Chapter 11: Escape

Asha looked up at the rope that bound her hands and was nearly free. She took a breath then tried harder until she fell. She was free, but not quite. She took her gag off then looked around the corner and saw the men that raped her laughing around the fire. She wanted to kill them right then and there, but there were too many of them for her to defeat and with her being hurt she had less of a chance. She quietly crawled to the edge of the old Spanish mission into the swamp water. The wound in her leg immediately began to burn and it took everything in her not to groan at the pain. Asha looked over and saw her bag by one of the men sleeping. She could either go for the bag and risk getting caught or head out and try to make her escape. Both plans had their pros and cons.

Asha looked out towards the woods surrounding the swamp then back to her bag "Fuck it," she whispered. Slowly moving in the murky water, wading through weeds, she reached for her bag and backed out. The water was cold, her wound was burning, and she was sure she just saw an alligator. She looked out behind her where she was sure her old companions were, but nothing yet. If they were there, what were they waiting for? She continued to wade through the water, barely being able to put pressure on her leg. Walking out of the swamp, she looked back at where she was and the men were still laughing, then quietly walked away.

/

"My lord, the ball isn't for another week, it was my mistake," said one of the men. Cornwallis shook his head "I don't care when the damned ball is." He sighed "Thank you for letting me know, Private." He looked to Tavington "There was no sign of Asha anywhere?"

"No, My Lord. The supply shipment had been hit. All men were dead and she was...she wasn't there."

"Which means that the rebels have her and doing only god knows what to her." He looked out his window at the darkness that loomed over the hills then the woods. His niece was out there somewhere and she was wounded and he didn't know how bad. How could this happen? And why? Why would she go off on such a mission when she knew it would be targeted? And what the hell was she hiding? Too many questions he had. His dogs were now missing as well and his journals. His journals. Bloody hell, I wrote that Asha was my niece in those things. If they read it, they'll hold her for ransom.

"My lord, I can take another patrol and look for her again."

"No, Colonel. You couldn't find her in the day time. At night, it's next to impossible. Even with Wilkins knowing his way around, you won't find her."

Tavington cleared his throat "My lord, it really is no trouble."

Cornwallis clicked his tongue then turned around "Why exactly are you so concerned at getting her back, Colonel?"

"She's your niece, My lord and she's brought a new...aura around here I suppose."

Approaching Tavington slowly, Cornwallis' face became stern looking "I appreciate you wanting to find my niece, Colonel, I really do, but If I ever find out, even for a moment that there is another motive for you wanting to bring her back, I'll have you flogged."

"My lord?"

"Do not think that I don't know how you are with women, Colonel. I know how you treat them. You sleep with them and toss them out like they were yesterdays news after making them fall in love with you. If you try that on my niece...I promise, you'll live to regret it."

"I assure you, My Lord, that is not my intent." Tavington swallowed "I only wish to see her back here."

"For your sake, I hope you are speaking the truth. You're dismissed."

Tavington clicked his heels together "My Lord." He turned around and left the room without another word. Walking down the hallway, he was joined by Bordon and Ban. "What's the word, sir?" asked Bordon.

"Lord Cornwallis said not to send another patrol. That we wouldn't find her." He turned to Bordon "I am however neglecting that command. Get the horses ready and a patrol. We're going out to try and find her again."

"Aye, sir."

"Hang on, Asha," Tavington whispered to himself.

/

Asha stumbled through the woods, dragging her wounded leg. She tried to run away a few times, but it was useless to run. She couldn't and everytime she tried, the more she felt like she was going to fall. Her wound had reopened back up a little and began to bleed. The best she could do was take her belt and use it on her leg. As fog began to fill more of the forest, with it being dark, it made everything worse. She couldn't see the moon nor stars, so navigating was a problem. It would be a two day ride back home and that was with a horse, without one, well, she knew she had more of a chance of catching death.

Wiping the sweat off her face, she slowly turned around as she heard a noise. Her breath shook "Shit," she whispered then started to try and run again. Hearing a noise to her left, she ducked down as a sword came swinging out from behind a tree. She got to her feet then dodged another swing coming at her. Managing to grab the assailant's arm, she swung them behind her, grabbing the dagger out of their belt and ramming it in their chest then pushing em into a tree. She quickly pulled whatever weapons the person had on them and made her way again.

Asha could hear running through the woods behind her. She didn't look behind her as she ran, but stopped as she felt a searing pain enter her back "Aaah!" Falling to the ground, she looked at her back and saw two arrows sticking out "Fuck me," she growled. She stood up again and broke off the arrows using a tree.

A man came rushing at her and swung his sword. She raised her sword she took off the other dead man and blocked his hit, then swung at him, but missed and fell to the ground. She looked up and saw another man step out from behind the tree. With no energy to get up, Asha sat on her knee, grasping the sword. "We...were family...once."

"Aye, and you left us. Abandoned us," said one of them holding his sword at her.

"No," Asha shook her head "I did what I had to do to protect my Uncle." She looked up at them "He's my family too. Remove...your masks so I can at least see who you are."

The men looked at each other then back to Asha and removed their masks. She looked up at them and recognized them both. Young men in their 20's. "Robert and Greg right?"

"Surprised you remembered us," said Robert.

"I never forgot you and never could. Listen, you don't have to do this. We don't kill our own, that was one of our rules."

"You broke that rule that night you left," said Greg. "And let's not forget the man you just killed back there. That was Roy by the way."

Asha shook her head "Sean is wrong in this. You know he is. I know he's your leader now, but please, he is no leader. He's a madman and you two know it. Help me, get back home. I can guarantee your safety from Krieger and my Uncle. He will be greatful if you help-" Asha coughed "If you helped his niece get back to him."

Robert shook his head "I'm sorry, Asha. This needs to be done." He raised his pistol at her.

She looked at Greg "Do you really want to die for him? To die for Sean?"

"If we die, it'll be for the cause."

"The cause?" Asha laughed "Do you even know what fucking cause you fight for?" She spit out blood then looked up at the men "Well, I guess if you're going to kill me, you might as well get it over with."

"Asha Ravenwood, in the honor of the Assassin brotherhood, I now sentence you to die," Robert swallowed as he started to squeeze the trigger. Asha removed a knife from the back of her breeches then threw it at Robert's hand, making him swing his arm towards Greg, pulling the trigger and shooting Greg in the chest. Asha rushed Robert and crashed him into a tree, ignoring her own pain in her leg, as she grabbed his dagger and ran it through his stomach. He looked at her wide eyed and in pain as she rammed the dagger again into him. She gasped, not only in pain, but in sorrow. He looked at her with blood seeping from his mouth "I'm sorry."

Asha's lip quivered as tears filled her eyes "So am I. I'm sorry that we just couldn't have normal lives."

Robert coughed as he pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to Asha. "What's this?" questioned Asha.

"I was going to die...regardless. I am glad to have it done by you, Asha. The letter..." Robert gasped for breath "Fire."

"What?" Asha watched Robert's eyes roll back into his head. He was gone. She ran her hand down his face and closed his eyes "I'm sorry." She sniffed and stuffed the letter into her pocket, grabbed the weapons she could carry and left. It wouldn't be long before the rebels figured out that she had escaped then would find her old associates dead bodies.

/

"Krieger, do you think we could head back home now?" asked Alex.

"At first light, little man. I already have all of our things packed up and ready. You'll be with your mother soon enough." Krieger smiled.

"I can't wait!" Alex jumped up "I've missed her so much." He walked over to Krieger who was writing "Can't you?"

"I've missed your mother, there is no doubt about that and I have no doubt that she has missed you."

Alex looked at Krieger "Why do you think she wanted me gone?"

"Oh, Alex, it wasn't like that. She wanted you to have a life. To enjoy it away from all the war shit and...our adult...problems."

Alex nodded "I understand. I'm going to try and get some sleep."

"That's a good idea. Hey, Alex, before you go, do you want to tell me something? Something that is maybe bugging you?"

"Nothing is bugging me, why do you ask?"

"Because you've had nightmares the past week. Where you would scream out loud and thrash in your bed."

Alex shook his head "It's nothing. Just nightmares. Good night, Krieger."

Krieger nodded, knowing he wasn't going to get the truth out of Alex "Good night, lad."

/

Asha had traveled for three days, which was easier by the day time, but night time she had to stop to sleep. She could feel herself getting more and more weak. The small food rations were barely enough to keep her going and she had plenty of water, but her wound was getting worse and the remaining arrow pieces sticking out of her back were getting worse. She could feel herself getting a fever, which also felt like it was getting worse. She reached open land and looked up on the hill, seeing Fort Carolina. She limped a few more steps then fell to the ground. Asha looked up and could see the watch tower, but had no way of signaling them that she was there and shouting was out of the question.

"Asha," a voice called out.

Asha looked through blurred vision "Mother?"

"You must get up, Asha. Get up."

"I Can't," Asha whispered.

"You can, Asha. Your destiny is not yet at an end. Now get up. Get up!"

Asha groaned as she opened her eyes more, but saw nothing. She placed her palms flat on the ground and pushed herself up with whatever strength she could muster and groaned at the pain. She focused her eyes then started to walk forward again to the Fort. She heard horsebeats behind her.

"Stop and turn," said a familiar voice.

Asha slowly turned around and saw the dragoons who soon became wide eyed once they knew who it was.

"Asha?" questioned Wilkins.

She looked up and saw Tavington first "Colonel?" she said weakly then fell to the ground again.

Tavington quickly jumped off his horse and ran to her "Bloody hell. Bordon!" Bordon rode up to him "Here, take her. Gently, watch the arrows." He climbed on his horse "Let's go!"

They rode up to Fort Carolina as fast as possible. Tavington jumped off his horse then ran to Bordon who lowered her down to him. Making his way with Asha in his arms gently but swiftly up the stairs "Doctor! I need a doctor here! Now!"

Doctor Teal ran from around the corner with a few others. He reached them and looked at Asha "My god, what happened?"

"Doc, she's burning up real bad. Watch the arrows sticking out of her back."

"Bring her to the infirmary," he said quickly leading the way. "Lay her down on the cot. Gently, Colonel. I need all of you out, now."

Before Tavington could object or ask anything, he was pushed out the door. He looked down the hallway and saw Cornwallis running towards him. "Where is she?"

"My Lord, she's...they're working on her."

"Well, how bad is she?"

Their attention was drawn towards the opposite. "How bad is who?" asked Alex smiling. He looked around then back to Cornwallis "Where's my Mother?"

Cornwallis sighed as he looked at the doors that his niece was behind.