Part I, Chapter 4 - April 1716
Mary Read let her boots sink into the white sands of Tulum. The pirate was relieved to feel the sinking ground after weeks at sea.
"James!" one of the Assassins called out to her.
She smiled and waved, "S'been a while, eh?"
"I know you've just arrived, but the mentor wants to see you right away!"
He's likely in a foul mood again. …It must be about that. "Z'at so? Right then- thanks."
Stepping into Ah Tabai's personal hut, she kneeled and bowed to her mentor. But the master Assassin demanded, "Explain yourself, Mary. There is no need for formalities." He took from beneath his table a letter she had sent him several weeks earlier, and he held it up.
Still kneeling, she prepared to deliver the speech she had composed on the way to the hut, but Ah Tabai, whose patience had visibly worn since Mary last saw him, read the letter aloud formally, "I have located Captain Edward Kenway, the man who posed as Duncan Walpole and selfishly carried out the traitor's final act betrayal. With full grasp that this is man who handed the map detailing our encampments to the Templars, indirectly causing the slaughter of our associates in Havana, I humbly ask that all plans to execute Kenway be ceased, as I will handle this task. The responsibility is mine. Your loyal and grateful colleague, Mary Read," Ah Tabai finished reading and asked, "How does it go, now that you have handled Captain Kenway?"
"Edward lives," she started, continuing despite her mentor's deepening frown, "He's a fellow pirate, an' I know 'im close. A smart, tough lad. Ruthless too, if need be. 'ell- the man could an' would easily rid those ye send after 'im. I asked to handle 'im personally fer this reason."
He took a deep, composing breath, "Is that all?"
"Mmm…" she lingered, "Moreo'er, I don't know if I could fergive meself if me mate were to be kill'd by our own doing."
The tan man scoffed, "And you let him go? The man took down several of our most skilled and principled men and women! You say yourself, Kenway is not much more than a greedy, self-obsessed brute. I wouldn't expect you of all among us to be one to choose emotion over reason, Mary."
Her calculating eyes dared keep his gaze, "I am takin' me reason into consideration, mentor. An' it's tellin' me that Kenway's a righteous man b'neath 'at avarice o' his. I can tell. He's merely… lost. Goin' down the wrong path," she pleaded, "But the man can change. I ask o' ye to leave him be. It'd give me a great peace o' mind."
Ah Tabai kept still, but still tense, as he considered her words. Then he sighed and replied, "Very well. I respect your decision. I will officially call off all orders to pursue Captain Kenway, instead of simply halting them. I will almost go as far as to encourage the Order to find it in themselves to have mercy on the man- despite how he's treated our brothers," he halted as he studied her disguise, "and sisters."
She bowed her head, relieved, "Thank ye, mentor. Fer understandin'."
"However," the tan man carried on sternly, "Do not expect full forgiveness from us. Remember- the creed asks us to be wise, and we have to consider that we must be cautious with the captain. Again, as you yourself said, he is selfish, unruly, skilled, and therefore dangerous. In any case, we cannot help our lack of trust. I know you understand, Mary. I simply must reinforce what we stand for."
She nodded, determined, "Ah, an' I should let ye know…" she hesitated briefly, "I've invited 'im to meet me 'ere-"
"You've WHAT?!" his eyes widened again in outrage.
"He's come to know much o' Roberts an' the observat'ry after all. He could 'elp us," she realized her point was rather convincing, "The door that's said to lead to the sculpture o' the sage- I thought to explore it with 'im. 'Ave 'im verify Roberts is who he claims." She concentrated, What else would justify my bringing the rogue to Tulum…? Ah!
"An' also," she decided to nail in her final justification, "He's got the sense."
Ah Tabai was, again, speechless for a moment as he thought over her words, "It… is a bright idea," he sounded impressed, even, as he shook his head side to side, "You stupefy me once more, Mary," she inwardly celebrated her success, yet he sighed, "But, again, though I am rather lenient with you, I cannot say I will be the same with Kenway. We are all on our guard, no matter who lands on our shore," he shook his head again in contempt of the reckless pirate before asking, "Does he know about you as Mary Read?"
She smiled crookedly, "Nah, he don't. With Kenway, I'd like to save it fer an appropriate time."
April 1717
The Jackdaw was headed for Kingston, where, hopefully, the end would begin- the end of Captain Edward Kenway's search for the observatory, of course. This was when he would realize the ultimate wealth. That was still to come, however. Till now, the pirate had only taken on mediocre quests that dished out mediocre amounts of money- a naval contract one week, island-scouring for chests the next. It was a rather slow method of gaining financial means, but he supposed it would be enough for a man who wanted an ample amount of money to sail smoothly through life in the short-run. For Edward Kenway, however, it wasn't enough of late.
The pirate felt restless as his ship roamed the tropics, as he had been feeling recently. The cloudy morning weather outside today didn't fit the usual climate of the West Indies. Edward didn't need a reminder of how today's weather matched his own unfitting mood.
Resting in the captain's cabin aboard his ship, Edward found himself thinking about James Kidd again. How was Kidd doing these days? Sure, he'd been asking himself the same question for near a year now, but he was still curious how the lad was faring. He hadn't seen the bandana-donning boy since last year, when he made a fool of himself and when Kidd simply reacted with the understanding and finesse of a man twice Edward's age.
It was because of that boy that he hadn't had thought sensually of a woman (or man, for that matter) for the longest while. It was likely because Edward centered his fantasies on this kid that he had started to stall on his search for Roberts. It may have been easier to find the Sage if he cooperated with one side of the Assassin-Templar rivalry, but if that were to be the case, he wouldn't have the freedom he currently had to do as he pleased. To add, he would have to face the boy more frequently if he took a side, which would serve as a troublesome and constant reminder of his blunder in confessing his feelings- even ifthe lad was unconditionally accepting and forgiving of Edward.
Trying to play both sides while bearing these emotions, however, was getting him nowhere.
The pirate had thought these same thoughts countless times throughout the past year, and it was true, sadly: he was getting nowhere. He looked around the cabin for something else to ponder over. Something new, perhaps.
There were some new things in the cabin. There appeared to be more treasure maps in the bins by the doors. Exotic pottery and other artwork lay in odd places Edward's eyes hadn't landed on in months. He supposed he had made some progress as he eyed the modifications he made to the cabin throughout the months.
But his thoughts wandered on Kidd again. This time, he wondered if the lad was after Torres and Prins in Kingston. Perhaps Ah Tabai had nominated another assassin to chase after them. This was the perfect chance for both Edward himself and the Assassins to intercept the Templar exchange and capture Roberts, and he should expect a hooded figure to hinder his plan once he made it to Kingston.
Before Edward could process it, he was inhaling sharply, his nose tickling. His eyes involuntarily shut as he let out a loud, head-whipping sneeze. The eruption wobbled the nightstand touching the bed. He felt the sensation return, but he didn't release anything, much to his dissatisfaction. Clearly conscious and aware now, he looked for the cause of his sneezing fit, as if there was someone telling him to sneeze, and the sensations were not simply a sign of those short-lived but tiring sicknesses. He found that the nightstand he had bumped was dust-ridden. After taking a more active glance around the cabin, he noticed that most of the place had a noticeable layer of dust.
So Edward decided to clean.
The captain opened the doors and windows of the cabin with a flourish, hoping that doing so let out more dust than it allowed in. He started with his cluttered desk, clearing maps and wiping off the exposed wood, dust silhouettes of the maps here and there. He worked his way from the desk in the center of the room to the cabin's corners. On a shelf, he swiped an assortment of trinkets to the ground, an ornate but useless compass among the knickknacks.
Scattering the objects on the floor, he uncovered a worn rag. Well, truth be told, it was once a handkerchief- "With love, Caroline" embroidered in red. Now the threads he held ran loose and the cloth was soiled with all sorts of substances. It had been too many long months since Edward placed the tattered cloth on the shelf. He only kept it to remind himself of his past intentions of earning back his wife. Now, though, that plan was as alive and vivid as the filthy handkerchief itself. Caroline seemed so… unreachable these days.
His teeth clenched as he wondered when he last thought of the woman.
Having seen Laurens and Prins in Kingston, Edward and Adéwale left the crew to themselves to pursue their targets, "When we see the Sage, Adé, you bring in the rest of the gold, make the swap, and get out. I'll be watching from close by."
However, Adé refused to get involved, "No, Kenway. You run dis scheme alone, at de risk of losing de faith of your crew. It makes me ill to think of you bartering wid dat wretched slavuh."
"C'mon, mate. Once we have the Sage, we'll all be rich!" no one was stopping the pirate from obtaining the Observatory.
"Not if young Mastuh Kidd gets to him fuhst," the quartermaster pointed behind his captain.
"Kidd?" Edward faced the direction his quartermaster indicated. Sure enough, Kidd in all his stealthy glory stood at a fruit stand, keeping an eagle eye on Torres. Perfect. Another distraction. And of all the assassins that could hunt down Torres and Prins, it's him. Why did they have to encounter one another now?Edward saw the lad's not-so-hidden hidden blades and remembered the threat he posed to his mission in obtaining Roberts, "Jaysus, that lad's here to kill him."
Kidd appeared to have already noticed his fellow pirate, who was also his admirer. The boy was just as stunned to see him, "Edward! What the hell are ye doin' here?"
They made it appear as if they were inconspicuously joining in on the conversation of a few passersby. "I'm tailing these men to the Sage. Can you hold off 'till he appears?"
This was news to the lad, "The Sage is here?"
"Aye. And Prins is leading us straight to him!"
They hopped into some shrubbery to listen in on Torres and Prins's conversation. Edward took his chances and darted past them into a wagon of hay. Kidd followed suit, crushing the blonde in the pile.
If they weren't on a mission with their targets a few body lengths away behind a column, Edward would have let out a yelp.
"Just me bloody luck," Kidd hissed quietly as he crawled about within the wagon, "Two major targets, and I'm kept from killin' 'em both."
"Steady, Jim. We're close. Don't worry."
Kidd scoffed, and Edward realized just how close they were, together in the pile of hay. Edward was lying on his back, Kidd on top of him. He tried getting in a crawling position beside the boy, mindlessly pressing his thigh against the area in between his legs. Kidd elbowed him for it as he also shifted away from the other man, which only caused Edward to recoil and dig his boot into the boy's calf.
"That's me leg!" They shifted about more, rustling the hay.
"Hush up! They're coming."
The Templar and slaver passed by, oblivious to their stalkers. After confirming the distance between them by using eagle vision, the pirates slipped out of the haystack and creeped along the corners of the buildings, keeping out of sight. Edward climbed a nearby edifice to get a better view, separating himself from Kidd.
After a few minutes of tedious tailing, the pirate had completely lost track of his accomplice. He didn't pick up the boy's presence anywhere in a 20-meter radius. Where was he? Their two targets were almost making their deal concerning Roberts!
Edward leaped into another conveniently placed haystack in an area surrounded by guards in red. He took down a few of them to clear a path he could creep around in and keep up with his targets. He remained concealed in the bushes, where he reunited with his friend.
"Now's the time!" Kidd whispered impatiently and showed himself for an instant.
"No!" Edward pulled him back into the greenery, "Not until we see the Sage."
They heard Prins shout to Torres in his shrill voice, "I'll see the money!"
Torres handed the slaver a jingling pouch and Prins asked more concerning Roberts. After receiving a dodging reply from Torres, he threw back the coins, "Perhaps another day."
Torres sounded more than ticked off, "What?"
"Next time, see to it that we are not followed!", yelled Prins. Edward's heart skipped a beat, as did Kidd's. Probably. "Deal with this!"
The pirates sighed and revealed themselves as Prins and Torres disappeared behind the corner, where five British soldiers rushed in.
"Ya cocked up me kill, Kenway!" Kidd hollered at his ally as he clashed swords with a brute.
Edward shouted back, "For a better cause!" He briefly wondered if there was a strategy to quickly eliminate the five guards, and he used a couple smoke bombs. Both the soldiers and Kidd were blinded by the smoke screen, but Kidd caught on in a moment. The smoke offered the pirates blessed with eagle vision a chance to strike against the blinded guards who were unaccustomed to such methods.
Edward turned to a sixth guard he hadn't detected and raised his wrists, hidden blades lethally drawn. Just then, his eyes met Kidd's frantic ones, and both men froze before he slashed the guard.
The boy was poised tall and majestically in the midst of the smoke. The strands of his dark hair that were unbound by his bandana were drifting in the direction of the breeze, while his face, tilted up, scowled.
The lad's lips moved expressively, and his exposed throat bobbed in harmony with the sounds he made to speak. But Kidd was whirling away from Edward, the dark hair and gold clothes twisting along with him, as he began to sprint to where Prins escaped.
Edward watched him bolt away, dazed, as his blades sunk into the guard's throat and chest. He took a step forward dumbly as he processed what the boy was doing and what he needed to do next. He took several more steps, his mind clearing and his pace quickening. Shite! He's going to kill him before he leads us to the Sage! In a second, he was sprinting after the lad.
"Jim, stop!" As swiftly as Edward was running, he wasn't gaining on Kidd. The civilians on the street were getting in his way, and he was forced to shove a few of them aside.
"Not this time, Kenway!" Kidd yelled. He sounded closer, at least.
Edward followed his friend to the rooftops, "Come on, man! We can work this together!"
"Ye had yer chance!" Kidd threw a smoke bomb, making him stumble and causing his eyes to sting. He was forced to remain where he was; his heightened senses failed him if he focused too much on his movements, and he couldn't risk making a wrong step.
"Stay your blade, Kidd!" he recovered and took off again, becoming more desperate as they neared Prins, "Wait!"
The boy used another smoke bomb, and as Edward halted to respond to the trouble, he also considered using dirty tactics to stop him. He didn't have to, however. Kidd hopped onto the ground and slowed down to feel his pockets for another smoke bomb. Edward took the opportunity, and finally tackled the lad.
"Damn ye, ol' scratch! Keep yer natty 'ands off me!" Kidd wrestled out of his tackle and shoved the blonde away.
So sorry if it felt like I was groping ya Jim, he thought bitterly."I can't let you kill those men, Kidd. Not until I've found the Sage."
"I been stalkin' that pig fer a week now, chartin' his moves," Kidd asserted. Edward scoffed and turned away, "An' here I find not one but two o' me targets... and ye rob me o' both!"
Edward gestured to the boy to be at ease, "Patience, man. You'll have your kills."
Fine, read the boy's face. "When I locate the Sage," Kidd scoldingly watched him, "Yer helpin' me take Prins. Got that?" He thrust his palm into Edward's chest, knocking the blonde out of balance momentarily, and walked off briskly.
Edward called out before he got too far, "If ya wish! And where are we to meet?"
Kidd stopped, turned and looked around, then pointed to something high off in the distance. "By the manor. Up 'round there!"
Edward followed the direction of the boy's arm and gazed at their rendezvous area, which was behind the leaves of nearby trees that obstructed his view. He was about to shout back when he turned back and saw that the young assassin was gone.
Evening
Edward took a seat at the top of the windmill, exhausted from scaling its dilapidated exterior. Kidd was already there, of course, patiently smoking a pipe as he watched the sun set.
"Wouldn't you prefer meeting in a pub?" Up here, it was rather windy and cold. But, then again, he supposed their bird's-eye view of Prins's manor didmake it easier to scheme. Moreover, the silence was rather comforting. The crickets and cicadas seemed to chirp a tranquil melody. It was more intimate than a noisy tavern.
Kidd wasn't in a much better mood than he was earlier, however, "I came to Kingston chasin' a target. Gettin' pissed ain't a priority."
"We could work together on this, you know. It's Laurens Prins you're after, and I want his prisoner."
"We're after the Sage, as well, Edward. Careful who ye cross."
He shrugged off his words and looked away from the boy, shifting his eyes at the plantation below them, "May the best man win."
Kidd ignored the stiffness between them, "A'ight. There's guards patrollin' 'at property from end to end. Looks to me like they use bells to signal trouble. See there?" he indicated one of the alarms, "We'll wanna disable those b'fore pushin' too far. With so many men about, we can't rely on stealth alone," Edward gazed at the boy as the younger man withdrew a tiny blade from one of his secret pockets, then he nonchalantly gazed back at the guarded plantation.
Meanwhile, Kidd went on with his proposal, "So, I'll do what I can to distract and draw their attention," he used the blade on his thumb, "Givin' ye a chance to cut 'em down." There it was again: he lad's voice fluctuated mellowly.
Edward pondered the plan as he studied the plantation.
"Ready?" Kidd asked. By his askew tone, the blonde deduced that the boy was smirking. He looked back at his mate, prepared to put their plan in motion.
And met the eyes of someone without a bandana to tie up strands of dark hair. Her exposed chest was graced with a tattoo, and her eyelides were enhanced with soot, likely from that pipe earlier. Her lips were tinted with what appeared to be blood. Indeed, they were smirking ever so slightly.
Edward almost frowned, and he involuntary leaned away, "Your name's not James, is it?"
"Not most days," she was suppressing a snicker, "C'mon." Whoever that was dived into a haystack below, and Edward simply put on his hood and followed suit.
Approaching the fence of the manor, the dark-haired pirate instructed Edward, "If you see Prins before I do, kill him and there'll be a bit of coin in it for you. Awright?"
Edward still wasn't thinking straight. How could he? "Damn, man. How is it you're a woman!?"
"Christ, Edward, is 'at some'n that needs explainin'? Now, I'm here to do a job. I'll let ye be amused later."
Right. This was their chance to capture the Sage. Pirate assassin James Kidd, if he existed, would not permit such an opportunity to go to waste.
Edward met up with the woman after sabotaging the alarm bells. It was time to see what she was up to regarding how they were going to get into the manor. Why she was in (or out of?) the disguise.
After giving her a nod, she stood up from the shrubbery they were hiding in and limped towards the gate, where the guards inside noticed her.
"Hold! Stand your ground!" They sounded unforgiving.
"Please," "Kidd" begged, "I been shot. I need aid."
Another guard chimed in sympathetically, "Christ, Thompson. Look at her. She's hurt!"
"Dreadfully, sir. I'm poorly," she breathed haggardly, "and faint."
Edward almost snickered at the acting. It was a bit tacky, given that he knew it was all a ruse, but the guards were convinced. The man named Thompson opened the gate and let the injured lady in, "All right. Take an arm, lass."
Kidd sighed in relief, not because of getting help for an injury, of course, "Bless you lads." It's quite the elegy, really, Edward thought.
She ended them with her wristblades, and strolled in.
Damn.
Inside the manor, the two split up again, Kidd in search of the Sage, and Edward in pursuit of Prins. The latter combed through two floors of the manor before sensing that the slaver was in his garden.
There he was. So many ways to kill a man. How should he do it? A berserk dart? A pistol shot square in the forehead? Strangling? Or perhaps he should assassinate the man Assassin-style: hidden blades.
Edward settled with his wrist blades, as tribute to a young man he once knew.
He sneaked easily onto a branch above Prins, flicked his wrist, and lept. He almost enjoyed feeling the slaver's insides tear as he dug the blade into the old man.
Laurens Prins gurgled and spat out some blood, "Why hang over me like a leering crow? To see an old man suffer?"
"You've caused no small portion of suffering yourself, Mr. Prins," Edward knelt beside the dying man, "Retribution, I suppose." He halted and thought over his own words, like he was onto something sage-like himself.
"You absurd cutthroats and your precious phil-o-so-phy," he rasped, "You live in the world, but you cannot make it move."
Edward shrugged, "You mistake my motive, old man. I'm only after a bit of coin," his voice trailed off.
Prins laughed, his voice wilting as well, "As was I, lad. As was I." The pirate captain watched the slaver go limp, and for a fleeting moment, he saw himself. His lips tightened in thought.
"Head's up, Kenway!" yelled someone familiar, "I found yer man!" Edward turned to the direction of the voice, anticipating a captured Sage.
But it was rather the opposite: "Kidd" was held hostage by Roberts. The barrel of his flintlock pistol was pressed to her head.
"I remember you," the Sage sneered as he clenched "Kidd", "The Templar from Havana."
What would Kidd do if he were in my position to get him out of this? Edward remained level-headed, "I'm no Templar, mate! That were just a ruse! We've come here to save your arse from this slaver."
"Save me? I work for Mister Prins."
"Well then he's a poor man to call master. He meant to sell you out to the Templars."
"You can't trust anyone, it seems."
Kidd knocked him back and hastily jumped from the balcony they were on. This left the Sage no chance to shoot her directly. Thinking quickly, he shot the nearby alarm bell, clanging it and alerting all the neighboring guards.
Edward remained still. Roberts could just as easily take a shot at his head. But the Sage withdrew into the manor.
"Roberts!" Edward growled. Just when they had him at their reach! An influx of men in red stormed into the garden, preventing him from chasing after the man.
The soldiers didn't notice "Kidd", who leapt into the bushes immediately surrounding the manor, "See yeon the other side!"
How to escape the torrent of guards? He found an opening: a path through the trees that would circle the manor.
It was a perfect getaway. The branches of the trees and the rooftops made a path leading straight back to the windmill: like someone or had designed, developed, and produced it just for his situation.
By now, only a few guards were chasing after him. Just barely out of sight, he plunged into a haystack no farther than five meters from "Kidd". The lass simply stood there as the five or so guards combed the area nearby. A particularly nosy one was about to poke his sword around Edward's hiding spot when the camouflaged pirate strangled him and pulled him in. Kidd. Do something. Why aren't they after you, hmm?
A minute or so later, Edward sensed the last guard making his way back towards the manor, and he vaulted over the side of the wagon and out of the pile of hay.
"Los' yer man again, didya?" Kidd sounded giddy, which was strange considering they just lost the Sage again. She crossed her arms playfully.
"Aye. Roberts is a devil, with a queer aversion to kindness," he shook his head and scoffed, "I suppose that's two men I've lost today," he eyed Kidd up and down. There's no way that chest is fake, so to say. "So... what's your real name, lass?"
She gave a sort of laugh, as if she was thinking it's about time, "Mary Read to me mum," she uncrossed her arms and drifted towards Edward, "An' them I call friends."
The blonde pirate was still baffled, despite the new information. She is a she, then? That explains mu-
"But not a word o' it to anyone," she went on emphatically. Edward stiffened as he felt a solid object press against his crotch, "Or I'll unman ye as well."
Edward yielded and took the threat without objection. He kept clenching his fists as he realized that what he felt between his thighs was her wristblade. She smirked and held his gaze, while he remained rigid.
Mary pulled away with an enticing wink and turned away. Edward finally let loose and allowed himself his own unseen rise of the lips. His eyes never left the woman as she strode down the hill. As the very top of her head disappeared from view, he tugged on his hood and made his way to his mobile headquarters.
"Is theh somethin dat stirs yo mind, captain?", Adé probed the empty-handed, tight-lipped captain as he silently passed him by. The quartermaster was too observant for Edward's peace of mind. The captain signed mentally while the darker man continued, leaning against the wall in between the doors to the captain's cabin, "Somethin dat stirs yo mind, aside de Sage dat got away?"
"How do youknow he fled?" Edward shot the man a sharp look.
"You do not hold him in captivity, and I have my doubt you would allow Mastuh Kidd to retain the Sage for himself," he smiled knowingly and motioned to his captain's free hands, "Even den, you do not complain- I know of your desire for de observatory. So I ask: what has got you tongue-tied now?"
Right, Edward thought, I can't have him knowing of my feelings- even if Kidd is female. So, now, I have another secret to keep… Hurrah. "It's just that, mate. Got away once more, the bastard."
"It is more dan dat, capn. You are too still and pensive for my liking. If you were to lose de sage, you would chatter endlessly of his loss. I have learned dis much of you by now," Adéwale chuckled and shook his head, "But I leave you to yourself," he stood up from leaning, "Howevuh, know you can rely on your quartermaster. Okeh?"
The dark man pat his friend on the arm, prompting a more buoyant look in the captain.
He has a fair point, Edward noted as he proceeded into the room, I need to keep my head on straight. Mary being Mary doesn't change anything. I am still legally tied to Caroline. He grunted as he shook off the padding of his uniform.
But that wink… Edward felt his trousers tighten around his pelvis.
No. Wasn't this past year enough to distract him from these… distractions? He originally came to the West Indies with the hopes of winning back his wife! Wife?
Yes, Caroline was his wife. The weathered handkerchief lay still on the round table in the center, a reminder of what used to be everyday life for him. He hadn't been faithful to her here in the West Indies, that he couldn't refuse, but it was no longer so simple when it came to why he was here. He couldn't be so sure he even planned on returning- sailing back to Britain- when there was so much in the Caribbean. There were countless things to do and so many places to explore. Among the more significant reasons of being here was to locate and obtain the Observatory, through which Edward could become unimaginably rich. Another cause that kept him here was how ideal the environment itself was. The lush greenery left and right was a pleasant contrast to the blues of the seas and skies around him. Damp, foggy Britain was jealous of the climate here. The rain of the West Indies was warm and comfortable, while that of Britain was melancholy. The sunrises and sunsets were breathtaking as well. He belonged here.
And, ultimately, shedid too. Kidd was here to stay.
Well, Read, rather, was here to stay- huh? Miss Read? That didn't quite suit her. He would still address her as "Kidd" anywhere public, of course, but…
He thought "Mary" was much more fitting for a lass as refined as she was robust, and he smiled sheepishly. His frustration diminished as he loosened his hairtie and placed it on the round table. Still, why did it have to be like this? Feeling something so… inappropriate. A serious affair wasn't what he was here for. The people he'd bedded for a night were insignificant; hey were there to fulfill his needs. There were no feelings bound, nor were there responsibilities. But Mary was different.
In any case, the task at hand was to amass a great deal coin that would sustain a lifetime of luxury. He would win back Caroline with his riches. He would enjoy a lavish life, and have quite the reputation; even the most seasoned pirates would speak the name "Kenway" with fear and utmost esteem. People of the higher classes would gape at his wealth, and women would swoon over him. It was his ultimate dream.
Wasn't it?
He sighed as he wondered where he could earn a considerable sum while Roberts lay low. Nassau seemed promising, but he'd have to talk it over with Adé when the sun rose. For now… Edward sighed again and clutched the sullied handkerchief, leaning against the large round table behind him.
So there was the matter of getting rich, particularly through finding Roberts. There was also the issue of his wavering marriage. Side romances are unnecessary. Yet another matter concerned his relationship with Kidd…
Examining the handkerchief once more, he was relatively appreciative of Caroline; particularly speaking, he was grateful towards her for leaving him. It had given him a sort of freedom, and it was the final shove that pulled Edward to the West Indies. But was it time to pursue something new?
He decided he would figure his life out, in time. Or it might figure itself out; whatever was going on with him would be fixed some day. It was possible he could regain passion for his wife. Why couldn't he fall in love with the same person again? Or was that not under his control anymore too? Was it under anyone's control? Bloody Kidd. It's all because of her… Bloody Kidd? Bloody Mary…? He let himself smile again, and placed the handkerchief behind him on the table.
He contemplated her two personas as he stood up and threw the bundle of his clothes indifferently towards a corner. Both of Mary's guises were rather fetching in their own ways- attractive to either sex, it seemed. In either form, he- she- had a way of spinning his head about. That was because…
She hadn't even changed in the first place. Male or female, James Kidd was essentially Mary Read. And Mary Read was James Kidd. Edward wasn't sure how he was comfortable with himself these past months, given that he had been fancying her male facade; if a bandana-donning lad had given him that suggestive wink, he was certain he would still feel something fresh and giddy rush through him now. Knowing that she revealed her true self to him added to the excitement of it all. The pirate asked himself hopefully about the wink that had been bothering him since he parted ways with the fellow pirate:
Did it mean something?
Edward dismissed the thought and tiredly rubbed his face with his palm, relieved from the reassurance of his heterosexuality, and excited about what that wink might suggest. At the same time, however, he cursed himself for admitting his feelings to the lad- lass, that is- so gracelessly. Couldn't he have conveyed his feelings with a little more of his usual charisma, at least? If he was going to completely let his wife go, he might as well have done it with style. Things were smooth and easy with Caroline; it went almost too smoothly. With Ki- Mary, however, things were more like… unlike anything else.
The pirate captain sprung into bed a different man than the when he got up from it that morning, but still with Kidd on his mind.
On a side note, doesn't Mary look like Tess from The Last of Us? And (ohmigod) does the name Tessa ring a bell? Eh? Eh?! …A bit farfetched for coincidences, I know. …How about this: Tess's voice actor's name is Annie, and Mary and Edward's friend is Anne Bonny? No? *Sigh* Oh? What are you saying now? You don't know who Tess and/or Tessa are? …Well, I prefer not to spoil you.
On another side note, I am a huge fan of hamsters- yes, the animal that's pretty much a rat with a shorter face and a shorter tail. Right now I have two boys, both are short haired and have the banded kind of fur pattern (I encourage you to look it up). One is muscular and has 'blonde' fur while the other is skinny and has black fur. By now, I don't really name my hamsters anymore (I've had so many of them), and these two were nameless when I bought them. But after I played Assassin's Creed 4 a couple months later and heavily shipped I just had to name them after Edward and Kidd.
