Music Inspiration: David Chappell- "Spirit of Adventure"
Spirit of Adventure
20 July 1774
Caroline adjusted the blue checkered kerchief cloth covering her red hair as she peered over the calm blue waters that glittered like jewels. If she glanced at it too long, her eyes would burn but it was just so beautiful to her. The open sea was as free as she had imagined it and preferred it to the cold forests at night. The air in both environments was vastly different as well but she loved them equally. The scent of the sea was full of moisture compared to the dry climate of Davenport. The air carried a briny, fishy smell mixed with green that she'd yet to find at any other body of water. None of the lakes or the cove back home had it.
"Smell that open sea air" she smiled with excitement shining in her blue eyes but it only earned her a reprimand for being slow. Quickly, she stacked three crates of rope near the mast of the ship and scampered away to where Duncan watched the ocean.
The first weeks had left her aching from head to toe to the long hours of physical labor. She had worked with her father for a few hours in the lumber mill but the short hours were nothing compared to a full day's work on a cargo ship. It was constant movement every hour to ensure the ship ran smoothly and you were lucky to earn a break in between to slap a piece of dry cheese into a roll of bread. If you were super lucky, the bread wouldn't be hard from growing stale in the open air. Otherwise, you had to wait for your only meal of the day until sundown. Fortunately, like all exercise, she gradually adjusted to it a day at a time to handle it and her respect for the working force grew even stronger. Although she had to hide her gender, she was still part of the big picture onboard the ship and it stirred pride within her.
She was a simple deckhand at the moment but was grateful for the position she'd been given. Duncan had spoken to the captain on her behalf and before she could open her mouth to pledge her service, the dark-haired captain had chucked a uniform at her head. It was two sizes too large for her frame but she'd managed to save thread from her travels and altered it just enough to conceal her feminine figure. Her long red hair had been cut to shoulder length, similar to Ratonhnhaké:ton, and tied into a ponytail to be tucked under her blue kerchief cap. Severing her hair with a blade had brought a swell of sadness since her mother had spent time showing her how to care and grow her hair out like a proper lady. Now, it closely resembled a colonial man's from a rich family.
"Keep your ears and eyes sharp, Ishmael" Duncan advised simply as he kept his gaze focused on the sparkling calm water. He had already detected her approach which is why he didn't turn to face her.
Caroline found it uncanny to how he detected individuals approaching him before they even spoke. True, the floorboards were creaky but over the loud noises on the deck, it was easy to lose track of it. It was a brief reminder of Ratonhnhaké:ton and the numerous abilities he held, Amelia's last words echoing in her mind. She hadn't heard his voice or gazed upon his face for over a month, missing the endless comfort she felt in his arms. He had always protected her from harm but she failed in protecting his heart by leaving abruptly. All she could do was write letters of affection to him when she could locate a post office on land.
Duncan was able to secure passage for himself without the menial work attached due to his status in the Order. He wasn't aware Ratonhnhaké:ton had ship envoys that trailed from colony to colony which was a smart prospect strategically for combat. Every ship he boarded nowadays was associated with the Order and most often, he traveled to fulfill his assigned missions. Finding her in Boston just happened to spontaneously lead to an education opportunity and once she was ready, he'd secretly assess her abilities.
For now, however, he'd be a guide for the young woman in the New World.
Despite the harsh conditions of living on the high seas, Caroline didn't utter a peep against it. When she was lucky to catch a break away from the work, she'd sit on top of a barrel or crate and watch the faraway green land of the colonies. At the moment, their trade ship traveled south and stuck close enough that the edges of the new land could be seen by the crew. Not many ships traveled alongside them as the Invincible took the least popular route since other trade ships actually stuck closer to the land for easier drop-offs. Caroline didn't care at all; she was seeing the world!
She'd caught sight of sea life that Ratonhnhaké:ton often told her about: dolphins, turtles, and flocks of birds. They weren't far out enough to see the whales migrate but Duncan informed her she'd see them on the way back. Her friendship with the Irishman had also flourished as he took her under his wing to show her how to survive in one piece onboard the ship. Due to every explorer and assassin having to know the stars for guidance, he taught her how to read star maps and sea current/trade wind maps when she had time to spare. The rarity of such a skill for her gender led Caroline to ensuring she always had time for it.
Being surrounded by complete strangers had unnerved her on the first days, especially going out to sea, but the fear settled after a week. It was natural for her to miss home and wonder what her family was doing when the sun set over the ocean, remembering the sweet scent of freshly baked bread for supper. The memories of her family were what kept her grounded and determined to see her trip through and return to them. Caroline could only take one day at a time being out at sea but to witness the crashing waves upon the side of the ship as white foam rose upwards, she smiled widely, "She's feisty today."
Duncan's blue gaze shifted from the roaring sea over to his companion as she hopped to sit on top of a crate. Being on her feet for most of the morning led her to sneaking in breaks whenever she could, quickly fishing out flour crackers from her trouser pockets. Snaking on the salty square crackers, she heard him remark with amusement, "That means you'll be working harder to ensure we meet our distance deadline by tonight."
Caroline's shoulders drooped under the blue tunic dwarfing her torso, picking up the pace on her snacking. If she had to waste a lot of energy today, she needed to snack decently to replenish her body.
Leaning against the wooden guardrail, Duncan noticed the oil and dust stains littering her attire. Impressed with her progress on the ship, he complimented her commitment, "You look more like a boy every day."
She hadn't been happy at having to discard her identity to mark her path but it certainly made life easier to travel. With her roughhousing in the countryside, it wasn't far for Caroline to slip over the femininity border into androgyny. The blue cloth tied over her head kept her hair concealed decently, she'd ditched using any face powders, and the male deckhand attire served her well.
Deepening her voice, she placed a closed right fist over her chest and declared confidently, "A boy? Sir, I am a man. A manly man-"
"Bartlett!"
Hearing her false last name echo throughout the top deck, Caroline leapt off the crate as if bitten. Uh-oh, she did not want to enrage the first mate of the Invincible and scuttled off to find the man. Just like she worked hard at her father's mill, she gave the same dedication to helping run the ship.
1 August 1774
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't know how it happened but one moment, he was strolling through the forest, and the next- tracking down a white cougar. That's right, a man-eating feline. He hadn't even intended to hunt down anything that day but he'd stepped into Myriam's hunt of the day. Whenever his friends needed is help, he wouldn't turn them away. Sometimes, they'd bite off more than they could chew in their daily lives but he was the kind of man that lent a hand.
"Don't let it get away, this might be our only chance!"
Myriam was determined to take down the white cougar, not only for its rare coat but for the protection of Davenport. She didn't want to risk losing it and having it wreak havoc later when she could've put it down. Being in the north far away from the other homesteads, Myriam could find herself facing that beast one day if she didn't act. Worse, it could attack one of the children of Davenport.
With her trusty rifle, Bullseye, in hand, Myriam gave chase on foot. It was incredibly fast but the pale coat was easily exposed against the vibrant green of the forest. Ratonhnhaké:ton, on the other hand, chased the cougar with more accessibility by scaling trees and rock walls. The descending branches were incredibly helpful as balancing beams when he needed to jump onto another tree or boulder. The hard part came when the cougar managed to climb onto a rocky hill that led him to scaling the wall quickly due to the elevation.
The entire area of Davenport was familiar like the back of his hand after four years of living there. The cougar was headed to an area of one of his residents and with Myriam on the ground, he broke his silent approach to inform her, "He's heading for Norris!"
Myriam's fingers clutched Bullseye tightly as she took off even faster. With a determined place in mind, she knew the shortcuts to make her way there in half the time. She and Norris had arrived in Davenport about the same time and while she hunted in the outdoors, he blew holes into the mines. During the first weeks, the noise had disrupted her hunting grounds but he'd informed her which days he'd be in certain mines so she would be able to carry out her livelihood in peace. With Myriam being more ambitious than Norris, he saw no issue in rotating sites since he'd mine for oar either way.
She didn't want any of her new friends to suffer injury from one of her hunts and ignored the burning sensation in her calves. Dashing through bushes and crushing grass under her feet, Myriam managed to make it to the smallest mine Norris was working in that morning. Out of breath with aching leg muscles, she caught sight of Norris as he stood off to the side of the closed mine- he was safe!
"Norris!"
She didn't realize how breathless her voice sounded and realized that somehow, she managed to beat the illusive Connor. Glad to see the miner safe, she ran to his side as she kept an eye out for any sudden bright flashes of white. Her gaze swept over the Quebec native, noticing that his normally peppy demeanor and happy-go-lucky grin had been replaced by surprise.
"Are you all right?" she asked swiftly as concern slipped into her tone. Her hold on Bullseye slacked slightly at seeing him in one piece, her brown gaze softening for a second.
His blue-gray eyes darted between her and the wooden barricade sealing off the mine. Slowly, he admitted with a nervous brush of his red hat, "If you mean avoiding a fatal mauling by a cougar, yes."
She shook her head in disappointment to leading it his way and apologized sincerely, "I'm sorry, Norris, I never meant-"
Ratonhnhaké:ton's arrival to the mine halted their conversation as the two stood in front of the closed mine. A flicker of surprise was on his face at noticing Myriam had actually beat him and asked with open curiosity, "How did you arrive so fast?"
Myriam quickly attempted to dismiss her sudden speed with a nonchalant shrug and offered halfheartedly, "The wind?"
Norris waved at his friend in greeting as the assassin approached them and felt safer with two more people at his side. After a year of ridicule and being fired in the colonies, he trusted his new friends for the opportunities they'd given him. Pointing to the closed mine, he informed Ratonhnhaké:ton of the new development, "You must be here for my new friend! He went straight in. . .lucky I wasn't in there"
Ratonhnhaké:ton could sense Norris was nervous at the close encounter and wanted him at a safe distance. The same sentiment resonated within Myriam as her resolve increased to claim her catch. He patted Norris on the back to reassure him they'd all be leaving the area together and ending the cougar threat. Since the hunt had started with Myriam, he asked her quietly, "What are your thoughts, Myriam?"
The huntress smiled with gratitude that she was leading the hunting party. In towns where she could join a team, she was given the menial jobs. When she managed to bring down worthy game, she'd been irritated to seeing men taking the credit and largest payout. In Davenport, things were much different, fair, and simpler to her liking. With determination, she revealed her plan to the men, "Flush and fire."
Gazing at the miner, she wanted him at the safest distance possible for being an innocent bystander and ordered, "Norris can back off, one of us goes in there to draw him out, and the other waits out here to shoot."
Norris wanted to point out that he could help somehow but Myriam wanted him out of the game. A firm gaze from Myriam in his direction led him to silencing his opposition. Being more of a pacifist, Norris didn't see the need to argue with the two experienced hunters. With Myriam carrying the long-range and highly accurate rifle, Ratonhnhaké:ton decided easily on the team roles, "I will go in and you shoot."
Myriam nodded firmly as she quickly checked her rifle before he ventured inside. It would be a grievous error not to and have it backfire with Ratonhnhaké:ton in the danger zone. When Bullseye cleared her assessment, she raised the rifle to eye level towards the mine and stated confidently, "Go ahead and be careful."
Ratonhnhaké:ton had done some crazy out of the ordinary ideas in his young life as he encountered colonists. Intentionally tracking down a cougar down an ore mine, however, had never been on the list until now. Nodding to Norris, the miner quickly removed the wooden barricade that sealed the cougar inside and the only shield protecting them from harm. Wishing his friend luck, he set the fencing aside on a nearby rock and backed away like Myriam had ordered.
Carefully, Ratonhnhaké:ton entered the dark mine and his acute hearing picked up the soft hissing of a feline. His intention was to lure out the animal so he had to make his presence known rather than hide it. Otherwise, he was asking to be dragged away and mauled in a tunnel somewhere- not an ideal plan. He allowed for his steps to be heard as he treaded deeper inside, the cougar's growling increasing as he approached its hiding spot.
He couldn't wander far from Myriam's line of sight to ensure she had the perfect shot. Tiptoeing to gauge the cougar, he caught a glint of white fur before a growl erupted. A second later, he heard the earth shifting in the dark and Ratonhnhaké:ton backed away immediately. The empty tunnels enhanced the cougar's scream as it gave chase to the man and as soon as he turned to flee, a shot echoed in the dark.
All Ratonhnhaké:ton heard was a heavy thud behind him as Myriam laughed in success to her newest bounty. Norris, who stood off to the side, had been watching her calculated movements and was immediately impressed to seeing her skill firsthand. She truly was better than any other man he'd seen hunting! Being a miner, he didn't know very much on hunting large game and often bought food at inns for sustenance with his earnings.
Approaching her with haste, he nodded to her with admiration to compliment, "Nice shot."
Myriam had never felt prouder as a woman of the hunt and could claim the white cougar as her best catch. Her victory was even better due to having true friends at her side for the first time. Ratonhnhaké:ton exited the mine with perfect calm despite having a cougar chase him down as bait. He did not want to play the part again anytime soon. Myriam smiled broadly as she placed the butt of her rifle on the soft earth and told them, "That cougar will feed us for weeks and our folk will stay safe."
Norris chuckled to the adventure of the day in Davenport, shaking his head to say, "Wait till the others hear about this."
15 August 1774
Duncan and Caroline were playing checkers below deck as a fun pastime after work. Night had fallen over the ocean and the waters were calm, the ship rocking gently to the current. Orange-yellow glow from the kerosene lanterns filled the cabins below deck as everyone piled into their respective spaces for the night. Officers had cabins on the first level but the rest of the petty crew had a specific space to simply leave their gear. The floor was large enough to house ten to twelve men on each side for a max of twenty-five and Caroline's nose was always filled with a damp, wet smell mixed with sweat and leather.
Still, she had a space to call her own on the floor. In her little designated area, she had the same old sleeping sack she'd taken on her first trip back to Boston. Below it, a straw mattress was the only support her body had. Being in a ship surrounded by men, she had been forced to sell all of her mother's hand sewn dresses to erase all traces of her femininity and gain a few coins. It had essentially erased her identity but inside a small wooden box with a keyhole lock, she'd stored her letters from home to remind herself that she had a past. That she was named Caroline Grace Burnett and she'd been born during a spring morning in April 1756 in Glasgow, Scotland. During the first week onboard, she'd read the letters numerous times to the point that she had memorized them all clearly now. Still, merely gazing at her mother's neat cursive filled her heart with warmth. Although she couldn't send out letters while at sea, those that had arrived in the Boston post office before her leave left her happy.
A light trickle of tobacco smoke filtered into the air as men passed pipe tobacco around, along with glasses filled with ale. It was an easier smell to tolerate in comparison to sweat in Caroline's mind. She refused to smoke a pipe since the smoke tended to leave a horrid smell on her but ales were acceptable. The taste had slowly become acceptable in small doses to her taste buds when her days were lousy. Today, however, had been a good day.
Caroline was wrapped into her own private thoughts again, as it often happened at night, and Duncan seized the advantage. His black checker piece removed two of hers in a diagonal swipe that turned right at a nearby corner. He seized the red pieces, snapping her out of the reverie, and he simply stacked the pieces on the table to remark, "You must pay attention or you will lose, Ishmael."
She nodded quietly since it was a good lesson to heed and refocused on their game. Caroline had often watched the men play these games back in Davenport, particularly at the lumber mill during lunch time. She'd never learned it out of lack of interest so she was trying to pick it up fast under his guidance. Duncan's clear blue eyes twinkled with amusement as he joked, "If I didn't know your origins, I'd wonder why a young man didn't know this game."
"Isn't there an easier game I can learn?" she muttered flatly since she preferred those that involved physical movement. Growing up in the countryside, she was accustomed to outdoor games more than anything.
"Not if you hope to succeed" he replied easily as he managed to snag another of her pieces. Her blue eyes dulled to the loss of another minion piece and clenched her fists for being on the losing end. She had to snap herself back into the game, despite she found it tedious, and he pointed out, "It also builds your strategy. Imagine if these were ships and you had an armada of your own to lead, how would you go about destroying them?"
Her brow furrowed to such a question since she decided to venture out for adventure only and remarked, "I have no intention to raise arms against another who has not caused me harm."
"What happens when it lands on your doorstep? Will you ignore it and succumb or fight back to protect your rights and family?" he asked simply as the game shifted into a deeper conversation than originally intended. Caroline kept to herself during work hours as she was happy exploring her new home while at night, she scribbled in her journal.
Duncan had failed to inform her that she had boarded an Assassin's affiliated vessel since she knew nothing of their order. Being an individual breaking free from society's norm, he assumed she was an ideal candidate to assess for potential integration. Caroline was not the type to seek trouble but if it sought her, she fought back like any proud Scotswoman.
Caroline tapped a finger against her checker piece in thought to his words. Her family had chosen Davenport as home due to its peaceful isolation away from urban society. They were as free as could be but the thought of the growing troubles between the crown and the colonies spilling onto their land worried her. She didn't want to see her father's mill taken away as property for the crown after all of his hard work. Even more, the thought of relinquishing their homestead was unacceptable.
After a moment, she paused her tapping and glanced up at Duncan to answer truthfully, "Diplomatic tactics first and if they refuse to get off my land or dare to touch any of my loved ones, they'd meet my mother's shotgun."
Nobody laid a hand or upset her family- it was her only rule for leaving her presence in one piece. Peaceful resolutions were the ideal picture since Ratonhnhaké:ton sought similarly and Caroline accepted that compromise first before heading down a more physical road.
Duncan nodded quietly, neither agreeing or disagreeing to her opinion, and stated simply, "The same strategy can be applied in a game where your pieces are pinned in a corner."
Caroline tilted her head to the side as Duncan had become an enigma at times. Although he dressed as a man of the lord and carried a benevolent ambience, his words carried a different meaning. He contradicted what he dressed himself as and Caroline found herself asking, "Mr. Little, what is it exactly that you do in the colonies?"
He offered a faint chuckle since his line of work would eventually be questioned and leaned back in his chair. Tipping his hat downwards to his brow, he smiled warmly and answered innocently, "Why, I'm a mere traveler such as yourself. I try to be the voice of reason to the places I wander to maintain peace."
"Is that why you helped me then in that empty bar?" she asked with simple curiosity to their chance meeting. Many would've ignored her and kept walking the whole time, the sight of a woman drinking not being seen as acceptable. Instead, he'd stopped to help her and offered an escape away from civilization.
"That, and I didn't look forward to seeing people knock out each other's teeth- we need to eat with those" Duncan replied amicably with an amused grin that stirred laughter from Caroline. Quickly, she subdued it and transformed her naturally higher pitch to a deeper sound from her belly. Maintaining a male appearance at all times was not fun.
Picking up one of the checker pieces he'd swiped from her, he rolled it between his fingers thoughtfully. Before Caroline could ask what dwelled in his mind, he spoke up to advise her, "Adventure comes in many forms. The ones away from home can enlighten one's heart to what is truly sought in life. However, these types of adventures will more than likely have you drawing a weapon because we do not live in peaceful times at the moment."
Caroline took the advice to mind since she was still a young woman in the world. Despite the bravado and gumption, she had much to learn to be someone capable to holding her own against others and society itself. Like a river pebble, she was being polished year by year with each experience to chisel who she was meant to be. It was a question that often dwelled in her mind. . .what was she meant to become?
Before she could reply to his comment, bells clanged in alarm overheard from the top deck. Caroline jolted upright in her seat since she'd never heard a loud ruckus since boarding the ship. Instead of the jolly sound they were meant to echo, it unsettled her stomach- especially when Duncan quickly put away their game.
"Stay here, I will return" he ordered firmly for the first time and she nodded quickly. Duncan Little was an easygoing man that rarely raised his voice and when he did, you listened. Being new to life at sea, Caroline listened to all of his advice.
Heavy footsteps echoed as multiple deckhands dashed to the top deck to survey the problem. Caroline knew they were south in warmer waters where icebergs wouldn't lurk, especially in the summer time. Was there a mechanical problem? Had the boat sustained damage somehow? Questions ran through her mind with every ring of the bell overhead. Itching to peek her head out to the top deck, she brushed it aside since she'd promised Duncan to stay below deck.
She decided to occupy her mind elsewhere and pulled out a whetstone from a basket in her sleeping space. She kept it full of knick-knacks that she'd use around the ship and didn't mind sharing with the other deckhands. Running a smooth and safe ship was their goal which led the crew to swapping tools often. Sharpening her old trusty hunting knife, Ruth, she sat back against the wall of the ship to relax. Gazing at the brown leather hilt as she held it, she couldn't help but think of her dear father and wonder how the mill was faring.
Unfortunately, her attempt at relaxation shattered when she heard the word 'attack' erupt overhead. Men from her deck immediately grabbed their weapons to run to the top deck to defend the ship. Wait, what was going on? Caroline paused on what to do since danger from mankind hadn't been an issue since venturing out of Davenport. The loud voices only grew in volume over the seconds and she flinched when a gunshot echoed.
They were being attacked, weren't they?!
Caroline quickly stood up with the expression of a petrified deer to that realization. As her crewmates headed up to join the fight, she could hear the clang of swords and bangs from gunshots that only verified her fear. Why were they being targeted? They were a simple travel and cargo ship! Caroline wrung her hands nervously as she struggled to find her first weapons for a fight. She'd only ever used a hunting knife, a pistol, and rope for hunting! At the moment, she only had the first ready at hand!
She wasn't a fighter at all, preferring the simple and evasive life of adventure. The possibility of danger was always in the back of her mind but she hesitated on how to move forward. Should she sneak upstairs? Wait and catch them by surprise? Run upstairs with bravado? When heavy footsteps approached the top of the main stairway, Caroline grabbed the nearest object on the table and ran behind the closest support beam to hide.
Her heart jumped into her throat as the approaching thudding steps belonged to a man in grey and black sailor attire. Not one of the Invincible's crew at all. She couldn't determine if they were British or from the colonies by features alone but their tense posture told her they weren't friendly. Otherwise, they'd be sharing an ale with her crewmates. She was on her own this time to handle this situation and hoped Duncan was holding his own upstairs. Being by herself downstairs could be both a disadvantage for the numbers and an advantage for sneaking.
When the unwanted visitor passed by her hiding spot, Caroline held her breath to remain invisible. The moment that the back of his head came into view, she swung the object she'd swiped. Out of all the items on a boat, Caroline pummeled the back of the man's head with an iron skillet. It wasn't the ideal weapon but the cooking pan connected with the man's skull. Familiar to swinging an axe at home, she didn't stop until the man was knocked out on the ground.
Breathing heavily from fear and suspense, she stayed in place to make sure the man wouldn't be getting up. In the surprise attack, he'd dropped a sword onto the ground and quietly, Caroline leaned down to swipe it away. Disarming the enemy was the priority, along with keeping herself safe, which led her an unorthodox method of armor. Slipping the skillet under her sailor's tunic, she let the round portion protect her stomach with the handle lying flat against her sternum. Quickly readjusting her belt, she managed to keep the handy skillet in place and nodded to herself with a flicker of confidence, "You can do this."
That was easier said than done when the next enemy slipped past the crew and into the bowels of the ship. How many had boarded them? What was their purpose? The first tactic led to success so she decided to continue with the hope that nobody else would follow. Unfortunately, her next opponent was brawnier than the first and on alert immediately at seeing the crumpled body on the ground. Caroline bit her lower lip as she quickly rethought her strategy with only a knife and a stranger's sword at her disposal.
Gripping the hilt tightly to find a comfortable grasp, the blunt end of the sword would fare better in knocking out a man than her knife. Her Ruth was better utilized against smaller foes or for quickly swiping at enemies in close quarters. Revealing her position from behind the man, she rushed forward to strike him but her footing caused the floorboards to creak under her weight. Immediately, the man turned with a scowl and grasped her wrist before she could finish her swing. Her entire frame froze at being caught red-handed, blue eyes widening in surprise.
"Well, what do we have 'ere?"
Caroline hadn't expected to put her fighting skills to use anytime soon, especially not at night. The idea of sleeping comfortably in her blankets had been thwarted with the unexpected attack and she had to prepare herself for a fight. Duncan's lessons rushed forth as adventure interlaced with life and death, her fingers clutching the leather hilt of her stolen sword. She had to fight smart, not recklessly- like Faulkner taught her.
The assailant brought down his sword in an overhead swipe and she deflected it, shifting her weight forward to hold her position. Her enemy used his own weight to push her against a stack of nearby crates to throw her off completely. Despite her days laboring around the ship, she didn't have the musculature that a male frame could build as well as the brute strength. The force behind the push loosened her hold on the sword as she managed to find her footing to avoid falling down on the floor. It was one or the other and she chose to face her enemy at all times.
Curses, I am not making a dent in this man, she thought with regretful annoyance as he clearly began to gain the upper hand.
The sword was difficult to handle when it wasn't designed for her hand and her enemy easily caught wind of it. The moment he felt her grip on the hilt weaken against another parried strike, he knocked her sword to the side with a sideways swing of his. Her blue 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 her enemy 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. It was her only chance at defense without anything else and she wouldn't dare a close attack with Ruth. Her fingers grasped the leather hilt on the floor 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.
"Who are you?! We're just a cargo ship!" she yelled frantically in an attempt to compromise with him. The man, however, wasn't interested in the suggestion as he swiped his sword at her again. The muscles in her arms stung as she held them firm against the force of his strike and refused to give way.
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 with a thicker edge to her Scottish accent, "Git off meh ship!"
With that said, she kicked him in the lower abdomen since the knee was solid bone. She might not be muscular but she still had height to her advantage, thanks to her father. The man doubled over as she kicked the wind out of him and she rolled over to stand unsteadily. Her legs felt weak like gelatin from the adrenaline running through her but she maintained her coordination. Breathing rapidly, she tried to sound as tough as she could to get the man to surrender or flee, "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 her.
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 at her current strength level. 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 managed to 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. As long as she had her eyes and other senses, she could defend herself. She promised her mother in letters she'd return and she always made true on her word. Readying herself for the next swing, she prepared to parry by shifting her weight forward 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 firmly, "Grace, are you injured?"
She controlled her breathing now that the adrenaline began to leave her system and her true voice stuttered, "M-my face. . .b-bruises for the r-rest."
Dropping the sword in her hand, she brushed the back of her hand across her left cheek. It ached terribly and she needed to gauge the blood loss herself. She drew back fresh blood across her hand, her face stinging from the touch and felt more rivulets rain down her fair skin.
Duncan grasped her shoulders to lower her worries since he'd managed to regain control of the ship against their enemies. Being from the Order, they were bound to be targeted by the Templars but he couldn't let her know that. He needed her to focus on one task alone, to cast aside the pain from her injury, and encouraged, "You did well for your first fight. I know it wasn't easy or expected but it's safe now."
They were safe now? Relief flooded her instantly to the thought of walking the ship safely again. She didn't want to be a lost lamb in the middle of a fight again and the disappointment stung harder than her cut. Caroline wanted to be able to hold her own without interference but everyone started from the ground up. Still, it was good to know she didn't have to knock out another man with a frying pan.
He led her to the nearest lantern that lit along their path to assess the damage she received. The red was illuminated against the rocking lanterns along the support beams but he needed to see the depth and length of the laceration. Instantly, he saw the cut on the upper left side of her cheek that bled down to her jaw. He'd have to find alcohol to douse over it and prevent infection. Being out at sea without medical care was a huge disadvantage when seeking adventure and many took it upon themselves to fix it somewhat before docking on land.
Her blue eyes looked to him for feedback on the severity and he informed gently, "Your cheek is cut, not shallow nor deep. It will scar but you'll live."
Caroline hadn't expected that but now that the excitement had died down, she could feel the full force of the damage. Her shoulder and hand joints ached, her knees throbbed, her backside hurt, and her cheek burned terribly. All in all, she felt twenty years older than she was from the physical exhaustion. If this was how fighting on a ship was like, she didn't see how Ratonhnhaké:ton went back for more. Though the physique would explain a lot.
Duncan turned to head upstairs again and instructed, "I will find some supplies for you since I have to help the injured."
Caroline rubbed her eyes to wipe away bothersome sweat and shook her head to insist, "I can help. I'm no doctor but I can bandage and sew a suture if I need to."
He knew she was tired from the fight but her determination to aid them was admirable. She didn't owe the ship anything, especially with her being a temporary addition, but she offered nonetheless. In Caroline's mind, housing her and allowing her to travel was enough to cast aside worry for her injuries since everyone onboard was away from some semblance of home in the colonies.
Duncan respected that helping hand and nodded as he motioned for her to follow, "Come along then, we'll help the wounded."
28 August 1774
Caroline scratched the bothersome itchy scab that had formed on her cheek from the leftover cut. She had been meticulous in cleaning the wound to avoid infection and it had scabbed over the week after the attack. The ship had taken losses in the attack and all Caroline knew was that the other ship wanted to steal their goods. Other than that, Duncan revealed nothing about the unexpected attack. Sea life was turbulent enough that the ship could be attacked by Templars or regular pirates so it wasn't hard evading the truth from her. Being new to such a dangerous situation, Caroline had been disappointed in her initial reaction of freezing like a frightened deer but counted herself lucky in surviving. Due to that, she practiced her fighting skills every day in the chance that another attack could happen.
Her help in the aftermath boosted her reputation slightly to prove she wasn't entirely useless. She managed to help splint injuries from sprains or broken bones and clean burns earned from rope burn, remembering how her Aunt Diana cleaned up injured at the mill. Due to Caroline's aid, she wasn't the runt of the litter anymore. Now, she was allowed to follow Little whenever he requested her rather than be yelled at to return to work. This allowed him to continue his teachings on survival at sea and bustling society, which she absorbed like a sponge.
Caroline finished writing her latest journal entry to remember every detail of the day for future recounting. Since boarding the Invincible, she had jotted down accounts of her life and daily dealings to log her journey south of the coastline. It helped her pass her free time besides watching the ocean since post offices were scarce and letters took months for the recipient to receive.
Her fingers flew to the bothersome scab again as it demanded attention as she sat on the top deck. She kept to herself as much as possible to avoid using her voice and allowed her actions to speak louder than words. If someone required help, she'd lend a hand without a peep to maintain anonymity. Being quiet also helped to conceal her identity as well. For the moment, she happily scribbled away while the ship was anchored for a momentary stop while the captain ate lunch, leaving the first mate in charge.
"The more you poke it, the longer it will take to heal" Duncan's accented voice lectured as it interrupted her thoughts and her fingers stopped instantly. Looking behind her, she spotted him standing at the main mast of the ship. How long had he been there? Honestly, she needed to be sharper than this to detect her friend. He watched her shoulders slump as she listened and laughed to tease lightly, "You're better than my siblings, I'll give you that. They still poked scabs afterwards."
Caroline tucked away her journal in a leather knapsack to protect it. With water splashing everything, she had to protect the pages. Duncan ushered her over and she hopped off the crates obediently to approach him. Leaning her weight onto her right hip, she asked with curiosity, "Lesson time again?"
Duncan admitted the young Scotswoman wasn't shabby at learning the same lessons Ratonhnhaké:ton had taught him. Weeks at sea allowed him to glimpse into her personality and way of thought which led him to continuing the secret assessments. If they continued at this pace in the same positive light, he might have her meet Ratonhnhaké:ton when they returned to Boston. Duncan wasn't a teacher but he could lead potential recruits to the one who trained him.
He simply pointed to the top of the main mast where the navigation officer would climb every morning and night to scope their trajectory. Caroline was entirely bewildered to such an idea and pointed to the top as well to verify she wasn't crazy. When Duncan merely cracked a smile, her blue eyes widened to the lack of a bluff.
"You want me to climb the mast? Truly?" she asked with disbelief to the odd request and her hands tightened over the bag. She hadn't climbed anything in years once she wished her childhood years goodbye. Even then, only trees were available for climbing and the mast was larger than any she'd tackled. Back in Davenport, she remembered witnessing Ratonhnhaké:ton jumping through the trees like the wind itself but she'd never attempted it.
Placing her bag in a corner for safekeeping, she turned to him to admit nervously, "A tree is the most I've climbed."
"Think of it as the largest tree then" Duncan replied easily to encourage her to tackle the new venture. He knew Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted every assassin to be capable of climbing great distances, among other attributes. He'd been similar to Caroline when he first learned how to scale walls which is why he empathized with her. If she followed through with his request, it would only serve to maintain his secret training.
Curious but cautious to climbing the massive height, she asked, "What happens if I fall?"
"Make sure you don't, it's a long way down" he answered truthfully to falling accidentally from tall heights. Caroline wasn't amused to that thought and gazed upwards at the top of the main mast where the empty surveying platform stood. She could see the orange-red triangular flag fluttering against the wind at the top of the mast. Duncan pointed to the brown leather gloves she wore and suggested, "If you do, either grab whatever you can to stop it or curl up into a ball to protect your head."
Biting her lower lip, she was unsure of what to do. On one hand, a climb to the top would be a feat that rewarded her with a view and on the other, a potential sentence of physical damage. Duncan reassured her concerns by reminding calmly, "I'll be behind you the whole way to ensure you don't."
Wringing her hands, she shoved aside her nerves since they never accomplished anything for her. Her successes so far had been partly due to casting caution to the wind and following basic instinct. With a nod to her travel partner, she agreed firmly, "Let's do this."
This would be her first climb up the main mast since she was accustomed to working on the smaller one at the bow of the ship. Rips in the sail could throw off one's route and speed so she had to be fast in mending. That was one trait from her mother that never left her in a rough spot, whether it was to sew wounds closed or mend fabric. Duncan followed the young colonist but not before subtly signaling the first mate of the ship to lower the rope ladder over the side of the ship.
Following Caroline up, he noticed she was using the thick rope ladder that the navigation officer climbed. It was an easy way to reach the top but he advised her quickly, "Use the nooks and grooves to your advantage to pull yourself up, don't depend on ladders. Old rope can give way at any moment and you can fall."
"Duncan, that's not lightening the situation" she shot back with a nervous tone as her fingers tightened over the rope. The ladder was the only thing keeping her close to the wooden mast and she wasn't keen of letting it go anytime soon. With it being her first time climbing anything larger than a tree, apprehension bit at her once more.
"It's better to be prepared than die a fool" he pointed out simply with his endless wisdom and Caroline shook her head in amusement.
Uttering a quick prayer that she wouldn't end up with a broken neck, she kept her left hand and foot on the ladder for support. Her opposite hand and foot found crannies in the wood along with using rope that surrounded the mast for supporting the large sails. She wasn't comfortable leaving the ladder for her first try but heeded his advice by learning to use the environment to climb.
The hardest part for her was finding footing with the front of her boot and sustaining enough strength with her hand to pull herself upwards. The physical labor had helped to strengthen her upper body but climbing utilized every muscle in the body if you tackled it like a squirrel. Duncan encouraged his young partner, keeping a safe distance just in case she fell so he could pull her upright again.
Thankfully, the sun wasn't at high noon yet or her eyes would be blurring terribly. The soft wind licked at her face as she kept climbing carefully, ensuring her footing first before heading up. Thinning her lips as she pulled herself up by using a groove in the wooden mast, she called out, "Do you often do this?"
"When the need calls for it" he answered cryptically since he couldn't fully admit he'd learned to scale buildings. This was the first tryout for his companion and would be the easiest before he even thought of allowing her to climb a wall or jump from high altitude towards land. It was out of his field of experience since Ratonhnhaké:ton was his teacher and he was still learning as well.
Halfway up the mast, Caroline's upper body muscles began to ache from the pullups. Nonetheless, the fact that she could see the glittering ocean from every corner like a bird at sea exhilarated her. Sights like this couldn't be achieved at Davenport, despite the gorgeous green landscape of her home. The voices from the crew faded with each step towards the tip of the mast and Caroline thinned her lips with determination to reach it.
Duncan assessed each move for corrections, which he didn't hesitate to call out to ensure her success. Caroline listened without a peep since he was her guide to making it out alive in one piece. Gripping coiled rope around the mast, her fingers latched on and Caroline called back with skepticism, "Does the navigation officer climb up here every sunrise and sunset?"
"They use the ladder but we're doing it more fashionably" Duncan replied since the captain and navigation officer of a ship had to be capable of climbing to the top mast. It was what allowed them the greatest vantage point for strategic attacks and planning routes.
Caroline reminded herself that the sight at the top would be worth the journey. It wasn't easy shoving down the bundle of nerves that surfaced whenever her fingers slipped slightly or her footing couldn't catch a certain groove. Still, she persisted.
"My arms will be sore tomorrow, won't they?" she asked flatly as she wiped her brow against her left arm to clear it of sweat. Not using the rope ladder for most of the climb was becoming painful since she'd never used her body as the pulling weight before. Her mother would be chastising her into the next century if she saw her now. Her father, on the other hand, would be cheering her tenacity.
He didn't lie to her in the slightest as he checked the sturdiness of a rope over his head, "More than likely but your daily duties will make you forget soon enough."
When her eyes caught sight of the viewing platform, her energy renewed for a short period at the prospect of finishing. It was so close! Duncan noticed her movements becoming faster and quickly advised, "Careful on your footing, it's not about how fast you can finish this."
She pouted towards the wooden mast since he was correct in nipping her impulse. One wrong step, especially when this close to the end, could prove fatal. Resuming her old pace, she climbed until the rope ladder came to an end just below the platform. Grasping the wooden circle surrounding the mast, which connected to the platform, Caroline pulled herself upwards with aching shoulder muscles.
"Why did I agree to this?" she groaned painfully as she collapsed onto the wooden platform to sit upright. Her upper body ached from the force used and she quickly massaged her shoulders to let them know it was over. Scooting as close as possible to the mast for safety, she leaned her head back to catch her breath and smiled at seeing the large triangular red flag fluttering in the wind. She'd never seen it so close!
Duncan met her on the platform moments later, his trademark hat still on his head. She didn't know how he managed to always keep that thing on since her kerchief cap was already riding up her forehead. Sitting beside her as she stared out into the sea, he smiled warmly, "Congratulations, you've climbed the top of your first ship."
Caroline chuckled in disbelief to what her mind and body could accomplish, shaking her head. It wasn't something she'd even fathomed to complete but here she was, glancing at the endless horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. Far in the distance, she could see land mass and wondered what colony they were passing by. Her sudden confidence plummeted when Duncan declared with optimism, "Now we can practice every day!"
She needed to recover from the climb first and quickly yelped in shock, "I'm not that eager to meet potential demise, Duncan. Every other day will be fine."
Despite the social reservations placed on women, Caroline had slowly come out of her shell to be direct. In Davenport, she'd treaded carefully on maintaining politeness but after leaving, she'd been free to say whatever was on her mind. Duncan never chastised her words since he'd heard worse from others. She'd yet to utter a cuss but being on a ship with sailors would eventually change that.
Rubbing the scab on her cheek absentmindedly, she smiled widely towards the sea and admitted, "Though this is a grand sight to witness. One moment, she's calm and the next, she's a storm bombarding the ship."
Duncan allowed her time to bask in the scenery, tipping his hat downwards to relax. He'd seen the sea numerous times and didn't carry that innocent wonder that Caroline embodied. She wished she could paint the view or wield an object that could permanently freeze it for her loved ones to see when returned. All she had before her trip were Ratonhnhaké:ton's stories onboard the Aquila but now . . . now she had her own memories.
Not too shabby for a colonist, she thought warmly to her accomplishments since leaving in June.
"Now to head back down" her friend smiled to reveal the next portion of the lesson and she balked. When her friend stood up like a graceful cat to peer out into the ocean, Caroline sulked at feeling her muscles ache. They were already protesting and she didn't even know how she'd climb down. It was one thing to simply gaze at the sky as she ascended but another thing entirely to look down. A sight like that could make anyone dizzy but Duncan reassured, "It's far easier to go down than up."
Caroline hesitated on starting the return trip and the color drained from her face when he suggested, "Or we could simply dive down into the ocean from here. It's considered adventurous for the young ones."
When he simply hopped onto one of the beams that supported the sails below the platform, she balked completely. Was he insane? He'd never seen her look more shocked in his presence, causing him to laugh aloud and called over, "You said you wanted a taste of adventure and reach your potential. Follow me and I'll ensure you attain it."
Caroline's hands shook as she literally stood on the precipice of defeat, hugging the mast as if it were her lifeline. Pressing forward, she could either succeed in pushing past her limitations and potentially get injured or climb down in safe defeat. Taking a deep breath, she sighed under her breath to all the sacrifices she'd made, "This is why you left Davenport, Carrie."
She had abandoned her family, friends, and the man she loved for a taste of adventure. Duncan was now pushing that limit to determine her commitment and it would all be in vain if she ran like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. She did not come this far out into the world to simply give up. . .Burnetts didn't give up!
With that flame of courage in mind, she slid off the platform carefully to plant her feet over the beam. Due to the large mast for the sails, she had a foot in diameter to stabilize her footing which comforted her somewhat. Still, if her balance wasn't great and a sudden wind current flew in . . . that could bode badly for her.
Her hands were sweating from the nerves as her heart hammered away. Since she had to look down to ensure her footing was right, the sight of the crew resembling ants didn't help her poor stomach at all. Closing her eyes for a moment, she inhaled deeply to calm herself but her mind couldn't help but chide if this was all worth leaving everything behind. Before she could silence her mind, Duncan's voice interrupted her rumination, "You're not alone, Grace, I'm here to help you. Take a deep breath, raise your head, and open your eyes."
Following his order, she puffed her chest to draw some courage and opened her eyes. Only Duncan and the clear blue sky greeted her line of vision, providing a brief sense of peace. The assassin opened his arms to demonstrate they'd be just fine and smiled warmly to encourage, "As long as you focus, it will push those worries out of your mind. The more you practice it, the easier it will become second nature to you."
This was the first time Caroline had a teacher apart from Ratonhnhaké:ton that she admired. Learning in the colonies related to arithmetic, proper grammar, and social etiquette- not the life skills she desired. Nodding with acceptance, she managed to muster a voice through her dry throat, "Yes, sir."
He shook his head in amusement to how she shifted him to the respected elder role whenever he taught her a new skill. Otherwise, he was just plain Duncan from Boston. He turned around to continue walking onwards towards the end and Caroline followed with slower footsteps. She didn't have his finesse to practically stroll down the beam as if he were on solid ground but if she could do that one day . . .
Keeping a strict eye on her footing, Caroline eventually made her way to Duncan at the end of the beam. Even though the distance was not long, she was hyperventilating to compensate for her growing anxiety. She had to conquer that fear and as she stood at the top of the highest sail above the sparkling sea, it was a close victory. Trusting Duncan, she managed to admit with a wavering voice, "It's safe to say I'm a bit terrified right now."
"Similar to how your first steps out of Lake Champlain by yourself?" he asked softly to relate both situations to her current goal in life. Despite Caroline hiding her real name and home location, she didn't hide her history and who she was personally. His words struck a chord with her because leaving her home had induced a similar reaction, along with a day's worth of tears.
She didn't want to revert to those old memories after pushing them into a mental safe in her mind. After leaving Davenport, she had shed Caroline Burnett and become Grace Blackburne to survive the rough tumble of the outdoors. Refocusing on her balance as she held her arms out by her sides, she nodded quietly and answered truthfully, "Yes."
"Then it's time to take the next steps, just as you did that day" he proposed calmly as he tucked his hands behind his back. How could he stand so calmly without a care while her heart hammered away? Pausing to gaze at the glittering ocean ahead of them, he added in simply, "Instead of a town, you'll be heading into the sea."
Caroline had done quite a few risky decisions lately to the point that she questioned the sanity of her own mind. Women of her time wouldn't simply leave home for the great outdoors, hop onto a cargo ship, and hover over the ocean with the intention to jump into it? Had her choices in life been selfish? Was there a positive outcome in the end? Without her family to lean on for advice, she couldn't help but ponder aloud with a soft forlorn tone, "But was it the right choice?"
He couldn't dabble in the private life of another and with Caroline being a young woman, she had to find confident footing in their society. He hadn't experienced her life and counseling her like he had numerous others in their time of need, provided more questions to solve, "Only you know that answer, Grace. Would you have been happy staying? To pick duty over your dreams? Would you have been happy or grown to resent your home? Do you prefer being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a ship or the outdoors of Lake Champlain at this moment?"
"I chose the wrong place to become philosophical" she muttered flatly under her breath since he only left her with more questions to solve. Her friend simply offered a sympathetic smile because his answers would always lead to more intrinsic awareness. Still, he did offer choices to put her thoughts into perspective and Caroline was certain that lingering behind would've plummeted her into a depressive mood. Her current journey, despite the dangers and lack of physical glamour, brought her never-ending excitement.
Pointing to the ocean below them, she switched back to their original objective and sighed, "Don't we have an ocean to plunge into?"
"The choice is yours but you've succeeded in not only climbing to the top but meeting me here" Duncan replied with a twinkle in his blue eyes as he gave another indeterminate answer. Caroline resisted a defeated groan since Duncan was the type to open a door but you'd decide whether to walk through it. Although she had her reservations on jumping from such a height, there was a rising peak of excitement to such a feat.
"Well, we won't be anchored for too long and it'd be a shame to take the long way round" Caroline chuckled nervously as she attempted to sound confident. Shoving down the nerves into the pit of her stomach, she clenched her hands into fists and took a deep breath. It was just another task to add to her list of accomplishments and she knew that Duncan wouldn't lead her into death.
The Irishman chuckled to her reasoning before turning away and grasping the front of his hat with his right hand. He deemed it his lucky hat after managing to survive scuffles in the past years and wasn't keen on losing it. With quick short steps, he jumped off the end of the beam and plummeted feet first towards the ocean. Caroline's blue eyes widened to their fullest when her friend grew incredibly tiny from her distance. He'd actually done it!
She couldn't be guilty of letting him go before her and chickening out at the last minute. It wasn't fair as a friend and with that in mind, she cast her concerns to the wind. Taking another worthwhile risky decision, she took the last steps to the edge of the beam and peered down. She'd never seen the blue water from such a high distance in all her years of existence and never imagined herself in such a position. It was a rarity for a woman, for a rural colonist, and one from a humble tight-knit family to gaze at the glittering blue blanket of diamonds below her.
"Here goes nothing."
With that in mind, she took the plunge.
Duncan broke the surface of the water and grinned with success at managing to keep hold of his lucky hat. Stephane told him to get a new one since it had earned a few rips throughout their missions for the Order but Duncan persisted on keeping it. With the hot sun blaring on them all day, the cold water was incredibly refreshing. True, it would take hours to dry his clothes but it was worth it.
Turning towards the Invincible, he noticed that the rope ladder had been dropped down for him as expected. It wasn't uncommon for the sailors to take a swim when they were anchored at sea for an hour but the assassins took their jumping to a higher height than expected. He blamed Ratonhnhaké:ton for starting the tradition onboard the Aquila with the Bostonian assassins.
A loud splash behind him was large enough to let him know he'd been followed. He waited for her to surface as he treaded water and soon enough, the redheaded woman surfaced. The handkerchief serving as a cap floated away at a short distance just as she sputtered in disbelief to her actions. She spit out the salty water from her mouth as she gasped with astonishment to surviving the drop and quickly broke into a proud grin, "I did it!"
Duncan burst into laughter when she raised her hands in joy, inadvertently causing her to sink into the water. Quickly, she treaded water like a disgruntled cat and noticed her auburn strands sticking to her face. She didn't realize her cap had fallen away and raised one hand to brush it over her head, feeling her short wet locks under her fingertips.
Her friend merely picked up the blue kerchief as it managed to float his way. Handing it back to the young woman, Caroline grasped it desperately with thanks before slapping it back onto her head. Droplets of water rained down her fair oval face and she smiled jovially, "Thanks for that little kick in morale, Duncan."
The Irishman nodded amicably to helping her on her path and pointing to the rope ladder, informed her, "Let's climb back onboard before the captain abandons us in these shark-infested waters"
"What?!"
He'd never seen anyone swim so fast towards a ship and his roaring laughter echoed as he called out, "I was joking!. . .That happens further south!"
A/N: Finally finished another degree while working my dream job so I can restart my writing again. I apologize for the long wait so hopefully, the large size of this file will make up for it in tiny bite sized portions. I'm already at work with the next chapter so there won't be a large update gap like the last one. Dipping back into the story, I just want to hug Connor and say 'sorry she had to go, buddy, but we need you to be a big bad hero again'. Thank you for the supportive PM's following up on this story, it has not been abandoned! I feel terrible at not having updated in a year but thank you for sticking with it.
Next Time: New arrivals come to Davenport, Norris takes a fancy towards Myriam, Connor wonders if Achilles is intentionally trying to kill him by sending him into caves to search for treasure, and Duncan and Caroline bond with their newest traveler aboard the Invincible.
Upcoming Chapter Excerpt. . .
Caroline bowed politely to meeting their newest traveler and smiled to introduce herself, "Welcome to the Invincible, m'lady, I'm Ishmael Bartlett."
"Aveline de Grandpre" she replied earnestly as the deckhand's cheerful attitude was rather infectious. She expected to meet two stony-faced or serious individuals, not the jolly easygoing folk in front of her. If it wasn't for their varying accents, she would've thought they were relatives.
Sea trips were never fun, depending on the person, but Caroline's bright blue eyes never dulled with each day that passed. With a new person onboard, not to mention that she was a woman, Caroline didn't feel so alone either.
Duncan could clearly see that excitement as she smiled broadly and ordered gently, "Bartlett, get Miss Grandpre settled in and inform Cole and Jones to pick up this cargo immediately."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Little" she replied eagerly with a salute and proudly led the way up the platform to give their newest companion the tour. Aveline simply glanced between the two with mild amusement before following the young deckhand.
To my last reviewers with inquiries:
East Coast Captain: Caroline definitely has to balance inner strength with femininity, especially at this moment where she's cast it all aside. Essentially, she's removed every part of who she was as she chisels her new self so she doesn't have to hide it once she gains the confidence and respect she seeks. We'll see where her road takes her.
GreenEyedSam: I hope this chapter was to your liking since it's been a long while for an update. I'm really glad you like my story!
The Exiled Azrael: Thank you for enjoying my story, I take pride in ensuring a triple proofread before its posted.
MysticGohan88: I didn't realize how many life events or situations could happen in a year either and it's still early before the American Revolution begins but I needed a lot of substance for the characters. Mainly Caroline since she's Connor's sweetheart. As for Duncan, I would put him around 28 years old or so to match the ten year age gap to Connor. With Caroline being the oldest of her siblings, she needs a big brother to teach her about surviving life. Haytham will make an appearance during the years he had that shaky alliance with Connor so there will be father-son awkwardness when Caroline and other Homesteaders cross paths with them in the city.
Jessegreen99: My mind is also going 'poor Connor, you poor dear' with Caroline leaving town but the girl is stubborn to find her meaning. At some level, we all struggle with that concept in each portion of our life stages so I sympathize with her. They both have very good hearts and aim to protect those they love which is why I see them as the ideal protectors of Davenport. I'm still working on how Caroline will find out about his role in the Assassins and what they are: best case scenario- he tells her before she finds out herself, worst case scenario- Haytham spills the beans to manipulate them.
Thank you to carelise682 and inari of the skies for the reviews too!