hummed before starting a new chant. The flames in the fire seemed to flicker a little before glowing with a blue aura or was it an outline, according to Aunt Jez, that was supposed to happen. Kelsie hummed again before continuing to the following chant. Slowly she moved through the instructions before finally coming to an end. It had been hours, and she was exhausted and needed rest. She found her sleeping bag and pillow a little way behind her. Looking around her, she found Zander still sitting at the fire, watching everything she did. Nodding her thanks, she lay down to rest. Sleep was immediate as though she had been drugged, yet it felt nothing like a drugging should.

A dreamlike mist appeared, pulling her forward. The roses came into view. A child singing a song could be heard, not clearly, but words about roses being picked floated on the air. Reaching out at hand, Kelsie broke the stem of a rose.

"Another," the child's voice came, "pick another and another, three times over till the picking is all done."

Looking around, Kelsie could see no one but knew the child's voice held instructions for this strange dream. Picking two more, Kelsie hesitated, thinking of the rest of the line in the song, before picking another four roses.

"Smell the pretty roses, feel the prick from the stem, smell the pretty roses before you open the door to go within," the child sang, moving into the distance.

Lifting the roses, Kelsie breathed in the heady scent, the thorns on the stems pricking into her fingers. She was moving, her legs moving toward the stairs of their own accord. Climbing the stairs, she moved toward the door and smelled the roses once more, but how to open the door. Near the door was a table with a single chair on the opposite side. Placing the roses on the table, Kelsie whispered, for you, Aunt Jez. Reaching for the door, she wrapped her hand around the handle. Instead of being able to turn the door handle, the scene evaporated. Returning her to the smouldering fire and a ribbon of dawn on the horizon. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up to find Jason and Zander hurriedly packing up camp, dousing the fire and continuously checking the surrounding forest. Rolling up her bedding, Kelsie headed toward the pair, folding Jezebel's instructions and putting them in her pocket.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

"Jason heard movement, Kels," Zander whispered, "then I heard more movement and noise."

"Are we being tracked?" Kelsie whispered.

"We could be," Zander said, "but I know you are."

"I am what?" Kelsie frowned.

"Being tracked," Zander said, "I did my best to cover our tracks, but I'm not certain I got everything."

"I thought that was lifted," Kelsie hissed, "oh you mean physical tracking, not ..." she shook her head, "okay, now what?"

"If there are trackers," Zander said, "they are scouts. There will be more coming behind them. We will be outnumbered, and taking to the trees will not be viable; this journey needs to happen on the ground."

"What do you mean about the trees?" Kelsie asked.

"Usually, we would be able to travel through the trees, but my gut is telling me to prove who you are; this journey needs to happen on ground level," Zander said. "We need to ensure you get through whatever is coming, and your feet need to continue making contact with the ground. Any area missed, and you start again. We have little time to waste."

"Agreed," Kelsie nodded, "we need to move in that direction according to the map. Jezebel's instructions only have one more ritual to do, and then the journey continues to the house."

"We need to move," Jason said, hefting his backpack onto his shoulders, "whoever is out there has either heard us or can smell us. I don't know which is worse; they know we're here and are heading this way fast."

"Grab your gear," Zander said," let's go. Lead the way."

Kelsie quickly collected her backpack, pushing weapons into the pockets on her belt before moving toward the opposite end of the clearing.

"There is nothing there," Jason said, "where do we find the path."

"Follow Kelsie," Zander said, "she needs to take the lead, responsibilities and make the decisions."

"How do you know this?" Jason asked.

"Something in my heart, head and gut all say the same thing," Zander said, shrugging.

"Good enough for me," Jason grinned, "keep listening to all three, and you'll never go wrong."

"Over here," Kelsie called, waving them toward her, "it's narrow, so you'll need to follow in my footsteps and stay close."

"Lead the way," Jason said, "our lives are in your hands."

"Great," Kelsie blew out a nervous breath before stepping onto the narrow pathway through the next stretch of forest.

Kelsie felt her heart hammer in her chest as she started walking, the weight of the lives of the two men following her heavy on her shoulders and fear slicing through her like a hot knife through butter. Breathing in deeply, she steadied her nerves, focusing on where she was on the map and in the forest, keeping an eye on the track ahead and the surrounding areas. There may be men tracking them from behind, but it could be that someone had gotten around them. Being this Queen of Assassins was not going to be a cakewalk. Trust Aunt Jezebel to give her a taste of what was to come. Forging forward, Kelsie realised as she trusted the two men behind her to keep her alive and safe while on this journey, they were learning to trust her. What was it Aunt Jez used to say?

Trust is a two-way street, hard to build and easy to burn. Make sure yours is solid as stone, full of heart, and know it is anchored to the soul.