I just had to split the previous one and this one in half. Otherwise it just would've been so long! I know you guys said you liked the chapters longer, but it would've taken years for me to update too! :) I hope you don't mind. This is simply Ziio telling Haytham what happened. Enjoy!

ZIIO

"In the morning, my son ventured away from the village to play with the other children. I told him sternly not to trek beyond the valley. To pass the time until his return I aided another mother with washing. We spoke of many things, but we were interrupted. I do not know how the feeling crept across me; the atmosphere was the same as ever. But something was wrong.

"Excusing myself from the woman's hut I made my way to the village entrance. I was simply curious. Of course, nothing was wrong; nothing had troubled us in a long time. Everyone sat, stood and chatted as usual. This is absurd, I told myself firmly, you are being paranoid.

"To take my mind off the discomfort, I spoke to people there for a while. Everything seemed well; my sense of discomfort was purely because Ratohnhaké:ton was out of my sight. That was my theory. But later, as I spoke with Koshisigre, another man – Canowicakte – yelled: 'Look!'

"Every tongue was silenced. My eye only had to glimpse them to make my stomach plunge. My heart doubled backwards. At the peak of the hill above, marching with forceful determination, were three men in large coats. Each hoisted a glinting gun over their shoulder. They were headed straight for the village entrance.

"A collective gasp rose from my people. Though no-one seemed distressed, it was as if the air was a drum-skin: tight and closed. No-one dared to move. Static mutters filled the area in low tones. Only I was aware of the real danger. As the men marched closer I could see clearly who they were: The Colonial Templars.

"Of course, upon seeing them I looked for you. But you were not there. I wanted to run; to shout to my tribe that these men were troublesome. But I couldn't. My feet clenched on the spot, and I was motionless. One man's glinting eye crept upon me: it was of an icy blue complexion. It matched him perfectly. I should've known that he would recognise me. Your men never liked my people, ever – especially not the woman who stole their Grand Master.

"As our citizens backed away, I was left with a thinning crowd. The three men – still speechless– strolled through the bushes marking the entrance. Their chilling stare fell upon everyone, but the cold-eyed man took his time on me. I remembered some of them by face from the Braddock expedition...and many other horrific memories. Eventually the Clan Mother (my own mother) limped forth to greet the unwelcome visitors.

"They demanded for her to ask some 'questions', as they put it. I was at my mother's side in an instant. I whispered that these men were here looking for trouble. For goodness' sake, the triggers under their curled fingers spoke for themselves. Mother ignored my advice and told the men she'd settle this matter 'inside'. And so she led them to her hut, leaving me to follow closely behind.

"I listened to their conversation inside. They wanted to know something about a storehouse – perhaps like the one I showed you many years ago. I bit my lip as their replies became more and more threatening; the air was heating up. My mother refused to tell them anything. We did not want any trouble.

"At one point the leader told the eldest man to leave and question 'some other elders'. My mother protested at once; she would stand for no such thing inflicted on her people. But the man was out of the hut before either of us could stop him. At the time I thought nothing of it, and did not want to leave Mother alone with these monsters. And so the interrogation continued.

"The cold-eyed man was now positively roaring into Mother's face. I was not to let him get away with this. I took a few steps closer to her (that I was ready to protect her if he lashed out). He did, too: when my mother bellowed that she'd never tell him anything, his fist sailed through the air...only to be stopped by me. I grabbed his wrist quicker than a blink of the eye. His face was thunderstruck that he'd been stopped. His icy-blue eyes narrowed even more. I wasted no time, either: I returned the punch with my own fair fist.

"Time stopped in its tracks. Silence hissed in every ear; blood boiled in every body. The man looked like I'd just snatched his musket and shot him. My fists remained clenched, ready to defend myself; my mother; our name. The third man flew to his leader's side. The leader rubbed his leaking nose and growled. In fact, it was more like a cackle. He took another step closer; he circled me slowly.

"'You, you fierce, brutal savage!' With that he returned the blow I gave to him. My lip throbbed like a beating drum; I clutched it in pain. While Mother stood comforting me (and I tried desperately to conceal the suffering), a cry from outside made all of us – the men included – look up.

"It was a shriek like no other: a woman's shrill cry of danger. It was closely followed by one of a child, and finally, screams of: 'Help!' I exchanged a glance of trepidation from Mother. So returned it, and told me to run outside and see what was happening. But the moment I stepped outside, what greeted me was the most vicious horror I could wish for.

"In the distance was a thick cloud of smoke. It rose higher and higher, and it was coming closer. I stood on my tiptoes...and flames were visible. They were very distant...but where else could the screams have come from? I knew what this meant with a gasp. We were being attacked.

"At first I didn't quite know what to do, my heart was beating so violently. My first instinct was to warn Mother. I sprinted back to the hut and screamed: 'Mother! The village is on fire! It is spreading quickly!'

"'What?'

"'Towards the entrance! The tall building –'

"Though my words sounded ridiculous, I was stopped by her at once. Both of us rushed outside to see what was going on. Even now the vicious fire was closer than before...and the smoke clouded in my lungs; I coughed and spluttered madly, desperate to clear the poison from my chest. But who would do such a thing? There was no possible way that a fire that huge would spontaneously begin. This was on purpose...which could only mean one thing. Their third man was responsible.

"I whipped around. How could they? How could they disrupt the peace of our village like this? I felt anger boil my blood despite everything. I was going to face them, right there, right then. I hurtled back inside the smoky hut, fists ready to strike again.

"But they were not there. In the few precious moments while we stood stunned by the ferocious flames, they'd fled. The cowardly, heartless monsters. That was what they wanted: to punish us for not giving us information. I realise that now.

"Upon telling Mother this, she gasped. But now was not the time to vent our anger. It was time to protect the others. 'Kaniehtí:io,' Mother said urgently, 'go around every house and free the elders and children from harm. Make known the danger! Quickly!'

"I did not need to be told twice. My brain was still whirling like the clouds of thickening smoke, but I could not think. The only thing crossing my mind was urgency. I shan't talk much about the houses. All you need to know is that I performed my duty. Most huts were empty; everyone had evacuated to the village entrance. Almost everyone.

"The last house I came to was at the back of the village. Lungs heaving, muscles aching and sweat pouring, I entered the hut. This one was nearly engulfed by flames; several belongings were already burnt to a crisp. The vibrant orange demon was working away at the walls. But they were barely visible in the choking mist.

"The only person in the house was an old woman...Nitika. A friend of mine, who is extremely aged. If I had not come, she'd have stood no chance. I helped her up quickly and led her out. I went to check for anyone else inside the building.

"I can hardly remember much after that. Something must've stunned me: a hot fleck, or flying piece of black debris. It flew onto my shoulder like the spit of the devil. I clutched it to ease the scold...but that cost me valuable time. The door – which was so black by now that it may well have been torn from the night sky – caved in with a dreadful crash. I was trapped.

"I remember several things crossing my mind: life, death, the men, Mother, Father, my brothers...and my son. Where was Ratohnhaké:ton? Was he safe? Should I have died that horrific death, I wanted to know that my boy, my precious son, would live. As the flames slowly devoured my flesh, I dared not cry. My son would not want to see me suffer, should he have come. And he came.

"He tried to free me from the rubble, but I knew it was no use. The pain I was in was such that I could barely speak. The heartbreak in his tearful face was unbearable. It stung with a sadness greater than the blisters and burns. I told him to be strong. I told him to be brave. I told him that, no matter where he went or how old he grew, I would be with him. Always and forever.

"A hand grabbed him around the waist and pulled him to safety...just in time. I can never thank that person enough for saving his life. If only I knew who it was. With a feeble shout of 'I love you', the very last of the building caved in. I must've hit my head on one of the pieces. But that was the last time I ever saw my little boy.

"Now, here I am. Alive. And it's all your fault. You chose to save me, and no-one else. Why? Why bring me back from a deed that your Order committed? Why not just let me be? Why not just let me suffer? Why let their homes and belongings be swallowed by fire?

"I'll tell you why. Because I am the only one who ever mattered. I was the only one who ever had a heart, in your eyes. I was the only one worth saving. Because everyone else, in a Templar's eyes, is beneath him."