Chapter 7:
The wind ripped through James's hair as he steered the Storm through the sea. After heading back to the bureau to spend the night, James and Edward had decided to head back to Tulum to inform Ah Tabai of Rogers' escape. They had departed from Havana that morning and were now nearing Tulum. From where he stood at the helm, James could see The Jackdaw, could see Edward and Anne. And he could see Tulum, growing ever closer on the horizon. James called for full sail, feeling the wind blow against his back. The sails filled with the wind and their speed increased. The Storm moved even faster towards Tulum.
It took them roughly another ten minutes before James had his frigate docked just off shore and was rowing to shore. When he reached the white sands of the beach, James got out, feeling his boots fill with salt water. He pushed the boat onto the sand and stood, waiting for Edward to arrive. Edward came over to him, and looked down, deeply interested in his boots. "James, I have been thinking it over...and I have decided that I should set sail for London." James just looked at him for a moment. "It is just...I think you will be able to find Rogers, now that he has shown his face." James grinned.
"I understand. You have a family. I wouldn't want to keep you away from that." Edward smiled, glad that he understood. "Before you go, I would enjoy your company while I go and report to Ah Tabai, if it is all the same to you."
"Not a problem lad."
James and Edward had to climb up to a small platform to reach the door to Ah Tabai's hut. When they reached it, James knocked before pushing open the door, and stopping just inside, Edward by his side.
There was a small table situated in one corner. In the other was a simple bed. Ah Tabai sat at the small table with Louis Cobalt. There were also several other assassins that James did not recognize. Standing in the hut at that moment, James felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He had a terrible feeling and suddenly felt an odd need to activate his eagle vision. But he didn't. "James and Edward Kenway. How did things in Havana go?" Ah Tabai asked in his monotone voice. James shook his head. "Rogers just barely escaped. We expected him to be prepared for our attack but, not to the extent that he was." Ah Tabai nodded shortly and Louis let out a harsh laugh.
"I expected nothing more from you Kenway." He said. James's fists clenched and he had to fight back the urge to lunge at Louis. "Do not try to insult me so pettily Louis." James said in a menacing voice. "I have said it many times before and I will say it once more. I am your superior in both skill and rank. I am not afraid to make you loose a set of teeth." James did not expect the evil grin to spread across Louis's face. "You are correct when you say you are my superior in your rank. But that can easily be fixed." Before either James or Edward could move, Louis jumped across the table and slammed his palm against Ah Tabai's cheek. At the same moment he flicked his wrist, engaging his hidden blade, the steel sinking into Ah Tabai's throat.
Ah Tabai didn't even have time to make any kind of sound before he was lying on his side, dead. Louis disengaged his hidden blade and stood, straightening his robes and looking at James. "Now here is how this will play out. My men here," He motioned to the other assassins standing around them. "Are going to take you and your brother prisoner. You will be convicted for treason against the brotherhood. My men and I had only just barely been able to stop you two. I will be crowned mentor of the brotherhood and you two will be executed." James stared at Louis in horror. "Do you really believe that plan will work?" Louis laughed heartily.
"Who do you think they will believe? Me, the assassin who had broken not a single tenant, or the one who has broken two?" James licked his lips. He remembered the contract that had gone wrong. He had broken the third tenant and almost compromising the creed, because he had killed an innocent. Louis had a point when he said the assassins wouldn't have too hard of a time in believing that he was the one to kill Ah Tabai. James suddenly felt an uncontrollable fury building inside himself.
"Now, take this filth away." Louis said, motioning to James and Edward with one hand. The other assassins moved towards them (there were three). James moved with lightening speed. In one fluid motion, he drew his Syrian sword and swung at the closest assassin, opening his throat and kicking him off his feet. He charged Louis, slamming into him. They both slammed into one of the hut's weak walls, and they both went falling out into the open air before falling ten feet to the ground below. James rolled onto his back and slowly clambered to his feet.
Louis scrambled to his, putting on a look of fear. James cursed how good of an actor Louis was. He pointed at James and yelled; "He has killed the mentor! Kenway had murdered the mentor!" Many assassins looked towards James and Edward, who had jumped down after him. And to prove Louis's claim, one of the two other assassins working with him jumped down, Ah Tabai's dead body in his arms. "Kill him! Kill both of them!"
The other assassins obeyed Louis quickly. James knew Louis had thought this through for sometime. The assassins had all known that James had broke two of the tenants of the creed and had soiled his reputation. James had honestly never thought that he would ever hear of that again, all truth be told. "Move!" Edward shouted, slapping James's arm and turning to run towards the beach. Before James could run, an assassin lunged at him. James rolled out of the way, picked up his Syrian sword off of the ground and swung, the blade sinking into the assassin's calf. The assassin fell to his knees and James got to his feet, running after Edward. Behind him, he could hear the other assassins coming for them.
"Anne! Get us moving!" Edward yelled to Anne as he quickly ran into the water, diving out and beginning to swim for the Jackdaw. James didn't even think about the Storm. Just jumped into the water behind Edward and began to swim after him. Anne called for full sail and spun the wheel, turning the bow of the Jackdaw so that it faced the open ocean. Just as the ship began to move, James and Edward reached it and they both grabbed on, climbing up as swiftly as they could, falling down onto the forecastle, breathing heavily. James felt the salt water spreading out around himself. Anne helped both of them into sitting positions, their backs leaning against the railing.
"What in God's name just happened?" James took several deep breaths. "That bastard! An assassin, his name is Louis Dalton, killed Ah Tabai, and has successfully framed me for it." Edward stood and walked calmly to the wheel, taking hold of it. "I know of a place that might be safe enough to take refuge in." He looked to Anne. "We're making a course for Great Inagua."
AN: Quick note on James's outfit, he is wearing the privateer's outfit from Black Flag. But anyway, what did you guys think? That douchebag Louis Dalton has framed James Kenway of murdering Ah Tabai. Now they are on their way to Great Inagau, and Edward is most likely not going to be leaving for London just yet. What is going to happen next in James's journey. He now has to kill the (most likely) new mentor of the brotherhood as well as Woods Rogers. Well, we will probably see on the next chapter.
~Exangellion