She shook her head.

"We're presenting evidence of suspicious activity. Whether it constitutes treason is for you to determine." She gestured to the reports. "But the Fourth Order exists to serve divine will. And part of that service is ensuring threats to that will are identified before they manifest."

Liam processed this carefully.

The Fourth Order had developed into exactly what Lilith warned about—zealous followers who might take actions they thought served him without understanding larger political complexities.

But they'd also potentially uncovered actual security threat.

"Show me the evidence."

Kael'thra pulled out decoded messages, surveillance reports, financial records that tracked unusual essence transfers from House Morwen to entities connected with Radiant Empire intelligence networks.

It was compelling. Not conclusive, but suggestive enough to warrant investigation.

"You've been conducting intelligence operations without military authorization," Liam said carefully. "Without informing me or Queen Lilith. That's exactly the kind of independent action that causes problems."

"We informed you tonight." Kael'thra's voice was steady. "We could have acted on this intelligence ourselves. Could have eliminated Lord Arcturus and presented you with accomplished fact. But we didn't. We brought evidence to you because our oath is to serve your will, not interpret it independently."

She had a point.

They'd discovered potential threat, compiled professional intelligence, and were seeking guidance rather than acting unilaterally.

That was more restraint than many military forces showed.

"What do you recommend?"

"Enhanced surveillance until evidence becomes conclusive. If Lord Arcturus is traitor, we eliminate him quietly and ensure House Morwen's resources continue serving the empire under new leadership. If he's innocent, we maintain oversight to prevent future compromise."

"And if I say no? If I tell you to stand down and let military intelligence handle this?"

Kael'thra's expression didn't change.

"Then we stand down. The Fourth Order exists to serve divine will. If you command us to cease operations, we cease. If you command us to investigate further, we investigate. If you command us to eliminate threats, we eliminate. Our entire purpose is executing your commands without question."

The absolute obedience was simultaneously useful and terrifying.

"How many of your two hundred thirty-seven warriors are former assassins?" Liam asked.

"Forty-three with confirmed kills. Another seventy with infiltration and espionage training. The rest are conventional combat specialists who excel at operations requiring discretion." Kael'thra's honesty was refreshing. "We're not just faithful pretending to be dangerous. We're dangerous professionals who've chosen to serve faith."

Liam walked through the warehouse, studying the assembled warriors.

They stood at attention, their discipline evident in every perfectly maintained piece of equipment, every precisely arranged training station.

These weren't zealots playing at military competence. They were competent military operatives who happened to be zealots.

The distinction mattered.

"Kael'thra knows this but I'll say it again - The Fourth Order answers to me directly," he said, his voice carrying across the warehouse. "Not to military command. Not to political authority. Not to anyone except divine will as I express it. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Lord Azra." Two hundred thirty-seven voices responding in perfect unison.

"You operate in shadows where conventional forces cannot. You gather intelligence, identify threats, and prepare to act on my command. But you do not act independently. You do not interpret divine will. You execute orders given explicitly or you wait for those orders. Clear?"

"Clear, Lord Azra."

"Good." He turned back to Kael'thra.

"Continue surveillance on House Morwen. Compile evidence. But take no action against Lord Arcturus without my explicit command. If he's traitor, I want conclusive proof before eliminating him. If he's innocent, I want to know that with certainty."

"It will be done."

"And Kael'thra? Going forward, I want weekly reports on Fourth Order operations. Nothing detailed enough to compromise security, but enough that I know what my blade in the darkness is doing."

"Understood, Lord Azra."

He moved toward the exit, then paused. Something had been bothering him since entering the warehouse.

"How are you funding this? Equipment, facilities, operational expenses—this isn't cheap. Where's the essence coming from?"

Kael'thra's expression shifted slightly. "The Nameless Litany's merchandise operations generate significant revenue. Ten percent is tithed to support the Fourth Order."

"Hmm"

---

Liam left the warehouse as midnight bells rang across Eldhar, his mind processing what he'd discovered.

The Fourth Order was exactly what he'd authorized—militant faithful organized into effective force. But they'd developed faster and more independently than he'd anticipated.

And they'd uncovered potential security threat that could undermine the entire offensive.

Lilith was waiting at the rendezvous point, palace guards positioned discretely nearby.

"Well?" she asked immediately.

"The Fourth Order is two hundred thirty-seven professional warriors who worship me absolutely and have organized into covert operations force." He pulled out the intelligence reports Kael'thra had provided. "And they've been investigating House Morwen. Believe Lord Arcturus might be communicating with the Radiant Empire."

Lilith's expression shifted from concern to calculation as she reviewed the evidence.

"This is... problematic. If true, it means our economic minister is potentially traitor. If false, it means your religious zealots are paranoid and investigating allies without proper authorization."

"They brought evidence to me rather than acting independently. That's more restraint than I expected."

"It's also more organization than I anticipated." Lilith's voice carried worry.

"The Fourth Order is becoming independent power structure, operate in shadows, and have capability to eliminate threats without oversight. That's dangerous even when they're loyal."

"Yes, I guess it is."

---

Liam returned to his quarters, the black envelope and intelligence reports spread across his desk.

Somewhere in the warehouse, Kael'thra briefed her warriors on new operational protocols.

Somewhere in House Morwen's estate, Lord Arcturus conducted business that might be innocent or might be treasonous.

And somewhere in the palace, Lilith calculated how to integrate religious zealots into military structure without triggering conflict that could fracture the empire.

Just over a month until offensive.

Multiple threats developing.

New assets emerging.

The war was approaching.

And the board was becoming more complicated with every passing day.

The Fourth Order awaited commands.

The question was what those commands would be.

And whether having blade in darkness served the empire or endangered it.

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