Color The Sky

by Mystic Blade

Connor's life at Davenport homestead brings a sense of family after leaving Kanathséton as he makes new friendships with the residents and finds himself slowly assimilating into one large family. He partakes in a part of life that isn't tied to the assassins while one young resident tackles the new wild frontier to carve a dream for herself as they cultivate their new community.

78. Rise from the Ashes

Music Inspiration: Ramin Djawadi- "Against All Odds" and Lorne Balfe- "We Shall Go to War"

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Rise from the Ashes

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7 January 1782

The numerous interrogations of Lee's mercenaries through New York eventually led Ratonhnhaké:ton to Boston harbor. It was a daring move from the Templars, given how close Davenport was situated to the city, to encroach on their stronghold. This new position made him very uneasy, especially after the last threat given to him by Charles, and his thoughts often wandered to his family. His wife, not to mention the town, was capable of repelling enemies but the Templars were a different beast to fight than random criminals. He wondered if his father revealed Davenport to his subordinate, which would not have been surprising since the two were in Fort George and likely had plenty to talk about. He felt so foolish for trusting Haytham on behalf of Cora but it only spurred on his unflinching determination to kill Charles.

It was hard not to dwell on his family but little by little, he was tracking down Lee. The mercenaries hired by Lee to protect him had easily given away the truth under physical pressure. Ratonhnhaké:ton was done playing games and given that Lee held no Templar agents close, it meant that they were steering clear of the man or sent away on orders. It was odd, given Haytham's funeral a month prior where he gathered all but he paid it no mind. Mercenaries or Templars, he would eliminate anyone in his way.

When he learned that Charles planned to leave the country to return to England, it made sense why he had no Templars at his side. He did not want to draw attention but did that mean he was relinquishing leadership of the colonial Templars? Or had he and his Assassins eliminated the small remnants? It was cowardly to flee without his colleagues but then again, Ratonhnhaké:ton noted that bravery and honor were not in Charles' vocabulary. If Lee had not left a trail of death and chaos in his wake, he might have considered letting him leave.

However, when he finally found him in Boston harbor trying to haggle for a voyage out of the colonies, that idea disappeared. What was to stop him from causing the same misery to other citizens abroad? He refused to be responsible for more deaths and with that in mind, chased after a flabbergasted Charles through the shipyard. Did Charles think he gave up the search for him after those petty threats? He was relentless in his speed to not lose sight of him, dodging incoming bullets and knives from mercenaries. If they were close enough to use his hidden blade or pistol to shove them aside, he did so but did not decrease his speed. His goal was to get to Charles, not entertain any side fights or stop for anyone.

The ensuing chase led him through businesses from the shipping yard into the shipbuilding section. Charles attempted jumping into a rowboat in the harbor but Ratonhnhaké:ton kept chase, prompting the Templar to flee into a smoldering ship. Was he crazy enough to risk immolation to escape him? Ratonhnhaké:ton did not relent in his pursuit, ignoring the shouted warnings from workers that the half-finished skeleton of a ship was dangerously unsafe. Smoke billowed out from within but he dashed inside, trailing after Lee when he slipped under planks to run further inside.

The weak stream of smoke that billowed from the ship had become an inferno in the bowels of the ship. He was extremely careful not to let the flames touch his clothes, using his dexterity to avoid the falling wooden panels on fire. Warm ashes fell on his head and shoulders from the higher levels of the ship, especially when Charles began to ascend the ladders and protruding planks to climb higher to escape him. If he thought that would stop, he was wrong. The building heat inside the smoldering ship did nothing to dissuade, pushing him onward when he had to climb onto ropes and beams to jump across the burning chasm.

The floor above collapsed in front of him when Charles ventured to the exterior of the ship and he waited for the debris field to clear. Charles was older than him and would eventually tire in his run while he had plenty of time on his hands. Jumping over beams and either climbing over or sliding under planks was a simple obstacle after years of practice. When an unfinished corridor ended or was blocked, he simply found a way around it (or through it, in some cases) to continue his chase forward. Lee was heading towards the front of the ship again, trying to return to the harbor, so all he had to do was carve a path straight there.

When Charles rounded the corner from an overhanging beam with a pulley swivel, Ratonhnhaké:ton grabbed it when it swung back. The momentum allowed him to jump off to cut the distance between him and Lee as they reached the top level of the burning ship. The flooring was almost complete, allowing him free rein to run at his target as Charles tried to reach the opposite end. Just as he was about to reach Lee and release his hidden blade, the floor below their feet collapsed and the two fell into the belly of the ship. Broken planks of wood fell upon the duo as they hit the lower level hard and Ratonhnhaké:ton's right side erupted in pain upon landing on his back.

He briefly wondered what kind of shoddy workmanship was being used. His father-in-law built better toy ships than this. The impact struck him with a brief bout of dizziness and he shook his head clear of it before glancing down at his side. His right hand was faster than his sight and he touched a warm liquid trickling down his coat before his fingers grasped a wooden stake embedded in him. He saw the top of the stake sticking out of the bleeding gash when he angled his head and cursed his luck at being this close to Lee, only for this to happen. Charles was faster at recovering, bearing no wounds from the fall, and the older man stood up to approach him once he saw the injured Assassin.

Ratonhnhaké:ton gripped the end of the wooden pole to attempt pulling it out, despite the blinding pain, as Charles spoke grimly, "Why do you persist? You put us down. We rise again. You end one plot – we forge another. You try so hard ... but it always ends the same."

His hands slipped over his blood but he managed to pull out the piece in one sharp yank, biting the inside of his cheek to subdue the pain. He used his right hand to apply pressure through his tattered clothes just as Charles continued coldly, "Those who know you think you mad and this," he motioned towards his new injury, "is why, even those men you sought to save have turned their backs on you. Yet you fight. You resist," his blue eyes narrowed as he demanded, "Why?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton's right hand gripped his pistol as the flowing blood obscured his movement and with his finger on the trigger, raised it to aim at Charles' abdomen to retort, "Because no one else will!"

The bullet shot straight into Charles's right side, echoing the same sharp pain to match the Assassin. The impact of metal through muscle brought the man to his knees as he clutched the bleeding wound, pressing both hands over it. Cursing the man for the new wound, he grew frustrated at his own shortcomings for failing to kill the boy. Despite the passing years, it was one feat he had yet to win. Standing upright with a painful grunt, he hobbled away to escape before another bullet followed. Ratonhnhaké:ton's vision faded to black from the blinding pain as the Templar left the ship. He had failed in killing Charles yet again but left him with a grievous parting gift this time.

He regained consciousness sometime later when sunlight struck his face compared to the early silvery sunrise with fog filtering through the dock. His hands laid over the open wound in a subconscious attempt to dull the pain and he wiped his bloody hands on a clean area of his coat to keep his grip. With a painful groan, he managed to sit upright as pain ripped through his torso and he stifled any noise from escaping his throat. He still had to find Lee and kill him, especially now that he was wounded. He leaned into his healthy left side and used his hand to push himself onto his knees before standing upright, keeping pressure on his wound. The sharp movement dribbled blood down his clothes again but he pushed himself to move forward. He refused to die inside a damaged dry-docked ship and slowly walked into the sunlight where the floor eventually descended into steps. The bow of the ship was still incomplete which allowed him to leave the area discreetly, especially after the fire in the rear scared most of the dock workers away.

He ignored the curious look of bystanders when they did spot his bloody form walking through the docks. His steps were short and stiff to avoid irritating the wound while his head swam from the head trauma and loss of blood. It was easier to track Lee this time when he followed the droplets of blood that left the docks and headed toward the transport district. He used nearby crates, poles, and banisters to guide his steps to keep his balance but he was tiring quicker than anticipated.

"Connor!"

He shook his head at the sound of his name, questioning if the hallucinations were induced by blood loss. He didn't remember this happening back in Fort George when the fortress collapsed on him. His thoughts were interrupted when Duncan and Clipper bounded into his line of sight and he stared at the two with surprise. Had they been sent by his wife? The redhead motioned towards the nearest sidewalk shrouded in shadow to lure him away from the pier and told his boss, "Let's get you out of 'ere before the mercs come back."

Ratonhnhaké:ton swallowed sharply as he managed to ask, "How . . .?"

"It's kind of hard to ignore a burning ship and two guys walking out with blood trails" Clipper pointed out amusingly to the black smoke that billowed into the sky that morning and earned curious onlookers. Through his contacts, Stephane learned that the shipyard erupted in fire and two crazy men dashed inside – one being a native. It wasn't hard to put two and two together for the Bostonian Assassins and they set out to help their friend.

"We were looking for you but on the wrong side of the yard" Duncan admitted sheepishly since they went by the early reports and began searching through the burning remains of the ship.

"Where is Charles Lee?" his leader questioned sharply to find the man before he escaped Boston and eluded them again. They could not afford to go another year on the chase when his family, village, and town were exposed to the enemy. It was why he left them all behind to tackle this task alone.

Clipper flicked his thumb toward the transport district to answer him, "North of the river."

That was far too ahead for Ratonhnhaké:ton's liking, pondering how long he had been unconscious, and he tried to get past them by saying, "I must continue after him."

The two blocked his path before he fainted from the blood loss halfway down the road and Duncan disagreed firmly, "You'll die from blood loss before you do."

His brown eyes narrowed at the defiance of his colleagues, frustrated with their nonchalance, and he stated grimly, "I cannot let him escape."

"Neither can you die" Clipper pointed out bluntly at his stubborn attitude because he endured a serious wound that could either become infected or bleed out. They were too close to the end to let their boss die before reaching Lee. His friend was none too happy about the reality reminder and he suggested an alternative, "Let us fetch Jamie to patch you up and then you're free to go."

"My friend, you really need that open wound stitched up" Duncan spoke earnestly to coax him into accepting their aid rather than walking off to worsen his injury. It was risky to let Lee escape Boston but losing their own leader would be a worse blow for their Order. He was the glue to their branches and had a family waiting for him to return alive. He was not going to be the messenger of bad news that month.

Ratonhnhaké:ton grit his teeth at their reasoning but he would not be blinded by anger. Duncan was the most level-headed of all his Assassins and his wife trusted him in her stead to judge a dangerous situation. It would only worsen his predicament if he left without tending to his wounds. He could put his branches on guard to watch the ports for Lee attempting to escape the colonies while he received medical aid. Charles would likely do the same but he had fewer friends to count on and he nodded with defeat to mutter, "Fine."

Duncan sighed mentally in relief at convincing his leader because it was a rare few that could. Clipper moved forward to help Ratonhnhaké:ton by grabbing his right arm to help him walk with support on his injured side. The native stiffened instantly at the breach to his personal space, not to mention leaving his weak side vulnerable, but Clipper was quick to retort in jest, "We're practically family now so don't complain."

Ratonhnhaké:ton realized he had a valid point since Elizabeth admitted to a slow courtship with Clipper during their last dinner together. Of course, this meant the wheels were moving at a snail's pace given her tempestuous nature but they were moving. Caroline was amused by her little sister's fancy but Clipper had proved himself to their family every time. It appeared that he would have to put his own faith in his family again to see the end of Lee. He preferred to keep them all out of the fight but it could not be avoided anymore.

"Then make sure I am ready to leave by the week's end" he told him tightly to suppress the pain as the trio walked together back to Stephane's home. He was lucky to have them beside him but he worried for their safety just the same.

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11 January 1782

The winter days were longer and lonelier without her other half but Caroline continued onwards with the upkeep of daily life. She and Cora had been crestfallen to find their home void of Ratonhnhaké:ton but the letter left behind settled Caroline's heart that he left for a mission. She knew there would be days when her husband would leave for the Order and would never hold resentment. Unfortunately, Cora had cried fussily for her father but settled down after the first day at her mother's reassurance that he would return after his latest trip. Caroline disguised them as work trips to keep her unaware of her father's true line of work. Regardless, Cora was unhappy not to have her family together and stuck even closer to her for it.

The little toddler sloshed around the muddy snow covering the road of her home, intentionally splashing her boots into the soft slush to entertain herself. Caroline let her daughter enjoy herself rather than chastising her for the inevitable dirty skirt and stockings she would have to scrub clean. It brightened Cora's day and after bearing daily questions from her about Ratonhnhaké:ton, she let her have that little moment of joy. Alice accompanied the two into town since Catherine insisted having one of her single sisters stay over now that her husband was away. With winter in full swing, the days at the schoolhouse were later in the day and ended earlier to avoid the heaviest snowfall. Alice enjoyed playing with her niece and the cozy home of her sister made it easy for her to volunteer.

Caroline and Cora were dropping off Alice for the day before heading back for their morning chores. Cora enjoyed feeding the chickens while her mother cleaned the coop but she was still too little for feeding their horses. Alice chuckled softly when Cora began to hop to leave her footprints embedded in the fresh snow, remembering how happy it made her feel when she had been little too. Caroline had been the worst by throwing herself into the snow so the apple hadn't fallen far. Alice nudged Cora gently when her niece stopped in front of a large puddle with a giddy smile, leading her away by the shoulders. Cora obeyed with a small pout, especially when her mother aimed a knowing stare at her daring streak, and grabbed onto her aunt's hand instead.

Alice tugged the little girl close to keep her on the path as the cold chill of the morning breezed past them. Her bubbly steps and small but heavily layered form drew her to pick her up but Cora was insistently independent. After school ended, she would even try to use a broom to help her clean but she was far too little for the long handle and lacked the fine coordination. Alice would reward her effort with a cookie from Ruth's shop but Caroline warned her that Cora would try to outsmart her for the cookie alone one day.

"Can we make maple candy?" Cora asked sweetly since only her aunt Alice and Amelia catered to her whims. For Amelia, it was a given as her godmother while Alice treasured having little nieces and nephews to fond over. Her other aunts and uncle did not hesitate to tell her no and if they did agree, a ruckus over her sudden fancy would erupt. Cora loved having a large family to visit through the town and hoped Matthew would be awake so she could say hello once they passed the general store.

"Yes, we can look at the buckets later today" Alice agreed with a nod of reassurance, aware that neither Elizabeth nor Samuel had headed out that week to check. Years prior, it was Ratonhnhaké:ton and her father who set out to fetch the buckets full of maple to filter for desserts. Now, it was up to her siblings and the new generation was eager for the winter treat that they learned to make so many years ago. Cora was still too little to have the shards of maple but she could nibble on the hard sticks and devour the soft desserts full of syrup. She would happily teach her how to make all the treats of her childhood and promised, "I'm sure they're fuller."

"Rakeni made cake for me" Cora reminisced peppily at her father's dedication and enjoyed eating the dessert. Her pearly smile deflated when remembering he was not home with them and clutched her aunt's hand tighter.

"Last year" Caroline added in since her husband took advantage of the time while planning for the attack on Ft. George. Cora had been more than happy to tag along and learn from her father, even if she didn't understand half the time. Caroline really hoped this was the last time Ratonhnhaké:ton had to chase after Lee to end the fight once and for all.

"He'll be back as soon as he can" Alice soothed gently with a solemn smile for the two but her sister was handling the situation well. It was not the first time he left the family for a mission but unlike the last, he was alone this time. The only advantage he had was that a lot of Templars agents dwindled in number as the Assassin forces grew within the last two years. Myriam and Norris were currently training under Elizabeth after Ratonhnhaké:ton's confession last year. Little by little, the opposition was shrinking.

Cora nodded in acknowledgment, happy that everyone believed in him whenever he was mentioned. Every time she walked with him, everyone greeted them happily! She couldn't wait to show him her drawings and the new clothes for her dolls that her grandmother made. Caroline halted her little steps when a sharp sound pierced the air in the distance, raising her right arm to prevent them from walking onwards, and asked sharply, "Is that gunfire?"

It was common for bullets to echo from target practice or hunts but Caroline found it strange for it to occur so early in the day. With winter abound, everyone tended to wait until the late morning to start clamoring with sound. The cold was bitter against one's bones and they were all sluggish in the early hours to warm up their joints. The early morning was reserved for chores and the sound of woken livestock being fed or cleaned. Alice paid it no mind as she held onto Cora, tucking her closer to her skirt, and suggested helpfully, "Practice?"

"It's too early for that" her sister replied suspiciously, naturally on edge when anything was amiss. Ratonhnhaké:ton had instructed her to be cautious with any changes, especially now that Haytham was gone and Charles was running unshackled. With him gone, it fell to her and Elizabeth to protect the town. Achilles was gone and her husband was out of town while her parents' generation had grown older, leaving her peers to take up the new mantle of protection.

Alice saw nothing out of the ordinary as snow blanketed the town and plumes of smoke puffed out of the chimneys of the homes. The dark sky shrouded in heavy cloud cover only showed potential snowfall later on but the town was quiet like it usually was in the mornings. Another series of shots echoed further south and she suggested, "An early hunt?"

"Eliza or Myriam would've mentioned it" Caroline answered since the two were careful with their hunting grounds and keeping the residents away. They would announce their spots at the Mile's End public news board so nobody treaded near to avoid accidental fire. The back of her mind was not satiated with those answers, especially when another sequence fired off in a short response. Was it another set of bullets or return fire? She learned to trust her instinct long ago and she told her little sister, "I don't trust it."

They could not be out in the open and she backed away from the path, quickly ushering the two back home. Alice did not want this to be a false alarm and arrive late because a lecture from Amelia was not what she wanted today. Her older sister was a stickler for the rules regarding her school. She worried her sister was overthinking the situation and tried to dissuade her, "Carrie-"

"No, something's not right" she interjected sharply, unwilling to back down because being wrong would only cause tardiness instead of death. She had a family to protect from harm and would not let them venture forth until she deemed it clear. It would be stupid to walk around foolishly without exploring potential dangers. They needed a fortified position rather than being vulnerable outside and she ordered firmly, "We're turning back."

With that said, she grabbed Cora under the shoulders to lift her securely into her arms to return home. She was not risking her baby against the unknown until she was certain no danger lurked outside their home. Without her husband, it was up to her to protect Cora. Alice followed her sister rather than heading into town and alone, worried if they were overreacting, and tried to interject, "But-"

"I'd rather be wrong than right" Caroline reasoned tightly, not being the type to take a blind risk without a backup plan. The sharp rings echoing through the air were not friendly for a town that hunted deeper in the woods and practiced on the target ranges later in the day. She pushed Alice in front of her to keep her girls together ahead of her and told the brunette, "That, and I need a gun."

She lamented dropping her guard at home, carrying only her hidden blade for sudden close encounters. Unfortunately, the weapon was unusable in a long-range fight. Whether it was a robber, wild animal, or a Templar, she had to be prepared. Cora didn't like the serious expression on both the women's faces and peered up at her mother with worried eyes to whimper, "Ista."

Caroline clutched her close to her chest to protect her as they ran quickly up the road and spoke gently, "Hold onto me and close your eyes."

Cora had been fortunate not to experience fear, given the protectiveness of her parents, but this was the first time her heart skipped a beat. The firm voice of her mother and the concern of her aunt were enough to make her worry about their situation. Caroline clutched her head tighter to her chest when bullets echoed a short distance behind them. They were moving further inland and could no longer be mistaken for friendly fire outdoors. Alice hastened her step to the sharp noise down the road and broke into a sprint to return to the log cabin. Caroline covered her sister's back, annoyed at her own lack of preparation, and kept her pace behind hers to keep them safe. Who had appeared so far inland without detection? Were the townsfolk preparing to defend themselves or had they been disarmed? She didn't ponder about the what if's when they were still in the open road and ordered, "Keep going!"

Their boots held over the slippery melted snow as they ran to cover for safety in Caroline's home. Alice ran up the steps of the porch as it offered little protection and Caroline handed Cora over to her swiftly. Cora whined helplessly at being separated from her, unaware of the danger behind them, while her mother practically stabbed the key into the doorknob to open the door. Throwing it wide open, she ushered them inside hastily, "Get to cover past the windows!"

Entering behind them, she shut the door closed and locked it to keep out any assailants. Alice ran with Cora in her arms to hide in the middle of the hallway, away from any nearby windows from the living room and the bedrooms. The shadows of the dimly lit hallway protected them while Caroline ran to the mantle of the fireplace to remove her trusty shotgun. With the loaded gun in her hands, she brushed past the two to enter her bedroom just as Cora beckoned desperately, "Ista!"

"Stay with your aunt and do not let go of each other" Caroline ordered her daughter to make her aware of the grim situation. This was not the time to cry when Alice was nearby to protect her and alleviate her fears. She could not protect them if Cora was stuck to her and slipped into her master bedroom with her shotgun drawn for safe measure. With every corner empty with a quick sweep, she kneeled beside the wooden trunk by the door and reached for the metal key inside her skirt pocket to unlock it. With a quick lift of the heavy lid, she reached in to pull out her trusty pistols along with the ammunition she and Ratonhnhaké:ton kept in stock.

Slipping the weapons belt over her gray skirt, she loaded her pistols just as gunshots shattered the front windows of the cabin. Cora screamed at the painful noise that rang in her ears, clutching onto Alice with tears in her eyes, and received a tight hug in return. It was all Alice could do as they stuck to the only windowless area of the home, her own heart jumping into her throat from the danger lurking outside. She didn't know how many attackers were on the property and she beckoned for her sister's presence by calling out, "Carrie!"

The redhead re-emerged from the room with her arsenal of weapons and kneeled beside Alice to slip a pistol into her skirt pocket. Her brown eyes widened at the weapon since she never fired a single shot in her life, unlike her sisters. Caroline could not leave her defenseless at a time like this and she needed her to escape with Cora. If the enemy was after her, she had to clear the house to tackle the enemy long enough to give them a fighting chance to reach safety. She and Ratonhnhaké:ton always had their escape plan in place from the moment they built the cabin.

She grabbed Alice by the left arm to lead her deeper into the rear of her home where the storage room was located. Just like her mother's home, she designated this area for the cellar that contained their secret passageway to safety. Kicking aside the brown carpet of disguise over the floor, she reached down to pull on the iron ring protruding from the ground to lift the hidden door. The darkness below contained her collection of jams and pickled foods but Ratonhnhaké:ton built the escape door with the route that led to the cove where Robert lived as their rendezvous point. The Aquila held enough ammunition to hold back any incoming enemies on the ground while they could make a speedy retreat to the sea.

"Get in the cellar and follow the rear path past the door to our escape spot" Caroline instructed carefully as time ran out and grasped Alice's shoulders to state firmly, "I have to get everyone out safely. Find Robert and get on the Aquila."

"Is it them?" she asked fearfully at facing uneven odds against trained forces set out to annihilate their town. She knew that they would be targeting Ratonhnhaké:ton and Caroline more than anyone which tore at her heart for their safety. They protected Davenport for so long and now the enemy was at their doorstep. She couldn't fight anyone but she could protect Cora from anyone trying to kidnap her or worse. It wasn't much for a schoolteacher but it was something.

Caroline shook her head since they were blind to their attackers but she would do her best to draw them away. She needed their attention on her while Alice and Cora escaped to warn the sailors for either evacuation of the town or an extra set of help. They had little time to waste and she spoke coldly, "Doesn't matter. They're getting off our land one way or another."

Alice descended the steps hesitantly but reached out to grasp Caroline's left hand to plead, "Please come with us."

"Our family and friends are under attack out there" she reminded her gravely because their loved ones were out there facing whoever trespassed. She could not leave them to fight alone if it was the Templars attacking, especially for the families with children. They needed to evacuate to a safe location and regroup when the coast was clear. The town could fight off an enemy as a united force but if they were scrambled, they would be picked off one by one. She released Alice's hand with a fond squeeze and told her firmly, "I won't leave them behind."

Leaning forward, she grasped her daughter's head to kiss her forehead and whispered, "I love you, my little wolf."

"Ista, no" she sniffled with tears trailing down her freckled cheeks, her blue eyes burning brightly at being separated. Her rakeni was already colonies away and now, her mother was leaving too? She shook her head at having to leave with her aunt, especially as the darkness below swallowed her with each of Alice's steps inside. Her little hands reached out for her mother as she cried out, "I want to stay!"

"I have to send you away to be safe" Caroline pointed out gently to comfort her little heart, swallowing the lump forming in her throat. She had a hard time pushing aside the maternal distress over her daughter and backed away from Cora's awaiting hands. Her dark blue eyes filled with tears once more at being rejected but Caroline would take her upset state over having her taken hostage or worse. Backing away from the two, she nodded at her sobbing daughter to remind her carefully, "Mind your aunt Alice."

With one last smile of encouragement at Cora, she reached down to lift the door and closed it over their heads to seal them inside. Quickly, she pushed nearby crates full of fresh potatoes above the trapdoor to conceal it once more. Pieces of her family were safe but she had to find the rest before they were hurt or killed. Leaving the storage shed, she ran to the master bedroom once more and leaned against the wall beside their only window. She heard banging and shots from the front of the house and the rear, weighing her escape options. Being a solo fighter, she would be foolish to charge the entry points into her home.

She opened her window quietly, ignoring her thudding heart with every passing second, and hoisted herself through it. Landing on her feet, she gripped the shotgun tightly in her hands to silently make her way to the front of her home to investigate the trespassers. Her feet were firm against the floorboards of her porch as she rounded the corner and glanced behind her before peeking over the side, pressing her left cheek against the wooden exterior. Two men dressed in gray mercenary garb were at her door, attempting to break it down or shoot it open. They had clearly never been up against Lance's craftmanship and their focus on the door allowed her to raise her shotgun.

The first bullet tore through the left side of the man closest to her, giving her position away immediately. While the injured party stumbled backward, she used the second bullet to strike the second man's chest when he ran at her. The second man collapsed instantly from the gaping close contact wound while the first attempted one strike against her with his own gun. Gripping the barrel of her weapon, she used a trick from her husband's notebook and swung the butt of the shotgun against the man's hands. The shot fired into the roof of her home, ringing her ears instantly, and she struck the man against the head. The two strikes brought the man down as blood leaked onto the floorboards, staining her boots as she held her balance against the slippery fluid, and she brought the weapon down once more over the man's head to end his life.

She heard rapid footsteps from the rear and slung the shotgun behind her back on her holster. It would take too long to reload her weapon and the enemy was inbound. Withdrawing her pistols from their holster at her waist, she leaned back against the side of the house to pinpoint the direction of the footsteps. When noticing they were heading right, she stuck to the wall before peering out to line her shot while quickly scanning her backside for any secret ambushes. As long as the enemy focused on her, Alice and Cora would be safe.

Three men headed in her direction as they carried rifles and she hoped the speed of her weapon would outmatch them. A brown blur shot into the air and her eyes widened at seeing Sir Cornelius fling himself at the closest offender. He was a tough and brave turkey but he was no match for three armed men. Before any could turn their weapon on him and turn him into pattee, she shouted for their attention, "Hands off the turkey!"

She fired the first rounds at the first man's head, dropping him to the ground, wasting Lady's bullets to ensure the first kill. Sir Cornelius was still trying to put up a brave fight against the rest but she screamed, "Go, Sir Cornelius! Away with you!"

Her pet fowl obeyed the shrill sound of his name, flying under the floorboards of the home for safety. Good, one less to worry about. The second man was struck in the chest as soon as the first fell with her trusty Albert firing off larger but slower rounds. Both her pistols required reloading after eliminating the men, leaving her without a weapon for the third attacker. She made a quick decision to grab the weapon from the first man she killed and darted away from the corner to seize the rifle. Backing away from the corner, she waited for the next attack and heard the assailant jump off the porch onto the grass.

Gritting her teeth, she cocked the weapon just as bullets struck the exterior of her porch. Dodging behind the railing, she used it for cover as she tried to line a shot against him. The porch offered little protection, pushing her to move and forget reloading her weapons. If she made a run for the road, she would be struck and debated entering the woods. She needed to reach the interior of the town, rather than delving into the forest, and stood up to hide behind one of the porch beams. She tried to aim a lock at her target but the little cover and their movement across the grass made it difficult.

Caroline stiffened when a gunshot echoed but the one struck was her enemy, who fell onto the ground from a headshot. The strike was from the rear within the forest and she stuck to the beam, scanning the tree line for a friendly face. When nobody exited the tall pines, she wondered who shot the trespasser. Was there more than one group roaming the town? Or had they accidentally shot one of their own aiming at her? Not willing to risk bodily harm, she quickly ran to the opposite side of her home for a chance to reload her weapons.

From within the forest, a concealed Finn whispered sharply from behind the bush providing cover to chastise, "Father, we cannot intervene!"

Shay had not lost his marksmanship over the years and kept his skills honed with his favorite weapon. The two were present to survey the pending attack on the town by Haytham's orders to determine the lengths Lee's followers would stretch to. So far, he did not approve of harming civilians, particularly children. The redhead on the run was clearly Haytham's daughter-in-law but she focused on securing her family's safety first rather than have the other woman wield a gun to fight back. He had not returned to Davenport in so very long but the little plot of undeveloped land had grown into a bustling town. The land was isolated from the cities but the wild forests were not as untamed as before. He had left the Assassin sanctuary after defecting, never expecting to return, but he stuck to his rules by stating tightly, "I'm not allowing children and women to be killed."

"You just shot a Templar" Finn pointed out on the fact his father killed their own colleagues, risking exposure to their presence. He was thankful the Assassin did not venture into the forest to investigate but headed into town.

"Who clearly have no qualm killing innocents" Shay shot back coldly at the orders they were following since Haytham always stuck to never harming children. Lee, on the other hand, had no problem beating down children to fluff his fragile ego. He left his current hiding spot to travel through the dense brush, making his way around the homestead to loop behind the manor looming ahead of them. His gaze narrowed at the familiar structure and he stated grimly, "I am not one of those and neither should you."

Finn raised his hands instantly to show he meant nothing ill and followed his father swiftly. He did not want to leave more casualties than required during a mission but Lee had clearly ordered the town to be slaughtered. Haytham was quite clear on staying covert to report back what they witnessed to understand Lee's type of leadership. He did not want to fall under Lee's supervision one day, being a stickler for order rather than mayhem, and reasoned, "I do not agree with them at all. We were sent for reconnaissance, not intervention."

"I can keep myself hidden and report to Kenway" he stated firmly, sticking to his moral impulse to protect more lives rather than extinguish them. The tally only kept climbing over the years and he preferred to kill only those that threatened the balance of peace. The Assassins had long been on that list but he was willing to listen to this new generation. Achilles and his team refused to listen to his own concerns decades ago, severing his trust and turning him to the Templars.

Wondering where the old Mentor was located during this dangerous moment, he headed towards the manor under the cover of the trees. He was no longer afraid of facing the man who became his nemesis overnight, wondering if he had picked up the blade once more with his protégé. He cleared the homestead of Haytham's son, which was likely the most sought target, and observed the road bisecting the two properties before venturing out. Finn sighed under his breath at having his father break the rules yet again but chased after him with quiet steps.

Shay dashed across the empty road to reach the manor, crouching by the corner before trailing under the windows to reach the back door. Like Connor's family, Achilles would likely be another target on Lee's list and he tried to ignore the irony of searching for the man. He heard no sound from within the manor and motioned for Finn to stay close as the two made their way to the rear of the home. Rounding the corner, he raised his rifle to target any enemies nearby but found the field empty. The back door lay open, splintered from the force used to forcefully breach the manor, and he treaded cautiously for other Templars.

He held out his rifle in front of him as he entered the home, aiming at each doorway as he headed to the front. Each of the rooms were empty, void of life, and he noted dust coating all of the furniture he passed by. Was Achilles no longer its inhabitant? Haytham's current intel believed him to be alive but the silent home said otherwise. Was he accidentally falling into a trap? He motioned for Finn to linger by the door as a second set of eyes as he ventured towards the main foyer, finding it empty as well. Ascending the stairs to the second floor, only the creak of his footsteps echoed over the floorboards. Nothing stirred within the home and he lowered his rifle at finding nothing amiss.

After waiting for a few more seconds, he relinquished the search to return to his son. Nobody occupied the home and he left that piece of his past behind, unable to find his ex-leader. His original intent on speaking with the man after decades of self-reflection was no longer likely. He decided to return to the cover of the forest to wander into the town but as he walked across the hill, he noticed environmental changes in the distance. He was aware of the family burial plots for Achilles' family at the edge of the hill but he stopped when there was an extra tombstone. He ditched his plan to head into town to investigate as he refused to believe the assumption gnawing at his mind. Approaching the fourth addition to the graveyard, he read the name silently to confirm his suspicion.

Achilles Davenport. 1710-1781.

He was too late to hold that conversation with the man and wondered what brought his end. Had he died in a fight to assist Connor? In his sleep? From an accident? No matter, death was death. Everyone from his original team was truly gone, leaving him as the last one standing. Finn was absolutely lost in what his father found an interest in and asked curiously, "What is it?"

"It appears the old Mentor of the Assassins is gone" Shay replied coldly at finding Achilles but not in the way he expected.

Finn's eyes darted between the tombstone and his brooding father, daring to ask uncertainly, "Is that a good or bad thing? I cannot tell with your glare."

"I lived here once" he revealed quietly to the secret of his past that Haytham kept concealed. Only the Templars that had been present for his initiation were aware of his origins but they had all faded by time or battle. All except Charles and Haytham anyway. Finn was aware he preferred solitude, living on the outskirts or off the grid, so a small town was not out of the realm of possibility for him. An Assassin den, however, was not. Shay's eyes narrowed towards the silent headstones to confess tightly, "Among them. . . as one of them."

Finn blocked the noise echoing through the air to absorb that slip of truth and blurted, "What?"

"There are things I've yet to disclose to you" he explained carefully to avoid hurting his son for keeping certain facts under wrap for decades. His identity as an ex-Assassin was one he tried to erase and repress entirely after leaving them in shambles and set for extermination. Now, he returned to the same land he left to a new generation of Assassins and hoping his son didn't ditch him on the spot. He was always one for brutal honesty but there were things he regretted committing for both sides. Backing away from the family graves, he granted them eternal peace as he admitted, "I left the Assassins after disagreeing with their activities and chose the Templars. Unfortunately, it meant dismantling everything they built into the ground. Removing each of them from the world. There is a reason they call me an Assassin Hunter. I can track and kill them because I know how to act, think, and fight like one."

Finn had always grown alongside the propaganda of Assassins being wayward and opportunistic agents of chaos. They sought ancient technology that they knew nothing about and their ignorance would bring world calamity. He learned from his father to track and extinguish his opponents to bring order and peace to society, a role he took seriously given the multiple wars breaking out. To hear his father was one of them shocked him but it also made him question what was real. The people below them were running from their own agents, not Assassins . . . so who were the real bad guys?

His father's words and current actions caused him to ask firmly, "Is that why you want to broker peace? Lingering guilt? Atonement? Change of heart?"

"No, I want to see what this current group has to offer after the last one failed" Shay corrected sharply by siding with the side of least resistance to keep deaths to a minimum. He was not a bloodthirsty or battle zealous man, opting to stay out of a firefight unless absolutely necessary. The years were catching up so he had to be sharp on his feet to stay alive. The Assassins created chaos with the Precursor items but the current group gave up that chase to commit to the revolutionary war to push out the Templars. It was still chaos but the Templars were also not innocent by infiltrating the ranks as well. His last and only connection to the Assassins was gone and he sighed grimly, "I hoped to speak with Achilles for common ground . . . but that is impossible now."

"Were you hoping to never tell me about all this?" Finn questioned his delay in explaining this particularly important fact about their family. Not only would the Assassins know he was a Templar but a traitor to their sect, which would likely not go over well during parley. What if they demanded his execution for peace? Would the Templars throw them to the wolves to appease the other side? Betrayal was never treated well and he dreaded involving themselves in this would get them all killed now.

The topic was a touchy one that carried many repercussions but Shay chose to bear them alone, rather than passing on the burden of his mistakes. Being sent out of the colonies made him believe he could ignore that part of his past abroad but he chose to go back willingly, aware of the potential consequences. He did not want Finn to see him as a dishonest man and confessed frankly, "The moment never seemed right."

"But the middle of a shootout is?" he asked dryly before flicking his thumb to the town below the hill that was currently in chaos. They were lucky that no bullets had ricocheted off the home and injured them. Had Lee hired inexperienced mercenaries and sent the worst Templars? Or were the townsfolk also aiming at them, given they were random strangers? He debated walking off into the woods and leaving it all behind.

Then again, he was not the type to turn his back on helpless citizens and give up in a fight. His father had his demons to hide and terrible timing for confessions but he decided to forgive his hesitance. Otherwise, it would become a regret and he would walk the same path. He raised the rifle once more to begin the trek around the town to continue their mission, glancing over his shoulder to tell his father, "They might all be gone but you're not. Are we changing the world for the better or keeping the status quo?"

Shay nodded at the push forward because he would not wallow with 'what-if's and carried on after his son to leave the hill behind. Achilles and the others deserved to rest in peace now instead of haunting his memories.

---

Caroline had run to her childhood home to search for her parents but found it completely empty. Just like her home, a small few surrounded the hill on her ascension but she knew the nooks and cranny of her land to quickly eliminate them. Without Cora to witness her actions, she was unrestrained to kill them as she saw fit. There was no mercy for the enemy this time and she left both properties secured before turning to the Mile's End. If there was ever a place where the town could seek refuge, it was the inn.

It was across the road where she found part of her family cooped up for shelter. Just like her home, the inn built an escape route since everyone in town visited it daily. Catherine and Diana fled there with Lyle covering their backsides since the inn was the second most fortified building apart from the manor. Catherine had also run to the inn to check in with Martha and her family to ensure their safety. She had tried making a break for the mill for Godfrey and Samuel while Diana opted for the schoolhouse for her own children but the others wouldn't hear of it. Caroline was relieved to find the entire Miller family indoors as well with Martha and Walter both wielding shotguns to protect their families.

"Everyone needs to get to safety now" Caroline ordered everyone to get them away from the two until the all-clear was given. They could not linger in one place in such a large group before the enemy closed in.

"What about the others?" Martha questioned worriedly because half their siblings were still out there. Caroline and Elizabeth were their best shots in the family while the others only learned for emergency purposes. She had already sent Matthew with Corrine and Oliver down the path but would not leave without her siblings. The cellar door was slightly ajar at their feet but she knew the other women lingered below for similar answers. Catherine was satisfied with Matthew's evacuation but neither she nor Diana would leave without all their children.

Caroline reloaded her pistols quickly as she leaned against the wall and promised, "I will find them-"

Shots echoed through the air, cutting off her voice, and the women winced at loud sounds. Walter pointed to the left where most of the shooting was occurring and told her, "That came from the schoolhouse. Amelia and the others south still aren't here."

"I'm on it" the redhead replied as she cocked her pistols and moved towards the door to leave again. Her little sister would not leave the school without her students and she shook off the sense of déjà vu at seeking Amelia's safety again. She made it on time once and would do it again.

Martha reached out to grasp her sister's left shoulder with a trembling hand, "Caroline-"

She reached back to hug the brunette tightly, reminding herself that Martha was no longer a child but a capable woman. She could at least rest easier knowing she, her family, Alice, Cora, and their mother were safe. It was her duty to protect everyone in town after placing them at risk as an Assassin. She would not let others suffer on her behalf and ordered them both, "Get to safety now. All of you. Find Alice and Cora in the cove."

Opening the wooden door, she slipped outside to return to the active battle and found refuge behind the large pine trees. Using each one as a shield, she made her way to the schoolhouse down the road where the echo of gunshots grew louder and quicker in succession. Cautiously, she crept along the trees until the white exterior of the school was visible. All the windows were sealed shut, along with the doors, but she spotted several figures approaching the school.

She cocked the pistol at the closest individual but she lowered it seconds later after recognizing them. Her father. He was approaching the schoolhouse with his own rifle to repel the incoming intruders. She left the safety of cover to run towards the porch of the school to offer aid. Rounding the corner, she saw that they were not alone as Terry, Elizabeth, and Patrick were assisting the older lumberjack. Each of them crouched behind cover as they defended the front and left side of the school. Samuel was stuck behind a picnic table flipped on its side while Patrick and Godfrey returned fire.

Caroline lined up a shot when she saw the top of a head peek out from Ruth's bakery and fired. She worried for the blond but since Patrick was not attempting to break in to rescue his wife, assumed she had evacuated already. Dwelling on a worst-case scenario would not boost her morale right now. Godfrey ducked behind the picnic table when the shot echoed behind him and saw the cautious bobbing of red hair. There was only one redhead not accounted for and he called out with alarm, "Carrie, get to safety!"

The last thing he wanted was for the trespassers to kidnap or kill his oldest. Caroline was not budging until everyone was out of the town or all the intruders were killed. She lined up another shot towards the bakery and shot back protectively, "Not until everyone's accounted for."

She knocked on one of the closed windows before speaking aloud, "Amelia, are you all right?"

"We're holding" her muffled voice responded from the other side, relieving her pounding heart. She couldn't be prouder of her brave siblings but they could not risk their lives for a problem that wasn't theirs to begin with. Amelia, on the other hand, refused to be frightened again when she had children under her watch. Ruth and Sebastian were watching the huddled children after Michael pulled her out of the bakery to keep his little siblings safe. She and her husband were the only ones armed in case anyone broke through the door, given that the school was the only one without an escape route. Then again, nobody thought they would attack so brazenly in the daylight. She pressed her back against the wall, comforted in knowing her family was nearby, and told her, "I'm not being backed into a corner again."

"If there's any chance of making it to the inn, we should leave" her husband suggested to avoid being sitting ducks and evacuating the children from harm's way. The Mile's End was the only spot with a clear route out of the town to a safe point. He did not want any of the children injured or worse, given the lack of mercy from the attackers.

Caroline agreed with his suggestion since the opposition was smaller on the right side of the inn. They were likely using the forest for cover as they moved north, especially since the southern edge was more exposed. She could have extra cover fire for the civilians to have them leave with Martha's group. Knocking on the window for their attention, she explained, "The route was clear for me by sticking to the trees. Climb out the window on my side, the door is too risky right now."

Amelia lifted the wooden latch to open the window quickly, smiling with relief at seeing her older sister on the other side. She motioned for Ruth to exit first to have an extra set of hands outside and the blonde pulled herself up onto the windowsill with a frustration at her fluffy skirt. Why did they all have to wear skirts? Caroline chuckled at her annoyed frown and helped her climb out by grabbing her waist to pull her through. Ruth was quick to stand upright and held up her hands to tell her sister-in-law, "Give me the children."

One by one, the group of eight children were pulled through the open window while the other residents held the line. They were scared, teary-eyed, and had rosy cheeks on every face as they held each other for comfort. Anne and Daniel clutched onto Caroline as their main source of comfort without their parents close by. Michael forced Sebastian through the window when he saved his spot for Amelia but the latter disagreed. She pushed herself out of the window when it was her turn, fondly amused when her husband helped to boost her up. Caroline grabbed her just as she did Ruth to help her sister squeeze through with a full skirt, digging her heels onto the floor to free her.

Amelia landed on the hardwood floor with a quick intake of breath before ushering her husband to follow. The schoolhouse was fortified but it could easily become a tomb. She was quick to corral the children into a circle as the three adults shielded them just as Michael escaped the schoolhouse. He sighed aloud at the narrow escape, brushing back strands of loose hair, and told the women with a nervous smile, "Boy, am I glad for all these windows today."

Caroline motioned for the group to stay together in the shadows of the roof before darting forward to say, "Boban, get them to the Mile's End and stay with them. I'm taking your spot."

Godfrey was not in agreement with that at all and sputtered with flushed cheeks, "Carrie-"

"I need you to keep them safe while we handle this" Caroline pointed out sharply, raising her gun to shoot a man in the shoulder that treaded too closely to Elizabeth. Her younger sister was quick to empty her rifle's barrel into the man when he clutched his injured shoulder, putting him down permanently.

"You heard the lass, my friend" Terry called out with a tense smile since they were the only ones capable of buying them time to escape. Anne and Daniel were among the children and he would rather they be in Diana's care than alone without either of them. They had yet to locate Myriam and Big Dave but were sure they were somewhere fighting off their own intruders.

Godfrey sighed under his breath at their luck but he had his wife and other noncombatant adults to think about. Not to mention, the schoolchildren. He wouldn't forgive himself if something happened to them. Caroline was not going to negotiate her position and ordered her family, "Patrick, Sam, go with them. I need more eyes on the kids."

Patrick reloaded his rifle quickly before handing a pistol to Samuel for his own protection. The youngest Burnett had a few lessons under his belt during his work at the mill, mainly to scare away bobcats and any curious wildlife that treaded too closely. He had never used a gun in an actual fight but he had been nagging his sisters to teach him. Today was not the day he wanted to put practice into action. Patrick grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to snap him back to attention when he froze and ordered firmly, "Let's go and stay behind me at all times."

Caroline, Terry, and Elizabeth covered the trio as Patrick led the line with Samuel tucked between him and Godfrey. Bullets whizzed by their heads and limbs, striking the earth, trees, and schoolhouse but their cover fire kept the assailants from a direct shot. Caroline ran forward to assume her father's position behind the table to gain a better view of the area. Amelia pulled Samuel behind the corner to lump him in with the children, dismaying the teen at being categorized as frail. Patrick pulled his wife into a tight hug for reassurance while Godfrey held his second oldest, satisfied she was safe. He scoured the tree line behind them for anything suspicious, tucking Terry's children close to protect them, and told the other adults, "All right, those with guns surround the children and we move together. If shots are fired, split into groups with one adult and hide behind the trees until all clear."

With that said, the group set out north to reach the Mile's End while the trio that stayed behind tackled the Templars. Godfrey was not happy to leave two of his girls behind but he had two of Terry's to care for and trusted his old friend to do the same for him. Elizabeth counted five remaining after the four they killed, wondering how many Lee sent after them. Was he really going after civilians? Given they were a town, a small militia was warranted. It was too risky to run across into the bakery and she told her sister from her hiding spot, "Are we waiting them out or trying to sneak in?"

"You are not running into that trap!" Terry warned the young women to avoid having to tell his best friend one was shot under his watch. The two women sighed with disappointment but he was likely right about their rash action. They could not afford an injury during an active fight.

Thus, the trio was forced into a waiting game to see who peeked out of the windows or dared to sneak out of the bakery. Elizabeth kept her eyes locked on the building while Caroline surveyed the area around them for any sneaky ambushes. Terry saw an opening in one of the shattered windows with an elbow peeking out and took the shot, hoping it would rile the others to retaliate. His bullet missed the target but it was enough to dare them to peek out the window and Elizabeth fired a direct headshot after zoning in on the target. Caroline smiled at her little sister's efficiency in long-range strikes, proud of her progress.

She fired off a round after targeting a man lurking behind the bakery. Instead of shooting the man, she shot the metal chain holding up the rear sign of the shop. The force of the impact broke the chain and the heavy sign fell on the unaware man, toppling him down to the floor. Terry unloaded his gun on the man until he stopped twitching to ensure he was down. Elizabeth tried not to laugh at her ingenuity but failed miserably, laughing even harder when her sister hushed, "This is not time for laughter."

"Well, I hope you're paying for the sign and cleanup" her sister shot back cockily before shooting another man in the left leg when he tried to help his quite dead companion. Given that they invaded her land to hurt her people, she showed no mercy against the Templars. Caroline reluctantly agreed when the smaller redhead shot the injured man in the chest and head before sitting back down to reload her weapon. Her little redhead was indeed a silent menace but she covered her by peering through the cracks in the upturned table for the remaining two men.

"By the look on your face, you're going to try and rush them like Connor" Elizabeth remarked while loading bullets into the rifle, smiling tightly during her work. With more numbers on their side, she would not have been surprised if that were her next step.

She shook her head at Terry when her uncle shot her a glare for the crackpot idea and disagreed, "No, I lack the intimidation factor and speed."

"What if we both rush them – oh, fine" Elizabeth attempted but was shot down by two glares this time and cocked her gun with a heavy disappointed sigh.

Their disgruntled whispers drew fire from the other side and the trio peered out after the bullets whizzed by to return fire. Terry managed to strike one of the two remaining when they were focused on the women, aiming wholly at the two rather than him. With another down, the sisters glanced at each other momentarily before suggesting in unison, "Rush him?"

"No, no, wait-" Terry tried to dissuade the duo but the two women left the safety of cover to run for the bakery. Why was he even surprised at this point in his life? The two drew the last man's focus as he left his hiding spot behind the rearmost window to target them while the two ran for opposite ends of the bakery. Before the two reached opposite doorways, Terry shot the man in the back as he tried to target Caroline and called out, "Make sure he's down!"

Elizabeth was more than happy to make that true after kicking open the front door and unloading the rest of her bullets into the man. Once they stopped twitching, she stopped pulling the trigger. Approaching the corpse afterward, she searched the man for anything suspicious and found a small Templar amulet hanging from a chair on their neck. So, it was indeed Lee and not a random attack.

Ripping the chain off, she heard the door open and Caroline walked inside to check on her sister. The redhead raised the necklace silently and Caroline nodded, motioning for her to exit the cabin. At least they had their answer now. The two left after one quick sweep and met Terry outside, flashing him innocent smiles. He was none too happy with their bravado but didn't blame their protective nature. Caroline nodded at them, appreciative of their help, before suggesting their next move, "We need to clear the south by Ellen's before moving to Myriam's western section. Myriam and Norris can hold while Big Dave is the only gun south."

They did not travel by the main road, sticking to the rear sides of the homes to steer clear of open areas. Lance's home was the first to be reached but they found it empty when peering through windows. The doors were still closed instead of being forced open like others and Terry motioned for the women to move on to Ellen's. They halted when they heard two echoing gunshots near the seamstress's home and dashed forward to close the distance. The only one capable of defending the area was Big Dave but he would need backup against a larger number.

Peering inside the cozy home, they spotted Big Dave beside one of the windows with his rifle as he surveyed the area. Elizabeth tapped on the window gently to avoid being detected by the enemies but enough for him to see her. She waved when he turned in her direction and she smiled at him, "Big Dave!"

He ducked under the window to stay safe as he informed them hastily, "We're holding! Ellen, Lance, and Maria are all down the escape hatch."

"How many?" Terry asked loudly when another ricochet of bullets shot at the cabin.

"Three! Northside!" the smith replied tightly to being pinned down by their greater number despite downing a few. He was relieved to have three extra sets of hands to cover his back as he tried to clear the area.

"Get them moving north!" Caroline ordered swiftly to get the trio to safety with the others rather than lingering behind. Big Dave moved to the rear of the home to unlock the metal latch to allow the group inside before locking it shut again. The redheads caught their breath momentarily as they quickly worked to reload their weapons. Terry motioned for the smith to get their other friends moving to remove any further risk of injury during the fight. Elizabeth and Caroline moved to the open windows to pinpoint their enemies before Terry joined them between the wooden wall.

There were hushed whispers down below as Big Dave ordered the others to leave, followed by a creak as the secret passageway sealed shut. It brought comfort to the topside crew that they would meet up with their loved ones for safety. Elizabeth shot off the first round but it veered past the enemy when they swerved behind the tree. Caroline had less access to long-range shots and gave up her spot to Dave when he returned. The smith covered the secret cellar with a nearby rug before approaching the window to set up his weapon. With three weapons aimed at the tree line, they had a better vantage point and numbers on their side. Caroline made herself useful by pushing Ellen's dinner table in front of the main door to block any unwanted entries to save the home from ransacking.

The enemies were eliminated faster this time around and Terry told the group hurriedly, "We need to go west for the others."

Now that Ellen's home was cleared and evacuated, they could move on to the remaining neighbors across the river. The quartet exited from the rear of the home and Big Dave kicked a nearby pile of wooden logs for kindling to block the way inside. He was not going to allow someone else to ruin Ellen's dream again. Big Dave and Elizabeth entered the main road first to draw any remaining enemies to them but the coast was clear. Motioning to Terry and Caroline, they crossed the road to head to the main bridge connecting the west side of the river to the east side of town.

There was silence on the Fortier farm and Caroline wondered if they had evacuated before her home was attacked. With the noise emanating from her cabin, anyone in close range had to fly into survival mode. The only gunshots echoed faintly from Norris and Myriam's property, drawing the group to the couple's cabin. Unlike the other residents, she and Norris set up shop on the roof to take out their enemies by claiming the high ground. Both faced the northside where shots rang out and the group crossed the road together to make it harder to target. They raised their hands when they sought refuge behind their cabin before they were accidentally shot, calling out, "Myriam! Norris!"

"They are really trying to push north to you!" the huntress called out to Caroline as she lined up a shot before firing into the snowy mounds south of them. There was not much space for them to hide in the western end of the town unlike the crowded east so this attack group was fairing poorly. The ground of the west was flat unlike the hills of the east so snow was all they had and a few young trees to hide behind.

Norris followed his wife with another shot towards one man who tried to escape safe cover for the cabin. Instead, he was shot in the leg and finished off by Myriam. Nobody would be breaking into their home today or any day. The miner kneeled behind the bend of the roof to reload and informed the group helpfully with a smile, "The Fortiers and Father Timothy are already heading to safety. Just us now."

"All they'll find are empty cabins" Caroline remarked grimly to her damaged home but windows and doors could be replaced. She made her family hard to track down by the Templars since they sought the utter destruction of their enemies. Her husband planned every escape route and rendezvous point, the only downside was that he was not present to plan out their attack. He was the leader of their town but he was also their captain in combat. Still, they were holding their own together and she suggested, "Pincer formation?"

"You read my mind!" Myriam replied gleefully as she shot off another round to distract the enemy. Big Dave moved to the left side of the house with Elizabeth while Caroline and Terry headed to the right. They had greater coverage than the opposition with the cabin while the latter used dense bushes or wooden fencing. Despite that, they were well-trained in dodging bullets and not being ignorant to simply charge the house.

Big Dave grit his teeth at simply grazing the shoulder of one and sighed under his breath, "Stubborn sons of bitches, aren't they?"

Myriam struck a headshot when one peeked above the fence posts and ducked behind the curve of the roof to avoid incoming fire. Norris tried to take a shot but his wife pulled him back down by the arm before he was injured until the firing stopped. Caroline tried to catch one that ran to a new hiding spot but wasted her bullets, informing the group, "I have three shots before reloading. Friends?"

They needed a team effort to kill off the enemy and Elizabeth ordered the group, "Those that need to reload, do it. Those that can shoot, take aim and fire."

"Connor must have pissed off their boss" Myriam remarked with amusement at their invasion force, wondering why they were pouncing now. They had expected retaliation after Fort George when Connor revealed the truth to them but nothing happened. Their preparation and training did pay off in keeping their non-combatant residents safe rather than fighting blind and scattering.

"I hope that means he's dead" Norris muttered dryly, hoping that was the case and they were earning retaliation for it. Their friend had left months ago and had not returned so he doubted Connor was the injured party compared to the Templar. From the stories he had heard so far, he was more of the flighty type.

"One can only hope" Caroline sighed despondently at having an end to the debacle. How did other Assassins live with the constant danger looming over their head for their entire lifespan? For a war that stretched centuries, each side had to stay ahead to crush the opposition to avoid being killed. It was not an easy way to live and understood why her husband wanted to break that cycle.

Gunshots rang through the air again but Myriam spotted the Templars collapsing rather than her home being riddled with more bullets. Behind the snowy mounds scattered through the blanketed land, three dark figures bobbed against it as they approached. The firing stopped from the Templar side as they focused on the newcomers while the Davenport residents lay confused. They halted their own firing to conserve their bullets to determine who was the enemy again. Just how many people were showing up in their isolated town now?

"Enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Terry supplied halfheartedly to the new development unveiling in front of them. The last thing they needed was more numbers against them. They had bought Godfrey and the others time to escape while they held off the incoming force. That is, if more didn't lurk behind them.

Having the vantage point of the higher ground, Norris had a better view of the field and he noted some familiar characteristics of the newcomers. Uncertainly, he called out to the Burnett women, "I believe these are your Assassin friends?"

Both women were surprised to hear of it since they never received word of incoming visitors. With Ratonhnhaké:ton out in the wilds chasing Lee, Caroline assumed he had every Assassin on his tail to aid with the search. For the first time, she worried that Lee had not been caught and her husband was the injured party if they were here. The probability of the older man succeeding was low but one never knew.

Elizabeth broke away from the rear of the home to run onto the porch, nestling into a new hiding spot. She wanted a better view and set her rifle on the top of the banister before carefully peering out from the porch post. The Templars were completely focused on the other three figures and she aimed at the back of one that was aiming his rifle at a smaller form, likely female. She scored a direct shot, heavily crippling them, and spotted one of their new guests use a rifle of their own to finish them off. She noted the gray wolf pelt across their shoulders below their brown hood and the frontiersman attire. More than anything, she knew the pristine care of that rifle and she told her sister happily, "It's Clipper!"

"I'm going in, cover my back" Caroline replied to lend their friends aid since her pistols were better to kill others at close range. With the enemy distracted, she could sneak up on them far better than when they were focused on her group. She ignored the objections of the ground team but the others were out in the open, exposed to direct attacks. With her weapons loaded, she holstered Albert for the time being and kept Lady to keep her hidden blade hand free for quick attacks.

The cold air struck her skin as she sprinted down the snowy banks, choosing the melted areas to avoid becoming stuck or hindering her speed. She ran to the closest cover spot, ducking behind a small pine tree, and gripping the rough bark for balance. Peering through the branches, she spotted six Templars remaining after killing eight that lay splayed on the ground. Did they send all the Massachusetts Templars at them?

Caroline left the safety of the tree to run straight at a Templar grappling with a larger hooded man. That and the handy war club in his hands. By the look of the attire, she assumed Jacob and unsheathed her hidden blade to drive it into the left side of the Templar's spine, deep in the heart. She was not the type to grant torturous deaths, choosing a painless ending. Backing away from the injured man, she motioned for them to leave the dying Templar but not before she grabbed his fallen rifle off the crimson-splattered snow.

"We received word that Davenport would be attacked" Jacob explained to her on their arrival as he raised the blood-splattered club over his right shoulder. Their branch had received intel that the Templars were planning to attack Davenport and Duncan ordered their sect to head out to investigate. With Jamie currently seeing to Connor's recovery, it was up to him and Dobby alone to head north to determine whether the tip was true. With Lee trying to escape the colonies, he didn't think he would be foolish enough to attempt it but clearly, he was wrong.

Caroline fired off two shots into another Templar before Jacob swung the heavy weapon down on them while incapacitated. Was Lee so confident that he could overpower the town? Or was it somebody new that he placed in power? Or did Lee die and someone assumed his freshly vacated position? They ducked behind the perimeter fence at the outskirt to dodge a barrage of bullets, buying Dobby and Clipper time to strike against the rest. Furrowing her brow, she asked grimly with narrowed eyes, "Lee?"

The other two Assassins didn't get a chance to attack when Myriam and Elizabeth shot one target together. Clipper saluted his girlfriend for the helping hand while Dobby called over, "Who else? We have officially burned his knickers."

"I came here for a different reason entirely!" Clipper pointed out since he was not part of the original team heading out. While Duncan assumed control of the intel to order the New Yorkers to investigate, he kept it quiet from Connor for the time being. Clipper, on the other hand, was aware of his boss' impatience to leave after Lee and he was in no condition to leave alone. Thus, he decided to track down Caroline to inform her of the situation. She was the only one he was likely willing to listen to before he bled out for the second time if he left prematurely. The redhead was in for another surprise with that reveal and he told her hastily, "We'll talk after we kill these bastards!"

With only three enemies left, the trio split off to tackle each one while Caroline provided cover fire. The Davenport residents kept their eye out for anything suspicious on the southern horizon but no movement occurred. The remaining opponents were dispatched easily against a group of experienced Assassins and armed residents to contend with. The pristine snow was covered in a spray of crimson and bodies littered the outskirts, granting the poor residence of Myriam and Norris a makeshift graveyard. The couple in question descended from the roof to rejoin the ground team as both teams met by the porch.

Elizabeth reached out to hug Clipper, surprising the rifleman, but the adrenaline and fear of losing her loved ones won over. This was not a moment where she could maintain her firm facade after putting her family at risk. She was relieved with the extra help, grateful that he arrived in time. Caroline tried not to grin at her spur-of-the-moment affection, sharing an amused gaze with the other residents. The wind whistled around them with silence yet again, signaling a premature clearing of enemies, but Big Dave spoke up, "We need to secure the town."

"With the added numbers, we will" Caroline promised with a firm nod because they would purge all of them from their town. Any who raised their weapon would be cut down without mercy. It was at this age that she understood the wisdom of Achilles in eradicating an enemy instead of allowing them to live to return with a stronger force. They had tried that with Haytham and that mercy was tossed back in their face.

The team reloaded their guns while Jacob simply wiped the blood off his weapon by sticking the end of the club in the snow. Dobby shot him a wry expression when he made a smiley face with the blood splatter in his effort to clean it. Myriam knew there were more lurking north that escaped her eye from the swarm around her home and told Caroline, "They're making a beeline for your home so we cut them off there."

Back to where she began then? Her stomach sank at having to witness what the enemy would do to her home. Lee would not rest until he eradicated everything that her husband held dear. Unfortunately, Ratonhnhaké:ton was not here to give them orders and she looked to Clipper as the second oldest with seniority since Duncan and Stephane were not present. The rifleman shook his head because this was not his town and he knew who the boss' true right hand was, telling her matter-of-factly, "Your town, your Assassins, Burnett."

Caroline smiled tiredly at Clipper, Jacob, and Dobby after years of camaraderie since joining them. She was the last to join the group, shortly after Jacob and Dobby, but having shared almost half her lifespan with Ratonhnhaké:ton granted her knowledge of his tactics. This was one fight she would have to carry on without him but she also had to protect her town. All in all, her family on all fronts was at stake. Jacob nodded firmly to agree with Clipper and Dobby flashed a smile to show her favor. Elizabeth, Myriam, and Norris were her new protectors for Davenport as Assassins but they looked to her as their most senior town member. The first generation of Assassins were all gone, leaving her and Ratonhnhaké:ton as the next to lead both them and the town.

"Assassins, we are eradicating the Templars here today" Caroline ordered to keep their able fighters in front as a shield for the townsfolk. If they sought to ransack her home, then she would gladly meet them there. With the town safely evacuated, she could rest easy and fight to her full capacity without restraint. She was not accustomed to leadership but having trained under Ratonhnhaké:ton, Duncan, and Faulkner, she hoped to have a good head on her shoulders by this point. There were no more nerves of insecurity in her stomach like her early years, trusting her own instincts now. She smiled kindly at the trio for making the trek north and told them, "Thank you for coming to help Davenport. This will always be your safe haven."

"Then let's go save it" Clipper smiled confidently to lock down the perimeter and return the residents back to their homes.

She motioned for Myriam and Norris to stay with Big Dave and Terry as the leaders of the second group to keep them out of close combat. They had already risked their lives enough today and Caroline instructed them, "Friends, provide us with cover fire."

The Assassins took the lead as they ran north of the bending road, passing the bridge connecting the town. Their weapons were drawn for any opposition lurking in the west side but their earlier sweep kept it clear. The Fortier farm lay silent but it stood tall, untouched by the enemy unlike the first cabin, as they continued their trek. It was at the end of the bend where it curved along the cove to meet the makeshift road Ratonhnhaké:ton created for his homestead that they found the lingering opposition.

There were about eight Templars surrounding her home, filling Caroline with rage for their desecration of her husband's work. They had already shattered the front windows for entry since the heavy doors failed to give way, which bought valuable time for her family earlier. Despite the damage to her home, they were not ransacking it and she dashed through the snow to reach the enemy. She knew the residents were protecting her team with long-range fire while Clipper and Elizabeth could use their own in mid-range strikes. Jacob threw smokebombs to cloud the area just as the Templars caught sight of them.

Caroline switched to her special sight to see through the gray shroud, targeting the closest Templar. Not desiring to give away her position, she used her hidden blade against the man's exposed right side for a critical strike. Unsheathing her hunting knife from her belt, she slashed the man's throat to eliminate him quietly. She continued to the next target as the old bled out on the ground, muttering under her breath, "You signed your death warrant when you entered our land."

Davenport was a sanctuary and she would not allow anybody to invade it to tarnish its symbolism. The next target put up a fight when the smoke cleared by grappling her but she kneed him in the gut to throw him off with her own brute strength. The rage for having her daughter frightened, her family endangered, and her town in a panic exerted in each strike. She drove the hunting knife into the back of the man's left shoulder blade, wedging it to the hilt between the bone muscle with all her strength. The wound incapacitated his left side and she raised her hidden blade, faltering the next second when she caught the glint of metal. Dodging, the bullet from a pistol narrowly missed her side and she narrowed her eyes before diving to stab her hidden blade into the man's neck before the next shot could be fired.

Twisting the blade, she severed the arteries and removed the weapon before kicking him away to bleed out.

"Good God, did you just channel Connor?" Dobby chuckled as she killed off her own opponent with her pistol. While her branch leader was a lot like their head boss, she relied on her stealth like Caroline to extinguish her enemies. She had always wanted to work with the redhead but she was usually aligned with either Jacob or Duncan, being their liaison and Jacob's second.

Caroline managed a small laugh at the comparison before leaning down to retrieve her hunting knife with a sharp yank. If she lost the knife, she would never stop apologizing to her husband for losing the gift. When another Templar raised their rifle, Dobby shot them in the left leg to throw off their balance. As they collapsed to the ground, Caroline ran forward to kick the weapon out of their hands before executing them with her hidden blade. Wiping her bloody hands on her skirt, she offered a sly smile to the smuggler and told her, "Just coming out of semi-retirement."

Meanwhile, Clipper held a moral dilemma by having to fight a woman since his female colleagues were already occupied. He was trying to chase her away with physical attacks but she was not backing down, returning each punch and kick with one of her own. He was the type to respect women but he also did not want to harm them in combat. Elizabeth took pity on her boyfriend and nodded to Jacob to switch spots and let him beat the living hell out of her poor opponent. Raising her rifle, she quickly spanned the area for safety before firing into the woman's back. She toppled to the ground in a twitching heap and Elizabeth chastised her boyfriend, "We expect an even fight, not to be seen as weak."

"You just shot her in the back!" he pointed out swiftly at her sneaky attack but she simply shrugged nonchalantly. Just because she wanted equality, it didn't mean she'd fight fair. The enemy would take every advantage they could against her.

"No mercy at this point, friend" Jacob agreed about fighting with every advantage possible at this stage of the war. Their boss was already chasing the Templar Grandmaster so they had to hold the line and win until he succeeded.

Their attention was interrupted when the cabin erupted in flames from within, scattering the remaining three Templars. The Assassins had already eliminated most with the assistance of the townsfolk but the remainder decided on one last act of defiance. Jacob was not surprised that Lee wanted to eradicate everything important to Connor to waver his resolve. Clearly, the man did not know Connor well enough on that end because it would only enrage him further. Elizabeth fired at the enemy to scatter them from the cabin like roaches and yelled out, "Caroline, your home!"

The flames spread quickly inside the wooden cabin and she assumed that is why nothing was initially damaged. Her heart ached at the destruction of her beloved home but her role as a protector came first. She could not let any of the Templars escape and ordered coldly, "It doesn't matter, take them out first!"

They didn't need to be told twice and everyone unloaded their bullets into the three who quickly realized they were outmatched. Choosing to follow Lee's orders on a whim led to their unfortunate deaths but that was their foolish decision for duty. With five Assassins on the field and four armed adults behind the picket fence, the Templars soon resembled a colander. Caroline scouted around her home to search for any more enemies in hiding, driven to flush them out for extermination. She ignored the sounds of crackling wood as she ran to the barn to investigate but found the doors sealed shut.

When the sound of gunshots ceased, the group glanced around the area and Norris called out hesitantly, "They're all dead . . . I think?"

Nobody was twitching on the ground anymore and no bushes nor trees carried suspicious movements. They had already killed a decent amount at the start but Lee had thrown a hefty group at them, enough to outnumber them. Jacob didn't trust the silence in the air and motioned to the Assassins to order, "Keep an eye out."

All of them spread out over the road and property to ensure they had eliminated everyone. The town had been flooded with Templars on every corner but they underestimated their strength. They might have extinguished the Assassins once but they would not get a second chance. This time, they would destroy the Templar Order.

"We have to put out this fire!" Elizabeth yelled to the residents as she detached from her Assassin role to saving her town. While Caroline was busy leading the team, she prioritized everyone's safety above her own- even her home. The younger redhead would not let her sacrifice more than she needed to and ran to the back of the home where the chicken feed buckets were held. She shooed away Sir Cornelius, who had found a secret place to hide within the feed bags as ordered, to grab two.

Caroline turned to gaze at her home again and found black smoke billowing out from the chimney and shattered windows. It had engulfed her cozy home and was devouring every nook and cranny to erase all their memories. She heard several footsteps behind her and her hand unholstered one of the pistols to aim it at the incoming sound. Her father halted immediately from across as he bounded up with the rest of the armed town. She was glad to see her cousin and brothers-in-law safe after the earlier shootout. Lowering her weapon, her shoulders relaxed to the welcome faces as her father explained, "We saw the smoke and figured you needed a hand."

"We're going to need a lot" Clipper remarked by how fast the fire was spreading through the house.

Godfrey took note of the cove as Elizabeth headed there, gun cocked for any funny business, and followed after her as he yelled, "Get snow and any water you can find!"

Everyone ran to the cove with buckets from the rear of the home while Patrick and Walter opened the barn to remove more from the feeding stations. The snow piled between both buildings would keep the livestock safe so the barn would be salvaged for the family. One by one, everyone filled a bucket of either water from the cove or the family well or snow to toss at the fire. At this point, Caroline didn't care about the well's water supply when her house was on fire.

Caroline grabbed a nearby large rag before running to the community well across the road to lift the wooden planks protecting the water from fallen foliage and bugs. She tossed the bucket into the well to lower it quicky and pulled on the rope tightly to raise it within seconds. Her thudding heart pressed against her ribcage with haste to see the top of the bucket, feeling the seconds stretch into minutes. If only the river was thawed, they could use its lifesaving water but it wasn't meant to be. She grabbed the bucket tightly when it rose above the mouth of the well, raising it above her head and closing her eyes. Mentally preparing herself, she doused herself in the frigid water from head to toe. The multiple layers soaked in the liquid, clinging to her, as she shook the wooden bucket to use every drop. Tossing the bucket back into the well, she ran back to her burning home with a determined glint in her eyes.

Samuel finished tossing one bucket of water into the front of the house when his sister flew past him. He tried grabbing her by the arm, letting go of the bucket as her wet arm slipped through his grip, and called out desperately, "Carrie!"

All the noise fell on deaf ears as she ran to the right side of the house, locating the third window on the wall. She withdrew her heavier pistol, Albert, to slam the butt of the against the window to shatter it. The beautiful windows her husband had picked out so they could see the forest clearly and the ones Cora enjoyed drawing on when there was morning dew clinging to the glass broke into dozens of shards. She used the rag to clear the jagged pieces from the windowsill before grabbing it to climb inside. She landed inside the burning inferno of her home and quickly shook the fabric to clear it from the tiny fragments of glass. Caroline swept the rag over her head and shoulders to protect her, using the ends as a mask to keep out the smoke as best she could.

From outside, Elizabeth and Patrick both grabbed Godfrey by the arms when he tried chasing after his daughter. The smaller redhead clutched her father tightly to keep him away from danger, exclaiming fearfully, "Boban, no!"

Caroline walked through the smoke-filled room, using her special sight to find the bookcase in front of her husband's desk. The study was the most valuable room for them and she tossed the hardcovers from the second lowest shelf to find the secret compartment behind it. All of their important documents were inside and she pulled a small copper box into her hands. Standing up, she grabbed the highest books in the center to save her husband's journals. Thankfully, the current one was in his possession and she had zero idea where Haytham's was stored. She didn't hesitate to toss them out the shattered windows to safety, almost striking Norris and Myriam as they tried to toss water into the room she was in.

She ran to the desk to pull out the middle drawer, removing the ledger of all their business accounts. Without documentation and legal paperwork, they would be penniless and she refused to have that happen after all their hard work. The study still clung on to life while the front of the house was entirely covered in flames and falling beams as they gave way to the fire burning the beautiful wood into ashes. She was barely able to enter their bedroom to swipe Cora's blankets from the crib and her sleeping attire before the ceiling creaked with the impending sound of a collapse. Her heart yearned to save her husband's clothes and her own trunk containing their wedding attire but there was no time. It was not worth her life when Cora depended on her.

With that in mind, she retraced her steps quickly into the study as she used her blue sight for guidance. Otherwise, the flames would have obscured her path and sent her into the wrong room. There was nothing more she could save until the fire was extinguished and she climbed out of the window, earning a few scratches on her hands from the glass but paid it no mind. Exiting the burning cabin, she tossed aside the hot rag and coughed loudly to clear her lungs from the irritating smoke. She held on tightly to her lock box and Cora's clothes before bending down to collect her husband's books. The burning smoke in her throat and loss of her home threatened to make her retch but she held her composure, reminding herself not to be weak.

"Caroline!" her father chastised her dangerously brave behavior, pulling her into a tight hug at seeing her safe. They could rebuild the house for her but she would not be replaceable.

She returned the hug with a fond smile, coughing from the irritating smoke in her nose and wiping her blurry eyes. The wet clothes were slowly chilling to the winter air licking at her skin now that she was free, dulling the faint stings of the lingering heat. There were items in the home that they simply couldn't afford to lose no matter what and she reassured him, "I'm fine. I can't lose everything, boban."

"You won't, child" Godfrey promised, understanding the pain of losing one's home abruptly. His daughter and son-in-law designed and built it so much that it was part of who they were. It was their inheritance for Cora and any siblings she had down the line to provide them with safe shelter. Having that dream go up in flames was a travesty. Regardless, he would house them that night to keep them away from danger. If she didn't want to stay, he was certain her sisters would open their doors for her and Cora. He cupped her face firmly, locking their blue gazes, and he reminded her, "As long as you are with Connor and Cora, they're all you will need in this world."

She couldn't help the tears that stung her eyes and her voice trembled, "Athair, we worked so hard-"

"Ista!"

She turned her head to the sound of her daughter's panicked voice and spotted her down by the cove. The rocks were covered in a light dusting of snow as Alice held onto Cora, the two surrounded by the unarmed townsfolk now that the danger passed. Robert and the sailing crew accompanied the group with weapons in case they needed an extra hand. The plume of black smoke warded them off until they heard the familiar voices of their fighting residents and no echoes of gunfire. Taking that as a signal for safety, they returned to lend a helping hand for what they expected were injured and not a burning home. Robert motioned for Myriam to assume command over the townswomen and children while ordering his naval crew, "Help put out this fire!"

Caroline squeezed her father one more time before crossing the distance to her own child, calling out to her with immense relief, "Kheién:'a!"

Alice handed over the red-eyed weeping toddler to her mother and Cora latched on immediately around the neck. Caroline handed her sister her most valued possessions before clutching her child tightly. The most important thing was that Cora was safe, along with her family, just like her father advised. She cradled her precious child, brushing her half-braided hair to soothe her that it was all over. She kept Cora's line of sight on the peaceful cove so she couldn't view the burning carcass of what was once their home. Her daughter had witnessed enough for one day and she smiled sadly when Catherine removed her blue shawl to lay it over her cold shoulders. She forgot her clothes were completely soaked, focusing only on Cora.

"Martha, give her your bonnet" Catherine told her daughter to use pieces from their clothing to shroud her eldest in warmth. The cold would eat through the wet layers if they did not add warm clothes or change her into new ones. With the house burning behind them, she would have to fetch clothes for her to feel warmth again. Martha removed her brown bonnet to wrap it around her sister's head, noting the frigid drops raining down her neck.

Clipper removed his heavy coat to place it over the shawl on her shoulders, fitting Cora inside it. Being the only one dressed in heavy layers for the outdoors, he had plenty to spare compared to the other town residents. Their morning had not meant to be started in an ambush shooting with most wearing light or working clothes. Amelia grabbed Caroline by the shoulders to beckon her to leave the scene and told her, "Let's get you into some warm clothes."

"We shouldn't separate yet" she declined with a sharp shake of the head because anyone could be watching them at this moment. They needed to secure the perimeter first but she appreciated the dedication to save the remnants of her burning home.

"The fire is spreading faster than we can contain it" Big Dave called out to the redhead after denting only a small area with pails of water. The women were attempting to fill the buckets with snow to throw it at the blazing flames but it did nothing except offer a few plumes of gray smoke. The smith had a nagging suspicion they used an accelerant to make the home erupt in fire so quickly but continued to douse the house in water.

Norris threw another bucket full of water at the roaring fire as he evaluated the spreading fire and told them, "The snow might save the floor and cellar but the roof is gone."

Caroline swallowed the grim news to accept the fate of her home, numbing that pain to the back of her mind, and told them faintly, "It's fine. The important thing is we're all safe."

"We can recover" Elizabeth agreed to dull her sister's loss and remind her that they would persevere as they always did. It was easier to rebuild inanimate objects than actual people. Their entire family would lend her a hand until she had a home of her own again.

"Caroline, there's something you need to know" Clipper spoke up cautiously, unable to find a good time to bring up the reason for his visit. The attack and burning of the Burnett house were unscheduled negatives in his plan, which would not lighten the new development. He wanted to reach her before his boss decided to go after Lee alone without ample healing time. He offered her an apologetic expression before stating solemnly, "It's why I came."

"It cannot be worse than a burnt house, can it?" she asked sardonically about the worst-case scenario of the day. Not having a place to live in and being destitute was high on her list today. Cora whimpered against her shoulder, earning a comforting squeeze as she kept her tucked under the shawl. She didn't want her mother to leave her behind again, clutching her tightly as if she were air itself.

Clipper's face fell at answering the question without lying and not upsetting her, hesitating slightly, "Eh . . ."

---

14 February 1782

Ratonhnhaké:ton lay flat on the bed, fussing with the covers before pushing them off him. He was not the type to be bedridden when ill, especially when there was a psychopath on the loose. Now that Haytham was gone, Charles was free to do whatever he wanted with his new leadership. There was no longer a tether to force him to behave and he worried about the consequences each day that passed with him lying in bed. The first few days were spent in and out of consciousness after his friends cleared a room above Stephane's restaurant to let him recover. Jamie was sent for within the day and he did his best to sanitize and suture the wound to prevent infection and a jagged scar. It took all four men to subdue him afterward when he decided to chase after Lee but a stern lecture from Duncan about bleeding out on the street finally changed his mind. If not, he would likely be hobbling with a grievous wound that would leave lasting damage.

Now, he was five days behind the Templar but his body and mind were in a far better condition. With that positivism floating around, he decided to cut his recuperation short and attempted to sit up. Achy pain shot up his right side from the use of his abdominal muscles but it was far more tolerable than the first day. During that time, he dry heaved several times to combat the pain pulsing through his body. Using his arms to shift most of his weight to the left side, he managed to sit upright against the bedframe to catch his breath. All right, maybe he was a little sore from inactivity.

The door swung open and Duncan walked in to spot his friend sitting up with the covers thrown haphazardly off the bed. His left eyebrow shot up before he crossed his arms to ask calmly, "Are you trying to escape?"

"No" Ratonhnhaké:ton answered hesitantly to stop a new lecture from sprouting, finding Duncan quite similar to his wife in chastising power. Given that he likely owed his life to his friends, he decided to humor the Irishman by feigning ignorance. That could work in his favor, right? Glancing down at the leather book off to his left, he grabbed and held it up by the spine to excuse himself, "Simply moving to read this journal . . . see?"

His days of doing absolutely nothing killed him with boredom but he couldn't risk opening his stitches. Otherwise, Jamie would be exactly like Dr. White and render him unconscious until he healed adequately. He appreciated the concern of his friends to patch him up but he was not one to be idle when able-bodied. The last days were spent staring at the ceiling, eating in bed, and reading his father's journal. Not great entertainment but it allowed him to peer into his mindset – maybe it would help to track Lee. Placing the book down on the bed again, he questioned casually, "Am I being held hostage?"

"No, we simply don't want you to die unnecessarily" Duncan reasoned dryly to avoid falling into another argument where the native tried to escape by running while injured. He preferred to have him leave of his own accord on his own two feet rather than fight him to stay with both earning wounds. They all wanted to find Lee but he had to be at his best to take on the man, who had likely healed his own wounds by now.

Ratonhnhaké:ton lost count of how many times he evaded death on a weekly basis and pointed out, "I escaped a burning boat after being speared like a poor hog, remember?"

Duncan sighed at his blunt manner of thinking, uncrossing his arms at getting nowhere, and finally relented, "Fine, if you're that eager to leave, we found a lead on Charles."

The younger man straightened up at the new morsel of information, eager for more, and declared with approval, "That's better."

Duncan refrained from laughing at his sudden enthusiasm and leaned against the door to inform him, "Turns out he's moving southward now. Last spotted in Providence."

"Then south is where I'll go" he stated with conviction to begin forming his new travel plans and a new sense of energy filled him at catching up with his nemesis. If he was moving south, he was likely finding it harder to seek passage abroad. With the Assassins Order on the lookout in the north, he was avoiding detection by heading to less dense Assassin-controlled areas. However, if he headed past Virginia, he would be in Aveline's territory and she would trap him. If he entered the Spanish colonies, however, he could find refuge and passage across the sea.

"Before you do, there's something you should know" Duncan spoke up to halt his eagerness to leave the safety of the restaurant before the week ended. With only a few days of healing under his belt, the wound he received would take weeks to heal properly. Frankly, all of them were surprised the wooden stake had not pierced an organ or a major blood vessel. He was extremely lucky and a tough man to kill which was unfortunate for their enemy. Ratonhnhaké:ton expected to hear heavy opposition would be in his way but the redhead revealed, "Clipper headed to Davenport to inform Caroline of your condition-"

"That loyal but traitorous beaver" Ratonhnhaké:ton sighed dismally at Clipper letting the cat out of the bag and upsetting his wife. Worse, upsetting her enough that she would be in a rage at his carelessness upon his return. He tried not to break his promises to his family but he could not avoid falling through a ship.

That wasn't the worst part of the reveal and Duncan continued with a steady tone, "While Jamie was patching you up, he told us of a Templar plot to attack the town. The New York branch arrived in time to push back the enemy and secure it."

He sank in his spot at Lee's attack, remembering the man's threats during Haytham's funeral. Without his father, he was truly unopposed to do as he wished to whomever he deemed an enemy. Given Lee's penchant for watching everything burn and his enemies on their knees, he assumed he would lead the attack. He underestimated him for once and concern flooded him for his town. Was his family safe? Concerned for everyone left behind, he asked quickly, "Were there casualties? When did this happen?"

Relief flooded him when Duncan shook his head to answer what he knew, "Thankfully, none, but injuries did occur. Clipper just returned and reports it occurred two days prior."

"Did he mention my family?" he asked quietly about the whereabouts of his wife and daughter. Caroline would no doubt send Cora off to safety but the worry that either could be kidnapped or hurt by their ties to him always dwelled in his mind. His wife understood the lurking threat and accepted it as his partner, always preparing for the worst. Cora was too little to understand the dangers of the world but her mind was sharp to absorb knowledge. She would soon be his age when he first met Charles and he did not want history repeating itself.

"I thought it best he explain himself" Duncan answered hesitantly, standing upright to let their friend speak for himself. Clipper had insisted on heading out to Davenport after Jamie revealed the looming threat to ensure Elizabeth and the others were safe. Much like Ratonhnhaké:ton, he could not be stopped and a second helping hand could not hurt the town.

Duncan turned around to open the door while Ratonhnhaké:ton was wrecked with worry for his family. Had something happened to them? Did he have to go after them instead of Lee? If so, he would make the latter's death more painful than he originally intended. Clipper entered the room, raising his hands for pity for stepping out of order, and blurted without reserve, "Before you end me, please know I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I would rather be chewed out by you a hundred times than face the combined rage of Caroline and Eliza together if you died so . . . goodbye!"

He bolted from the door, leaving behind a flabbergasted Ratonhnhaké:ton and a mildly amused Duncan. What in the world was going on? Did he truly fear the Burnett women more than himself? His question was soon answered when his wife entered through the doorway with a look of confusion towards Clipper's dust trail. That was soon replaced by alarm at spotting her husband sitting upright with the same expression. His humble appearance in sleepwear told her he was at least listening to their friends rather than seeking escape. She sped past Duncan to close the gap between them, wrapping her arms around his shoulders for safe measure as she greeted fondly, "Ratonhnhaké:ton!"

Had she come all the way here with Clipper? Why was he even surprised? Like himself, Caroline had never been one to stay idle when incensed. Having the town attacked and with his healing injury, a shred of vulnerability couldn't help but strike him. He clutched her close by the waist, inhaling her familiar herbal scent, and noted she was dressed in civilian attire with one of her muted blue traveling dresses. Her visit was most welcome but a worrying one, leading him to clutch her hands in his and address quietly, "Caroline."

She noted immediately that her husband had altered his hair quite a bit, shaving most of it off, and questioned, "Sporting a new look?"

"It seemed appropriate" he answered uncertainly because his relentless chase after Lee was one thing but his wife was another beast entirely. She preferred him to keep his hair in its usual style or longer, never shorter. Her fingers combed over the small ponytail of what remained of his dark hair and she eyed him with mirth. While he was waiting for a lecture to unleash, she was simply amused by his concern while relief flooded her. She couldn't care less about his hair as long as he was alive.

"We'll give you some privacy" Duncan informed the couple with a warm smile as he walked through the door, shutting it closed. Seconds later, the two heard the Irishman calling after Clipper for running off rather than facing judgment. Laughter echoed further down the hall and Ratonhnhaké:ton wondered if they had more company from their colleagues. Stephane's restaurant was lively in the afternoon hours and evening rather than the mornings.

Caroline sat down across from him on the bed with a somber smile, reaching out to squeeze his hands. She was immensely relieved to see him in a stable condition rather than succumbing to such a grievous injury. After what happened to their home, she was thankful for the positive news. Clipper worried her when he informed her of his condition and she thought it best to leave the town behind to find him. She would not chide him for leaving them, understanding his intent, and told him gently, "I heard what happened."

"So did I" he sighed softly at being unable to remove the target sign from his town and family. At least he could rest easy knowing his wife and daughter were safe after the attack. He threaded his fingers through hers, comforted by their reunion, and smiled when she squeezed his hand. It had been months since he heard her voice or felt her skin against his, missing their contact greatly.

She smiled with amusement to fluff some cheer into him by joking, "Don't worry, none of us fell through a ship."

"Do not make me laugh" he sighed deeply, trying his best to convert his laugh into a weak cough to save his side. The use of his abdomen worsened the pain and he refused to take any pain droughts to stay alert. With his wife beside him, he was comfortable enough to drop his guard and admit his concerns. He grabbed a pillow to press it against his right side, clearing his throat to smile at her, and chided playfully, "Jamie will yell at me if I tear a stitch."

Caroline reached for the pillow, seizing it gently from his hands to let it rest between them. He allowed her to lift the nightshirt to reveal his bandaged abdomen and she noticed the extra padding on the right side that covered most of his midsection. Just how large and deep was the wound? She needed to examine the wound during the next bandage change to learn how to care for it and aid in his recovery. Recipes for rapid recovery filled her mind after watching her aunt Diana tinker at home and she created a mental shopping list to cater to her husband. She hated to throw him back into this Assassin-Templar fight but nobody could do the job as good as he did. Dropping the fabric in her right hand, she gave him back the pillow to cushion his injured side and asked quietly, "Is the pain manageable?"

"It has to be since I will be heading after Lee now that I know his location" he answered bluntly to tolerate the discomfort whenever he shifted positions. He was no longer lightheaded when he sat up so he counted that as a positive to his recovery.

Caroline's calm disposition disappeared when she furrowed her brow, lips thinned, and admonished him, "Ratonhnhaké:ton, I want you to succeed in killing him, not die alongside him."

"I managed to shoot him just fine while injured" he insisted on his lethal prowess under duress but sunk in his seat when her glare intensified. He forgot his partner was not amazed by his episodes of blind bravery that resulted in heavy injuries. It worked well for their teen years to sway her off her feet but no longer as adults now that they had a daughter.

"Meaning he'll be more dangerous now that he is cornered and hurt" she pointed out firmly because they could not risk underestimating the man. After all, he ran into a burning ship willingly to lose her spouse and it worked out in his favor (minus the gunshot). He would not be playing a fair game and would throw everything at his disposal at them. Her husband had to approach this third strike carefully to succeed and advised him, "Who knows how many hired mercs or Templars he has hiding? You must outsmart him."

"What do you recommend then?" he asked pensively, reaching out for her hand again before meeting her concerned gaze. Caroline was his confidante and her presence comforted his conflicted heart, keeping him bound to the bed rather than sprinting off. If anyone could stop any half-baked plans, it was her. He already carried guilt for leaving her and did not want to cause his family unnecessary distress. He had two foiled attempts at killing Lee so far and told her fondly, "I trust you, my awè:ri."

"Don't travel alone" she pleaded softly, scooting over to sit by his left side at the edge of the bed, and squeezed his hand. He was a lone wolf by nature from such a young age but he needed an extra set of hands now more than ever. The revival of their Order was no longer a flicker in the darkness but a bright flame that banished all evil that dared to touch it. The attack on Fort George had been a dedicated team effort and it only led to Haytham's end, not Charles. Now with him gone, they could rally and chase him down at full force. She rested her head on his shoulder, peering up at him as she suggested, "If you must go, then you should be able to stand and walk with minimal pain. The trip can be completed by sail or wagon but take a few of us with you."

"Then I must start moving today" he decided to prevent hindering his own success and catch up to his enemy. Hopefully, he still carried his injury and with his plummeting reputation, he was unlikely to receive aid from the Patriots. With the tide of the war turning in their favor, Charles did not have many friends left. He could not dawdle while the other man was injured and reassured her, "It will be fine, Caroline."

"I don't want to lose you" she murmured quietly, allowing her inner turmoil to slip through, but it was always a risk in their line of work. It came too close when they were at home but at least she had Alice to flee with Cora. If not, she hated to think what leaving Cora alone in the cellar would have resulted in. She clutched his left arm tightly to convey her affection, soothed when he kissed her forehead. How did the spouses of Assassins bear the pain and loneliness of an injured or dead partner? The attack on Davenport was a wake-up call to never drop their guard and she added in, "Or have you injured worse."

"I am not that easy to kill" he stated calmly, smiling faintly at the numerous perils that failed to kill him, and she sighed hopelessly at his bravado. Well, the passing years were definitely not changing that about him. As they aged, however, he needed to keep a sharper eye on his surroundings before leaping. He was the only man she would bet on to survive fearful odds but even then, she would worry. She was bound to him for life and glad to have him by her side, for better or worse. He noted the pout on her lips and nudged his head with hers, omitting their usual shoulder bump, and promised, "I will always return to you."

"When the town was attacked, I assumed you had killed Lee" she admitted to the gutsy daylight attack that left their home in ruins. She originally assumed this was payback for finally killing their de-facto leader but it was simply to stroke his ego from the destruction. Losing the homestead was a small price to pay when they were all alive but she understood his need to end Lee. The longer he stayed alive, the higher the threat to the town would exist. With that in mind, she pointed out grimly, "This means we are still in danger back home."

"Which is why I must end him soon" he agreed bitterly, resting his head on the wooden headstand, and asked with a fonder tone, "How is everyone faring at home?"

"A few bruises and cuts here and there" she answered to their sturdy nature but they were lucky in being well-armed with capable fighters. Given the wild forest that bordered their isolated town, they were not to be taken lightly by the Templars again. The aid from the other Assassins also came in handy to survive the attack. His decision to admit his affiliation to the town after Achilles' funeral came to their advantage in preparation to repel trespassers. Keeping the town in the dark about their affiliation would have backfired terribly if they had not trained them or discussed defenses. She was confident in her town but she would not leave them vulnerable, telling him, "Clip and Eliza came with me while Myriam and Big Dave man the town."

"And Cora?" he asked for their daughter, not seeing her running around behind her mother's skirt. Did that mean she left her behind with their family again? He did not want to keep separating her from Cora whenever he faced danger. It was not an ideal situation to raise their child in and she had to take priority over him. They were no longer a duo but a trio with a daughter who depended on and looked up to them.

"I couldn't bear leaving her behind again" she replied earnestly about traveling without their child. They were laden with guilt after Fort George and she decided to take Cora with her rather than leaving her without either parent. Without them in Davenport, maybe it would be safer for the residents. She had to provide a stable upbringing for Cora and it was better to seek her husband than wait for another attack in the remains of her home. It was an abrupt change to leave the stable life of the town behind and hoped it did not do more harm than good. Her daughter had been curious to leave the forest she knew behind for the open cobbled roads leading into Boston. The noise of the bustling city initially frightened her but she released her mother's hand once she adjusted to the sharp change of the city. Caroline had wondered if Ratonhnhaké:ton had sported the same intrigued but sheepish expression when venturing out of the forest back in 1770. Once they arrived, Elizabeth had to distract her indoors before Cora dragged her mother down the street to explore. She wanted her to be free to do so one day and told him, "Stephane made her a snack so she is currently devouring it."

He smiled warmly at having Cora safe downstairs, aiming to keep her identity unknown until Lee died, and spoke softly with regret, "I didn't think leaving would make everything worse."

"Charles is on a warpath and we have to stop him before he attacks again" she spoke tightly to the remaining splinter on their side that failed to leave. It was fine when she feared for her own life, given her consent to be an Assassin, but she would not tolerate Cora being endangered. Her daughter deserved to sleep through the night without waking abruptly with fear that they were being attacked.

He turned towards her with an amused glint in his eyes and echoed playfully, "We?"

"I am not a housewife that stays put when danger nears" Caroline pointed out simply after years of outdoor labor and her training under his tutelage. She couldn't let any of that go to waste during a pivotal time when he needed help. The safety of their daughter also drove her to support him in this venture but with a safe plan. He could not run off recklessly again with that injury without bleeding out or damaging himself permanently. She flicked the bottom of his chin playfully and told him bluntly, "I don't think keeping us away will make it safer, given what just happened."

Ratonhnhaké:ton silently agreed that Cora would be guarded by a pair of Assassins this time rather than her mother and civilians alone. This would be the first trip for their daughter and she would remember it now that her memories were forming. They would have to keep her away from any frightening or gruesome situations to prevent anything traumatizing. Their interracial family would likely draw attention more so than they did when they wandered the southern colonies as a couple alone. That would be another problem in itself to tackle but he stated with intrigue, "We will be an interesting family traveling south."

"Who said we'll be alone?" she quipped amusingly because an injured Assassin and a toddler needed more than two capable hands. The premise of a trip had already been discussed on the wagon ride into the city and upon arrival. She loved her husband but he needed to focus on healing and killing Lee while she could handle managing the branches. Before he could object, she told him frankly, "Clip and Eliza are coming with."

When did a family trip south turn into a group venture? He blinked awkwardly for a few seconds to absorb the decision before asking aloud, "What?"

She stifled a laugh at his flabbergasted expression and informed him carefully, "We decided as a group that we'll come along while Duncan will head to Davenport to oversee its defenses. Dobby is on her way to take over the Boston branch while Jaime is waiting for your clearance to go home."

He frowned at having little leeway in the final plan but ultimately trusted his wife. It was not what he would have preferred but keeping his family stationed in Boston was just as risky as Davenport. Still, he couldn't help but chide gently, "Do I have a choice in the matter?"

"You can stay in bed and pout or I can help you stand to gauge your progress" his wife replied cheekily to determine his stability to travel on the road. The more he could walk and manage, the higher the likelihood that Jamie would clear him for travel. Her husband was not one to be docile and inactive when there were tasks to complete so she would pave the road clear for him. She would be there every step of the way to make sure he had the best chance for success.

He held the pillow against his side as he managed a soft laugh and told her, "I missed you."

"Likewise, my wolf" she doted caringly before reaching up to kiss him with a fond smile. He returned it like a drunken honeybee and smiled happily when she hugged him tightly. The past months without her had been miserable but he kept a sharp focus on the end goal. Caroline released him before she shifted any weight to him by accident and he motioned for his wife to hop off the bed.

Caroline shot him a mildly amused gaze before grabbing her fluffy skirt to slide off the mattress. He pushed himself constantly but she would be keeping an eye to ensure he didn't overexert himself. Slowly, he pushed himself to the edge of the bed to avoid aggravating his side and used his hands to stand in front of her. He kept his breathing steady to avoid the achy pain from worsening but day by day, the painful throbbing had now dulled. The injuries accumulated over his lifespan had granted him a higher pain tolerance than others so that was a plus.

"Use your right hand to grip the bed and give me your left" she instructed gently, remembering how he had helped her shortly after Cora's birth. Ratonhnhaké:ton listened to get the hard part out of the way and gripped her hand tightly, shifting her weight in his direction. Her eyes widened slightly at the weight difference between them but dug her heels into the floor to help him stand. He took a deep breath before straightening his back after walking a bit hunched during the first two days. This was the first time he felt comfortable enough evaluating his vulnerability and it would only be with her. She smiled encouragingly when he stood across from her at his full height and complimented, "Perfect."

"When did standing become difficult?" he grumbled at the soreness in his limbs, feeling foreign in his own body.

"You fell through a ship, dear" she pointed out dryly to the severity of his freefall that surprisingly didn't break a bone. The wooden spear had been a surprise but most people shattered a bone or two or sustained internal bleeding. The majority often died from the impact. He frowned at the blunt reminder of that day and she smiled impishly to tease, "Are you sure Lee didn't break your fall?"

He kissed her quickly on the lips to suppress the need to laugh and chastised her lightly, "I warned you not to make me laugh."

"I will gladly take that punishment" she accepted with a charming wink that briefly distracted him from the ache in his right side. He trusted her to push him but stop when he reached his limit. Anybody else would have been sent out the door. She guided his hands to her shoulders for better balance on his end since he towered over most people while she reached his nose. Her hands braced him under the shoulders and she told him, "All right, deep breaths to get used to standing before we walk."

The dizziness and blurry vision from the first day were gone, leaving only moments of unbalance afterward. Jamie had been stern in having him eat well and stay hydrated to heal properly since he couldn't exactly replace human blood loss. Little by little, he regained his lost energy but being bedridden worked against his active lifestyle. He had to return to his old strength and the only way to do that was to push forward, away from that damn bed.

"Baby steps with me" she instructed gently as she tiptoed backward one step at a time. He followed her, albeit slowly, but he kept her pace. The pain was manageable so he could keep going to test how far he could walk without intervention. He wanted to kill Lee with a close strike to confirm it was him rather than a long-range strike. They were halfway across the room when she told him, "Stop if you need to."

"It is the sitting up part that hurts" he admitted easily because walking was more comfortable than shifting around in bed. Any bending movements to his midsection triggered the pain so he was happy to stay upright. He moved forward to continue walking to accustom his body again and reassured her, "I can tolerate the rest, I've had worse."

Her gaze narrowed because this was his first serious injury with the second being the aftermath of Fort George. The first scare had been at Bridewell Prison when she first laid eyes on Charles Lee when he hung Ratonhnhaké:ton before Haytham saved him. She lamented what could have been if his father decided to leave the Templars behind instead of attacking him. Would they have brought change if he had? Refocusing on her husband, she smiled faintly, "Not speared through your side worst."

"I can handle walking, albeit slowly" he promised earnestly to avoid ruffling her worried feathers but loved the concern. She never hesitated to help him, even when the odds were against them, unless he really had zero chance of winning then they would strategize. He was happy to have someone beside him through his worst moments instead of bearing every hardship alone. It was a selfish wish to cast the same burden on another but his wife never rejected him.

"Good!" she nodded approvingly when they cleared the room together and a grin crossed her lips, "Now we just have to get a gun or tomahawk in your hand and we're set."

Ratonhnhaké:ton called the day a success and left his room to wander the top floor of Stephane's home. Jamie, who was downstairs playing chess with Duncan, was quick to remind him from below not to go down the stairs unless he was leaving the building. He frowned at being chastised by his own team and peered over the wooden railing to shoot back, "I am simply walking, not jumping from balconies!"

"We never know with you" the doctor chided him dryly after he almost bled out in the streets. He was surprised when the other two who found him explained he wanted to chase after Lee but in his condition, he would have been lucky not to pass out in a wagon. His boss was quite stubborn but he listened, though begrudgingly. Otherwise, he would have been beaten to a pulp when he first began cleaning and suturing his open wound.

The younger man shot him a glare for the wisecrack but like Dr. White's nonplussed expression, Jamie exhibited the same unperturbed face. Hmm, they must be accustomed to unruly patients then. He quickly forgot about the physician when he spotted Cora sitting on a bench sipping on a glass of milk. Her plate was now empty but he was happy to see her safe and smiling at Stephane as he kept her entertained. Her raven hair was tied neatly into two plaits with a blue ribbon that matched her brown dress. His wife dressed her just as her own mother did decades ago for the city and she reminded him of Alice during her first years in Davenport. Those days seemed so long ago now yet the war continued.

His attention was diverted by footsteps ascending the staircase and he spotted Elizabeth dragging Clipper by the left arm. He was glad to see the two safe after the attack, even if his friend blabbed to his wife. Ratonhnhaké:ton was amused by his aversion as Clipper avoided his gaze and reassured the brunette, "I will not destroy you, Clipper. Not today, anyway."

"He's joking- what did you do?" he blurted with surprise at his random bout of sarcasm, looking towards Caroline, and figured he was happier to have his family beside him. He knew how much she loved her husband and keeping a secret like that would not bode well for either side. The redhead simply chuckled at the compliment and assured him he was fine.

Elizabeth gave her boyfriend the dreaded side-eye to silence him before telling the couple, "So, we're here because Clipper had Lance make something for you."

The brunette held out a wooden cane to the native, who stared at it with mild annoyance. Caroline smiled with delight at the chiseled wolf's head at the handle of the cane but her husband was not enthused. He did not want to appear more vulnerable than he already was and told the other man bluntly, "I am not walking with a cane."

"Is it because you'll look like Achilles?" Elizabeth asked with amusement since he was the new leader of their Order, just as Achilles had once been. Unlike the deceased man, her brother-in-law was a kinder leader but one that was tough as nails to kill.

Ratonhnhaké:ton batted the cane aside even more so to avoid being labeled a frail old man. He was aware that his old mentor used it after his father wounded him when the first Assassin purge began rather than for old age. He would not be giving his enemies the satisfaction for a wound they never inflicted and refused to take it. He held onto the banister for support instead to save his pride and told the trio, "Not until you mentioned it."

"Call it a fashion statement" his wife supplied helpfully to convince him to use it rather than leave it in a corner to gather dust. The accessory would not hurt him when they had not even left out the door yet. He might actually like having it around, especially during the darkness of the night.

"I can also put a dagger inside for a handy weapon" Clipper supplied for added incentive and popped off the wolf's head to reveal a secret space inside the cane. Now that everyone in town knew Ratonhnhaké:ton's true line of work, they tried to incorporate covert spaces in his supplies.

"That . . . is a welcome addition" he stated half-heartedly to the small improvement of carrying a cane. He did not want to depend on a crutch to walk but he could think of it as a secret weapon? Maybe even like the hidden blade. Still, he wasn't a dagger-type of fighter to enthuse him to use it.

"Look, you're still healing and the less trauma you endure to the area, the faster you'll recover" Jamie called up to them as he overheard the conversation rather easily. It didn't help that the table they sat at was strategically next to the staircase. He did not want his patient to inadvertently open his stitches by being careless. Knowing his boss, he would run after Lee the moment he spotted him. He shook his chess piece at him from below and reminded him sharply, "But if you decide to run, swim, or fight barehanded – you're back to square one."

"Listen to the doc, dear" Caroline told him to gently fold him into submission for his own good. Her husband frowned at her agreement but she would not risk his health on the road. They had a long trek south and he had to be able to keep pace with them. She needed him to be in a better condition than Lee to win against him this time rather than have him slip away again. She grabbed the cane from Clipper's hand to hold out the handle for him to accept the help and advised him, "You won't be alone so take it one step at a time."

With great reluctance, he listened to her and begrudgingly accepted the cane to hold it in his right hand. His initial annoyance dissipated at his wife's delight and he reminded himself that she sought the best for him, and so did their friends. He leaned his weight against the cane and the strong wood held firm against his weight, unsurprised by Lance's skill. He would not reject aid from his loved ones but sighed despondently, "Charles Lee will be in the Atlantic if I walk a snail's pace."

"Again, we have wagons and ships!" Duncan echoed from below to remind him that walking south was not the only option.

"No horses for you yet though!" Jamie added in sharply to ensure his stitches held by refraining from sudden sharp movements.

Caroline waved at the air to calm the duo downstairs before they ruined her progress. She was trying to convince him to walk, not run, and asked him, "Will you use the cane now?"

"Only because it will give the impression to underestimate me" Ratonhnhaké:ton muttered flatly at his newest accessory for the coming weeks. If this is what helped him move faster, then his wife had a point in suggesting it. He could not fault any of them for trying to help him along in his recovery.

Clipper, however, shook his head at the idea of him appearing delicate and told him bluntly, "No, I still expect you to beat someone to a pulp with that thing."

"All right, I agree to all of your demands" he relented with a deep sigh of defeat at their hands, raising his cane to tap the floor. Caroline laughed at his animated reaction to use the cane to carry his point across but he was at least using it. Elizabeth shook her head at his stubbornness to carry on with his limitations but her sister would not allow it. He motioned towards the front door and told his family, "Can we go now?"

"It will be late by the time we finish packing our packs and provisions" Elizabeth informed him since she and Clipper needed to prep for the long journey. With Caroline focusing on him and Cora, it would be up to her and Clipper to ensure they had enough supplies. With Duncan and Jamie also prepping for travel, they could organize everything together in teams. She was lightly fatigued from the early travel but the lack of movement on the road would allow her a few hours to peruse through the markets.

"Tomorrow then" Ratonhnhaké:ton corrected to hold back their departure even more, pinning the trio with a suspicious gaze. Clipper and Elizabeth averted their gaze immediately but Caroline challenged his gaze with a firm look of her own. When they were children, it worked like a charm like it did on the others but his redhead carried her own fire to challenge him. He gave up the fight to convince them otherwise but didn't hesitate to chide, "I am beginning to believe you are all conspiring against me . . . except Cora."

"She's done eating, by the way" Stephane called out as his littlest patron finished her meal and he grabbed the dishes to place them in a washing bowl. Cora smiled happily at the renewed energy and hot food, tapping her hands on the counter. She expected to find unknown strangers but her parents' friends were all familiar to her, making her feel at home. The Frenchman nodded with a kind smile at the little girl and assured her parents, "I have endless snacks for one far from home."

"Thank you, Stephane" Caroline chuckled fondly at his hospitality, especially since the attack left her daughter more wary and jumpier. Cora, however, was swinging her legs and tapping the counter with her little hands to show her true self. She had a better disposition today compared to the first night when she clung to her and cried in her sleep. She peered down at her daughter, leaning on the banister, and reminded her child, "And what do we say, love?"

"Thank you, sir" Cora replied perkily with a toothy smile and Stephane saluted his tiniest diner. She jumped off the stool eagerly, catching her balance easily on the floor just as her parents called out worriedly. The toddler years brought plenty of bruises and cuts for the curious wanderer but she brushed them aside easily, much like her father. She clambered up the stairs with haste to reach him after long months without seeing him, holding onto the railing under the banister for support. Caroline left her husband's side to meet Cora to ensure she didn't accidentally tumble in her haste but she cleared the stairs on her own. Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled at his beloved daughter when she darted over and opened her arms to greet excitedly, "Rakeni!"

"Kheién:'a" he greeted her jovially in return, forgetting the pesky pain and exhaustion for the chance to reunite with his child. Thankfully, she was still too little to reach his side and latched onto his left leg. He managed to hug her with his left arm but was unable to lean down without stretching and irritating his right side. Cora had grown accustomed to being carried by her father and raised her arms silently to beckon him.

Caroline, unfortunately, had to break the bad news and reminded her softly, "Not yet, my dear. Rakeni is healing from a fall."

"I would not recommend lifting" Jamie admonished his patient before he caved to his daughter and set his progress back to zero. Ratonhnhaké:ton fought the urge to throw the cane over the balcony in protest to all of the sudden rules and do as he wished. However, that would not bode well with his wife and friends.

"Cora, let's buy some fabrics for new clothes" Elizabeth tried to redirect her attention and pry her away from Ratonhnhaké:ton. Her arms loosened around her father as her blue eyes lit up with interest to explore the city. It was so large it could swallow her! She could only wonder how many stores existed there compared to her little town.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was not willing to let Cora escape his sight after what happened in Davenport. Lee had just left Boston not too long ago so he didn't trust the city to be empty of Templars. Before she decided to run off with her aunt, he disagreed with the idea firmly, "No, she is not leaving any of our safehouses unless we're traveling."

Elizabeth agreed it was a fair decision, given the recent events, and smiled at her niece to let her down gently, "Next time, sweetie."

Cora was none too happy to have the opportunity swiped away but she said nothing to respect her father. Caroline chuckled softly at her disappointed pout but she clung to her father regardless. She remembered that expression far too often in her youth when her parents left for the city alone. Now that the two were reunited, she encouraged her husband to keep him stationary, "Why don't you two just sit and catch up? I'm going to unpack a few things."

"Let's go to the fabric and produce markets" Elizabeth told Clipper to get a move on to gather their supplies before dark. They waved farewell to Cora, who pouted at being left behind, and she gazed longingly at her parents one last time. Neither relented at her adorable expression and she whimpered despondently when her aunt reassured them, "We'll be back."

"Stay safe" Caroline replied warmly with a farewell wave as the two descended the stairs. She tried not to sigh when she heard Clipper tell her sister to buy candies for Cora. Her little one would undoubtedly never settle at night if she got her little hands on the bag. Turning away from the stairs, she saw her husband eyeing the cane again and told him firmly, "Do not mysteriously lose that cane."

Ratonhnhaké:ton averted his gaze quickly to the ribbons in his daughter's hair. Cora was still none too happy to be left behind but the frown lessened when he stroked the top of her head. He missed his daughter from the moment he left their home and regretted not being there to protect her. He was indebted to their town but understood Caroline's point in being the one most suited to protect her. Milestones were missed as she approached her third year and he noted softly, "You've grown quite a bit."

Cora beamed proudly at the feat, puffing her chest, and he held out his left hand for her to take. He smiled fondly at her small hand gripping his and reluctantly, he used the cane to support his steps to the bedroom. There was a chair there so he could rest away from the bed while Cora explored the nook and crannies. Caroline watched the duo head inside slowly with an amused smile as he spoke up, "Tell me all about your trip here."

---

Night fell upon Boston to bring the day to an end for the reunited Burnett-Kenway family. Travel packs were fully prepped for the four adults heading south, along with a little one for Cora who was more than happy to sport a backpack of her own. Duncan would also head out to Davenport in the morning once Dobby arrived, leaving Stephane stationed as the new eyes and ears of Boston through his restaurant. Jamie would also head out to return to New York to help Jacob manage the branch now that Dobby was stationed elsewhere. After Jamie cleared Ratonhnhaké:ton, Caroline convinced him to bathe so she could peek at the wound since he refused to let anyone aid him with that. His wife contained her laughter when he fussed at being coddled but recoiled when she saw his wound for the impending lecture coming his way.

She was shocked by the length of the laceration, spanning half the length of her hand, but Jamie had done a marvelous job at suturing. The skin was healing well without redness and the scar was linear rather than jagged from the careful needle entry points. There was no fresh blood that leaked when Jamie had pressed on the surrounding area earlier so he was on target to heal . . . given that he didn't do anything rash like tackle or fistfight someone. With his wife beside him, he finally agreed to take a few draughts to drink if the pain worsened on the road. He refused to ingest anything alcoholic so Elizabeth had bought herbs for her sister to crush and dry for teas.

Plenty of bandages and sanitation supplies were packed for him or any injuries to their party down the road. Cora had been happy for her new bag of colorful candy sticks but her mother tucked it away in her own pack to control the sweet tooth cravings. Caroline had not traveled on the road for years but the old wanderlust did not hit as hard now as it did back then. Having a young child under her care changed her perspective and it was her main concern, along with her husband's. Her worries decreased even more having her sister and Clipper as an extra pair of eyes if they had to stop in the cities. At this point in the war, nobody could be trusted outside their circle.

Caroline finished packing the last of their belongings in their backpacks to call an end to the night. She chuckled at seeing Cora glued to her father's left side as she hugged him, her new nightgown dwarfing her little frame. Ellen had given her extra clothes she had sewn before she left to keep them warm on the road. She appreciated the kindness shown to her family while Cora was simply happy for new clothes, forgetting her old ones were now ashes. Caroline preferred it that way to shield her young mind from such a trauma, smiling at her content now that she was back with Ratonhnhaké:ton. She remembered doing the same when her father returned from the log camps and they had to wait for him in the cities. Sitting down at the edge of the bed, she smiled at two to ask, "All caught up, then?"

"Her stories are getting longer" Ratonhnhaké:ton answered with a fond smile at her progress, earning a mirrored smile from Cora. She did not leave his side the whole day, only to eat supper and a quick bath by her mother. Other than that, she was beside him like a barnacle. She missed not having him home and despite their town was long behind them, she was happy beside her parents. Cora noted that he walked slower but his straight posture remained the same, hoping to match his height one day. She did not stop hugging him in the hope that it would make him recover faster. He batted her braided hair playfully before complimenting, "More complex."

"I told you she's a smart one" Caroline agreed with a bright smile at their beloved child, causing Cora to blush. She buried her head behind her father's back to hide from the attention but cherished their love. Caroline had no doubt she would grow into a capable girl and one day, an independent woman of her own.

Ratonhnhaké:ton pulled her back to his side to instill a brave front in her heart. She should never fear anything in her way. Cora glanced between her parents before asking her mother faintly, "Ista, can I stay?"

"Yes, my dear" she soothed with a motherly smile to let her sleep like she used to at home. She would not disrupt that normal schedule for her, trying to keep a semblance of normalcy. Cora giggled happily before lying down on the bed and wiggling under the soft covers. She resembled an earthworm as she found her spot, causing her parents to chuckle. Caroline adjusted the blankets around her to keep her warm and asked, "Did you tell rakeni about all the big buildings you saw?"

She nodded vigorously but her eyes fluttered with exhaustion as the long hours caught up with her. Napping on the wagon had been tough and she woke with every bump in the road, even when she slept in her mother's lap. After the scary fight back home, she didn't want to fall asleep and wake to find another one waiting for her. Caroline was proud of her resilience, cupping her round face, and informed her softly, "We'll all be going on a trip soon. To other forests, cities, and the sea."

"The sea?" she murmured sleepily but a silly grin spread over her lips at seeing what lay past the water. Her parents would often take her to the cove to swim but she never knew what existed past the mountains when the ships left the water to meet the horizon. Was it endless space? More land? She was always told she was too little to venture past the cove or the town but now, here she was.

"Yes, your mother and I were much older than you when we first ventured out there" Ratonhnhaké:ton confirmed as she yawned to fight off sleep but it was a losing battle. His first trip to Boston had been awkward and he longed to have his mother to guide him in that new world. For Caroline, traveling across the sea to the New World filled her with fear that the ocean would swallow her and her whole family. While he adjusted alone, Cora would have both her parents to lean on just like his wife had. He was grateful for that opportunity but he reminded her, "But you must listen very well to ista and I."

"Is it all bigger than home?" she asked softly on seeing the true cities she had heard about from her family members. They were much larger than anticipated, feeling tiny in the throngs of people. Everyone in the city was like ants bustling to their respective destinations in the hive unlike the relaxed residents and open land of her town. The buildings were massive and even while on the wagon, she could see the sails from the harbor peeking above the tallest buildings. It was overwhelming for a little girl from a rural town but she wouldn't shy away.

"Yes, some more than others" Caroline answered, remembering her own timidness when leaving the forests of Scotland to venture across the sea. Even the cities in her parents' homeland were daunting back then and she stuck to her mother's skirt whenever they were in public. Cora was quite similar but more prone to curiosity like her father and when it struck, she followed her hunch.

Cora frowned at being a little fish in the large ocean, missing her extended family, and asked sheepishly, "When will we go home?"

Caroline glanced away with guilt for putting Cora through all this when she was an innocent child in the war. Their home was obliterated and they posed a risk to their loved ones back in Davenport. They could not return until Lee was dealt with. Ratonhnhaké:ton took the blame for everything thus far but he would correct it. All he could do now was protect them and promised his daughter with the truth, "Until it's safe."

"Rakeni will let us know when it is but, in the meantime, we will stay with him" his wife soothed their melancholic child, who wiggled deeper into the blankets. There was no other safe place to go for them that wasn't beside him and returning to Davenport would place the town at risk. The Assassins were already leaking out that information to draw fire away from their home and scatter the Templars into another hunt for them.

Cora's blue eyes locked onto her father and she pleaded weakly, "Don't leave again."

"Never" he promised, hating to be the one to shatter that trust year after year. Mission after mission, Cora would always wait for him but her heart was crushed with every leave. He did not want to imprint distrust and would make it up to her from now on. He leaned down to kiss her forehead, even if it hurt him to do so, and told her, "You're safe, my little wolf."

Caroline shot him a firm glance not to overexert himself but Ratonhnhaké:ton treasured Cora. He would put himself through the most grueling pain to keep her safe and happy. Leaning against the headboard, he shifted into a comfortable position and grabbed the leatherbound book from earlier. He often left it on the bed to pick it up throughout the day or night to read until he fell asleep. Caroline scooted closer to wedge Cora between them as she snuck under the covers for warmth, leaving only the top of her dark head visible to them, and asked him curiously, "What are you reading?"

"My father's journal" he replied to the accursed book that was now his unofficial inheritance. His father's life was not a subject they touched upon greatly in the past since Haytham was a private person, much like himself. All he knew was the first formative years until his father's death but not that the man that adopted him had orchestrated his family's downfall. The lack of a maternal presence was painfully obvious which was something Ratonhnhaké:ton was lucky to have had.

Caroline's left eyebrow quirked to the trinket that found its way into their bedroom and smiled, "You brought it with you."

"For insight" he answered simply and it had indeed been a curious read for him into a man who was tightlipped about everything. He was awkwardly surprised how fond he was of his mother but in the end, he still chose the Templars. The man hardly seemed the type to show affection but there were times he perceived it with Cora, which was such a disappointment on how it all ended. Apparently, he had an aunt somewhere in London that his father rescued shortly before returning to the colonies to meet him.

His wife's fingers trailed over his left cheek, earning a fond smile for the action, and she asked gently, "How goes it?"

He could understand why his father distrusted everyone he met after having secrets kept by those closest to him all his life. Is that why he insisted that the Patriots and his own Assassins would betray him in time? So far, his colleagues stuck by his side as they reached the end. Unlike his father, he was shrouded by people who loved him through an unimaginable position in his life. It did not make his last action right but that was his choice to make. His heart ached for the chance lost to repair that shattered relationship and having to engage him in a fight where only one would live. He could never imagine putting Cora through such a trial. If the same situation was on his shoulders, he would leave the Assassins for his daughter – never allowing anyone to harm her. He loved his child more than anything in the world.

"Finish the last entry with me?" he whispered solemnly as he reached the end of the journal after dedicating time to it over the past months. Caroline scooted closer, eliciting a sleepy whimper from Cora, and smiled when she curled around her father with a content sigh. They both missed him dearly but while she spent over ten years in his life, Cora was only just beginning. She smoothed her daughter's hair back to lull her to sleep as she read the book in his hands, their eyes hovering over the words together.

It struck me, when the bombardment began, and I began to pray Charles had made his escape-

"He prayed for him but not me?" Ratonhnhaké:ton questioned dryly at the man's main concern to preserve his protégé rather than stand down.

Caroline shushed him with a small snicker and offered a different perspective, "Likely because he knew what you were capable of."

- that this might be my final journal entry; these words, my last. I hope that Connor, my own son, will read this journal, and perhaps, when he knows a little about my own journey through life, understand me . . . maybe even forgive me. My own path was paved with lies, my mistrust forged from treachery. But my own father never lied to me and, with this journal, I preserve that custom. I present the truth, Connor, that you may do with it as you will.

"So, he lied and confessed to me once he is dead?" he asked bitterly about their fates as father and son, closing the journal after taking one last look at Haytham's neat writing. This was all he had left of him now and he would keep it to show his children that he would never lie to them, verbally or in writing. He carried the honorable teachings of his mother and what not to do from his father (at least) to pass on. Caroline seized the book from his hands to place it on top of the night table beside her as he sighed disappointedly, "That sounds like my father."

"It may be his own way of saying 'I'm sorry'" she spoke caringly because there were brief moments when the two connected during their trip to the islands. Neither Haytham nor Ratonhnhaké:ton lived easy lives after Edward and Ziio were ripped away from them. While her husband grew up in the safety of his village and eventually left to find his own foothold in the world, Haytham was indoctrinated through lies and survived as he could. There was a cold brutality to Haytham that Ratonhnhaké:ton lacked despite his physical strength and Caroline realized that her husband was indeed the stronger of the two. He carried a great capacity for love and hope that Haytham could not break, no matter what he threw at him. Ziio had also turned away from being associated with the Templars and being lied to by Haytham which undoubtedly dented their trust. Then again, it was all Haytham had known and may have been his way of preserving his first real relationship.

Taking all of that into account, she could understand his desolate viewpoint on life. Ratonhnhaké:ton was always honest which was why she stood by him, even when he frustrated her with the secret of being an Assassin years prior. She saw how that fallout hurt him and it was the only secret he ever kept from her. After involving herself in that secret life and witnessing the dangers he faced, she promised to shield him when he was overwhelmed. His father was the only person who held the power to hurt him, never Charles, and it was why she never wandered far. Maybe it was Haytham's way of testing his loyalty or resolve but all Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted was a father. A simple one that loved him with no strings attached.

Ratonhnhaké:ton would never be like Haytham, taking all those lessons in disappointment on what to never repeat. He could not harm a piece of himself, watching his daughter sleep soundly beside him without a care in the world. Their family story would be different than his father's, more akin to his grandfather's that shielded his family when danger neared. Haytham opted to shield Charles rather than him that day so he made his choice clear. He brushed stray strands from Cora's button nose across her freckled cheeks and promised her, "I will never lie to you, Cora."

"She's tired from the wagon trip" Caroline whispered with regret for what their child endured, wondering if having children later would have changed anything. Then again, nobody could really prevent pregnancy in marriage. She rubbed her eyes tiredly as fatigue tried to kick in from the long day, especially after days of inadequate sleep. Every little sound was intensified in its reception and her nerves were constantly on edge for the next attack back home. Cora and the town was her priority, leaving her very little hours to sleep at night as she remained vigilant in her parents' home for anything amiss.

"I wish I could keep her like this forever" he admitted solemnly as he shared similar sentiment as his wife, hoping Cora did not resent them one day. She deserved a stable home free of fear and full of love rather than an absent father chasing away the terror. It was acceptable when they were a childless couple since Caroline was beside him but now, they had to provide a decent upbringing for their daughter. He sighed under his breath for failing to kill Lee and murmured disappointedly, "Safe and away from danger."

"One day" his wife assured, aware he was doing the best he could considering the circumstances. The important thing was that they were together now rather than separate and vulnerable. They were united and not divided any longer. She leaned over to kiss his cheek with a fond smile and told him, "I'll let you sleep."

His brow furrowed and he reached out to grasp her arm when she tried to leave the bed. Why was she leaving him? He just had her back! Caroline stopped in her tracks, plopping back down on the mattress, and he was quick to question, "Where are you going? I assumed we would all sleep here."

"And risk injuring you further?" she pointed out worriedly at accidentally jabbing him during the night. Cora was small and stuck to his uninjured side so she would only wiggle when she needed the potty. They could all fit on the bed but she didn't want to push her luck with her injured spouse. She wanted him to heal quickly, not injure himself before they left to city, and informed him, "Stephane prepped an extra room for us with Eliza."

Ratonhnhaké:ton was not having any of that after months without her and patted the mattress before stating firmly, "Caroline, I am ordering you to stay."

"Sir, yes, sir" she chuckled softly and grabbed his hand to squeeze it tightly, grateful for his presence. She missed him dearly and their home had been lonelier without him. Although they were not in their cabin, they were home as a family.

"Can we keep Cora safe traveling south?" he asked softly now that their daughter slept soundly after the tumultuous week that they all had. She would be excited by the new sights but it would also open the door to unseen dangers. Both he and Caroline would have to be extra vigilant to keep her safe above their own lives. In the north, they had the help of Lyle and Jamie for medical aid but they would be alone once they left south of New York.

"We are safer by your side and keeping us away from Davenport to lower their danger" Caroline reasoned with a solemn smile because they would be at risk wherever they wandered. She could not place that burden on anyone else, especially their town. They had been kind in accepting them as Assassins and never blaming them for the attack. She would not leave them open to attack again and have their homes pillaged for a Templar's ego boost. Now that they were in absolute privacy, she divulged the true intent of the attack, "We were in good company earlier that I didn't want to dampen it. When the Templars attacked, they targeted our family directly."

Ratonhnhaké:ton was not surprised by Lee's revenge but it urged him to move quickly to find him. Otherwise, the town would be attacked again. He highly doubted he would take on the Patriots, given their firepower and manpower. Caroline sunk against the headstand, dread filling her stomach at having to tell him the worst of it, but she could not hide the truth. There were no secrets between them and she sighed deeply before confessing, "Alice escaped with Cora through the hidden passage while I stayed to defend the town but they set fire to our home. The residents did what they could but . . . our cabin is gone."

She hated the words leaving her lips after toiling for months beside him to build their dream home. It was a symbol of their success and perseverance against the odds but now, it was nothing but burnt beams and ashes. The snow surrounding the home had aided in dampening the fire at the foundation but the walls had been burned to cinders. Their only surviving mementos are what she carried with her in their travel packs and what her husband took in his. She was not new to rebuilding a home and her only solace was their unity. Still, it hurt deeply to see the charred remains of her home and she had not returned to it after recovering what survived.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was staggered at the notion of his home being destroyed, yet again, and mimicked his wife's position in the bed. He promised their home would be safe but that ultimately failed, understanding why they ventured out to find him. Had their daughter witnessed that destruction? Is that why she kept asking when they would go home? Guilt struck him for the pain his family endured and he spoke faintly, "I . . . everything?"

"A few burnt trunks survived" she explained somberly to the hardwood that bore burn marks to shield their belongings. Her focus on recovery efforts was for their most important documents. She and Ratonhnhaké:ton had worked too hard to lose everything in one day. It was a reckless move to run into a burning building, which her father never stopped reminding her about, but she saved their documented lives. She bit her bottom lip to confess that part, hoping he would not react like her family, and told him, "While the town subdued the fire, I broke in through the windows to save our ledgers and safe boxes with our documents. Managed to grab some of Cora's clothes before a beam collapsed . . . but it's destroyed."

The grave reality of their lost home hit hard as they sheltered in their friend's home. This was not how she pictured their last fight against the Templars to be and blinked back tears. She couldn't dare wake Cora by crying and adding more worry to her poor child. Ratonhnhaké:ton drew her close to embrace her as best he could with Cora slumbering between them. His heart broke every time his wife cried, wishing none of this on her, and he whispered solemnly, "Caroline. Never risk your life for anything."

"I have our marriage and homestead license folded against my heart" she sniffled at safeguarding the most important papers on her own body. If her pack was stolen or lost, it would not carry their life's work. Her husband had traveled numerously for their homestead and marriage license, facing scathing remarks for their interracial union. She could not lose that win in their corner against everything else, to erase those milestones. He and Cora were everything to her and she met his somber gaze, clearing her tight throat to smile fondly, "Our clothes and possessions are gone but this is what mattered most to me. Our family."

While he cared little about earthly possessions, colonists were different and his wife was always a step ahead on that. If they lost any of their papers, anyone could claim they were unmarried and their homestead dissolved for another to purchase it. All of his work could be undone in the blink of an eye. Their piece of land would be Cora's legacy and he admired his wife for risking her life to preserve that future. He was indebted to her quick thinking but remorseful that she was placed in such a position in the first place, apologizing profusely, "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault" she chuckled softly through her tears since they knew Lee would be relentless but not the severity of it. Haytham was never the type to exhibit displays of power over his enemies, simply extinguishing them with a callous word or two. She knew he would not have authorized such an attack after years of knowing their location and keeping his word on never harming children. Lee, on the other hand, was a different beast altogether. She ran her hands over his freckled cheeks, leaning over to kiss him on the lips, and spoke quietly, "The important thing is they didn't harm any of us."

"I will rebuild our home" he promised her to uphold his word on always providing a home for her and Cora. It was difficult to not be disappointed in himself for allowing this to happen to them. Their little cabin had been a cultivation of their taste and culture with everyone in the family having a hand in its construction. Even Cora had made little misshapen pots for her mother to plant flowers and herbs. He would rebuild their home by hand once more and make it better, if possible.

"We have to focus on Lee first" she reminded him firmly because any home would be destroyed as long as he was alive. Home would be wherever they went together. Their family was home and they had to kill their enemy before it was harmed. She would help him every step of the way from now on and pointed out, "Without him, we will finally be safe enough to rebuild. He will only continue knocking down everything to our name."

"We leave tomorrow" Ratonhnhaké:ton stated firmly and would accept no delays, even from his own injured body. He could not let Lee heal or move deeper south into the foreign colonies of Spain where they would have to tread carefully. If they could charter a boat, their trip would be much shorter. It was too dangerous to sail with the Aquila or risk scaring Lee deeper into the forests. He disregarded those concerns for the night to focus on his family and kissed her forehead, suggesting gently, "Get some sleep."

"For the first time in days, I will" she sighed tiredly at the little sleep allotted after the attack as she kept watch over Cora. She dreaded having her parents' home attacked for sheltering them after the fight but they were all heavily armed. Even her little brother had begun learning to shoot to protect his home. She laid down on the mattress, her bones melting into happy goo at the soft bedding. The echoing voices of the inebriated and sounds of the city were oddly comforting to the empty silence of the town after the attack. Cora slept soundly between them and she gazed up at her husband to whisper longingly with a fond smile, "I've missed sleeping beside you. It's always lonelier."

"I'm so sorry, Caroline" he sighed sadly at his inability to help them but Caroline shook her head. He couldn't exactly be in two places at once. Ratonhnhaké:ton swallowed the lump forming in his throat before speaking firmly, "No, you have followed me through so many perilous moments and never wavered. I promised to keep you safe when we married and I failed you," his brow furrowed with restrained rage and disappointment when he added faintly, "worse, I failed our daughter."

"No, each hurdle just makes us stronger" she forgave easily for nothing he needed to apologize for and reached over to squeeze his arm. He sunk even further in his spot but winced when the pressure to his side reminded him not to push it. She leaned on her right arm to sit up, leaving the cozy comfort of the pillow, and smiled at him to remind sweetly, "From the moment you killed that bobcat for me, my heart was yours. I left you once and it is a regret I promised to atone for-"

"You wanted to explore life outside of Davenport" he interjected to their first real fight that left both sides wounded but they reunited with time after mending their wounds. He was always off exploring or on missions while she was stuck in town – how could she not desire the same? After all, they were similar spirits. The innocence of his youth was gone and he understood her reason, telling her quietly, "Even now, I would not blame you for taking Cora and leaving me for a new life-"

"Never say that" Caroline refused firmly to such a frivolous idea, aware of what she signed up for. It was Cora that she worried for as an innocent party. He was the love of her life and she could never leave him, no matter how many missions he headed out on. She knew it was part of his life and respected that aspect of it. Showing him her wedding band, she reminded him of her vow four years ago, "I am bound to you until I die. You are the love of my life and I will be by your side to the very end."

"Thank you for being my rock" he smiled faintly at her loyalty, leaning down to kiss her but stopped halfway due to his injury. She chuckled fondly before sitting up again to cup his face and kissed him firmly, whispering to never say such silly things again. He nodded silently to never consider the notion but all he wanted to do was protect them. Caroline helped him lay down in bed so he wouldn't accidentally wake their daughter. Gripping her hand with his left hand, he used the right to lower himself carefully on the left side first to avoid moving afterward. He sighed with relief when there was minimal pain and his wife fixed the covers around them as he admitted solemnly, "My parents are gone. Achilles too. All I have is you and I cannot bear to lose the last bind that fuels my resolve."

"Not just me" she grinned proudly before eyeing their child and pointed out brightly, "You have Cora. Even when I am no longer here, she will always need her father."

His father had been right about one thing: Cora was the future. She carried the best of him and his wife so she would be an even greater person than all prior generations. He smiled happily when Caroline leaned over to kiss his forehead, whisking away his troubles, and affirmed, "I love you so never doubt yourself, even when it's the darkest."

---

3 March 1782

Back in Virginia, Haytham was reading the latest newspaper in his study to stay updated on the news. His hands may have healed but the grip and dexterity he held last year had been obliterated by his son. Torn tendons and ligaments were harder to heal than simple sprains or lacerations, given the deadly nature of a hidden blade. He did not need aid constantly for his day-to-day living but there were moments of annoyance when items slipped from his grasp. His housemates said nothing of it when incidents occurred and brushed it off, accustomed to his notorious comebacks. His son was a powerful man in his prime while age had caught up to him, reminding him it was time to pass the torch on and cement a better legacy. It was better to be known as the Grandmaster who raised the Templar Order in the colonies and rebuilt it after Lee's meddling rather than the one who sunk it.

"Well, the House of Commons votes against further war, recognizing American Independence" he mused aloud to the latest decision regarding the war as the new colonies were winning. Emissaries had already been sent abroad for agreement to end the war but news was even slower to leave from across the sea. His son and his lot would likely be happy to hear about that after their close involvement with the Patriots. Uncrossing his legs, he folded the newspaper to close it and murmured dryly, "How quaint."

Shay sat across from the man with crossed arms not befitting the same amusement. He had been summoned by his boss to the study and expected the next leg of the plan after debriefing him. Instead, he bore the musings of the man which he could have lived without. He shot him a deadpan expression for being the peanut gallery before asking bluntly, "Is that what you gathered me here for?"

Haytham set aside the closed newspaper on the desk, his casual ambiance replaced by a firm expression. That's the one Shay was waiting for rather than the journalist. Back to business again, he informed him casually, "No, I want a debriefing given my kindness of allowing you to sleep in."

Shay was not a late riser, preferring to wake early and hike around the area. He was also securing their perimeter on those walks and finding any weaknesses to fortify. Finn, on the other hand, was a late sleeper but he didn't blame him after arriving late yesterday. The duo did not leave Davenport until it was secured by the Assassins in case of another wave. The trip south was uneventful but the hours were tedious and long, tiring him even further. Now that he was back, he didn't hold back on criticizing Lee by stating coldly, "Your new Grandmaster is quick at killing anything in his way, no tact or honor."

Haytham was not surprised by this, hoping the other man would have chosen to flee. Instead, he was hellbent on retaliating against his perceived enemies. So much for that second chance. Shay had sent word after the false funeral about the pending attack on Davenport. Given his Templar status, he was easily able to gather information on the ambush and Haytham was appeased that he volunteered to oversee the event. He did not want rumors to return to Lee about Shay's sudden presence in the colonies and asked carefully, "Were you spotted?"

Shay mulled over the question, mildly annoying Haytham at the blatant pause, and he replied with a shrug of the shoulders, "No, but I did shoot some of our own."

"Why?" Haytham sighed softly, hoping to any higher entity that might exist that he did not get another loose cannon. Lee was brash and self-serving but Cormac was a different type leaning onto frank honesty and a stronger moral compass. More and more, the latter Templar was reminding him of Connor except without the never-ending scowl.

"They were going to kill your daughter-in-law and granddaughter" Shay pointed out coldly to the reason he intervened to avoid an unnecessary funeral. He did not believe in harming children and he had already committed enough acts on Assassin parents that he refused to continue that cycle. Lost orphans hellbent on revenge was not what he wanted his legacy to become. Furthermore, the redhead was protecting civilians rather than colleagues.

Haytham thrived on order and had set rules when dealing with the Assassin's Order. He was not a butcher of innocents, specifically women and children. Cora was never meant to be in danger and if they had reached the town, his son would soon hear of it as well. If Charles was not dead yet, he would be quite soon after this stunt. This was not the type of Grandmaster he sought for the Order and definitely not the way he had purged the last generation. He shook his head at the pathetic actions of his followers and stated bitterly, "The rules are clear on never harming children."

"Charles clearly disregarded all of them and wrote his own" the other man remarked coolly since it was clear fear and power were driving the man. He was alone now without Haytham with no close circle of allies, only surviving Templars and hired mercs. This was not the kind of Templar leadership he would follow and added in, "All the civilians were shot at. This Order is no longer yours nor the rules."

Gone were the days the Templars reigned over the colonies and the only choice was to make peace. Otherwise, all the Templars would be wiped out. The irony that his son would be responsible was not lost on him. His boy was likely unaware of the situation if he was traveling alone and the threat to Cora's life would only fuel him further. He could not risk allowing the situation to become dire for even his own group to survive and asked cautiously, "Were there heavy casualties? Connor will not forgive me anytime soon if there are any."

Shay shook his head since his intervention saved a few lives but the town was impressive for civilians. Whether Connor trained them well or they learned alone, there was no doubt the town could defend itself. Otherwise, the earth would be soaking up their blood rather than the invading force that made the wrong choice. Everyone escaped with flesh wounds but he informed him of another problem, "No, but Connor's home is scorched to the ground."

Well, his protégé was clearly going for the scorched earth route. Was he so confident that the enemy would let it slide by without repercussions? Without a home to protect them, he asked sharply, "What about my family?"

"Alive but they fled the town" Shay informed on the last sighting of the pair as they ventured south on a wagon. The redhead likely found the town too risky and sought a safer place to not endanger the child. Given Lee's insistence on getting what he wants, he would not be surprised if that was only the first wave. Constant movement would keep them safer but it was not easy to travel with a young child in tow. He still remembered Finn crying or turning fussy whenever he had to leave for a mission. The situation in Davenport was stable for now and he stated, "Only the civilians and Assassins remain."

Haytham was not keen on having them leave their refuge and demanded, "Did they leave alone? It is unsafe!"

Shay figured they would be fine since they carried an arsenal of weapons and assured him, "With family. Also Assassins."

"Smart" Haytham murmured on the security detail to keep it light and inconspicuous. Then again, Caroline was not a dunce. He wondered where the two were headed if his son was after Lee and asked, "What about Connor?"

His colleague shrugged half-heartedly because he had zero idea about that and answered, "I assumed you would have more intel. All I have is that he is still hunting Lee, whereabouts unknown."

"For his sake, I hope the two know where he is" Haytham remarked on the divided family and the impending rage his son would undoubtedly feel. There was no going back for Charles after his latest stunt and he could not risk having him flush out his family. Anybody who followed him would be automatically categorized as an enemy. He had to step out to protect his family and conserve the Templar remnants that still sought peace. It would not be many numbers but it was better than extermination for all. Standing up, he smoothed the sleeves of his blue coat and spoke up, "That's it then."

Shay had no idea what his boss had in mind, staying in his seat, and nodded to him, "Hmm?"

"Charles has crossed the line" he replied evenly because there was no turning back now for him. It was obvious that power mattered more than saving his own hide, even when Connor was after him. He could have easily fled after Fort George and forgotten everything about the Templars to live a new life abroad but no. There was no redemption in his old protégé and he briefly wondered if he was to blame. He had Charles under his wing for years while Connor never had a semblance of his fatherly care yet it was the latter who attempted unity and peace. Would he poison his family in the same way if he revealed the truth one day?

There was no time to ponder 'what if's and they could only move forward to correct his mistakes. He was alive and had to make a difference with that second chance. With finality, he informed his new second-in-command with the first order, "Any who follow him blindly are to be eliminated."

"Now you agree he's a loose cannon?" the brunette asked dryly after mentioning it numerous times before the Davenport incident. Hell, Connor - his own son- kept telling the man the same for years from what he overheard Lucy say.

"I aimed to give him a fair chance to escape and disappear" Haytham justified on his past actions that earned his son's rancor to spare Lee. Connor was right, yet again, with Charles continuing on killing the Assassins with his son and his family as the sole targets. There had been no attacks in the Assassin-controlled cities, simply Davenport. He could no longer sit idly by without intervention with them at risk and stated, "Clearly, he chose otherwise."

Shay stood up to shake the sleep from his legs and mentally prepare himself for the next task. Hopefully, it would not mean a silent massacre or burying masses of people alive. With Haytham, he never really knew. He had already exterminated Templars in his youth so that was not new and questioned, "So, what's next in this plan of yours?"

"We're finding Lee ourselves and taking care of the internal problem" Haytham explained calmly to excise the poisonous lesion before it rotted the entire Order. Humanity did it all the time to infected or lame limbs and so would they. There would be no more merciful pardons for the man, especially after the last stunt, and regrettably agreed with his son. If he stepped aside when he had asked, all of this could have been avoided. Well, it seemed there was some hardheadedness in him as well. With a sigh of resignation, he muttered, "No more cushioned gloves for this fight."

"You expect me to believe you were holding back in your fights?" he scoffed sarcastically because any sane person would run from the man. Even the most seasoned Assassin would think twice. Only an imbecile would think they had a chance against him – well, before the injury. He still didn't doubt the man could hold his own and questioned, "And are you actually capable of fighting?"

"Oh, absolutely not" Haytham answered matter-of-factly at losing his fighting prowess, a very regrettable loss. Now that he knew Charles did not leap on the chance to flee and disappear, it made his choice greatly disappointing. His hands were more talented than him now! He would not be an idiot and head out alone, looking to the rifleman to smile slyly, "That's why you're coming along."

Why was he surprised by anything anymore? Shay's shoulders slumped at being signed on to a new purge and he sighed dramatically, "Marvelous. Just my luck."

"So are the kids" Haytham informed him to the extra set of hands since he would leave the manor empty. He would not overestimate himself, especially if he fell into a tight predicament where he needed the full strength of his injured hands. Little by little, he hoped to regain that old strength but it would not be anytime soon. By rebuilding the order, he needed to teach the younger generation to ensure they didn't become Charles. It would be the first time he traveled in a group and he explained his action, "My son performs fabulously with one so I am taking a note from his playbook, given he's killed most of our agents."

"Neither Order has been team-oriented before when I think about it" Shay pointed out since every agent traveled solo on both sides to remain anonymous and hidden. Haytham was aware his son was a lone wolf during his youth, much like himself, but he traveled in a team after his marriage. With their side growing larger by the year, he could afford extra hands in a fight. They all viewed each other as an extension of their families – something the Templars lacked. Would the Templars be stronger if they worked together rather than the most gifted and lethal assuming singular control over the rest?

It was time to think outside the box to regain control of the Templars and he instructed his subordinate, "For every Templar we find, we will offer them a choice. Choose peace and live. If they are not with us, they will die."

"Destruction brings death- fair" Shay agreed to the fatal choice but if they sought the sword, then they should die by it. Death was already part of his life but if he had only those two options to choose from, he would pick the former. He was not a fan of being an executioner but it seemed that the road to peace was never bloodless.

Haytham was envigored to begin the journey after being cooped up indoors for months. True, he would be eliminating threats to his power but it was to close the chasm between both sects. His granddaughter deserved to live in peace and so did numerous children being born to both sides of the war. Shay tried keeping Finn out of the Templars but the boy was attached to him like glue as his only child. Haytham, on the other hand, inadvertently placed his son with the enemy after Lee's meddling. Again, it all began two decades ago and Haytham stated firmly, "We will make peace in this new nation for both our Orders, even if it is simply during our lifespan, but it will be worth something."

"Maybe we can stop future generations from joining this endless chess game from our actions" Shay agreed quietly to stop another slaughter on both sides to let families flourish instead of screaming in anguish at the loss and seeking revenge. It was time to break the wheel of pain, one he had been part of on both sides, and agreed with the new plan. The old Order of the Templars had sunk and it was time for a new one to rise from the ashes.

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A/N: Hands down, this is my longest chapter for this story! During the Chasing Lee mission, I always expected a random attack in Homestead to occur that would pull Connor away after the threat at Haytham's funeral. Instead, I received nothing so I decided to weave my own spin on it to let Davenport shine a bit. At the same time, given that Connor's accident was in Boston, I also assumed his friends there would help him along the way and patch him up to let him chase after Lee. I also wanted to include a reflection moment for Shay with his return to the town and realizing he's the last of the original group. In the next chapter, Haytham lands at the Assassins' doorstep to broker peace while sending Shay off to meet Connor's group as they both search for Lee.

Non-English words used:
kheién:'a: my daughter (Mohawk)
Athair: father (Scottish)
awè:ri: my heart (Mohawk)

Thank you to all of my new readers and last-chapter reviewers:

ThyDevoutBeliever: Thank you, I am enjoying this alternate reality of Haytham living and going rogue to reshape the Templars while Shay simply tries to put out fires. There are only 4 more chapters now before marking this story complete!

East Coast Captain: Thank you! I was worried he wouldn't reflect his on-game persona since Haytham is an interesting one to write out of all. While Charles followed his boss obediently, Shay doesn't hesitate to voice his concerns but after watching both orders tear each other apart, I can't blame him. I can see Shay telling Arno that he deserves the karma and facing it head-on rather than running away like Charles is currently doing from Connor, which is not going to save him.

Next Chapter Excerpt:

Haytham held out the envelope to Shay to share the find and handed him his new set of orders, "I need you to find Connor with this information. Now that we have contacts in their network, it might be faster to find him."

Shay read the location mentioned, one they had not visited yet, and wondered how he would set about finding the boy. Connor was not exactly the type to leave his address or tell his friends where he was going. He had also not introduced himself to the Assassin so that would not smooth over very well. Given that Haytham was his father and pretended to be dead for half the year so far, he asked him, "Why not tell him yourself?"

"He might actually end me this time" he replied matter-of-factly at gauging his son's reaction at realizing he was still alive. He would either be relieved for not being burdened with his death or furious that he was deceived again – maybe both. Being a dedicated father was not in his dossier of life but he could at least earn a decent 'good but not great' grandfather role. Given the numerous times he lied to his son, he deserved that kindness for Cora.

"But it's ok for me to go?" Shay questioned dryly at being thrown to the wolves for the sake of peace, tucking the slip of paper into his coat pocket. He couldn't exactly tell the other side any of this without some kind of proof for credibility. The only downside apart from being a Templar was being a previous Assassin. The new generation had likely heard of Achilles' past and his name would be imbedded into it which would not make it easy to convince them. He couldn't help but remind his leader of that by emphasizing, "The one who killed all of Achilles' friends? The betrayer of the Assassins?"

Haytham pretended to observe his pistol as a faint smile touched his lips to encourage him, "He'll give you a head start if it makes you feel better."

Shay was not looking forward to running away for his life from the man's son and his entourage, sighing aloud, "When did I become your harbinger?"

"When you sailed across the sea" he reprimanded matter-of-factly to their alignment since he was the only Templar that readily agreed to join him. Everyone else was either joined at the hip with Lee for the power or dead. There weren't many Templars in the colonies that were willing to seek peace but the majority were now previously hired mercs convinced by Lee in his efforts to overthrow the Assassins and Patriots. Haytham had no idea how that would be achieved when he was on the run but enough people were willing to believe - a dangerous idea. He was not going to chase away his only top agent in his new order and told him, "No easy feat but thank you for the loyalty."

With words like that, Shay hated to refuse an order and cursed the man's ability to charm an agreement from him. Ironically, it did the opposite effect on the hired goons for Charles. His own chances against the new Assassins did not fill him with confidence but he refused to cower, stating aloud, "Fine, I'll make my own luck and fare better than you and Lee combined."

"Just don't sass him, he loathes that" Haytham added in helpfully to avoid unnecessary altercations between the two. He did suspect the two would communicate more positively than him or Charles, once the whole 'Assassin eradication' phase was glossed over. Frankly, he was not ready to face his son and explain everything until he was close to finding Lee to abate the lingering guilt. He did not want to burden him with his supposed death, on top of everything else, for longer than he needed to.

Shay smiled wryly at his tidbit on not enraging the Assassin, pitying the poor boy for facing his relentless strikes, and he replied flatly, "I can see why."

"Get going" his boss dismissed him, holstering his pistol, and stepped outside the doorway to keep moving. Given that they shot out the entire building, attention would draw an investigation and they had to keep themselves hidden. They could not linger or risk their presence being exposed to any other nearby Templars. Breaking their small team apart even further would prevent tracking and Shay left the room to begin his next mission. Haytham trusted him to get through to Connor rather than himself and chided him one last time, "And you better come back a Templar!"

"Depends on the benefit package" the other replied with an amused smile and motioned for his son to follow. Finn smiled sheepishly at Lucy before nodding in farewell, not ecstatic to leave the group but he wouldn't leave his father's side. If he was being sent to find the leader of the Assassins, going alone would not be safe if things went south. Lucy smiled warmly to let her friend leave, hoping to see them both safe again, while Haytham ushered the duo out of the building. For Shay, it was simply another day and he stated evenly, "Let's go, Finn. Stay safe, you two."

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Thank you for reading and a Happy New Year to all!