Chapter 4

Why?

Esperanza's POV

I woke up early as I always did. I sat up and found Connor's coat over me. I smiled and got up. I folded it nicely and went to his room. I knocked softly but there was no answer. I slowly looked inside and found him still asleep. I put the coat on the chair next to the bed. I silently left the room and went outside.

I found Shadow and fed him. I went down to a secluded part of the river. I knelt down and looked at me reflection. I let my scars show and I sighed. The largest one was the one down my forehead, down the edge of my eyebrow to my cheekbone. I still remembered the day it happened. The screams, the cruel laughs….

I shivered and then hid my scars once more. I trailed my fingers along the surface of the water.

"~Me enviaron aquí para ayudarlo a ganar esta pelea?~" (Was I sent to help him win this fight?)

I skipped a stone to the other side of the river.

"There you are."

I jumped a bit and stood up. Connor came forward.

"Come with me. I am taking you to Boston. You need to understand my fight if you want to help me."

I nodded and we went back. I went to the stables but Connor shook his head.

"No, come with me."

I followed him curiously and he stopped at the cliff.

"There."

I looked at the ship.

"Is that yours?"

"Yes, I captain the ship."

I smiled and ran back. He looked at me and then I ran forward. I jumped off the cliff and dove into the water. I surfaced and smiled. I looked up and saw Connor still up there.

"Come on!"

Ratonhnhake:ton's POV

She was so free spirited. I took a deep breath and then jumped off the cliff. I dove into the water and then came up beside her. She smiled and nodded.

"Well done."

I gave her a half smile, then she splashed water at me. She chuckled and then started to swim to shore. I felt strange when I was around her. My heart beat faster, I felt a bit nervous and she made me feel happier than ever before. She wrung out and braided her eyes when she reached the shore. She braided her way in a unique way. She pulled up her hood and we boarded the Aquila. Mr. Faulkner came.

"Where to Captain?"

"Set a course for Boston, Mr. Faulkner."

"Aye sir! And your friend?"

Esperanza bowed her head.

"I am Esperanza Vasquez."

"A woman captain? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Wow really? You believe in that whole a woman on a ship is bad luck?"

I smirked.

"Esperanza is a good woman, she is very trustworthy. She is here to help me with the Templars."

"Aye. Come on lads! We're going to Boston."

I went to the wheel and took hold of it.

"Give me half sail!"

Esperanza was looking at the cannons. She looked over the side of the ship.

"The water is so blue!"

I smiled a little. She came and stood beside me.

"Who is this Johnson man?" she asked.

I sighed.

"I am sorry! I didn't mean to upset you."

"You haven't. William Johnson is a Templar, he aims to steal my people's land. This why I and my allies destroyed the British tea. It was how Johnson was making his money."

"Achilles said you should've killed him. You said there was no need to do so."

"The tea is destroyed. His money is gone."

She had a very worried look on her face.

"What?"

"I just have a feeling. Maybe Achilles was right." she said quietly.

"Let's hope he's not."

She nodded and went off to the front of the ship.

"She's not from around here is she captain?"

"No. She comes from a very different land. And from the way she speaks of it, a land full of terror."

He walked away and I took a deep breath.

Esperanza's POV

The ship pulled into the harbor and I went back to Connor.

"This is Boston?"

He nodded and I followed him of the ship and into the city. I'd been to Boston once. But that was many years in the future. The guards gave off a threatening aura. People would quickly move away as they came. It felt wrong. I stopped and looked around. I heard shouts and looked over in their direction. A man was being hassled by the guards. I scowled and ran off, ignoring Connor.

"What are you doing?!"

"Mind your own business woman!"

I grabbed one of the guard and smashed my head again his.

"This man is unarmed. Aren't you supposed to protect these people!?"

Both guards glared at me and pointed their strange swords at me. I drew my knives and stood ready.

"Run miss! Run!" the man said.

"No! You run! Go as fast as you can!"

He did as I said and ran. I kicked their legs out from under then and took off both their hands. Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me away, it was Connor. We ran and then he threw me into a pile of hay. He joined me and held his finger to his lips. The guards ran past us and after a while, he pulled me out of the hay.

"What were you thinking!? Now they'll be looking for you!"

"I'd rather they look for me than mistreat that poor man! They have no right to treat him that way!"

"They will kill you on sight!"

"Miss."

I turned and saw the man standing there. He came up to me with a smile.

"Thank you miss. They wanted to take our home. Please take this!"

He held out money and I shook my head.

"No. The only reward I need is for you to live a happy life." I said.

He smiled again.

"Thank you miss. I'll never forget what you've done. I've torn down some posters of you, they shouldn't be looking for you anymore."

He left and I smiled. Connor turned me to face him.

"Why would you risk your life for people you don't know? For nation you've only been in for a month?"

I moved closer and looked into his eyes.

"I have seen people suffer because of the greed or cruelty of others. Every day I see it. I help whoever I can, whenever I can, how ever I can." I told him.

He looked at me in a very strange way.

"What?"

"Nothing, we should keep going."

I just nodded and continued to follow him.