Connor's POV:

I hear the rain pour down on the homestead. A flash of lighting fills the sky along with thunder. Achilles looks worried for some reason, pacing around the front door as if he was waiting for someone.

That's when we hear a knock at door, I hear it swing open, I stick my head out of the door frame, seeing a small girl, a brown cloak wrapped around her, a hood shieling her eyes and face.

He quickly engulfs the girl into a hug, she doesn't hug back, her hood falling from her face I see that her face is pale, shocking blue eyes and caramel-like color hair.

"How are you?" he asks getting down to her height

She doesn't reply, just goes limb. They let go of each other.

"Connor, this is Ashkii Bannette"

Her facial expression was sad, eyes were dull.

"Nice to meet you" I reply

she nodes in reply.

"do you know where the spare room is?" asks Achilles

Her nodes slightly, he gives her a slight push as she takes her satchel and walks up the stairs.

"Do you remember her?" he asks me

"No, I do not"

"Remember that female Assassin somewhat years ago?"

"Of course I do, Sarah Sparely"

"That's her daughter, the small child that followed her around, that's her, I got a letter a few days ago of her mother's disappearance, she's staying with us until she is found"

"Oh…"

"Remember, she's mute, she'll answer with a yes or no, we're going to train her… no… you're going to train her" he corrects himself

"Me? Why?"

"I'll be looking for the whereabouts of her mother, might dig up something, that'll be the lead for you two"

I sigh and node. Achilles retreats to his chair by the fire place.

The next day I wake up to the sound of slashing, a wooden sword I'm guessing. I get up, getting changed and walk down to the basement, seeing Ashkii and Achilles fighting.

She charges at him, yelling, Achilles blocks with ease, for an old man he's stronger than her. Ashkii adds more force to the sword, but Achilles uses the wooden sword to push her back, she loses her balance and he strikes, hitting her hard, she steps back, losing her balance. And falling onto her side.

"I'll let Connor take it from here" he says turning his back on her

I watch her as she quickly picks up her sword and rushes back towards her. He quickly turns around and blocks the attack, she in return blocks the hits he takes on her, until she loses her footing again and Achilles takes the advantage and smashes her into the wall. Slumping over her hands on the ground, trying to get back the air she lost. She coughs making me concerned.

"You're weak" he says using the tip of the wooden sword to tip her chin up towards him.

She leans against the back wall and uses to get up, her legs are wobbly. But in no time she stands tall, picking up the sword she holds it by her side.

"That's enough for now"

She rubs her right shoulder blade, like something was hurting her in a way. She carefully puts away the sword with a smile on her face.

"Connor, I'll let you take over from here"

She looks as if vengeance was the only thing she had left. Achilles passes me and walks back up the stairs. Her face had no expression again.

I throw her one of my swords, she catches it with ease.

"Legs wide, keep your body lowered"

I change her stance.

"Keep your balance" I tell her

She has spirit and determination, something she'll need when she fights.

"Keep your eyes on me, study my movements"

She nodes as she stares into my eyes, a grin on her face as she flicks my sword away, she puts her hands on her hips and smirks at me.

"You're a quick learner"

Ashkii's POV:

I watch as Connor goes to feed the horses, I adore horses, so did my mother. But now she's gone… I can't dwell on what happened. I turn my attention back to the horses. I've never had the courage to go up to one myself. They scare me I a way.

I notice that Connor had turned his head to face me, I quickly envelope myself in the shadows, hiding in plain sight.

I hear his footsteps walking towards me and I hurry trying to hide. Connor scares me sort of, I think I've met him before.

"You can stop hiding"

I stand up from the bushes, revealing my hiding spot.

"Wanna help?"

I shyly node and jog up to him. He smiles at me, his hood is down so I can see every part of his face, we walk back up the horses, he passes me some grains I hand feed them.

"I remember when I first saw you" he says

That got my attention… he knew me?

"You were… 2 years old I think… you and your mother were helping Achilles with something whilst I went out, but you were always smiling"

Smiling…

The horse nudges me slightly with its head, making me slightly jump, I at its head and give it some more.

"Do you know how to ride a horse?" he asks

I node shyly, answering his question.

"I'm going hunting later, do you want to come?"

I remember going hunting once and almost getting killed by a bear.

*flashback*

I sit next to the lake, my legs hanging over the side of the cliff, my food I've gotten lies next to me. Some fish and a squirrel. When I hear a twig break behind me, I grab my bow slowly and turn around to see a black bear cub, I smile as it wanders next to me, two other cubs following it closely, copying its exact movements like mimes. I break apart some fish and give it to them. The sunset adds to the moment, making everything beautiful.

I hear a large growl as I turn around me to see the mother bear, ready to attack, I stand up and ready my hidden blades my mother gave me. The cubs disagree to the fight and try to stop the mother bear. I move away from the cliff edge.

She stands on her paws, trying to look tough. Before she attacks me, I miss a hit from the blades and get scratched on my back, from my right shoulder blade down to my left hip. I scream in pain as I land on my side. I stand up but lose my balance and fall off the cliff, into the water with a big splash.

I wake up on the side of the river bank, coughing up any water inhaled. I remember being battered in the current, hitting a rock with my hand.

I stand up weakly and see glowing eyes in the bushes. I take a deep breath, scared for my life as a wolf leaps out at me… everything was flashing, eyes, flash, teeth, flash, pain, flash, it scurries away.

My right arm has been bit, not deep enough to reach the bone, but deep enough for pain and the risk of dying from blood loss.

I had to patch myself up with a needle and thread from my satchel, the pain was unbearable, I used whatever I could to patch myself up.

At least I had my hidden blades…