HAYTHAM

Of all the places – Connor managed to lead me to the rooftops.

I spent half the time wondering what was wrong with the streets. My son must've been mad to use the roofs. Of course, I'd climbed hundreds in my time: in training alongside Birch, I once climbed to the top of a church spire, balancing on the pole. It wasn't even the guards that troubled me: Connor appeared to have traced a route with very few armed Brits. It was that I – clearly unlike my son – had dignity.

Passers by would utter words like "insane", or "abnormal". Well, they weren't wrong. It wasn't every day that you saw two men (one young, the other seemingly old) ascending buildings. Only I despised being frowned upon like a lunatic.

"Where on earth are we headed?" I groaned, hoisting myself up another wall.

Connor ignored me, dashing smoothly ahead like a skilled thief. Time was, I had the boy's agility. It was already deteriorating by the time I reached thirty. 'Old age is yet to claim you!' I remembered Ziio teasing sixteen years ago. Well now, it had claimed me. I hardly enjoyed it.

A few minutes of running (and several loose tiles) later, Connor stopped. I concealed my breathlessness and caught up. He stared at the wider street below, and then at the next building along. There were no ropes nor ledges to use; we'd reached a dead end.

Excellent. That was all for nothing.

"Tell me something."

Connor's voice surprised me somewhat. "Hm?"

"You could have left me be at the gallows. You could have watched me die, that day. Yet you saved me." He turned around, a searching look in his eye. "What drove your hand?"

I almost looked over his head – into the afternoon sun – to find an answer. Achilles had asked me this, but hearing it from Connor was different. Harder. I saved you that I would not be considered a demon. That I might meet the son I never raised; befriend him and become a father. That way, I'd have some good left in my heart. Not that I was prepared to share that with him.

"Curiosity. Any other questions?"

To my bewilderment, he fired another one straight back. "What is it the Templars truly seek?"

"Order. Purpose. Direction. No more than that." I turned to face him, knowing there was more. Not all Templars aimed only for that; there was dirt that Connor seemed eager to dig. "It's your lot that means to confound with this nonsense talk of freedom. Time was, the Assassins professed a far more sensible goal: that of peace."

"Freedom is peace."

"Oh no," I snorted. "It's an invitation to chaos. Only look at this little revolution your friends have started. I have stood before the Continental Congress and listened to them stamp and shout. All in the name of liberty! But it is just noise."

"And this is why you favour Lee?" Connor barked. He was treading dangerous territory, talking about Charles.

"He understands the needs of this would-be nation far better than the jobbernowls who profess to represent it!" Inside, I asked myself: Really? Or does he seek only for control? I detested standing up for Charles, but I wasn't backing down. I wasn't admitting I was wrong. I didn't need to admit it; Connor did for me:

"It seems your tongue has tasted sour grapes. The people made their choice – and it was Washington!"

"The people chose nothing. It was done by a back-group of privileged cowards seeking only to enrich themselves." Suddenly I was angered by his ignorance: "They convened in private and made a decision that would benefit them!"

He stared back with a blank expression. He'd taken not a word of that on board, clearly.

"Oh," I continued, pacing restlessly, "they may have dressed it up with pretty words, but that does not make it true."

"And who are you to speak of truth?" Connor demanded. His hand swiped at me; I thought he was going to eject his hidden blade. "It is any man's knowledge what Charles intends. He seeks to line his pockets and nothing else. Washington leads for the love of the people!"

I regarded him for a moment. I traced his wolfish snarl, his clenched fists...all because I'd opposed Washington. What an utter, pathetic mess, I thought. This boy has been brainwashed by the lies of others. He excuses and forgets Washington's crimes.

"You know, Connor," I hissed, "it baffles me why you tirelessly defend the man. Have you forgotten what he did? To your village? Your people?"

His fists unclenched; his head tilted so he could see me beneath the hood. His eyes contracted to slits, and from the little space I could see them, they were puzzled. "What?"

He's faking it, I told myself firmly, ignoring my doubts. "The fire! The Seven Years' War! Oh, you know, the one that only destroyed half your little settlement?"

"What?" Connor's voice was barely a whisper. "That was the work of the Templars."

My concerns rose; my hopes were sinking. "Connor, I gave no such order. It was the work of George's men. Did your mother tell you nothing? Not a word of truth –"

"My mother is dead."

I couldn't absorb the words. I looked in his face for a sign – anything – to show he was lying. He wasn't. I staggered back, stabbed in the stomach. The impact of the words crashed in a wave of emotions. Ones I'd not felt in years, returned in that moment.

It's impossible...

My throat was so tight, I thought I'd vomit. So many questions. I could hardly depict it...what to ask first?

"Wh-what?" I choked.

"I found my mother burning alive," Connor yelled. "I'll never forget her face as she sent me away. Charles Lee was responsible for her death by your order! And you dare deny it?"

Silence. My mind was blazing, trying to digest it. It wasn't true, of course not. Ziio had lived through the fire. Connor was lying.

"What do you mean, she's dead? I – that makes no sense." Fighting back tears, I lashed out in denial. "I was there, Connor. I saved her. I dug Ziio from the rubble...and I healed her at my own homestead. She stayed hidden through a Templar meeting, then sent her home the next day –"

"Then how is it," he bellowed, "that I've never seen my mother since? You've given this tale a lot of thought, Father. For what good? To lessen your blame for her death?"

'Never seen my mother since'?

I couldn't believe it. Our last embrace flashed before me...and I watched her slip into the forest. Ziio was so close to the village, she could've touched it. So why hadn't she? I squinted into the sun, desperate for answers.

"It's impossible..." I breathed. "How? How could she never have made it home?"

"How indeed? How do you..." He jabbed his finger into my chest. "Expect me to take credit for a far-fetched story?"

"Every word is true; you have my word!" I pushed his hand away, praying that I wouldn't cry. "So you've not seen her since...the fire. That can't be right."

"Exactly. So why should I listen to you?" Connor whipped around in rage. He barged past me; I nearly slipped on the roof. I took a step towards him, but he turned again to face me. "I will continue with this mission alone. Meet me here in one week. My patience for you is already worn."

With that, he charged back across the rooftop and leapt down. I watched where he'd been for minutes, my head still whirling. This was over too suddenly; I still couldn't understand it. What obstacle stood between Ziio and the village? Why hadn't she returned to Connor?

That was when it came. The realisation – which took my frozen heart – shattered it into thousands. My feet felt like collapsing, my lungs like choking. There was only one explanation for it: be it bear, cougar, or some other beast, Ziio had run into trouble. Trouble that had left her dead.

"Ziio..."

:'(

Haytham baby! *comforts him* Sorry for such a short chapter. Any longer and it'll make me sad...well, I'm also sorry if this all happened too quickly, and obviously, I stole some of these quotes from the Benjamin Church mission. I've been doing that a lot. Title is based on the original AC3 soundtrack, which (surprise!) I wrote it to.

Oh, yeah! Almost forgot!

P.S. Thank you SO much for 90 reviews and over 20,000 hits! I literally can't believe these scary numbers, and it's all thanks to you. *throws grateful hugs* hehe, onwards and upwards from here!