Connor had gotten the letter from his father four hours ago. He had been helping Cormac babysit the foreign Templars, to varying degrees of success. For the most part, they did keep out of trouble, but as Haytham, Williams and Bauers did not return, the others got more and more restless, as concerns over why they were being delayed started to circulate. This was made worse when a letter from the local Templar leader stated that the three of them had left when they were supposed to, and that all three of them were whole and in good health and spirits as they left.
Lee had to go back to the Patriots, lest his absence be seen as suspicious, given that the other was one of the better tacticians that the Patriots could count on. That did not make things any easier, particularly as the two English Templars muttered about how it was treasonous towards England and English Interests for the Templars to have sided against one of the most powerful empires of the era, not to mention foolish as no colony had ever successfully broken from the empire from which they were created.
When the letter arrived – addressed to Connor specifically in his father's hand and heavily encoded – Connor had initially been very relieved. But as he read the letter, finding out what had happened on the trip back (and where his lover was currently staying) tension and worry began to mount within Connor all the more fiercely. He told Shay privately, away from prying ears and eyes what had actually happened. As for Haytham's location… He had merely said that Haytham felt that he was safe, and that the other was in a tiny frontier village a few days' travel from New York.
They fed their nosy guests the line that Haytham had taken ill, and was currently resting in a small town and would return to New York when he was well enough to travel, as well as reasonably certain he would not potentially infect all of them in the relatively close quarters of the manor. Williams and Bauers were afflicted with the same illness and were taking a turn for the worse. Connor had then spoke up saying that he knew where specifically his father was staying, and if they would not mind, he would take medicine for the three of them in the hopes that he would make it in time to save at least one of the sickly travelers.
He loaded up half of his saddlebags with medicines and bandages, as the guests were watching him as he left for Homestead, telling him to tell them of their well-wishes and prayers for their sickened brethren's return to full health in a speedy fashion. Connor promised to tell the three of them.
Germain called out as Connor was about to leave, having just gotten on his horse "What illness did you say that Master Kenway, Master Williams and Lady Bauers had? I do not quite remember."
Connor tried not to twitch at the sound of the smarmy and irritating arsehole's voice. While Germain was nothing less than polite and sometimes what many would view as charming… Something about the Frenchman ground on every last nerve that Connor possessed. He counted to ten mentally, as he fought not to verbally lash out at the Templar, gritting his teeth as he spat out "Some form of influenza. If you do not mind, Master Germain? I will leave to tend to my father… And the other two." Connor lashed his horse, coaxing him into a canter.
The breeze floated Germain's words to an equally irritated looking Shay (who was genuinely worried for his grandmaster's health. It was something that softened Connor towards the infuriatingly perceptive Templar that the other genuinely cared for his father as a person.) "He is certainly a devoted son, Master Cormac. Almost as stubborn as his father."
"Leave him be, Germain. The lad's already lost his mother and it's –" Shay ground out. Connor did not catch the rest of the sentence, as he was both out of range and the wind shifted direction.
It felt as though time stretched on for far too long, and that it took him longer than it should have to arrive at Davenport Homestead. He was worried for how his father was fairing, as it was a good possibility that Haytham had not said the full extent of his injuries, even in a coded letter, in case it was intercepted, or if Connor was forced to reveal the full contents of the letter to the others in the mansion.
He found Norris going to his mine, as it was early morning and walked towards his friend, asking "How are you?" Connor was worried what might happen if Achilles found out that his father was injured and in Homestead. His mentor had argued that trying to make peace with the Templars would only cause pain and bloodshed as Templars were treacherous and vile beings who were only loyal to their own interests. The temptation to at least attempt to kill the injured Templar Grandmaster might prove too much for his mentor, truce be damned.
"I am well. About a week back a fancy looking Englishman came into Homestead, half-dead. Dr. White has been taking care of him with Diana's help. Haytham – as he calls himself – is still in the doc's home. He is healing very well, and getting restless." Norris answered cheerfully. There was a rumor going around Homestead that Haytham knew Connor well, but how and why remained a mystery.
"Thank you. I… I was about to ask. He sent me a letter saying he was here, as well as injured and recovering from illness." Connor responded, shifting a little and looking towards Lyle's house, quite obviously wanting to see this mysterious Haytham for himself. Connor was obviously worried for the other's current state.
"I have to head off to the mine, Connor. I hope that you have a good day. Hopefully I will see you at the inn tonight?" Norris offered, trying to give the other a graceful way out of the conversation.
"Yes, I will be staying at Homestead until father recovers enough to return to New York. Have a good day, Norris." Connor responded before hurrying off towards Dr. White's house, completely unaware that he had spoken a certain word in English.
Norris stared after Connor, rooted to the spot as he reeled in shock at the revelation. He was trying to process the information when Myriam poked him with the tip of her bow, asking "What has you so startled? There are no soldiers after Big Dave again, are there?"
"Connor is here, looking for Haytham. Haytham is Connor's father." Norris managed out, voice full of stunned surprise.
"… Now that I think about it, the two of them do look quite a bit alike. They have the same nose and chin, as well as broad shoulders and impressive height." Myriam responded, somewhat surprised, but feeling as though they should have figured it out sooner. From what Diana had said she had accidentally overheard Dr. White speaking to Haytham about Connor after Haytham's fever broke, they had to know one another well. Given that one of the letters that Haytham had sent off had been addressed to Connor, it had been another clue.
