Music Inspiration: Hans Zimmer- "First Step"

When Determination Meets Opportunity

24th June 1774

Caroline stood outside the two story home of Amelia's employers. For her sister's sake, she had donned her everyday blue dress. It had been the newest in her trunk and she figured it would be best to have a presentable one and another to lounge in. There was only so much she could carry and she adjusted the strap of her leather bag around her shoulders. Everything she needed to survive was in that bag and she carried it everywhere.

The first days out on the road had been the hardest as she found streams to bathe in, hunting areas to fetch her meals, and places to set up a tent to sleep. Being in the outdoors with untamed wildlife was frightening at first but she remembered Ratonhnhaké:ton's teachings. Eventually, she adapted to the new life and began journeying to nearby towns to explore and trade on her own. The exploring portion was far easier than the latter since women weren't exactly common in hunting and had received pitiful earnings for her catches. Although it was infuriating, it was better to have some coin than none.

"Carrie!"

Amelia's voice broke her out of her thoughts and Caroline forgot how much she missed hearing her. She peered at the private governess as her sister wore a fine black dress that accentuated her waist, her red hair combed back strictly into a bun at the back of her head. Their mother had instructed her on how to dress professionally and Caroline smiled proudly at seeing the comparison between her and Amelia. While Amelia had the grace and sophistication of a lady, Caroline was the opposite as her simple clothes depicted her standard of living.

She had practiced what she could possibly say to Amelia but that all went out the window at seeing her familiar face. Pulling her into a hug, she squeezed her tight as she wished to never let go and admitted, "I've missed you every day."

"What are you doing here? Boban and màthair are worried sick about you" she questioned quickly to discover why she left the safety of Davenport. How could she leave all of them behind with worry? She gripped Caroline's shoulders to ensure she didn't leave as she lectured sternly, "How could you do this? I can't believe you ran off like that without saying a single word! Boban was here by sundown that first day and he didn't leave till the following evening."

"We both know mother would've barricaded that door the second I told her my plan" she pointed out firmly as she maintained her stance on leaving. Nothing would change her mind now that she'd gone through with the plan. She was an adult with the freedom to make decisions and she justified, "I needed to do this for my sake. I can't spend all of my life in Davenport, wondering about the what if's."

Her expression weakened from its firm gaze for a mere second and she continued, "I know it hurt everyone and some of you are furious with me right now. It is selfish but if I don't do this, I will regret it. I refuse to be in a prison of safety all my life, especially now that I am an adult. We came from a harsh environment and I intend to push myself to my limits in this world."

"Caroline, this is not a good way to live! It's everything our parents fought to escape" she reminded incredulously with a flabbergasted face to her logic. She knew her sister was stubborn with a wanderlust bug but not to this extent. Did she want to wander the world for the following years? It was dangerous and she pointed out desperately, "You could've worked at the mill-"

"Amelia, I didn't do this lightly and I'm not heading home until I am satisfied" she intervened quickly to point out that nothing would change her mind. If she could walk away from a loving and safe environment, why would anything change? Caroline shook her head to change the topic and informed her sister, "I came here to see you so you could pass on the message that I'm fine. I'm deciding whether to visit neighboring towns or hop on a ship to see the southern colonies."

"Carrie, are you sound of mind?" she chastised quickly to her sudden fancy to be an explorer.

"I take your thoughts to mind but I am happy doing this, even with the horrid pay" she stated with a faint smile because she was living in a free environment within the colonies. There were many sides to freedom and the one in Davenport nurtured her to prepare her for what the world lay ahead. A cloistered life was not the one she sought for all of her days and this gave her a taste of that harsh freedom.

"You're worrying our family, me, and I can't imagine what Connor is going through" Amelia pointed out as she used the person who wielded her heart and hoped her friend wasn't completely heartbroken. She was certain the two would've been happy together, married even, if she'd stayed. Meeting her gaze, she wanted to hammer in that point and demanded, "Are you willing to throw away what you've built? You love him and I know he loves you, don't do this. You two could build a life together soon."

A flicker of pain crossed her features to the latter and she whispered solemnly, "I will pay for the consequences, I am sure, but this is the path I chose. I love Connor, I always will, but I have to do this. All I wanted was to see you one last time before I leave."

Caroline drew her close for one more hug and Amelia wished she could've trapped her in that embrace. Instead, Amelia watched her leave, wishing she could tie her up until their father came to visit her on the weekends. Unfortunately, they were all adults now and responsible for their own actions. All she could do was pray that nothing horrible befell her sister on the road and called out quickly, "Please write to me and stay safe!"

Caroline turned around with a serene smile and replied, "Of course, little sister."

26th June 1774

When Ratonhnhaké:ton met Myriam, he wanted to kick the nearest bucket across a field. Normally, he was a very calm man but Caroline's leave had shattered his trust profoundly and left his emotions on shaky ground. The one he trusted was gone from his reach and he never felt more alone. The fact that she'd left to explore the frontier and find herself came at the worst time possible.

If she'd waited just a month, she would've met Myriam and that could've avoided her leave. Meeting a kindred spirit brought understanding and he had no doubt the two would've gotten along. That in itself would've helped Caroline sort through her private concerns and prevented an abrupt leave. Of course, he also blamed himself for not granting her access to the Aquila out of fear she'd discover who he really was and ended their relationship. Instead, it inadvertently led her to finding her own path and throwing the relationship overboard.

The fact that he'd found Myriam injured and attacked by poachers intensified his worry for Caroline. What if she was attacked at night or at a remote location? Would anyone risk their safety for hers? Questions like this had been rampant in his mind and ceased to leave.

"Boy, will you stop pacing? You'll wear down the floor" Achilles' voice chastised as he heard the floorboards creaking on the second floor. It had been a weekly occurrence after Caroline left and it often woke him from his naps.

Ratonhnhaké:ton had been trying to occupy his mind with balancing the finances of the wagon trades. There had been an attempt to rob one of the wagons earlier in the week and Lance managed to inform him in time before half of the goods were gone. He dealt with the thieves but in the process, some of the products were ruined and he had to balance the loss. In order to keep his items safe, he would have to alter the trade schedule and match it to the mill's lumber export. He trusted Terry and Godfrey to get all of the wagons to Boston safely since theirs failed to lose one on route. One look at Godfrey Burnett and his trusty shotgun would give anyone second thoughts.

It seemed life would be testing him this year and frankly, he didn't want to deal with it. Unfortunately, he chose to become an assassin and flourish a town on his own so he couldn't say no. Those were his choices and he would be responsible for everything that happened under his watch. However, that didn't mean he wasn't prone to flickers of impulsiveness and being stubborn.

So when he came flying down the manor's stairway with a travel bag in tow, Achilles tapped his cane on the floor. The sharp sound caused the assassin to stop in his tracks and he turned around to find his mentor with a curious expression on his face, "Where are you going?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton was still processing his grief at losing Caroline and work had been the only thing keeping him busy. Without that to occupy his mind and knowing the dangers of the outside, his worry for his lost love had broken the threshold keeping him at home. She had kept him grounded when he needed respite from the world and his responsibilities. Without her to shelter him from figurative storms, he was left alone and that hurt the most.

He had a simple goal in mind that day and replied, "To find her."

It was hard not betraying parental annoyance and amusement to his determination as Achilles questioned, "Exactly how will you do that?"

His student paused for a moment because he hadn't thought that far ahead and figured he could conjure a plan on the road. His mentor was already one step ahead in fortifying his weaknesses and wasn't surprised when Ratonhnhaké:ton declared, "I, well, I assume Boston is her base of operations so I'll head there."

Mirth glinted in Achilles' brown eyes as he attempted to straighten his hotheadedness, "And how did you come to that assumption?"

"I. . .her letters?" he suggested with a hint of uncertainty and frowned lightly. When he spoke like that, he didn't have very much evidence for retrieving Caroline at all. Then again, he explored plenty of new places without a plan in mind. Some had even yielded free goods! Straightening his posture, the self-confidence came back and he reasoned, "I have one lead and it's better than nothing."

"Enough to potentially risk your life?" his mentor questioned frankly to pause his student's brash thinking.

"For hers, yes" he replied sternly without hesitation and narrowed his eyes. There was no question whether he loved her and he'd go through anything to see her again.

Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't happy about the sudden interrogation as it wasted precious time he could spend thinking of a sturdy plan. Achilles simply didn't want him heading into a bustling city with a clouded mind because then, he'd be easy pickings for Templars. He hadn't trained the boy this long just to watch him perish over lovers' distress.

With a firm nod, the young man excused himself, "I will return within the month."

Achilles grabbed him by the back of his collar to pin him in place and reminded firmly, "You're an assassin first, not a brokenhearted man, so put that bag down."

"I could say the same to you!" Ratonhnhaké:ton shot back irately since the assassin had given up everything after the tragedies in his life.

Achilles had three options at this point: 1) let him wander off which would more than likely lead to an injury, 2) smack some sense into him, or 3) lecture him. As the young man glared at him like every other teenager with a broken heart, Achilles decided to blend 2 and 3 together, "Connor, you will cut the grass on the property like you promised earlier today and then you may go."

He'd never seen the young man turn red so fast in his life as he called him out on upholding his promises. Ratonhnhaké:ton scowled at that trap since he was an honorable man and snapped, "Fine! I will do so and then I'll leave."

Well, that had gone smoother than predicted.

Achilles merely watched him stomp off angrily towards the back of the house where the tool shed was located. A loud slam from the back door was his student's sign of unhappiness over all of it. Did his student not know how large the grounds of the manor were? That, and the grass interwove with that of the untamed wilderness of Davenport itself. The task would not be done in a mere hour. He figured his heartache was muddling his thoughts and Achilles wanted him clearheaded if he wanted to gallivant around for a rescue mission.

He knew that for the first two hours, his ward would be furious at him and unleash the cold shoulder in defiance. By the third, he would be mellow and that would yield a calmer man willing to listen. With that in mind, Achilles found him on the right side of the house as he used a scythe to cut the tall grass after counting down those three hours.

As he assumed, his young ward was focused on his task as he cut everything evenly. In comparison, the area he started at towards the back of the house held uneven patches since his frustration had obscured his concentration. Deeming it safe to guide his student, he approached him from behind and spoke, "That's enough for today, you've earned your rest."

Ratonhnhaké:ton stiffened with alarm since he hadn't heard the man approach and frowned at that error. Even a civilian could hear a cane over the dirt when it broke the solid earth. He paused his work with confusion to the sudden change and quietly stated, "But I'm not finished."

"I sent you here to pull your emotions away from your mind" Achilles informed simply and Ratonhnhaké:ton raised an eyebrow to that tactic. He assumed the grass did indeed need to be cut since he'd promised to do earlier that day. Had his mentor intended to take out two birds with one stone with that move? Not wanting the old irritation to return, Achilles continued, "A clear mind is required when making decisions and I'd rather have you leave with a solid plan than simply following your injured heart."

Ratonhnhaké:ton was ready to insist that he would've come up with one (eventually) but Achilles pointed out gently, "Connor, it's normal for your mind to be clouded when grieving. I won't chastise you for your pain right now but I do need to prepare you to handle the situation like an adult. Sometimes, our plans might sound great in our head when in reality, it is one riddled with errors."

His student frowned lightly as he listened quietly to the advice, mulling over his recent behavior. He wasn't happy at all, that was true, and he was always trying to use his time off assignments to find Caroline. He needed to regain his balance which in part came from her after so many years and admitted despondently, "I just want to find her, Achilles. I miss her every day."

"And you will, child, you just need to focus on forming a plan rather than going off random ideas" Achilles assured with a small nod to prevent him from losing hope. It was a difficult mission to undertake but when focused, his student could achieve wonders.

Ratonhnhaké:ton's resolve waned when his confidence plummeted and he asked softly, "Why did she leave me?"

Like any concerned parent, he was honest with the young man and answered kindly, "I'm afraid only Caroline has that answer."

That wasn't the response he was looking for and his broad shoulders drooped. Loneliness was a horrible emotion to endure and each passing week without a letter from Caroline worsened it. He questioned every action he'd done in her presence, most notably the last by blocking her access to the Aquila.

Now that his stubborn moment had faded, he saw the logic in his mentor's advice. It wasn't done to punish him but to teach him a valuable lesson. If his gardening chore was simply a diversion, he needed to start planning and asked quietly, "May I go now?"

"Are you planning on leaving this minute?" Achilles questioned because he wanted his lesson to stay in his head. He didn't want Ratonhnhaké:ton casting common sense to the wind to follow his heart.

The young assassin shook his head quickly and replied, "No, sir."

"Good, now let me fix you lunch" his mentor replied with a kind smile since cutting the grass under the midday sun was no easy task. Ratonhnhaké:ton was surprised since he usually foraged the pantry for food to make the meals. Standing up, he dusted off his clothes as his legs tingled from the long hours kneeling down.

Heading towards the manor, Achilles followed as he leaned on his cane and encouraged Ratonhnhaké:ton, "You're persistent so I've no doubt that you'll find her. It's the path leading to her that you must prepare for."

Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded quietly as he learned yet another lesson.

1 July 1774

Caroline had never drunk an alcoholic beverage in her life but she'd earned it after the meager coins she'd gotten. Unless she managed to catch big game, coats like hare or fox wouldn't do it and a wolf had been her best so far. She didn't want to go back to Davenport with her tail tucked between her legs to tell them she'd failed in finding her liberty but her options were fading fast. Amelia advised her that returning home wouldn't be a bad thing but she wanted to show her parents she could make something of herself, an example of what they'd taught her.

"Another soul drinking their cares away" an Irish accented voice caught her attention and she turned to find a man in dark gray and navy garbs with white tailoring in the center. He sat in the adjacent table next to her with a cross in hand, his eyes a clearer blue than hers and short shaggy auburn hair a tad lighter than hers.

Caroline had been taught to trust nobody but her mother said religion never steered you wrong. Oddly enough, Ratonhnhaké:ton carved his own religious road away from hers and he was the kindest soul she'd met. She raised her glass as she observed the light colored brew and smiled to herself, "My mother would smack my hand for daring to touch the stuff but life tests you."

"You're new in Boston, I haven't seen a hunter like you 'round these parts" he commented to the young woman frowning at her drink and smiled kindly, "The name's Duncan Little."

"You're definitely not small in stature" Caroline chuckled softly and placed her drink aside since it took time to adjust to the strange flavor. She didn't understand the fascination that her father and uncle had towards the drink. Is that why Ratonhnhaké:ton declined a try every time?

The laughter from patrons beside her broke her from her thoughts of home and she introduced herself, "My name's Grace Blackburn. I'm originally from Lake Champlain."

Well, that was quite the travel from home. Duncan was struck with curiosity and asked, "And what's a soul like you doing in a place like this?"

"I'm learning that hunting is not a woman's field, like so many others" she sighed with a small frown and leaned back in her seat. Her feet hurt from endless days of walking, she felt dirtier than a pig rolling in mud, and her meager earnings could only buy so much for the day. Her eyes swept over his attire and she commented with slight distaste, "You're dressed similar to a man of the Lord. I know women are supposed to care for a home and obey their man but I will not do as such. I can do just the same if given the chance."

Duncan tilted his head since he kept the old clothes to maintain an everyday humble appearance. Being an assassin meant blending into the shadows and civilians to slide past enemies. The young woman appeared impartial to the church and he stated, "It is frowned upon but I am not tied to the church. Do what makes you happy, as long as it is legal and just, even if the laws of men disregard such."

"I want to work like any other but I'm cast aside easily for another man- what remedy is there?" she questioned matter-of-factly and paused when she heard laughter from the docked sailors in a booth beside them. They were able to work for pay without discrimination and although Duncan was a complete stranger, he had a kind demeanor. His face wasn't depicting disgust for her actions or demanding she stick to her societal role.

Taking a drink from her mug, she admitted with lingering shame, "My last option left is to disguise myself as one and shift my identity entirely. I wanted to show my true potential as myself, not a man, but it appears to be going that way."

"Would sacrificing yourself be worth it in the end?" he asked quietly as the young woman became a tad more interesting. Did she not have family to care for her? How long had she be trying to survive in the field of men?

She smiled faintly to what she'd already lost back home and mused, "Sometimes, sacrifices are needed to allow the true essence of one's self to break free."

Her gaze switched from the glass to his and she asked with a friendly smile, "Do you often lurk in taverns to offer soul searching advice?"

"Only when the right heart needs it" he replied with a kind smile as he tried to help others however he could. Being a mediator in Boston led him to walking the poorest of districts to guide, feed, or provide shelter for people. At the same time, his travels allowed him to assess the quality of potential assassin recruits.

Caroline's gaze turned downcast to her drink again and he nodded quietly, "You fight an uphill battle but you are not quitting from the look in your eyes. What will you choose to do, Miss Blackburn?"

The rabble from the sailors poked her mind since she'd seen the docked ship in the harbor. Ever since setting eyes on the Aquila as a girl, she had the strongest inkling to travel on a large vessel to foreign lands. Curiosity flickered into her gaze as she asked, "Have you seen ship life, Mr. Little? Journeyed to other lands?"

"Every once in a while, work permits me to be flexible" he answered truthfully since Connor often assigned the assassins missions to the other colonies. Her quick short gazes to the side led him to reading the true message in her question. She wanted to seek board on a vessel and as a female, it was a very risky move. With her being a young woman, he pointed out firmly, "It is dangerous with pirates about and most colonists seek solid earth under their feet rather than a watery grave. It does offer adventure and living wages-"

"I've always wanted to be on a ship again" she mused and used her coat to cover up her chest and tucked her bun underneath her hat. She was tired of moping in the bar over her losses and it was time to take another risk to see whether it would play out.

Her youthful appearance and lack of rouge and paints allowed her to be ambiguous as she stood up to walk up to men confidently with a manly swagger. Little watched her cautiously as he took a protective stance because although she spoke with determination, she was an innocent woman in the city. He knew city folks compared to small towners and she struck him as the latter.

Little was a bit wary for the woman but her voice shifted into a lower pitch to match a pubescent boy's with a thicker Scottish accent, "Oi. Who do I talk to about getting' a job on your mighty fine vessel?"

The moment they laid eyes on her, they all broke into a ruckus of laughter.

"Lad, you'd break under the crates we carry in a minute" one of them answered frankly with laughter towards her lean stature, "You don't look the type to hold your own in a fight either."

"I can wield a rifle and pistol like any other" Caroline stated firmly to prove that she could defend herself when needed and shot back, "I don't require protection and can hold my own. As for cargo, it's all in the legs."

"Guns are good, yea, but what's to stop another from wailing on ya?" another questioned with a laugh and Caroline felt the tips of her ears reddening. She wasn't making a very good young man at all but she stood tall. The sailor pointed to her arms and guffawed aloud, "You couldn't stand up to a mob with those little hands. Look more like baker's hands than anything."

I worked my hands at a lumber mill for years, she thought with a hint of anger for the first time in years.

Caroline rolled her shoulders back and raised her chill to grin, "Well, let's have at it, then. I can handle one of you and I'll be considered?"

"Oh, sure" one of them laughed with insult and she frowned.

They all laughed to her suggestion and Little was ready to step in between when she threw the first punch to the oldest man nearest to her. Uh-oh. Caroline put her ducking skills into play after years of playing with her siblings and threw a punch to the man's gut. After all, her uncle Terry had given her a few tips after seeing him blow his temper at the logging camps. Both he and her father had taught the children the weak spots on a person if anyone ever decided to harm them.

She was pushed back against a table and kicked in the right shin, leading her to use the other leg to kick the man in the groin. The men from the Aquila had been helpful in teaching her underhanded tactics as well. Well, that and learning a few cuss words for ocean voyages.

Little winced to that move and watched her punch the man again near the eye socket. Her aim needed correction to truly damage the sensitive eye but striking the bone dealt its own painful damage. Well, it seemed she wasn't as weak as the child they'd called her. She jumped forward and used her momentum to push the man by the shoulder to throw him against another table. The man flipped over the furniture with a loud crash and struggled to get up from the impact. After ten seconds passed, she called it with a triumphant grin, "So much for-"

One of the other sailors decided to save his buddy from the humiliation and punched her across the face. Caroline reeled back from the blow to her left cheek and hoped her tooth hadn't been knocked out. She definitely tasted coppery blood when her tongue touched her gums. She was ready to attack the man but Little stepped in to face the sailor and pointed out, "It was a fair fight, there was no need to intervene. If you have any honor for yourself or your ship, stand down."

The man threw a punch at the man and Caroline jumped forward to help but Little didn't need it. He grabbed the man's fist before it landed and twisted it to the side to snap, "Leave . . . now."

Releasing the man, the sailor fell on the floor from the force Little dealt and he scrambled to stand on his feet. Deciding that the new guy was more dangerous than the first, he spit on the floor towards Caroline and helped to lift his friend. The group left as they uttered a few choice words and she massaged her throbbing cheek to mutter with her natural voice, "So much for that idea . . . but thank you."

"Do you truly seek a name for yourself, Ms. Blackburn?" he asked with a stern gaze that she'd often seen on her father as he decided whether to lecture or congratulate. Although their meeting had been short, Caroline hoped that she'd found a new acquaintance in the colonies.

"No, just my life's calling and to taste adventure just once" she replied earnestly as she struggled to find her self-image and could only wonder how Ratonhnhaké:ton dealt with his. Every time she thought of him, waves of guilt engulfed her but she pushed it all to the back of her mind. Her choices had been made and there was no going back now. Meeting Duncan's clear blue gaze, she admitted with honesty, "We only live once in this world and that's it. I'd like to see as much of it as I can and return home one day."

Duncan looked at the broken furniture around them and pointed out, "Adventures can be laden with conflicts like this or worse. Can you handle that?"

"I will do my best at it" she promised because she wasn't a quitter and would build on the experience. Her cheek throbbed painfully but she wouldn't leave herself unguarded after a fight ever again.

"I have passage on a ship, the Invincible, and know the captain" he began carefully with a proposition and Caroline listened to his every word. He tried to help as many as he could and with him being assigned to a mission down south, he welcomed the company. It would give him a peace of mind not to let her run off into danger alone and he could see if she'd grow. At the same time, she could discover if the sea life is what she wanted. Dropping a few coins on the nearest table for the damage, he offered, "He still has a few spots open for low-level work if you'd like to come along and see whether this life is for you."

She hadn't expected an offer like that at all when she'd entered the bar and asked quietly, "When does it leave?"

"Two days. You can gather any supplies you need until then."

"You've got yourself a deal, Mr. Little" she smiled widely and offered her hand to seal the deal. The ex-priest-turned-assassin shook her hand and smiled at seeing her true personality rise to the surface. His brow quirked when she grinned and declared cheerfully, "You can call me Ishmael."

"You'll have to stay with that act for months" he pointed out with an amused smile and she winced at having to live a double life. As for Duncan, he'd be gauging her response to disguise, stress, combat, and other factors. She had determination and a tough spirit from what he assessed so he'd keep an eye on her.

Connor did say the order needed to grow over time and less than a dozen assassins won't do, he pondered over the potential this new stranger posed and whether she could be worthy of that title.

Releasing his hand, her expression softened and her voice trembled with gratitude, "Thank you for this opportunity, truly."

He couldn't help but joke lightly with his first test, "You're trusting a stranger you just met?"

"You're the first to actually offer a lending hand, which says something" she answered truthfully in regards to the people she'd met in the colonies so far. Duncan wasn't too surprised with the growing conflicts escalating tensions. Walking away from the broken mess of furniture, she pointed out, "It's not every day a stranger will help you out in a brawl either. The last time someone offered their help like that to me, we became very good friends."

Duncan agreed to her reasoning and led the way out of the bar as he mused, "Well then, let's hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

10 July 1774

After meeting and handing out assignments to his remaining assassins in Boston, Ratonhnhaké:ton failed to find Caroline. A visit to Amelia had yielded new information that she'd visited her and although he felt like he scoured every inch of Boston, he found no traces of her. Either she had left recently or she was in a very good disguise and eluding his sight. Nonetheless, he informed his assassins to keep a lookout for her.

The only good news that yielded from that visit was inviting a miner by the name of Norris to join their homestead. The man had been ostracized for merely having a different accent but his friendly demeanor and desire to work led Ratonhnhaké:ton to extending an invite. The settlers had taken to Myriam, even with her small cabin up north, and Norris was no different. If anything, the two were popular with the children.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was making his rounds throughout Davenport to check on the residents before meeting up with the miner. Lance was ready to begin sending his goods throughout the colonies as Ratonhnhaké:ton began the groundwork for his new business. Godfrey placed a hold on his contract after spending his earnings on searches for Caroline. Terry, however, signed on and told Godfrey he could pay him back with the profits earned. Warren agreed as well since his crops would soon be ready for harvesting.

"For the last time, yer not getting' out of it" Terry insisted since Godfrey wasn't keen on having another pay his way. His friend was going through a very tough time and he waved a finger to point out, "Brothers help each other out and this business takes two to run it."

Godfrey was ready to argue that a business agreement was serious but Ratonhnhaké:ton intervened, "It will either be Mr. Galloway's offer or mine because you're ready to expand, Mr. Burnett."

"You two aren't going to let me say no, are ye?" Godfrey asked in defeat as the men stood outside Lance's home. He had been immersing himself in work when he wasn't at home to cope with his daughter's leave. Letters of reassurance were nothing without seeing her face which is why the others insisted he was ready to push the business forward. He needed good news after everything that had happened.

"No" the men stated in unison and the Scotsman sighed.

"Let me worry about the finances and contracts, you take care of the family" Ratonhnhaké:ton reassured the older man because family came first and he could handle multiple tasks at the moment. Life had not been easy for both recently but it would not break him and so, he carried on.

"Godfrey, you're already part of the team so no backing out" Lance chuckled gently and clapped him on the back to lighten his worry. The lumberjack's shoulders slumped since the argument was over with and nodded quietly.

Warren motioned to the carpenter's work station behind them and shifted the topic, "Now, I need you to tell me what kind of wood I need for Prudence's gift."

Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled to himself as the men immersed themselves in the next task for Godfrey's sake. This week, it would be the new spice cabinets for Prudence. Bidding them farewell, he headed west towards the prospective mines where Norris awaited him. It didn't take long to arrive on horseback as the days of summer were beautifully clear and void of the humidity from the early summer.

He caught sight of Norris at the mouth of the largest mine as he hitched his horse to a nearby tree. The man sang a merry tune in his French dialect that carried through the trees and as Ratonhnhaké:ton approached him, he heard merry laughter nearby.

Children's laughter.

Curious to this, he surveyed the mining area as tools were strewn everywhere over the grass. He wasn't surprised by that since Norris tended to leave things scattered. When he spotted a young redheaded boy sifting through a metal pan, he called out firmly, "Samuel!"

Wide blue eyes met brown as the young boy stood up quickly with his pan and yelped with alarm, "Connor!"

"Connor!"

Immediately, his head turned to the right as Elizabeth carried a bucket full of rocks in her arms. Why was she here too? He couldn't help but call out with his own surprise, "Eliza!"

"Connor!"

He almost slapped his forehead and broke character when he saw Alice wave from her spot atop a boulder. Why were they all here? How did they even get here? It was the middle of a forest! Instantly, he was on brotherly protection mode and called out, "Norris!"

The miner exited from the mine the moment his name was called, his clothes and red hat covered in dirt. As always, he had a friendly smile on his face. He barely had time to dust himself off before Ratonhnhaké:ton was standing before him and questioned, "Why are there children here?"

"Well, they overheard me telling Myriam I would use explosives on the mine and wanted to come see" he explained cheerfully to having someone to talk to on his trek there and pointed towards a small wooden wagon, "I brought them here so they wouldn't be tired on foot. They told me their mother agreed it was all right."

A questioning glance towards the children led Alice to blurting nervously, "But Eliza said it was fine to travel here!"

Elizabeth frowned at being ousted by her meek sister and the parenting glance Ratonhnhaké:ton directed towards her led her to exclaim, "Explosions, Connor! What more can I say? We would've been back soon."

"It's not safe and I'm sure your mother would agree" he pointed out firmly because he'd blame himself if anything happened to them. Catherine was already suffering from Caroline's leave and with Amelia being in Boston, she didn't need injured children added to that. Elizabeth was every bit as stubborn as Caroline and flickers of irritation brewed at the oldest Burnett for her absence. Now, he needed to fill Caroline's shoes as her older brother and reasoned, "This isn't the time to be making risky decisions. I could forgo a trek but not a trek into a mine with explosions attached."

Samuel raised his metal pan in the air and piped up cheerfully to justify, "But we could find gold, Connor!"

"Gold won't replace missing limbs, Sam" Ratonhnhaké:ton advised with a stern gaze and the young boy nodded sheepishly. He couldn't have them running around Davenport and throwing caution to the wind because they were surrounded by wildlife. He'd done his best to keep them safe while growing up and had to insist that his advice was heeded. With Norris working in this area, he informed them, "This area will be unsafe while Norris works so I want you clear of it. If you wish to visit here, ask me or one of the adults. . .not Norris."

The miner quirked an eyebrow at this and humored his friend, "Wait, is that an insult?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton moved his hand side to side to show indecision and the children stifled giggles behind their hands. Quickly, he looked to the three children to stop their laughter and he lectured, "No lying or manipulation of words with him or any of us. You're good children and I'd hate if anything happened to you."

"Yes, Connor" the two youngest mumbled in reluctant agreement to avoid a lecture. They didn't want their older brother mad at them and Ratonhnhaké:ton pointed to a safe spot under a wooden shanty to get them away from the mine. Quietly, they listened to avoid being in trouble but Elizabeth stayed put in her spot. Without Caroline to rein in her rebellious nature, Ratonhnhaké:ton found it hard when she only listened to her parents.

"You'll see the explosion but you are staying under that wooden shanty" he compromised so both sides could win and hoped he wouldn't have to carry an irate adolescent back home. Elizabeth nodded to the choice and headed to the small wooden shanty that had enough space for three people to sleep or eat. Samuel and Alice sat on the grass, looking to their friend for any further orders to avoid receiving more lectures.

"So-o-o-o, can we open the mine or not?" Norris asked nonchalantly to break the tension since he fancied a laidback lifestyle full of cheer.

"Norris, the mine has been there for centuries, I am sure it will not be going anywhere soon" Ratonhnhaké:ton reasoned as he realized he was the level headed adult of the team. The miner relented to the remark since he wasn't a hasty person and grabbed his pack as it lay near a group of filled buckets. As he headed for the shanty where the children were, the assassin asked quickly, "Wait, where are you going?"

Norris grinned widely with amusement to the sudden change of heart and replied, "I'm having lunch while you parent."

"I'm eighteen, I cannot possibly parent at my age" he remarked with an embarrassed hitch at the end of his words as he stiffened. He had heard the 'wisdom for your age' comment but he did not want to be compared to a parent yet. Men in his culture did not become parents at his age but much later, around twenty winters of age. He still had two years to spare and he would take full advantage of them.

Norris couldn't help but contain laughter to his friend's flabbergasted expression and informed, "Connor, my friend, I've seen boys of eighteen with little ones around their ankles in the cities."

Ratonhnhaké:ton felt his collar grow warm since he wasn't exactly going to have that scenario anytime soon. Caroline was gone and he was left alone to corral her siblings, leading him to murmur, "Well, that will not be me."

"Never say never" Norris teased with a merry grin that left the other man pouting and he looked to the children, "Who wants lunch? I brought extra."

When all of them trailed after the miner, Ratonhnhaké:ton looked to the great blue sky and thought, At least I'll have help with the young ones.

But then. . .

"Norris, can I light the line to the explosives?"

For the first time ever, the children heard Ratonhnhaké:ton raise his voice in alarm, "Nobody is lighting anything! This is how children lose limbs!"

The lecture that followed was worthy of a grandparent's wisdom.

A/N: Seeing Connor play parent is quite funny to me, especially with him overseeing every problem in Davenport. Now we have Myriam and Norris, which we'll see more of them as the chapters progress. As we can see, Caroline's siblings have taken a liking to Norris and his supply of explosives. We're also going to be seeing more of the Assassins since Caroline unknowingly stumbled upon Duncan and the two will be traveling the high seas to the southern colonies.

Thank you for taking the time to review my last chapter, it's always appreciated after a busy night at work.

East Coast Captain: You're right, Connor can't keep his double life hidden too long, especially now that Caroline set off on her own. I haven't decided yet whether I'll have her discover his life or have him tell her the truth. I love the concept of life on other worlds which is why I explored those two and District 9 to begin building my own foundation for a fiction tale with a team of characters set on protecting their respective planets. Samuel from this tale developed into one of my human characters who was adopted by an alien family when he was abandoned and he keeps that familiar pep as he idolizes his older brother.

GuildMaster: Thank you! It's definitely more emotional now with the two separated across the colonies. The two have been very intertwined but it's time for the two to grow even more and find their paths in life. They'll meet up again but the question will be when.

Inari of the Skies: Thank you, it took longer than anticipated with work (our hospital has been having endless baby deliveries, haha) and school.

Next Time: Danger on the High Seas

Her enemy used his weight to push her against a stack of crates and the force behind the push loosened her hold on the sword. Multitasking with a sword was difficult when her pistol required reloading and her enemy caught wind of it. The moment he felt her grip on the hilt weaken, he knocked her sword to the side with a sideways swing of his.

Her eyes widened to the loss of her best weapon for defense and watched the man swing his again. Dodging quickly as fear overwhelmed her, she managed to evade and the Templar sliced the air rather than her. Using the crates to her advantage, she hid behind a few and kicked the nearest one on the floor to stop him.

When the man stumbled, she used those precious seconds to dive for her sword. Her fingers grasped the leather hilt just as the man bounded up to her, leading her to scramble onto her back with a hammering heart. Would she survive this attack? Seeing the metal glint of the sword descending, she placed her horizontally and held her palm against the flat of the blade to defend stop the swing.

The glare on the man's face was downright frightening since she'd never had anyone wanting her dead. Still, she refused to submit and snapped, "Get off my ship!"

With that said, she kicked him in the lower abdomen since the knee was solid bone. The man doubled over as she kicked the wind out of him and she rolled over to stand unsteadily. Breathing rapidly, she tried to sound as tough as she could, "Last warning!"

When the man refused to quit, their swords clashed again and she used the last of her energy to deflect. Her enemy had a good guard for her to go on the offense without risking injury to herself. Narrowing her eyes, she had to figure out a strategy to knock him out since she wasn't certain she could take a human life. Her parents had taught her to be merciful but those teachings contradicted when someone was trying to kill you.

His strength surpassed hers as his swings became stronger as he sacrificed speed for brute force. Caroline figured that would be her best chance since her skills favored speed. Unfortunately, the force of the swings caused her hands to ache terribly from the recoil and her faster rate dealt less than favorable damage. She wasn't accustomed to this style of fighting and grit her teeth at losing ground.

The next swing caused her arms to buckle under the force and she wasn't able to keep her sword steady. The tip of his sword came down over her head and she moved quickly to prevent having her skull opened. It was just enough to escape with her life intact but the metal cut into the apple of her left cheek, splitting the skin open.

She could feel the trickle of blood trailing down her face immediately but her eyes remained on the enemy. Readying herself for the next swing, she prepared to parry but the man faltered in his step when raising his sword. When the man uttered a groan and collapsed onto the floor, Caroline blinked with shock to what just happened.

Her eyes were wide as the man failed to move and from within the shadows, Duncan emerged unscathed from battle. There was blood on his sword and it didn't take long for her to add the two pieces together. Relieved for the help in her hour of need, she smiled faintly and he asked, "Grace, are you injured?"