Disclaimer: I only own Estele and Elena. Anything else is from the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag game and belong to Ubisoft.
Chapter 1:
Estele hated pirates. They were filthy and their minds were numbed from too much drink. So she could never understand why Mary chose this life. Sure, the world was wide open on a ship and that helped the Order but food was scarce and they were always under threat of attack. And the men! They were disgusting! This was the thought that ran through Estele's mind as they stepped onto the shore of Nassau.
"Wonderful. A whole port of men who won't bath," she muttered under her breath. Her complaining had gotten to the point that Mary just ignored her. Estele hated being on her ship but she still came, just in pursuit of the Templars. Everything Estele did was to eradicate Templars. Estele was not much younger then Mary, perhaps just a few years younger but Estele was almost always all smiles and giggles. Almost. Estele took being an Assassin very seriously and she had an incredible hatred for anything Templar.
"I'm going to the bureau here," Estele said. "I'll see you… When we leave." Mary huffed.
"It's not so bad here," she said.
"I don't find it enjoyable to be surrounded by dirty pirates who haven't seen-much less touched-a woman in months. Well, not to their knowledge anyways." Mary shot Estele a severe glare but Estele only smiled. "Besides, as much as I love pretending to be your lover, I can only pretend to be an empty-headed wench for so long." Mary suppressed a groan.
"I never asked you to do that," she said.
"No, but it's so much fun," Estele smirked, knowing full well that her friend hated the act but it stopped too many questions from being asked and gave Estele an excuse to spend most of her time in the captain's quarters. "By your leave, Captain Kidd." She said, with a slight bow before starting down towards the bureau. She was itching to climb but she didn't want to draw any attention to herself. They were living on a knife's edge right now. Duncan Walpole had betrayed them and now they were just waiting for what would happen.
Estele hated Templars, but she hated traitors even more. Estele couldn't think of anything more deplorable than turning your back on the Order, on your brothers and sisters for the Templar Order, the natural enemy of the Assassins. Estele would not stay her blade if she ever saw Duncan. Betraying the Order was punishable by death, as it should be.
Estele stepped into the bureau, hearing the two brothers who ran this bureau together whispering amongst themselves.
"I do hope something interesting is happening," she said as she walked over. Upton and Vance seemed startled for a moment but quickly got over it when they saw her. Estele had been here a few times, through no choice of her own. She often left Tulum with Mary, going to different ports and completing contracts but that meant she couldn't return until Mary did. Sure, she could try and get another ship to take her there but she wouldn't risk leading someone to Tulum. So, when they took their inevitable stop in Nassau, Estele spent most of her time in the bureau, helping the Assassins there. Not that there was much to help with.
"Not all that interesting," Upton said and Estele let out an exasperated sigh.
"No Templars in with these British soldiers? No whispers of anything having to do with precursors?" She asked. Upton shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but no," he said.
"Is there anything interesting that happens here? Besides tavern fights," Estele asked.
"These British soldiers have certainly livened things up," Vance said. "It feels like a powder keg here, ready to blow at any moment."
"Eventually tensions will come to a head," Estele said, glancing out the window. "I doubt the pirates stand a chance against the British. So long as we aren't caught in the crosshairs."
Estele's dedication to the Order came from her parents. Estele was born to two Assassins and they trained her. The loss of her father some years ago had only lit a fire in Estele and she threw herself into her training even more. Estele suspected it did the same to her mother as well but her mother was better at hiding it.
Estele admired her mother greatly. She aspired to be a woman like her mother. Elena was a picture of composure, even in tense situations. Elena was level-headed and able to think things through. That was the one part Estele had trouble with. She often acted without thinking. Her mother had lectured her countless times on it. Estele worked everyday to control her emotions. It wasn't an easy task.
"Nassau is the most boring place I've been too," Estele decided, having left the bureau and going for a walk. With luck, they'd be leaving for Tulum soon. They had only been here for a few hours and Estele felt like she was losing her mind. She needed to be useful to the Order. Being at this port was not being useful.
A flash of blue caught her eye and Estele looked up to see a familiar set of robes retreating to the beach. Duncan Walpole. Traitor. Estele had only taken a few steps toward him before someone grabbed her arm, pulling her away. Estele reacted quickly, swinging around to hit the person holding her but the person grabbed her arm, stopping her mid-swing.
"It's not him Estele," Mary said. Estele frowned, confused as she looked to her friend and back in the direction that the traitor had left.
"Those are his robes, Mary. Who else would it be?" Estele asked, wrenching her arm free.
"Estele, Walpole's dead," Mary said. Estele thought back to when they learned of their failure in getting the Sage. Facts were few and far between as most of the Assassins who went didn't come back, but those who did said there was a man in Walpole's robes who wasn't Duncan Walpole. Estele had dismissed that story. Who else could it have been? Now, as she thought back to the retreating figure, she realized he was blonde. Walpole wasn't blonde.
"It doesn't matter," Estele shook her head. "Men and women still died because of him."
"He didn't know what he was doing," Mary said firmly. She knew what Estele wanted. She wouldn't let her have it. "He knows about the observatory Estele. And he has information on the Templars now." Estele looked at Mary incredulously.
"You want to recruit him?" She asked. "After everything he's done?"
"He's a good man, just made some poor choices," Mary said. "Trust me with this, Estele. I wouldn't be saying this if I thought he was a danger to the Order." Estele studied her friend. They hadn't known each other long but Estele already considered Mary her best friend and she could tell that Mary cared for this man. In many ways, Mary reminded Estele of her mother. They were both level headed, thoughtful women and Mary was not blinded by emotion the way Estele was. Perhaps the blonde man didn't know what he was doing but he still killed other Assassins. After a long battle with herself, Estele let out a defeated sigh. It wasn't for her to decide what happened to this man.
"Alright, I'll trust you." She finally said. "But don't forget that the final decision is with Ah Tabai."
"I haven't," Mary said firmly.
"So, we'll be stuck here for a little bit longer then?" Estele asked with a sigh.
"'Fraid so," Mary said, but there was a smile on her face.
"Well, I hope this pays off," Estele sighed. "And maybe I'll find some contracts here."
"I'm sure if you can't find a problem, you'll create one," Mary muttered as she started walking away.
"I'm not that bad," Estele said, following her. There were silent for a while as they walked, Estele thinking back to what Mary had told her about the man in Walpole's robes.
"I really hope you're right about that man, Mary," Estele whispered as they passed a group of men. "I don't want all those Assassins to have died for nothing." Mary didn't respond so Estele wasn't sure if she had heard her or not.
Well, what did you all think? I'm really excited for this story and I really enjoy Estele as a character. If you have any constructive criticism, please share it and just everyone tell me what you think. Thanks for reading guys!
PS: If you're waiting for my rewrite of Shattered, it will come soon. I have a plan. I'll finish this story as soon as I can and then I'll rewrite and actually finish Shattered. Thanks again for your patience!
