Now or Never
Disclaimer: See previous chapter.
Um...would you believe that I was waiting to upload this for an early Christmas present? No? Okay, well...blame Hawkeye...he was distracting me with his muscles and his sharpshooter-ness...oh sorry where was I? Please forgive me for the lateness of the chapter and I hope you have a wonderful Holiday whatever it may be!
Chapter Eight:
(Davenport Homestead, 1775)
Anna had taken over Achilles' office, her boot covered feet propped on the wooden desk. Apple in one hand and a letter that Connor had found on Johnson in the other, strewn over the desk were maps of the different colonies. Each with a mark where the patriots were keeping their weapon supplies, most of the markers had question marks next to them, now more than ever did Anna wish she had a history text book, a computer, or somebody to bounce historical idea's off of. Setting the letter down, Anna set her feet onto the floor and rubbed her face before pinching the bridge of her nose.
Connor had retreated to the underground room when Anna began pulling maps, ink, and a quill pen after she first read the letter. Muttering to herself about 'computers' and 'GPS', Connor had no idea what those words meant and Anna looked for gone to ask what the strange words meant. Connor set down the brush he used to cross out William Johnson's picture and stood back to look at the others. More focused on Jonathan Pitcairn that the other Templars.
Achilles walked up to Connor who softly said, "I thought it might bring clarity. Or instill a sense of accomplishment, but all I feel is regret. Even if it was Anna who dealt the killing blow."
"Hold fast to that," Achilles ordered, "such sacrifices must never come lightly."
"I should have done it, but I didn't." Connor muttered darkly mostly angry with himself for putting Anna in a place where her hand was forced.
"Anna had long come to terms with what she was raised to do," Achilles explained, "the death of her two friends who knew nothing of Assassin's or Templar's sparked the fire that we see in her now."
Upstairs, Anna was ready to tear her hair out. She wished Ian was here; her older brother was more versed in American history than she was. Sitting down she picked up a map with 'Lexington' labeled on the top. Anna stared at the word. She wanted to slap herself; history 101 says that the first shot that was heard around the world happened at Lexington and Concord. A knocking at the door jolted Anna out of her stupidity party she shoved the maps and the letter away before heading to the front door.
Standing before her was a man out of breath holding a letter. The man straightened up as Achilles walked up behind Anna, who was now reading the letter. Once she was done she handed it to Achilles, smiling at Connor when he walked in.
"What is it?" Connor asked, returning the smile with a smile of his own.
"A request for aid from Paul Revere," Achilles decided to ignore the flirting banter between the two in favor of the letter in his hand. "Seems the Red Coats are up to something in Boston guess you two made an impression on the Sons of Liberty."
"They mistake me for one of their own."
Anna snorted, "They are more interested in Connor than a simple woman, I was included in the letter out of common curtsey." She yelped seconds later, grabbing the back of her head as Achilles lowered his cane. "I need this brain," Anna whined, rubbing her sore head, "it's the only brain I got."
"Please tell Mister Revere he has my sympathies," Connor continued watching Anna stick her tongue out at Achilles' back, "but we cannot help at present."
"Connor," Anna said as the man who brought the letter started to walk away, "John Pitcairn is mentioned by name and he is next on our list."
Connor stared at Anna before turning to Achilles, "Where are we to go?"
"Mister Revere's house in Boston," the man explained, glad that the two assassin's agreed to help, "if you'd like I can show you where to go."
"Don't worry about it," Anna smiled as Connor shoved past him, sometimes Anna just wanted to slap him sometimes, "we can find our way, thank you for bringing the letter."
"Connor you can't just…" Anna sighed as Connor barged through the door without even knocking, "Waltz in like you own the place."
"Ah, Connor," Paul Revere greeted, "and Miss Connolly. What a relief." He walked over to Connor and Anna eagerly placing a hand on Connor's shoulder, "Allow me to…" Paul trailed off when Connor shrugged out of his grasp and stepped back till he was standing next to Anna, using her as a barrier between him and Paul. "To introduce you two to William Dawes and Robert Newman."
"Your letter…" Connor winced as Anna's heel dug into his foot. Glancing at her he saw the warning look in her eyes and closed his mouth. He was getting closer to being slapped over the head.
"Thank you Mister Revere," Anna said, giving Connor one final look before turning to Paul with a charming smile, "for trusting the both of us. The thought that the Red Coats planning on moving on Lexington and Concord is unsettling, but we were told in the letter that Pitcairn was here. It was the main reason why we took the risk of returning to Boston in the first place."
"Aye." Paul agreed, returning the smile. "He's readying an assault on Lexington, where Adams and Hancock have taken shelter. After that, he will march on Concord – hoping to destroy our weapons and supplies. You must help us!"
"Only tell us where to find him, and we will put a stop to this." Connor responded.
"He has dozens, if not hundreds of soldiers at his command." Paul explained, "You cannot hope to match him by yourself, but fear not – for you will not have to. We have an entire army of our own, merely awaiting the order to take up arms."
The Minute Men hardly counts as an army, Anna thought frowning at the enthusiasm Paul was displaying. "Then you must call upon them." Connor said pulling Anna out of her thoughts.
"Indeed," Paul agreed, "you and I will cross the Charles River and rouse the boys."
"I will not do this without Anna." Connor snapped, annoyed that the man in front of him left Anna out of his little plan. Keeping Anna close by his side was the only way to make sure that she didn't do anything rash that would get herself injured or killed.
"Of course, Adams said you two were attached at the hip, Miss Connolly if I may be so bold as to ask what line are you from." Paul questioned, turning to the Irish girl.
"The main family." Anna answered.
"Line?" Connor inquired, turning to look at Anna.
"After the Dark Ages when the power struggle began, my family and several small families joined together underneath the Connolly banner," Anna explained, "the main family, which I'm from, hold powerful positions in the British Government. The others hold positions in military, church, and other important forms of political power."
"Exactly, her family line will allow her to travel past the barriers without anybody thinking twice especially the Red Coats." Paul said before turning to the other two men in the room, "William, I need you to take the overland route and raise the men. Traveling with Miss Connolly should make the journey easier."
"They will be looking for assassin coats," Anna said, "I'll be exposed."
"Not unless you dress the part, before Adams left he left me your trunk which still has several articles of clothing that appears to be of the latest fashion back in England." Paul explained, nodding to the trunk that was tucked away into a corner and partly covered with a cloth. Paul then turned to Robert as Anna walked over to the trunk.
Connor paced in front of the small door. He wanted to see Anna off before going with Paul. He didn't like the idea but Anna was going along with it. "I know you're down there Connor, so don't you dare laugh at me." Anna walked down the steps with Revere's wife behind her. Anna's hair was pulled up into a coiled bun with a few strands loosely coiled a small dark blue cape was draped over Anna's shoulders. The dress that she was wearing brushed against the ground floor but was high enough so that she didn't have to hold it while she was walking; it was the same dark blue as the cape that clung to her body until the fabric hit her hips and flared out. The sleeves were puffy and went down to her wrists which were covered by the hidden blades.
"I look ridiculous." Anna grumbled as she adjusted her grip on a bag, Connor didn't notice earlier. He also didn't notice that Paul was grinning at the awe struck look on his face.
"I think you look lovely," Paul's wife said, "Don't you think dear?"
"Absolutely stunning, almost like royalty. Don't you say Connor?" Paul asked, turning to the younger man standing slacked jawed beside him.
The question seemed to snap Connor out of his stupor as he nodded and said, "you look lovely, Anna."
Anna smiled timidly at Connor unprepared for the complement before turning to William and said, "Shall we be off then?"
"We will meet you in Lexington, if not Concord." Paul said as Connor helped Anna into the carriage that they were using to sneak past the Red Coats.
Anna grabbed Connor's sleeve and waited till he turned back to look at her, "Be careful Connor. I don't want to go back to Achilles and tell him that you were killed because you decided to be brash."
"The same goes for you." Connor said patting Anna's hand before stepping back and closing the carriage door.
"Miss Anna we are reaching to the last check point," William Dawes called back, "after that we will go until we can no longer hear them stop and let you change and we can continue on horseback."
"Thank you Mister William." Anna answered, fiddling with the pendant that had her family's crest that proved who she was pretending to be. She lurched forward when William suddenly pulled the carriage to stop. Straightening up Anna heard William talk to the Red Coats and looked down, her eyes widening when she saw her assassin coat tumbled out of the bag that Paul's wife had found for her.
Lunging for the coat she shoved it underneath the bench and straightened up as the carriage door flew open and a Red Coat looked in. "Can I help you gentlemen?" Anna asked her Irish accent coming out.
"Your name Miss?" one of them gruffly asked.
"Anna Rachel Connolly, daughter of John and Isabelle Connolly, why do you ask?" Anna questioned.
"We are looking for Patriot Rebels."
Anna raised an eyebrow, "Rebels? Why would I be hiding rebels in my personal carriage?"
The two looked at each other before apologizing to Anna, closing the carriage door, and waving to William to drive on. When the carriage began moving again, Anna let out the breath she was holding and looked down at her hands, "Good God my hands are shaking."
"It was quiet a nerve wrecking situation," William answered, "there we are we should be far enough from them. I'll unhitch the horses and get them saddled while you change."
Anna stepped out of the carriage back in familiar clothing. William stood off to the side holding onto two pairs of reigns. "Down this road will lead you to Paul and Connor, I need to go down this road to raise the troops, God speed Miss Anna."
"Thank you Mister William," Anna said mounting up and nudging her horse down the dark road, "keep an eye out for Red Coats!"
"Likewise Miss!" both disappearing into the dark with only the sound of hooting owls and chirping crickets for company.
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And once again I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, and all the others that I may not know...I really need to expand my knoweledge of the world. Now if you excuse me, I must go stare at the presents while wishing I had Superman's x-ray vision, btw has anybody seen the trailer for the new Superman movie?