Jason came to a stop in front of the stairs. Alyx, beside him, both men pulled their hoods back, saluting with the fist over the heart.

"Alyx?" Zander whispered, "is that you?"

"Yes, it is," Alyx grinned, "I thought I would surprise you."

Zander came down the stairs hugging his friend, "I never thought I would see you again."

"It was close a few times," Alyx said, returning the hug, "but fate decided it was not time."

"For that, I'm grateful," Zander said, stepping back and gazing at his friend, "how did you end up with the black?"

"Someone has to spy on the enemy," Alyx murmured, "but I asked one too many question and was on the way to execution when Jackie found me."

"Jackie?" Zander looked at Jason, "she is with you?"

Jason nodded, "She tells of a mission she was assigned. I know nothing of it, but I don't doubt her."

"Did she accomplish it?" Zander asked, gazing out at all the bodies assembling behind the two men.

"Apparently so," Jason smiled, "how goes it here?"

"We had a few problems, which have been taken care of," Zander said, "I placed the bodies in the field."

"You didn't... interfere, did you?" Jason asked, looking concerned.

"Only when I was released, and Kelsie was in danger," Zander smiled, glancing up at Kelsie, who watched the assembling brethren.

"Who did that to her face?" Jason bristled.

"He paid the price," Zander said, "with his life."

"You made it so," Jason looked at Zander with pride.

"I did."

"What are you both talking about?" Alyx asked.

"Kelsie was hunted by a pack of men," Zander said, "she fought them off while crossing this field. The last of them attacked inside the house's boundary. It recorded her release of my obligation not to interfere and my fulfillment of the pledge of protection."

"The House accepted you both?" Jason whispered, hope blooming in his eyes.

"It did," Zander smiled, "we opened it, and it is preparing for all of us. How many are with you?"

"The last count was one hundred, but anything can have changed on the way," Jason said, "oh, before I give you my command, there are three people Kelsie needs to see."

"Who is that?" Zander frowned.

Jason motioned to three standing behind him. Bowing his head as they came forward, motioning them to continue toward Kelsie, slowly silence fell over the gathering brethren. Expectations sat tight and thick in the air.

Zander breathed in, smiling, "Yes, it is time for this."

Following them, he took the stairs, standing one stair above Kelsie, vigilantly watching for danger.

Kelsie watched the three hooded figures approach her; glancing at Zander, she frowned.

"It's okay," he whispered, "many of your questions will be answered."

Nodding, Kelsie turned to watch the three slowly ascend the staircase. Who were they? Two stairs below her, they stopped, lowering their hoods in unison. Kelsie looked from one face to the other, frowning. They were familiar ... older. Sudden realisation hit like a gut punch.

"Mom," she whispered, "Dad."

The two stepped forward, saluting her with fists over their hearts, "It is us."

Looking at the third, Kelsie frowned. The other man in the picture, looking up at Zander, motioning for him to join her on the stair. She needed him with her, anchoring her and keeping her grounded in this emotional moment. Reaching out, she waited until her parents took her hands and pulled them toward her, squeezing their hands.

"Where have you been?" she whispered, "I have missed you."

A gentle kiss on the back of her hands drew her to her father's face, "We have missed you," the hoarse whisper came, "we have longed for this day."

"May I hug you?" her mother asked, tears coursing down her cheeks.

"Yes," Kelsie swallowed her emotion as tears gathered, "of course. You two never have to ask that."

"Actually, they do," the other man said, "you are their Queen now."

"I may be, but they are my parents," Kelsie said, hugging her mother to her, "they may hug me whenever they want to."

"The permission is noted," Zander said, smiling at his father, "thank you for taking care of them."

Cal nodded, returning his son's smile. Zander motioned to Alyx to join them. Bowing to Kelsie, he left her to reunite with her parents while joining Alyx and his father.

"Calvin George Zander Argall," he shouted so all could hear, "may I introduce my second in command, Alyx Finley Ronan Stewart."

Cal extended his hand, exposing his arm to the elbow. Alyx looked at Zander, who nodded, then smiled as Alyx stepped forward, grasping Cal's arm at the elbow and standing on the same step as Zander's father.

"I, Calvin George Zander Argall, relinquish my duties as the Royal Guards second-in-command. To you, Alyx Finley Ronan Stewart," Cal's voice rang out over the meadow.

Alyx glanced at Zander, who raised his eyebrows questioningly, "Will you accept?"

Alyx smiled before looking Cal in the eyes, "I, Alyx Finley Ronan Stewart accept the duties of the Royal second-in-command from you, Calvin George Zander Argall."

A cheer rose from the brethren watching the exchange. Zander extended his hand to Alyx, shaking it before motioning for him to stand before Kelsie. Zander turned to his father as Alyx moved off.

"It is good to see you, Dad," Zander whispered, hugging his father, "come join us."

The two men joined the tearful reunion. Zander noticed Kelsie's father looking at him, feeling surprised as he extended his hand, exposing his elbow.

"Sir?" Zander frowned, looking directly in the older man's eye.

"A sign of honour," he said, "and an exchange of duties."

Zander frowned, "You are not the King?"

"No," he smiled, "I am Anne's Guard."

Smiling, Zander gripped George's arm at the elbow, "Then I'm honoured to accept."

The required words were said, and once more, a cheer rose from those watching.

Kelsie swiped at the tears on her cheek, wincing as she brushed against the large bruise on her face.

"Mom," she whispered, "you're Queen?"

"Yes, love," Anne whispered, "We always have a queen."

"Do we need to do an exchange of duties?" Kelsie asked, watching her father embrace Zander.

"No love," Anne smiled, "the night I left here, I relinquished my duties, title, and secrets to you."

"So did Connie," Kelsie whispered, "what does that mean?"

"You and Zander now rule," Anne smiled, "tell me he made whoever did that to your face pay."

"He did," Kelsie smiled, "brutally."

"Good," Anne hugged Kelsie, "now for one more ceremonial exchange."

"George, Cal," Anne called, "it is time. Where is Jason?"

Kelsie caught Zander's questioning glance, shrugging. The pair were directed to the central stair, standing together with Alyx at Zander's side. Anne, George and Calvin stood in a half-moon behind them. Slowly Jason moved up the stairs as the deafening silence settled over the watching brethren.

Stopping in front of Kelsie, he knelt, saluting with a fist over his heart. Rising, he moved to stand in front of Zander.

"What is this, Jason?" Zander frowned.

"Transfer of authority," Jason whispered, "I have no one to exchange my duties with. Therefore I request both you and Alyx accept my duties as head of the Guard."

"Do you not prefer to stay on until you have someone?" Zander asked.

"It is tradition to transfer to the current Queens court," Jason smiled, "but I appreciate the offer."

Zander looked at Alyx, "You up to helping me run the Guard?"

"I'm always looking for a challenge," Alyx smiled.

"Who is the second in command?" Zander asked.

"Jackie," Jason murmured, "do you require her duties as well."

"Is it tradition?" Zander asked.

Jason nodded.

"Then let it be so," Zander said.

Jason turned to the crowd, raising his right fist in the air. Movement from the back started a ripple, and a path formed, closing behind Jackie as she made her way toward the stairs. Slowly mounting them until she stood next to her brother. Jason lowered his arm, forming a circle. Jackie placed her hand over his fist.

Anne came forward, placing Zander's and Alyx's hands over theirs before moving away.

"We, Jason Tegan Conrad and Jackie Kaitlyn Conrad, relinquish our duties to you, Zander Calvin George Argall and Alyx Finley Ronan Stewart. They include heading and guiding the Royal Guard and all our brethren," they said in unison.

Zander and Alyx responded in kind, "We, Zander Calvin George Argall and Alyx Finley Ronan Stewart accept the duties in heading and guiding the Royal Guard and our brethren from Jason Tegan Conrad and Jackie Kaitlyn Conrad."

Jason pushed their joined hands up between them, forming a V before bellowing to those who stood behind him, "Accept the new leader of the Royal Guard and our brethren."

A daunting response from those gathered resounded around them, "We accept."

Kelsie watched fists rise in the air as they accepted Zander and Alyx's leadership of the Guard and brethren. Blinking away tears and swallowing the emotion that threatened to break its leash, she took in something never seen in her lifetime. The ceremony years ago for her father, mother and herself had been small in comparison. A ripple near the back held her attention. Someone was pushing through, frantic to get to the front. She tracked the movement onto the porch keeping to the railing, watching as they fought the crowd. Something was wrong.

"Let that person through," she called.

A sudden path formed, startling a short woman who fell to the floor. Looking up, Kelsie frowned. She knew that face. She had seen it often at the company she had worked at.

"Kim," Kelsie said, motioning her forward, "what is it?"

A hand reached out to help her from the ground. She ran forward, "I'm sorry to interrupt the exchanges," she panted, "but ..." she glanced at Jason and Calvin, who looked to Zander and Alyx. "Oh ... to them now," she moved toward them as Kelsie tracked her on the porch, joining them on the stairs.

"Slow down, Kim," Kelsie murmured, catching the worried gaze for a moment, "breath."

Kim inhaled and exhaled before speaking, "I was appointed lookout."

Zander stepped forward, "What did you see?"

Kim saluted him with a fist over her heart, "He ..." she stumbled over her words, swallowing hard before trying again, "he is coming."

"How far?" Alyx asked, squaring his shoulders.

"About seven hours," she whispered, glancing at Kelsie, "please, believe me, I did not betray your location."

"Why would you say that?" Kelsie asked.

"You know what my duties were at ... the company," Kim said, sidling away from the bristling anger around her.

Kelsie raised her hand, checking any reaction, "I do. I also know it was you who helped me leave and disappear. Do you still have the tracking implant?"

Kim shook her head, "After what I saw ... I couldn't deny my beliefs any longer."

"Fair enough," Kelsie said, "continue."

"I .." Kim hesitated, clearing her throat, "I put a tracker on him."

"How?" Kelsie asked, amazement colouring her voice.

"After you left, I was moved to his clothing department," Kim said, scuffing a shoe in the dirt, "I placed trackers in all his clothing."

"All?" Zander grinned.

"Yes," Kim said, "I verified it was him while I was on the lookout."

"How?" Jason asked.

Kim pulled a small device from her pant pocket, "I run the tracking programme on this."

"Your phone?" Kelsie asked.

"No," Kim shook her head, "the K tracker."

"How did you get one of those?" Kelsie asked.

"I may have borrowed it," Kim said, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.

"Usually, that is not acceptable, but this one time, it will be allowed," Zander said, looking at Kelsie, "do you agree?"

"I do," Kelsie smiled, "we have seven hours until he arrives."

Zander moved to the top step, "Brethren, we have seven hours until we must defend our way of life and our own lives. Do you stand with me?"

"We stand," the shout rose in the meadow bouncing off the surrounding mountains.

"Let's get to work," Alyx called.