This chapter is brought to you by pure procrastination of college work. Woo! Oh that and donuts. I freakin LOVE donuts.
Disclaimer: I do not own AC3 or any of its awesome characters.
Enjoy!
Long Chapter ahead...
Uduak
Connor pulled back gasping, glancing at Emily as if she were a new sort of fish he'd never seen before.
Emily on the other hand had moved on another matter entirely.
" So shall we sit down, have some tea, talk business matters."
" Yes. Go on inside, make yourself at home. I'll be right there," I said opening the door for her. She stepped inside without another word. I turned to Connor.
He still looked flustered and bewildered, and just a bit angry. The paint from Emily's lips had stained his lips red, and smeared on his cheek from his having pulled away. Gathering my sleeve over my hand I touched it to his face wiping the stain from his cheek, then his lips.
" How do you know that woman?" He asked.
" Stand still," I said. " We lived-in the brothel together when I was first getting my training as a courtesan. We were best friends at the time, until I finished my training and went out into the field. Then we became competitors."
He pulled away from me, gripping my wrist to make me stop rubbing. " You two seem close now."
" Yes well, time and similar circumstances will do that," I said. " Can you manage to be polite until she leaves? If she wishes to talk business it will be with you."
He nodded. I led him back inside to where Emily stood examining my home with interest. "Quint place you have here Uduak. Although I expected something a bit more elegant for a woman of your tastes." She looked over at Connor. He made a point of walking past her to the living room.
" To business then," she said following him. She sat down on the couch closet to him, and he moved to the furthest side of the room. " Have you considered working in a more intimate establishment," she asked him. Her carriage driver arose next to her then, holding my tea pot and china. She took a sip, lowered her cup awaiting Connor's answer, when he said nothing she took another sip and replied, "Shame, I know a handful of women, and dare I say men who would pay quite the pretty pound to see you naked. That would be an interesting treat, compared to what many of the girls have to endure. We absolutely love green boys with stern muscles, and shapely forms why I'm quite sure that when you pull down your pants everything stays-"
I cleared my throat. "You came to discuss business Emily."
She turned to me, suddenly aware. "Do you have children Uduak?"
" A son," I said.
"Delightful," she said clapping her hands. "What is his name?"
" Ngozi." I said. " Today was his baptism."
" Baptism? Delightful. We will discuss the matter of gifts later. But business first. "She cleared her throat and adjusted in the chair. " As you already know Uduak, my newest husband, Mr. J.T. Johnson whom I love very dearly, as well as myself are successful businessmen in our own right. Me with my lovely newly inherited brothel, James with his bathhouses. Despite what you may believe, I do find places like this to be quite quaint and lively, and surveying the land, I do believe this would be a perfect place to expand our businesses. I am sure the people of this homestead would enjoy a bathhouse, not to mention the sailors and noblemen and women in their ships. Why we could set it up right next to the inn."
" That's an excellent idea Emily," I said.
" Thank you. I thought of it just before we left last night to come here. I was so excited and I just had to come and tell you." She turned again to Connor, "With your permission of course. James will pay for everything, including the land as well as any fees you require, even a monthly portion from our own earnings. It will not be very big of course, and we can probably connected the brothel to it."
Connor stepped forward, "The bathhouse I can permit, but the brothel I will not."
Emily pressed a hand to her chest and gasped surprised. " Why sir, I do believe you are forgetting that such great woman as myself and Uduak here were founded from such establishments and remain to be today."
Connor folded his arms across his chest, a sign that his stance on the matter would be unmovable despite anything Emily had to throw his way. " You were both forced to sell your bodies for money, slaves to men who sought to use and discard you, as if you were trash."
" I can assure you, we had a choice. It was either serve or starve, as many of the girls who work under me will tell you. Let's us not forget dear Connor, this is a world of men we live in, and we are but women in it. Some of us, must strive to get by in whatever way we can," she did not sound angry, nor agitated as she said these word, merely informative. She glanced over at me, " Judging by your lack of knowledge I am sure Uduak has not told you the stories of her youth. I can assure you, she had not learned all that she knows by mere chance." She clapped her hands suddenly, as if the matter were a mosquito. "Either way I respect your wishes. Bathhouse it is then?"
" Mother."
We all turned to Ngozi, dressed in his night clothes, a book tucked under one arm.
Emily stood and walked towards him, hands outstretched and Ngozi as wary as his father took a step back as if to run. Bending down Emily took the boy in her arms and hugged him close.
" You must be Ozi."
" Ngozi," Ngozi corrected.
" You are just as handsome as Uduak described. I could just dunk you in my tea." She pulled both is cheeks.
" Who are you?" Ngozi asked pulling back firmly.
" I'm your aunt Emily," she said. " Did Uduak not tell you about me?"
" No," Ngozi said bluntly. He looked over his shoulder at me.
" Oh delightful," She reached out to pinch Ngozi's cheeks again, he pulled back. "After all this is over you simply must come with me to meet my son. He's about your age. A little charmer he is, oh just you wait, the girls will be waiting in lines of threes."
" I don't want girls," Ngozi said.
" Now off to bed you," Emily said pushing Ngozi along, ignoring his protests. "There is much to do tomorrow. Connor you simply must introduce me to everyone here. You do have a room prepared for me right?"
" There is an In-" Connor began, I stepped in front of him.
" I have a spare room. Just allow me a few minutes to prepare it for you."
" Delightful," Emily said. "Simply delightful." She took the book out of Ngozi's hands. "You want me to read you a bedtime story? How delightful, why did you not say something sooner?"
" I don't want you to read…" Ngozi began but Emily was already pushing him up the stairs.
" I do not like her," Connor said bluntly as I faced my mirror, brushing my hair.
" She takes a little getting used to," I said. " She means well."
" By well you mean what?" He asked.
I set down my brush and turned to face him. " You are quite grumpy tonight. Are you still worried about Ngozi? Or is it Emily that's bothering you?"
He started to pace. I stood up, blocked his way. When he stopped I reached up with both hands and cupped his face gently between my palms. I was still getting used to the feeling of his scalp between my fingertips, when once there was hair there. " You always tell me not to worry," I said. " Now it is my turn to tell you. Whatever it may be, do not worry." I said, "I'll protect you from the tyranny named Emily."
Something like a small smile touched the ends of his lips, and I grinned. "Was that a smile I saw?"
He frowned and looked away," No."
" Yes it was," I insisted. " A little baby smile." I pulled his cheeks. " Do it again. You never smile. You look more handsome when you do."
He moved his face out of my reach. "I did not know," he said changing the subject, "You knew so many people."
" Yes, well," I said suddenly feeling a little bit uncomfortable with his inquiries. The less he knew about my life before the homestead, and the people I knew, and who knew me, the better. A well versed courtesan," I said, " Is a well-paid courtesan. It was always good to know people in case I needed them in the future."
" You seem happy…that she is here," Connor said slowly.
" Emily?" I asked.
He nodded.
" I am happy," I admitted. " That she came. For a moment there, I forgot about her, about the wonderful people I knew before I came here. So quick I was to drop them all, and not look back." I ran my hands across the dress I'd just taken off. We always were able to fit one another's clothes. Back before we became competitors, we traded dresses like scholars traded books. Making bets to see who could attract the most attention wearing the same dress, delighting when a noblemen or a General actually stopped in their path to glance our way, their eyes gleaming with desire and need.
Now that I looked back, I realized just how childish we were. We went about life like a game, a game where we held all the important cards.
" Do you-regret leaving them?" Connor asked softly.
The question caught me by surprise.
" At times," I replied truthfully, seeing no reason to lie to him. "But then I think of all that I have here…and all regrets just leave me. Why so many question all of the sudden? What's wrong with you?" I touched his forehead checking his temperature. Everything felt normal.
" It is nothing," he said.
Brianna appeared in the doorway, not bothering to knock, she never did. She sat down a tray filled with chamomile tea and honey. From where I stood I could see just how frail she suddenly looked, not at all as she once was.
"Brianna, you should rest, you've been at it all day." I said.
She glanced up at me; her brow furrowed, but said nothing more as she walked out the room shutting the door behind her. I knew that to be her signal that she was retiring for the night. It pained me to see her always working so hard, but for some reason she refused to accept life any other way. To her idle hands were dead hands.
Perhaps constantly working and moving gave her motivation to keep going day by day, least she end up like Achilles, burdened with little to live for.
I drifted over to the cups Brianna had just set down, making it halfway there before Connor stopped me by grabbing the teapot before I could.
" What are you doing?" I asked.
He pulled the top off the teapot and smelled its contents, and then he took a sip.
"What is in this?"
" Chamomile," I said reaching to take the pot from him, he pulled it back away from me, " A little honey, sugar—"
" Poppy," he said.
" A little to help me sleep," I said. " Now give it here."
" No," he said grabbing my wrist. " Are you unwell? Why are you in need of such strong medicines?"
I pulled my hand back. To some extent I was unwell. No matter how much I tried to hide it. Even so I never was good at hiding things from him.
"Can we not argue tonight?" I asked. "How about we talk about this tomorrow?"
" Is there something to talk about?" He asked insistent.
"Connor…" I sighed. "I'm starting to think you like seeing me angry."
A small insistent rap at the door caught both of our attentions, and I called out for the person to come in, already knowing it was Ngozi before he even opened the door.
" Aunt Emily fell asleep," he said.
" She-"
" In my bed," he continued.
" Bother," I said. I didn't know why I expected anything less. She probably came half drunk. "I'll take care of her."
I trailed to Ngozi's room where sure enough Emily was asleep, curled atop Ngozi's bed as if she owned it. I gently pushed her onto her side so she would not drown should she choose to vomit, then left her sleeping.
When I returned to my room, Ngozi was in my bed, Fenrir attempting to climb in after him.
"He sleeps on the floor," I said. Ngozi frowned, but did not argue. I could tell he was exhausted from the long day, and before I knew it he was fast asleep, his face pressed into my breast. I touched his hair, combing the tangled locks out of his face. "It's been a while since he was willing to sleep in the same bed with me," I said. "He thinks he's too grown up." But what he failed to realize was that no matter how old he got, he'd always be my little boy. "Are you not tired?" I called out to Connor, who hadn't moved. His gaze was fixed on Ngozi and me, his eyebrows furrowed.
When he said nothing I gave up trying to coax him and instead I closed my eyes and snuggled closer to Ngozi. Somehow without the tea or the poppy, sleep came much easier that night.
Connor
Both Uduak and Ngozi were messy sleepers, Connor realized this as he watched them shift and rearrange themselves in the bed, neither waking as they moved to adjust to one another's forms.
My son…and his mother…
Uduak was right; Connor had a lot of questions. All seemed to spring from his mouth before he could stop them, flowing like water. He knew so little about Uduak's past, or the people she once knew. Yet somehow it all seemed to come, piece by piece revealing one thing after another.
The woman named Emily had seemed surprised to find out that Uduak had left Boston and more so that she'd left because of Connor.
Cups still within reach he grabbed one. The liquid was still hot and steaming, and the medicines within the dark tea had risen to the top in a sheet of white. He opened the window and poured out the contents of the cups and the teapot.
When he finally went to bed, lying stilly on his back next to Uduak, sleep did not come easy, but it came. He slept with thoughts on his mind. Thoughts of what would come of the next day when he awoke, of what the assassin's had planned next. Each new thought falling into another until they stumbled into dreams.
He dreamt of his life in his village as a child, of his mother, and his people, and for a time he was happy. But like all his dreams, they eventually faded into nightmares, and soon he was faced once again with the death of his mother, the smell of smoke and burning flesh, then the faces of all the men he'd killed, each cursing his name as they fell.
The last death was that of Charles Lee, on that faithful day in the pub in Lexington.
Connor stabbed him, felt the bones in his chest give under his blade. Connor pulled back, releasing the blade, his gaze rising until it fell on Charles's face. Only instead of the face of Charles it was Uduak's face, her dead hazel eyes staring out at him, her blood dripping down the side of her mouth, staining her lips and chin.
He pulled himself back from the table, reached out for her as she fell from her chair, his arms prepped to grab her.
She fell into his arms, heavy and dead, her limps limp and lifeless. He shouted her name as he held her, patted her face as if to bring back the life in her cheeks.
Darkness descended upon him, blacker than ebony, blocking all his sight.
"Life is not a fairytale. And there are no happy endings."
His arms felt suddenly warm, and the once cold form molded within them was now hot. He glanced down at Uduak to see she was glowing, bright like the sun at first, transitioning into a warm orange, and then a vibrant red.
The color spread until it shot across her entire body, rising and rising until it consumed her.
She raised her head and glanced at him her eyes gray and lifeless.
" Connor?" Her mouth was black with blood.
He opened his mouth to say her name, yet the words would not come to him.
" Connor?"
Flame arose from her skin then, blazing and hot, burning, burning until she crumbled into ashes in his arms.
He screamed.
"Connor?" He opened his eyes to the sight of Uduak looming above him.
" Uduak?"
" You were tossing, and mumbling in your sleep. Were you having a nightma-"
He sat up, taking her by the shoulders and pulling her close.
He could feel her breath against his neck. Over her shoulder he could see Ngozi still sound asleep, on the bed next to him Fenrir.
She pulled away from him, her hands on both sides of his face, her eyes searching his.
" Are you alright?" she asked concerned. " Did you drink anymore of that tea?"
" No," he answered relief making him exhausted.
"No you aren't alright? Or no you did not drink the tea."
" No," he said again words failing him. He pulled back away from her grip to fall upon her lap, his ear pressed up against her stomach, arms wrapped around her form.
He expected for half a second for her to combust into flames again, before he remembered he was merely dreaming, as he had almost every night.
"You will always be chasing butterflies…."
She shifted and he tightened his arms around her, suddenly fearful she was going to leave. " Stay," he said. "Please. Do not leave." He realized his rambling was the result of being half asleep, and he did not care.
Always at the end of it all…it's always you I come running to…
Fingers threaded themselves through his hair, stretched over his scalp. He sighed releasing the tension in his shoulders and back.
"Shhh," Uduak cooed. "Sleep. I'm not going anywhere."
Myriam
Myriam examined Ngozi as he stood beside her, silent as the wind, a bow in hand, crouched so low in the tall grass even she was hard pressed to see him standing as close as she was. His face was a pentacle of concentration as he studied the deer, and suddenly Myriam was reminded of Connor.
There is no doubt that he is Connor's son. One had only to look at the boy's face to see the truth. Although still young, his face had taken on his father's solemn, firm look, and he tall for his age, as well as strong. His hair was loose and tangled, although Myriam had seen Uduak combing it that very morning, and decorated with elaborate braids of beads and feathers, the bangs falling over hazel eyes that matched Uduak's.
With the steady hand Ngozi shot, catching the deer in the side, inches from its heart. The deer took off running, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Ngozi's frown deepened and his eyebrow twitched as she stood watching the deer with determined eyes.
" We should catch it before the wolves do," Myriam said standing with him.
He glanced over at her, his face unreadable before nodding and walking forward, whistling sharply as he cut across the path. A wolf pup the size of an adult dog arose then from the grass beside where they stood; tail wagging as he circled excitedly about Ngozi's feet.
Bending Ngozi pressed his fingertips to the patch of wet deer blood then held it up to the wolf's nose.
" Go Fenrir," he said and the wolf pup took off without hesitation.
Ngozi followed, dagger suddenly in hand.
Determined not to stand in his way Myriam followed closely behind observing.
The wolf pup barked as they approached the now dying deer, spread on its back huffing desperately as it's punctured lung struggled to breath air.
" It is suffering," Myriam found herself saying as she reached for her rifle. She would do the poor creature the honor of ending its misery. Ngozi touched her arm. She hesitated.
" I am sorry," he said resting a hand on the deer's neck gently. He lifted his blade, and the deer reacted seeing the gleam of metal sensing the danger. Ngozi whispered the the words Myriam had heard Connor say a hundred times after each hunt. She knew the meaning now, after asking him one day when her curiosity outweighed her caution.
" It means thank you," Connor had said. "Mother Nature has given us the gift of her children's life; we must thank her in return."
Now it would seem Ngozi was following in his father's footsteps.
Still soothing the struggling dying animal, Ngozi ran the blade of the knife against the deer's throat in a quick clean cut. All struggling stopped then as the animal died in his arms.
It was a long moment before the boy moved again, and Myriam waited.
When he finally stood he did so slowly, his eyes never leaving the deer's body.
" Will this make Mother happy?" He asked his voice soft.
It was a reoccurring question Ngozi often had, and a constant concern.
The matter of Uduak's happiness.
Uduak you fool, you hide behind your mask of beauty and smiles, and you think no one notices how unhappy you are.
Myriam spoke without thinking, " I am sure it will."
She saw Ngozi's shoulders perk up, his once balled fist loosen.
" I will get Grandmother Brianna to cook it in a pie. Mother loves pies." He grinned then, making his face appear more boy like, almost whimsical.
He is going to be quite handsome when he is older, Myriam thought. Like Connor…
" Lets worry about how we are going to move this first," Myriam said beckoning to the deer laying on the ground. "Everything else can wait."
The smile he had disappeared then, replaced with a look of concentration. Myriam marveled silently at the transition, for she could remember Ngozi when he first arrived at the homestead. He was wild and unruly; he listened to no one and took nothing seriously. He ran the homestead causing mischief and acting more beast than little boy.
The other children did not take kindly to him, and he did not them, no matter how w hard they tried to grow to like him.
Being around Connor has changed him. Although he still had his wild boy like tendencies in his desire to be outside, and away from the confides of the house, as well as his dislike of baths and constricting clothes, he was not as wild, uncontrollable or mischievous as before.
Myriam watched as Ngozi went to fetch the cart, until he disappeared into the trees. When he arose, he was no longer alone but with a girl who looked about Ngozi's age with blond hair pulled tightly under a bonnet. She wore a pink dress that dragged against the ground as she walked, and a stack of books was pulled tightly under her arms.
" You will never learn how to read or write if you don't come," the girl said. Ngozi speed up, leaving her behind. She followed dutifully. "Father Timothy says that God intends for all his children to be able to read his word. Even you Ngozi."
" My Father and Mother teaches me," Ngozi said stubbornly walking to the deer.
" Well hello," Myriam said recognizing the girl as one of the new homesteader's daughter who's family had arrived at the homestead just months before. " What seems to be the problem?"
The girl glanced away suddenly realizing she had company besides Ngozi. Moments later Fenrir sprung from the bushes in front of her and she screamed throwing her books in the air and cowering behind Ngozi.
" That's just Fenrir," Ngozi said trying to slide from the girl's grip.
" He's a wolf," she exclaimed. Her eyes moved to the deer caress staining the ground red, and she gasped, and then began to cry.
" You killed it."
Ngozi shrugged, "We are to eat it. You to."
The girl shook her head. " I won't, I won't."
Ngozi frowned, then moved to bend over the deer, the girl let him go then, taking a few steps back, tears moving down her cheeks.
" I won't."
Ngozi did not turn around to face her, " Then don't," he said moving to slide his hands under the deer's neck.
He's as forward and callous as his father as well….Myriam thought.
" You are so mean Ngozi," the girl said still crying. Ngozi turned then, confusion set in his brow, a frown on his lips. Then before he could say anything more the girl ran, leaving her books scattered across the ground.
" Ngozi…" Myriam began.
" Did I do something wrong?" He asked concerned. " Why is she crying."
" Because you hurt her feelings," Myriam said bluntly. " She wants to be your friend."
He turned from the path she just ran focusing his attention back at the deer. "She's just a stupid girl," he scuffed. " Why would I want to be her friend?" Even so he did not sound convinced of his own words.
Myriam sighed. " Let's finish up here, if we're not back soon Uduak will be worried."
He helped Myriam load the deer onto the cart, then with hardly a word started back towards Myriam's house. She trailed behind, enjoying the midmorning wind and the smell of oak.
Uduak
" Delightful simply delightful," Emily said. " This spot will do nicely. Oh can't you just see it Uduak." She sighed dreamily. " Oh this is such a nice place. Quiet, peaceful, clean, and everyone is so nice."
" That's why I love it here," I said. " For some reason I never felt like I belonged in Boston."
Emily shifted in the grass beside me. " You just have to tell me," she cheered. " How you two met."
" Connor and I?"
" Yes. You know I have a weakness for epic romances. Tell me everything. Starting with how he managed to get you out of Boston."
I shrugged. " I just left on my own."
" Truly?" Emily sighed. " It wasn't for the money?"
I shook my head. " Somehow, money no longer felt important to me. Suddenly I wanted to do was follow him. All I wanted was him." I blushed at the way it sounded coming from my mouth. " Sorry. I know I am being quite strange."
" Oh posh," Emily said leaning back onto her elbows. " I saw the way he looked at you. I half expected him to either attempt to eat you, or take you right where you stood. And you looked both afraid he would and would not try either or both."
" Emily!" I scolded feeling the blush still rising up my neck to my cheeks.
She pulled a fan out of her bosom and began to fan herself with it. " By God, it's been a long time since someone looked at me that way. The simplicities of fishing without bait is gone, and we are getting older. Men with their insane need for sons," she sighed. " Look at me the pot calling the kettle black. We are no better, afraid of every look, touch or word that is passed from our men to another woman." She sighed again, then pushed her cup to her lips, she took a long drink. "I may not love James, the fool, but the thought of him with someone else, absolutely repulsive me."
" But James-"
" Is a fool," she said bluntly. " Who loves me, a great deal more than I love him. I do believe he can sense it sometimes, in his bouts of anger, I do not discourage him. It makes me feel that maybe somehow it's fair, that somehow in those moments he loves me just as equally as I do him."
" That is very sad," I could find no other words to describe it. I could not imagine being that way with Connor. Enjoying his anger more than his love, yet unable to let go.
" He looks different than the others," She said seemly unfazed by my response.
" Connor?"
She nodded. " What is it they call themselves? Savages? Natives? Oh it matters little." She sat her cup in the dirt, reached for mine. I gave it to her without argument. I could tell she was a few sips away from drunk, and I had no quarrels about it. From what I could remember, she was the most manageable drunk, because she often fell asleep. " I see no band on your person. Are you two not married?"
I shook my head.
She gasped. " The brute," still she did not sound convinced.
" I can tell he wishes to," I said folding my arms about my stomach. "But I won't let him." I had no real reason why, already we were as close as any married couple could be. All we lacked now were the titles. Still to accept his proposal, to become his wife, in name and deed, felt unfair somehow, like I would be taking more from him, than I would be giving in return.
" Marriage is personal," Emily said breaking my thoughts. "And we are creatures who rather prefer the privileges of impersonal attachments. Once a courtesan always a courtesan. All the pretty bands and titles in the world won't change that."
Ngozi arose from the wood then, beside him Myriam with her horse and cart, on the back of it the body of a dead deer.
" I don't think so," I said.
Emily stood. " My God, you hunt here too? There is no market to buy your meat?"
Myriam eyed Emily then glanced over at me inquisitive.
" Myriam, this is Emily. Emily, Myriam." I felt like I'd introduced Emily more than a hundred times, between introducing her to almost every homesteader. It was no wonder both Connor and Ngozi left early that morning in pursuit of other things to do.
Emily took Myriam's hands. " I am Uduak's best friend."
" Funny," Myriam said. " She's never mentioned you."
" She wouldn't have," Emily said," She's always been a bit jealous of me you know. Who can blame her right? She's always afraid I'm going to whisk her friends away if she ever introduces me to any of them. So far she's right." Emily laughed in only the way Emily could. " Tell me what is it you that you do?"
" I am a hunter," Myriam said.
Emily's eyes widened. " A woman hunter?"
" Yes-"
" Delightful. I simply love it. Why must the men have all the fun. Women are just as powerful. Am I right?"
" Yes," Myriam said. " Most people don't have that reaction the first time I tell them."
Emily touched her shoulder. " Well you will learn really quick," she said leading Myriam away in the opposite direction. " I am not most people. Now you simply must tell me all about this hunting you do. Just in case I decide to take the sport up for myself. I watched them drift off leaving Ngozi and I alone.
" Did you have fun?" I asked bending down to wipe a smear of mud he had on his cheek.
As usual he shyed away from my touch.
" Yes," he said.
" What is wrong?" I asked.
" One of the girls," Ngozi said. " From Father Timothy's…"
" You skipped lessons again today didn't you?" I scolded. " Ngozi. How many times do I have to go through this with you?"
" It wasn't about that," Ngozi said impatiently. " Can I tell you what it was or not?"
" Alright. But we are not done with the subject of lessons. You are going tomorrow."
He sighed, then continued. " I think I made her cry."
" One of the girls?"
He nodded. " I did not mean to. She was just being really annoying. And I wanted her to go away."
" So you said something mean to her?"
" Well it wasn't mean. But Myriam said it was."
I touched his cheek. His skin was warm against my palm, and soft. " Then you should go and apologize," I said.
He started to protest. "It's only the right thing to do."
" Fine," he said kicking the dirt.
" That's my little wolf," I said pushing down his tangled hair and kissing his forehead." Then afterwards head to lessons. And I better not hear you gave Father Timothy any backtalk."
He trailed away from me, his shoulders slumped, one hand shoved in his pocket, while the other held a stack of books. " I will see you this evening," I called after him.
" Beautiful."
I turned not recognizing the voice. A man stood behind me, dressed in all-black cloak, his face beneath the hood bandaged from his chin to his forehead, so that all I could see was his eyes and lips.
" Forgive me," he said. " I did not mean to frighten."
I stood. " It is quite alright," I said. " Is there something I can assist you with sir."
He shook his head. " I was merely admiring the interaction between you and your son. I find it a truly beautiful thing, the love of a mother for her son." His accent was unrecognizable.
" Yes…" I said. "You are a father as well?" I asked.
He shook his head. " No. But I do wish to someday father a child."
I took a step back. Something about him made me nervous." It is quite a task," I said.
He glanced out at the path Ngozi just walked.
" Treasure him," He said. " In these troubled times, any moment could be our last."
" I will," I said.
He nodded again, and then bowed slightly. " Well I should be off. Delightful meeting you-"
" Uduak," I said.
" Isaac," he replied. "My pleasure."
He walked away from me, his cloak bellowing behind him. I watched him go, taking note of his tallness, the build of his shoulders and form, feeling the sense of wariness coming over me.
Connor
Ngozi was not home when Connor finally arrived back from his meeting with the Assassin's, but Uduak was, sitting upon the porch reading, while Brianna sat besides her carving at a stick of sugar cane with a knife.
As expected he was needed again to set off on another mission. He debated how he was to tell Uduak, it seemed each time got harder and harder. He'd been gone since early that morning before she awoke, and he would likely be gone for a least a couple of days more.
When Uduak spotted him she lowered her book and smiled. Her smile was filled with relief and sadness all at once, and it made his insides twist with guilt.
" Where is Ngozi?" He asked, glancing away from her.
" He is at Father Timothy's with the other children," Uduak said, " He had a bit of a disagreement with one of the girls. I sent him to apologize." She stood and held out her hands to him, "Come I have made your favorite."
He glanced down at her hands. The remnants of ash were caked into the creases of her palms, a sign that she'd been praying while he was gone. Were her dress not covering her legs, he would have seen her knees stained as well, red and raw from kneeling.
He knew she prayed the most when he was away, or when something was worrying at her. Sometimes she sat; on her knees in front of her alter for hours at a time, before finally collapsing from exhaustion.
" Do not worry Emily left. Something about meeting James at a party."
He did not take her hands, did not step forward. "Uduak I cannot stay for long."
She pulled her hands back quickly. " Yes. Yes of course." She stood. " At least eat something before you go."
" Uduak," he called firmly.
" Are they coming for you soon?" she said trailing inside the house. " I spent all day cooking. Here taste this."
She stuck a spoon in his mouth before he could object. The soup was hot and salty on his tongue. "And look I didn't burn it this time," he pulled a head of corn off the roasting stone and showed it to him. " And-"
He grabbed her arm. She paused.
" Uduak. What is wrong?"
" Why do you always assume something is wrong?" She asked glaring up at him. "Why can't I just be genuinely happy to do something right? I wanted to cook something for you, and do it properly. I want to support you without complaint. By the Gods Connor, you are making it extremely difficult."
" Would you rather I not care?" He asked calmly.
" I…" She paused and glanced up at him, her eyes searching. " I am not used to this," she said. " Forgive me. I should not push away your concern."
" Neither am I," Connor admitted wanting nothing more at that moment than to calm her. He was never quite sure what was bothering her, and he was not sure if that was because it was her nature to hide things in attempt to make everyone happy, or if that was just women in general.
She grinned up at him. "Obviously."
" Your soup was good," he said after a long moment. Her grin spread.
" Really?" She asked. He nodded. She pressed a hand to his bicep. "Careful my wolf, I may never let you leave."
" Connor! Connor!"
They both turned. Norris stood at the door.
" Norris what is wrong?"
" Fire," he said, " At the church. Come quick."
Ngozi
Ngozi trailed through the woods Fenrir by his side, the books he'd borrowed from Father Timothy tucked under his arm. He recalled his mother as he walked, how sad she looked before he left her.
That is probably why mother is always so sad. She thinks Father is a bad person. He'd overheard the women on the homestead talking, they were saying that bad men only produced bad seeds that never grew to be anything, that the children would be nothing or no one. He could not have that happen to his mother. He would fix everything, he would take care of their family.
I'll catch Father before he leaves… Ngozi knew better than anyone else how fast his father could move. He felt disappointment pool in his gut, his father oculd be miles away, and Ngozi had no way of catching him.
" how about you Fenrir," he whispered to the wolf, " can you smell him?"
He gained a growl in reply. Ngozi turned, surprised because he'd never heard Fenrir growl before. He was always so friendly and carefree, even when they were hunting, seeming to take everything as a game.
A figure stood in the darkness, tall and shadowed.
"Father?" He called, even though he knew it wasn't his father, even though he knew it was useless to ask.
Fenrir lunged, springing in Ngozi's defense, his teeth bared. A hand shot out quicker than Ngozi could recall catching Fenrir in the ribs. He fell to the side whimpering but did not let up as she lunged again. This time it was the attackers boot that caught Fenrir in the exact spot sending him propelling into the darkness.
Ngozi shot out after him, ready to scream for help when a hand grabbed the back of his shirt jerking him backwards. He opened his mouth, half a yelp escaping before hands were on his mouth, over his nose. He kicked and struggled, panic overwhelming him, suddenly and desperately aware that he was weak in the hands of his strong processor.
His teeth found the roughness of dried leather and he bit down, much like an animal caught in a trap, resorting to any means necessary to getaway. The attackers grip tightened around his form, squeezing the breath out of him, and restricting his movements.
LET GO…
He couldn't breathe.
He's going to kill me…
He knew so little about death, not nearly enough to be afraid of it. But the thought of leaving his mother…father…Brianna…Nela alone without him, was too much to bear.
" Calm there lad, don't make this harder than it has to be."
It was a man's voice. He sounded kind, as if he really cared for Ngozi and how he was feeling, despite the fact that he was suffocating him.
" Go to sleep now, this will all be over soon," the man whispered.
In the distance wolves began to howl. Darkness fell. And then there was silence.
Luke
Hot, everything was too hot. Breathe did not come easy, nor did movement. He was restricted under seemly unmovable weight.
I do believe I am dying.
He fought to rise to the surface, sensing the sweet refreshment of air and the guarantee of space.
His hands found it first, fingers twisting about sheets made of silk that smelled of roses and milk infused with honey and pleasure.
He felt warm fingers gather about his member, sending the familiar shockwave of pleasure coursing down his spine, another drip in an endless bucket in the pool of his gut.
" Luke," a sweet voice whispered in his ear reminding him where he was, and situation he found himself in.
" Wine," he said in reply. "Why is my cup empty?"
The request did not fall on deaf ears. A cup was immediately filled, the rim overfilling with red wine he could only guess was several hundred years older than he was.
" We thought we lost you." The softness of breast touched his arm. He glanced over in attempt to match the face with the body. A mulatto woman sat beside him, black of hair, light of skin, brown of eye. She was pretty, one could argue even beautiful, but something was missing, something important.
" We do not want that now do we, love? " Luke said squeezing her thigh.
Behind the girl another girl arose, similar in appearance. "Finish your story," she begged her voice soft and sweet.
" Ah," Luke said. " It would seem I've forgotten where it was I stopped."
Lips touched his neck, followed by the softness of hands at his shoulders. A third girl arose, almost a duplicate of the first two.
All that's right, I have paid for the company of the triplets. How much have I agreed upon again?
He'd forgotten in the course of the few hours since leaving the comfort of the brothel for the less than comfortable, comfort of the mercenary's tower.
The door to his room opened sending in a flood of blinding light.
"He was in the middle of telling ye about how much he must prepare for his next assignment."
" Sana," Luke called out leaning back, his elbows falling onto the thighs of the girl behind him. "Nice of you to join us. I am to believe you are joining us right?"
The girls giggled. Sana's catlike eyes narrowed into a glare. "You are needed at the front."
Luke sighed, " Of course I am. Take a message, I am busy." He gestured to the women in his bed. " Very busy."
" To busy," Sana began, " To read a message concerning ye precious Uduak."
Luke was up before she could say another word, bare as the day he was born. Ignoring the protest of the women he strolled to the door where Sana stood.
" I do hope you are telling the truth," Luke said all kindness and jest gone from his voice.
She held up the letter, wrapped and sealed. He took it from her and ripped it open his eagerness overcoming him.
" Well?" Sana inquired as he read then reread the note.
" Tell me Sana my beautiful friend," Luke said his characteristic smile spreading across his face, " Do you fancy a trip to the colonies?"
Yeah yeah I know you guys are excited about Luke coming back. The lucky bastard has a special place in my heart that I just can't let go of just yet. So I know you guys are wondering. Will he meet up with Uduak again? Connor? Will there be shipping? Epic love triangle action?
While I will not say much, I will release this little fact. Luke will have his own little sections within the story, where the reader will get to zoom in on his point of view to certain situations. Exciting right? The answer is yes. But one should also keep in mind that the Luke we will be reading about from this point on is a bit different that the one from before. I.E. he is not quite the same man that fell in love with Uduak, then had his heart heartlessly torn out! ( Sorry I just have this thing for Luke, I want him to be happy, but he's just at his best when he's not) Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Don't know, read and find out. ( Seriously guys I don't know, I literally come up with this stuff out of the blue)...
And Ngozi...the little guy! What will happen to him? And Uduak! And Connor? Geez as if they aren't going through enough already, now Ngozi has to go and get himself captured.
Historical Info
Bathhouse- Although not very common during the 18th century, one could most likely find one attached to or within a brothel. There, for a certain price one could not only get a much needed bath, but get a much needed bath, and order a prostitute as well to pass the time. Who ever said to much of a good thing was bad?
Feedback greatly appreciated!