The drive north was quiet and uneventful. This didn't prevent the Assassins from keeping their hands on their weapons. Only when they drove down the secluded road to the homestead did they relax. They lights from the house glowed warmly and welcoming as the car stopped. Michael was relieved to see Dave, Danielle and Alex march out to greet them.
'Emma!' Alex yelped when she saw her niece walk blearily towards her and pulled Emma into a bear hug.
'Easy Auntie, I'm ok.' Emma reassured her.
Brendan, Ian and Michael shuffled wearily to the house.
Dave and Danielle looked at them carefully checking for injuries.
'Told you we'd get her back.' Michael smiled nudging Dave as they walked back into the house.
'Never doubted you for a minute.' Dave answered laughing.
Michael punched his shoulder in a friendly manner.
'How's George?' Michael asked.
'Sound to the world asleep upstairs.' Dave responded, 'Wes stitched him up and he should be ok.'
The Assassins gathered in the kitchen the table was laden with food of all descriptions which those who had just arrived tore into. Emma in particular was unapologetically savage as she attacked a platter of meat and bread. Michael giggled and nudged her as he sat down beside her. She snorted and kept eating with a smile on her face. Everyone was speaking quietly, Michael allowed the family like atmosphere to wash over him and smiled.
Dave, Danielle and Alex stood sipping tea and coffee watching their returned comrades as they devoured everything. Finally when the last scraps of food had been polished off did the atmosphere change from a family gathering to a war council.
'The Templars aren't going to take what we did lying down.' Emma said, a mug in her hand. She looked exhausted but angry.
'I know.' Brendan said quietly rubbing the tiredness from his eyes.
'They're going to come after us, increase the pressure on us, this shows them we're still a threat.' Sarah ventured.
'We did what we had to do to get one of our own back, let them come we'll send them back in pieces.' Michael growled determinedly.
He stole a glance sideways at Emma who was looking at him.
Brendan looked tiredly at him.
'You have no idea what true war with the Templars means. We don't have the numbers, funds, the connections or the resources to fight them on that scale.' Brendan scolded.
'Then show me how to get them. I left my family to protect them to come with you. You're all my family now and I'm not going to let the Templars take that away too.' Michael said passionately.
The rest of them shuffled. Brendan's gaze softened seeing the passion and anger in his young comrades eyes. Brendan noticed the glances Michael had been stealing at Emma since he had arrived here, had watched Michael train, how hard he fought and how bravely. A great sense of pride and sadness filled Brendan at the thought of possibly losing all his young charges. He wouldn't let that happen again.
'We'll fight them, we'll rebuild our order to what it once was.' Brendan said simply. 'One step at a time.'
Michael grinned bloodily and looked at Emma who had a determined expression across her face. Dave smiled too at the prospect of killing more Templars. Ian and Danielle looked impassive.
'I've nowhere else to go if it's war we've to get ready for so be it.' Ian said quietly.
'What he said.' Danielle agreed.
'It's about time.' Alex said angrily.
'War it is then.' Brendan said determinedly standing up.