Chapter 11
28th of June 1775
-George Washington? – I asked, leaning back in my chair with my arms crossed – The new commander in chief?
-Yes. It is better if our man, Lee, is in command. – Haytham said.
-I understand. And how do you plan on…
Before I could finish, we were interrupted by the other Templars: Hickey, Lee and Church. They greeted us and joined us at the table, asking for some drinks to Catherine, the owner of the establishment. The only one I had not met of the group was Thomas Hickey. There was never an opportunity although I had heard of him and him of me.
-Eve, this is Thomas. Thomas, this is Evelyn Carter, the girl I have been training. – Haytham introduced.
-Hoy… - Hickey said, nodding – You never mentioned she was…
Haytham gave him a threatening look and Hickey smirked.
-…So young… - He said.
-It is nice to meet you. – I said.
-You as well.
-So, men. We have gathered here to share some news. – Haytham explained – Eve has been on a mission for quite some time now, a mission unknown to you. I will explain: as you know, there has been an Assassin hunting us for the last few months. I gave Eve a mission which was infiltrate in his life and get to know him so we could predict his next move.
-How so? – Lee asked.
-She has been living close to him and faked a friendship. – Haytham explained.
I felt a sort of squeeze in my heart at those words and thought about Connor. Did he deserve that?
Hickey laughed.
-Oh… That is very sly… - He said – Not everyone can pull that off.
-I like him. – I said to Haytham, pointing at Hickey.
-So, you know him? The Assassin? – Church asked.
-Yes, I do. – I answered.
-The point is… - Haytham said, angry – His next move will be going to New York, thanks to a letter in Pitcairn's clothes, and this is where we will try to strike.
-What do you mean? – Hickey asked.
-It is where we will kill him, smartness. – Lee snapped.
I felt a huge surprise, but managed to control it, merely giving a look to Haytham.
-Kill him? – I asked.
-He is an Assassin and he has been getting in the way of our business. He must die. – Haytham said.
-There are other ways of… Pushing him away. – I said.
-It is better this way, Miss Carter. – Lee said – The boy dies.
-His death is not necessary. Perhaps we could…. – I tried.
-Eve… - Haytham murmured.
I looked around and realized what I was doing and the looks I was being given. To be honest, I did not even know why I was defending Connor. I suppose part of me thought about all those people he defended back in the Homestead and how honest he was. And yet the other part of me… The other part of me just thought I would miss him.
-I say she has feelings for the lad. – Hickey said.
-I beg your pardon? – I snapped.
-Well I am just hoping you didn't fall in love with the savage. – Hickey laughed.
-Hey, at least I would have something more than my right hand! – I shouted.
-Eve! – Haytham snapped.
A few seconds of silence followed.
-I like her. – Hickey said, pointing at me.
-Eve is a good soldier. – Haytham said – She has more agility and mind for this than me when I had her training. I am certain she has not gain feelings for the Assassin.
-I haven't.
-Good. I would like to speak with you privately. – Haytham said to me.
-Of course.
All the men got up and bowed, beginning to leave the room. Only Hickey stayed behind to have the pleasure of whispering "and I use my left hand" before leaving. Haytham gave him a mad look and I laughed to myself. After we were alone, Haytham sat back in front of me.
-I am going to ask you this one time and you must be very honest. – Haytham said.
-Of course.
-Do you or do you not have feelings for that Assassin?
I rolled my eyes. Why was everyone asking me that?!
-Of course not! – I said, certain of myself.
-Are you sure?
-I'm sure!
-Because you do not have the time or condition to fall in love with an Indian of any kind, Evelyn.
-And yet…
The look Haytham gave me made me look down, embarrassed of myself. He understood what I was saying. He understood I was speaking of the woman he called «Ziio», Connor's supposed mother. In that moment I wished I could have unsaid that. I might as well had just said «And who are you to give me lessons on that?».
He looked at me in that angry, disappointed way for a couple of seconds and then got up without saying a word. I called "Master Kenway" and got up as well, yet he refused to speak to me.
…
Luckily for me, Haytham decided to pretend he had not heard anything for the next two days. He treated me as if it had never happened and I was grateful. I spend the week there, training with him or alone. It had been some time since a physical lesson so he decided to test me. He was happy to see I had not forgotten anything, as was I. I wrote to Maria and she wrote to me throughout the week. She made no mention of Connor, but, to my surprise, she referred to William.
"By the way, is that man you introduced to me by the ship your friend? William was his name, if I recall. It is my mother who asks the questions, not me. She is just interested in knowing if he will be on the Homestead again.", she wrote.
I laughed to myself at how subtle she was. She had obviously taken interest in him, and he had asked about her as well. But the girl was fifteen and William was thirty-six. It was probably not a good idea.
The week went by fast. Haytham left after those two days with the others and I remained by myself. He invited me to go with him, yet I refused. He made mention of where he would settle so I could write a letter if I had any relevant news. I tried to speak with Elizabeth, my friend, but her family was «out of town». Even if they were not, she would likely not speak to me. I guessed she was still angry. William and the Crew stayed there the whole week, so I always had them.
…
7th of July 1775
-Here we are… - William said.
We had just arrived to the Homestead and we were coming out of the ship. William was helping me carry my bag and came out with me. As we stepped the grass, I looked around searching for a familiar face. Yet no one had seen us coming and if they had, they had not recognized the ship, which I guessed was normal.
-So you are staying? – Will asked.
-I must.
-You are not forced to do any of this. We are always here if you wish to return to the sea.
William had never gotten along with Haytham, they had very different temperaments. Oh, who am I fooling? They hated each other! Haytham accepted my life as a pirate, yet never approved that I sailed with Will. I was convinced he did not like Will because he reminded him of his father: I had heard him speak of the great Edward Kenway and he had even said that Will was an exact copy in terms of looks. William… Well he was always very protective of me. In my opinion, the reason he felt that way about Haytham was because he spent too much time with me, doing things that had nothing to do with the sea. He did not like the fact that Haytham was training me.
-William, I shall return soon. I promise. – I said.
-Jake discovered a letter in a ship we looted. – Will said – We think they were searching for a treasure on some islands to the south.
-Seriously? – I gasped.
-We sail next month.
My interested smile faded and I stared deep into Will's eyes. He could not be serious…
-Next month? – I asked.
-Yes.
A few more seconds of silence followed as I looked around, thinking of Maria and Ellen… and Connor…
-Please come, Carter. – Will said – You must come with us.
-It is far from here, is it not? Think of how long the journey will take.
-A few months for sure.
I sighted. I wished to go so strongly, and yet… Leaving Maria for likely almost a year did not seem good. Not to speak I was in a mission.
-You must come. – Will insisted.
-I want to, Will. It's just…
Before I could excuse myself, Maria came running down the village holding her dress and hugged me from behind. She should have said something as a warning, because my instinct to the surprise was holding her wrist and throw her to the ground, making her fly above my shoulder. She landed on her back with a groan and I gasped to the sight of her face.
-Maria! – I shouted – I am so sorry!
-I'm fine… - She groaned.
William and I helped her up and she straightened her back, shaking the dirt of her dress.
-This is what you get for being with Mr. Fancy… - William murmured.
I gave him a mad gaze. He knew he was not supposed to speak of Haytham there! And that was when Maria realized who William was and her cheeks turned redder and redder each second as she gave me confused and concerned looks.
-Ah, I remember you, lass. – William said, as charming as usual – How do you do?
Maria was so excited and surprised that she was not able to speak at all. Will picked her hand and kissed it and the only thing she was able to do was give me a happy yet worried look and giggle.
-Are you alright? – I asked her.
-It… it was nothing. – She said, disguising any eventual pain in her back.
-I am so sorry…
-Well, I suppose it is time for us to go, ladies. – William said, handing me the bag.
-William… - I murmured.
-We will be here in a month. – He said – Think about it.
He stood there in that way of not knowing how to say goodbye. He was likely wondering if there was something I did not wish Maria would see, but I hugged him anyway. We hugged for some seconds and we did that thing where he squeezes my cheeks and I slap his hands. I laughed and waved the crew goodbye. They yelled "Goodbye's" and "See you's" and William bowed at Maria, then heading for the ship. I was always sad to see him go…
…
After greeting Ellen and having Maria aid me with my things, I asked her where Connor was. She mentioned he was "helping Prudence with something". I explained Maria I intended to take a trip with him and she understood (not without the usual comments first however). She stayed helping her mother with a dress and I ran to Prudence's farm.
As I got there, I had to search for him, since he was not by the house, nor by the corn field. After a few minutes of search, I finally spotted him by the animals, running around. I could not believe my eyes. The mighty «master Connor» was desperately attempting to gather the pigs by the fence, murmuring some sad comments as he was not able to. The only thing I was able to do was laugh out loud at the sight of such unusual scenario.
-Can I believe what my eyes see? – I laughed out loud.
-Evelyn?
In that moment Connor had finally caught a pig with his hands, but as he distracted himself looking at me (who kept laughing and laughing), the pig slipped through his fingers and ran around in a victory dance. Connor straightened his back and put a hand on the back of his head.
-They are faster than they look. – He explained.
-So it seems. – I laughed – You… You want some help with that?
-No, I will manage.
Of course. Men never ask for help, nor they accept it.
And so he ran around, sweating his heart out until he finally caught the three remaining pigs and closed the fence behind him.
-The things I do for this place!
Prudence thanked him for his kind work and then he headed for me, cleaning the sweat of his forehead with his hands.
