Disclaimer: I don't own anything – Everything Assassin's Creed belongs to Ubisoft. I barely own R-L. Also any songs that find their way on here aren't mine.
The Face of the Enemy
"The Assassins have trained you well, Duncan," du Casse said, his attitude softened—as much as can be for a guy like him could anyway—now by the "show" Edward put on. Edward and I were now following him and Rogers deeper into the grounds surrounding the Palace.
It's amazing that from the front gate, you cannot actually see how truly big the Governor's private property extends due to the Palace blocking the view. But I suppose that was part of the impression that the high-ranking officials wanted to make for those on outside looking in. They try to hide the fact that they had more land than the common person, which was sign of wealth, especially in the 18th century. The idea is that the bigger the property you lived on, the richer you had to be, or at least show how high your rank was in comparison to everyone else.
Typical power-playing wealthy bastards…I hate that kind.
"You chose a perfect time to leave them behind," Du Casse finished, drawing my attention back to the conversion between the men. But I still kept looking back over my shoulder, expecting to see someone, most likely a hired street thug, be sneaking around behind us with the aim to shoot Edward in the back.
But, of course, there's no one there.
Still, I just can't help but look.
"At great risk, I imagine," Rogers added, "Betraying the Assassins is never good for one's health."
"Well, neither is drinking liquor," Edward remarked, "But I am drawn to its dangers all the same."
I rolled my eyes. Of course he would.
Only difference between the dangers of liquor and an Assassin was: liquor can kill you slowly while an Assassin can kill you when you least expect it. And more often the not, you'd be dead before you hit the ground.
I should know: I've seen it happen through the eyes of the Assassins themselves.
Edward looked over to Du Casse, looking politely interested. "And what is your business here, Sir?" he asked the Frenchman—I figure that was his nationally, mainly by listening to his strong accent. It also helps that I hear a lot the same accent back in Montreal. "Are you an associate of the governor's? Or a pending acquaintance like myself?"
Du Casse waved his hand as if he were dismissing the question, yet he did answer it, "Guns, blades, cannons, grenados... Anything that may kill a man, I am happy to provide."
Ah great, THAT explains it.
That's just what we need...
A weapons dealer...
No wonder he looked so ready to shoot Edward earlier. Though by the way his hand kept brushing over his firearm on his belt, I still think he wants to. Or maybe he's just happier to have the gun in his hand instead in its holster.
I don't know which is worse.
"A smuggler of sorts," Edward replied…
Is he actually amazed, or is that part of the act?
Ugh...well…
Pirate and smugglers did often would work closely together, and the only real distinction between them, according to the officials, was smugglers worked on the islands while the pirates rode the wave of the oceans. So naturally, the two groups benefited one another as allies.
Pirates would steal the goods and smugglers would take the goods to sell off to the trusted buyers, and profit was shared between them by some written deal. So it was a win-win partnership.
"And how is your wife these days, Captain Rogers?" Edward asked.
Huh?
Captain Rogers?
Was this man a sea-fearing man? A former privateer or pirate like Edward?
That's the only reason I think of how Edward would know this scarred man was, or still is I suppose, a captain.
I'll have to look into him when my session is over.
"Is she, ah, here in Havana?" Edward asked.
I had to frown—I couldn't help it.
But…
Well, if I think about it this way, Rogers' wife is a dangerous threat to Edward's secrecy. I have no doubt that she had seen what the true Duncan Walpole looked like if the description words of "devilishly handsome" were anything to go by.
She could very well blow Edward's cover.
…I don't want to think about Edward would do to convince her to keep her silence…
No, I don't think he'd kill or harm her.
However…
…
…okay, I'm not going down that train of thought. It is bad enough I have that image in that tavern's rented room still floating around in the back of my head.
Thankfully for my sanity-driven-by-modesty mindset, Rogers shrugged nonchalant. "I trust she's well. But I wouldn't know," he answered, "I have been in Madagascar some fourteen months, hunting pirates. It took some work to dislodge the criminals there, but we managed. In future, I hope to use these same tactics throughout the West Indies."
Edward almost paused in his step, causing me to walk right through him again, but luckily he caught himself and resumed his pace before he could draw unwanted attention. I paused to let him walk next to me before resuming my own walking pace, but this time keeping in step with his.
I could feel his uneasiness, and I leaned forward a bit to try and get a glimpse of his face. He was frowning slightly.
I don't think he realized Captain Rogers was also a pirate hunter. His next question confirmed it.
"And how did you deal with their kind?"
Captain Rogers looked over his shoulder to look directly at Edward, his face was stoic but his eyes were filled with what I could only describe as smug pride.
"Very simply," he said, his voice matter-of-fact like, a contrast to his prideful gaze, "Most pirates are as ignorant as apes. I merely offered them a choice...take a pardon and return to England penniless but free men, or be hanged by the neck until dead."
"Ah," Edward said, his face and voice betraying none of the disgust I felt radiate off him from within, "I imagine Nassau would be your next target?"
Captain Rogers looked impressed. "Very astute, Duncan. Indeed."
As the captain turned to look back ahead, Edward, under the guise of keeping face, politely wished him best of luck.
I don't know why, but I felt this protective urge within my chest. I don't know where it came from, and it surprised me. However, surprise or not, it didn't prevent me from glaring angrily at Captain Rogers.
"I hope you meet the business end of a pirate's blade when you get there," I said to his back.
…
Huh?
Did Edward just smile slightly?
Governor Laureano de Torres y Ayala was more or less the kind of man I had expected him to be.
He was old with his wispy white hair, sunken in and thinly bearded face. His wealth and rank was expertly shown by how richly dressed the three-piece suit was on his thin frame. But despite the lankiness of his body, he held no true fragility. He still could stand tall with no slouch in his back, nor could I see any hint of that movement easily tired him out. Most men his age—seventy-years, I think it is currently—are not as vigorous from what I could tell.
But as I looked at his face, a very familiar feeling came over me.
It was the exact same feeling I felt when I had reached the highest ranks within Project Legacy and I saw the figure of the man-in-charge.
I once heard that some people can just smell that they were looking at something, or someone, very powerful, and therefore, very dangerous.
Like Captain Rogers and du Casse...like that mysterious man that tried to brainwash me…and to a much lesser, but still there, extent, my supervisor Melanie Lemay, and the CCO Olivier Garneau, I knew that I could not trust them.
They were dangerous.
They were, or as I suspect in Melanie and Olivier's case, working with, the enemy that has been around for a very long time. Long before I was even born if what I've learned in Project Legacy and Liberation told me anything.
An enemy that preached purpose, order, stability, direction and control, but in reality were no different than that which they sought to destroy: corruption.
And Governor Laureano de Torres y Ayala was one of the worst of them.
I wanted to get out. I wanted to stop watching. It would be easy. I can detach myself from the Animus at any time…
But then I'd be leaving Edward, blind and ignorant as he is to what I can see, behind.
I cannot do that. I said that I would stick with him, and I don't make promises I cannot keep.
So I'll stay here…and watch.
Oh man, for this guy, what have I gotten myself into?
"You were expected one week ago," Torres informed Edward, his eyes narrowed in clear suspicion, though his tone was that of slight edginess.
Well that won't do if the head of whatever operation becomes distrustful of someone who is supposed to be a turncoat of a rival faction. Thankfully, Edward knew this too as he was able to deter the suspicion…
By planting a lie in a truth…
"Apologies, Governor. My ship was set upon by pirates. We were scuttled. I arrived only yesterday."
Torres bought it. I saw the suspicion ease off, but I had a feeling that it didn't totally disappear.
He would be a clever old man to keep a hold of his qualms this early in the game with a supposed traitor.
"Forgive my caution," Torres asked, "But were you able to salvage from these pirates the items you promised me?"
"Yes sir, I was," Edward assured, opening Walpole's pouch and he pulled out the strange cube, and the surprisingly still dry folded up maps.
I was so sure the maps were ruined when Edward took that dip in the port. Perhaps I should have known better.
Edward is bullheaded, but not stupid, even when he seems to be—to me anyway.
I suppose I'm letting my own natural—or otherwise acquired—intelligence get the best of me. I'm only 21, a little younger then what Edward is now, and even I can still get caught up in the arrogance of youth. Even my bad experience with Project Legacy hasn't completely taken that part out of me, although I suppose it has made me more aware of it.
Torres took the items Edward handed him, but his attention was firmly fixed on that cube. The way he looked at it was sending shivers down my spine. He looks like he was just given the power of sun right in his hand.
Just what the heck is up with that cube?
"Increíble," Torres muttered, turning the cube over to look at it from all sides. I could feel Edward's growing suspicions as he watched Torres' reaction like a hawk.
So he too has similar thoughts. Good.
Like I said, and have to keep reminding myself, he's bullheaded but not stupid.
"The Assassins have more resources than I had imaged but…" Finally, Torres looked away from the cube and back at Edward, who was quick to hide any sign that he had been gaging the old man's reaction. "…not nearly enough to deter us."
And as he pocketed the cube, he finally reached to shake Edward's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Duncan. You are most welcome."
He then turned to address Captain Rogers and du Casse. "Come Gentleman," he said, "We have much to discuss."
"Indeed," I said, unheard by all.
Alright Torres, let's see what your game is.
Anymore feedback, encouragement, suggestions or thoughts are welcome. They help story improvement and lets me know what the readers are looking for.
