Music Inspiration: Two Steps from Hell- "Nero"
The Belladonna
20 September 1776
"Should I consider this our first official outing?"
Caroline's blue eyes glinted merrily as she looped her arm through his right as they walked down the cobbled street. Ratonhnhaké:ton was ready to list a few of their travels together but realized that they had been strictly friends during that time. Their only outing had been back in Boston shortly after beginning their budding relationship. Unfortunately, that had been more than three years ago. Time had flown faster than he expected as his journey sent him from one corner of the colonies to another.
"We haven't had a day completely to ourselves" he admitted bashfully since they focused on their adventures and work. They were active people but she deserved his attention as his romantic interest rather than a friend now.
The Aquila would be heading out from the colony of Georgia to complete the mission for the Assassins and they were out to gather the last recent intel. Despite their work together, he did not want her to assume this was the life he sought to offer her. She was his navigator and most trusted confidante, but she was also his partner now. He had promised her a home and aimed to keep it this time, refusing to let anything block that path. Caroline didn't mind at all because she'd spend time with him and catch a perfect view of what his order was about.
"You deserve a day when neither of our work interferes in our lives" he sighed softly to their busy days because it was only fair that she received his attention. He wasn't going to botch his second chance with her, especially after confessing his secret life and almost losing her overboard. His arm tugged her closer to him before his opposite hand lay over hers and he suggested, "We can spend a day at the cove and I will buy you dinner at the Mile's End. Unless you're willing to ride out to a nearby city to spend a few days there?"
"My parents will surely wonder why the Aquila isn't attached to us" she chuckled playfully because they expected her to travel on sea with him only. They hadn't traveled alone on foot without the Aquila and it would raise questions. It didn't matter to her but propriety was an odd thing nowadays. Squeezing his arm, she reassured, "I have you by my side, that's enough."
He shook his head to her passive reply because he owed her more than that and objected, "Caroline-"
"I will never ask for more than what you can offer" she pointed out because his life was complicated enough and wouldn't be another stressor for him. She was simply happy to travel with him and hoped that would never change. She'd spent years being his friend, waiting to be at his side once more, and could finally rejoice at achieving it. She had not gone quietly into the night last month and it paid off in nabbing his attention. She bumped her shoulder against his and smiled bashfully, "Especially after reuniting with you."
Tugging him by the arm into an empty corner alleyway hidden in the shadows, her free arm wrapped around his waist to convey her affection. The social norms were stricter in the southern colonies and they had already received their share of odd looks since arriving. Fortunately for the couple, they could hold their own in a fight and their ship was nearby.
Before he could reply, she pulled him into a kiss by pinning him to the nearest wall. She could care less about the color of his skin and enjoyed intertwining her porcelain fingers with his golden-brown digits. They knocked over an empty crate, causing nearby alley dogs to bark in alarm but they ignored it. He wanted nothing more than to pull her to him by the waist and spent the rest of their hours in a passionate embrace. . .but they were in public. All he could do was return the chaste kiss and squeeze her hourglass waist, hoping nobody caught them.
"You never kissed me back then in Boston, I figured I'd finish the job here" she teased mischievously to their old trip as she drew back and tapped his nose playfully. Her palms roamed over his chest to straighten his white coat, missing the dark blue coat of her captain. It was odd but she was strongly attracted to that persona than the mysterious assassin one she was faced with accepting. Shooting him a flirty wink, she finished with amusement, "In Savannah, Georgia of all places."
"You've gotten bolder with age" he smiled faintly with a tinge of embarrassment for being a little daring himself. If he'd been the sixteen-year-old version of himself that day, he would've pulled her out of the alley with blushing cheeks. They had grown into capable adults that were still learning from each other and he cupped her right cheek to dote fondly, "You're still as beautiful now as you were then."
"Charmer" she laughed softly as he dropped his reservations for her and squeezed his hand. He wasn't the shy native boy that she'd fallen for but instead, a strong capable man that wielded a mighty naval frigate and led a secret order of freedom fighters. They hadn't gotten much time for themselves to be a courting couple so she'd seize any chance possible.
He grasped her hand into his to tug her gently, pulling her away from the alley, and reminded with an amused smirk, "Let's go before Aveline wonders if we've been kidnapped."
"What about shopping for molasses?" she asked quickly because they had planned for a quick browse through the shopping district. Their route to Aveline's meeting spot wasn't far from it so Caroline had devised a trip for one rare ingredient she enjoyed from the southern colonies. She wasn't sure if they'd have time for shore leave after the mission so she was eager to get it done before then.
"We have maple syrup at home" he pointed out with the alternative because winter wasn't far away and they could set up the buckets. They had drained maple trees during their younger years for her parents and created hard candy out of the leftovers that weren't used. Frankly, he preferred maple syrup over molasses due to less stickiness but Caroline enjoyed the thickness of it.
Caroline wasn't amused that he tried lumping both as one product because they were quite different. He tried to appear nonchalant about it as he led her down the cobbled street and she squeezed his hand to insist, "It's not the same, Ratonhnhaké:ton."
"I'm already imagining the strange looks we'll get in the shops" he murmured flatly to the looks they'd get entering a store together in the colonies. He had a hard time finding a vendor as himself and hated resorting to pretending he was a Spaniard that enjoyed the sun too much. With Caroline beside him, who wore men's clothing, he'd likely get another boot. This would all happen before they took notice that they were holding hands as an interracial couple. A faint smile touched his lips as he joked about their taboo relationship, "You'll have me kicked out of Georgia by its people and that's without the Templars helping them."
"Molasses are sticky and my hand is fond of being stuck to yours" she shot back smartly because she would fib her way out of any situation until her face was blue. That, or disguise herself. She could always pretend she was blind and he was her seeing guide, then verbally shame everyone who dared to insult them.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was not surprised to her sassy response and sighed softly, "Not helping."
"I can already imagine us shopping at the general store back home" she laughed merrily to their different approaches to confrontation or arguments. He was the intimidating silent type while she trampled around like a bear so she wished good luck to those who dared to cross them. They had shopped as traveling companions but now, they could practice what would one day be their shared life. She saw nobody else but him in her life and she joked playfully, "I'll save for the coffee but you'd want the tea."
Oddly enough, he preferred tea to the bitter taste of coffee and chose to believe it was ingrained from his culture rather than his paternal side. He'd pissed off the Templars with his tea dump in the Boston harbor but he also cut off their access to it so Haytham had likely not been happy to that. His gaze wandered back down to Caroline's bright eyes and he compromised to their preferences, "Well, I'll buy you fresh beef and make your bullets to compensate your efforts."
"Don't be fresh" she snickered as she covered another laugh with her free hand to avoid drawing attention. Imported goods and others not from the northeast colonies carried a heavier price but they would keep each other happy. Whatever they couldn't live off from the land would be bought and they were each capable of caring for each other's weapons. Squeezing his hand, she smiled widely to accept wholeheartedly, "But yes, I'll take that option."
He loved her and he would build her a home where they could jokingly bicker about their grocery list one day.
Unlike Caroline's transformation to her old self, Aveline had hardly changed or aged within the time elapsed from their last meeting. She carried herself confidently as she leaned away from the brick wall of a business store to approach them. Ratonhnhaké:ton had sent word ahead through Achilles before boarding the Aquila so Aveline would be aware they were on route. He knew his way around the port cities of the colonies and had a meeting place in each for business.
The couple had enjoyed their stroll through town but Ratonhnhaké:ton had been wary of passerby glances since Caroline was keen on walking next to him. She hadn't hesitated to stare anyone down and with their weapon arsenal, most skittered away. Seeing her old friend, she was happy to the familiar diversity rather than indifference and waved with greeting. Aveline nodded with amusement to her cheerful demeanor as she backed away from the wall and spoke slyly, "Miss Burnett, you do keep interesting company."
Caroline paused as her lips parted slightly to reply but closed into a thin line as she glanced at her superior. Her friend had shifted from an outdoorsman/naval captain to a leader in a secretive order that spanned the entire world. She felt tiny in comparison to him with experience, now that she knew the truth. Years of admiration and tailing along after him finally had her feeling that she'd bridged the gap of skill between them but he created another chasm. Not intentionally, of course, but he was more able-bodied than she'd ever be. Her shoulders slumped slightly as she admitted glumly to those words, "I never understood that saying until now."
"She's aware of our work" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied evenly to let his colleague know that Caroline was exposed to their order. A month had passed since that fateful afternoon in Boston and he hoped he was providing a positive light of their work. She had agreed to be his partner despite everything and he wouldn't disappoint her into regretting that choice. He wouldn't hide anything from her and added in quietly, "It couldn't be helped."
"You couldn't dodge me forever" she quipped back with a smirk that she'd managed to defy him. She didn't want to think what would have happened if they had reunited and he'd dropped that cannonball of a secret onto her.
Ratonhnhaké:ton met her amused gaze because he didn't want her to believe he'd evaded in telling her the truth. Yes, he dawdled but it was due to finding the right time and words. How was he supposed to unload such information onto her after trusting him for so many years? Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way and he corrected sheepishly, "I wasn't dodging, I was strategically waiting for the right time."
"Six years?" she pointed out to the abundant time frame and pointed to their mutual acquaintance, "I met her in 1774, not to mention, Duncan."
"I didn't say my timing was great" he muttered flatly because it was ultimately his fault that he waited so long. If he'd known that Caroline was the prospective recruit, he would've acted faster. Or at least, developed a better plan than revealing everything in a pub of all places.
Caroline grinned to his defeated tone and patted him on the back heartily to pipe up, "I did get a free ale out of it."
"You two are rather adorable" Aveline remarked with amusement to the young duo that appeared more friendlier to each other than professional. She had watched enough nonverbal cues to know they were rather close and it was admirable. It was brave to venture into an interracial union when most colonies outlawed the practice. Even walking in public would draw someone's eye but they were capable of fighting anyone that threatened to discriminate them. Caroline blushed faintly while Ratonhnhaké:ton tensed slightly at being transparent, but Aveline reassured, "Either way, you've gained a valuable asset in her. She's quite the sailor and adept at camouflage."
"She's not one of us officially, she's shadowing me" he replied hesitantly because Caroline was on the debate boat about it all. Yes, she would be a great asset to them but he wasn't comfortable putting her at risk for the Templars. It would take time accepting her as an assassin, mainly to keep her out of harm's way and give her the whole view she sought, which he was partly glad about.
Aveline was quick to burst his hopeful bubble when she pointed out simply, "Shadowing? Don't recruits do that before acceptance?"
"I'm still determining whether this life is right for me" Caroline answered carefully because she wasn't eager to jump into danger nonstop. She'd seen Ratonhnhaké:ton travel quite a bit in his youth and after renovating the Aquila, the travels increased. As much as she loved to travel, she also enjoyed the peaceful times back home. Crossing her arms, she revealed her other reason for hesitating to join without a second thought, "And to see what these Templars are capable of."
"They're cunning and if they can blend into the crowds holding power, they have the upper hand" Aveline explained because her friend had never heard of them until now but had secretly crossed paths with them. It did take time to accept the truth but sometimes, that was a luxury some couldn't afford. This was a confusing time for Caroline and Aveline hoped to relieve some of the questions by admitting, "They only hope to conquer and control others to their means. We let you roam free at will. If you see a green apple, they will force you to say it's red to maintain conformity while we will throw you a yellow apple to see another view. It is how they are shrouding their power with the crown to suit their ends."
Caroline's brow furrowed at hearing that because she'd already witnessed some of their brutality. Ratonhnhaké:ton was ready to be hanged for a crime he never committed and she briefly wondered if the Englishman outside the prison had been one of them. Uncertain, she asked quietly, "Isn't that the problem we're facing up north? If so, their power might be beating yours."
"Quite, which is why we have to stop them here before they head there" Ratonhnhaké:ton asserted because he couldn't allow the Templars to seize the ship. If they were interested in her, it was due to the cargo she carried. He would not let it fall into their hands and lose another fight. Otherwise, they would gain an upper hand against the Assassins in the ongoing war.
"You'll be going into dangerous waters so tread carefully" Aveline warned because the news from her scouts hadn't been comforting. The Aquila had a sturdy reputation of never losing a fight but the Templars could never be underestimated. Debriefing them on the mission, she explained carefully, "The Belladonna is on route to dock here but intel from one of our ships has informed me that her escorts abandoned her. She's practically alone with her gunpowder cargo and the Templars will pounce to seize it for the crown."
"Why did they abandon her?" he asked aloud to that random act because escorts were meant to stay until the ship docked. Her cargo was also quite important and dangerous if one didn't know how to handle gunpowder. Aveline simply drew a cross with her fingers and he realized his answer, murmuring bitterly, "I see, the Templars already infiltrated the Patriots."
"Without support, she will either sink or be plundered by the Templars" she finalized the severity of reaching the ship before anybody else. All she had at her disposal were schooners which were meant for speed, not a firefight. She needed a union of speed and strength to tackle their enemies and sent her letter enlisting his aid. She was immensely relieved to hear that they had arrived safely from the trip north and informed, "It is why I called for your assistance. We don't have the firepower of the Aquila here."
"I will leave at once" Ratonhnhaké:ton promised because his crew had arrived early to give them time to relax, eat, and enjoy themselves. He would tackle the mission briefing and had brought Caroline along to spend time together while also showing her this part of his secret life. So far, she appeared to be enjoying both as she listened intently.
"Good luck and may our paths cross again in better circumstances" Aveline said genuinely to wish them well on the trip because even she wasn't sure what they could expect out there. All she could hope was that they gave the Templars hell or by some miracle, the Belladonna managed to fight her enemies off. She opened a pocket in her coat to retrieve a small paper and handed it to Ratonhnhaké:ton, informing quickly, "These are the last coordinates from our ship."
"You're not coming along for the fireworks?" Caroline asked with a dramatic gasp to missing out on quality bonding time. They hadn't seen each other in two years so she'd expected a little adventure for a reunion. Aveline chuckled to her laidback nature since her partner in crime was serious nonstop. The redhead quickly raised her hands to wave them and brushed it off humorously, "Figuratively, I don't have any hidden."
Ratonhnhaké:ton turned to her with an amused glint in his brown eyes and he reminded dryly, "You made one of my powder kegs burst."
"I keep telling you that it was all David!" she insisted to the rare occurrence that one had been thrown overboard during the night and exploded. She had nothing to do with it since her coworkers had a little too much to drink but it had startled their sleeping captain. It was a good thing she convinced David not to ride the keg down the stairwell of the first deck or it would've been worse. Her boyfriend wasn't convinced by her declaration and she ignored him with a grin, turning to Aveline to convince her, "Come on, you have to join our amazing team!"
"No, I work better in the shadows" she declined quietly but the redhead drove a good bargain. It was apparent that their crew was a tight one built on trust and friendship. Tipping the front of her hat to them, she promised, "I will be here to assist the Belladonna's crew when she arrives."
The warning bell rang behind the captain's wheel to alert the crew of the incoming boat to the Aquila. Ratonhnhaké:ton stood at the wheel watching the Belladonna as his ship finally approached the lone vessel. She wasn't exactly what he expected because the frigate appeared formidable in her own right but the blue colors confused him. Robert was by his side as he explained carefully, "Our charge, captain. The Belladonna, whom is under Roderigue Hortalez and Company. She appears Spanish for all intents and purposes, but rest assured, she's a French vessel."
David stood below the two men on the deck, arms crossed as he debriefed the rest of the crew, "French are bringin' in a boatload of powder and guns for Old Georgie and his Patriots. Some Colonial boats were s'posed to escort her up the coast but they left her behind. She been waiting ever since."
"We will make sure Washington gets what he is expecting" Ratonhnhaké:ton stated calmly because he wasn't leaving without the ship or the cargo. It had taken almost a month to arrive and he wasn't about to turn tail. In the meantime, he was waiting to rendezvous with crew from the Belladonna.
Caroline and Richard were stationed by the left side of the ship since the rope ladder had been dropped. If there was any funny business, they would take care of it. The two were practically blinded by the stark white in the Frenchman's uniform as he rushed past them to land on the top deck. The man was certainly a high officer by the attire alone and Caroline straightened her shoulders to greet, "Welcome to the Aquila-"
The man shot past her without another word, causing the two to chase him down as he headed towards the stern. It was apparent he knew the layout of a frigate as he called out while ascending the stairs, "Where is le Capitaine?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't budge against the man's tone or hard stare, offering a firm gaze of his own as he calmly spoke, "I am the captain."
"You are late" the Frenchman declared snippily as he glared at him, silently irritating the captain.
Ratonhnhaké:ton refused to apologize for anything because they were the ones in need of aid and stated simply, "We came as quickly as the wind allowed."
"Too slow" the other replied flippantly to ignore his excuse and Ratonhnhaké:ton's grip on the wheel tightened. This was their ally for the rebellion? There weren't any others to choose from?
"You're welcome" Richard muttered under his breath at the foot of the stairs and Caroline snorted. The two weren't keen on the man already by first impressions but allowed their captain to carry on the conversation. This was his ship and they only needed to hear an order once if he wanted the man thrown below deck. Although, the duo would prefer to hurl him overboard for a more entertaining conclusion.
"Does he think we're deaf?" she asked quietly as they walked over to the left side to quickly pick up the rope ladder and stash it away. The little rowboat had already disappeared over the water and she wondered if the poor rowers were escaping the man too.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was already playing verbal chess with the Frenchman and asked sharply, "And what happened to your escort?"
The man waved a hand in disgusted dismissal before exclaiming irritably, "Le Randolph started with us then departed without warning. Typique. This is why le Lieutenant insisted I come aboard."
Snapping his fingers, he ordered hastily, "Partons."
Ratonhnhaké:ton was fluent in French and even if he wasn't, he knew a headstrong personality when he saw one. He was nobody's errand boy and would act accordingly to what he saw in the water. This was his ship and he would grant the orders, choosing to employ selective hearing on this man. Robert crossed his arms since the man's grating voice already went under his skin and muttered, "We'll go when we're good and bloody ready."
The French captain turned to the first mate with a questioning glance as he caught the end of the complaint. Robert pretended to ignore it in order to gather more intel and called out, "The Atlantic is a dangerous place for a lone ship, especially one laden with such desirable stock. You must be glad to see us."
Unfortunately, he received nothing but more complaints instead as the man scoffed, "Bof. It is hot here. My Lieutenant is not excited for the cold of the North."
Robert's pretend smile of politeness fell apart instantly and he turned to his captain to mutter, "Is this man being serious?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton said nothing as he ordered the sails to unfurl fully and Caroline peeked up at the two from below, "He's gotta be kidding. Summers up north make you sweat like a whore in church-"
"Language" was her partner's reply because her mouth was as bad as the sailors on some days. It did amuse him when he needed to lift his spirits but her mother could call him a bad influence if she heard her.
Her bright blue eyes didn't blink when she piped up mischievously, "Hot as balls?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton shot her the parenting look of 'you know better' and she laughed at herself. Seeing as they were now on the job, she let him concentrate and ran over to the pulley lever to hoist herself to the top. Grabbing hold of the wooden platform, she pulled herself onto it and grabbed her new handy dandy rope to tie around her waist. Looking over the horizon, she frowned at seeing it shrouded in fog in the distance. The coastline of Florida was barely visible but it was allied to the crown which didn't work in their favor.
He didn't like the look of the area at all, especially when protecting one ship on his own, and ordered, "Keep a sharp eye, Mister Faulkner. Anybody searching for the Belladonna could be upon us in an instant with this fog."
Robert nodded diligently as he kept his gaze to the left and agreed solemnly, "Aye, captain. I've got a monkey's fist in me gut."
Caroline cursed under her breath when she spotted a line of ships heading their way and yelled, "English are on us, cap'n! Three o'clock!"
The Aquila surged forward in that direction to shield the Belladonna and to gain a better view. Ratonhnhaké:ton thinned his lips at the handful of ships but before he could order an attack, the Belladonna fired her cannons. She held her own by destroying one ship and he focused on targeting the closest ones in the unbroken line.
"The power of the French Navy is clear!" her captain boasted at seeing the Belladonna put up a fight against the numerous ships. She was certainly doing her best but they had the disadvantage in numbers.
The amount of British ships was surprising to Robert, given the fact that the Belladonna was disguised. Another barrage shot forth from the French ship to strike the closest ships in the tight line and he commented tightly, "They picked the wrong ship to pirate. Why in God's name are the English here in such force?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton had an inkling the Templars were behind it but he had bigger problems at the moment, stating firmly, "I do not know, but we must get the Belladonna out of this fog."
The Belladonna didn't relent on her path north and the Aquila was close in range to fire their own cannonball volley at the English. Unfortunately, the leftover ships took advantage and shot another barrage that struck the French ship. Not ideal but what could he do when outnumbered? He tried not to frown when he heard a scathing voice from behind, "Do your job, capitaine! Defend La Belladonna!"
"He wouldn't be here otherwise" Robert snapped matter-of-factly to protect the reputation of his ship. Was the Aquila meant to spontaneously multiply and attack all the ships? No, they had to win this with shrewd calculation.
Ratonhnhaké:ton kept the Aquila between the enemy and the Belladonna to shield it from more incoming attacks. He'd place his ship in danger but they weren't liable to explode from their cargo. The Aquila was fast at weaving between attacks and he'd use her speed to take down the enemy ships.
"Fire!" he bellowed to continue attacking each ship until they were sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
Ratonhnhaké:ton closed his eyes to relax his mind after the tense fight against the English frigates. He'd counted at least eight after fighting off two relentless waves of attacks but the Aquila and Belladonna held off. She was damaged but her sails held strong as she continued north. The Aquila, on the other hand, had shattered bannisters that were splintered all over the floor and a few cannons had collapsed from the attacks. A few of his men had sustained injuries but David was quick in dragging them below deck or bandaging injured limbs to keep fighting. His crew was admirable against fearful odds and he would grant them leave for the night if they survived the battle.
No, when we return, he promised with resolve to finish the mission at hand and brushed wooden residue from his eyes. The impact against his ship had been strong but he'd fortified the Aquila enough that only the top deck sustained damage.
Caroline had been thankful for an empty stomach and her strong rope as she managed to stick to the crow's nest. Never had they fought against such a force and if this truly was the work of the so-called Templars, Ratonhnhaké:ton was in one hell of a fight. Her captain had beaten the odds so far and she'd sat down to calm her hammering heart. Seeing numerous cannonballs flying in her direction was terrifying but to see it from more than five ships was enough to induce panic. Still, her captain won the fight.
She'd been ready to yell down a compliment to Ratonhnhaké:ton but her eyes widened at the behemoth of a ship that burst through the thick fog and she hollered, "MAN O' WAR!"
Before either the Aquila or Belladonna could fend off the large ship, it shot off its cannons and landed a direct strike to the main mast of the Belladonna. The echoing snaps of the tattered sails and cannonballs splintering wood didn't bode well for the ship. She was disabled instantly from the attack as fire erupted across the sails, leading the sailors on top to focus more on putting out the fire than fighting off the naval ship.
Her captain was horrified to the situation at hand and gasped with disbelief, "Grand Dieu! La Belladona's mainmast is down, capitaine! We must stay close to her!"
Robert whistled in astonishment to the battle before them and ordered his crew, "Bloody hell! Pummel that leviathan!"
Ratonhnhaké:ton had a better idea on what to do with the battleship and commanded, "No! We board her. I must know how the English knew about the Belladonna. We take her a prize, men!"
The crew hollered with approval to his order because his confidence had yet to fail at sea. Caroline shook her head with amusement to what he'd decided to tackle and hoped he had a strategy in place. The only one that was flabbergasted was the Belladonna's captain as he echoed, "Board her? Are you crazy?!"
David burst into laughter as he loaded a cannon with a chain shot and called back, "Sure, we are! What's your point?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton ignored the other captain's sputtering as he moved the Aquila towards the larger ship. It would be a rough battle given that his ship was smaller but she was much faster in the water. That would be his advantage and all he needed was to incapacitate the ship, bellowing another order, "Target the masts! Lower levels, cannon fire at the decks!"
Unlike the frigates that held speed, the Man O' War was slower and built for power. The Aquila couldn't last in a fight forever against that kind of firepower but she'd last long enough to cripple the ship. David's men were fast with their swivel cannons and fired the first shot at the main mast when she was in the clear. The gunnery officer took control of a cannon himself to aim it and fired, raising a triumphant fist when it struck. It didn't topple the massive mast but it landed and that was enough to begin weakening it.
Caroline swore the Clutterbuck brothers were born with weapons in their hands because they were gifted in battle. David preferred long-range while Richard took short-range, blending the two into a formidable duo. From below deck, Richard echoed his brother's attack but with cannonballs aimed at the enemy's weapon decks. Caroline used her spyglass as best she could while the Aquila bobbed against the waves and analyzed the masts. Taking out the smaller two masts wouldn't do much damage but toppling the main mast would have enough force to bring the other two down.
"David, aim at the half-point!" she called down to let him know the weak spot he'd created. If he targeted the injured area, it would bring their ship a faster victory.
"You heard the lady, gents! Let's bring 'er down!" David whistled to his team to have them focus on the mast while their captain brought the Aquila around.
Ratonhnhaké:ton was rather proud to see her proactive in the fight instead of sticking to navigation. She was stationed in a vulnerable spot but she had an eagle's view of the entire fight while he worked at the ground level to stay within firing range. He couldn't ram the other ship because the Aquila was smaller and the damage would be too great to escape from that battle. Instead, he brought the Aquila parallel to the ship once more and hollered, "Fire!"
Richard's men fired first with this round to stop the incoming barrage of the enemy and borrow time for David to calculate his own shots. From Robert's spot, the first mate shot at any enemies that happened to enter their sight to protect his captain. Ratonhnhaké:ton had brought them extremely close to destroy the main mast and they had to seize every moment. Caroline reached for her belt to remove Lady, quickly emptying the small bullets into her other hand. Pocketing them, she opened a small leather bag on her belt to remove three smoke bombs. Using the empty flintlock pistol, she used its ignition mechanism to light the smoke bomb wicks from her height to hurl them at the top of deck of the Man O' War.
She smiled with success at seeing the thin trail of smoke erupt when it struck the upper deck, engulfing half of the stern. It would do no good to strike the bow since the main mast and captain were in the rear. David's team had managed to shoot at the main mast after Richard's attack and Caroline's bought them more time to reload. With the rear of the enemy ship shrouded in smoke, the Aquila gained the upper hand in firing off a few rifle rounds until cannon fire rang once more.
Both ships were struck but while the Aquila endured damage to her right side, David scored a critical shot on the heavy mast of the war ship. Debris filled the air from both ships but the Aquila's crew held their breath at the damaged mast. Ratonhnhaké:ton quickly moved the Aquila to the left to avoid lingering too close to their enemy and decided to await the damage from his strikes. When the heavy mast didn't budge, David slapped his hand on the cannon to growl, "How the hell-"
And that's when they heard a crack snap in the air.
The loud snapping of the sails echoed through the silence as the mast came crashing down onto the top deck seconds later. It was a thunderous sound as the heavy wooden mast dragged down the ropes of the opposite sails and in turn, toppled the weaker masts in a domino effect. Thankfully, the Aquila hadn't been close enough to be struck with flying debris after disabling the Man O' War's mainmast. Part of the sails floated helplessly in the water while Ratonhnhaké:ton took this chance to bring the Aquila alongside to begin boarding.
Robert was quick to assess the distance between ships before hollering, "Hook us in! Bring her close! To arms! To arms!"
Richard took this cue to quickly open the weapons crate and handed the crew a rifle to defend themselves in the coming fight. Grabbing one for himself, he nodded off to his brother as he headed to the left side of the ship while David remained at the top deck. Shooting at any enemies within his range, he shouted to his team, "Man the swivels! Cover from the quarter deck!"
Robert directed the sailors that were hoisting the Aquila to the larger ship, "Secure the aft lines! Tie off the bow!"
Once the Aquila was parallel to the other ship, Ratonhnhaké:ton waited until the distance closed enough to board her. Grabbing his weapons of choice in close combat, he secured them to his belt and ran to the left side of the ship. Using the bannister of the Aquila, he used the strength in his legs to propel himself overboard and landed on the bannister of the opposite ship. Quickly, he pulled himself up onto the ship as his crew began following him onboard. Robert and David stayed behind to man the ship from danger while Caroline and Richard followed their captain.
She had never jumped onto another vessel larger than hers but didn't hesitate to follow Ratonhnhaké:ton. There was no way she was boarding from her spot on the crow's nest like he did at times so she'd returned to the top deck with her weapons fully loaded. Whether it was bravery or love, it was enough to propel her forward for this fight without a care as she hurled through the air to grab onto the edge of the other ship. Using her strength, she pulled herself up and rolled onto the ship. Practiced calculation had led her to grabbing a hidden knife in her vest to strike down anyone heading her way upon landing.
Ratonhnhaké:ton had already targeted the captain because he needed information. A soldier jumped in his way to obstruct his view but before he could draw his pistol, Caroline shot the man twice in the chest with her own. The man fell backwards with no inclination of getting up and she nodded with resolve, "Go, I have you covered!"
He didn't want to leave her alone but she pushed him onwards while she was adamant on handling the rear. With regret, he headed off after the man as he stuck to the edges of the burning ship. Caroline was aware there were fights where she couldn't follow and this was one of them because he needed answers for his order. She would keep the enemy at bay from following him and quickly reloaded her pistols to fire them once more, emptying them into the enemy. The fallen mast had taken care of clearing the upper deck, for the most part, but the soldiers from below were now surfacing.
"Now this is one of hell of a fight!" Richard cheered as he shot his rifle against soldiers running their way, striking each in critical spots. They weren't about to let them reach their captain and the redhead shook her head to his enthusiasm.
Another wave of enemies burst forth from below deck and she frowned when her pistols shot nothing at them. She tried reloading both but it was a fruitless effort as they approached, causing her to abandon that ideas. Caroline was forced to unsheathe her sword and clashed it against a sailor to protect herself, frowning when they taunted, "What's this then? A lil' bird with a lil' knife."
Raising her left leg, she kicked the man in the midsection to push him back and pulled out Lady from her belt. A bullet through the throat put an end to that knife insult when she used her favorite weapon and she shrugged, "Boring conversation anyway."
Her smaller pistol was faster at reloading in comparison to the heavier Albert so she'd managed to push in one bullet before tucking it away. She managed to stab a few more sailors in their tangle with her crewmen to lend them a hand. Her focus was her captain, however, and she watched him descend the fiery deck to the left. Richard could see the concern in her eyes and with the Aquila's men quickly gaining the upper hand, he shouted over, "Go on, I have your six!"
She was quick in following Ratonhnhaké:ton to ensure nobody aimed their gun at his back while doing her best to reload bullets into her pistols. Lady was faster at it than Albert but he carried more ammunition to last in a firefight. She halted when a wall of flame erupted in front of her, blocking her path to him as she watched him leap for the top deck. Growling under her breath, she kicked in a portion of the wall that was caving to the fire to make another way through to her captain.
From his end, Ratonhnhaké:ton had disposed of his enemies by either chucking them overboard by force or ending their life with a blade. Once he disposed of a group of four, shooting the captain at point blank range had finished his job for him. He hadn't aimed at the head because he needed answers and went for the heart to buy time. This entire attack was suspicious from the start and he didn't buy the English banners.
With the enemy on his back and weaponless to the critical shot, Ratonhnhaké:ton questioned, "How does the British Command know about the Belladonna?"
"British Command knows nothing of this" was the ominous reply he received as the man clung to life and coughed as blood filled his lungs.
If the Loyalists weren't sent by their commander, how did they know about the French frigate? Only more questions arose as they pointed him towards the Templars as the culprit. Still, how did they manage to manipulate them into such a great number out at sea? Narrowing his eyes with suspicion, he asked coldly, "Then how are you here?"
The man closed his eyes briefly before responding simply, "We were led here by a Patriot. Nicholas Biddle."
Ratonhnhaké:ton tensed at hearing that name, remembering the battle earlier that year. He had wondered what happened to the mysterious man and where his loyalties lied. No true Patriot would keep leading the enemy to caches or linger close to them to begin with. He had a suspicion for where his allegiance lay and questioned, "Who does Biddle work for?"
"I think you know, Assassin" the other captain replied coldly before gasping for air, eyes rolling back as he passed away. Ratonhnhaké:ton noticed a Templar ring on him that only served to affirm the infiltration to both sides in the war ran deeper than anticipated. This didn't bode well for the Assassins as their ties lay with the Patriots, releasing a breath to the realization that both sides would play against them.
Caroline jerked him out of his reprieve when she grasped his shoulders from behind to beckon, "Come on before the fire engulfs us!"
He had been entirely focused on finding answers that he forgot they were on a burning ship. Surprised to find her beside him, he blurted with concern, "How did you- never mind!"
Together, they retraced their steps back to the Aquila with him in the lead. He wasn't going to let her run headfirst into stray bullets but they found no opposition as they jumped over broken pieces of the deck. The fire was slowly burning it away as the ship began to sink into the water as the pressure ruptured weak points, exposing them to rushing water. Reaching the main deck, he approached the main bannisters and quickly raised his pistol to shoot two men that readied their rifles at them. Caroline didn't hesitate to join to guard their backs, pressing hers to his, to finish any stragglers that dared to attack. He motioned for her to jump first and she squeezed his hand before letting go, grabbing onto the bannister and jumping off.
Everything blurred around her as the Aquila zoomed fast below her, landing on her feet before falling onto her knees from the force. Looking up, she was relieved to see the blue form of her captain as he made it safely back onto the ship. Unlike her, he landed more gracefully like a cat and was on his feet instantly. Noticing her awed gaze, he held out a helpful hand and she grabbed it like a giddy schoolgirl. He was definitely her number one hero.
"You two are late" Richard laughed as he snapped the two out of their sentimental bubble. The captain shook his head before returning to the top deck while Caroline hesitated, pointing to the sinking ship. The gunnery officer shrugged nonchalantly before admitting with a triumphant smirk, "I cleared out what I needed. That, and found sacks of loot."
Robert noticed his captain's approach, glad to see him safe, and asked the burning question, "What did the captain tell you?"
Now that he knew the truth, he didn't hesitate to answer, "Nicholas Biddle led them here. He set-"
His words faded away when he spotted the Randolph itself, quickly withdrawing the spyglass from his coat and pinning the other captain in his scope. The other man was aware of him as well as he mimicked the same action and Ratonhnhaké:ton knew instantly that the man was a Templar. No true Patriot would leave the Belladonna defenseless in the battle they had just faced. Grimly, he confirmed, "The Randolph."
"The Randolph?! Beat to quarters!" Robert exclaimed because the ship was becoming more of a menace. He hadn't forgotten the harassment of Martha's Vineyard and moved quickly to ring the bell. The sailors that weren't out of action readied themselves for another fight.
Ratonhnhaké:ton, however, didn't see that as a viable option that they could win. They had just escaped one battle and the damaged French frigate needed their help. If they dived into battle with another Man O'War, they would lose, and the Belladonna would fall into Templar hands. He shook his head to stop his men from giving chase and ordered loudly, "Belay that order! He is putting us to his rudder. We cannot leave the Belladonna undefended."
Robert saw an opportunity to be rid of another enemy and tried to get him to reconsider, "But sir!"
The captain decided to take his victory here and wait for the next time that Biddle would surface. His priority was to get the Belladonna to dock in the closest colony and avoid any more fights. His men also needed aid and rest, leading him to remind, "She is incapacitated and vulnerable. Let him go. We will see each other again soon."
The able crew rounded up the injured to be healed by their onboard medic, who had thankfully not been injured in the scuffle. Once Caroline helped her crew get in line for the medic, she headed back upstairs to assess the damage. Parts of the bannister had been blown off again (how many times did they have to rebuild it?) and debris covered the deck. The bright side was that there were no ongoing fires and their sails were in tiptop shape.
Ratonhnhaké:ton had handled preparing the Belladonna to return to dock safely. Without the masts, she was dead in the water. They had resorted to using all ropes available from both ships to tie the Belladonna to the stern of the Aquila. Together, the stronger ship would tug the damaged one to shore.
Thankfully, the job would be easier after he managed to convince the captain to return to the Belladonna. Otherwise, he'd have a headache by the time he reached Savannah. His crew hadn't suffered casualties, but some had dislocations, contusions, and the occasional bullet fragments. He caught sight of his favorite redhead as she emerged from below deck and whistled for her attention.
She was more than happy to join him at the wheel and saluted her first mate with a perky grin. Robert brushed off her silly banter but he was glad to see the young woman safe. They didn't need her flying overboard again and his captain worrying his mind sick for her.
"I hadn't seen you fight like that" Ratonhnhaké:ton remarked to her dual hand coordination since he'd only watched her shoot one pistol at a time. It seemed she had been practicing in her spare time while he'd been away from her. Hopefully, it hadn't been her rage at him that fueled her skill.
"Psh! It's nothin'- ow!" she chuckled modestly but when she waved her right hand, felt a sharp pain shoot down her arm. Hmm, she hadn't noticed that before.
Ratonhnhaké:ton caught it immediately and his gaze turned firm to state protectively, "You're injured."
"No-o-o-o. . .maybe?" Caroline deflected with an awkward chuckle to make light of it and rotated her shoulder. The same burning pain struck her bicep and she stopped, pouting at her limb for betraying her. Had she sprained or cut her arm onboard that other ship?
He wasn't buying her dismissal at all and stepped away from the wheel, motioning for Robert to take control. The first mate laughed when the redhead groaned pitifully to the captain heading her way, feeling small instantly. You couldn't ignore your superior so she stayed put, frowning when he pointed to his cabin and ordered, "Let me see your arm, all of it."
"Aw, nuts" she pouted as he pulled her away from navigation duty but followed him diligently. She didn't want to take him away from their mission but he had grown protective of her since joining the Aquila. It was an appreciated sentiment, causing her to adore him even more if it was possible.
He opened the door and held it open for her to go inside first, amused by her small frown. It wasn't his intent to pull her away from her duties but her well-being came first. Her family expected her back safely and he wouldn't disappoint them. Closing the door behind him, he grabbed one of his personal aid kits from a makeshift shelf over the bed and motioned for her to sit. Caroline sighed with defeat before sitting and undoing the metal buttons of her vest. Removing the fabric to drape it on her lap, she smiled to the concern in his voice, "Don't hide your injuries from me, neither of us are invincible."
"Sometimes, I think you are" she teased to his impressive skill on the battlefield as his stamina and strength outmatched hers. He shook his head to her compliment and she flicked his chest with the ends of her vest to rub off his modesty. He gripped the fabric to stop her because he needed to see her arm, pointing at it. She handed him the vest before turning her attention to the copper buttons of her blue tunic to slip it over her head. There was a slight burning sensation in her bicep but it disappeared once she lowered her arms. Raising her head, she asked him cheekily, "Is this revenge for undressing you in the Arctic?"
This was the first time she'd undressed before him since she didn't count their adolescent dip in the cove. He'd scattered before he'd seen more than her upper back but now, she sat before him wearing her feminine shift and stay. She refused to wear bone or wood in her stay but her mother had haggled that metal lining would at least protect her from weapon fire.
Ratonhnhaké:ton realized he couldn't avert his gaze due to her injury and cursed her boldness at simply flicking her clothes off. Years ago, they'd run in opposite directions! There was no blood on her stay and he avoided glancing at the swell of her chest, grabbing her right arm to declare, "No, I have to make sure you're safe."
He found the culprit of her pain in an open laceration across her right bicep as blood began to clot. It was most likely caused by a stray bullet or the swipe of a knife. His eyes met Caroline's as she fiddled with her pooled clothing and the knowing gleam in his brown eyes led her to blurt, "I didn't know, honest!"
She was endearing even when injured but it fell on him to protect her. Otherwise, what kind of man would he be? He grabbed cotton from his bag to douse it in alcohol and cleaned the wound carefully, hearing faint grumbles from Caroline. She was never the type to enjoy medical treatment but he wouldn't let her escape until he was done. Deciding to focus on positive things instead of the intense burning on her flesh, she spoke aloud, "I can't help but wonder how fortunate we are to survive and to keep seeing the wonders of our world."
"You were injured" he pointed out flatly to the downside of travel in their times and she scoffed dismissively. Humored by her defiance, he let her skin dry before wrapping clean linen over her bicep to tie it.
"Just a flesh wound" she dismissed with a small smile and pointed to his medical handiwork. He was a man of all trades. Leaning into him, her lips brushed over his right temple as he closed the leather satchel and tossed the soiled cotton in the corner closest to the door. She was alluring in her movements, not to mention state of dress, when her palm cupped his cheek and she smiled sweetly, "You patched me up good though."
"I can't help but notice you've taken injuries lately" he stated grimly to their recent voyage because he was trying to show her the dangers of the Templars. If he continued doing this, would she come to greater harm? He didn't want the one he loved to be caught in the crossfire. Sitting down beside her, her arms swept over his waist to squeeze him close.
"I never had to fight this much" she chuckled softly but she would fight back harder every time she was knocked down. He lived a hard life but she would stand beside him to protect him. He'd been alone most of his life and deserved to have someone in his corner. Curling a lock of his dark hair around her finger, she promised enthusiastically, "I aim to give 100% onboard, cap."
Shooting her a knowing look, she flashed an innocent smile and he smiled back with affection, "You're good to go. Stay by the shrouds."
"Thank you!" she cheered for the clean bill of health and leaned over to kiss him. The privacy of his cabin allowed them to bond away from the world and Ratonhnhaké:ton returned the kiss. His left hand smoothed over her bare shoulder as he hugged her close to him, enjoying the silkiness of her skin. Nipping his top lip, she nudged his nose with hers and whispered sneakily, "Not a word about my indecency."
"Never" he whispered with a fond smile to her playful nature and chuckled when she winked impishly.
Drawing her into another kiss, his hand moved from her shoulder to cup the back of her head and threaded his fingers into her braid. Her tongue was an agile snake against his but he returned the same commitment, hearing a groan of submission from within her throat. Caroline broke off the kiss with flushing cheeks as she grabbed her uniform, clutching it to her chest. He certainly knew how to curl her toes nowadays and sighed dreamily when he kissed her cheek in farewell, "Take your time."
Ratonhnhaké:ton turned away (quite regrettably) from his partner as she quickly threw her tunic over her head. Stepping out of his cabin, he closed the door behind him to return to his duties. Robert was already trying his best not to give him an inquisitive look and the assassin assured, "It was merely a scratch, I over worried."
Overseeing the Belladonna's return to Savannah was the easiest job of the day as the sea remained clear. The winds were finally in their favor and helped catapult the Aquila to the coast while the other ship tagged along helplessly. Ratonhnhaké:ton and every other crew member were glad to catch sight of the coast of Savannah as they entered allied waters. Caroline had clambered up to the first platform, at her captain's order, to guide the Aquila but stay within safe reach.
They arrived in Savannah before sunset as the reddish-pink sky carried the silver tints of impending sundown. Ratonhnhaké:ton had never been happier to see the ropes release the Belladonna, freeing the Aquila to the sea once more. He had saved the ship and the cargo, not to mention her crew, and tried not to wince when he heard French yelling on the opposite side of the docking platform from the Belladonna's captain.
It wasn't his fault that the ship was abandoned to the enemy and he'd done his best. Otherwise, the Belladonna would be at the bottom of the ocean at that moment. His crew was cleaning the top deck of debris while the gunnery crew was taking inventory and cleaning their artillery. Robert took control of overseeing the cleanup duty while Ratonhnhaké:ton took a breath by the bustling docks. A flick to the side of his hat caused him to jerk out of his thoughts and he found Caroline smiling at him. Without a word, she motioned towards Aveline as the assassin approached the Aquila. She had been overseeing the other crew to ensure everything went to plan and to avoid unexpected explosions from improper handling.
"Not too bad, right? Aside from the broken masts" Caroline piped up confidently to their job and pointed to the docked Belladonna. Her crew, the uninjured ones anyway, were unloading the crates of gunpowder to awaiting wagons that would set out for the Continental Army. The ship, however, would remain stationed there for repairs until she was seaworthy.
"You brought her in one piece, that's good in my book" Aveline agreed with a friendly smile as her gaze swept over the Aquila. She could see they had given the Templars a worthy fight and thankfully, endured no casualties. That spoke greatly of a sea captain to her. Her light eyes dulled slightly when she heard another barrage of French yelling and sighed dryly, "Can't agree about the captain but I apologize for that."
"We struck a point against the Templars" Ratonhnhaké:ton stated with conviction that they gained the upper hand for a short time. The gunpowder would support the rebellion which would thwart Templar efforts through the Loyalist army. It had been a month's journey to reach the southern colonies after their scuffles along the way but they made it and survived unscathed. He was glad to be in touch with others from the Order and nodded respectfully to her, "Thank you for informing us."
"No, thank you for coming here so far from home" she pointed out with gratitude that they made the journey, knowing they could face danger or arrive to a demolished Belladonna. It was nice to meet other assassins to pick their brain on theories or opinions. They came from an ancient order and sometimes, rules required modification. For now, however, they were free from an accomplished mission and she proposed, "Come, let's celebrate with dinner."
"Victory and food?" Caroline asked eagerly with wide eyes to sitting down to a hot fresh meal. Unless they were restocking or on shore leave, their food was dry and not perishable which was not appealing. After eating bread, dried meat, and cheese for weeks, she was ready for fresh food. Clapping her hands together, she grinned widely with glee, "Where are we going?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't going anywhere without alerting his crew and quickly intervened, "Wait, I have to inform Faulkner or he'll send a rescue squad after us."
Caroline chuckled softly as he left them and watched him go to Robert to let him know. Aveline shook her head with amusement when the first mate waved him away with a hearty chuckle to go have fun and told her friend, "He has a kind heart, which makes a good leader. He needs someone strong by his side to watch his back against those who would harm him. I hope that is you."
"I will always protect him- oh, you mean as one of you" she declared protectively but paused at catching the knowing gleam in her eye. Boy, they really wanted her as a recruit, didn't they? Was she truly a good candidate for their work? Ratonhnhaké:ton was one of a kind in his skills and if he saw her capable, then maybe. . . maybe he was right.
Regardless of what I think of their group, he's my priority in protecting, she thought fiercely because he loved her and she'd protect him to the very end. He didn't have a family to shield him from harm with his village being far away, allowing her family and all of Davenport to protect him. He was their heroic wolf but they would defend him like a pack.
"Just my thought" Aveline remarked warmly at seeing her dedication because the two appeared formidable already. If he managed to train her as one of them, the north would have one more number in their fight. Caroline avoided the topic by glancing down and fiddling with the red kerchief laying over her tunic.
"Are we ready?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked the two as he returned, eager to spend an evening out without work to do. It was such a rare occurrence nowadays and he smiled faintly when Caroline grabbed his left arm with agreement. He would never tire of her slender hand against his forearm and was proud that she didn't fear what others said about them. Curious to where Aveline would lead them, he asked, "Where are we going?"
The north was accustomed to seafood and the rivers for their main staple of food while the south had a different variety. They were also influenced heavily by the French while the north was more inclined to English foods. While the English normally turned away from their cuisine when traveling, the French incorporated ingredients from many cultures. She led the pair away from the docks to her favorite inn while in town to show them some hearty southern hospitality.
"This little tucked away place that has amazing food- souffles, stews, meat pies, fried pies, you name it!" she declared jovially because she had a hankering for stew but her northern friends were already fanning themselves from the humidity. The cool breeze was barely starting to roll in from the marina but a hint of humidity always lingered in the air. Raising her finger in the air, she added in for their benefit, "Best of all, everyone of color is welcomed and nobody strolls in to cause trouble."
"I heard great things about Georgia's peach pies" Caroline squealed excitedly since she'd yet to have an outing with friends. She wasn't dressed like a proper lady but then again, neither was Aveline. She absolutely loved that and didn't feel alone for choosing that lifestyle or way of dressing.
Aveline brought up the next best part about the place in case they enjoyed music and informed, "Their dancing isn't as lively as ours in New Orleans but still enjoyable."
"Dancing?" Caroline echoed as she perked up even more and squeezed Ratonhnhaké:ton's arm. She hadn't danced in ages and wondered how different their styles were in the south. Aveline nodded with agreement and stretched out her hand to the redhead, who eagerly latched on.
Caroline's laugh echoed through the streets when Aveline tugged her forward and the two took off, dragging Ratonhnhaké:ton along. The redhead had failed in releasing her grip and he ran along beside the two as they laughed in their glee to eat and dance. He wasn't the type for the latter and quickly blurted with alarm, "Wait, no, I don't know how to dance!"
"There's a first time for everything, brother" Aveline dismissed to throw caution to the wind and enjoy their night out on the town.
Night had fallen over the sea and the Aquila's sails were furled while she was stationed at Savannah's port. Ratonhnhaké:ton had pondered staying out at sea that first night but after fighting Templars, the coast was a safer choice. They would know that the Assassins were holding strong in the area and they could easily be attacked at sea. Caroline had ended her shift for the evening and allowed the night owls to take over, a skill she hadn't been able to learn. Being a country girl, she'd been accustomed to waking and sleeping early.
"Be on the alert, there's plenty of coffee downstairs" she ordered the subordinate crew to take over as she landed on the deck. She didn't get tired of the solitude on the top mast and often found her captain there at sunrise. It was the quietest place onboard when one needing to think.
Adam, her faithful sailor and savior, saluted her confidently and promised, "Aye, aye, ma'am."
He and another sailor would take over for the next five hours until the sunrise crew would come out. By that time, however, the Aquila would be preparing its departure to begin the next leg of their trip. Ratonhnhaké:ton had mentioned heading south to the Bahamas for relics pertaining to the Order so she would see come tomorrow.
"Have a good night" she chuckled softly to their enthusiasm as the two began talking about turtle soup. Ratonhnhaké:ton had given the crew the night off once they returned from their own dinner with Aveline to let them enjoy their victory. Most had gone to a tavern or restaurants; she was the only one that hit the souvenir shops. Her family was always in the back of her mind so she'd take them trinkets from every travel.
Knocking on the captain's door, she announced her presence and waited until she heard the door unlock. When it creaked open, she smiled at seeing Ratonhnhaké:ton and he stepped aside to allow her entrance. With night settled into the sky, nobody wandered the deck so she wouldn't be seen slipping inside.
Her arms swept over his shoulders as she drew him into a kiss, surprising him to her sudden friskiness. He was quick to close and lock the door with only his fingers since Caroline had quite the strong grip. She broke off their kiss and locked their gazes to quickly explain, "I couldn't exactly do this after the battle so I'm keeping things subtle."
"Still a little daring" he joked gently since he'd barely locked the door before she'd pounced. Not that he minded her passion.
"I've never seen a captain as dashing as you" she complimented because he was a force to be reckoned with, on land or sea. He had run without stop to end their enemies onboard the frigate and seeing him practically leap into fire made one's heart soar with admiration. Despite the fancy for his heroics, she worried for potential danger and advised with concern, "But do try to keep jumping into fiery decks to a minimum?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton tilted his head to the side to pout slightly, alluring her even more, and asked dejectedly, "And let our enemies escape?"
"Don't be fresh" she chuckled to his playfulness, squeezing his shoulders fondly, and wondered if he was starting to get cocky. He was adept at many things but she didn't want any of it getting to his head. He wasn't the type of man to boast, being humbler than anything else, and she reminded firmly, "I don't want to lose you one day."
"I'm always with you" he assured softly because he wouldn't take a risk without having a backup in mind. Everything he did was to protect the innocent and if his time came, well, who was he to say no? Everyone returned to the earth at some point in their lives.
Caroline leaned over to lock her arms behind his neck to hug him tightly once more. She didn't want anything happening to him, not after reuniting with him. She expected many years at his side and nothing else. He was an integral part of her life and she whispered against the crook of his warm neck, "I love you, my strong wolf."
"And I love you, my watchful eagle" he replied affectionately to settle her worries and brushed a kiss over her cheek. Tucking her close to him by the waist, he informed her of their trip schedule, "We have one last stop to an abandoned castle, no battles. After that, I am taking you home where we can spend the rest of this year without chaos."
The thought of spending the rest of 1776 tucked away in Davenport sounded marvelous. There would be minimal travel adventures and more Clara but Caroline was fine with that. Their home was an adventure with the teeming wilderness and he had promised to ignore Clara on her behalf. Her concern was whether his enemies would be kept at bay while he took a break from it all.
"How can you be sure of it?" she asked skeptically because they didn't have the best of luck. His work was important to him and she didn't want to keep him from it. Hmm, that did sound like she was in their corner now after seeing the naval fight.
"Blind optimism?" he offered with a solemn smile to the rough life he'd led so far despite holding on to the good aspects of it. She was the most important person in his life and he wanted to show her that they could have a life away from the Order. It wouldn't be easy but he was willing to try his best for her. Releasing her from their tight embrace, he brushed back a strand of hair to outline her jaw and smiled, "Also, good luck came my way so I'm hopeful."
"What do you mean?" she asked with curiosity as she watched him move to his desk, which was littered with books, maps, ink quills, and cleaning cloths. Despite the large number of items, he managed to keep them tightly organized which was impressive on a moving vessel.
He grabbed a small package wrapped in a yellow cloth that had been knotted at the top to hide the contents. Handing it over to her, Caroline heard the clinking of glass as the package was heavier than it looked. Setting it down on his bed, she sat down beside it to open it carefully in case it was fragile. Her blue eyes lit up as it revealed several jars of molasses and her fingers tapped against the glass to exclaim, "Wha- How?!"
"That loud-mouthed captain was going to toss them when his company provided them here" he admitted with a hint of mischief to what he'd done while he bore through the nonstop complaining. He had been kind enough to stay to see the Belladonna docked but his patience had a limit. It had never been reached until then which surprised them because he expected to lose it on a Templar, not a civilian. Caroline muffled a laugh behind her hands as he shrugged lightly and confessed, "I decided to rescue and provide them a new home."
"Thank you, my dear one" she smiled giddily to her new treat because she'd certainly give them a good home. Tapping the top of the molasses jar, she smiled impishly, "Do you know what goes great with molasses?"
Ratonhnhaké:ton paused at the mischievous gleam in her eyes and before he could object, she declared with glee, "Dancing!"
Before he could object, Caroline set aside her new jars on the bed and darted to his side to grasp his hands. Squeezing them tightly, she tugged him forward strongly as he dug his heels into the floor to stop her momentum. His eyes widened slightly as she pulled up against him and placed his right hand behind her waist while she raised the other before tugging him into a waltz.
They were not the best at coordination as he stepped over her feet and she stumbled to the side as she jerked back on instinct. Boy, she didn't expect that throbbing on her toes that quickly. Stopping her attempt at dancing, he grasped her waist before pointing out knowingly, "This is why I don't dance."
"So, we're both horrible dancers" she chuckled dismissively to their lack of dance moves and traced her hands down his chest. He wasn't made for dancing but saving the world. Smiling brightly at him, she was undeterred and encouraged, "This is why we'll practice indoors."
"We'll sound like a herd of cattle and wake the crew but fine" he stated dryly with an amused smile to her determination, leaning down to sneak in a kiss. Caroline laughed to his diversion tactics and wrapped her arms around his shoulders to let him have this one. There would be more trips onboard the ship and free time to practice, returning his kiss with the same enthusiasm.
A/N: Like I've written before, the naval missions always make me happy. Now that Connor and Caroline are back together, the two make a tough pair to beat. The new couple will be heading back to Davenport to resume their civilian lives for the rest of the year before entering 1777, which I'm also excited about. Can anyone say wedding bells galore? Plus, we'll get the last of Davenport's residents to fill their small town.
Thank you for reading my story as always and to my last chapter reviewers:
Faron Oakenshield: They're together till the end now!
Jynxhasadragon: Your review cracked me up when I badly needed it at work! I imagined a ship sailing with a red heart insignia on it and the R&C initials, haha.
Thunderstrike16: Their issues are totally resolved now and they're together forever- or at least, till the end of the story.
LilyQuix: Thank you for enjoying my story and welcome! It's definitely not a short tale and I usually update every month due to my full-time work at my hospital (which I expect to get a little heavier with COVID-19 in my state) and being a part-time student in my master's program. I'm trying to finish up the last chapter of the year 1776 before starting 1777 because that tells me Haytham is closer to popping in for dry hilarity.
Taylor115: This story is a very slow burn style due to Connor's secret life and Caroline wanting to gallivant in the outdoors (which I agree, wasn't the safest idea back then). On the plus side, you made it this far which is the largest hurdle for the readers and they're not separating ever again. They're on the road to making a family, whenever the Templars don't interfere. Godfrey and Terry are always together in missions so it isn't surprising to get them confused, lol.
Next Chapter Excerpt:
"Do you think this is enough for breakfast?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked cautiously because he wanted to provide for her family. If he couldn't demonstrate that he could care for her family, how would they trust him to take care of her? He would be whisking the oldest daughter away, who was also providing income to the household.
Walter had taken up on sorting a breakfast order for the couple in a wooden crate for easier handling during transfer. The smells of Corrine's fresh and aromatic cooking filled the bar counter, making the two even hungrier. They had failed to eat anything with their crew to make their escape quick while their order was being made. As he stacked two whole chickens on the bottom, the mild-mannered Walter commented, "I think your order should be fine. You have several chickens, meat pies, a loaf of bread, several cheeses, and cranberry pie. I'll throw in some salted butter, Martha likes it."
"She's mighty keen on you too" Caroline chuckled softly because her sister was smitten with the innkeepers' grandson. He was a million times more amicable than his sisters and didn't judge anyone with his laidback demeanor. Walter had fit in just fine in Davenport and Caroline hoped her sister had found her prince in town rather than the city.
Like Ratonhnhaké:ton, he averted his blue-gray gaze towards the wrapped pieces of aged cheese to state sheepishly, "No matter how much I fancy her and I do, I have to show your father I'm dependable and trustworthy."
"Don't break her heart and treat her with mutual respect, that's it" Caroline pointed out easily with a sympathetic smile because she wanted the best for her sister. She and Martha had finally bridged together peace and the two had grown closer this past year than any other. Their father only wanted their best well-being and she flicked her thumb towards Ratonhnhaké:ton, "He approved of my Connor, which most fathers would have refused."
"That was two years ago, what if it's changed?" he whispered uncertainly because the unfounded Clara rumors in town didn't help. They had run so rampant that he'd be surprised if the lumberjack didn't hear about them. Godfrey had always treated him respectfully and if he'd unknowingly broken that rare trust, he was in deep trouble. He didn't want to be chased out of their home by Charlotte!
Walter darted a finger between the two with disbelief to what he'd heard and asked to double-check, "You two are courting?"
Caroline's eyebrow of interrogation shot up instantly and she questioned, "That a problem?"
"No! My apologies" he blurted quickly with embarrassment to sounding intolerant and waved his hands. He didn't want to upset the sister of his lady and who could one day be his family. He was already under scrutiny for being an out of towner and his sisters hadn't helped their image either. He meant no ill will towards the two and gazed at Ratonhnhaké:ton to correct, "Before you left, my sister was rather insistent with you. . .but I'm glad you chose Ms. Burnett."
Ratonhnhaké:ton had no response for that because he didn't want to acknowledge the attention from Clara. She'd inadvertently brought him more trouble than he realized and almost lost Caroline. He wouldn't risk anyone coming between their bond and would take more calculated care. Walter surprised the two by revealing with a downcast gaze, "We're expected to leave soon."
"A 'we' doesn't always have to include you" Caroline stated gently because she had heard plenty about the girls anxiety to return to the city. Their lifestyle in the rural countryside wasn't their fit and she respected that. To each their own. However, if he wasn't dedicated to leaving, nobody could truly force him. Encouraging him to follow his heart, she pointed out, "You have a say in your future."
"Thank you, that means a lot" he agreed with relief that he didn't have to adhere to everyone's mold of what he should be.
Thank you for reading!