Chapter 14
Responsible
Connor's POV
When we arrived in New York, Sisika decided to stay next to me instead of taking to the rooftops. My father was taking to a man and he held up his hand for us to stop.
"We need to know what the Loyalists are planning, if we are to put an end to this."
"I've tried! But the soldiers themselves are told nothing now- only to await orders from above."
"Keep digging. Come find me when you have something worth sharing."
The man nodded and walked. Kenway now turned his attention to us.
"We're so close to victory. A few more well placed attacks and we'll be able to put an end to this Civil War and be rid of the crown."
"What do you intend?" I asked.
"Well nothing at the moment- since we are completely in the dark."
"I thought the Templars had eyes and ears everywhere." I said.
He turned and scowled.
"Oh we did. Until you and Sisika started cutting them off."
"Your contact said orders from above. It tells us exactly what we must do." Sisika said.
"Track down the Loyalist commanders."
He seemed impressed.
"A good idea. Come along then."
"Hold it!"
He stopped and turned again.
"There's one last thing you need to do." He raised his brow. "Apologize to Sisika. Apologize for burning her village and killing her father."
He turned his eyes to Sisika. I put my hands on her shoulders.
"He does not need to apologize. He wouldn't mean it either way."
She walked away and I stared after her.
"Her father didn't have to die. All he needed to do was listen."
I glared at him.
"The only reason she hasn't killed you is because you're my father. I will expect you to apologize, and mean it."
We went after Sisika and I took her hand.
"I'm sorry." I said.
She shook her head and squeezed my hand.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Let's just find these commanders and be done with it."
"As you wish."
She nodded.
Sisika's POV
I never expected an apology from Kenway. And even if he did I knew it would not be sincere. I just wanted to finish what we'd come here to do and be rid of him. We tracked down the commanders. They were in the burnt down portion of New York. We climbed a building and I jumped to another.
"I am unconvinced. To reinforce them would leave New York exposed. It's hard enough maintaining order with our current numbers. Cut in half…"
"Yet if we do not join them, they risk defeat. And then what?"
"Well they should have come by sea…"
I looked over at Ratonhnhake:ton and Kenway.
'They're talking in circles. We'll learn nothing watching as we are."
"Then what do you propose we do? March in there and demand answers?" Ratonhnhake:ton asked.
"Well, yes."
My eyes widened and he jumped. I looked at Ratonhnhake:ton and he just shook his head.
"Connor, Sisika! A little help here?"
Ratonhnhake:ton nodded and we jumped down. As they were about to fire at me, I used one of their own as a shield. I threw him aside and ran at the others. I brought one to the ground and then cut the throat of another. When I'd finished with them I turned and saw Ratonhnhake:ton kill the last. I saw his arm bleeding and I ran forward.
"Ratonhnhake:ton!"
He looked at me and I looked at his arm. Kenway was tying up the commanders.
"I'll bring them to my quarters at Fort George and see what secrets they might hold."
One started to run.
"Really?!" Kenway said.
He sighed in frustration and looked at us.
"Well you'd best get after him, then."
"You go. I will watch the prisoners."
"No, you go."
"Why?"
"Because I said so! Now go!"
I was tired of the arguing so I ran off.
"SISIKA!"
I ignored him and ran until I tackled the man to the ground. I picked him up and tied his hands.
"Move."
"Go to hell!"
I shoved him forward.
"I said MOVE!"
I brought him to Fort George and he didn't give me any trouble. Ratonhnhake:ton was waiting outside.
"Wait, wait, I'll tell you anything you want. Anything! Only don't make me go in there."
He sounded truly terrified so I looked at Ratonhnhake:ton.
"We just have some questions for you."
"Cross that threshold and I am a dead man." he said.
We looked at each other.
"There you are Sisika. I was worried you might have gotten lost…Come along then."
He took the man away and I hesitated to follow.
"Sisika?"
I looked up and he held out his hand. I took it and we followed Kenway. The man kept stopping. I had never seen anyone so scared before. Something was not right here. When we got there and walked inside, the other two were already dead. My eyes widened.
"What are the British planning?" Kenway asked.
"To march from Philadelphia. That city's finished. New York's the key. They'll double our numbers- push back the rebels."
"When do they begin?" Kenway inquired.
"Two days from now."
"June 18th…I must warn Washington." Ratonhnhake:ton said.
"You see? That wasn't so very difficult, now was it?"
"I-I've told you everything. Now let me go."
"Of course."
I shook my head and pushed Kenway away.
"What the devil are you doing?"
"You're going to kill him."
"Well of course I am. Now stand aside."
I shook my head and he grabbed me.
"Take your hands off her!" Ratonhnhake:ton snarled.
He threw me at him and Ratonhnhake:ton caught me. He killed the man and I sighed sadly.
"The other two said the same, it must be true."
"You killed him. You killed ALL of them! Why?"
"They'd have warned the Loyalists."
"You could have held them until the fight was done!"
"What? And waste precious time and money on their care? What would be the point? They'd given up everything they knew. I'll meet you at Valley Forge."
He walked away and I shook my head. I looked at his arm again.
"I need to have a look at that."
"Not now. We have to go."
I knew it was useless to argue with him.
I went with him to Valley Forge. Kenway was indeed waiting for us when we arrived.
"We should be sharing all we know with Lee. Not Washington…"
I knew Ratonhnhake:ton was going to get angry.
"You seem to think I favor him. My enemy is a notion, not a nation. It is wrong to compel obedience- whether to the British Crown or the Templar Cross. And I hope in time the Loyalists will see this to for they are also victims." he said.
"You oppose tyranny. Injustice. These are just symptoms. Their true cause is human weakness. Why do you think I keep on trying to show the two of you the error of your ways?"
"You have SAID much yes but you have SHOWN me nothing."
He took my wrist and we walked away.
"Then we'll have to remedy that, won't we…"
We reached Washington. He was reading a letter.
"Sir."
He looked up at us.
"Hello Connor, Sisika. What brings you here?"
I saw Kenway just walk into his tent.
"The British have recalled their men from Philadelphia. They march for New York."
He nodded.
"Very well. I'll move our forces to Monmouth. If we can route them, we'll have certainly turned the tide."
I saw Kenway looking at the letter. I went over, even though I could not read, I could read his face.
"And what's this?"
"Private correspondence!"
"Of course it is. Would you like to know what it says, Connor?"
He walked forward.
"It seems your good friend here has just ordered an attack on your village." My eyes widened. "Although attack might be putting it mildly. Tell him Commander."
He looked a bit guilty.
"We've been receiving reports of allied natives working with the British. I've asked my men to put a stop to it."
I looked at Ratonhnhake:ton, but he was just staring at Washington.
"By burning their villages and salting the land. By calling for their extermination, according to this letter. Not the first time either. Tell him what you did fourteen years ago."
My eyes went wider if possible. Ratonhnhake:ton did not seem to want to believe it. He took a few steps back from Washington and I went so I faced the man.
"That was another time. The Seven Years War."
He and Kenway stared each other down.
"And so now you see what happens to this 'great man' when under duress. He makes excuses, displaces blame. Does a great many things in fact- except take responsibility."
They both stepped towards each other.
"Enough! Who did what and why must wait. My people come first!" Ratonhnhake:ton shouted.
"Then lets be off." Kenway said.
"No! You and I are finished."
He turned away and I looked at Kenway.
"Son…"
He turned back and I grabbed his arm and put my hand on his chest.
"Do you think me so soft that by calling me son I might change my mind? How long did you sit on this information? Or am I to believe you discovered it just now? My mother's blood may stain another's hand, but Charles Lee is no less a monster, and all he does, he does by your command!"
We started to walk away and I pulled out a knife.
"A warning to you both- choose to follow us or oppose me and I will kill you." he warned.
We left in a hurry and took two horses. We rode as fast as we possibly could and into the village. He ran to find his Clan Mother and I looked around. The men were armed for battle.
"Sisika!"
I ran after him and he approached the woman.