"The soldier o' Christ kills safely; he dies the mair safely. He serves his ain interests in dyin', an' Christ's interests in killin'. The warrior is gentler than lambs an' fiercer than lions, bearin' the mildness o' the monk an' the valor o' the knight. Oor Order adorned the Temple o' Solomon wi' weapons instead o' gems, wi' shields instead o' crowns o' gold. Oors is eager for victory, no' fame, for battle no' pomp. We abhor wasteful speech, unnecessary action, unmeasured laughter, gossip an' chatter.

We despise a' things vain, an' live in one house accordin' tae one rule, wi' one soul an' one heart."

Reachin' oot, he took my hand, then opened my flesh wi' his sword. "Adam Zachary Wallace, wi' this blood oath, dae ye swear allegiance tae the Order o' the Knight?"

"Aye."

"Brethren o' the Templar, are there any objections tae acceptin' this novice intae the Order?"

None responded.

MacDonald reviewed the rules o' the Order, then asked whether I had a wife an' family, debts or disease, or if I owed allegiance tae any other master. "None," I replied.

As prompted, I knelt, askin' tae become a servant an' slave of the Temple, swearin' obedience tae God an' the Virgin Mary.

MacDonald recited Psalm 133, then said, "Arise, Sir Adam, for as o' this day an' forever mair, ye are a Templar Knight. Noo, my bretren, as we stand here by the Gate o' Hell, fashioned by oor ain hands, there is one mair allegiance which a' o' us must make."

MacDonald removed the silver casket frae roond my neck an' held it up in the light. "In the name o' Robert the Bruce, oor one an' true Ring, we take this blood oath. Like those who came afore us, sworn in secrecy tae protect the Ark o' the Covenant, so too must we keep the contents o' this silver casket safe. Tae dae so, we willfully join leagues wi' the De'il, usin' evil tae stand guard against evil, so that we may preserve the guid. By this heinous coven, the white tunic shall be replaced by the black, the cross o' Sir Galahad wi' the Braveheart, an X symbolizin' oor contract wi' Satan. Oor followers shall be few, o' noble birth an' born only tae oor Clans, an' we shall take oor secrets tae the grave an' beyond."

An' so, in the depths o' the earth, on the threshold o' Hell, oor blood wis shared an' oor coven wis made, the coven o' the Black Knights.

I ken noo that I shall ne'er again see the light o' day…