Music Inspiration: James Newton Howard- "The Gravel Road"
Revelations
Ratonhnhaké:ton had led Caroline to the second story of Stephane's building for their talk. Although it was the Frenchman's private home, he didn't mind offering to keep their business private and save his remaining beer bottles. Plus, their secret assassin work was best handled upstairs. Caroline felt like a fish out of water because although she was surrounded by friends, the casual atmosphere had shifted by the new revelation. She had no idea what Ratonhnhaké:ton was involved in and it was clear by his silence that it was serious. He was stoic in nature but there was a serious look in his eyes that told her to tread carefully.
As for Ratonhnhaké:ton, he kept running through different scenarios in his mind but failed to find a decent solution. No matter what, he would have to tell her the truth and she was in the right to cut her ties with him. He was afraid to lose her but he was guilty of keeping this part of his life secret from her. He'd had years to confess all of this to her but refused out of a need to protect her, except she'd now involved herself in his life.
This is it, I must do this, he thought with defeat to the next twist in his life and hoped the news wouldn't tear them apart. She had a right to take a swing at him but tears would hurt him more than a strike. Physical pain was nothing compared to emotional turmoil and he wished none of it on her.
Stephane's home was a humble one-bedroom floor plan that combined the dining room with the main parlor. A door at the top of the stairs separated the business from the private home and Ratonhnhaké:ton motioned for Caroline to sit down in the nearest chair. It was clearly a bachelor pad as it lacked a woman's touch and Stephane kept everything simple. He took pride in his cooking which was of no surprise to how clean his dining area was while strewn papers, random knives, and a few soiled rags laid in the parlor. He tilted his head to the side with curiosity to Caroline's hands before asking, "You brought the ale?"
"I figured I might need it" she replied awkwardly to her random decision and shrugged nonchalantly. Her father always did say an ale could either simmer a problem or create a new one entirely. Caroline hoped for the former as the amber liquid enticed her with its bubbles after a long run. Ratonhnhaké:ton moved one of the chairs backwards to sit across from her in his oddly endearing pose and struggled on where to start. Caroline took his silence for deep thought and she began with a soft tone that pleaded, "I know we haven't been at our best recently but please don't lie to me."
"I won't" he answered truthfully to meet her gaze and began the conversation with a soft sigh, "What did Duncan tell you?"
"Nothing, except for you being the leader of their guild that protects civilians" she replied uncertainly with confusion on her face because they were highly skilled for that. She didn't mind helping innocent people either but when had scaling a wall been part of that? Questions now began to filter into mind to their skills and natural evasion with questions, leading her to ask, "Is that right?"
"Somewhat" he hesitated on finding the right answer for her because he often asked himself what was right and wrong. He didn't want to give her false information or romanticize their work because it was downright dangerous. It would send him through shrouded paths and he never knew whether he would reach the end or make a difference. All he could do was give it his best and he met her puzzled eyes to explain carefully, "We belong to the Order of Assassins, a secret group that has existed far longer than our oldest ancestor. I was led to them in my youth after trying to find answers for my mother's death. Achilles is our oldest member and from him, I learned everything that I pass onto my subordinates."
Did she hear right? He was an assassin? As in someone who killed people for a living? Her eyes widened to their fullest but she calmed her rising heartbeat before she jumped to dramatic conclusions. Ratonhnhaké:ton had never struck her as a man of deceit and would give him the benefit of the doubt.
"An assassin? You're an assassin?" she hissed with alarm as she backed away from him slightly to the revelation. Her blue eyes examined him from head to toe as if seeing him under a new light, causing him to avert his gaze with disappointment. She wouldn't view him the same after this and he didn't blame her. Slamming a fist down on the table, she demanded, "What the hell does that mean, Connor?!"
"I would not harm innocents, you've known me for too long to believe that" he insisted to keep his name clean because he only fought against those who raised a hand to him. The Templars were his enemies and he needed her to know that important fact. He didn't want to stain his identity as her oldest friend, knowing his enemies could either kill or indoctrinate her, and whispered, "Please don't doubt me."
"You're telling me to break the image I've had of you for the last six years and fit an entirely different person into it!" she shot back vehemently as her breath hitched to his secret life away from Davenport. Is that what he'd been doing when she asked and he evaded answering her? Had he been out in the countryside extinguishing someone's life? Remembering his confrontation with the Patriots in New York, it only added more pieces to the puzzle. What was his involvement with them? Raising her hand to motion it in a circle before him, she asked swiftly, "What do the Assassins do? Who are you?"
Who are you?, she thought worriedly to who Ratonhnhaké:ton really was and hoped she hadn't made a mistake in following him so loyally. She was aware there were manipulative and charming people who could twist your mind backwards but he'd never struck her like that. She refused to believe that and hoped she hadn't been a fool this whole time.
"I've asked myself that question many times in my life" he admitted bitterly as he traveled between two societies and had yet to reach a decent foothold in both. The Order bridged his worlds as he strived to protect everyone from danger but Achilles had warned him that an assassin's life wasn't a merry one. He didn't want her to live a miserable life one day that was shrouded in danger and deliberated, "The Assassins protect humanity to ensure their free will against the Templar Order, who wishes to subjugate and control humankind. It has been a vicious cycle spanning centuries and I am now a part of it as the Templars seek to use this revolution to instill their goals and end any chance of freedom in the colonies. I cannot stop their entire order but I can stop their plans for conquest here."
Is that whom Duncan had mentioned when she'd asked about their goals? She had seen how they'd trapped Ratonhnhaké:ton in Bridewell Prison to the point of execution and that was enough to label his enemies as dangerous. If they were trying to pin him as an antagonist to the rebellion when he truly wasn't, she couldn't help but ask, "They're loyal to the crown?"
"No, they manipulate the government to their needs" he disagreed to divulge his knowledge to her and let her draw her own conclusions. He wanted to keep her safe in Davenport where she wouldn't have to worry over matters like this. Caroline, however, had never been one to sit in a rocking chair to knit and their worlds had finally clashed together. She listened to him intently as the initial shock wore off and he continued, "This is just another conflict they twist to accomplish their goals. We're only involved because they have crossed the sea to mold the New World to their views and they practically eradicated the assassins shortly before I found what was left of them. I have to protect the safety and freedom of everyone here."
"Why are you involved? You've heard colonial sentiments towards the natives" she whispered softly with concern to what he'd fallen into. She remembered the hushed whispers and looks sent their way when they traveled together as a couple and even now, as friends. Looking for his best interest, she asked firmly, "Are you sure you're not being used?"
"Quite sure, they didn't burn down my village" he answered grimly to the other factor for his antagonism against the group. Although many years had passed since the loss of his mother, those memories didn't fade. He wanted to ensure no other child experienced that pain and would end the Templar threat with the least casualties. Caroline's attentive gaze turned sullen at hearing that revelation and he confided in her, "I told you about my past but what I learned on this journey is that the man responsible for that devastation and my mother's life is a Templar agent. He is the one that pulled the lever to hang me back in New York and I've no doubt we will encounter each other again. My mission is to kill him and rid the colonies and my people of the Templars."
"He's the leader of these Templars?" she asked with disbelief at remembering that man, a supposed leader of the Patriots, and shook her head. Were the people claiming to fight for their independence pawns or traitors? What would a secret group aiming for domination get out of destroying a native village? The more Ratonhnhaké:ton divulged to her, the more questions surfaced. Her brow furrowed at the thought of men with evil deeds infiltrating the militia and asked, "The ones who want to rule us?"
"No, that esteemed rank belongs to my father" he answered tightly to the other conundrum in his life as he maintained his loyalty to the Assassins. His mother hadn't mentioned either groups to him and Achilles was left to break the news to him soon upon arriving. He detested his father for following the Templars and supporting Lee's actions, which is why he tried his best to detach himself from the man. Bitterly, he admitted under his breath, "Who is also not averted to killing me."
His father? He's met his father?, she thought with disbelief to that fact because he'd only admitted that he was a colonist that ran off before his birth. Not only had he been abandoned by his father but he was the leader of this ominous group?! How had he absorbed that truth without enduring an emotional breakdown? His resolve was stronger than she imagined and her heart went out to him in this struggle.
"Oh my- Connor!" she exclaimed with horror to learning that hidden truth and ran a hand over her face to keep a clear head. She took another long drink from her mug to absorb everything. Offering her cup, he surprised her by accepting for the first time and taking a quick sip. He frowned at realizing it wasn't as tasty as everyone claimed it was. Shaking her head with sheer disbelief, she released a long sigh, "I can't believe this."
"I've had six years to accept this and I've barely given you six minutes" he apologized earnestly for unfolding everything to her but it was unavoidable. It was a lot of information to process and he hoped she wouldn't resent him for this. Her eyes closed as she contemplated their years together and filled in the blank spots of wonder about his work with that new information. Her Ratonhnhaké:ton hadn't been a mere hunter and captain but an assassin working in the shadows.
His voice was soft against the silent room as he apologized profusely, "I am sorry for hiding this, I never wanted you involved in this work but your life has been incredibly entwined with mine. With each passing year, you weave yourself closer to my secret work and now, I am left with no choice but to open this world to you."
"So, these two forces clash repeatedly over how humankind should exist?" she asked quietly to piece together the important points of his revelation. Aside from his family's connection to it, both groups fought with their ideals over humanity. If they have been clashing for centuries, what hope did their generation have at ending it? Placing her hands on the table, she created distance between them to emphasize their position as she questioned, "One strives for freedom and the other strips autonomy?"
"Apparently, all the way from the Middle Ages in Europe" he replied quietly with a small sigh to how far the order originated in time. Achilles had been the one to introduce him to the famous mentors, Ezio and Altair, and Ratonhnhaké:ton would do his best to follow their creed. Tapping his fingers on the table, he reminisced on another topic of his order, "There are artifacts that both groups search for that originate from our ancestors, which may not be human. It fuels the domination of one group over another but I have yet to find one. Part of me hopes that I do not."
"You've led this entire group and you never told me?" she whispered dejectedly as his secret life was kept from her for years. If he was being truthful, he'd been part of the order before they had even met in 1770. That was six years of memories that were blurred by lies. She understood his fear of exposure but didn't their years together mean that she was trustworthy? Her chest tightened to feelings inadequacy and distrust, especially after following him so loyally. She never questioned their travels either and that brought forth another inquiry, "Is the Aquila part of it too? Faulkner?"
He crushed her hope that maybe she wasn't the only one stumbling in the dark when he stated, "Yes."
"Were you an assassin when we were together?" she demanded as her voice cracked and she pushed the mug of ale away before it began to affect her. Her need for the truth outweighed her nagging fears as she dug into his life. Had he run off during their courtship to work with this elusive order of his? When he failed to vocalize a response and simply nodded with agreement, she turned away from him to murmur, "I see."
Dipping his head in shame, he could do nothing but offer his condolences to her, "I'm sorry."
Leaning back in the chair, she rested her head backwards to gaze at the wooden ceiling above. Out of all the secret jobs he could've had, she never would've imagined this! Her closest guess would've been security detail for a trade company. Every year, she'd been curious about his secret work and he never disclosed anything. It was a bittersweet moment at finally knowing the truth but now, she had to cope with the heavy weight of it. Quietly, she stated with stunned disbelief, "All this time, you kept this side of yourself from me."
"To protect you from my enemies" he insisted to why he would consider jeopardizing their friendship. She had been by his side and mattered too dearly to risk her in the struggle against the Templars. He wanted to keep his people and community safe but it also pushed him away from them. Releasing a short sigh, he admitted with reluctance, "It is why I left for Philadelphia without you in New York to avoid bringing you further into this life."
"Instead, you allowed me to follow you blindingly?" she demanded heatedly to all the work she'd put into rescuing him and had been none the wiser to the truth. She'd brought her sisters along and they could've been targets to these so-called Templars. It was one thing to risk her life but she wouldn't place her family in danger. Not to mention, their friends! Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him for being deceived and snapped tightly, "You didn't respect me enough to tell me the truth?"
"I feared losing you, whether to the truth or danger" he explained with disappointment and shame in himself, hoping she would sympathize. She had always fought in his corner but lately, they were quarreling with almost every encounter. He begrudgingly admitted that he wasn't the best at interpreting her concerns nowadays and needed to alter his communication methods.
"The more you conceal your life and the dangers it places on mine, you will" she advised solemnly to where he would lead them if he kept up further deceptions. She held him in high regard but this struck a dent in their shield of trust, upsetting her for being gullible. Why hadn't she been more assertive in finding out his secret jobs? Placing a hand over her aching chest, she pointed out firmly, "I am your navigator and friend, I expect the same respect and confidence I place in you. Otherwise, you're no better than the shady captains at the docks."
"Caroline-" he objected to being deemed in that shameful category but when her gaze intensified, relented into silence. He had no leg to stand on in that debate and chose to concede the point to her.
"Thank you for finally telling me the truth and I will tell no other souls about it" she promised quietly to protect his privacy and to prevent bringing any danger her way. This secret was larger than simply both and she would not jeopardize lives with that secret. Standing up from her chair, she grabbed her mug with the right hand and raised her left to state without hesitation, "I respectfully decline to join you. I will see myself out."
He cared more about their fragmented friendship than adding another assassin, blurting with regret, "I never meant to hurt you-"
"I believe you, I do, but I need to process this wall of information as well" she interrupted with a halfhearted smile as she gave him the benefit of the doubt. This was his first true hiccup on their road of friendship, apart from the Clara debacle, and she'd had her say on the matter. Time was warranted to process what she'd learned and she assured him, "I will see you back in Davenport."
Caroline exited the room but not before grasping his shoulder to offer a gentle squeeze. She understood why he would join such a group after enduring the loss of his mother and he was a natural protector. Apart from that, she wasn't certain whether she was willing to risk her life fighting for a mysterious group. Her family came first and knowing she'd unknowingly placed them in danger cautioned her against being careless next time.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was left to himself in the unbearable silence, dropping his head into his hands. Confessing hadn't gone to his worst-case scenario with her yelling at him with fury but the crestfallen disappointment on her face wasn't any better. She'd listened to him to the very end but her response wasn't filling him with hope that she'd jump onboard to his lifestyle. If anything, he worried that she'd abandon ship and he'd lose his navigator.
Descending the staircase, Caroline returned to the first floor to silence that was quickly broken into nonchalant whistles. Stephane pretended to make noise by tapping his drinking mugs and singing a random French song. They were not as covert as they tried to appear, amusing her slightly as to whether it was intentional. Assassins were meant to be crafty, right? Dropping off her mug on the counter, she nodded to the chef and spoke softly, "Thank you for the drink."
"Thank you for being his friend, he needs good comrades in his corner" Stephane complimented the redhead's determination for her work in New York. He had expected a naïve uneducated farmer in men's clothing until he heard her speak quite articulately and Duncan vouched for her fighting skills. A tame woman on the Aquila wouldn't suffice either so he agreed with his leader adding another protégé.
Caroline remained quiet as she watched the three men with a different light. Duncan caught the uncertain glint in her eyes and he reassured her trepidation with a friendly smile, "If you've any questions, feel free to ask any of us. We don't mean to scare you away."
"I think I'm good for now" she spoke slowly as she tried to think of anything that that struck curiosity. Nope, Ratonhnhaké:ton had given her more than enough to dwell on. Nodding quickly, she returned a faint smile and excused herself politely, "Have a good day."
"Goodbye, Miss Burnett" Clipper called out cheerfully to show that they weren't evil doers and a rather friendly bunch. Caroline gave them a point for approachability and for a secret group, they were rather friendly instead of standoffish. Her quick turnaround took a nosedive when the rifleman piped up, "Send my regards to Miss Elizabeth."
Caroline's shoulders tensed for a moment to hearing her sister mentioned and promptly shut the door behind her. Leaving the restaurant, the three assassins made sure the redhead left the coast clear before ascending the staircase. Ratonhnhaké:ton was jerked out of his reverie to a ruckus of steps that sounded more like a stampede of hooves heading his way.
He'd barely turned to the door when Stephane burst it open and opened his arms to ask boisterously, "Well?"
"What?" the assassin replied stoically because he had no idea what the Frenchman wanted.
"Did she join?" all three of his assassins exclaimed in unison to determine whether they should celebrate or sulk.
Wait, that's why they practically ran up the stairs? How long had they known about Caroline before he had? Pinching his nose to stave off a headache, he muttered with loathing, "No, I can't determine whether she's mad or disappointed in me."
"Did she throw anything at you?" Stephane asked helpfully because that was a clear sign that a conversation was heading south.
"No" he disagreed quickly because she hadn't even raised a hand at him for lying. She was a respectable woman that he'd deceived and he deserved whatever verdict she decided on for him. Was no physical harm a better reaction than none?
Clipper prowled around the parlor to search for any new messes that Stephane hadn't made. Nothing was out of place and he knocked on the table to declare chirpily, "Looks clean to me."
"You might be looking at the second option then" Duncan suggested to cheer up the young man from his funk as Ratonhnhaké:ton frowned at the floor. He'd seen a variety of heartbroken faces and his friend was clearly sliding into one. At least, as much as a quiet private man like him could.
Clipper looked between his two companions to stir some ideas of how to help and asked them with wonder, "I don't think we're equipped to help with matters of the heart. . ." pausing, his eyes lit up, "Or are we?"
"No, no, we're not" Duncan swiftly diffused his premature brainstorm because he was still traumatized by the fake beard idea. He didn't want Ratonhnhaké:ton to bear another embarrassment when Caroline had him on thin ice. They were there to offer their support, not meddle, and pointed out flatly, "We're liable to make it worse."
"I can bring flowers and cake to Davenport-" Clipper offered helpfully to bring the two back together because he didn't mind travel at all. The more he was able to explore around the wild frontier, the better! Plus, he could finally see Davenport and determine whether the blankets of flowers over the meadows claim was true.
"No, Clip" Stephane cut in to dash his dreams of adventure before the poor boy ended with a black eye. Even though Clipper and Ratonhnhaké:ton were the same age as Caroline, she could tackle the former for being bold. He was treading too closely with his innocent curiosity of her sister and advised bluntly, "She won't attack Connor but she might kick your ass."
He blinked rapidly to being attacked for his good nature and threw up his arms to exclaim helplessly, "What did I do?!"
"Stop mentioning her sister!" both men yelled in unison to drill the matter into his head and avoid further awkward interactions with the redhead. Ever since their trip from New York, the rifleman wanted to see Davenport and meet up with Elizabeth. Duncan figured the young man was starved of female attention and had found it humorous until Caroline started glaring at him.
"Her hair is so red!" Clipper blurted with awe to the intensity of the hue shared by the Burnett sisters. There was no question that Caroline would kick him through the nearest wall if he dared to touch it out of curiosity but Elizabeth was approachable. Oddly enough, he heard the opposite.
"There's plenty of redheads in town, we're a shilling for a dozen" Duncan pointed out with exasperation for whom Clipper had decided to take an interest in. Even he took careful measures in showing he only held friendship when it came to Caroline because Ratonhnhaké:ton watched her like a hawk. If the young assassin wanted to court a redhead, he'd take him browsing through the marketplace. Wagging a finger at his face, he lectured him like an older brother to emphasize, "Don't fall for Connor's potential girlfriend's sister!"
"I'm still sitting right here" Ratonhnhaké:ton muttered flatly because he hadn't moved from his spot at all. Did his assassins not realize this while they spoke openly? Or had they reached a camaraderie where they joked around?
The three men winced with embarrassment at that revelation and Duncan chuckled awkwardly to admit, "Sorry, you become invisible when you don't talk. . .which is often."
28 August 1776
Caroline had returned home with a whole new outlook of her life, eerily similar to how she'd returned last year. Instead of having the blanket of protection removed from her eyes this time, she lost her rock against the storms and was left in the middle of a figurative ocean to sort out the truth. Ratonhnhaké:ton had been her beacon for honesty and justice but he'd deceived her about his life. She'd held his hands with affection and those same fingers likely ended numerous lives over the years without her knowing.
The quiet evening brought the gentle songs of crickets and chittering bugs while the soft rush of the river below echoed in the air. Amelia sat on the log bench as she worked on her stitching, the illumination from the windowsill lanterns bathing the porch in a yellow glow. Caroline slipped out of her flat shoes to feel the bare grass between her toes, glad to be free from the leather confines for a few moments. She couldn't do this in Boston without appearing immodest and smiled with delight for the opportunity. Home was simply the best for her!
"Bugs wander around there, you know" Amelia called out sweetly to remind her sister that the darkness hid critters. As children, they rolled around the grass without a care but adulthood deemed shoes as mandatory for ladies.
"I've faced worse" her sister dismissed carelessly as the cool blades tickled her toes and she twirled in emphasis. Today had been her day off at the mill so sporting a simple green dress to help her mother with the daily chores was a must. Her hair, however, was wildly free as it swayed behind her back.
Amelia shook her head quietly to her rebellious nature and chided gently, "You've been awfully quiet since you came back from Boston."
"I discovered something I'm still coming to terms with" she admitted faintly to keep vague on the subject to protect Ratonhnhaké:ton. It wasn't her place to blurt his secrets and something this serious could harm her family. Her siblings admired him and her parents respected him, shattering his image with one of elusive secrecy was not right.
"Is it about Connor? You two haven't spoken lately" Amelia brought up gingerly to gauge her sister's reaction to his name. Caroline had carried a torch for him that could've rivaled the sun and she really believed the two were meant for each other despite the drawbacks and conflicts. Her older sister refused to say what had transpired between them but she remembered Ratonhnhaké:ton arriving at the house the day after that fancy party to speak with her but Caroline had left to be at Myriam's all day. When she'd returned home, Caroline dismissed his visit and had continued with her chores without batting an eye. It was a serious change to her previous reaction of joy but after that, Caroline never mentioned him nor did she ask about him if someone said his name in conversation.
Caroline shook her head to dismiss him again and crossed her arms to state coolly, "No."
Rubbing her arms as she felt his loss in her heart, as both her friend and lover, her voice wavered, "My heart has been trampled enough and I've come to the decision that it's time to move forward. What we had, what I thought we had, is nothing but a memory in the wind and I can't catch it. I tried, Amelia, I really did but, in the end. . .it was too much to bear."
A trickle of happiness was better than none and that's what she had at home and traveling for business in Boston. Amelia sighed softly since her sister kept her emotions concealed well and Caroline closed her eyes to whisper with defeat, "I want to be happy and if that road leads me away from here, so be it. It seems every week my life is tumbling all over the place and I have to cope with the horrid aftermath."
The younger Burnett paused in her embroidery on a pillow to ask worriedly, "Nothing illegal, I hope?"
"Not out here" she assured quickly with an awkward laugh before trailing further down the hill to mutter under her breath, "I hope."
"What?" Amelia called out because it was clear her sister was slowly evading her with distance. She knew in a physical chase outdoors, she'd lose horribly so communication was her best shot at getting her to open up.
"Nothing!" Caroline blurted as her arms waved in the air and she ran circles over their yard. This would be her tactic to confuse Amelia and drop the matter, creating more physical distance between them. She stood proudly with her arms raised to the sky when her home barely peeked over the hill and Amelia's call were faint.
The cold breeze of the night broke goosebumps over her skin and she rubbed her bare arms with a smile. This was a true careless joy in the world for her and she enjoyed every free minute of it. That thought led her to wonder if that was what Ratonhnhaké:ton's guild sought? He was a free spirit, untamed in nature and a force to be reckoned with. It was why he drew her respect and his humble heart lured hers to its knees.
He still lied all these years, she reminded herself forcefully about his deception and sighed under her breath. All of her admiration for him crashed down when that single well-kept secret surfaced and she didn't know what to do. Yelling at him would accomplish nothing and ignoring him would only fracture them further. Still, she couldn't sit around without acting on something that could affect her one day.
There is a valid reason for the secret, he was in this order before we met, her mind also pointed out to provide a different point of view to his tale. She was trying her best to see this matter from all angles but without Ratonhnhaké:ton present, she couldn't determine the truth. Obtaining his time, however, would likely send her into another flurry of emotions that could cloud her judgement as well.
"I'm screwed no matter what" she groaned miserably to her sudden luck and wished to high heavens that their guild trained message carrier pigeons instead. That would've been an easy pass for her on a secret life but no, the man executed people! He ended lives and she didn't know whether she could accept that.
Don't be a hypocrite, I've done the same, she snapped at herself because being a sailor led her to fighting others. She'd stabbed and shot individuals for trying to bring down their ship or rob them so who was she to say they were the good guys? What if they'd stolen cargo that had been someone else's? What if she killed someone's father or sibling who had no other choice in life? Grasping the sides of her head, she sighed aloud with woe, "Now I'm just confusing myself."
Her rampant thoughts were stopped by a rabble of giddy laughter and Caroline realized she'd unknowingly wandered to the bottom of the hill. The white picket fence was a short distance away and she froze when she spotted Martha and Walter heading her way. Her little sister held onto his arm while the two wore humble attire on their outing together. Martha had ditched her ideas of high fashion and kept to propriety, finding herself comfortable in simple dresses that she embroidered herself. Fancy clothes or not, her sister was radiant as her fair skin contrasted against her dark hair and Caroline was proud to see her happy.
Their parents were expecting the two to return from their walk around the main road and Godfrey had set out eyes in his neighbors to ensure no funny business. Walter had finally gained the confidence to ignore his eldest sister and had come to the Burnett homestead to ask the patriarch to court his third eldest. Godfrey had sooner expected Ratonhnhaké:ton on his doorstep but with Walter being Oliver's grandson, he gave his consent and his rules of conduct. Caroline had been away for the incident but Elizabeth informed her that Catherine hadn't hesitated to emphasize Charlotte's location on the mantle. Now she could see why Ratonhnhaké:ton had been nervous all those years ago.
She hoped the budding couple would complement each other and like all traditional courtships, end in marriage. The issue for her sister would be the fact that he was from out of town and whether he was willing to stay or would convince her to move. After all, they lived in a patriarchal society and her sister was curious about the cities. It was only natural for the two to marry and move out to a place of greater opportunity to raise a family.
Realizing that the two were inbound her way, Caroline darted away from the fence to avoid crashing into their date. She didn't want to bring anyone embarrassment and scaring them was not her plan. The problem was that they would see her running uphill and that would send wrongful message of spying. Running past them like her skirt was on fire was a no so she did the next best thing- head in the opposite direction.
Grass crunched under her feet as she ran at full speed with her skirt in her hands to prevent tripping over it. By the heavens, how she wished she was wearing trousers. They wouldn't slow her down as much as she headed down to the river to conceal herself under the night sky. The flower bushes weren't much help to her when she had to climb the picket fence and she growled under her breath when she hitched one leg over the fence and her skirt caught on the branches.
Stuck on top of the fence, she placed her right foot on one of the wooden planks before sharply yanking her green skirt from the bush. A rip echoed in the air but she tore herself free to throw her left leg over and she jumped off the fence to scurry further downstream. The gentle slope to the river greeted her and she ran at full speed as her feet picked up half-caked mud.
The excitement of escaping detection from her sister brought a wide smile to her face as her heart pounded like a drum against her chest. She wasn't escaping an enemy or stranger but running for fun in the outdoors like a wild child all over again. Her breath hitched to escaping her life and she thought, This is exhilarating! I forgot how much I missed-
"Caroline!"
She jumped back with a frightened yelp as she avoided colliding straight into Ratonhnhaké:ton. It appeared the young man was also traveling under the shroud of night as he carried his bow in hand, leaving her curious to his wanderings. His brown eyes examined her from head to toe as if she were a stranger but a tussle with a flower bush could do that to you.
"Connor!" she called out with surprise as she picked up a dust trail with her sudden stop. He was the last person she expected to encounter by her home and her heart skipped a beat as it surged into nervous territory. She hadn't seen him since his revelation and had no idea on where to begin a conversation with him.
He beat her to starting one as he glanced down at her bare legs and asked with awkwardness, "Where are your shoes?"
The moonlight illuminated enough for her to see that mud had caked her ankles and left her with brown feet. Her skirt had also ripped on the side so she'd spend one of her days sewing the damage to her working dress. Hopefully, she could do it fast before her mother caught onto her accident.
"Back on the hill" she answered sheepishly to her wayward plan and released her skirt to cover her muddy feet. She wasn't vain with her appearance but there was a minimum in effort to her style and that bar had been hurled out the window. Clean and graceful was not on the menu that night as she appeared more like a wild woman than anything else. Nervously combing her hair with her fingers, she tried to play off her snafu and reasoned with a short laugh, "Martha's on her first date and I didn't want to frighten them on their way up. I mean, look at me."
She hoped to high heavens that he wouldn't dignify that with an actual response. Otherwise, her femininity would hold its funeral. Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, found her shabby appearance rather cute because it reminded him of their youth. Of happier times. He wouldn't strike down her lack of confidence and took a neutral stance by stating smoothly, "That only brings forth more questions."
"You and me both" she muttered dismally to her rotten luck and shook her head. Her humiliation would be a hopeful success for her sibling so she'd take solace in that. Otherwise, she had nothing to lick her figurative wounds with.
"I would offer a stroll down the river path but you're barefoot" he suggested tentatively to break the ice that had formed between them earlier that month. He missed her company, especially now that he was home and the Templars were laying low. His life was unpredictable but she had always been a constant and he desperately desired to regain that lost ground. He held out his right hand in the hope that she'd accept and spoke gently, "At least to give us a chance to talk."
"I can't" she declined but hesitation lingered into her voice as her eyes focused on his outstretched hand. She wanted to grip it and tug him close to her to forget everything that had happened that month. Their Clara fight. The Assassins. All of it. Unfortunately, she couldn't live in ignorance and her voice shook as she explained weakly, "I have another early day to Boston with Patrick and my boban."
It was true, however. The weekend was upon them and they had to make their quick trip to Boston and check on the store. She and Patrick had to prepare their travel meals and outgoing inventory while her father focused on the horses and wagon. There was no question that she needed a bath before bed so heating up water for the wooden tub would take time as well. Her mind was finding reasons to retreat from interacting with him and she found herself ashamed. He had been the one to stir butterflies in her stomach and make her heart soar but now, she was nervous around him. She was still coming to terms with what happened but there would be a day when she had to face it.
"Please don't push me aside" he whispered softly with lament as he saw her slowly retreating from him. He wasn't a dangerous man to her and wished they could sit down so he could explain himself further. She had always trusted him and to see that uncertain glimmer in her eyes wounded him. Hearing another man's name from her lips also broke another piece of his heart. Was he losing her to this colonist? Lowering his hand to his side, he took a deep breath to control his own swirling emotions as he inquired, "What can I do to fix this?"
"Give me time" she proposed softly to the only option she saw as viable for them and he nodded quietly. She had granted him that last year when she'd returned and this time, it appeared the tables were turned.
Nodding quietly with farewell, he continued his path south with silent footsteps while Caroline released a shaky breath. She didn't want to refuse his offer but her mind was a pot of swirling thoughts about the new Ratonhnhaké:ton.
This isn't us but I have to reach him halfway, she thought miserably to the tension shared between them from that single conversation. There was no more relaxed or sheepish ambience in the air as the truth stabbed it into painful confetti.
10 September 1776
Ratonhnhaké:ton had taken a day for himself to work in the horse stables and relieve some of his stress. Working with his rehabilitation farmstead brought him a peace of mind akin to isolating himself in the forest to craft his arrows. While he'd been away, he left their care in Elizabeth's hands who had quickly picked up the work without hesitation. Not one to take advantage of someone's dedication and good will, he had begun paying her for the hours. Similar to Caroline at that age, she'd beamed proudly to having her first pay and never failed to show for work.
The redhead was happily brushing the coat of a gray mare that had recently been brought in. She allowed Brave and Sophia to venture in the enclosed pastures of the rehab horses to increase their socialization. Many had either been abandoned or neglected so she wanted to show them that they were in a better place with caring people. Their personal horses were also a friendly bunch which allowed the shy ones to slowly return to their instincts now that they were in the rural outdoors.
"I notice you haven't talked to Carrie since the party" she spoke up nonchalantly as she cleaned her bristle brush with soap and water from a bucket. The body was the hardest part and she left brushing the mane and tail for last, enjoying the silky hair of the horses.
She was a fly on the wall with gossip, similar to Martha, and the two had collaborated on keeping tabs on the two. The brunette had heard nothing from either or their friends while the redhead remembered coming home from the party to find her sister asleep in bed. Caroline refused to acknowledge the party after that and rarely batted an eye when Ratonhnhaké:ton's name was mentioned. That wasn't the lovestruck sister she was used to so something had to have happened last month.
"We've had our talks elsewhere" he explained subtly to keep the growing conflicts between them private. At first, his concern had been mending her skewed view of Clara and himself. Unfortunately, he'd had little luck in luring her back to the Aquila and their next interaction shattered their already shaky ground. Now, he had to justify why he kept his job as an assassin secret and why he had no romantic interests in Clara!
His life was never a dull moment and he absolutely hated the lack of peace in it. Davenport was meant to be his refuge but it had also become a place that set him on edge nowadays. His interactions with Caroline had become rocky as they verged on the brink of breaking apart but he was holding onto the edge. He'd tried his best to seek her out multiple times but she concealed herself well in the large forest and he experienced that feeling of being discarded once again. He didn't want to be abandoned by her and wasn't ready to accept that possibility.
"Really? Because you're never around when she's here" she giggled impishly because the two behaved like magnets that rejected each other. Years ago, they had been inseparable like barnacles on a hull. Shaking her wet brush, she laid it down on its wooden handle to let it dry under the sun. Shaping her forefingers into circles, she imitated glasses over her eyes and grinned widely, "But I'm here and I see everything!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton decided to tease her and simultaneously shift the topic elsewhere by stating with veiled amusement, "I've noticed a rifleman friend of mine keeps asking about Davenport and a certain redhead."
He wiped his hands clean on his breeches as hay stuck to his dry hands, subduing a sneeze that tickled his nose. The hay and feed for his horses had arrived as scheduled and he was quick to get the job done before it piled onto the rest on his plate. Fall would roll in soon enough and he had to check the manor for any repairs to prepare it for winter.
Elizabeth scoffed indignantly about the young man because she found the outdoorsman in him interesting. Their life appeared to be one of adventure and mystery as they survived in the bleakest of environments. It called to her but being a young woman and unprepared, she could only dream. When he'd told her adventurous tales west of Massachusetts, she was intrigued.
"Aw shucks, he seems neat" she dismissed casually because Martha was the one batting her eyes at men, not her. Besides, she wasn't the feminine type either and most bachelors preferred a fresh rosy face and clean hair with hands ready to cook. She was lucky to brush her hair that morning and find a clean dress to wear for her daily wanderings. That wasn't to say her hygiene was horrible but she didn't stress her appearance. Shaking her shoulders, she reminded him with a peppy smile, "Plus, any friends of yours are good in my book."
Leaning down to grab her satchel of grooming tools, she pulled out a wooden comb and began to work gently on any knots in the mane. The mare nudged her head closer to hers affectionately and she smiled to say aloud, "It's not my place to butt in but my sister loves you in that weird mushy way married people feel."
Ratonhnhaké:ton leaned against the wooden fencing to cross his arms, allowing a warm smile to cross his lips. For the moment, Elizabeth was his closest tie to Caroline's inner world and his heart skipped happily to hear that. He didn't want to be pushed aside after six years of friendship and repeated her strange jargon to tease, "Weird mushy way?"
"Shut up, it's the best I could do!" Elizabeth protested innocently because she wasn't a master with words like Amelia. She was lucky to finish her basic schooling and grasp how to read; that was good enough in her book. Her passion lay in the outdoors and she highly doubted that would ever change. Her friend, despite his humble appearance, was sharper than most so she didn't hesitate to point out, "I know you're keen on Clara-"
"I'm not interested in Clara" he interjected hastily with a sigh and wondered why everyone believed that misconception. Had they placed a large sign somewhere in Davenport for all to read? He had no attraction to her whatsoever!
Her blue eyes narrowed with skeptic disbelief to his claim and she stopped brushing the horse to demand, "You're not?"
"No" he answered honestly and wished someone would listen to him for once instead of jumping to conclusions. Who had even started this rumor? The redhead scrutinized his expression as she placed her hands on her hips, silently telling him not to lie to her. She was far too similar to Caroline and he confessed privately, "My heart belongs to your sister, it always has."
Elizabeth paused for a moment to accept what she'd just heard because he rarely uttered anything emotional. Even the mare's nose nudging her shoulder did nothing to snap her out of it. Was it true? Was her sister walking around oblivious to the truth? How had they not spoken about this yet? Blinking rapidly to the news, she exploded with astonished exclamation, "Why haven't you told Carrie that?!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't a blabbermouth with every emotional inclination and began, "I-"
"Eliza!"
The teenage redhead grinned broadly when she spotted her eldest sister approaching them. Perfect timing! As much as she hated blatant romance, her sister and friend deserved to be together again. After waiting over a year, Elizabeth was more than willing to meddle on their behalf. She bounded up to her sister to grasp her left arm to boast cheerfully, "Carrie, great news-"
"Oh, you're both here" her sister murmured quietly as she spotted Ratonhnhaké:ton by the wooden fence of the stables. She'd entered through the rear of the stables due to her sister telling her it was cleaning duty that day. She hadn't expected to find him outside the manor but despite her conflicting feelings, she did need to see him at some point. Her appearance wasn't the best after leaving the mill for lunch but would a few wood chips in her hair, dust patches on her trousers, and sweat on her brow terrify anyone? Clearing her throat, she offered a friendly smile to the man and said, "That makes it easier."
She dug into her trouser pocket to fetch money to hand over to Elizabeth, who released her arm to grab it with surprise. Before she could ask about it, Caroline explained easily with a shrug, "This is my donation for the month-"
"Caroline" Ratonhnhaké:ton objected to her continuous funding to his projects around Davenport. Wasn't the point of her jobs in sailing and the mill to support her independence? He didn't want to deter her own personal dreams but Caroline quickly wagged a finger at him.
"I believe in your work, it's grown rather well" she reminded in rebuttal to the successes around town because he'd chiseled a thriving community. He had set up trade wagons and ships, recreation areas, the horse center, and his newest plan was to build a school. Despite their problems, she believed in him and hoped nobody would take advantage of his benevolent heart.
Wringing her hands, she mulled over the next topic because it would place her in the center of his secret life. They shared acquaintances and as a friend, she couldn't ignore assisting them. Wary on how to tread the new road he'd opened for her, she met his gaze and gently asked, "Aside from that, I do need to speak with you if you can spare the time?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton perked up immediately to her request and nodded to agree, "Of course."
He would seize any kind of contact with her, even if it left him in the wrong. She didn't appear upset at all so he'd take that as a positive sign. Otherwise, he was doomed from the start. Elizabeth quickly pocketed her sister's money to add it to the rehab fund and began to wave her arms for attention before they left. She was sitting on a gold mine ready to explode and it was up to her to bring it to light. Caroline turned to her frantic movements with a raised eyebrow and asked hesitantly, "Do you have ants in the pants again?"
What?!
"No!" she exclaimed with burning cheeks to that question and quickly smacked Caroline's left side for the jab. It had happened one time only last summer when she unknowingly sat on an ant hill and the incident was never lived down.
When the two walked off to speak in privacy without a single glance back, she muttered sarcastically, "Boy, these two are dense with all business and no play."
Caroline headed straight back into the stables while they were empty to keep out of Elizabeth's hearing. She didn't want her family discovering the truth about him anytime soon until she grasped it herself. Ratonhnhaké:ton stood by one of the open stalls while he watched her pace in small circles. Before he could intervene, she handed a small envelope to him, who glanced at her with confusion before opening it.
"This doesn't mean I agree with what you've done but our lives will overlap" she explained hastily as he unfolded the letter to begin reading it with curiosity. The sender addressed it to her but the cursive writing was familiar to his eyes. Caroline knew she was likely stepping deeper into his world and took a deep breathe before explaining, "My friend in the south requires our aid to protect a ship named the Belladonna that is allied with the Patriots. She's asked for your help, seeing as the Aquila is quite stealthy."
That's not all, he thought cryptically as he kept pulling her into missions that were related to the order.
Aveline de Grandpré, a fellow assassin, had sent him a similar letter days ago and he wondered just how the two knew each other. Seeing her name at the closing of the letter only verified his suspicion. How did Caroline keep involving herself with the assassins yet had known nothing about them? He didn't want to blind her to the truth anymore and would keep an honest path with her. Otherwise, he would lose her completely.
"I'm assuming she's an assassin because she mentioned you and Achilles specifically" she stated grimly because she had been introduced to her by Duncan. The two had either explored together in town or gone off in separate directions while she was left to observe their interactions or been given a different assignment onboard the ship. She had only learned that summer that Duncan and Ratonhnhaké:ton were acquaintances and now, she'd received this letter after only mentioning the Aquila once in her letters to Aveline. It was too much of a coincidence for her.
"Yes" he admitted simply to avoid further problems and rubbed the left side of his neck as he felt tension building in his body. He never wanted to involve her in this business but she had returned, not with questions but a request.
"Can you help?" she asked warily, hoping their previous blowups wouldn't hinder her success. She didn't want to hurt the work of the Patriots and if his order was truly serving freedom, they would be inclined to assist.
He was taken aback by the question because he expected more of a fight from her. Instead, she was volunteering for this mission without knowing much except it was for the Patriots. Was she simply brave or choosing to ignore his work? He didn't want to leave the conversation without clearing up facts and leaving questions in the air, asking firmly, "You are willing to join me onboard? To head south to where not only Loyalists are but Templars?"
"I should be able to decide for myself by seeing this struggle firsthand, no?" she asked matter-of-factly to discover the truth with her own eyes. Everyone's point of view was different and although she and Ratonhnhaké:ton saw the world similarly, either could miss something important. It was the tiniest errors that could cause the worst slipups and she aimed to avoid that. Squaring her shoulders, she met his gaze firmly and emphasized, "It will also give us time to talk about this Assassin life of yours."
Achilles will kill me and my father will laugh maniacally if she becomes a Templar to spite me, he thought with dismay to that horrendous possibility and wanted to smack his head against one of the stable beams. He highly doubted it would happen but Caroline was shrewdly adaptable in life. She'd already tricked him once in the southern colonies dressed as a sailor so she was cunning.
"Let's go" he agreed to another voyage at sea and felt some relief when she smiled in return. She loved the sea and their time sailing over calm waters took away the stress from their lives. Hopefully, the ocean would bind them rather than tear them apart.
Nervous and eager to depart on her first trip since their blowup, Caroline turned to head back south to her home. Elizabeth saw their darting shadows as her sister ran off and Ratonhnhaké:ton began to head to the manor. Quickly, she called out with insult to being left behind on her own, "Oi! You two aren't leaving me here to restock the stable alone, are ye?!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton halted instantly with embarrassment at forgetting the little redhead. In his haste to reunite with Caroline, he'd abandoned his other work completely. She knew how to twist his head around with a simple smile. Glancing back at the pouting Elizabeth, he smiled sincerely and offered a compromise to appease her, "I will pay you triple and have the Mile's End charge your meals to my tab."
"Sold!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton had never been happier to the prospect of sailing until that day. True, his request for aid could backfire if Caroline didn't find what she sought. However, simply having time together onboard could allow him to mend the rift between them before their friendship crashed upon rocks. He was accustomed to leaving earlier in the morning for trips heading south but he didn't want to procrastinate on a mission. The late afternoon was just as fine and he was assured that his crew had eaten at the Mile's End before arriving to prepare the ship for departure.
He was on the docks heading for the Aquila when he spotted Caroline in her sailing attire on the main deck. Her auburn hair shined under the sun as she braided it neatly and her uniform was freshly ironed to keep her polished appearance. His heart warmed to see her as she smiled at their crew to explain her recent absence and heard Faulkner's hearty laugh echo through the cove. Maybe. . .maybe it would all work out-
"No ladies onboard the Aquila, ma'am" Robert's voice boomed above him to break Ratonhnhaké:ton out of his thoughts. Quickly, he turned around and his eyes widened in alarm at finding Clara of all people on the dock. How had she found him? Not to mention, had she walked from the inn wearing the bell-shaped gray dress and heels? Hadn't she complained repeatedly about traveling on foot?
Before he could ask, her pink lips broke into a pearly smile as she closed the distance between them. immediately, his posture tensed as his personal space was broken into. The nonverbal pleasantries didn't last when she pointed to Caroline on the deck and questioned sharply, "What about her?"
The redhead feigned ignorance to the new development but she was eager to see this play out, climbing with ease to the first lookout post. Being onboard the Aquila with her cohort, she felt she had a greater advantage against Clara's tactics. She wasn't itching to fight her for Ratonhnhaké:ton's attention because that fight had been relinquished last month. Now, as for the Aquila, that was her domain and she'd strike down anyone that threatened her position.
Robert was reminded of a harpy as the young woman stared him down from below and he wondered why she was determined to get the redhead off the ship. As the first mate, he wasn't having any of that and stated matter-of-factly, "She's our navigator."
Clara was skeptical of that and snapped confidently to challenge, "If she can be onboard, so can I."
The first mate wasn't keen on her brash attitude and decided to fight fire with fire. Caroline watched from above with curiosity as her superior leaned over the side of the ship to call out, "Great, can you lift cargo?"
"No!" she refused with a wrinkled nose to the possibility of hard labor in her good clothes. Why would she want to do that when she could have others do it? Isn't that why men had their brawn while women held beauty? That was the standard for success.
"Cook?" he suggested to one of the skills women of their time were taught. They were meant to look after a home and children while men worked to support the household. As sailors, their ship cook handled all of the prep work for feeding the entire crew but Caroline sneaked her hand in with her mother's recipes.
Robert went nowhere with his questionnaire when she scoffed disdainfully and crossed her arms to gloat, "Others cook for me."
"Work with sails?" he offered the next line of work for a sailor because each officer had gone through the training. What was the point of being called a sailor if you couldn't handle one? They had all received rope burns in their early years of sailing so he offered the most basic of work.
"No!" she shot back because climbing a wooden post was insane and handling heavy canvas was even more so. What respectable woman in her right mind would do such work? Were they trying to kill her? Maybe the redhead found it acceptable but it was barbaric in her book.
He was getting nowhere fast with this conversation and tried again with the newbie rank, "Mop a deck?"
"Hardly" she declined huffily because light dusting was too much for her. Wasn't that the reason why servants were hired? Her father would never allow her to do such work when hired pay was there to do so.
"Those are the basics for joining us and if you can't handle that, there's no spot for you" Robert finalized sharply to give her the boot off the ship and she glared at him heatedly for the rejection. How dare he brush her off? Before she could retort to his brutish manner, the old sailor pointed out sternly, "We work hard on this ship and if you don't put in a single drop of sweat into her, ya aint' a sailor."
The entire crew could hear her annoyed growl as she clenched her fists and yelled, "That's not fair! How can she-"
"Because she's done all of that, ma'am" he interjected calmly to silence her rebuttals because his navigator had earned her keep. She certainly didn't complain about her duties either and never hesitated to lend hand. He wasn't the type of man to let a pretty face deceive him and wondered what his captain was wrapped up in now. What had happened to rekindling his relationship with the redhead? He and several others already amassed a huge bet pool for the two rather than against.
Clara sighed with disdain to dirtying her hands for a ride on a ship and remarked coldly, "Maybe for her class but that is beneath me."
Robert didn't know whether to be relieved or pity his captain as the young man approached the ship. It wasn't his say on who stayed off his ship but for the sake of his crew, hoped that woman wouldn't be hopping onboard. Otherwise, they would need to make a stop by Boston to load up a crate or two of strong spirits. Shaking his head, Robert let his captain handle this as he returned to directing the crew.
Ratonhnhaké:ton dreaded this conversation immediately but if he dragged his feet, it would only worsen. Sure, he could throw himself off the dock to ignore her and covertly board his ship but that wasn't an honorable option. He needed to get his ship to sea because traveling south past the colonies would take some time. Drawing a quick breath to prepare himself, he tried to ignore the feeling of his crew's eyes on him as he addressed her, "Clara."
"Connor, I was hoping to join your short trip" she declared cheerfully as her demeanor shifted entirely and flashed him a wide smile. For the first time, he wasn't entirely trustful of it after catching the interaction between her and Faulkner. Is this what Caroline had mentioned to him? She leaned over to grasp his right forearm, surprising him to the sudden touch, and blurted excitedly, "You promised we would go out on a trip of the cove today or did you forget?"
I don't remember any of that, he thought puzzled to hearing that and shook his head. His memory was perfectly intact and he wasn't fond of being pulled into activities without a say in the matter.
"We're not a tourism vessel" he answered firmly to thwart any sudden ideas and prevent himself from falling into them. He had a mission on his hands now and he wouldn't allow the Templars to win. At the same time, he was at the forefront to prove to Caroline that the Assassins were not an antagonistic group and consolidating power to overtake the government. He did not need more worries on his mind and crossed his arms to point out, "We head out on dangerous missions and I can't guarantee your safety."
Robert stuffed down a laugh when he spotted Caroline's head peek out from the top platform of the main mast. She resembled an eagle as her eyes targeted the captain's back as she kneeled to observe the conversation. The first mate figured the idea of having the other woman onboard as invading her territory and wasn't about to let that happen.
The word of danger didn't sit well with her but maybe he was overreacting for her benefit. It sounded ghastly but she wanted to ensure the two wouldn't be interacting in close quarters. Waving her hands to the rear of the Aquila, she suggested helpfully, "I could hide whenever danger's near-"
This sent the nearby crew into hysterics and even Caroline laughed at the idea of hiding. She'd done that once and had ended with a permanent scar on her cheek as her reward. Never again would she try that with an enemy. She would fight with the fury of a bear against danger to prevent another scar or worse. Still, she sympathized with Clara's reasoning because she'd thought the same years ago before harsh reality struck.
"No, that's a horrible idea" Ratonhnhaké:ton discouraged to avoid further problems or worse, having someone injured on his ship. He would not allow civilians onboard when the Aquila was heading somewhere dangerous, only for short port visits. Even then, he expected them to know how to fight if trouble rose. Shaking his head, he refused to allow her entrance and stated firmly, "I'm sorry but our ship has to leave."
Her eyes narrowed to being denied her wishes and she invaded his personal space by snapping tightly, "You promised we'd go on a boat ride."
"The Aquila is a frigate, girl, not a bloody rowboat!" Robert pointed out sternly but quickly waved his hand in apology. He grew hot under the collar when someone insinuated the Aquila was less than she was. The old girl had been through many naval battles that deeming her as a simple paddle boat was insulting. Backing away from the bannister, he left the two with quick apology, "Sorry, I'm a tad protective of my gal."
"Isn't he a charmer?" Caroline whistled from above to cover her first mate and aimed a knowing look to Ratonhnhaké:ton. Boat rides didn't exactly scream platonic friendship to her. She didn't have time for a lover's spat because Aveline was depending on them to hit southern waters within the month. Not being one to break her promises, she protected her ship from trespassers and called out, "You're mistaken, Clara. The Aquila isn't a display to anyone's whim so what you're looking for is the little boats on the dock further down. I'm sure Connor will be more than happy to show you upon return."
Clara's brow furrowed at seeing her disinterest towards him and wondered if she'd given up. She had been quite tenacious against her from the start but the girl wouldn't know class if it bit her. The native was easier to draw with a sweet tone and smile to do her bidding but he was pulling away in the recent weeks. She wondered if it had anything to do with her party but she was determined to draw him back. If the redhead was finished with him, then she would swoop in to take what was hers without a problem.
Whistles echoed Caroline's but it only caused the captain to blush with embarrassment. Why were they suddenly focused on his private life? Clara took it as the opposite sign of affection and smiled confidently, "Good, I expect you back in a month so you can do just that."
"Someone's captaining the captain" Richard commented dryly to his brother as the two hung by one of the cannons. They had never seen their captain be remotely romantic or attached to anybody so seeing this stirred their curiosity. If anything, they suspected he was keen on Burnett but nothing concrete had come of it. Deciding to humor him in good fun, he whistled loudly and teased, "I didn't realize he had a sweetheart in town."
What did I fall into?, he thought desperately to what his crew was thinking of this whole debacle. He needed to end this fast before more rumors sprouted like wildfire because it would be impossible to extinguish them. They were rampant in Davenport and now, it seemed it would spread to the Aquila. Great.
Hearing that from his crew, Ratonhnhaké:ton's mind staggered with all the arguments from Caroline and his friends. Had he really fallen into a false relationship he never agreed to? He barely had time to even make a relationship and Clara wouldn't be his first choice. The one he sought kept turning away from him and rebuffed his apologies. Clara appeared rather proud of that comment and he grasped her arm to lead her away from the dock to clear the air between them.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was a private man with his affairs and would not have lies spread about his life. He couldn't risk obliterating the strained trust between himself and Caroline. He didn't want either woman getting the wrong idea about him and keeping their conversation private, he asserted, "With all due respect, how I spend my days are my concern. I will not be joining you in any future outings."
Her lips parted with surprise to being denied his company and protested hastily, "Connor-"
"I have no intention of being in a relationship with anyone" he interjected to end any assumptions about them because he didn't have time for it anymore. At first, it had been innocently amusing as baseless gossip but it had grown out of proportion. Now, everyone believed the rumor more than his own words!
Raising his hands as he watched her eyes narrow, he quickly apologized to clear all misconceptions, "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression but I am not interested in courting you."
He turned around to leave her on the dock to end the matter entirely, hearing the faint sound of retreating heels on wood. Good. Otherwise, he'd have to cover his head in case she returned to strike him. He didn't like hurting anyone's feelings but he couldn't mislead anyone, especially when he didn't intend it. He would never humiliate anyone and hoped she wouldn't hold a grudge against him.
Relief filled him when he ascended the boarding platform to return to the Aquila's top deck. His problems back home would be left there as he focused on heading south. His men awaited him with amused smiles, mainly his top officers, and he spoke evenly, "Let's resume our departure."
"I respect your sexual frustration" David joked with a smirk because the captain had reached an age when women would approach him. He'd begun as a fresh-faced kid on the Aquila and had grown into a capable captain that would catch a feminine eye.
He felt his ears grow hot to that instantly and he turned to his gunnery officer to blurt, "What? I'm not-"
Richard kept the embarrassment wagon moving as he joined the teasing and remarked, "It's obvious you're a virgin and pining for Burnett. I wouldn't consider that one an upgrade though."
Was he that obvious when it came to Caroline? He tried his hardest to remain stoic about everything, especially romance, but he sighed when Richard pointed in the direction that Clara left. He had no romantic inclinations towards her and shot back, "That's not true."
David took his comment down a different road and shrugged to his pick in women, sighing with disappointment, "I see, one man's trash is another man's pleasure."
Richard burst into laughter to his choice of words because while he advised gruffly, his brother was blunter and more sarcastic. Ratonhnhaké:ton tensed to having his lack of a romantic life and the supposed fake one in the spotlight. He wanted to leave all of that behind and begin his trip south, glaring at the men to ask sharply, "Can we stop talking about my private life?"
The Clutterbuck brothers knew when to quit teasing their captain and moved to assume their positions at the deck. Each would be by the cannons on opposite sides by the shroud and Ratonhnhaké:ton released another tense breath. Robert stood behind him with an amused smile as he headed up the platform to take his position beside the wheel. Caroline simply glanced down at the quartet as they assumed their positions and she grabbed her safety rope to begin the journey south.
"Our first stop should be Virginia" Ratonhnhaké:ton informed carefully to let everyone know about their planned route. Years at sea had granted him knowledge on the safest and most dangerous routes. Most of the revolutionary conflict was in the north while the French fought off naval attacks in their colonies due to their aid to the Patriots. Robert cleared his throat as he fought down another laugh from behind the captain but Ratonhnhaké:ton was quick to retort, "Not because of what we just talked about!"
Richard shook his head to the interesting turn of fate and leaned against one of the cannons to reply with amusement, "That's an awkward coincidence."
Ratonhnhaké:ton cursed the recent lousy luck in his life and swiftly took his place at the Aquila's wheel to grip it tightly in his hands. Robert glanced at the young man with a warm smile before patting his back to let him know they meant no harm. It was their way to pass the time and relieve stress before a trip. Ratonhnhaké:ton relaxed his shoulders because this would be a long trip and hollered over the deck, "Full sails ahead!"
"You heard the captain! Full sail!" Robert echoed his captain's order to oversee the sailors while Ratonhnhaké:ton focused on steering the Aquila out of the harbor. The anchor was pulled from the water and the boarding platform had been withdrawn to seal any entrance to the ship. She was free to roam south for her trip.
"All clear for the next two kilometers! Full sails!" Caroline shouted to add her input because the cove was empty of any trade boats or people fishing in the area. Most activity occurred in the morning but with them leaving in the afternoon, the cove was clear for the large ship.
Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't wait to reach open waters and be comforted by its calming silence.
A/N: The truth is finally out and it only took 40+ chapters and six years story line wise! Now, Caroline has to absorb the truth and figure out what to do with it so don't take her instant declination of the order to heart. Despite her trust in him is shaken, Connor will be good at rebuilding everything since there will be no more secrets. I decided to include the Belladonna as the next mission since she's a French ship so I had to incorporate Aveline and the Assassins for Caroline to be involved in. The year 1776 is slowly closing since it's more Assassin focused and 1777 will arrive for happier times in Davenport before Haytham crashes the year 1778.
Thank you to my last chapter readers and reviewers, not to mention Happy New Year:
Faron Oakenshield: I love how you noticed she calls him Connor now! Once they broke up, she reverted to his English name to subdue her feelings since used his true name when they were together as a sign of affectionate respect. Although Caroline's called it quits, he sure hasn't.
Thunderstrike16: As much as it sucks for the readers (and me for writing it), that was the aim of their fight and I'm glad it flowed through in words. It's a bump for the two but they're resilient.
Alexandra Rylie: Aw, happy late Merry Christmas! It was a situation that could turn bad so even he needed a swig for the first time in his life, haha. Once Haytham pops in, he'll be reaching for one in order to drown out his complaints.
Chriswill02: Thank you so much for enjoying my writing! Unfortunately, my trade is medicine, haha, but I love writing nonetheless. I think all the readers have been waiting for this part and the next step is their reunion which is very close as well.
jynxhasadragon: She finally knows! Now she has to figure out what she wants to do.
East Coast Captain: You're right on the money with the shock factor! With time, she'll accept it and allow her children to follow the same order of their father as well.
Merrick15: I agree on more Caroline and Connor, which is coming up soon. I can totally see Elizabeth, especially her, and Samuel wanting to join the Assassins once they're of age. I did notice in the planning for the Battle of Chesapeake in the manor that Diana was helping around so I can see the residents eventually finding out and wanting to help. I can see Connor telling them to decrease guilt if anything happens to them because of his affiliations and they didn't know.
Next Chapter Excerpt:
The Aquila had gotten involved in protecting a civilian migrant vessel from three pirating frigates at sea. The sleek frigate had become a more appealing target than the slow-moving ship since the valuables were worth more. Why rob new poor immigrants when adept sailors were a better catch? Ratonhnhaké:ton had been able to dispatch two of the ships to the bottom of the sea but the third frigate was giving him a run for his money. Three against one hadn't been easy and the last remaining ship was taking advantage of that.
He had attempted to use the Aquila as a shield between the ships and the migrant boat, causing damage to the left-side bannisters. The cannons still held firm, thankfully from David's intervention since he checked the bolted artillery every day. The bannister was reinforced over the weaponry portion of the deck so they weren't easily blown off. He just had to make sure none of his sailors fell overboard when maneuvering the ship.
That wasn't his biggest problem, however.
He was currently debating between two courses of action as he pulled the wheel sharply to the left. Caroline hung onto the safety rope as her slippery fingers tried to grasp the rain drenched platform. Ratonhnhaké:ton was not comfortable with this development as his men were scrambling to fire at the enemy ship. Splinters filled the air from the last shot that struck the Aquila from the remaining ship and he tried to buy his crew time since the blast knocked them down hard.
"You either fire or ram, sir" Robert advised quickly because the Aquila was fast approaching the enemy ship. They needed a course of action to seize the advantage but his captain hesitated as neither was ideal. Firing could hurl the men that weren't near anything secure and ramming the other ship would deal blunt trauma to the enemy but risk his people going overboard. Robert understood his concern without needing to have it vocalized and spoke frankly, "You're going to risk casualties either way."
This was not what he wanted! He didn't expect to slip into battle against three ships and sought the least damage. The battle was becoming risky and he could lose control if he didn't decide. The trajectory towards the ship made firing almost impossible and it left him with one choice. Keeping his hands tightly on the wheel, he looked to the crow's nest and hollered tensely, "Caroline, get on the mast!"
"It's a little hard while dangling here!" she yelled back helplessly as the rope clinging to the mast was her lifeline. Her fingers barely managed to grab onto the platform before the ship's sway sent her reeling back. She knew the ship was approaching as the bow plunged into a wave to build momentum. It would be in his best interest to strike hard and she shouted down, "The ship's heading this way! You can damage it by ramming!"
"No, get to safety!" he insisted swiftly to avoid injuring her but the sails propelled the Aquila further towards the enemy. Even if he dared to move the wheel at the last minute, his ship would sustain damage instead of gaining the upper hand. The warning bell behind him rang painfully in his ears as Robert hastened the men to find cover.
Caroline wasn't in the best situation and she was bitterly aware of it, putting forth the wellbeing of her ship rather than herself. She understood her captain's reasoning but he couldn't value one life over the many. Wiping water from her eyes, she grabbed onto her safety rope once more as she dangled below the platform and yelled, "Hit it!"
His heart hammered as the Aquila surged forward and he was left with no option but to ram the enemy ship. It was too late to veer the ship to the side and he would leave himself at a massive disadvantage if he did so. His ship would sustain heavier damage at the stern and leave the enemy practically unharmed. His hands gripped the wheel tightly as he braced himself and silently hoped they would all make it through, yelling over the thundering rain, "Everyone, hold on!"
The full force of the waves and the weight of the Aquila struck the enemy frigate at its stern, the weakest point of a ship. Targeting the rear side, the wooden hull shattered on impact at the Aquila's pointed bow as the enemy ship carried more windows to sustain cabins rather than reinforced walls like the bow. Ratonhnhaké:ton lurched forward against the wheel, clutching it temporarily for support while Robert had kneeled and gripped the bannister. The crash hadn't been a gentle one in the slightest and his sailors were trying to get their bearings as the ship rocked with the momentum of the waves.
While Ratonhnhaké:ton had been focused on the stern of the enemy ship, Caroline's safety rope had snapped on impact and she'd been tossed into the roaring sea. The rope had been stressed repeatedly during the fight as she dangled from it and the final push severed the rope. Her main concern had been crashing down on either ship and meeting a premature end or worse, a horribly painful disabled fate. Instead, she'd been hurled towards the rear from the force and the Aquila's diagonal position allowed her to fall into the ocean.
With the Aquila lined up against the other ship, Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't hesitate to holler his orders swiftly, "David, chain shot on those sails- now! Richard, heat shot at the waterline! Disable that ship!"
"Chain and heat shots!" Robert echoed his orders to get everyone moving because they were vulnerable now that they were this close to the enemy. The damage to the stern gave them an advantage but if they dawdled, the enemy would align their cannons and shoot them down.
His gunnery officers didn't hesitate and David quickly pointed to the main mast to direct the upper deck's fire. The bald sailor slapped his hands together to hasten his crew as he hollered, "Bring it down or no free drinks tonight!"
The heat shots were faster at being loaded into the cannons and Richard had prepped a couple beforehand while the rest were loaded with cannonballs. He could practically see the other crew scrambling on the damaged ship and saluted them before calling out, "Cannon fire first and set them aflame like the cap'n ordered!"
The enemy was good but the Aquila's crew was faster and Ratonhnhaké:ton breathed in relief when the air was filled with cannon fire once more. Wooden debris flew into the air as the masts were struck from his top deck while the lower sector struct the hull close to the waterline to allow seawater to surge into its lower decks. He wasn't prone to taking human lives unless he absolutely had to and disabling ships were far easier to ending a battle.
"You definitely got the lower hull" Robert informed with a triumphant smile as he took a safe glance over the bannister, avoiding any incoming bullets. Looking up at the crow's nest, he noticed it was surprisingly empty and hollered, "Burnett, what's topside?"
When they received no reply, Ratonhnhaké:ton called out worriedly, "Caroline!"
She had never been one for pranks during a battle and he dreaded that his assumption that she could fall overboard happened. Otherwise, she would've answered him without hesitation. Robert clapped him on the back to pull him back into the battle at hand because dwelling on the missing wouldn't bode well. The empty spot of the navigator was an ominous one but his first mate encouraged, "We have to keep moving, captain."
His distress at not having Caroline onboard quickly turned to fury because this wasn't meant to be their fight. They weren't even close to the Belladonna! He was meant to show her the true dangers of the Templars, not lose her in a worthless fight like this. The person dearest to him was missing due to their interference and he shouted angrily, "Shatter every layer of that hull! Decimate it all!"
Thank you for reading!