Edward elected to stay in Nassau for a few weeks before heading to Jamaica, giving himself and his crew a chance to rest. Edward needed to catch up with his associates in Nassau—both pirate and Assassin.

Blackbeard was on about needing medicine to help the ailing community and apparently there was a shipwreck near Charles-towne that had medicine on it when the ship went under. Edward had yet to travel that far north, but it was beginning to sound more and more like it was inevitable. There was talk concerning Laureano Torres, the governor of Havana, dealing with a Dutch slave trader, Laurence Prins, floating around the settlement as well. To be honest, Edward was starting to feel like he was burning the candle at both ends. But, he had little choice. Both pirates and Assassins were means to the ends of discovering and understanding the Observatory.

Edward wasn't sure why he still felt so driven to find it. Maybe he valued some kind of privacy and liberty for mankind. Pirates in Nassau were always talking about man's true nature, and freedom, and liberty. It all sounded just fine to Edward. For far too long the common man had suffered for the whims of the upper classes and for what? To continue living in squalor? To keep apologizing for not being born into opportunity? Why should a few fops at the top reap all of the benefits of the hard work of many?

Maybe Edward was more idealistic than he gave himself credit for.

Adé and Edward had been bickering back and forth, bringing Edward's attention back to the matter at hand. Edward was determined to find this Observatory, and make them all rich. Adé didn't doubt Edward, but there was a hitch in all of this for him, what with being a former slave and having to now make a shady deal with a trader. Since taking his fortress, Edward had been after the governor of Havanna, as well as Prins. Word was, this man the Assassin's were after—"the Sage"—was in the care of Prins. Edward was going to make it a point to find and 'liberate' the Sage, find the Observatory, and make out like the pirates they were, before heading back home.

"Not if young Master Kidd doesn't get to him first," Adé said, nodding over Edward's shoulder, ending their fight. Edward turned, and saw the familiar red bandana. He had to think fast.

"He's here to kill Prins," Edward said, and darted off after Kidd.

Edward made it undetected over to James, ducked next to him and touched his shoulder. James jumped and turned to see Edward.

"Christ, Kenway," James said, "I almost killed you!"

"But you didn't," Edward said, "now hold back. No sudden moves, we're tracking them and their deal."

"Now is our chance!"

"Not until we see the Sage."

James relented, and went with Edward to track both men, instead of killing them straight away. They had to see the Sage, or at least, Edward did. It was almost as if Laurence knew they were being followed. But, they continued on, waiting on Torres to give the ransom to Prins like he was supposed to. And that's when all hell broke loose.

Prins HAD figured it out, and sent his guards after Edward and James. They were able to fend off the guards well enough to survive, but it meant they had to run. There was no way they would live to see the end of this if they stayed.

James also lost BOTH of his kills, and was none too thrilled about it. Edward was at least able to talk him down, and promised both kills. James was more that positive Edward intended to keep his word, and that was the only thing keeping him from tearing Edward's throat out.

However, if Edward was going to make James wait on his kills, then James wanted help as soon as they had a pinpoint on the Sage. Edward found it fair, but before he could say anything at all, James stormed off, visibly angry and barely thinking straight. Edward sighed, not sure of what to do next. He decided for now he would head to his ship, and figure out what next.

A few days later, Edward received word to meet James in Kingston. Very specific directions at that: There was a certain windmill that James would be at in 2 weeks' time, which was also near Prins' residence.

"Well that settles that," Edward said to Adé after reading the message. "Head for Kingston. James has it sorted."

"If that's what you want," Adé answered, none too thrilled. Edward knew Adé's feelings by this point in the game. The crew, however, was ready to go. They had been in Nassau for weeks now. It was time for something new.

The Jackdaw made good time to Kingston, and Edward was a few days early. As soon as he made it off of the ship, he saw Prins' mansion on the horizon, and a windmill nearby. That must be the place.

James had said to meet 2 days from this point. Edward figured he should scout the town, and see what his "outs" would be in case things went sideways. This wasn't his first time in Kingston, but it WAS his first time here on such important business. Best to be careful.

Two days later, just before the sun started to set, Edward made his way to the windmill. A slight silhouette was already sitting atop the structure, staring off into the distance. Edward scaled the side of the building, and balanced his way across the top, joining James at the top.

"Evening," he said as Edward got comfortable.

"That it is," Edward replied, sitting down. "Suppose we couldn't meet in a pub?"

"I came to Kingston chasing a target," James said, "getting pissed ain't a priority."

Edward and James discussed the situation. Edward was more than happy to work together alongside James. He wanted Prins, Edward wanted the Sage. James didn't argue, however, he did inform Edward that the Assassins wanted the Sage too, and Edward needed to watch his back. Edward understood. He may not be chummy with the Assassins, but he wasn't looking to obstruct them either.

"May the best man win," Edward said. James looked off into the horizon again, at the mansion before them.

"There's guards patrolling that property from end to end. Looks to me like they use bells to signal trouble. See there? We'll want to disable those before pushing too far. With so many men about, we can't rely on stealth alone, so I'll do what I can to distract and draw their attention."

As he said that, James reached behind him, and grabbed his knife. Edward looked over the property at all the bells to see what they were up against. He looked back at James to make a comment, but to his surprise, it wasn't a "James" sitting next to him anymore.

"Your name's not James is it?" Edward asked, looking at her (him?) contemplatively, trying to figure out how in the world he never guessed it before. Edward noticed the decent side cut on 'his' thumb, and he had smeared the blood on his lips. He also took the tie and scarf out of his hair, and his thick brown hair now hung just above his shoulders. "He" had effectively been effaced for "she."

"Not most days, come on," James said, diving off of the top of the windmill.

She faked being hurt, to gain entry into the mansion's gates, quickly slit those guards' throats, and made her way in. Edward followed. The other questions would be answered later.

Prins was sitting in the middle of his garden, like he expected the Assassins to come for him. He put up no fight, and simply laughed in Edward's face with his final breaths. Edward couldn't revel in the moment long, James' voice echoed through the night.

"Edward! I found your man!" Edward looked up to the second story balcony to see the Sage—Bartholomew Roberts was his name—standing with James as his captive, a gun to her side. James was rather calm given the situation. Roberts and Edward taunted each other for a moment, before Edward blurted out Prins' real intentions.

"You can't trust anyone it seems," Roberts said before aiming the gun at the one bell that James and Edward hadn't disarmed. He fired, causing it to ring and alert any guards left alive. James broke free of Roberts' grip, and jumped over the rail, straight for Edward. Edward was ready to fend off anyone that he had to, to get out of there alive, and James was right alongside him doing the same.

When they were home free, and back to the windmill, they both stopped to finally catch their breath.

"Lost your man again did you?" James said, as Edward slowly walked up to her.

"Aye, Roberts is a devil with a queer aversion to kindness. I suppose that's two men I've lost today," Edward said, standing in front of James and looking square at her. "So…what's your real name then, lass?"

"Mary Read to my mum, and them I call friends. But not a word of it to anyone. Or I will unman you as well."

Edward smiled a bit. James…Mary…didn't matter what name she went by. She still wasn't having any of his shit, and he found it oddly refreshing. He simply watched her as she walked away, tying her hair up into its normal knot, before trying to secure her bandana as she walked. He still couldn't figure out how he hadn't pieced that bit of information together sooner. James wasn't James at all.

Well…that just changed everything.