In the Shadows

Chapter 22: The Question

Aaron's POV

We had sent the letter while we were on the ship heading back to England. All we could do was pray that it would get to Italy on time, then though none of us knew when the full attack would be. It only took us two days to get back to England, and it was a quiet trip back. Only Felix occasionally caused mischief.

We docked on the west port and got off as soon as we were able to. I looked back at Liz and bowed. "Thank you for helping."

"Aaron, you do not have to keep the formalities with me," she replied. I stood up fully and nodded.

Turning around I followed the group to the stables where horses were located. Because we were part of the guild, there are horses there for us to use, but we had to share because there weren't enough horses for all of us. Jacob and Felix went on one while Alex and I took another. We rode quickly to the guild, none of us knew when the attack would happen so we headed there as quick as we could.

We thanked The Lord when we entered the guild and everything was where it was supposed to be, looks like they were going to keep the guild together for a while, until the actual battle comes.

It had been around seven months since we had gotten back from France. There have been attacks to the members of the guild since then, and we have stopped sending small groups out for missions, and Elliot even had banned Alex to go on any missions at all, since he found out that she was now with child, she spent her time with Christine in the infirmary.

She had grown in the recent months that passed and she was completely healthy. Chirstine watched over her like a hawk, and I did as well. I did not mean to, it happens, especially when the child kicks and she grunts.

I walked back from outside of the guild, I had taken a large party with me to complete a task that the king ordered, since Liz and him were locating both French and Spanish soldiers and assassins with our men. I pulled down my bloodied mask, and waved for the group to disperse and take care of themselves. This mission was a success, however we still lost men because of their numbers. They had grown almost twice the size that they once were, we were expecting an attack soon.

Italy came with our plea, as pathetic as it was. But with them we grew, and many of the men had became friends with one another, I kept my distance, and only made contact with them only if I had to. Alex on the other hand was friendly with them and they treated her with respect. When Alex was not with Christine she was in a room with Elliot and the leader of the Italian assassins: Enzo. They were the ones that made the plans.

I was walking past the room when I heard Alex yelling. "We are losing too much men! Stop sending them out on needless missions that you know they are going to die on!" I took a deep breath and walked into the room. Alex was standing while the other two men sat and looked rather frightened one thing we had all learned in the recent months was that one never angers a pregnant woman, especially Alex.

"Is something the matter?" I asked.

"No," Alex replied as she sat back down.

"I could not help but hear Alex and I agree with her. We get sent out on missions that kill our men, even with the Italians' help we will not have enough men to win this war if we keep losing them before it even happens," I said.

"We need to gauge their power," Elliot said.

"Then have our men stick to the shadows, to the cover of darkness. Stop sending them on suicide missions," Alex argued.

"I cannot help but agree with the Lady," Enzo said.

"But Aaron is right as well, even now their numbers grow while ours lessen," Alex commented.