I just got my computer back from the shop. Ended up getting a virus and it killed everything. I can thank my kids for that. I just spent the better part of last night fixing my music collection and putting iTunes back on my computer. Now that I have that done, I can finish this chapter. Onward!
Connor slid from the overused saddle onto the worn cobblestones just inside of New York. Thinking that if he rode all the way into town, he would be spotted in no time, he took to staying on the outskirts until he could locate the place that the letter had told him Lee had been spotted just a few days previous. He knew this may be a wild goose chase, being as slippery as Lee was; he knew he had to move quickly to find the man before he was able to leave the colonies for good.
As if that would stop the assassin. Connor had it in his head that if Lee left, he would as well. He had a ship that could carry him across the sea if need be, but he wanted to end this here and now. Too many people were counting on him to end the life of this man. If Lee was allowed to live, then the ideals of the Templars could spread. But that thought stopped him in his tracks. If Lee was to die, there would still be one more Templar in the colonies, his father.
He shoved that thought out of his head. Living with the man for a few months now had let him see Haytham in a different light. The man was stubborn to a fault, as was he and Altair, but he was also a caring person. When he wanted to be, that was. Could he put his father to the blade? He shook that thought away. He could not dwell on that at this time. He had a task in front of him.
"You look like you just lost your best friend, Connor."
He turned his head slightly to see Dobby leaned up against a wall, a small smirk on her small face. "Just thinking too much." He replied, and walked over to her.
"Then stop thinking." She pushed herself off the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. "I take it you got the message." He nodded his dark head. "Then walk with me."
He followed her towards the burnt out section of town. "Where is this tavern at, by the way? It is not one I know of."
She chuckled. "It's a small one. Not widely known, but the Templars used to use it somewhat before the fire. It's not one we would go to. The food is decent, but that is about it. I only know of it because of my time as a courier." They turned a corner, and headed down another small side street. "I was surprised to see you ride into town since the Aquila is docked in the harbor."
Connor's steps fumbled and he nearly fell on his face. "What was that?"
"The Aquila. It has been docked in the harbor since yesterday. I thought you were aboard." She stopped and looked at him. "You had no idea?"
He shook his head, but he had a feeling on who was behind his ship being there, and he was none too thrilled. "When I get my hands on those two, I…I…" Words failed him as his ire increased the more he thought about Haytham and Altair being in the city together. He had no clue what havoc would follow if the two of them were to start their squabbling.
Dobby knew on to whom he was referring to. "If they have been in the city since yesterday, I do not think they have caused any trouble as of yet. I would have heard about it, and so would have Jamie and Jacob. I would say head to your ship and see what they know and I will look around town for the two. They must be here to keep an eye on you. At least they know you can cause a lot of trouble by yourself."
"And they can cause more trouble with just the two of them. They have a tendency to fight with each other, a lot." Connor rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly. "I will head to Aquila. Meet me there if you have any news."
She nodded, smiled, and laid a gentle hand on his upper arm. "Go easy on them, Connor. They must have a good reason for doing what they have done."
He looked down at her, and felt something stir deep within him, but before it could fester, he pushed it back down from winch it came. Now was not the time for feeling. Now was the time to be to a close of everything he had been working towards for so many years. "I will try, but I make no promises."
She took off, swift as a fox, leaving him in the street. He let out a sigh. He just wanted to come and check out this lead, not have to yell at a bunch of people and track down two men that should have left well enough alone. Then that little voice inside of his head, and the strange thing was it sounded like Achilles, telling him that they were trying help, and to stop trying to be the one man army.
Ignoring the little annoying voice, he made his way past the soldiers that milled in the streets and the dock workers unloading freight and cargo from the vessels that just made it into harbor. The Aquila wasn't hard to spot. She sat at the dock, and Robert stood looking over the books.
"Mr. Faulkner." He growled menacingly.
Robert turned his head, and grinned sheepishly. "Captain, good to see you. Fancy meeting you here."
"I could say the same thing. What are you doing in New York, and I want no lies." His eyes narrowed and he watched the older man's Adam's apple bob in the front of his throat.
He chuckled nervously. "Well, I thought you might need a quick escape?" He formed it as a question, trying to cover the real reason he was there.
Connor was not buying it, because the only reason the man and the ship would be here was to ferry Altair and Haytham to here. "You are a terrible liar, Mr. Faulkner. Where are my father and Altair? I know you brought them here yesterday."
Robert's shoulders slumped and he looked at his captain, who was none too thrilled. "Oh Connor, have a heart. They were worried that you would get yourself in over your head and would not be able to get out of it. They came here to give you some back up."
"I need no backup and I want to know where the two of them are now, if you please." He was about to lose the small amount of composure he had left.
Sighing loudly, the first mate shook his head. "You are a tough nut, boy. They are in your cabin planning something."
"Thank you." As calmly as he could, he walked onto the ship and the men gave him a wide berth. They knew that he was pissed to no end, and they were right.
Once he approached, he heard the distinct sound out Altair's Arabic accent flow from the cabin. "He will not like this turn of events, Haytham. I know he will not."
"Too bad, because we are about to get into a lot of trouble." That was his father.
Planting a boot near the handle, the door flew open and both men were sitting on the window seat, a drink in hand. "You are right. I am not happy about you two commandeering my vessel, and having them bring you here when I believe I said I would not need your assistance."
Altair watched him with those strange amber orbs of his, calm as you please. "I believe I owe you some money, Haytham. His entrance was better than I thought it would be." He pulled a few coin from his pocket and laid them in the other man's outstretched hand.
"Why thank you. I know you are a man of your word." Haytham smiled and slipped the coin into his own pocket. He then addressed Connor. "Are you done with the tantrum, son, because we have some information that you will find most helpful if you are to go after Charles and his cousin."
Shutting the door the best he could, he took one of the chairs from the table. "You had better talk fast and it had better be good. I am done playing games and you two are about to get it."
Standing, Altair grabbed a map of New York and one of the Frontier. "Lee is held up in a tavern not far from here." He pointed in out on the map. "The problem is he is surrounded by McCain's men. Haytham got close enough to find out that they are going to be moving in the next few hours."
That had Connor's attention. "And where will he be moved to?" He looked at his father for that.
"That is something I could not hear. The best we can believe is they will be heading to the fort McCain has commandeered for his own personal use. That would be the best choice, but not always the smartest." Haytham leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. "If they are in the same place, it would combine their forces and make them nearly untouchable to you, I or Altair."
"I am not seeing how that would not be smart." Connor scowled and leaned back in the chair. His anger was cooling, but not fast enough. He still wanted to skin the two men in front of him alive, but refrained for now.
"He was getting to that, boy. Refrain from biting the hand that is feeding you information. If you keep it up, I will have your men keep you here, and we will take care of Lee and McCain." Altair's eyes were mere slits of darken amber. His hand rested on the hilt of the short sword running across his back.
Glaring back, he met the other man's eye, showing him that he was not afraid. "Proceed."
His father smiled and nodded. "As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted. If they were be at the fort together, you could kill two preverbal birds with one stone. If you had a way in, that is."
Connor was starting to see what they were getting at. "Who would be used as bait?"
"Myself. They want all of us, but I am the worst of the lot in their eyes. They believe I betrayed the Templars, and I have completely sided with you." Haytham leaned back and looked around the room. "What they do not know is I have not given you any secrets. All I have told you is how to find these two men."
Altair rolled up the map of New York, and placed it back into its holder. The one of the Frontier he spread out on the table. Both Haytham and Connor looked over at him. "You have three options at this time. You can either wait until they are together, try to kill Lee here in the city, or you can ambush him on the road to the fort. If you wait, we will have to use Haytham as bait, which I rather like the idea," That earned a scowl from Haytham, but all he did was smirk, "but several things could go wrong and it would be three against who knows. If you try for him here, there is a chance you will get killed, but if you try for him out on the road, it can look like an accident."
He had much to think about. "I would like to see where he is hiding. See for myself how many men are around him. Then I will make my choice."
"Fair enough." Haytham stood and walked towards the door. "Are you coming?"
Connor scrambled out of his chair and followed his father out of the cabin. Altair trailed behind at his own pace, but he knew the ancient assassin would be right behind them.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Looking out over the street, Altair pointed to the window right above the side door. "That is the room Lee has been staying in. He does not leave unless he has to and his meals are brought to him. There is not safe way to go in and out of the place. It is guarded around the clock."
He and Haytham spent the better part of their first day watching the changing of the guards, their positions, and the coming and going of people from the establishment. It was nearly the same men that came and went as if on a schedule, and so with a bit of persuasion in the form of a blade, he was able to get some information, but not one man had all the pieces to the puzzle. He found that out when Haytham did the same and found something different. Each person had a different order, but if put in the right order, it would become clear.
"So, there is no way into the place without being spotted?" Connor asked as his eyes watched the men below.
"I am afraid not." Haytham clasped his son on the shoulder, and earned a glare from the assassin.
Clearing his throat and motioning them to follow, Altair moved to the back edge of the building and used a tree to get to the ground. Connor followed him, but Haytham used the ladder nearby. He stepped to the edge of the alley, but stayed surrounded in shadow.
"You may try to enter, but I doubt you would make it to Lee before you were shot or stabbed. These men will not be persuaded to abandon their posts." Altair shook his head and turned his attention on Connor. "Now that you have seen what we know, you must make a choice. Do you want to make a stand here, or do you want to follow him?"
All eyes were on the younger man. He looked around from the shadows and shook his head. "We must follow. There are too many men here to make sure we stay safe. I must speak to my assassins here. Have them keep watch here."
"A wise choice." Haytham nodded, and Altair stood next to the Templar as the younger assassin took off. "Do you think he will follow through with what he just decided to do, or do you think he is getting the others to storm the place?"
Chuckling, the Syrian leaned up against the building. "Think we should follow him?"
Both men nodded at one time. They may not agree on many things, but when it came to Connor, they knew they had to keep a close eye on him.
I know this is shorter than I normally write, but the action will come next. Yes, Altair and Haytham are working together. Scary huh? Don't worry, they will still pick on each other and will still bicker. I hope to not have to wait another week between updates. See y'all next chapter!