Chapter 8

An Encounter

Connor's POV

When I woke up, I saw Hickey's face.

"You…"

"Miss me swee'art? What? Nothin to say?"

"If you are here than Washington is safe."

"True, true. The thing is, I believe I've just been pardoned."

I looked out the door. There was Charles Lee…and my father. They opened the door for Hickey.

"Thank you kindly for the rescue gents."

"There can be no further mistakes Thomas. Am I understood?" my father said.

He started to walk away but Hickey stopped him.

"What about the Assassins?"

Father looked at him.

"He's here, they put him in the cell right next to mine. The girl is still out there, trying to find a way to get him out probably. Guess we didn't get 'em all eh?"

My father looked to Charles Lee.

"Deal with this Charles."

"At once, sir."

As my father walked away he looked at me. He didn't say anything he just looked.

"So what're we going to do?" Hickey asked.

He walked over and looked at me.

"You're that boy from the Continental Congress. Adam's little lap dog. I think I have an idea. Yes, three birds with one stone."

Three? SISIKA!

Sisika's POV

I pressed myself flat against the wall. I carefully reached up and grabbed the bars to the window.

"Ratonhnhake:ton?" I whispered.

"Sisika! What are you doing here?"

"Did you really think I was going to let you rot in here? I am here to get you out." I said.

He reached through the bars and took my hand.

"You need to leave. Hickey knows about you. They're going to come after you."

I smiled at him.

"They won't find me. Now tell me how I can get you out."

"No. You must find Washington and keep him safe. Go to Achilles."

"I will not leave you in here."

He moved his hand to the side of my face.

"I will be alright. But there's nothing I can do for Washington from in here. You are our only hope until I can get out of here."

Stray tears rolled down my cheeks and I shook my head. He wiped them away with his thumb and smiled softly.

"You have to go before they come back."

I closed my eyes and leaned into the palm of his hand.

"I'll be with you again soon. I promise."

I nodded and looked away.

"Sisika."

I looked back at him. He stroked my cheek and said,

"I love you."

My eyes went wide and I smiled happily. I leaned forward and kissed him through the bars. I pulled away and touched his cheek.

"I love you too."

He smiled.

"Now go. Go, little bird."

I smiled and nodded. I slid down and jumped into the hay. I looked around and then started to run. I heard a loud noise and a bullet hit my arm. I screamed and fell to the ground.

"SISIKA!"

I could hear Ratonhnhake:ton shouting my name. I looked up and saw Kenway. I glared at him and put my hand over my wound.

"You think you have honor, you think you're good people. You're a murderer and a monster. What will you do Kenway? Shoot me like you did my father? Or burn me like you burned my village? I do not fear you."

I had a knife ready for him. He walked forward and I threw it into his arm. I took that opportunity to run. I ran as fast as I could to the docks. The Aquila was there waiting for me. I ran onboard and Faulkner caught me.

"What happened girl?"

"They got him! They imprisoned him. I need to get to Achilles." I said.

"Aye, but first you need that arm looked at. The Captain would kill me if something happened to you."

I nodded and a few crew members took me. The bullet hadn't gone into my arm, it had simply cut it open. Kipps stopped it for me and then bandaged it.

"That should help it miss."

"Thank you."

He nodded and I went back up on deck.

Connor's POV

With Mason's help, I was able to get to Hickey's cell. He was lying on the bed, but when I took a closer look, I found it to be the Warden.

"Not who you was expecting, am I right?"

Hickey was standing in the door way. With him was Charles Lee.

"What have we here? I thought we'd finished off your kind."

"You would like that wouldn't you? To rid the world of those who do not share your views." I snapped.

He just laughed at me.

"Guilty as charged. Your meddling in the revolution has caused us no small measure of grief. It cannot continue, our work is took important. But what would you know, beyond all the lies Achilles feeds you and the tales you tell yourself."

"I know that the people wish to be free- and that men like Washington fight to make it so!"

He held his pistol to my face.

"Please, the man is weak. He stumbles and stammers through each engagement, making it up as he goes along. His pedigree is pathetic his military record even more so! I could go on and on but we'd be here for days. He must be dealt with. You and your little Indian girl as well. I will abide no more flies in the ointment."

I glared at him.

"You won't be able to touch her." I growled.

All he did was laugh.

"Here's how this is gonna work. First we bind ye, then we drag ye back to your cell. Then tomorrow, you go before the court, accused of plotting to kill good ol' Georgie. Maybe we can pin the murder of the Warden on you too. You did kill him after all. And who wouldn't take the word of Charlie over here? Once that's all squared away, well then…"

He made it show like he was being hanged. I pushed past him and tried to get Lee. He grabbed me and pinned me against the wall, his arm at my throat.

"All those years ago…the child in the forest was YOU."

"I said I would find you."

He started laughing again.

"And so you have. But not quite as you had expected am I right? You know all of this could have been avoided if you'd only done what I asked. Ah, but what's done is done."

That was the last thing I heard.

Sisika's POV

They were going to hang him! Achilles and I were in the crowd when they brought him. They threw him out and onto the street. I was very angry at this point. I saw Hickey pick him up and my blood boiled. He walked down and I could see all the cuts and bruises. He looked at me and smiled. I was glad for the rain, he couldn't see my tears. A woman pushed past me and hit him. I grabbed her and threw her back. I knelt down and put my hands on his shoulders.

"Ratonhnhake:ton."

Achilles came forward.

"You are not alone. Only cry when you need us…"

"Don't worry about me. You need to stop Hickey, he's…"

Hickey pushed me away and picked him.

"Up you go. Don't want to be late. Don't want to keep your lady here waiting either."

"Before this is over you will die." I said.

He shook his head and took Ratonhnhake:ton away.

"Now is the time my dear."

I looked at Achilles and nodded. I made my way up to the roof as Lee gave his speech. He put the hood over his head I prepared my knife.

He pulled the lever and I threw the knife. The rope was severed and I jumped down. Achilles gave him a hatchet but Hickey was already running. I threw another knife into his leg and he fell. That was when Ratonhnhake:ton got him. I got down and then ran to him. I jumped into his arms and he held me tight. They were pointing their guns at us.

"At ease men!"

I saw Putman come walking forward.

"That man is a heroe."

He walked up to us.

"The General can be so stubborn sometimes. Pifle he said when we warned him something like this could happen."

He kicked Hickey's body.

"Stop."

"He tried to kill the Commander. Nearly kill you and your lady as well. He was a scoundrel."

"But still a man." he said.

"Hm. You're nothing if not consistent."

"Where is Washington, I need to speak with him. Bounded off soon as your execution went sideways. He's likely on his way back to Philadelphia by now."

"Then so are we."

We started to walk off.

"Something wrong?"

"He's still in danger, Hickey did not act alone…" I said.

Ratonhnhake:ton put his hand on my back and we walked away.