I do not own Assassin's Creed 3 or any of its wonderful characters. Ubisoft does. I only write Fanfics about them.
This chapter is brought to you by homemade Candy Apples.
Light.
I blinked adjusting my eyes after what had to be days in darkness, with little food or water. I spoke only to Brianna in this time, asking if she was alright, assure her that all would be fine, that I would not let them hurt her. Words that were little more than empty promises for in my current state, I could not assure such things.
She'd fallen in and out of consciousness due to her beating, and what little time I had from the Scarred man untying me to eat, drink and relieve myself I spent next to Brianna giving her what I had, refusing to partake all on my own.
He never left during these moments, only watched with his one uncovered eye and when he decided my time of being unchained was up, he'd grabbed me roughly, taking both my wrist in one of his own and dragging me back across the containment to where I was originally tied, ignoring my protest and walking back up the stairs to the deck.
In that time men came as Ailsa said they would, yet despite her words none had taken me as I feared they would. They would come below the deck for supplies, to stare, heap insults upon, some going as far as to touch me, grabbing my breast or gripping my thighs, before leaving daring to do no more.
While the scarred man looked on, arms folded across his chest, his one visible eye focused on me.
I said nothing during these encounters, merely glared at the intruders, refusing to show how frightened desperate I was to get away.
Once a day Ailsa would come below deck, wrinkle her nose up at me, as she looked me over up and down, noting the yellowing bruises and my unmolested flesh, her facial expression reading the anger she felt, yet she said nothing. Although I could tell for each moment I went unharmed, she would eventually return in kind.
The stairs creaked as the intruders made their way down, and I immediately knew it wasn't Ailsa or the Scarred man, for when they walked they made no sound, as silent as Assassin's, and only their presence alerted me to which one it truly was.
No. These were other men the sailors.
There were two of them, both of which held lanterns.
I glanced over at Brianna who raised her head and caught my eyes and shook her head. Telling me without words that whatever I was thinking was not worth carrying out.
I turned away from her, placing my attention back on the men, one was huge and broad, an orange unruly beard framed the skin of his face, and his head was shaved bald. The other a cabin boy no older than fifteen or sixteen with brown hair and freckles stood beside him, shaking and unsure. I glanced over the boy's face, recognizing him keenly from somewhere yet not able to place the face; in his shaking hand he held a knife.
"How many?" I asked before either could say a word.
" How many what?" The huge man said, in an uncanny Scottish accent.
" How many of your bastards are above deck waiting to come have their turn?"
He laughed then, a thick boorish laugh that made my insides stir with fear and disgust.
I lowered my head in defeat. It did not matter. If it was Ailsa's doing, before the night would end the entire crew would have had their way with me.
He beckoned to the boy with a flick of his wrist and the boy came forward, knife in shaking hands. I started too struggled then, pulling my knees up to my chest, drawing away as the boy came near. He stopped in front of me, his eyes finding mine, a touch of sadness and apology crossed his gaze, before he turned his attention to the rope and cut me loose.
I scrambled then, bracing the wall and standing to my full height. Shaking and breathing heavy I faced the man and the boy, defiance written on my face.
The man smiled the least big intimidated by my show.
"Come here little bird," he beckoned taking a step towards me.
I reacted in kind.
"And may I ask what you gentlemen are up to?"
The three men looked up from their card game, which was currently in process. One, a blonde headed fellow, pulled a pipe from his mouth. Grey smoke twirled in the air like ribbons.
"Playing a card game, what's it to ya?" The leader, a wily sailor with a bald head a thin stringy beard answered.
"Well word below deck is that with the right hand of cards, and a few lucky dice I could win something special. Yes. Something quite special indeed."
" Well you heards wrong," the blonde said putting the pipe back in his mouth. "Now run along boy before we shows you something special."
The other two laughed.
" Where is the-"
His question was cut off by the sound of a shrill scream that pieced the air with the sounds of pain coming from below deck. The three men reacted quickly, dropping their cards and dice and running to the opening in which the prisoner was being held. Soon more men came running to the deck, bearing lanterns.
He followed the three men down the steps, gasping at the sight before him. The young woman being held prisoner was latched on to a large orange headed sailor, her thin legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck, as he flailed around on the ground, screaming and fighting to get her off.
"My ear, she has my bloody ear," the man screeched, his voice more reminiscent of an adolescent school boy than a sea hardened sailor.
They reacted quickly grabbing her roughly by the arms and pulling her to no avail. She clamped down harder and his screams arose, as did his fighting. He began to punch at her, hitting her again and again in the head while they pulled, the result, seeming only to lock her jaw tighter. Finally she released, falling back in a splatter of blood and torn flesh, screaming as she struggled.
"What in the bloody hell is going on here?" the Captain yelled as he ran down the steps. Behind him Ailsa and Eugene. He took in the scene, before him, the sailor still lying on the ground whimpering, blood pouring from the hole that used to be his ear, then the young woman who'd caused it all.
Her eyes were dark and intense, as she spat out what remainder of the man's ear she had left in her mouth at the feet of the Captain and Ailsa. Blood and ripped flesh dripped down her chin and the front of her torn dress as she stop struggling long enough to shout, " Goddamn bastards!" she spat again, a glob of blood, that was indistinguishable as her own or the sailor's. Her breathing was heavy and harsh and tears pink with blood curled down her cheeks. Her dress's front was torn all the way up to her thighs, her underclothes underneath visible for all to see.
Ailsa put a hand to her chest, her face mocking disgust. "Why she's a wild as a savage. Oh Captain, it is no doubt that she lore this poor sailor down here with the intent on seducing him and escaping. The whore."
Uduak lurched forward then towards Ailsa, only to be pulled back abruptly and forced onto her knees.
The Captain turned to the sailor, who'd picked himself up off the ground and now held a rag wet with his own blood to his still bleeding hole. "Yes Captain," he shuttered. "She was calling for help, I thought to assist, when I realized she'd somehow untied herself and attacked me."
" Oh you poor dear," Ailsa said clapping her hands. " One of you," she said pointing to her men on standby. " He is in need of medical attention." They quickly dispatched taking the man away. Eyebrows furrowed she placed a hand on the Captain's arm. " I am so sorry I'll meeting was cut short, perhaps we could continue this tomorrow, I have no doubt you would want her punished for-"
" No. No," the Captain said holding up his hand. "She can wait until tomorrow. We will tie her back down. Have your man Eugene is it, watch her as he was before, there is no need for him to guard us any further tonight. Let her consider her sins, come morning there will be punishment."
The next day I was awoken by the gleam of light and the smell of sawdust. I saw the end of Ailsa's blue dress first, then the boots of the scarred man. My head was pounding as I roused myself awake, and my face felt swollen and sore. And I realized the moment I fully awoke that I'd blacked out the moment they tied me back up.
My mouth still tasted of blood and flesh, and my teeth seemed to the hold the mold of the man's ear, a violent memory that refused to let me be. I hadn't even intended at first to mutilate him in such a way, having looked to Brianna before he assaulted me, then the boy, both of which were shaking their heads, telling me not to fight. But the moment his hands were on my bare skin, his stimulated sex against my thigh, I thought of Connor, and the thought of allowing hands that were not his, flesh that was his to touch me in such a matter, disgusted me, and I fought back. Determined, if these men really wished to have me, they would have to kill me first.
I glanced up; Ailsa's face swam in my vision.
She was grinning.
"Dearest Uduak, I warned you. I really did. I told you not to fight. Things could so be much easier, but you insist upon the hardest road. Why why?" she shook her head as if disappointed in me.
I was untied and jerked to my feet, held still by the scarred man's hands as he pulled me above deck, Brianna called out after me, but they ignored her as they closed the latch behind us.
The air was cold and wet against my feverous skin, and the light of morning burned my eyes as I walked.
Fifty or so sailors, including the Captains, Ailsa's men and the man whose ear I'd bitten off. His eyes were glaring at me, yet his mouth held a small cruel smile. I turned away. I was pushed in the middle of them.
" Strip her," Ailsa said calmly and the scarred man nodded, taking hold of the front of my dress and tearing it, the material ripping as if it were mere paper in his hands, leaving me in my underclothes. I stifled a cry as he did this, but did not fight as he cut my underclothes from my form so that stood completely bare before the mass of sailors, soldiers and mercenaries.
"Why I do believe our dearest Uduak is in need of a bath."
She beckoned to one of her men, in answer; a bucket of cold water was thrown on me. I gasped then, clinching both my arms tightly around myself to keep from falling over.
She nodded to the scarred man. Seconds later his fist came up hitting me square in the gut. I started to fall to my knees, holding my stomach, gasping for much needed air; he grabbed my arm stopping me.
Ailsa shouted something else at me, but I could not hear her over the rushing of blood in my ears,
When I did not answer, I has hit again, this time in the face, the impact so hard I fell to the deck of the ship, still gasping for air, my stomach aching and my cheek stinging.
" Again."
I was lifted up then by one arm and smacked again this time my back hit a stack of barrels and I slid down its wood. I could taste blood, and the sight of the men drifting twirled in my vision. Unable to hold myself up I fell to the deck where I lay still.
I could hear voices, but I could not make out the words.
"Again. But not in the face this time, dear, I do prefer her pretty."
Another blow to the stomach sent me reeling across the deck, rolling to a stop at the boot of one of the men. I glanced up weakly at the figure, my blurred vision unable to truly grasp the contours of his face, but noting in those few seconds how blue his eyes were. The man glanced down at me, frowning and his mouth opened as if to say something, but I was already being pulled away from him back to where Ailsa stood.
"Such pretty, pretty skin," she said touching my collarbone, running her fingers down until they touched my shoulder, " And such beautiful markings." She turned to the scarred man and smiled. "" Let's start with ten and work our way up from there, shall we," she said.
He nodded without a word and began dragging me across deck towards a post her, men following.
Holding both my arms still they waited for her command.
"Begin."
I heard the crack of the whip before I felt it, the stinging shearing pain that I could not compare to anything thus far. I grinded my teeth together, refusing to cry out as another moment past before the crackle then the feel of the whip tearing against the flesh of my back sent another shock wave of pain coursing through my entire body.
"I cannot hear you my Dear Uduak. Your silence does nothing to help that poor sailor grow back his ear. To bring back the lives that you stole!"
Another. I gasped a whimper escaping before I could stop it. I could already feel the blood beginning to rush down my back in thick sticky tears, dripping like paint upon a canvas board.
The whip crackled again and I prepared myself for another blow.
Crack.
This was Ailsa's anger, the anger of a woman who loved and lost. The madness of a woman who wished for me to feel what she was feeling.
Could I blame her? I thought as I prepared myself for another blow.
It never came.
" Men your stations!" The first mate yelled. The sounds of shuffling feet created a steady beat behind me.
"What is ever the matter Captain?" Ailsa asked her voice like a song.
"Church, he's being pursued. We are to drop off the supplies at the nearest island and take cover until further notice. Your men may be required."
" Oh yes of course. Captain." She sounded complacent, but I knew she was anything but. The Captain departed and Ailsa had them turn me around to face her. The moment they did she slapped me so hard I nearly fell from their grasp. Splotches of darkness bloomed in my vision, and I suddenly felt tired despite the pain. "You best pray," she hissed, "That Assassin is not on that ship." Then straightening the ridges in her dress and tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear she replied, "Prepare her with the cargo."
Once again darkness fell.
Connor walked next to the father who stood next to Mr. Faulkner, who was steering what was left of his ship through the rock masses towards the island Benjamin Church said the stolen supplies lay.
I've killed Benjamin Church and yet my father remains alive…he thought as he relieved Mr. Faulkner and took his place at the wheel.
He turned and glanced warily at his father as he stood upon the deck looking out at the sea, hands behind his back. So much had happened since finding him in the wood, that he barely had time to process it all. Now here they stood, upon the deck of his ship, having hunted down the same man as a team. And they hadn't killed one another.
He'd never expected such to happen, never wanted such to happen, yet here it was.
He thought of Uduak then, of her instance of compromise, instead of argument, of talking it out, and he wondered if he could do so with his father. He did not; from their earlier conversations seem like an unreasonable man, he listened, even though their thoughts and opinions on matters differed greatly
" I do believe I owe you a bit of an apology," Haytham said.
" For what?" Connor asked raising an skeptical eyebrow.
"I do believe you are right," Haytham replied. "Actually there was another matter on my mind." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I met a young woman a while back. Point being, I did not know her, yet she knew me. Interesting young woman although I find her somewhat familiar, that is she reminds me of someone… never quite caught her name. I thought perhaps you might know her?"
Connor said nothing already partly knowing who it was he was speaking of, yet trying to confirm his own suspicions without saying a word.
" Come now you must know something. She certainly appeared to know you. Mulatto, black of hair, a bit thin…"
Uduak…He was speaking of Uduak.
" What do you know of her?" Connor barked turning to his father abruptly. He was speaking of Uduak of this he was sure.
He father looked the least bit taken aback, he raised an eyebrow. "So you do know who I am referring to." He sounded interested." Is she your wife?"
" No."
"You are engaged then?"
"No."
"Mistress?"
" No," Connor said abruptly.
" A strumpet you kee-"
" No," Connor barked finally. "She is none of those things."
" A friend then?"
He said nothing.
" Well what is she?"
" It is complicated."
His father sighed, shaking his head, "I do not know what is so complicated about it."
"How do you know of her," Connor asked again impatiently suddenly wanting to be the one asking the questions, instead of receiving them.
" I have met her,"Haytham said matter-afactly.
"When…how?" Connor demanded. He felt an unsettling in the pit of his stomach; Uduak hadn't told him she'd met his father. He tried to reason that maybe she didn't know who he was, but there was no way she could not, she had to…
Was meeting him intentional?
His father caught his insecurity and said in a tone that mocked surprise, "She hasn't told you?"
Connor did not respond.
" Ah, she hasn't." Haytham seemed somewhat amused by this. "Well perhaps I should not be the one to reveal such delicate information. You can ask her when you return."
Connor shook his head, " When, and where?" He demanded, louder this time. He bore his eyes into his father's, with all intention of letting him know that his demands were serious, not an idle threat.
" I find your need to argue about the matter completely distracting from the main point," Haytham said, " And a bit informing."
" How so?" Connor snapped, growing more and more impatient by the second.
" If the woman meant nothing to you, you would have waved the notion away without a second thought. But the fact that you are suddenly disgruntled about the matter, informs me of otherwise. So I ask again who she is to you."
"She is a friend," he replied softly.
"Just a friend? By the look on your face I would have guessed otherwise."
"Why does it matter?" Connor asked not willing to reveal the full truth of the matter to his father. Haytham was still after all his enemy.
Haytham nodded, "It does not. Just as it should not matter where, when or how I met her. Only that I have discovered, very quickly might I add, a breach in your defenses. You would do well to hide such weaknesses so they are not used against you."
Connor turned and glared at his father then, realizing in that moment that he was being lectured, the man who'd only recently just stepped in his life, the man he'd spent his entire life training to kill. And he had the nerve to lecture him. As if he did not get enough lecturing from Achilles.
"Is that what mother was to you? A weakness?" He barked
Haytham turned to him, seemly unfazed by the question, blinking twice as he examined Connor's face, then lifting one hand he said, " I see I've made you angry. I can assure you, it was not intentional. I merely wish to voice my opinion on the matter. I doubt Achilles has taken the time to discuss such matters with you, it is only reasonable that I do. You are my Son after all."
"Such matters?" Connor demanded.
"Well yes. This woman…this Udek…"
" Uduak," Connor corrected angrily before he could stop himself.
" Yes well. This Uduak. As far as first impressions go, seemed the type to service rich old men and the like, but I am sure by the expression on your face you already-"
" I do not wish to speak anymore on the matter," Connor said abruptly finding that his words came out softer and smaller than he intended. If his father were to look any closer, investigate many more than he already was, he might reveal the truth of Uduak's origins, and in kind he would reveal it to Charlies Lee. Connor knew not what Lee's reaction would be, and he did not wish to find out. Best to keep her out of everything.
Yet he thought of Uduak then, and her tendencies. He'd first thought her loose and unprincipled. He recalled how in the first months of her arrival, she'd walked the homestead speaking to his sailors, and random men she met along the way, her manner flirtatious and teasing. He recalled how she often times pulled the still smoking pipes from the hands of the unsuspecting men, watching in amusement as they fumbled for another pipe, or more tobacco to replace what she already had. Then lifting one hand in dismissal of the thought she would delicately playfully press the pipe's end to her lips and inhale, treating the captured pipe as if it were the best gift she'd ever received, before exhaling and handing the pipe back, thanking the owner with a small deliberate smile , leaving them to gawk in her wake.
He'd asked her why she'd done that, why she behaved the way she did. His concept of how women in the colonies, even his own home, were supposed to act, and how Uduak actually preformed, overlapping, causing confusion. She'd laughed and called him a novice, before replying, " I needed a smoke," as if that answer was fit enough. And while she no longer, to his knowledge, performed that way intentionally, he could in fact see where his father was coming from.
She had this uncanny way of turning men in her favor. Manipulating without truly manipulating them into doing whatever it was she wanted. He'd seen her talk soldiers he'd angered out of pursuing him, watched her calm a fight with just a mere touch against the arm of the insulted, barter a less than intended price out of the soap maker in Boston with just a few bashes of her eyelids. It was how she was raised, all she knew, and he'd come to accept from the moment he realized it, so many years ago, that it would likely, while some things she could change, and above all else others would stay the same.
" Land ho!" One of the sailors shouted and both Connor and Haytham raised their spyglasses, almost in sync with one another, taking in the view of the island in which the supplies supposedly lay.
Haytham lowered his first. "This should not be too hard."
"Says the man who ruined half the ship."
"Are you still angry about that? Come now, when he make port I will pay for the damages I caused. Fair enough for you?"
Connor walked past him, " Mr. Faulkner pick out five of the strongest men, they are to come on shore with me, you and the rest are to stay on board and guard the ship."
" Aye aye Captain."
He turned to his father who extended his hands forward, in an 'after you' gesture. He took the lead.
They made it to shore by row boat, expecting a fight they were greeted with masses of already dispatched corpses of Church's men. Commanding his men to spread out and search the area Connor examined the corpse closest to him. The blood flowing from the slit in his neck, still warm, his surprised eyes still wet.
"These men just died," he said to Haytham who was approaching him from behind surveying the scene with mock interest.
"I'd wager just minutes before we arrived," Haytham replied. "That one there is a Mercenary…would need would Church have with Mer-" Haytham began, the calls of the sailors interrupting him.
Connor glanced up. His sailors held a figure dressed in dark robes, a hood pulled over his face, shadowing his features.
"This one should know where the supplies are," one of the sailors said as they pulled him to face Connor. Connor stood glancing over the figure, then around at the wide expanse of land, covered in trees and tall grass, vines and trees,. It was true; he did not have time to conduct a full search of the island. Better to ask.
He started to turn back to the matter at hand when one of his men gasped. Moments past just as seconds as the figure took hold of the arm of the sailor to his left, twisted and spun, bringing the man up and over his head. Then bending he swept his leg under the feet of the other, sending him sprawling in the sand. Then in speed that bordered almost impossible he lunged at Connor, drawing from his person two curved daggers, the hilt shone in the light, golden and grand, the elaborate shape of an lion with sapphires for eyes engraved in the hilt.
Connor reacted immediately lifting his tomahawk, seconds before the daggers could connect. The hood fell from the figures face then, as if moved by invisible hands, revealing the auburn of curly hair, the blueness of eyes, the quirk of a devious smile.
"It has been quite a while my savage friend," the man said amusingly. "To long in fact."
DUM DUM DUM! OMG. Writing Uduak's torture scenes were the worst for me. It's going to be such a surprise if Connor finally finds her in time to stop whatever it is Ailsa is planning.
Anyway, what about that ending guys...huh huh? Any guesses as to who that might be? shush. Don't tell me, your ruin the rest for me later. Geez, keep your spoilers to yourself. Why is Haytham so interested in Uduak all of the sudden...?
On to the next chapter chickys.
ASSASSIN'S CREED 4! YEYEYEYEYEYEYEYEY