It gave me no small amount of anger when Achilles told me he would not be coming to Abby's birthday party. He thought it best to keep his distance from certain people. By certain people, I knew he meant Haytham. I told him not to worry about what Connor's father thought. Achilles was more welcome at our house than he was. He deserved to be there more than Haytham did.

The old man only shook his head slowly with a pained expression when I announced this. "There'll be many more parties, Faith. You can't expect me to attend them all."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he hushed me with a stern gaze. "Abby will be too excited to even notice my absence," Achilles said. "I'll give her my gift once the commotion dies down."

I could tell he had made up his mind, and there was no changing it. I simply nodded, keeping my agitation to myself while he began to walk back toward the manor. Pausing a few feet away, Achilles turned to me.

"I wouldn't mind a slice of cake if you have any left, though."

The smile that accompanied the words only made me feel worse about the entire situation. It hurt that he was going to miss out on a family function because my father in law had decided to show up. I had half a mind to make Haytham leave. But, to do that, would mean hurting Abby. So, I stayed quiet.

It wasn't just for Abby that I tolerated Haytham. I did it for Connor, as well. My husband seemed to have some notion that there could be a peace between he and his estranged father. As much as I wanted to tell him that would never happen, I couldn't bring myself to crush his hopes. It was out of a childish yearn for paternal affection that Connor was kind to his enemy. That was a longing I could understand. I had that same wish all through life. The dream that my parents would change their mind and come find me. It wasn't an easy fantasy to dispel – even if you knew the truth, you somehow forgot it at times. I hoped this truce could last for my husband's sake. When he expressed his desires to me, I tried to be approving, but all I could do was force a grin knowing he would end up getting hurt.

The day of the party, I tried to remain preoccupied with preparations and keeping my daughter from nagging about gifts in an attempt to avoid Haytham. I listened to the quiet conversation between he and Connor from my place in the kitchen. I was alert for any signs of hostility and ready to intervene at a seconds notice. I sort of wanted an excuse to make Haytham leave. But I never got one. The men really didn't say much to each other. They spoke about Abby mostly, since she was the reason they were currently together. They also talked a little about the Aquila. There was a note of distension in Connor's voice when he mentioned the repairs that had been required, but the topic was quickly taken over by Abby, who had to tell her grandfather about what a great sailor she was.

"Rake:ni lets me steer the ship," she stated proudly. "Ista says I do better than he does. Even though he has to hold me up or I cannot see."

The memories of our trips to Nantucket which she was referring to made me grin. Abby loved being on the sea almost as much as her father did. That fact overjoyed Connor. When he let her hold the wheel, he would put his hat on her head and call her captain. The crew went along with this eagerly. Everyone loved Abby. Especially Bobby Faulkner. They listened to her when she shouted orders just as they did Connor. It was adorable.

Abby never being one to stay indoors much, the lot of them eventually made their way outside, leaving me alone to icing the cake without any fingers trying to sneak dips in the frosting. Not being much of an artist with pastries, the cake turned out too plain for my liking. I knew Abby wouldn't care since it was all chocolate – she loved it more than I did, but I rarely let her have any. My creativity took over and I began to form small flowers on top of the cake with some plain frosting I had left over. It became a bigger job than I had anticipated, taking quite a bit of time to finish. I was so intent on my project that I didn't even hear the door open or the footsteps that entered the room I was occupying.

"Would you care for some help?"

I jumped at the voice, letting out a startled curse as I gazed at Haytham in shock. I took a moment to steady my heart while I berated myself for letting him creep up on me the way he had. It was common for Connor to do such things to me, and I had gotten somewhat accustomed to my husband's pleasant ways of surprising me when I wasn't expecting it. But that was different. I didn't mind Connor being stealthy because I knew I was safe with him. Haytham, on the other hand, I wasn't so sure about. He was not the type of person I wanted to have the ability to sneak up on me.

Haytham must have noticed my displeasure at his unexpected presence. He gave me a slight grin that led me to believe he was satisfied with my suspicion. It was an expression that did nothing to ease my discomfort. If anything, it intensified my lack of trust for the man who claimed he was family.

"I apologize," he said with feigned sincerity. "I didn't mean to scare you."

I let out a quick huff through my nose and favored him with a calm stare. "You don't scare me, Haytham."

Without losing that unnerving grin he had on his face, Haytham nodded at me slowly. "Good."

I looked away, busying myself with cleaning up the mess I had made in my artsy decoration of my daughter's birthday cake while he watched me from the doorway. His stare made me uncomfortable, but I didn't want him to know that. I wanted Haytham to think he had no effect on me, that he could do nothing that bothered me. So, I took my time, wiping all the icing off the table and making everything appear neat as I pretended to ignore my guest.

"I'm curious," Haytham spoke after a time. "How did you and Connor meet?"

I glanced up at the man. My past was certainly not a topic I wanted to discuss with him and the details surrounding my involvement with Connor would only raise more questions than they would answer. I declined to be specific in an explanation and simply told him that Achilles introduced us. It wasn't a lie. Achilles had made the introduction between the two of us. I only declined to admit that events surrounding the introduction.

"Ah," Haytham replied. "And how is it that you came to know Achilles?"

My initial inclination was to tell him that it was none of his business. With some difficulty, I maintained a civil air and thought of another way to answer. "He offered me a job when I needed one."

"That's fortunate," Haytham murmured.

I frowned at him. His tone, mixed with such an ironic expression, gave me the impression he wasn't being honest. Or that he had something he wanted to say on the subject. It irritated me as I thought he had not right to even hold an opinion, let alone voice one. I doubted his thoughts were positive considering his past with the man in question. That - mixed with a desire to disagree with him – made me speak.

"How so?"

Haytham shrugged as if it was not a big deal, as if he had just been talking idly about nothing more important than weather. "I was merely musing on how one seemingly insignificant meeting can manifest into a life altering event."

With the feeling that I had been insulted, I narrowed my eyes at him. "See it how you want. Staying here was the best decision I've ever made."

"Of course," Haytham responded unenthusiastically.

I gazed at him, unable to shake the offensive vibe I was getting from his. The fact that he didn't like Achilles and that Achilles had neglected to show up when he should have been welcomed because of Haytham made me angry. I think Haytham sensed that. I know he had some intuition that I was aggravated. And what was more, he seemed to be enjoying my foul mood. It was like it pleased him to see me unhappy – to see anyone unhappy. That was one of the reasons I said what I did.

"Think what you want, but Achilles is a great man – better than you in every way."

I hadn't expected Haytham to respond positively to being insulted. I anticipated some sort of passive aggressive retort from him, and prepared myself for such a remark. What I didn't expect was the bemused chuckle that followed my statement. It caused me to stare at Haytham with a confused and startled expression he pleased him.

"How much do you really know about that 'great man' you care so much for, Faith?" he asked. Before I could compose a reply, he continued speaking. "You have some fantastical notion that he does no wrong when know very well he has taken multiple lives."

"He did what he felt was right," I answered in return.

"As do we all," Haytham said.

I wasn't sure what to say to that. So, I said nothing. That gladdened him. I could tell by the benevolent glint in his eye that Haytham had a point to make and thought he was doing a good job of driving it home. He aimed to cause tension between Achilles and me – possibly all of us. For what reason I wasn't sure. But I knew that was his intent.

"This noble man you admire so greatly is not without fault," Haytham spoke. "His ignorance has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people. His own hubris is what led to the downfall of the Order he devoted his life to. He is no more virtuous than I, yet you defend him blindly because he – what was it? - gave you a job. Allowed you to live in his house, share his food. You think of him as a father, but has he ever really taken on the role of one with you?"

"Yes," I stated in defiance.

There was a short silence where Haytham watched me with expectancy, as if wanting me to explain. As if he wanted me to give an example of how Achilles had acted as a parent to me. It was both shocking and infuriating that I could come up with no such recollection at the moment. My thoughts were on what Haytham had said, on the tale he had told me. It was a part of the old man's past I had never considered before – the events surrounding the decay of the Colonial Assassins and the mentor's part in it. I began to wonder what had taken place. I was struck with a desire to know the story.

I met Haytham's eye, saw he was still gazing at me with patience. I licked my lips and said the only thing I could. "Achilles loves me."

Haytham's mouth opened and he began to reply. Before he could, Abby came running into the house to tell us that the guests were arriving and it was time to start the party. The man gave me one fleeting grin that was not out of kindness and turned away. I composed myself and tried to remember what all needed to be done as the boys and Maria came inside, each of them chatting with excitement about the festivities to come.

I was in a daze for most of the party. My mind was preoccupied by my discussion with Haytham and Achilles' absence. I wanted to go see the old man. I wanted to talk to him. I vowed to do just that when I took him is cake later this eventing. I made the decision to question him about what Haytham said, and what happened with the Order all those years ago. Part of me knew it didn't really matter. I wasn't an Assassin. Their past shouldn't matter to me. But that history did concern a man I cared about – two of them, in fact. I felt that made it my business. I deserved some insight as to why my father in law was making claims about Achilles and why he was so adamant about convincing Connor that the Templars were a more noble group. I knew he had it in his mind to change my husband's point of view. I knew the truce between Connor and Haytham was a ploy to get the Assassin to renounce his title. I just didn't know how to make Connor see that. I suppose that was a lesson he would have to learn on his own.