Chapter 12

The ambush at Languedoc

The trip to France was long and quiet. Though it took quite a bit of convincing and… A firm scolding from my mentor, he reluctantly agreed to giving me permission to build up my strike force before going with Jake and Oberon to Africa to stop Bruno from completing this new super weapon… Provided that I try to avoid direct contact with him and Damien… And making sure that I arm my cousin of course.

Damien, I understood, I mean… He's a pure-blooded Assassin Hunter… But staying away from Bruno Eberhart… I was honestly curious as to why he would want me to stay away from him. I mean… This guy appeared to be in his what… Early to mid-40s? Late 40s or something? He's just a withering old man.

…Well, regardless, I didn't really have any choice but to abide by his orders if it meant getting his blessing to go to France and see if I could find a recruit to bring into the brotherhood. As luck would have it, I had heard that small groups of French Infiltrators, who are affiliated with the brotherhood, had been going deep inside of the occupied zone on more than a couple of occasions.

One of these infiltrators are said to have a young French girl within their ranks, who goes by the name of 'Little Red'… Why she would choose to go by that name… I haven't gotten the foggiest idea.

Oops, sorry, I started babbling again.

Anyway, Eli and I… Along with a squad of my commandos, arrived in the Free Territory of France; the plane landed at one of the Assassin airfields located in Auvergne, where I met a few members of the French brotherhood.

"Ah, Ariela, we… Were not expecting you," said an approaching Assassin Captain.

"Isn't that one of the perks to being an Assassin?" I asked, "catching the enemy when they least expect it?"

The captain chuckled and gave me a playful push.

"Smart ass," he said.

The captain looked down at my cousin.

"And who is this?" he asked.

"This is my cousin, Eli," I said, "he's my recruit."

"Ah," said the captain, "an Assassin in training…"

Eli looked down, blushing. I chuckled and gave him a pat on the head, letting him to loosen up a bit. The captain and I started walking, Eli followed, and my commandos did as well.

"Tell me, what brings you here to France?" he asked curiously.

"Well, I just got promoted and I'm just here to build up my Assassin fireteam," I said, "so I thought I'd come here and see if I could find a new recruit to take under my wing… A particular recruit who seems to have developed quite a reputation for herself. I'm looking for a young woman by the name of 'Little Red'."

"'Little Red'… I know that name," said the captain, "she's a rather notorious infiltrator."

"Notorious? Why?" I asked.

"Believe it or not, she caught the eyes of the resistance because she was once a lone warrior," said the captain.

"A lone warrior?" I asked.

The captain nodded.

"When the Germans first invaded France and the resistance was forged after the country was divided, the young woman was said to have led lone strikes against the invaders," he said, "most of her attacks were minor, which usually consisted of hit-and-run attacks on a number of local establishments that had been converted for Germans only. It wasn't long before she stepped up her attacks and started striking military conveys, sometimes vehicles that had carried high ranking military heads, officers and such."

"Mm, a woman after my own heart," I said with amusement.

We entered the command center; Eli and I followed the captain into his office, while my commandos waited outside in the main area.

"It was because of these feats that she was recruited into the resistance," the captain said as he sat down, "though she's not too fond of having to work alongside other people, she's gradually adjusting to her new… Environment."

"Do you know exactly where I might find her?" I asked as I sat down as well.

"You'll find her stationed in-"

Suddenly, the office door opened, causing me, Eli and the captain to all turn around and see an Assassin, help pull in a wounded resistance fighter.

"Oh my god," I murmured with shock.

I went over to help the man.

"What happened?" asked the captain.

"Forgive me Capitaine (Captain) Brian," said the assassin, "but this man told me to bring him here, he said he had some… Disheartening news."

"Disheartening?" asked the captain.

"We… We were ambushed… A squad of heavily armed soldiers came out of nowhere when we were deployed on a sabotage mission," the man said, panting heavily, "they were unlike any soldiers we've ever encountered before. We… We tried to run but a lot of us either got gunned down or were taken just before we could… Could get… Rrg…!"

The Assassin and I tried to keep the man on his feet as he started to fall.

"Did you at least get a good look at the soldiers before you were forced to flee?" I asked, "what they looked like?"

"I… I don't know… They… They just wore military uniforms that looked nothing that you would see a typical German wear," he said, "and they had some kind of cross patch on their left arm."

Captain Brian and I looked at each other. Templars.

"Where did you say you were headed again?" I asked.

"We were on our way to Marseille, but we got ambushed at Languedoc," said the man.

"Then that's where we're going," I said.

The Assassin took the man and led him out of the office, so he could get medical treatment.

"Languedoc?" asked Eli.

"It's the former province of France, located just south of here," said Captain Brian, "if you're going there, you're more than happy to use what vehicles we have available. If I may be so bold, I would expect heavy resistance. If what the man says is true, then the Templars must have that area under heavy lock and key."

I gave the captain a nod.

"We'll be careful," I said.

I gave Eli a nudge and motioned him to follow. He did. When we entered the main area, I motioned for my commandos to follow as well.

"Do you remember what I taught you?" I asked.

"Huh?" asked Eli.

"Do you remember what I taught you?" I repeated.

Eli nodded.

"Good," I said.

I led everyone to the garage, from there we were provided with two to three trucks for me, Eli, and my commandos. Once we were loaded up, we headed towards our destination.

"Alright boys, there's been a change of plans," I said, "looks like some resistance fighters got ambushed by Templars and only one of them managed to escape. He says that some of his friends got captured during the ambushed, so our job is to investigate the ambush sight. Stay on guard, where we're going, I heard we should expect heavy resistance. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" the commandos barked in unison.

The ride continued as we drew closer to our destination, no words were exchanged among my soldiers. I wasn't sure how long we had been riding, mainly because I had nodded off and was awoken to the sudden nudging of one of my commandos, who had told me that we were almost to Languedoc. I gave him an affirmative nod and thanked him for updating me. I looked over at Eli and checked to see how he was doing, I smiled when I saw him resting on me, napping.

"Silly boy," I whispered as I pat his head.

Suddenly, there was an explosion, followed by the sound of gunfire and shouting. Eli snapped awake.

"A-A-Ari? What's going on?" he stammered.

"We've got enemies coming out from all sides!" one of my commandos yelled.

"Ambush!" I barked.

I jumped out of my seat.

"Out! Out! Everyone out!" I ordered.

The commandos stormed out of the truck we were in and took to the streets, where we were met with a small company of soldiers… No… Templars.

"Defensive formation!" I ordered as I jumped out of the truck.

I heard the trucks start moving, and rearranging themselves, trying to set up a makeshift blockade for all of us as the Templars pushed the assault. I saw one of the Templars start firing on the closest truck. I gritted my teeth and whipped out my Colts, squeezing off a few shots and killing him dead. As I turned around, I jumped back as a Templar captain came flying out of nowhere and swung on me with his sword. A bell went off in my head as I got a good look at the Templars uniforms. They were a lighter gray color instead of the typical darker gray or black.

"These aren't German… These are-"

"Cane assassino!" barked the captain.

"-Italians," I muttered, "great."

I quickly holstered my sidearms and drew my Karabela, blocking his next attack; I buckled down and started blocking a barrage of swings as the man started battering at my defenses, trying to break my guard. When we got in a blade lock, I saw a soldier turn his assault rifle at me.

"Yipe!" I thought.

I kicked the captain right between his legs and pulled him in front of his friend, who opened fire and shot him up. When I felt the captain go limp, I tossed his corpse onto the ground and whipped out my offhand Colt, squeezing off a few shots and dropping the bastard.

"Where's-"

But my thoughts were interrupted when I heard metal clashing with metal, followed by the sound of Eli letting out a pained yelp. I felt suddenly jolt go up my spine and a charged towards his location.

"Eli, I'm coming!" I called out.

I quickly rounded the corner of one of the trucks and saw Eli struggling with a Templar, who had him on his back foot. Eli kept blocking each of the Templar's swings, but when he went for a riposte, the Templar blocked and struck him with the back of his hand, laughing. I gritted my teeth.

"No one does that to my cousin…" I thought angrily.

I raised my left arm, wrapped my finger around the trigger and fired my hidden gun, shooting the man in the neck and causing him to drop to the ground as he started moving on Eli again. Eli turned and smiled at me, but it quickly faded.

"Ariela, look out!" he screamed.

I whirled around and was struck with the end of a Beretta Model 1918, which knocked me to the ground.

"Ouuuuuch," I groaned as I rubbed my cheek.

I looked up and saw the Templar take aim at me; but before he could pull the trigger, I heard four shots fired from behind me and the Templar dropped to the ground, dead. I looked over my shoulder and saw Eli with his Colt in his hand. I smiled at him.

"Way to go, kiddo," I thought happily.

"Lieutenant! I their numbers are dwindling!" one of my commandos called out.

"Don't let up! Push them back!" I barked as I rose to my feet.

"Assassino (Assassin)!" someone barked.

I turned and saw at least a dozen more Italian Templars moving in on my position.

"Eli!" I called out.

Eli raced over to me and holstered his Colt, drawing his rapier and getting ready.

"Stick close… Remember what I taught you," I said as I gripped my Karabela in hand.

Eli nodded, and the Templars came upon us, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled as instinct took over.

Game on.

The first Templar swung at me with his saber, but I parried, spun and struck him in the nose with my elbow, knocking him back. The second Templar came at me and swung at my neck, but I jumped back and started blocking each of his hits, before kicking his saber out of the way and driving my blade into his stomach. I looked over at Eli as I tossed the fallen Templar to the ground. I couldn't help but stare in awe as he was able to hold his own against his opponent, he kept his wrist loose and his elbow locked close as he blocked and parried each of the Templar's hits. When the Templar went for a thrust, Eli deflected and went for a riposte, slicing the Templar's left leg and stabbing his right shoulder before kicking him in the face and knocking him to the ground. Then he marched over and stabbed him in the heart.

"Niech mnie diabli (I'll be damned)," I thought.

Suddenly, I ducked and rolled out of the way as two Templars swung on me. As I jumped to my feet, a bell went off in my head and I felt my left elbow jerk back and strike a Templar in the face; without losing momentum, I grabbed him and threw him into one of his friends, knocking them both to the ground.

"Ari! Tag out!" Eli called out.

I whirled around and saw Eli had his hand out. I took it and he pulled me out of the way, bringing his rapier forward and skewering the Templar in the neck. Eli pulled out his blade and kicked the Templar down just as his downed buddies jumped to their feet and came at us.

Eli and I looked at each other and gave a nod just as the Templars swung on us. I parried my opponent's attack and grabbed him by his collar before throwing him off to the side, in a flash, I whirled around and kicked Eli's opponent in the side of his leg, causing him to stumble. As Eli jumped and thrusted his rapier forward, I whirled back around and started trading swings with my opponent again until we got in a blade lock. I gritted my teeth, and, in a flash, I whipped out my right hidden blade.

"Back. Off!" I barked.

I sliced the Templar's side, causing him to break the lock as he stumbled back. As I prepared to deliver the killing blow, I felt someone strike me in the back of my leg, causing me to go down. I turned and was struck in the face by Eli's opponent, causing me to fall on my back. Before he could move in for the kill, I swung my hidden blade at his ankle, but he jumped back.

"Dovrai fare (You'll have to do)-"

But the bastard was cut off as Eli stabbed and shot him in the back of the head. I smiled and turned to see my opponent was almost finished recovering from the wound I delivered. I jumped to my feet and came on him, lashing out with a flurry of swings. Since he was wounded, his guard was weakened, which meant all it took was a few strong strikes before I managed to disarm him and slice his throat, then I aimed my other hidden gun and fired, shooting him in the head and killing him dead.

"Osiem (Eight)," I said, letting him know how many were left.

Sure enough, all eight Templars started to circle us.

"Powrót do tyłu (Back to back)," I said.

Eli stood back to back against each other. I felt my heart start racing. This was Eli's first time in actual combat… Which meant I had to do everything in my power to make sure he came home alive. One of the Templars made a quick jerk of his head and they all came at us at once.

"Zatańczmy (Let's dance)," I said.

The first Templar started swinging on me when he was in range, I buckled down and blocked the first three strikes, before striking him in the face with my pommel and stabbing him in the neck with my left hidden blade. The next Templar swung at me, but I brought my blade across his stomach and moved right behind him, slicing him across his back and kicking him to the ground with liquid precision.

I glanced over at Eli to see how he was doing. To my shock… He was actually holding his own pretty well against two Templars, his moves were smooth, he timed his blocks and parries; and best of all, when the two came at Eli at the same time, Eli blocked the first Templar's attack and threw his elbow back, striking the second Templar in the nose, when Eli pushed the first Templar back, he whirled around and cut the second Templar's face before thrusting his rapier into his stomach, chest and neck, and finally he slid out of the way as the first Templar pounced at him from behind before driving his weapon into the side of his neck and kicking him to the ground.

The last four Templar's came at us. Eli and I got ready and engaged them. When the first two Templar swung their swords at us, Eli ducked and spun past each other, switching to each other's opponents. I cut the arm of my new opponent and socked him right in the jaw, before I could deliver the killing blow, I rolled out of the way as the third Templar fired on me. I jumped to my feet and reached into my coat, whipping out two knives and hurling them at the man, striking him in the chest and dropping him. When I turned around, the wounded Templar struck me in the face with his pommel. I wiped my face and looked at my hand… There was blood.

"That's going to cost you," I said.

When the Templar swung on me with his good arm, I deflected his hit and slammed by blade into the side of his head, before forcefully yanking it out and kicking him to the ground. I looked over at Eli, who was engaging his Templar opponent; but when I looked over at the other Templar, I saw he was trying to get a shot on him.

"Oh, hell no," I said.

I whipped out one knife and threw it, knocking the assault rifle out of the Templar's hands, I threw a second knife and got him in the knee. The Templar yelped and fell over, screaming. Heh, guess I shattered it.

"Ma'am, the enemy has fallen back," said an approaching commando.

"Very good… very good," I said.

I looked over at Eli and saw he had killed his Templar. He looked exhausted.

"Și asta e ... Ce ai (And that's... What you get)…" he said breathlessly.

What? Did you not know I understood Romanian? Ha! Yeah, I understand Romanian, just like Eli understands German and Polish. I giggled and sheathed my Karabela as I walked over and gave Eli a hug after he sheathed his rapier.

"You were… Amazing," I said.

"Uh… I uh… I-I-I h-had a good teacher," he said as he slowly hugged me back.

"Ma'am, we've got a live one," said a commando.

I whirled around and broke away from Eli.

"Nein (No)!" I barked, "don't kill him!"

I walked over to the wounded Templar and knelt down beside him.

"Which one of you speaks Italian?" I asked, "I need a translator."

One of the commandos walked over to me.

"What's your name kid?" I asked.

"Wayne ma'am," he said, "Wayne Briar, I studied in Italy before the war broke out."

"And you're familiar with the Italian tongue?" asked Ariela.

Wayne nodded.

"Good," I said, "tell me everything he says."

I looked at the Templar.

"I'm looking for a girl. A red-head that came with a group of French infiltrators… Where are they?" I asked.

"Sto cercando una ragazza. Una testa rossa che è arrivata con un gruppo di infiltrati francesi ... Dove sono?" asked Wayne.

The Templar scoffed.

"Eh, sono legato da un giuramento polacco / fica tedesca. Non ti sto dicendo un cazzo di merda," he said.

I punched him in the nose.

"Ma'am?" asked Wayne.

"I didn't need a translator for that one, tell him we can either do this the hard way or I put my knife in his other knee and leave him out here for the dogs," I said.

"Uh ... o dimmi cosa voglio sapere o ti pugnalerò nell'altro ginocchio e ti lascerò qui per i cani," Wayne said slowly.

"Bene ... Bene ... Grenoble ... Si tengono a Grenoble," said the Templar.

"He said they're being held in Grenoble," said Wayne.

"Grenoble in Province? That's all the way up Northeast," said a commando, "why the hell would they take them so far up?"

"Guess we'll have to find out," I said as I rose to my feet, "we have a location on where the resistance fighters are being held. Now all we have to do is mount a rescue mission."

"…What do we do with him?" asked Wayne.

I looked at the Templar, who looked like he was starting to become rather pale. He was losing too much blood. I pulled out my Colt and shot him in the head.

"Give the trucks a quick inspection, see if they're still drivable," I ordered, "if they are we'll start heading to Grenoble, if not… We're going to have to find some new wheels."

"Yes ma'am!" the commandos barked before they started inspecting the trucks.

I turned my head over at Eli, who slowly walked over to me. He looked troubled.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"…You killed him," he said slowly, "while he was wounded… Why?"

"It was a much more fitting death than bleeding out," I said.

"You could've kept him alive, make sure that what he told you wasn't a lie," said Eli.

"And what if it wasn't? Then we would've kept him alive for no reason," I said, "…this is war Eli. You think the Templars, or those fascist fuckers would've done the same if it were us?"

Eli looked down. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I hated having to give him such a bullshit response. The truth was, that while I'm not my old self… There was a part of me that still held a burning resentment towards the Templars and their Axis allies.

Still… If I had listened to Eli… If he could've come to me before I killed the man… What happened next… Would've never happened.