Two months passed with agonizing slowness for Connor. The Templars were a fractious bunch, split along country of origin and ideological lines. Germain, Bauers, Schnieder, Colon and Gallo in particular appeared to be the most hard-line of the Templars. Utterly convinced in the righteousness of the Templar cause and militant in the way that it should be carried out. They wanted all Assassins to be killed, or to be broken and shattered so thoroughly that the person could no longer cease to function in society in any capacity whatsoever. He had heard them joking about it more than once (He had not hidden in his father's bedroom afterwards after hearing that the first time. That would be ridiculous and suspicious seeming). Lafreniere, de la Serre, and Weber seemed to favor a more balanced approach to trying to rule the world, and like Haytham, were completely against using the Pieces of Eden to try and impose their will on the peoples they sought to rule. Ochoa… Connor could not get a good read on, and spoke only when directly asked a question, but the man watched everyone with an intense gaze. No one liked the English Templars, and they fought with one another as much as they argued with everyone else.
Everyone, but Haytham, whom all of them held a great deal of respect for… The English Templars were terrified of Haytham, however and skittered from one side of the room to the other, trying to be as far away from the colonial Grandmaster as they could get – and were not the slightest bit subtle about it either. Connor had been incredibly tempted more than once to point out that the three of theirs' cowering only amused his father… And with the way they clung to one another, would make it easier, if his father decided to kill them – as a good shot from a pistol or shot gun and at least two of them would be very injured. But saying such a thing would help no one whatsoever, and Connor was not cruel enough to strip even a Templar of their illusions of safety in such a way.
Although… Herding Templars was not Connor's idea of a good time. However, Haytham had left with Williams, Bauers and Pitcairn, heading for Boston. Several Templar Agents had been accused of being Patriot spies by a group of British Soldiers, and were due to be tried and hung for their crimes if and when they were found guilty. The rest of the visiting Templars had decided that they wanted to explore New York, and as Lee had taken half of the visitors with him on a tour… Connor was stuck with the other half.
He had no real feelings of animosity or contempt for any of them… Except for the fact that he got stuck with Germain who was one of the staunchest of the hard-liner Templars and there was something… Off about the man. It did not upset him that the man had mismatched eyes, but there was an unsettling presence about him that put Connor's teeth on edge and the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Germain was an eloquent, charming and silver-tongued man, who was very good at persuading people to his way of thinking. Or so Connor had been told, but the more time that he spent in Germain's company, the more agitated and mistrustful the mentor Assassin felt towards the French Templar.
Germain was speaking with a fruit vendor, negotiating the price for some fresh apples that had caught his eye. Blackwood was bickering with de la Serre about where they should go next, drawing Colon into the argument as it started to heat up. Connor headed towards the three Templars, noting with some dismay that all three had their hands on their swords and appeared to be close to drawing their weapons when a hand unexpectedly and rather heavily landed on one of his shoulders.
Connor grabbed the hand that touched him and in the blink of an eye he had twisted whoever was fool enough to try and grab him without permission, flipping them over his shoulder and pinning the person to the ground and drawing a tomahawk (not his Assassin's Tomahawk, which was safely ensconced in Achilles' manor in Homestead) leveling it at the idiot. His sight had shifted to his second sight and the figure he had pinned was a steady gold. He raised the blade, preparing to strike when a familiar voice called out to him.
"Oi! Ratonhnhake:ton! No murdering the guests, by order of the Grandmaster. By your father." Cormac called out, carefully approaching the young Assassin, having seen the brief exchange. It was likely that the younger man had only been startled, coupled with the fact that he had an aversion to touch, Ochoa was lucky the lad was more merciful than Master Kenway was. The Grandmaster might have accidentally gutted the poor bastard with his hidden blade for unexpected contact in a public place like this.
Connor shook his head a little, sight returning to normal as a rather pale looking Ochoa stared up at him. He sheathed his tomahawk and let the other go, giving him enough space to get up on his own. "Do not attempt to touch me without my permission, and certainly not from behind. It would not be the first time that someone has attempted to attack me from behind and I do not startle well."
"My apologies, brother. I did not mean to surprise you in such a way." Ochoa responded quietly enough so that only Connor heard him. The Templar spoke more loudly "I did not mean to offer any offence."
"None taken, I simply do not enjoy being grabbed suddenly in a public place by a stranger." Connor answered, understandably surly… Was Ochoa trying to figure out if he was an Assassin by using a code phrase? Did that mean that Ochoa was…? The commotion had attracted the attention of the other visiting Templars – and they moved towards Ochoa and Connor.
Germain called out, voice full of good humor "I see that you enjoy being touched about as much as your father does, Connor. Mister Ochoa I do hope that you realize that startling a Kenway is never a good idea. His father might have accidentally stabbed you, but then Connor is more tolerant of our different quirks. For your patience, I do thank you."
Ochoa nodded, seemingly pacified by that response and Connor was fairly certain that he was supposed to thank Germain for his words… But he very sincerely did not want to. Smarm and smug manipulation oozed off of the French Templar. He did need to keep up the mask of Templar-sided mercenary and spoke up "Thank you. I hope I did not hurt you, mister Ochoa."
"Just my pride, a little. You are quite strong." Caim responded, sending Connor a small, reassuring smile. He noted the way that Connor's face tightened as Germain spoke to them, and the brief look of intense dislike that Connor sent at Germain's back after the others all turned away from them, back to squabbling with one another, or hunting for apples. This exchange cemented in his mind that this was the Connor he had been sent to find, although why the young man was playing the role of dutiful son to Kenway… Ochoa could not fathom.
The day could not pass fast enough, in his opinion. Once everyone was back in Kenway's manor, and settled for the evening, Connor once again vanished. Ochoa had a feeling he knew where the younger Assassin had gone. The grounds in the back of Kenway's mansion were a couple square acres of largely untouched land, almost a wilderness in the tamed and carefully controlled section of New York. There was a high brick fence that marked the edges of the Grandmaster's lands, but apart from that, there was little to mark the area as owned by anyone. It was a beautiful and centering bit of grace within such a large, claustrophobic and chaotic but controlled city.
Ochoa took to the trees, noting that there was a subtle dip and sway further into the tree line that likely showed the tall young Assassin's position – or at least movement. Cormac was playing host and would be until Connor came back later in the evening, as a prearranged agreement that all of them had noticed. Pretending to be a Templar, to believe in their ideals and want as they wanted was something that Caim had used as a mask to subtly subvert the Spanish Rite for well over twenty years.
Connor had yet to be found out to be an Assassin due to three things, mainly. One he had been claimed and agreed to the notion that he was Kenway's son – and why would the son of Haytham Kenway of all people be an Assassin? It was patently ridiculous. At least in the minds of the Templars, who were much more likely to take Kenway at his word. The second was that any free-spiritedness was attributed to Connor's youth and desire to get out of his father's shadow – which would loom large over him, had the young man grown up with his father. The third was the fact that it was known that there were no Assassins within the English Colonies – or anywhere in the New World. Not after Cormac and Kenway led a purge fifteen years ago that completely obliterated the Brotherhood.
He nearly fell out of the tree branch he was balancing on when a voice called out to him "I did not realize that you could tree-climb Ochoa. It is not a skill that many Templars choose to develop, from what I have seen."
Ochoa clutched at the branch, swaying dangerously, and ending up hanging upside down and staring at a mildly amused Connor who was watching him carefully. "Ah, but as I alluded to before, I am not a Templar. Neither, are you. You are a Brother."
"I never said I was a Templar. I told you before that I work as a mercenary ship's captain, loosely aligned with the Patriots, as a way to assist my father in furthering the goals of the Templar Order." Connor rebutted, voice carefully neutral as he spoke those words. They did not bite his tongue as they first did as he had practiced those lines to himself, and in front of his father until he could believably say the words. "Admitting that you are an Assassin – if only to test my loyalties is a very dangerous thing to do."
Caim dropped from the tree with as much grace as he could muster, unbuckled something from his right wrist and threw it at Connor's feet "And how would I come by that, if I was not an Assassin?"
At his feet was a hidden blade, engraved upon the leather was the symbol of the Brotherhood of the Assassins. Connor was unmoved "Shay Patrick Cormac wields hidden blades with the same insignia upon them, as does Haytham Kenway. Both of whom are Templars through and through. If you believe I am an Assassin, and you wish for me to think that you are an Assassin you are going to have to do better than that."
"You definitely sound like you have been trained by Achilles Davenport. We were uncertain as to whether or not Kenway let him live or not. The Colonial Brotherhood's main headquarters – unless it was moved since the last time I have been here – is Davenport manor. Davenport manor is three day's travel from here on horseback, a week on foot in a valley enclosed on three sides by mountains, nearby a small bay." Caim paused for a couple of moments, to let his words sink in. He was watching Connor carefully, wanting to make sure that the other was not close to attacking him before continuing "Your ship – The Aquila was an Assassin's ship before she almost sank fifteen years ago in an altercation with British-Allied Templars. The first mate – unless the old sea dog died – is Robert Faulkner, who while he does not wear the Assassin's robes, is an Assassin in all but name. Cormac has told no Templar where Davenport manor is, likely due to what remaining loyalty he feels or once felt to the man. Including Haytham Kenway. Do you want me to go on? The chapters of the Brotherhood in Spain, France, England and Prussia have all heard rumors that there is a solitary Assassin named Connor who has been causing a great deal of trouble for Kenway. You match the description of that Connor very closely."
Connor stared hard and searchingly at the older man for a long while, trying to decide whether or not the other was telling the truth. Eventually he spoke quietly "I… I find myself believing you, and yes, I am the Assassin of whom you seek. You come under the Templar banner, and in the clothes of one. Did you kill the Templar and take his identity? What of the other two Spanish Templars?"
"I have been undercover for the better part of twenty years, sending information to my Brotherhood about the Templars' plans, as well as trying to weaken their grasp in Spain as well as to try to isolate them from the other Templar Rites." Ochoa responded honestly. "Why does Kenway claim you as his son? What does he have on you, that you play out this farce?"
"The Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins and Templar Order have a truce with one another. He warned me of the arrival of the foreign Templars, and as a favor to him, as well as to try and gain some information on the members of the other Rites who are currently here, I am helping to make sure that they keep out of trouble, and do not find out what all is going on in the English colonies." Connor answered truthfully. He was uncertain as to how to break the news that they were father and son from the older Assassin. Connor was uncertain as to whether or not he was going to tell Ochoa that it was true… Not unless he felt that it would be safe to do so. He was already risking enough as it was.
The Spaniard closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, before opening and asking in a quiet, clarifying tone. "What you are saying is, that the Assassins and Templars in this area are… Allied with one another?"
"Yes. It is a tentative alliance, but we have been allied with one another for almost nine months now. Kenway warned me about the potential arrival of you and the other Templar representatives were coming so that the others could hide. As Kenway has seen me in my uniform – as have a couple of others, I was chosen to be the Assassin to… Aid them during this tense time." Connor answered honestly, hopeful that things were going so well. Achilles had not reacted this well.
"What do you mean 'Templar-Assassin alliance'? That is impossible! We have been fighting them for hundreds of years, to keep their tyranny and deceitful ways from causing innocents to suffer! Even if they show themselves to supposedly be reasonable for now, they will slowly try to gain more control over the populace, until everyone is either forced into their tight-fisted control… Or killed or imprisoned for being a menace to society. The idea of peace, it is a good one. But they will demand nothing less than utter submission to their doctrine. Oh, they will pretend to work with you, make moves to have it seem as if they are working alongside you, to find middle ground before stabbing you in the back, or selling you out when it is best for them." Ochoa sputtered, growling a little at the younger Assassin, but understanding where the other was coming from. If the Templars could be reasoned with, peace and balance would be better than the vicious war that was fought between the two sides. However the Templars would never accept a compromise, only complete and unyielding surrender.
Connor had heard this particular series of arguments. From Achilles, whom he had been unable to convince that this alliance was a good idea. But he had been able to pacify his mentor with what he was going to tell Caim now. He activated his second sight, just to make sure that there was no one else around before speaking "The Templars have resources, connections and a reach that the Brotherhood does not, and will not for years, possibly even decades. They have far more people as well. There are seven Assassins of the Brotherhood. There are dozens of fully fledged Templars, and hundreds of those who are under their employ as well. They utilize our skills and ability to slip unseen. We use their resources and connections." It was not as clear cut and professional as that… At least not with himself and Haytham…
"You do bring up several good points… You are the only Assassin they are certain is part of the Brotherhood? Have they knowingly met any of the others?" Caim responded, eyes alight and considering. Connor raised several good points, and so long as the Assassins knew more about the Templars than the Templars knew about the Assassins… It was a clever if dangerous and difficult plan.
"That is correct – they have not met any of the other Assassins – or at least, if they have, they did not and do not know that they are Assassins. I am the only Assassin contact in the colonies they have, and we will maintain that anonymity the best that we possibly can." Connor answered, relaxing a little. "I must ask you to please, do not try to interfere in what is going on, or to try to kill any of the Colonial Templars – if you have a mission to go after any of the guests, do so."
"I was sent here to find and speak with you, and I am glad that you have. It is a bold plan that you have, and I wish you every success. I am undercover, so any correspondence we have must be heavily encoded and rarely done." Caim murmured, a small smile appearing on his face. "Shall we go back with our masks on to fool the Templars?"
"We must, or Cormac will go after me and drag me back to the manor." Connor grumbled a little as they walked back to the manor, personas firmly in place.
Two months passed with agonizing slowness for Connor. The Templars were a fractious bunch, split along country of origin and ideological lines. Germain, Bauers, Schnieder, Colon and Gallo in particular appeared to be the most hard-line of the Templars. Utterly convinced in the righteousness of the Templar cause and militant in the way that it should be carried out. They wanted all Assassins to be killed, or to be broken and shattered so thoroughly that the person could no longer cease to function in society in any capacity whatsoever. He had heard them joking about it more than once (He had not hidden in his father's bedroom afterwards after hearing that the first time. That would be ridiculous and suspicious seeming). Lafreniere, de la Serre, and Weber seemed to favor a more balanced approach to trying to rule the world, and like Haytham, were completely against using the Pieces of Eden to try and impose their will on the peoples they sought to rule. Ochoa… Connor could not get a good read on, and spoke only when directly asked a question, but the man watched everyone with an intense gaze. No one liked the English Templars, and they fought with one another as much as they argued with everyone else.
Everyone, but Haytham, whom all of them held a great deal of respect for… The English Templars were terrified of Haytham, however and skittered from one side of the room to the other, trying to be as far away from the colonial Grandmaster as they could get – and were not the slightest bit subtle about it either. Connor had been incredibly tempted more than once to point out that the three of theirs' cowering only amused his father… And with the way they clung to one another, would make it easier, if his father decided to kill them – as a good shot from a pistol or shot gun and at least two of them would be very injured. But saying such a thing would help no one whatsoever, and Connor was not cruel enough to strip even a Templar of their illusions of safety in such a way.
Although… Herding Templars was not Connor's idea of a good time. However, Haytham had left with Williams, Bauers and Pitcairn, heading for Boston. Several Templar Agents had been accused of being Patriot spies by a group of British Soldiers, and were due to be tried and hung for their crimes if and when they were found guilty. The rest of the visiting Templars had decided that they wanted to explore New York, and as Lee had taken half of the visitors with him on a tour… Connor was stuck with the other half.
He had no real feelings of animosity or contempt for any of them… Except for the fact that he got stuck with Germain who was one of the staunchest of the hard-liner Templars and there was something… Off about the man. It did not upset him that the man had mismatched eyes, but there was an unsettling presence about him that put Connor's teeth on edge and the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Germain was an eloquent, charming and silver-tongued man, who was very good at persuading people to his way of thinking. Or so Connor had been told, but the more time that he spent in Germain's company, the more agitated and mistrustful the mentor Assassin felt towards the French Templar.
Germain was speaking with a fruit vendor, negotiating the price for some fresh apples that had caught his eye. Blackwood was bickering with de la Serre about where they should go next, drawing Colon into the argument as it started to heat up. Connor headed towards the three Templars, noting with some dismay that all three had their hands on their swords and appeared to be close to drawing their weapons when a hand unexpectedly and rather heavily landed on one of his shoulders.
Connor grabbed the hand that touched him and in the blink of an eye he had twisted whoever was fool enough to try and grab him without permission, flipping them over his shoulder and pinning the person to the ground and drawing a tomahawk (not his Assassin's Tomahawk, which was safely ensconced in Achilles' manor in Homestead) leveling it at the idiot. His sight had shifted to his second sight and the figure he had pinned was a steady gold. He raised the blade, preparing to strike when a familiar voice called out to him.
"Oi! Ratonhnhake:ton! No murdering the guests, by order of the Grandmaster. By your father." Cormac called out, carefully approaching the young Assassin, having seen the brief exchange. It was likely that the younger man had only been startled, coupled with the fact that he had an aversion to touch, Ochoa was lucky the lad was more merciful than Master Kenway was. The Grandmaster might have accidentally gutted the poor bastard with his hidden blade for unexpected contact in a public place like this.
Connor shook his head a little, sight returning to normal as a rather pale looking Ochoa stared up at him. He sheathed his tomahawk and let the other go, giving him enough space to get up on his own. "Do not attempt to touch me without my permission, and certainly not from behind. It would not be the first time that someone has attempted to attack me from behind and I do not startle well."
"My apologies, brother. I did not mean to surprise you in such a way." Ochoa responded quietly enough so that only Connor heard him. The Templar spoke more loudly "I did not mean to offer any offence."
"None taken, I simply do not enjoy being grabbed suddenly in a public place by a stranger." Connor answered, understandably surly… Was Ochoa trying to figure out if he was an Assassin by using a code phrase? Did that mean that Ochoa was…? The commotion had attracted the attention of the other visiting Templars – and they moved towards Ochoa and Connor.
Germain called out, voice full of good humor "I see that you enjoy being touched about as much as your father does, Connor. Mister Ochoa I do hope that you realize that startling a Kenway is never a good idea. His father might have accidentally stabbed you, but then Connor is more tolerant of our different quirks. For your patience, I do thank you."
Ochoa nodded, seemingly pacified by that response and Connor was fairly certain that he was supposed to thank Germain for his words… But he very sincerely did not want to. Smarm and smug manipulation oozed off of the French Templar. He did need to keep up the mask of Templar-sided mercenary and spoke up "Thank you. I hope I did not hurt you, mister Ochoa."
"Just my pride, a little. You are quite strong." Caim responded, sending Connor a small, reassuring smile. He noted the way that Connor's face tightened as Germain spoke to them, and the brief look of intense dislike that Connor sent at Germain's back after the others all turned away from them, back to squabbling with one another, or hunting for apples. This exchange cemented in his mind that this was the Connor he had been sent to find, although why the young man was playing the role of dutiful son to Kenway… Ochoa could not fathom.
The day could not pass fast enough, in his opinion. Once everyone was back in Kenway's manor, and settled for the evening, Connor once again vanished. Ochoa had a feeling he knew where the younger Assassin had gone. The grounds in the back of Kenway's mansion were a couple square acres of largely untouched land, almost a wilderness in the tamed and carefully controlled section of New York. There was a high brick fence that marked the edges of the Grandmaster's lands, but apart from that, there was little to mark the area as owned by anyone. It was a beautiful and centering bit of grace within such a large, claustrophobic and chaotic but controlled city.
Ochoa took to the trees, noting that there was a subtle dip and sway further into the tree line that likely showed the tall young Assassin's position – or at least movement. Cormac was playing host and would be until Connor came back later in the evening, as a prearranged agreement that all of them had noticed. Pretending to be a Templar, to believe in their ideals and want as they wanted was something that Caim had used as a mask to subtly subvert the Spanish Rite for well over twenty years.
Connor had yet to be found out to be an Assassin due to three things, mainly. One he had been claimed and agreed to the notion that he was Kenway's son – and why would the son of Haytham Kenway of all people be an Assassin? It was patently ridiculous. At least in the minds of the Templars, who were much more likely to take Kenway at his word. The second was that any free-spiritedness was attributed to Connor's youth and desire to get out of his father's shadow – which would loom large over him, had the young man grown up with his father. The third was the fact that it was known that there were no Assassins within the English Colonies – or anywhere in the New World. Not after Cormac and Kenway led a purge fifteen years ago that completely obliterated the Brotherhood.
He nearly fell out of the tree branch he was balancing on when a voice called out to him "I did not realize that you could tree-climb Ochoa. It is not a skill that many Templars choose to develop, from what I have seen."
Ochoa clutched at the branch, swaying dangerously, and ending up hanging upside down and staring at a mildly amused Connor who was watching him carefully. "Ah, but as I alluded to before, I am not a Templar. Neither, are you. You are a Brother."
"I never said I was a Templar. I told you before that I work as a mercenary ship's captain, loosely aligned with the Patriots, as a way to assist my father in furthering the goals of the Templar Order." Connor rebutted, voice carefully neutral as he spoke those words. They did not bite his tongue as they first did as he had practiced those lines to himself, and in front of his father until he could believably say the words. "Admitting that you are an Assassin – if only to test my loyalties is a very dangerous thing to do."
Caim dropped from the tree with as much grace as he could muster, unbuckled something from his right wrist and threw it at Connor's feet "And how would I come by that, if I was not an Assassin?"
At his feet was a hidden blade, engraved upon the leather was the symbol of the Brotherhood of the Assassins. Connor was unmoved "Shay Patrick Cormac wields hidden blades with the same insignia upon them, as does Haytham Kenway. Both of whom are Templars through and through. If you believe I am an Assassin, and you wish for me to think that you are an Assassin you are going to have to do better than that."
"You definitely sound like you have been trained by Achilles Davenport. We were uncertain as to whether or not Kenway let him live or not. The Colonial Brotherhood's main headquarters – unless it was moved since the last time I have been here – is Davenport manor. Davenport manor is three day's travel from here on horseback, a week on foot in a valley enclosed on three sides by mountains, nearby a small bay." Caim paused for a couple of moments, to let his words sink in. He was watching Connor carefully, wanting to make sure that the other was not close to attacking him before continuing "Your ship – The Aquila was an Assassin's ship before she almost sank fifteen years ago in an altercation with British-Allied Templars. The first mate – unless the old sea dog died – is Robert Faulkner, who while he does not wear the Assassin's robes, is an Assassin in all but name. Cormac has told no Templar where Davenport manor is, likely due to what remaining loyalty he feels or once felt to the man. Including Haytham Kenway. Do you want me to go on? The chapters of the Brotherhood in Spain, France, England and Prussia have all heard rumors that there is a solitary Assassin named Connor who has been causing a great deal of trouble for Kenway. You match the description of that Connor very closely."
Connor stared hard and searchingly at the older man for a long while, trying to decide whether or not the other was telling the truth. Eventually he spoke quietly "I… I find myself believing you, and yes, I am the Assassin of whom you seek. You come under the Templar banner, and in the clothes of one. Did you kill the Templar and take his identity? What of the other two Spanish Templars?"
"I have been undercover for the better part of twenty years, sending information to my Brotherhood about the Templars' plans, as well as trying to weaken their grasp in Spain as well as to try to isolate them from the other Templar Rites." Ochoa responded honestly. "Why does Kenway claim you as his son? What does he have on you, that you play out this farce?"
"The Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins and Templar Order have a truce with one another. He warned me of the arrival of the foreign Templars, and as a favor to him, as well as to try and gain some information on the members of the other Rites who are currently here, I am helping to make sure that they keep out of trouble, and do not find out what all is going on in the English colonies." Connor answered truthfully. He was uncertain as to how to break the news that they were father and son from the older Assassin. Connor was uncertain as to whether or not he was going to tell Ochoa that it was true… Not unless he felt that it would be safe to do so. He was already risking enough as it was.
The Spaniard closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, before opening and asking in a quiet, clarifying tone. "What you are saying is, that the Assassins and Templars in this area are… Allied with one another?"
"Yes. It is a tentative alliance, but we have been allied with one another for almost nine months now. Kenway warned me about the potential arrival of you and the other Templar representatives were coming so that the others could hide. As Kenway has seen me in my uniform – as have a couple of others, I was chosen to be the Assassin to… Aid them during this tense time." Connor answered honestly, hopeful that things were going so well. Achilles had not reacted this well.
"What do you mean 'Templar-Assassin alliance'? That is impossible! We have been fighting them for hundreds of years, to keep their tyranny and deceitful ways from causing innocents to suffer! Even if they show themselves to supposedly be reasonable for now, they will slowly try to gain more control over the populace, until everyone is either forced into their tight-fisted control… Or killed or imprisoned for being a menace to society. The idea of peace, it is a good one. But they will demand nothing less than utter submission to their doctrine. Oh, they will pretend to work with you, make moves to have it seem as if they are working alongside you, to find middle ground before stabbing you in the back, or selling you out when it is best for them." Ochoa sputtered, growling a little at the younger Assassin, but understanding where the other was coming from. If the Templars could be reasoned with, peace and balance would be better than the vicious war that was fought between the two sides. However the Templars would never accept a compromise, only complete and unyielding surrender.
Connor had heard this particular series of arguments. From Achilles, whom he had been unable to convince that this alliance was a good idea. But he had been able to pacify his mentor with what he was going to tell Caim now. He activated his second sight, just to make sure that there was no one else around before speaking "The Templars have resources, connections and a reach that the Brotherhood does not, and will not for years, possibly even decades. They have far more people as well. There are seven Assassins of the Brotherhood. There are dozens of fully fledged Templars, and hundreds of those who are under their employ as well. They utilize our skills and ability to slip unseen. We use their resources and connections." It was not as clear cut and professional as that… At least not with himself and Haytham…
"You do bring up several good points… You are the only Assassin they are certain is part of the Brotherhood? Have they knowingly met any of the others?" Caim responded, eyes alight and considering. Connor raised several good points, and so long as the Assassins knew more about the Templars than the Templars knew about the Assassins… It was a clever if dangerous and difficult plan.
"That is correct – they have not met any of the other Assassins – or at least, if they have, they did not and do not know that they are Assassins. I am the only Assassin contact in the colonies they have, and we will maintain that anonymity the best that we possibly can." Connor answered, relaxing a little. "I must ask you to please, do not try to interfere in what is going on, or to try to kill any of the Colonial Templars – if you have a mission to go after any of the guests, do so."
"I was sent here to find and speak with you, and I am glad that you have. It is a bold plan that you have, and I wish you every success. I am undercover, so any correspondence we have must be heavily encoded and rarely done." Caim murmured, a small smile appearing on his face. "Shall we go back with our masks on to fool the Templars?"
"We must, or Cormac will go after me and drag me back to the manor." Connor grumbled a little as they walked back to the manor, personas firmly in place.
