My eyes peak open as my neck cracks from the uncomfortable position I slept in. The hard wooden table was not the best place to sleep.

Standing up I roll my shoulders and peer out the window. The sky brightens to a soft pink as if they it blushes at the sight of the sun. I walk into the bedroom to see Izzy, Adam and James sound asleep in their beds. I change into fresh clothing before heading towards the training ground. Silence enlaces my stiff joins and pushes me to move faster.

When I reach the training ground I slide over to a stream which trickles with fresh water. Splashing in my face with the cool spring I gasp and shake my head before rinsing my hair. My fingers trail down my face, outlining every wrinkle. The mountains and valleys of my flesh making up an intense, deprived landscape.

Resting my hands on the rocks I wash them again before rubbing them over my shoulders and neck. Trudging over to the base of a tree I rest my eyes and let the relentless exhaustion take over my body once again.

      《《《《《《《《》》》》》》》》

Distant voices pry me back to the world as I struggle to open an eye. As one manages to lift up it catches a stick poking my cheek. Snapping awake I swipe the stick away from my face, lunging forward and kneeing my assailant in the chest. Pointing the stick at his throat, his wide grey eyes stare at me.

The man looks to be about in his 20's and doesn't try to fight back, his arms raising over his head and his smile weary. "Hey there, I'm Josef."

I stare at Josef, squinting and pressing the stick further into his neck before getting off of him. "May I ask why you were poking me?"

Josef rubs his neck and smiles widely, "Well your Jean. Right?"

I arch and eyebrow and give him his stick back, "yes, but if you weren't sure of it why would you wake me?"

"Well if you weren't Jean I'd get to meet another pretty lady." Josef winks and I sigh.

"You must know Alaric," I roll my eyes. He must have picked up some flirty tricks from him.

"Yes, I'm apart of his assassination team." Josef stands up and offers me a hand which I brush away gently.

"Really, what do you do?" I ask frowning, my guard unwilling to waver as I follow him out of the training ground.

"Well I'm a healer. Don't let my face fool you, I'm older than I look."

"When did you get into medicine?" I ask prying info from him.

"Growing up around medicine I learned to love it. I saved lives because I could see something other healers couldn't. Being observant tends to be an advantage."

"How many people are on the team?" I match my gait with his as he leads me to the community hall.

"Originally three, but now with you we have four. We needed a small team to go unnoticed, and to fit in. On bigger raids we usually have 15 or so of highly trained soldiers."

I nod my head and catch Alaric's icy blue eyes on me. He holds my bow and quiver as a handsome black, bald man with large muscles stands next to him. A sword is strapped to his back, with a few daggers attaches to a belt which hangs loosely around his hip.

As we approach Alaric's eyes soften and a smile slides to his face before he transfers his gaze to Josef. "Glad you found her Josef, was she where I thought she'd be?"

Josef nods and elbows me childishly, "yep, sound asleep too."

I elbow Josef back before walking towards the dark tall man. I reach out my hand and smile, "I'm Jean."

The man nods and takes my hand without a word.

"Hey!" Josef pipes in, "why didn't I get that greeting? You attacked me, I deserve a proper introduction at least." Josef sulks and crosses his arms tilting his chin away from me.

"Well, when you poke me in the face with a stick the only thing you have coming is a fist to the face. Not a greeting." I retort and let go of the swordsman's hand.

Alaric lets a low laugh pass his lips as he punches Josef's shoulder. "She beat the crap out of you, didn't she?"

Josef begins to protest before the large swordsman chuckle breaks the bickering.

"Did Maverick laugh?" Josef whips around staring at the swordsman. "You know what? Next time you're bleeding get your new best friend, Jena, to fix you." He then struts away, his arms swinging dramatically at his sides.

"It's pronounced Jean," Alaric calls out to Josef. Alaric's slick side smile returns before he nods at Maverick, "dismissed."

Maverick nods before walking up to me and takes my hand, gently kissing the top of it. I raise a brow, but respectively let my hand sit in his as he seems relatively harmless. Raising his head he sets my hand down and walks away.

"Damn Maverick," Alaric sighs as he passes my bow and quiver. "He's tries to romance all my ladies. The worst part is they all fall for his 'handsome macho silent man' act."

I snicker before pinching Alaric's bicep. "Call me your lady one more time and you'll loose that sweet-talking voice box of yours."

Alaric smirks before leading me away from the community hall. After a few minutes we approach a large, cleaned up single story, circular building with a silver dome top. A small stream runs in front of the building with a small wooden bridge leading over it. Trees and vines surround the grey domain but dare not touch it.

I stare at the beautiful architecture as pillars and carvings frame the domain. "Where are we?" I ask fascinated with my surroundings.

"We're at the Fidelity." Alaric walks over the wooden bridge and nods at the two relaxed guards who smile at us as we walk past.

"The Fidelity?" I ask as he pushes the wooden doors open and holds one for me to walk through. I gaze at the milaculate statues and the polished marble floor. It's amazing at how the Fide Clan preserved this beautiful building.

"Yeah, it's where my father works."

I stop and stare at Alaric's back, "you're kidding, right? I'm not meeting your dad now."

"Yes you are. He's ecstatic to meet his future daughter in law." Alaric winks and I slap his shoulder. "Okay, okay!" Alaric chuckles before walking to the last set of doors. "He wants to meet you because you're apart of the assassination team. He wants to meet you, the ruthless girl I found in the forest so long ago."

Relaxing at his surprisingly annoying, but soothing words. My body immediately releases the tension I was clinging onto. Nodding my head Alaric opens the doors and I try to fix my eyes on my long, tangled hair. I enter the room and meet the intimidating, deep brown eyes of Alaric's father. My attention drawn form the exquisitely painted cellingto his silver and golden throne.

"Jean, is it?" Alaric's father's eyes dart over my figure before he stands up and walks towards me, "Alaric has spoken highly of you..."