Chapter 7 – Assassins

"The most dangerous enemy is one that you cannot see."

'31st July 1777,

My team and I only have half a day left on the island before we must return to our ship. We have been working all morning, taking notes on all of the samples that we had collected from the jungle. I still possess the mysterious artefact from the temple, what I saw was real even if it cannot be explained. It was incredible, what ever it is it made me feel completely powerless, like it had drained me. I am also beginning to see things, I think, a building standing alone or the wreck of an old ship, perhaps it is just heat or perhaps it is something else…'

The powerful midday sun glared down and sucked the energy from Nelson and his team as they carried their things back into the rowboat. Nelson drained the last of his water bottle and discarded it, tossing it into the boat. It was then that he began to have another hallucination. Nelson looked out to the ocean and in the distance he saw an island, the beach stretched far back and the centre of the island was covered with trees and other plants. Nelson closed his eyes shut and then when he re-opened them, the island was gone from his vision.

'It must be the heat,' he told himself again as he ravaged through the supplies for more water. Suddenly Nelson heard a noise coming from the tree line, sticks being trampled on. When he looked up he caught the slightest glimpse of a fully cloaked figure, moving about the trees. The ghost probably wasn't real, but Nelson had to be sure. He gathered his sword belt and made his way into the trees, pursuing the hooded stranger. Again he saw the back of a white hood and some kind of short cape, with a red trim along the edges.

'Who are you?' Nelson shouted, almost certain the figure was real.

The stranger disappeared again and Nelson followed blindly until he found himself standing alone and exposed in the centre of a small grass clearing. Sweating and confused, Nelson spun around, searching for the ghost that he was chasing. Suddenly he was forced to the ground by the strength of a human body. He was winded as he hit the ground and when he glanced up he found that the person on top of him was a woman, a very attractive woman.

The woman's muscles were surprisingly firm and she was very well toned. She had hazel brown eyes that were shaded by the tip of her hood. Her nose was small, like a cute little button, and her skin was fair and smooth. Her lips were full and glossy red and her teeth were white and clean behind them.

The woman had drawn a short blade and held it to Nelson's throat. It protruded from a leather bracer attached to the woman's wrist, a curious little device. Nelson rolled back and threw the woman off onto the grass, this gave him time to draw his sword and ready himself for combat. The woman had done the same and now she held a curved short-blade, aimed directly at Nelson's chest.

'If it is blood that you are after, you will have to do a lot better than that.' Nelson mocked the assassin's weapon and then jabbed his sabre at her chest. Now that the woman was standing, Nelson noticed that she wore a brown leather corset that kept her waist tight and thin. Her arms were bare and her cloak hung down to the ends of her knees, her legs were clothed with simple white pants.

As the assassin jumped back from Nelson's jab, her breast raised slightly from her cotton bodice. She retaliated by taking a full turn and then sweeping Nelson's blade to the side.

'I do not seek blood, nor words.' The woman spoke strongly, her voice was hard but also sweet. 'I only seek the artefact that you hold in your pocket.'

The woman pointed with her curved short-blade at Nelson's right jacket pocket and Nelson lowered his sword.

'How do you know about that? Who are you?' He asked.

'My name is Elizabeta. I followed you into the jungle yesterday.' She slid her short-blade back into its sheath. 'I am part of a very old order known as the Assassin's.'

'The Assassins?' Nelson questioned.

'Yes, I saw you fall into the temple where you found that artefact, and I need to return it to my master back on the Lowestoffe.'
Nelson needed time to process what he was being told. 'Wait up a second, who is your master?' He asked.

Elizabeta smiled, 'Captain Locker.'

Nelson sheathed his sword and then recovered his hat from where it had fallen, 'I will believe your story for now,' he said, 'But only so I can get off this island and speak with Locker.'

Elizabeta led the way through the trees and back to the beach, Nelson stayed close behind. When they returned to camp Collingwood and the others had the boat packed and ready to take off into the deep blue ocean. Collingwood showed a puzzled expression at the sight of Elizabeta.

'She is a friend.' Nelson explained. 'To assist in the expedition, you go ahead and I will take her boat.'

Nelson and Elizabeta followed the beach until they found the spot where Elizabeta had beached her rowboat. Nelson pushed the boat into the water and then gestured for her to step in, 'Ladies first.' He smiled.

Elizabeta climbed gracefully into the boat and took up the oars as Nelson followed her.

The ocean was calm and they rowed in silence back to the HMS Lowestoffe, the silence occasionally broken by Nelson's cough or something of a similar matter. As Nelson climbed back onto the deck of the ship, he was greeted by a young sailor with short greasy hair and a scar on his forehead.

Nelson wasted no time with simple greetings. 'Where is the captain?' He demanded.

The sailor reacted to Nelson's tone with concern. 'He is in his cabin. He doesn't want to be disturbed.'

Nelson had pushed past the sailor and was now marching with long strides towards the captain's quarters. He knocked once and then opened the heavy wooden door without asking permission.

Captain Locker rose from his desk, infuriated by the unannounced intrusion. 'Nelson!' He shouted, 'What is the meaning of this?'

Elizabeta stepped into the cabin and stood next to Nelson with her head down, as a sign of respect. 'Sir, he has the key.'

Suddenly captain Lockers mood changed from angered to eager. 'You have it? Let me see.'

At first Nelson was reluctant to retrieve the artefact from his pocket.

'That's an order, boy.' Locker commanded.

Nelson reached into his jacket and pulled out the circular disk, placing it on Locker's desk. Locker stared wide-eyed at the little artefact in complete awe. 'I have finally found it.' He whispered in great relief.

As Nelson watched, the artefact began to glow again, and it made all the other lights in the small cabin appear dim. The others seemed completely oblivious to the change in light, and Nelson thought it was just another hallucination.

'Are you alright?' Locker asked.

Nelson began to feel light headed. 'Can't you see that? The light?'

Both Locker and Elizabeta looked confused, then Locker gave an order to Elizabeta. 'Close the door, now.'

Elizabeta turned around and pushed the heavy cabin door shut while Locker spoke to Nelson. 'You're a part of this now, whether you like it or not. It looks like I may have some explaining to do.'

Once again the glowing lights in Nelson's head disappeared and all light in the cabin was back to normal.