p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham found several coded letters in a hidden compartment in the captain's cabin, and a cipher in a small chest that was child's play for him to pick. Using a spare bit of parchment he decoded the letters. He enjoyed the challenge of cracking such things and he was curious as to what the Templars were up to in the colonies. They were status reports on how the Patriot's fleet was spreading and how Biddle had been able to influence the selection of captains and the crew officers, making sure that preference was given to Templars, or those sympathetic to the cause, or those who would be more easily influenced by the wealth or influence that the Templar Oder could offer those who chose to join their ranks./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"There were a couple of letters from a C.L. who wrote of how the rebel army was fairing – and from what he had written and implied, this particular Templar conspirator was highly ranked within the army – quite possibly a tactical advisor or general of some kind. The Templars seemed to have chosen to side with the Patriots, for the moment at least, as the temptation of being able to control the formation and be part of the leadership of a new nation was something that they were wholly incapable of resisting. Not that Haytham was the least bit surprised. Once he finished with the letters, he quietly burned his interpretation of them – better not to arouse suspicion or curiosity as to why he would snoop – and folded the encoded letters and tucked them into an inner pocket of his outfit. The cipher he tucked into a different pocket./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham stretched and left the captain's cabin after checking one last time for any hidden treasures with both types of sight, finding a small pile of shimmering gemstones. In total they wouldn't be worth more than a thousand pound or so, but it was more than he had before, so the stones were pocketed./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"He found Faulkner directing a few of The Aquila's crew and asked "Is your captain done interrogating Biffle yet? Or whatever that Templar's name was. I'm not certain he ever did tell me his name…Not that I particularly care. He was an irritating blowhard."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I think it was Biddle. Connor first met the bastard when he was fifteen. We were recruiting officers when the lad spotted him. He marched right over to the smug arse and demanded to know where Charles Lee was, as the boy could tell he was a Templar as soon as he had seen him. He should be done soon, if he isn't already." Faulkner answered truthfully, a small smile of fond exasperation appearing on his face as he recalled that encounter. "My captain is very bold, and he takes good care of us, and more importantly The Aquila."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham chuckled a little "I see you are just as focused on your ship now as you ever were. I'm surprised that you aren't captain, and Connor being the first mate." The Assassin was a bit young for captaincy, but so had Haytham when he had taken over. It was obvious from the way that Connor's crew moved and spoke – Faulkner particularly, as he had struggled under several cruel or idiotic captains before The Ghost of the North Sea had all but vanished about ten years ago – that they were very loyal to Connor. A loyal crew was the sign of a good captain./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I could never be her captain! Connor treats her well, and keeps the men in line with a firm hand. He's really grown into the role." Faulkner answered, pride evident in his voice./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I… I am glad to hear that, Faulkner." Haytham responded, hoping that the hitch in his voice was well hidden. He was just starting to realize that… That Connor could very well be his son. He would not allow his hopes to rise too much, however. He had met one other – a Shay Patrick Cormac who was either an Assassin or a Templar – who also had golden eyes./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A mall smile graced the older sailor's face at that, and he nodded towards the captain's cabin on the Aquila "Here comes the… My captain."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham nodded a little in agreement as Connor easily dragged the battered form of Captain Biddle back aboard the ship he had been charged with an ease that showed off his strength. Connor left the Templar's bound form near the main mast of the soon to be sinking ship and walked up to Haytham and Faulkner. "Captain Haytham, I would like to speak to you privately."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Of course. Where would you like to speak? I did find some coded letters in the captain's cabin, and my crew found a few more letters among this sorry lots' effects. I also found a cipher that seems to match the codes as it seems as though none of them were bright enough to remember the coding sequence from memory." Haytham responded, the tension and hope charging to the forefront of his mind again. He needed to focus and keep calm./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I would like to speak in my cabin aboard the Aquila, if you do not mind. If you would prefer to speak in the captain's cabin on this ship, I understand as it is more neutral territory. Not that I think that we are at odds with one another… At least… I would prefer that we were not." Connor responded in a rush, obviously rather anxious about the upcoming conversation as well. He had brought his hands up to his chest and was rubbing them as though they were sore, or the gloves that he wore were not fitting correctly./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I am fine with speaking in your cabin, Connor. I would prefer the two of us not be enemies either. You fight well, and your ship is strong." Haytham answered as he followed the other to the Aquila, easily making the jump from ship to ship a couple of seconds after Connor, his nerves starting to sing anxiously. Honestly, he was being ridiculous!/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"~-~-~-~-/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"As soon as the door closed completely, Connor turned to look at Haytham, asking "Did you know a Mohawk woman by the name of Kaneihti:io? She usually had white men call her Ziio."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Yes I did, about twenty years ago. I rescued her and a number of other native people – some were Mohawk, but not all of them – from a Slave ship. She and I grew close over the months it took to return her and the others to their homeland. Why do you ask?" Haytham asked with bated breath, half expecting one answer and uncertain what to do if that were true. "Kane… Kaneihti:io was a singular person, and someone whom I still greatly admire. I also fell in love with her. I still am. Do you know how she fares?"/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Then you are the man of whom she spoke. Kaneihti:io was my mother. She… She was murdered fifteen years ago. Killed in a fire that claimed most of… Of my village. Did… Did you know of me?" Connor answered and asked at the same time, fidgeting. It was one of the things that had always bothered him – if his father had known that mother had been with child and had decided to leave because of it./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""N… No, she never told me. I would… I would have stayed with her, if she had let me. I visited her, a couple of times when I had been in the area a couple of months after she left my ship. Unfortunately the Assassins and Templars were starting to go after one another with a bloody zeal that was actually rather frightening. She was concerned that I might bring some of them with me to the village – not that I was aligned either way back then either, but that I might be followed as apparently I have a suspicious face to some." Haytham responded earnestly, eyes widening as a look of grief and shock flashed across his face. He closed his eyes for several moments as he struggled to keep his breathing under control and his eyes stung with tears, several treacherous drops falling from his eyes. He rubbed his face brusquely with one hand to banish the tears as he was able to more or less shove down the painful feelings. The joy of knowing he had a child – well, not that the other was childlike… It helped ease the pain of hearing of her passing suddenly, and in such a brutal fashion. "Do… Do you know of who caused the fire? I did hear of British soldiers burning down native villages towards the end of the seven years' war, claiming to be only putting French-allied villages to the torch."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A warmth spread through Connor at that, made warmer by the fact that he realized that his father had been able to correctly pronounce his mother's full name – that he had cared enough to learn in the first place, and that he still cared enough two decades later to be able to correctly say her name. This happiness was tempered by the anger that was always summoned when that horrible day was mentioned to him – at times he could still smell the smoke that choked his lungs, and the terrible heat that pressed around him on all sides… No! He would not be haunted by bad memories this day. Rage and sorrow filled his voice as he explained what had happened. "A Templar named Charles Lee was searching for my village. He found me hiding in some bushes. I had been playing a game with my friends when he and three other white men found me. They dragged me from the bushes, mocking me and my people, before choking and beating me unconscious. When I woke, I smelled smoke and found my village in flames. Lee and his men wanted to find my village, and I had not told them. They were not in the uniforms of British soldiers, though at the time Lee had been serving General Braddock as a field marshal I think."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A deep frown appeared on Haytham's face at that, a dark anger taking him of that. Those blasted Templars claimed that they wanted safety and peace for everyone, but acts like this proved that they were power-hungry creatures who espoused such lofty ideals to fool others into following their agendas. "The Colonial Rite has asked if I would assist them on more than one occasion – so long as Biddle here dies and we keep news of his ship sinking known to the Patriots as an attack by the British, I should be able to gain a meeting with this Charles Lee – he is a Templar of importance in the English colonies – it shouldn't take too much convincing on my part to have him walk with me. I will lead him to you and we will have him answer for his crimes… It is odd, as I heard he married a Mohawk woman."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I would not know about that, but I do know what he has done, and I would be grateful for your help disposing of Lee." Connor was so close to asking his father to assist him in ridding the colonies of Templar influence completely… But he did not want to push him. Haytham had legitimate reasons to be wary of both sides of the war./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Do you trust the leader of your order, Connor? Or do you serve the Assassin cause for revenge and to protect others from the Templars?" Haytham asked quietly. He would never join the British Assassins… But with his son…/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I am the leader of my order… More or less. My mentor is an old man, who cannot move about his house without a cane. I have recruited a half-dozen Assassins to the cause, trained them myself and I trust each of them with my life – and I have in the past." Connor responded without missing a beat, earnestly meaning what he said./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A small smile appeared on Haytham's face as he made a (slightly) impulsive decision. "Well… With you leading them, I am certain that the Colonial Brotherhood is on a good course. The way your crew responds to you speaks to how well you lead. I have the blades, perhaps it is time that I join the Brotherhood myself. After all, your grandfather was an Assassin as well – these are his. I have tweaked them a little over the years, but they initially belonged to him. What is the name your mother gave you, if you do not mind me knowing… Mentor?"/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Connor's face warmed into a broad, happy smile that lasted for several seconds. He hesitated for a bit before giving into the impulse to pull his father into a tight embrace, marveling in the fact that he was able to actually meet his father, forgetting himself. "Ratonhnhake:ton. Ratonhnhake:ton is what Ista named me, Rake:ni."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham returned the embrace with equal zeal, only a little surprised that his son was a couple of inches taller than he was… And that the other had hugged him. But he hugged the other back as tightly as a happiness that he had not experienced since the last time he had met Ziio filled him. Several long seconds of frantically trying to string the syllables together in his head later culminated in "… Ratonhnhake:ton? Did I say your name correctly? It sounds like a strong name." Kaneihti:io had meant beautiful snow – a name that fit well the lovely woman who had been named after./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Yes you did… And I would be honored if you joined my Brotherhood, Captain Haytham Kenway." Connor breathed, still smiling as he continued to hold onto his father./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I am honored that you would let me join. I will do my best to help our cause to the best of my abilities." Haytham answered, the smile evident in his voice./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"There were a couple of letters from a C.L. who wrote of how the rebel army was fairing – and from what he had written and implied, this particular Templar conspirator was highly ranked within the army – quite possibly a tactical advisor or general of some kind. The Templars seemed to have chosen to side with the Patriots, for the moment at least, as the temptation of being able to control the formation and be part of the leadership of a new nation was something that they were wholly incapable of resisting. Not that Haytham was the least bit surprised. Once he finished with the letters, he quietly burned his interpretation of them – better not to arouse suspicion or curiosity as to why he would snoop – and folded the encoded letters and tucked them into an inner pocket of his outfit. The cipher he tucked into a different pocket./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham stretched and left the captain's cabin after checking one last time for any hidden treasures with both types of sight, finding a small pile of shimmering gemstones. In total they wouldn't be worth more than a thousand pound or so, but it was more than he had before, so the stones were pocketed./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"He found Faulkner directing a few of The Aquila's crew and asked "Is your captain done interrogating Biffle yet? Or whatever that Templar's name was. I'm not certain he ever did tell me his name…Not that I particularly care. He was an irritating blowhard."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I think it was Biddle. Connor first met the bastard when he was fifteen. We were recruiting officers when the lad spotted him. He marched right over to the smug arse and demanded to know where Charles Lee was, as the boy could tell he was a Templar as soon as he had seen him. He should be done soon, if he isn't already." Faulkner answered truthfully, a small smile of fond exasperation appearing on his face as he recalled that encounter. "My captain is very bold, and he takes good care of us, and more importantly The Aquila."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham chuckled a little "I see you are just as focused on your ship now as you ever were. I'm surprised that you aren't captain, and Connor being the first mate." The Assassin was a bit young for captaincy, but so had Haytham when he had taken over. It was obvious from the way that Connor's crew moved and spoke – Faulkner particularly, as he had struggled under several cruel or idiotic captains before The Ghost of the North Sea had all but vanished about ten years ago – that they were very loyal to Connor. A loyal crew was the sign of a good captain./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I could never be her captain! Connor treats her well, and keeps the men in line with a firm hand. He's really grown into the role." Faulkner answered, pride evident in his voice./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I… I am glad to hear that, Faulkner." Haytham responded, hoping that the hitch in his voice was well hidden. He was just starting to realize that… That Connor could very well be his son. He would not allow his hopes to rise too much, however. He had met one other – a Shay Patrick Cormac who was either an Assassin or a Templar – who also had golden eyes./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A mall smile graced the older sailor's face at that, and he nodded towards the captain's cabin on the Aquila "Here comes the… My captain."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham nodded a little in agreement as Connor easily dragged the battered form of Captain Biddle back aboard the ship he had been charged with an ease that showed off his strength. Connor left the Templar's bound form near the main mast of the soon to be sinking ship and walked up to Haytham and Faulkner. "Captain Haytham, I would like to speak to you privately."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Of course. Where would you like to speak? I did find some coded letters in the captain's cabin, and my crew found a few more letters among this sorry lots' effects. I also found a cipher that seems to match the codes as it seems as though none of them were bright enough to remember the coding sequence from memory." Haytham responded, the tension and hope charging to the forefront of his mind again. He needed to focus and keep calm./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I would like to speak in my cabin aboard the Aquila, if you do not mind. If you would prefer to speak in the captain's cabin on this ship, I understand as it is more neutral territory. Not that I think that we are at odds with one another… At least… I would prefer that we were not." Connor responded in a rush, obviously rather anxious about the upcoming conversation as well. He had brought his hands up to his chest and was rubbing them as though they were sore, or the gloves that he wore were not fitting correctly./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I am fine with speaking in your cabin, Connor. I would prefer the two of us not be enemies either. You fight well, and your ship is strong." Haytham answered as he followed the other to the Aquila, easily making the jump from ship to ship a couple of seconds after Connor, his nerves starting to sing anxiously. Honestly, he was being ridiculous!/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"~-~-~-~-/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"As soon as the door closed completely, Connor turned to look at Haytham, asking "Did you know a Mohawk woman by the name of Kaneihti:io? She usually had white men call her Ziio."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Yes I did, about twenty years ago. I rescued her and a number of other native people – some were Mohawk, but not all of them – from a Slave ship. She and I grew close over the months it took to return her and the others to their homeland. Why do you ask?" Haytham asked with bated breath, half expecting one answer and uncertain what to do if that were true. "Kane… Kaneihti:io was a singular person, and someone whom I still greatly admire. I also fell in love with her. I still am. Do you know how she fares?"/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Then you are the man of whom she spoke. Kaneihti:io was my mother. She… She was murdered fifteen years ago. Killed in a fire that claimed most of… Of my village. Did… Did you know of me?" Connor answered and asked at the same time, fidgeting. It was one of the things that had always bothered him – if his father had known that mother had been with child and had decided to leave because of it./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""N… No, she never told me. I would… I would have stayed with her, if she had let me. I visited her, a couple of times when I had been in the area a couple of months after she left my ship. Unfortunately the Assassins and Templars were starting to go after one another with a bloody zeal that was actually rather frightening. She was concerned that I might bring some of them with me to the village – not that I was aligned either way back then either, but that I might be followed as apparently I have a suspicious face to some." Haytham responded earnestly, eyes widening as a look of grief and shock flashed across his face. He closed his eyes for several moments as he struggled to keep his breathing under control and his eyes stung with tears, several treacherous drops falling from his eyes. He rubbed his face brusquely with one hand to banish the tears as he was able to more or less shove down the painful feelings. The joy of knowing he had a child – well, not that the other was childlike… It helped ease the pain of hearing of her passing suddenly, and in such a brutal fashion. "Do… Do you know of who caused the fire? I did hear of British soldiers burning down native villages towards the end of the seven years' war, claiming to be only putting French-allied villages to the torch."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A warmth spread through Connor at that, made warmer by the fact that he realized that his father had been able to correctly pronounce his mother's full name – that he had cared enough to learn in the first place, and that he still cared enough two decades later to be able to correctly say her name. This happiness was tempered by the anger that was always summoned when that horrible day was mentioned to him – at times he could still smell the smoke that choked his lungs, and the terrible heat that pressed around him on all sides… No! He would not be haunted by bad memories this day. Rage and sorrow filled his voice as he explained what had happened. "A Templar named Charles Lee was searching for my village. He found me hiding in some bushes. I had been playing a game with my friends when he and three other white men found me. They dragged me from the bushes, mocking me and my people, before choking and beating me unconscious. When I woke, I smelled smoke and found my village in flames. Lee and his men wanted to find my village, and I had not told them. They were not in the uniforms of British soldiers, though at the time Lee had been serving General Braddock as a field marshal I think."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A deep frown appeared on Haytham's face at that, a dark anger taking him of that. Those blasted Templars claimed that they wanted safety and peace for everyone, but acts like this proved that they were power-hungry creatures who espoused such lofty ideals to fool others into following their agendas. "The Colonial Rite has asked if I would assist them on more than one occasion – so long as Biddle here dies and we keep news of his ship sinking known to the Patriots as an attack by the British, I should be able to gain a meeting with this Charles Lee – he is a Templar of importance in the English colonies – it shouldn't take too much convincing on my part to have him walk with me. I will lead him to you and we will have him answer for his crimes… It is odd, as I heard he married a Mohawk woman."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I would not know about that, but I do know what he has done, and I would be grateful for your help disposing of Lee." Connor was so close to asking his father to assist him in ridding the colonies of Templar influence completely… But he did not want to push him. Haytham had legitimate reasons to be wary of both sides of the war./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Do you trust the leader of your order, Connor? Or do you serve the Assassin cause for revenge and to protect others from the Templars?" Haytham asked quietly. He would never join the British Assassins… But with his son…/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I am the leader of my order… More or less. My mentor is an old man, who cannot move about his house without a cane. I have recruited a half-dozen Assassins to the cause, trained them myself and I trust each of them with my life – and I have in the past." Connor responded without missing a beat, earnestly meaning what he said./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"A small smile appeared on Haytham's face as he made a (slightly) impulsive decision. "Well… With you leading them, I am certain that the Colonial Brotherhood is on a good course. The way your crew responds to you speaks to how well you lead. I have the blades, perhaps it is time that I join the Brotherhood myself. After all, your grandfather was an Assassin as well – these are his. I have tweaked them a little over the years, but they initially belonged to him. What is the name your mother gave you, if you do not mind me knowing… Mentor?"/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Connor's face warmed into a broad, happy smile that lasted for several seconds. He hesitated for a bit before giving into the impulse to pull his father into a tight embrace, marveling in the fact that he was able to actually meet his father, forgetting himself. "Ratonhnhake:ton. Ratonhnhake:ton is what Ista named me, Rake:ni."/p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;"Haytham returned the embrace with equal zeal, only a little surprised that his son was a couple of inches taller than he was… And that the other had hugged him. But he hugged the other back as tightly as a happiness that he had not experienced since the last time he had met Ziio filled him. Several long seconds of frantically trying to string the syllables together in his head later culminated in "… Ratonhnhake:ton? Did I say your name correctly? It sounds like a strong name." Kaneihti:io had meant beautiful snow – a name that fit well the lovely woman who had been named after./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""Yes you did… And I would be honored if you joined my Brotherhood, Captain Haytham Kenway." Connor breathed, still smiling as he continued to hold onto his father./p
p style="background-color: transparent; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: lucida grandelucida sans unicodegnu unifont font-size: 15.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.59px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 19.28px 0px 19.28px 0px; border: 0px none #2a2a2a;""I am honored that you would let me join. I will do my best to help our cause to the best of my abilities." Haytham answered, the smile evident in his voice./p