Chapter 10:

It took several days for Edward to return with Adéwalé. In that time, James and Anne had come to terms with their relationship and James found himself almost relieved to be bound to one woman.

James and Anne had been sitting on the beach, talking with several drunken sailors when the Jackdaw docked. At the sight of his brother's ship, James stood and grinned. "Let's hope he's returned bearing good news." He said, heading for the docks. When he and Anne reached the Jackdaw, Edward hopped off and waited for Adéwalé before approaching his brother and Anne.

"I have good news and I have bad news." He said. "Good news, or bad news first?" Anne and James looked at each other. "Bad news." They said in unison. Edward nodded. "Well, Adé and I were unable to get any good information."

"And the good news?" James asked. Edward motioned to Adéwalé. "He doesn't believe the rubbish Dalton has fed the rest of the assassins." James rubbed at his temples. "Well, at least we have one ally." Anne said. She smiled at Adéwalé. Edward looked at James and Anne for just a moment before moving past them and heading for the tavern. "I need some rum in me. It has been a long voyage." James chuckled and followed his brother to the tavern, sitting across from him and waiting for Anne, who brought them a few bottles of rum.

James looked Adéwalé over. "I don't think we've been properly introduced." James said. He held out a hand. "James Kenway. I'll take it you're Adéwalé." He said this last part with a grin. "Aye, 'tis true." Adéwalé replied. James laughed. "Well, now that we have another ally, what would the next course of action be?" Edward opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by someone standing behind him. "Well if ya' must know, I could tell ya'." Edward turned and looked up. James stared intently into the eyes of the man speaking to Edward. He wore the robes of an assassin, but James quickly caught sight of the sash with the templar cross on it.

James closed his eyes and activated his eagle vision. When he opened his eyes again, he was surprised to see the man with a blue hue around him. James deactivated his eagle vision and brought his gaze back to the man's eyes. "So, you're here to help us, or do you have some other motive?" James asked. He may have seen this man as an ally in eagle vision, but that didn't mean he could trust him. The man nodded his head. "Aye, that is true laddie." He pulled up a chair and sat in it with the back in front of him. He held out a hand, and James hesitantly shook it.

"The name is Patrick O'leary." He said as they shook hands. When James had ended the handshake, he pointed to the sash with the templar cross on it. "You wear the robes of an assassin and the templar cross." Patrick laughed and shook his head, flinging his fiery red hair around his shoulders. "Aye, I do. But you gotta understand, I went rogue years ago." James only quirked an eyebrow. Patrick's smile grew larger. "I'll tell ya' all abou' it. But first!" He turned and motioned for another bottle of rum. Once it was brought over, Patrick popped it open and took a long chug before setting it down and saying; "I think this 'war' between assassins and templars is the mos' ridiculous thing ever. Us templars want the same thing as the assassins." James looked at Edward out of the corner of his eye. Edward was just as tense. Neither of them trusted Patrick for a second.

"We may want the same thing," James said. "But you would rather force it upon people." Patrick shook his head. "Why do ya' think I went rogue laddie? I did not like the way the templars were going. For them it is a means to an end. But if there were some kind of truce, maybe we could find a way to find what we both so yearn for without killin' each other." James couldn't believe what he was hearing. When you got down to it, the idea of some kind of alliance might be smart, and could both save plenty of lives and achieve both the assassin's and templar's goal. But the templars were too violent-too arrogant. They had always refused to try any form of peace.

"And how do we know that you aren't some kind of spy?" Edward asked. Patrick looked at him and James with a sly smile. "I could tell the both of ya' have the 'sight.' Saw ya' use it when ya' first saw me." He said, pointing to James. James blinked several times, unsure of what exactly to say. He was having a hard time comprehending what had just happened. Barely five minutes ago James hadn't thought about working with anyone else. And now they were working with a templar gone rogue.

James looked at Edward for a few more moments, then looked to Anne, then Adéwalé. When he didn't find an answer in any of their eyes, James turned his gaze, once again, to Patrick. "So...I'll take it you have some sort of plan?" Patrick nodded his head and leaned forward in his chair. "Well, you see...for a long time Louis Dalton has been working in secret with the templars. With his help they've planned to take over the brotherhood, use it to their advantage." James nodded his head. He had already pieced that part of the puzzle together. "Now, Dalton has a fairly large number of men working for him. If we take out enough of them, we migh' be able ta' take our men back without too much of a fuss."

James rubbed at the back of his neck. He didn't trust Patrick, but he wasn't sure of what exactly to do. Should he work with this rogue, or kill him while he had the chance. James shook his head. "I'll have ta' think it over." Patrick nodded his head and took a long guzzle from his bottle. "Aye, I can understand tha'. But don't take too long laddie. We might not have too much longer."

AN: Well, this is an interesting turn of events. Can James and co trust this Patrick O'leary guy? Is he truly a rogue, or some kind of spy (but then again, it's kind of impossible to stay disguised when someone is looking at you with eagle vision)? Also, do you guys want James to wear the Templar armor (I might have him wear it anyway, but then again, I might not if you don't want me to)? Let me know what you think by hitting that little review button. Thanks for reading and I will see y'all later.

~Exangellion