Chapter 26

The Good

We went back to the homestead. As always, the wolves were waiting for Esperanza. She kissed me and then walked off with them. I sighed and went back to the manor.

"Where is Esperanza?"

"Outside. She needs a little time. Church is dead and the supplies have been returned."

"Very good."

He went back to his writing and I looked down.

"The Templar's hold is weakened, which make me think there is a chance for peace. Imagine what we might accomplish if we were to unite."

He slowly looked back up at me.

"What the change of heart? Where is this coming from?"

I walked towards the window.

"You've met your father, haven't you. I assume this is why Esperanza needed a little time."

"I do not like the man nor do I trust him. But I would be remiss to ignore this opportunity."

"Haytham may listen. But will he understand? And even if he does, will he agree? And from the way you sounded when you told me you didn't like him….that tells me he hurt Esperanza in some way. Which now makes me wonder how she will feel about this idea."

I made a fist and shook a little.

"I will die before I let him hurt her. And even he must admit that we achieve more together than we do alone."

He was silent for a minute.

"I assume you're off to find him?"

"Not yet. As I said Esperanze needs some time. And I need to think about how I will tell her this."

"You don't need time for that."

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"I love you more than anything Connor, you know that. I will do anything for you, but I will kill him. Eventually I will kill him."

I nodded.

"And I know I won't be able to stop you."

"And you and I are going on a trip tomorrow morning."

I turned and she held up her little leather book.

"I've seen those markings before. And so have you."

I thought for a minute before my eyes went wide.

"The cave where we first met." she said.

"What are you talking about?" Achilles asked.

She opened the book and flipped through the pages. She showed him the drawing.

"I haven't seen that in years. Where did you see it?"

"I had a little fun with Haytham. I picked his pocket after Connor threw him through a wall and into the water."

I smirked.

"Where is it now?"

She took a deep breath.

"I was forced to give it back to him."

"What do you mean forced?"

She backed up into my chest and I put my hands on her shoulders.

"It was either I give him back the amulet, or he killed Connor. There was no hesitation."

"Of course. But if you can, you must get it back."

She nodded and then left.

"I almost feel sorry for Haytham. Esperanza is a dangerous woman. And you are her life. A word of advice, be careful how much time he spends with the two of you."

I nodded.

Esperanza woke me up before the sun that morning. She kissed me softly and then started getting dressed. She was always so beautiful in the morning. I sat up and she sighed.

"I'm sorry Esperanza."

She turned around.

"Connor…"

"No. I know how much you hate my father. I know that working with him is hard on you."

She walked over to me and sat down.

"You're doing what you think is right."

I shook my head.

"You will always come first, and I'm putting you through pain."

She put her finger to my lips ro silence me. Then her hand slid to the side of my face.

"You listen to me Connor Kenway, and you listen good and proper. You are not putting me through anything. You've always put me first. I won't lie, I hate your father. But the love I have for you is stronger than my hate for him and any pain he would possibly put me through."

I looked into her eyes and knew she meant every word she said. She moved her hand so it was over my heart.

"When you asked me to marry you I said yes. Which means I will always be at your side no matter what. In my world, we would say for better or worse, through good times and bad, for richer or pooer. We'll do this together."

She smiled softly.

"Siempre. Always." she said.

She kissed my cheek and thenn my lips before leaving the room. I had to be the luckiest man alive.

Esperanza's POV

Achilles was in the kitchen. He looked at me and I stopped.

"Both men must die. I've told Connor the same. You must be the one to kill Haytham."

"I know. I'd planned on it. I know what it's like to kill your own father and I won't let Connor go through that. He's lost his mother already, so I'll kill him when Connor isn't there. He doesn't need that pain." I said.

He nodded.

"You're a good woman, Esperanza. Connor needs you more than either of you know."

He walked away before I could say anything else. Whenever Achilles looked at Connor and I together, there was a strange look in his eyes. I knew he'd once had a wife and child. I'd seen their graves in the back of the house on the hill. Abagail…and Connor. I never asked how they died and I wasn't going to. I looked out the window at the graves.

"Connor! Vmanos amor! I'll get the horses."

I went out the back and passed by the graves on my way to the stables. Shadow was out and ready to go. I led Connor's horse out and pat his nose. When Connor came out I smiled at him. He just kept walking and then he kissed me hard. When he pulled away I was gasping for air.

"Not to sound dirty or anything, but it would be much appreciated if you did that more often. Just saying…"

He kissed me again before putting me on Shadow's back. The ride to the cave was silent and the pack traveled with we reached the cave it was dark and foggy. We slowly walked inside and I felt around for a wall.

"I left some firewood in here years ago when we first met."

"How far in did you leave it?"

Before I could answer I tripped and landed badly on my leg. I screamed in pain and took deep breaths.

"Yeah, that's where I left it." I hissed.

He lit a fire and then immediately looked at my leg.

"I think its broken."

"Goddamnit!"

He touched my leg in different places and then smiled.

"Not broken."

I sighed in relief and laid back.

"Well we found the firewood."

He chuckled and I took his hand.

"Did you know that Achiles once had a son?"

He shook his head and I smiled a little.

"His name was Connor."

He squeezed my hand and looked at the flames.

"Achilles….he's been like a father to me. He trained me and gave me shelter. I'm eternally grateful to him."

I laid my head on his lap and took a deep breath.

"You're very lucky to have had him. I had my grandfather, but it was never the same. And then I lost him too."

He stroked my hair.

"You never told me how he died." he said softly.

"I'll give you a hint, I killed my father the same day."

His hand stopped.

"He…"

"Yeah. Yeah he did. I was actually going to let him live. Yeah he was a Templar, but he was still my father. He'd come to take me back with him. He said 'I'm your father and you'll do as I say. I know what's best for you.' I still refused and when my grandfather tried to interviene…."

I couldn't continue. I hadn't even realized there were tears in my eyes. Connor didn't say anything. He just held me in his arms and stroked my hair.

"I may have lost my family, but I still have you. And that's all I need." I said.

"You will always have me, Esperanza. I love you."

"Tu tambien te quiero, Ratonhnhake:ton."

He kissed my shoulder and I looked at the paintings on the wall.

"What are they? What do they mean?" I asked.

He looked up. He explained to me what they meant and told me the story behind them.

"Connor?"

"Hm?"

"When the Templars are gone, what will we do?"

"I don't know. Before you I never gave it any thought. I suppose we will be able to live a normal life. But we both know that the Templars will not truly be gone."

I sighed sadly.

"I know. And if they show up again we'll take care of them. My grandfather told me it was a job I could never relinquish."

"What was his name? Your grandfather."

"Juventino."

"Was he your father's father?"

"No, my mother's. My other grandfather, Luther, he was a Templar. The Assassins came from my mother's side, but she didn't want that sort of life. My mother's name was Ezmeralda. My sister's name was going to be Estela."

I looked into the flames and squeezed his hand.

"What did your mother look like?"

I smiled a litted and leaned into him.

"She was beautiful. People always said I looked exactly like her. I have her hair and her eyes, I have the same figure and almost the same voice. But…"

I fell silent.

"The rest is your father?"

I just nodded.

"Well then that must be the good. You once told me that the only good that came from my father was me. I believe at one point in time your father was a good man, and that goodness is in you. Your father was a good man once, unlike mine. You are the last hope your father had. You have his name, you said when we are married that you will make the name Kenway a respectful one. You've given your family name respect. I'm sure your family is very proud, just as I am." he said.

I felt his lips on my hair and I smiled.

"I love you." he whispered.

"And I love you." I breathed.