I'm back! And guess what? I'm a college girl now! Well, sort of. I've registered for my first semester classes anyway. If you couldn't already tell by my pen name, I love art. So I'm taking pretty much ALL art classes. It will be heaven. On with the story! I do not own AC3.
Cutting It Close
"What's the plan?" I asked Connor from my position in a tall pine tree. There were guards patrolling the docks where we needed to cross the river. We couldn't take them out one by one, or they'd raise the alarm and send soldiers out looking for us. While I was pondering this, I heard Connor take out one of his pistols. I eyed the barrels of black powder on the edge of the dock, in prime positions for a perfect "accident". Why would they put those there anyways? "Oh, I see."
Connor put a finger to his lips and I nodded. We would use hand signals and whistles to communicate from now on. Connor leaped silently to the ground and ran into the underbrush, me following closely after. We crouched low, so the tall river grasses could camouflage us.
We stalked through the shallowest part of the river, Connor holding his gun above water to make sure that none of his powder got wet as it would be ruined if it did. Bugs bit my arms and face, and I resisted the urge to smack them away. Silently, we approached our targets.
When we were close enough to the dock and the guards could almost see us, Connor jumped up and pulled the trigger, not waiting to see the magnificent explosion that came after before sprinting to the other side of the river. I followed quickly behind him as he ran behind trees and bushes to get around, hiding from every guard that passed. There was no need to kill if we did not have to. I took to the trees, carefully moving with the foliage to mask my presence. Connor whistled a bird call behind me, telling me to be careful. I whistled back my affirmation.
While Connor took out a guard passing directly in front of him using his rope dart to pull him into the underbrush, I blew a carefully aimed poison dart at a soldier just rounding the bend in the path a little ways ahead. He was down in seconds. This is how Connor and I often worked. We had each other's backs. Each and every movement was carefully placed, every Red Coat taken out with skilled proficiency.
We made our way stealthily to the house in this way, Connor eventually joining me in the trees, where arguments could be heard. I heard another whistle, that of a robin, signaling me to go right. I did so, staying to the higher branches of the trees. I could see Connor from the corner of my eye, always in view. He did not require a protector, I knew he didn't, but I would act the role none the less.
Connor did not know of my self-proclamation to be his silent shadow. I had long ago decided, on the first day of my training, that I would give my life for his cause. For freedom. And making sure that Connor lived to accomplish it was my goal. Even if I had to give the ultimate sacrifice, I would do it if it meant he didn't have to. He was too important, to me and to the New World, for him to die before all was finished.
I assume my crush had a bit of an effect on this perspective as well. I'm pathetic.
From the tree tops I could see the Natives surrounded by a squadron of men with guns. I sat in a branch over looking the gathering, waiting for Connor to appear. He had told me earlier that I was not yet experienced enough to attempt the assassination myself, and that I should watch and learn from his example for next time. For this particular mission, I was meant to provide back up should anything go amiss. I yearned to do more, to be truly useful, but Connor was my master and I trusted his judgements.
I sat crouched down in the large maple tree nearest the clearing, pressing myself against the trunk and remaining absolutely still so as not to be seen. One improper movement could send the entire situation into chaos and I was not keen to destroy my first mission. I observed the confrontation playing out below me with wary eyes. It seemed a high ranking soldier was conversing with an elder Native man. I tuned in to what they were saying.
"...to tell you and yours to leave." The older bald Native man was saying to the British officer with a beard, blue eyes, and brown hair that was just starting to turn gray. The officer, wearing a well tailored red British coat with what looked like a traditional Irish sash, William Johnson I presumed, looked up at him with a regretful expression on his face.
"Fine then, I offered you an olive branch, and you knocked it from my hand." He said with a strong Irish accent. He waved forth some of his men, "Perhaps you will respond better to the sword." The men, maybe a dozen or more of them, pointed their muskets at the group of fearful looking Natives. I sucked in a nervous breath as I watched from the large tree located to the right of the meeting. Where was Connor? This was getting dangerous for these people.
"Are you threatening us?" A younger Native boy asked in nervous disbelief. Johnson looked to him sadly, yet with conviction.
"Yes." He answered honestly. A firing squad lined up to shoot the older man who had spoken before. The other few Native men were held back by another group of soldiers when they tried to go to their comrade's aid. I pulled an arrow from the quiver on my back and notched it in my bow, ready to use it if need be. And I might, considering Connor's noticeable absence. Had he encountered some sort of interference while circling around the back of the hall? I looked to the surrounding trees, hoping to see the familiar streak of white signifying Connor's presence, but saw none.
Johnson raised his hand for the command and I drew back my arm, making ready to fire. I would not let this innocent man die because of poor timing. I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart beat and steady my shaking hand as Johnson opened his mouth for the command...
And then he was dead. Or dying, rather. Connor had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, tomahawk blade buried deep in Johnson's back. I had been so focused on what I was doing that I had not noticed his entrance.
All of the men stood frozen in shock. I loosened my grip on the drawn arrow, relieved that I would not have to use it just yet, but not releasing it as the danger had not passed. Connor quickly searched the body thoroughly but speedily, pulling an envelope out of the dying man's breast pocket and placing it inside the water-tight leather pouch on his hip. William Johnson murmured something I couldn't hear, probably his last words, before going limp.
I hissed in alarm when one of the men recovered from the shock faster than the others and pointed his musket to Connor's turned back. My eyes focused on the soldier, narrowing my vision to the specific point I wanted to aim for, and I let my already notched arrow fly. It hit the man in the back of the neck, the stone arrow head protruding gruesomely out of his jugular, and he fell to the ground with a gurgled cry of pain. Blood bubbled from his neck and mouth, spewing a decent distance away from his body. The image had apparently jarred the others out of their shock.
Connor looked to the men, then to me in my place in the tree, conveying a silent message, before sprinting headlong in the direction of the cliff. I swung to the ground and ran after him, the guards following behind us. I had to stab one that tried to stop me in the gut with my dagger, and another unfortunate man went down missing his right arm. I caught up to Connor as we quickly separated the distance between us and the remaining Redcoats pursuing us.
"Cutting it a little close weren't you?" I asked, annoyed at his poor timing. He'd nearly given me a heart attack both when he failed to show up until the last possible moment and when he had nearly gotten a bullet through his back when he wasn't looking. He'd feel my wrath for scaring me like that.
He threw a sidelong glance at me and let the corner of his mouth twitch up into a smirk. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to completely throw me off my game. I blushed and huffed, cursing my female hormones. Even while we were running for our lives, he still managed to surprise me with those sudden moments of cuteness.
Because of the long days I had spent running with Connor trying to improve my speed and stamina, we easily pulled ahead of the soldiers, though we would eventually have to find a more permanent way to lose them. We leapt over rocks and weaved through the trees before eventually coming to a stop at a sheer cliff face.
I looked over the edge at the fifty foot drop to the water below. I gulped loudly. I was not afraid of heights, and would have made the leap without a second thought if not for one small problem.
"Connor." I said nervously, eying the restless surface below nervously. He had looked ready to jump at that moment, but was stopped at the sound of my voice, "I think we may have overlooked something in my training."
"What would that be?" He asked cautiously. I looked from the cliff's edge to him to the watery depths below us and took a step back. I could hear the soldiers getting closer and knew my time was running out.
"I can't swim." I told him honestly. There had never been a reason to learn, as I had never been on a ship before. Most women of Boston, in fact, did not know how to swim. The only place to learn was the harbor, and no parent in their right mind would let a child play in those waters. Much too dangerous.
Connor looked startled at this realization, apparently never having considered the possibility that I lacked such a simple ability. I fidgeted in my place for a moment while I could see the gears in his head turn. The soldiers were not far now, they would be here any second.
Connor's face suddenly hardened, apparently having come to a decision. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms. Of course, being the crushing, blushing young woman that I am, my face turned beat red.
"Connor, what...?" I started to ask but was cut off as he lifted my feet off the ground and carried me to the side of the cliff.
"Hold onto me. We are going to jump." He said firmly, the words reverberating in his chest. I gasped. Had I not made it clear enough that I could not swim? I tried to struggle out of his iron hold but I could have been pushing against a stone wall for all the good it did me. He was as strong as a bear. In fact his grip on me tightened further, to the point where it became painful. He edged closer to the drop off.
"Connor-!" But I was too late. He had already jumped. A scream ripped through my throat as we plummeted towards the surface. I watched in terror as the water came racing towards us.
We hit hard. Granted, jumping from fifty feet was bound to do that to you, but I was not prepared. It felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and knocked the wind out of me, which was bad since I was under water. The impact had pulled me away from the security of Connor's arms, and I was now drifting under the cold water, flailing around as my depleted air supply was quickly running out. My clothes and weapons became heavy, pulling me down. I struggled, trying in vain to pull myself back up.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to resist the urge to inhale. My lungs started to burn painfully with the need for oxygen. I couldn't hold it anymore. My mouth opened and bubbles drifted up towards the distant surface. With the bubbles came a black blob, hurriedly making its way towards me. I reached towards it and it grasped my hand, pulling me up.
It seemed an eternity had gone by before my head breeched the surface. I gasped and coughed, hacking up a surprising volume of water. I could feel Connor's sturdy arm around my chest, holding my head above water while I tried to suck in the much needed oxygen. He towed my completely useless dead weight to shore. I dragged my body onto the soft sand, soaking wet and exhausted. I was still coughing from the residual liquid in my lungs.
I groaned and rolled over on to my side, looking at Connor's calm form while he removed his pouch of soaked gun powder and disposed it. I envied his nonchalance, sitting there looking relaxed and handsome as always, like that swim had been only a mere trifle. I groaned again and placed my hand over my aching throat.
"Ugh, you reckless bastard. Don't you ever let me drown again. I told you before that I can't swim." I said, my voice low and rasping from the abuse it had taken. I saw Connor almost smile beside me.
"It seems we will have to rectify that then."
That's all for now dearies. Hope you enjoyed it. I certainly did. Though maybe that's just me. You all could hate it and I wouldn't know. Unless, of course, you reviewed my story. Which you should. Only seven more until I reach a hundred. A HUNDRED! So yeah, you should review. Because I'm definitely not posting another chapter until I reach that mile stone. See you later kiddies! And remember to write me to find out what happens next. There is fluff ahead. I love fluff.
