The trip passed quickly, first on sea, then on land. It reminded me of the first few days I'd spent in this time - traveling with Shay after he'd scraped me up off the dirt outside Boston. Again, I didn't know where Shay'd gotten the horses from, and again, my heart was heavy as we passed by plantations being worked by slaves. I prayed I lived long enough to see the end of it, hopefully more cleanly and quickly than my home timeline.

When we reached the manor after a few days, my thighs ached from being sat atop a horse for days on end, and apparently Shay wasn't much better.

"This is why I prefer the sea." He muttered as we dismounted. I snorted, grabbing my bag and hurrying inside with Shay.

The place had guards about; it was something new and sort of creepy, in all honesty. Haytham must have hired them - a wise move, even if I didn't like their stares. Shay and I went different directions, him searching for Haytham and I dropping my bag in my room.

Once I'd done that, my feet carried me toward the study, where Haytham spoke with Lee, Pitcairn, Tommy, Weeks, and now Shay. A few faces were missing - Church stood out in particular.

"The others?" I asked.

"Dead or otherwise missing." Pitcairn said.

I nodded as I took a seat. "I see."

Haytham's eyes lingered on me, a tired look in them. "I trust things were well with the Assassins?"

"Better than with us." I answered.

"That's hardly saying much." He scoffed. "Down to business."

"You're certain leaving is the best decision?" Pitcairn asked.

"At the moment, it's too difficult to decide who is or is not to be trusted. Even some of those who have been with us from the beginning are suspect." Heavy silence followed Haytham's words. "Until this revolution ends, our attention will be divided between the traitors and controlling the results of this war. Shay, Courtney, Charles, and Weeks shall accompany me."
"And what is our destination, exactly?" Weeks asked.

"You'll be told after we've set sail. Until then, we must be careful that even those we believe we can trust are unaware of our future whereabouts." Haytham explained.

Charles spoke up. "When do we leave for Boston?"

"Tomorrow. With the incoming threat of an entire company, it would be best we're all absent for their arrival." Haytham said solemnly.

"And what about me?" Tommy chimed in. "What happens to my pay when you're on the other side of the ocean?"

"You'll have to figure that out for yourself, Hickey. Our main priority is making sure those in the Order can be trusted - something that's difficult for us to do at the moment." Haytham answered.

Tommy settled into his seat again, face sour.

As we figured out a few tiny details - we'd travel to Maine on the Morrigan, then travel to Europe from a ship there -, people left to retire for the night. Soon, it was just Haytham and I.

A book was in my hands, one I'd read once before. It'd been a while since I'd been able to read in the study - in the building. Haytham was going over some papers, and all was peaceful for the time.

"Do you want to go?" Haytham asked. I looked at him, taken aback by the suddenness of the question. "To Europe, I mean. The colonies are all you know, and I'm aware that you are quite close to some people here."

Did I want to go? For once, I didn't want to leave everything behind. I certainly didn't want to think about what I would write to Connor. But, I'd be with Haytham and Shay, and Ippolita would be far closer - no matter where in Europe we ended up.

"I'm a Templar. I'll go wherever I'm of most use." I said carefully.

"But do you want to go personally?" Haytham clarified.

I sighed, closing the book. "I like it here," I started. "But it's dangerous to stay here. I've done what I intended to - the colonial rite that I'm a part of is civil with the colonial Brotherhood. You, Shay, and Connor are all alive - so are Tommy, Lee, and Pitcairn. William died naturally. The war… the war is what it is." I glanced away. "Whatever happens, I've done more in the few years I've been here than I ever could have dreamed of doing in my time. And I'm content with that."

Haytham sat still a moment, before rising and coming over to sit beside me. "Courtney, I-" He stopped, then started again. "You're happy? Being a Templar?"

I nodded. "More than I ever would have imagined." It wasn't a lie - before the little adventure I'd been sent on thanks to that Piece of Eden, I would have always picked the Assassins. "You have no idea how grateful I am that I got the opportunity."

The hint of a smile tugged at his lips, and pride glinted in his eyes. "And I am grateful to have you." The expression dropped after a moment and he leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose. "There is a problem, however."

My eyebrow rose. "I thought there were a few more than one."

"Yes," He said. "But one that I haven't discussed with anyone yet." A sigh left him before he continued. "Charles. I worry that he might not be ideal for whatever might come should something happen to me."

I said nothing, and he must have taken it as silent agreement as he continued. "While Charles is passionate, his temper is worrying."

"As yours can be." I said plainly.

The withering look he sent me was more than enough to say what he thought of the comment. "There's a reason he couldn't compete with Washington for the position of commander in chief, and it's his lack of foresight and that damnable tendency to start up arguments and fights wherever he can."

"You want to replace him." I stated.

"I'm unsure who should take his place." He admitted.

"Weeks or Shay, maybe?" Weeks was still a mystery to me, but he seemed trustworthy - seemed - and responsible. Shay I trusted, and he was experienced in leading. If nothing else, I liked them both more than Lee. Polite though he'd been to me, I knew very well how unstable he was and would be.

"I don't know. I suppose during our stay in Europe I'll have time to decide." He said.