Hey all! Sorry for not updating sooner, but I tend to take the weekends off. But now I'm back and here's a new chapter to start your week off! Enjoy!
It has been.. discomforting since Connor left the Homestead. Achilles is getting weaker by the day. I help in anyway I can but it isn't the same around here. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months until I decide to go to Kanatahséton. I sheath a dagger and walk to the door, bidding Achilles farewell for now. He limps to the door and gives me a letter.
"Give this to Connor when you find must read it. It is from George Washington."
I nod and ride off towards the forest. Once I am deep in the woods, I dismount and flick the key out, holding it. I close my eyes and scan the area. Seeing a familiar figure,I make my way towards them. Only when I was close enough did they turn and eye me. It wasn't Connor, but rather Kanen'tó:kon.
"Uhh.. Kwe?" I say, raising my arms up. He eyes me suspiciously, holding a knife in his hand.
"Tánon' ónhka ní:se'?"
I furrow my eyebrows, looking around. "Sorry.. I don't know much of your language.." As if out of nowhere, Connor jogs out and places a hand on Kanen'tók:on's shoulder.
"Kanen'tó:kon, Ontiatén:ro' ne thi." He walks up to me and a small smile creeps up his face. "Hope, you are here." I tried not to smile, but it was contagious.
"Yeah. I came here to give you this." I say, grabbing the letter Achilles gave me. He grabbed it and looked down at it.
"Was this the only reason you came here?" He asked, disappointment clear in his voice.
"No. I also wanted to check on you. " I mutter, smiling at him. His face lights up and he takes my hand, pulling me along as he started to walk away.
"Where are we going?"
"I wish for you to meet my people, especially the Clan Mother." Kanen'tó:kon follows us, a smile rising on his face also.
When we arrive, people look over at us, curiosity evident in their faces. Connor continues to pull me through the crowd until we come to a longhouse. An old woman sits there, tending to a fire. When she sees Connor, her face lights up and she rises.
"Shé:kon, Ratonhnhaké:ton. Tasatáweiat,Tasatáweiat." She says, looking from him to me. "Non' ónhka ne: nakáonha?"
" Ontiátsi ne' kí:ken." He responds, smiling. I look up at him and whisper in his ear. "What's she saying?"
"She welcomed us and asked who were you. I told her you are a friend."
I smile and look at her. "Nice to meet you." I say, holding out my arm to shake her hand. She just eyes it and I lower my hand down.
" Sonkwehón:we kenh?" She asks, looking at me.
"Hen." He says and looks down at me.
"Hen." I say, looking from him to the Clan Mother. She chats with Connor and then she taps my shoulder, a smile on her face.
"She likes you." He smiles and beckons me to follow him.
"I didn't understand much of it, though."
"It is alright. I will teach you, if you wish." He smiled and we walked towards a different part. Suddenly, he pulled us off the path and towards the wilderness.
"Where are we going this time?" I laugh.
"You'll see."
We climbed what seemed like forever until he yelled out to me and pointed towards a spot. I climbed to the top and panted softly.
"You are lucky I can climb as well as you, or else you'd never be able to get me up here." I smiled, running my fingers through my hair. He sighed and sat down on the grass. "Please sit with me." He asked as he patted the grass next to him. I walked over and sat, moving my legs past the edge of the cliff, swinging them. I look at the view and gasp at it's beauty.
"It's beautiful, Ratonhnhaké:ton."
"We's í:se." He mutters, looking down. I look over at him and smile.
"What'd you say?"
He looks around debating if he should tell you what it means. "I.. I said 'like you'."
My eyes widen and I look down.
"I am sorry. I only meant that you are just as beautiful as the sunset. Not that I admire your beauty, I simply noticed it." He says rather quickly. I smile and move closer to him.
"Thank you." I say and move to kiss his cheek when he turned. My lips meet his and I move away.
"I'm so sorry! I meant to kiss your cheek, I swear!" I say, freaking out inside. I turn away when I feel a hand turn my head and pull me forward. My lips are pressed against his and my heart pounds against my chest. Ohmygodohmygod- He's kissing me! My hands wrap around his neck and pull him closer. Why am I allowing this? This is Ratonhnhaké:ton! When he pulls away, he stares into my eyes.
"Konnorónhkwa, Muhimogo'ni." He mutters, smiling softly. I smile back and mutter back
" Nii piza ini supicha u, Ratonhnhaké:ton." I lean my head on his shoulder, sighing softly.
"Will you come back home?" I ask. He looks at me, confused.
"I am home."
"No.." I sigh, looking back at him. "Home with Achilles. With me."
He looks down. "I will consider it." A thought arose and Achilles' words echoed.
"You should read that letter I gave you." He pulled it out of his coat and opened it.
"Commander Washington needs our help." He says and stands, helping me. I look down and see the ocean splashing below.
"I have an idea.." I smirk and walk closer to the edge.
"And it is?" He asks, tucking the letter away. I decide not to tell him, but instead show him. I leap off the cliff, yelling as I fell. I saw him rush to the edge and jump off. I look back down and break the water. It was maddeningly cold, but refreshing. Rising back up, I see Connor next to me.
"Don't do that again." He says, his teeth chattering. I throw him a playful grin and swim back to shore.
Once we get back, and our robes have dried, We head to Valley Forge to meet with the Commander. Connor pulled up his hood and addressed Washington.
"Commander." Washington turned and saw us.
"Connor. Hope."
"Any word on Lee?"
"Not yet. I apologize, I've been distracted." The man says, shaking his head slightly.
"What has you distracted, Commander?" I ask, approaching both men.
"Supply caravans meant for the camp have gone missing. I suspect treachery. "
"Do you know who'd do such a thing?" The commander looks from Connor to me, nodding.
"A traitor named Benjamin Church, recently released from prison, has vanished as well. The two events are surely related."
"What was his crime?" Connor asks as Washington paces.
"He was caught sending letters to the Loyalists, detailing our troop strength. He claimed it was a scare tactic, that we might avoid war. A poor lie."
Connor walked up to the man and rested his hand on his shoulder. "I will find Church for you."
"Why?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. "What reason have you to help?"
I turned to him and spoke loudly. "Does it really matter?"
He nodded and turned. "As you wish. We've received reports of trouble along the southern road. Might be he's responsible. I suggest you begin your search there."
Connor nodded and turned away. We head to the southern road and come across an abandoned church. I smile and point there.
"Maybe Church'll be in a church."
We walk in and see that it is empty. This doesn't feel right.. I stop in the doorway and grab at my sword, getting ready. Connor continues to walk in, looking around. Suddenly a loud thump is heard and I see someone on top of Connor. I draw my sword and point it at the man.
"Father." Connor scoffs, slightly winded. Then that means... Haytham sat up slightly. "Connor... Any last words?"
"Wait."
"A poor choice." He said and was about to plunge his blade into his throat when Connor kicked him off. They began to circle each other, hate evident in Connor's eyes.
"Come to check up on Church? Make sure he'd stolen enough for your British brothers?!"
To this, Haytham scoffed. "Benjamin Church is no brother of mine. No more than the Redcoats or their idiot King." He shook his head, as though talking to an infant. "I expected naivete, but this? The Templars do not fight for the crown. We seek the same as you, boy. Freedom. Justice. Independence."
"But.."
"Hmm? But what?"
"Johnson. Pitcairn. Hickey! They sought to steal land. To sack towns. To murder George Washington."
Haytham sighed. "Johnson sought to own the land that we might keep it safe. Pitcairn aimed t encourage diplomacy- which you cocked up thoroughly enough to start a goddamn war! And Hickey? George Washington is a wretched leader. He's lost nearly every battle in which he's taken part. The man's wracked with uncertainty and insecurity. Only look at Valley Forge to know my words are true. We're all better off without him."
"That isn't for you decide." I snarled, pointing my sword at him. He raises his eyebrows at me. "And you are?"
"Your worst nightmare, given you cross me." I sneer. He simply sighs and pinches his nose.
"Look- as much as I'd love to spar with the both of you, Benjamin Church's mouth is as big as his ego. You clearly want the supplies he's stolen. I want him punished. Our interests are aligned."
Connor looks to the side. "And what do you propose?"
"A truce. Perhaps.. perhaps some time together might do us good. You are my son, after all and might still be saved from your ignorance." He raised his arm, drawing his hidden blade. "I could kill you now, if you prefer." I was about to raise my sword again and threaten the man when Connor glanced at me, telling me not to.
"Excellent! Shall we be off?" He said and began to walk away.
"Do you even know where Benjamin Church has gone?" Connor asked, walking towards the man, keeping a cocky smile from arising.
He stopped and sighed. "I'm afraid not.. I'd hope to ambush him when he or one of his men returned here. It seems I'm too late. They've come and cleared the place out."
"I may be able to track him." And with that they left, leaving me standing there, my sword hanging idly. Great.. Now Father dearest has joined the party.. I sheath my sword and follow them.
Isn't this gonna be fun...
And that's all for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed and I gave in to the requests for them to get together. Thanks for reading and c'ya next chapter!
|Mohawk words|
Kwe (K-weh)- Hi
Tánon' ónhka ní:se'(Tan-non-onh-kah-nee-seh) -And who are you?
Ontiatén:ro' ne thi (On-tee-ah-ten-ro-nee- theh)- This is my friend
Shé:kon (Shey-kon)-Hello
Tasatáweiat (Tas-at-ey-we-ah-et) - Come in
Non' ónhka ne: nakáonha? (Non-oh-nh-kah-ney-nah-kah-on-hah)- And who is she?
Ontiátsi ne' kí:ken (On-tee-ah-t-see-neh-kee-ken) She is my friend
Sonkwehón:we kenh?(Son-kwe-hon-we-ken-oh)- Are you Indian?
Hen- Yes
Konnorónhkwa (Kon-nor-on-kwah) - I love you/ I care about you
|Northern Paiute|
Nii Piza ini supicha u (Nee-pee-zah-een-nee-soo-pee-chah-oo) I love you