Not a whole ton of Kiddway in this one but I wanted to open up that Mary has other people she knows and cares about within the order. If you want a song to feel sad about Kiddway over I recommend Oceans by The Bravery. Have a nice start to the weekend.


Tulum is just as I left it. The sky still it's beautiful blue and the jungle still it's lush green but beyond that the residents are preparing. I pass groups of assassins, offering waves that the familiar faces. Last I was here was before I left for Kingston and revealed more than I bargained for.

A few here know me as Mary. The healers do, including one of the healers' son, Ah Tabai, and the man I used to share a hut with when I first joined.

The one who most enjoys to seek me out is the healers' son. His given name is Keefer and from what he's said his family moved from Ireland a few years ago so his mother could learn the ways of the maya healers. This meant involvement in the assassin order.

He once said his father was an assassin but never brought it up again.

He's been training since I've known him. He himself wasn't supposed to know about me.

I bruised my stomach pretty bad during training once and ended up in the healers hut. Keefer came looking for his mother but ended up finding her tending to me and noticed that a mans waist didn't dip as mine does.

One long talk later and everything was back to normal.

He sought me out when he first got here, seeing me as a peer, granted I look like a man barely in my twenties and him being of only sixteen years then. It's been about two years since that time.

I find Ah Tabai watching the novices train with blow darts, aiming for straw filled dummies even if they don't often come very close. "James," he says curtly. "I have heard news of Prins's death. You said there was more you wanted to speak to me about."

"Aye. Torres was there."

He glances at me but leaves me with no other reaction. "What prevented his death?" He sounds more curious than upset but I know better than to expect such a reaction.

He's always kept a level head unless the situation involves the lives of our brothers and sisters. He won't be upset about the loss of a target I wasn't meant to be targeting.

"He was used to lure Prins out but escaped after I was spotted."

"You're not known for being spotted, James." I can hear in his voice that he doesn't appreciate my evasiveness. He wants the full story.

"Kenway was with me. He arranged for Torres to meet Prins so he could collect the sage. We were spotted and I lost them both. It wasn't until that night that we infiltrated the manor, killed Prins and lost the sage."

He nods, content with my answer but none too pleased by it. "You know he can't be involved." 'He' being Edward.

"He is no threat to us. He's more likely to join us than join the Templars."

"His presence is not one we want here. We cannot let him betray us again."

"He will realize the error of his ways."

"Until then he is not to be trusted," he finishes and the conversation seems to be over. "But we are glad to have you back."

"Glad to be back, mentor."

He pats my shoulder, my queue to leave. I almost make it to the hut I always stay in when I hear my name.

"James!" A young male voice calls.

"Keefer. Seems you haven't gotten yourself killed yet," I joke and ruffle his dark curly hair after he approaches.

"Save it for your pirate friends." He's always been a short one; a whole head shorter than I. "Speaking of pirate friends, when are we going to get justice for our brothers and sisters?"

I haven't talked about their deaths with him. It feels like a sore subject. I could have been their that day and it could have been him to kill me. I had friends who died too.

So the rumors have gotten to him. I shouldn't expect less from an island of assassins. "We're not going to," I say gravely.

"But that man..."

"Was mislead," I finish. "Now enough of this. How has your mother been?"

"She's been well but how can you still..."

"Listen," I give in. "He wants nothing to do with us or the templars. He'd rather pretend we don't exist so he can find his prize."

"You mean he won't betray you," he grumbles at the ground.

"You know the conditions on his life are ones I didn't make. If he does, he has to be killed and it will most likely be by my hand."

He gives me a sympathetic glance and drops it. "Sorry. So..." He teeters on his heals for a moment. "when are you next setting sail?"

"After the attack."

"Can I... come with you?" He shuffles his feet in the dirt to calm his ever tightening nerves.

"A pirates life is not for everyone," I warn. I've known of his interest in my line of work for awhile but never expected him to want to join. "You've only finished your training three months ago."

"Yes but..." He takes a moment to collect his initial courage. "I've never done anything before and you always seem to have the best adventures."

"We've hit a rough patch recently. Anything could happen I don't want ya in the middle of that."

"What kind of 'rough patch'?" He asks, unsure.

"Thatch has retired to the Carolinas' and Kenway went after him. I can't hope for him to come back and I don't know what this means for the lot of us."

The prospects of neither of them coming back crosses my mind.

"But I could try. I don't want a full time stay. I just want to see this part of the world." He eyes shine brightly like every other young hopeful. "Take me to Havana and I'll work until we get there."

It's not that bad of a bargain.

"Fine but you have to clear this up with everyone and make sure this is what you want."

"Thanks James." He smiles broadly and turns to run towards the healers hut. "You won't regret it." He almost trips over his own feet on the way back.

Poor kid.

My crew, that contains mostly assassins, have already settled in. Most of them find it easier sailing with me. They can spread their outreach, take contracts easily together, and don't have to go alone.

I prefer to take my contracts by myself. It leads to less errors and it's easier to stay quiet alone. Edward only muds things up.

I make my way to my hut, opening the door and walking straight into a large man I haven't seen in quite some time.

"James," he says with a rather large smile. He's been my roommate for a long time now. "It's been awhile."

"It has," I say just as warmly. He's always been a very kind man. "How are the novices doing?"

He had decided a long time ago that he would leave the death to others and instead put his skills towards the training of the novices. He has a way with people that requires no threats or intimidation; only compassion that makes others genuinely respect his words and criticism to their training.

"Better than I expected actually. Just not with the blow darts. They will need them soon enough though."

"And you? How have you been? Not putting too much stress on yourself are ya?"

"No... maybe a little," he attempts to joke but he's not the best at hiding his feelings.

"We might be able to take this one entirely at sea or at least thin the crowd enough that they won't get too far into the jungle."

"That's comforting. It's always hard to lose someone who never really got a chance to prove them self," he says mournfully.

"Aye."

"Time will only tell." He blinks a few times to clear his head and looks to me. "This topic may pain me but it has helped get things off my chest."

I nod to him, seeing a deep sadness in his eyes.

We part ways. I enter the cabin and head to the basket beside the bed that has been named mine. The hut is small, containing two beds, a table and two chairs.

I change into a loose shirt and worn trousers. No use in ruining my nice leathers during training.

Every fight I enter makes me nervous in some way. I'm not going to live forever, with my life dedicated to the creed and my position as a pirate captain the two most important things in my life, any day could be the last. It only drives me to fight harder.

I leave the hut and cross the courtyard. This will be a long week.


It's early. The stars high above in the expansive dark sky but I can't sleep. Again.

I've made my way into the jungle and found myself a tree to sit in. The cool night air, the bark scratching at my palms, and the sea lapping the shore in the distance all help wash away my heavy thoughts.

I'm nervous. Not about the raid, I'm here so I put that trust in myself and can only blame myself, but I'm nervous about Thatch.

He's slowed down since those first days in Nassau. He's got to be almost in his fifties. I can't even hope to make it that long.

Vane will also be there but I don't trust the lout. He'll act too aggressive when Thatch needs gentle coaxing if we ever want him back.

Then Kenway. I just... I don't have words for what I'm feeling right now.

The whole situation doesn't feel right.

I hear the cracking of branches and she a familiar mop of dark brown hair. He climbs up beside me silently and I'm content not speaking.

"Mary, have you ever been in love?" he blurts out like the words have stayed on the tip of his tongue for ages.

"I reckon so."

"How do you tell a woman that you have feelings for her?"

"Well first you have to tell me who this lass is and I can help." I put my back against the trunk to face him.

I really don't think a pirate is the best choice for courting advise but I'll try.

"Well... she... Anne Cormac. You know her right?" His face turns dark red in the cool breeze.

"Aye I do. She's the tavern wench at the Old Avery in Nassau. Pretty red head not far from your age, attempted to bed me the last time I was there."

"Yes that's her." I didn't know a face could get that dark of a red.

"Well when it comes to men I think Anne knows what she wants. She likes adventure and if you get injured she'll stitch ya up but leave you with a few extra bruises for scaring her. She enjoys her rum and is quite intelligent but pretends she's not to get foolish men to bend to her will before she throws them out on their arses. Nobody messes with Annie."

He smiles, genuinely. "Yep that's her."

"May I ask where you met her? You haven't been anywhere in the Caribbean but here."

"In Ireland when we were young, I was her neighbor at the time and she was a boy called Louis, hiding her relation to her father from his wife. I heard she was here and just thought I could... yeah."

I remember when love was that easy. Innocent and sweet. It was enjoyable for a time.

"I think Annie will be charmed by the way you've turned out," I joke, smirking.

"Hey," he says feigning offense. "I hope she is."

"No need to hope Keefer. I should warn you though." I sit up straighter and draw his full attention. "Anne is married. She doesn't care much and he's usually never around but it's something you should know. She Goes by Bonny now"

His face falls. "I-I..." and he never finishes his sentence.

"Anne doesn't love the man," I reassure. "To Nassau it is. In the least just to see an old friend."

"Thanks Kidd."

"I needed to see her anyway."

"Now that I've poured out to you, you have to fess up as well," he says like an excited child after getting a sweet.

"Don't have anyone," I shrug.

"Come on," he protests. "There has to be."

"No time for it. I'm either out on a contract or I'm fetching myself a prize as the others would call it."

"You won't be able to hide it for long. I'll be on your ship at the end of the week," he prods with a smile.

"A whole lot of looking for nothing then."

He pouts. I've never seen someone really stick their bottom lip out without it being a joke but he does. "Fine keep your secrets," he huffs and jumps down. "See you later, James."

"Aye and I forgot to ask. You fighting on my ship or are you waiting on shore?"

"Nowhere but your ship Kidd."

"Good."

He trots off and I'm left with my silence again. I hope Kenway hasn't killed himself.


We've been in the water for an hour. The ship bobbing lightly and everyone aboard's nerves strung tight. Only a mile off shore, we wait for signs of movement on the horizon. Sometimes things like this take minutes, other times hours.

More men have boarded than we keep for standard crew. No one wanted to wait and hope for the best but we can only take so many.

"Captain! Sails on the horizon!" The lookout calls down, rousing everyone from their state of waiting.

Two sets of sails touch the horizon in the far distance. The wind has been dead all morning; they won't be on us for another few hours.

"We wait, men!" I call and they continue their restless pacing.

It's two ships, one larger than the other. They wouldn't have been expecting another ship so I'm willing to bet mine that they aren't as heavily armored as they should be nor stocked with enough fire power. If worse comes to worse we engage the larger of the two and let the smaller go ashore to the rest of the assassins.

The Templars have lost the initial vigor of their attacks, opting to slowly pick us off but we won't let that happen. There are too many innocents in harms way; the children of assassins, spouses, and our injured. They'll hit us where it hurts even if it means stooping so low. It's not that hard for them actually. Nothing gets lower than a Templar.

Now we wait.

Mortars blaze across the clear, blue Caribbean sky. They skim the side of the ship but land more often in the calm ocean than on the ship.

They aren't the most seasoned of sailors, which is a good thing but this could also mean they were chosen because of their fighting skills.

"Ready the mortars!" I call above the distant booming and rushing of my own men.

"Fire!" The heavy rocking of the ship is reassuring in it familiarity.

The mortar fire blazes a path across the sky hitting the large ships mast and deck. A cheer rolls through the crew before they return to their crouched positions beside cannons or sprinting across the deck with barrels of gun power.

The ship cuts through the water quickly, heading to ram our side. Only problem is they don't have a ram.

They hit us bluntly, attempting to turn quickly and fire but they don't have the man power aboard.

"Ready the heavy shot!" I call out. "Fire."

The explosions of gun powder boom and crack along with the sound of the cracking wood making up the hull of the vessel.

"Fire!" I belt out and my men comply, the other assassins ready themselves for boarding.

The schooner makes it's way around the back, noticing it's a losing fight and heads in the direction of the shore. "Let off the barrels!"

Barrels of gun power are lit and tossed back onto the ship as it passes. They land on the deck, spraying blood along with fire as they go off. They won't have many men to man cannons now and won't fire on the beach.

"Heavy shot! Fire!" They've pulled along side, so close I can see the fear in the mens faces, the terror in their eyes, and the shaking in their hands.

The last wave is aimed higher at the deck. They scramble for cover much to their captains distaste as he spits and shouts, carrying on like the battle is not already lost.

"Board the bastards!" I call and the men spring to action, jumping the gap between ships, swinging across ropes, and walking across the masts, looking like rats called out of hiding.

I unsheathe my sword and turn to the dark haired boy who's about to jump the gap. I can only hope I don't bring him back hurt.

I jump across and engage the first man I come to. I wasn't wrong in assuming these men were picked for their fighting skills and not their sailing but most of these men look like they could lose their footing at every move of the current.

The man wields and axe, striking downward at me. I slip by easily, and insert my hidden blade between his ribs. I have no time for a plan. A man carrying a Spanish rapier makes quick slashes at me that I'm able to parry.

He draws my attention long enough for another swordsman to take his place behind me. I back up against the railing and as the stalk closer, I use my free hand to pull out my pistol and get a clean shot through each of their chests.

I pull out my other pistols and unload on the surrounding Templars. As the Templar drops in front of them a few assassins send me a nod and move on.

A man charges at me, lifting his sword, yelling out some cry before swinging at me. I turn and block his attack but it's too late. Another man was waiting and I've left my back open to. His blade cuts into my shoulder slicing diagonally.

I feel every inch of the blade as it's digs into my skin and splits an old scar. A pained yell tears from my chest.

I catch the first mans blade against the pommel of mine and watch the horrified look wash over his face as he looks over my shoulder. I glance behind quick enough to see a dark haired Irish boy cut down the man behind me.

I knock the blade out of the mans hands and cut his throat with my hidden blade.

The fighting continues. A battle of give and take, but the blood that covers the deck is only from one side. We show a clear advantage.

The man in front of me drops his sword and lifts his arms, surrendering. I walk behind him and kick the back of his knees to knock him down.

The others follow by his example and are lead to the bloody deck beside him.

I stand tall, confident, in spite of the sharp pain in my shoulder. There are only five of them. "Strip them of weapons," I order.

My men take their swords away from the places they were dropped and take their pistols off their waists.

"Who sent you?" I ask calmly, playing with my blade.

"Templars," one answers simply.

"I need a name." I place my blade at his neck and he looks like he's about to loose the contents of his stomach.

"The captain never told us," he says quickly. "We wouldn't have went along if we knew."

"Knew what?" I kneel down in front of him.

"You are James Kidd, right?" He falters as my name falls out of his mouth. "We aren't sailors. We were just following the captains orders."

I stand and turn to the assassins who wait for my call. Even if I'm not their captain, they see the ship as mine. "We'll take them to Ah Tabai. He'll make the call and my men; take anything of value and we'll see if she's not salvageable. One of you may be getting your own ship today."

I turn to my ship and climb over the side, my shoulder aching and throbbing.

A hand on my opposite shoulder stops me. "Kidd are you okay?" Keefer asks. He looks scared and glances at my back, my poor coat is torn now. That's fucking perfect.

"Why would you ask that?" I ask sarcastically.

"You took a damn blade to the shoulder." He argues.

"It could have been to my head," I say seriously. "It could always be worse. I won't deny I feel like shite but it's not as bad as the one on my face was."

"This happens to you often?" He asks, a bit panicked now that his initial anger is gone. He's picking up the profession soon.

"I wouldn't be captain if it did." I stop and turn back to him. "Go make a call for the injured and a few men to row us back."

"Aye, captain," he says mockingly with a piss poor salute.

I roll my eyes at him and watch as he jogs off and makes the call, his young voice not carrying as well as he wished it did.

"If you insist on wearing the corset, which I know you will," she says patronizingly, "don't keep it tight or on for very long. The skin needs to heal and that only pulls on it."

"Fine," I scoff. "I'll just risk revealing everything to all the pirates of the West Indies."

"Your tone, Kidd. Watch it." She smiles at the glare I send her.

She's a natural mother and when her only child isn't around she sees fit to claim all others around her as her own.

I reach for the corset but she stops me. "Two days is all I ask." She passes me my shirt and helps me shrug it on. "Keefer will keep an eye on you for me."

"I offered him a place on my ship. Not the position of my guardian."

She smiles and helps me with my coat. "He'd be too scared to tell you to do anything," she laughs.

"I can hear you!" Keefer yells from the other side of the door.

"That was the point dear," she chides.

He groans and mumbles something to himself. "I won't wear it don't worry. You said two days and were setting out the day after tomorrow so I'll just have to be careful."

I can still feel the tearing and pinching of the needle through my skin as she pulled it taut. It's not the first time and not the last. The end of someone's blade will end me eventually.

I stand and walk out of the tent, Keefer falling into step beside me. "Ah Tabai wants to speak with you."

"Well enough."

"Feeling alright?"

"Aye."

"Not to change the subject or anything but I heard you're still working with Kenway and you didn't tell me." I don't even have to look at his face to see his distaste.

"Aye. I've told you before. He's a friend."

He groans and walks faster to stay ahead of me in his small fit. He then slows back into pace with me. "You're protecting him. Why?" His tone is almost childlike.

"I'm not protecting him. He just got himself involved in something he shouldn't have." He still looks sour. "Are you jealous that I have other friends?"

I laugh and he cracks a smile. "From what I've heard you're a rough group. Loud, annoying, and usually drunk."

"That's the point. If you can scare the piss out of someone with one look you keep an image for yourself. Then they know you by name. We aren't bad people, Keefer and as soon as you step on my ship again you'll be a pirate."

"I know and I'm prepared for that."

"No one really is," I sigh.

The assassins all look well, the injured still being treated by healers but they are only a minority. Everyone got a few cuts. Two weren't as lucky. One lost their life aboard and another on the beach.

"James," Ah Tabai says calmly from his place in the center of the ruins where the assassins symbol is clearly carved out of the stone.

"Mentor."

"The final decision on what happens to the men will be decided by all our master assassins. We hope to reach a decision by tonight." He's collected and calm as always but his eyes hold a certain happiness at the outcome of today.

We expected the worst and hoped for the best.

"I live to serve."

I enter the old ruin as I have many times before, to the place we always meet to discuss matters like this.

The creed is the most important thing I have. It gives me an ideal to strive for, a way of life to pursue. People like Kenway can think it nonsense, blinding, or like serving a master but those words will never sway my faith that this is for something better. I live to serve.