Chapter 14:

James felt Anne and Edward both tense at the uttering of Port Royal and he eyed them both. He opened his mouth to ask them if they were alright, and thought better of it. Instead, he brought his attention back to Achilles and what he was saying.

"Gauntier has an office in Port Royal, but is located in a hallway that branches off from the center of the prison itself." Achilles reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded map of Port Royal and it's prison. He unfolded it and tapped the center, then tracing his finger down a hallway that led from the center. Upon close inspection, James came to the realization that the only way to Gauntier's office was by making it to the center.

"So how do you propose we get in?" James asked. Patrick patted James on the back. "Unless you want to fight your way into one of the most guarded prisons in the West Indies, there's only one way in." James turned and made eye contact with Patrick. He saw the look in the Irishman's eyes and shook his head.

"I am not-"

"Or you can let the man supplyin' the enemy with weapons get away before we can get to 'im. You're call lad."

James let out a low growl, but he didn't argue any further. "What is it you're doing, exactly?" Edward asked. Patrick gave them all a large smile.

"You and James are going to be taking a small trip to the inside of a cell in Port Royal." Edward attempted to argue as well, but Patrick left no room for discussion.

"They will recognize you're face the second they see ya'." he said to Edward. "Anyone who turns themselves in with ya' will be arrested as well."

After working through the plan with Achilles, Patrick and Anne several times, Edward and James slipped quietly through the now dark Kingston. Like shadows, they crept to the beach, and climbed aboard a small rowboat. James held the oars in both hands and quietly got them moving across the calm water.

"Only fools would get themselves thrown into Port Royal's prison." Edward said, scrubbing a hand down his face. James grinned in the dark. "We're fools, remember?" Edward chuckled quietly. "Our father certainly thought so." They both chuckled, and they fell into silence. James rowed them quickly across the water, and within minutes, they were pushing the rowboat onto the sand and moving swiftly towards the horrid, gloomy prison. James followed closely beside his brother, looking behind them and to their sides as well. He did not want to be caught by surprise by some guard before they reached their destination. He didn't want anything unexpected to transpire; they hadn't had time to come up with a backup plan, in case their plan went wrong.

"Here we are," Edward muttered as they reached the prison's perimeter.

"Do ya' ever intend on telling me what happened to you and Anne here?" James asked quietly. Edward took a deep breath. "Maybe afterwards." And then he was walking again. James followed his older brother and the two of them quietly slipped up to the Prison's front gate.

Two soldiers stood, muskets in hand, guarding the entrance. At the sight of the two approaching, they braced and called for them to stop. The two Kenway brothers did as they were told and halted.

"I'm sure you remember me...ole' Edward Kenway." Edward said loudly. Even in the dark, James could see the looks of both surprise and satisfaction on their faces. "I'm here with my brother. We're turning ourselves in." The guards needed no more encouragement, and they approached the brothers and grabbed them with rough hands.

"Easy!" James shouted as one of the guards bound their wrists with rope. James made eye contact with Edward and the grin he was sent spoke loud and clear. Neither of them could believe that this part of the plan had worked.

"So, what made scum like you turn yourselves in?" One of the guards asked. James didn't have to fake annoyance.

"We're tired of running and hiding," he said. In a way it was true, James was beginning to get sick of all the running they were doing. The guard moving James humphed, and they went silence. They walked across the courtyard, the two brothers ignoring the stares they were receiving from the guards they passed. Once on the other side of the courtyard, one of the guards opened a door and they were inside.

"Gonna' have to stay the night in a holdin' cell, until we find a suitable place for the two of ya'." James glanced at Edward, who gave in imperceptible nod, telling James they were in fact being taken to the correct place.

James kept his eyes ahead of him, and kept on putting one foot in front of the other, until they reached the prison's center. That was when James made his move. He tossed his head back, slamming it into the guard's nose. The guard holding him stumbled back, letting out a wail. James jumped up high, scrunching up his legs. While in midair, he pulled his hands in front of him from under his feet. He landed, spun, and sunk his hidden blade into the guard's throat. Edward, ejected his blade, cut his binds and slit the other guard's throat.

"Hurry, kill Gauntier, and get back out here." Edward said, extending both of his hidden blades and bracing himself. "Meet me out here when you are finished." James nodded and turned on his heels before sprinting across the open room that was the center of Port Royal's prison, and going down the hallway that would lead James to his target. There were no doors here, except for at the end, and James stopped there. He took a step back and kicked the door open in a shower of splinters. Pierre Gauntier stood on the opposite side of a desk, situated near the back of the room. When the door to his office had burst open, he had jumped to his feet and backed up.

They made eye contact, and James moved. He ran forward and launched himself over the desk. In midair, he extended his hidden blade, and when he landed on the other side, he sunk the cold steel into Gauntier's carotid artery. Blood squirted from the wound, staining James's cheek. James followed Gauntier down as he sunk to the floor, and held him there until his body stopped shaking. When he was dead, James retracted his hidden blade and slid his target's eyes closed.

"Rest in peace."

AN: Well, another man down, yet another step closer to their goal. What's their next move? Will James and Edward be able to get out of Port Royal in one piece? And how is Anne faring while she hangs around the place where her late child had been conceived? I guess we'll find out next time. Peace out.

~Exangellion