Color The Sky

by Mystic Blade

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

76. The Battle of Chesapeake Bay

Music Inspiration: Two Steps from Hell- "Moving Mountains" and Thomas Bergerson- "Homecoming"

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The Battle of Chesapeake Bay

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5 September 1781

The Aquila entered the waters of New York's harbor to rendezvous with Admiral de Grasse's fleet. Ratonhnhaké:ton was deemed insane by the admiral for his plan to bombard Ft. George but the plan was set into motion nonetheless. He could not fail in holding the line against the English to uphold the deal with the French and finally seize the chance to end Charles Lee. There was a lot of risk involved with his plan but he was not alone in this fight with his Assassins on both land and water were at his side. He had already dropped off Clipper and Elizabeth to join the other Assassins into the tunnels to await his return.

For the moment, however, he would be occupied with multiple ships heading his way. Caroline and her navigation team were relaying positions of each ship to prepare the cannons to make each shot count. The bell for incoming enemies rang out, echoed by the Vaillante behind them, and Ratonhnhaké:ton called out to his team, "The fleet is on offense, we are defense on any ships breaking the line!"

Robert whistled at the white sails heading their way at top speed, glad to have extra help in the coming fight, but pondered aloud, "Herod all handsaws! Hell has manifest upon the sea. How many do you reckon?"

The echoes of coordinates from the navigations team became difficult to discern and he muttered bitterly, "Too many."

His first mate was undeterred since they had escaped tighter spots before and piped up confidently, "If anyone can hold the line, 'tis us. I only hope the Admiral's quick to return."

"First enemy approaching at 1 o'clock!" Caroline shouted down below to the duo to determine their strategy of attack. They had several ships from the French on their side but her husband tended to tackle all enemies first or draw attention foremost to the Aquila to keep others safer. With this being his plan, he felt responsible for all onboard the ships.

David patted the barrel of a cannon as he walked to the bow of the ship and hollered to the sailors, "Let us say hello, gents!"

The silence of the air exploded with the bellows of cannon fire as the Aquila engaged the enemy first, unleashing all its cannons as it swerved around one of the English frigates. Ratonhnhaké:ton moved the ship to cut across the line and swerved behind them to fire into the aft of several ships before they could turn around to retaliate. With the aid of the French and the Vaillante, they were able to fire directly at the other ships in a second barrage. The cohesive line of enemy ships received fire head-on while the Aquila prepared its next attack.

Gliding behind the enemy line, he avoided incoming fire with their turning delay which gave enough time to reload the cannons onboard. Ratonhnhaké:ton did not know the experience or firepower of the other ships, apart from the Vaillante which was holding her own by cutting through the line for a similar formation. Billows of white smoke filtered through the air between the warring ships, concealing shots momentarily with a brief reprieve of silence before gunfire echoed again.

The naval battle was fierce as the Aquila earned strikes to the banister, splintering the polished wood into shards. The sailors and cannons held against the onslaught as they dove into the center of the fray to sink the nearest frigate and provide cover fire for a damaged friendly ship. The armaments of the Aquila were deadly to sink the strongest of ships but she had to evade dozens of enemies this time compared to a single foe. Ratonhnhaké:ton focused on steering the ship while Caroline's team correlated enemy movements to David, who hollered the same to Richard down below deck. They all had to work together in synchrony to survive the uneven odds.

Droplets of seawater flew struck the top deck when he swerved swiftly to the left to avoid being rammed, hitting a strong current. While the Aquila escaped another attempt at harming her hull, Robert took note of a French frigate on fire off to their left. Ratonhnhaké:ton attempted to head in its direction to offer support since the Vaillante was engaged in its own dance but it was too late when the main mast came crashing down. Robert shook his head with pity at the loss of an ally and sighed with disappointment, "She's breaking up! We're down a ship. Take care . . ."

Although the Aquila and Vaillante were holding their own in the fight, the same could not be said for the forces given to him by the admiral. One by one, each ship was struck down in the fight while Ratonhnhaké:ton and the Vaillante picked off the offending vessel together to make quick work of them. The numbers were rising against them and the two frigates had no choice but to stay close to engage the remaining enemy. The Loyalist reinforcements were eventually destroyed but all their allied ships were lost to the sea below.

Through the gray smoke filling the air, Caroline could no longer see any of the ships flying French flags and called out hesitantly, "Captain, the escorts are all sunk!"

Robert hissed under his breath, looking in both directions as the hazy smoke cleared to reveal all vessels but the Vaillante were gone. He knew their plan was already risky but to be alone as the only line of defense against the Loyalists while the stronger French fleet was nowhere close was not ideal. Their ammunition was almost nonexistent now and the Vaillante had to be close or worse. He shook his head at the odds stacked against them and told his captain grimly, "We're on our own now, sir... My God... Where are our blasted reinforcements?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton was undeterred by his first mate's concerns because he faced worse on land. His main concern was that the French kept their end of the agreement while he returned to land with all of his crew in one piece. He could not consider any negative implications or open his mind to defeat, focusing on his end goal. His grip tightened on the steering wheel and he replied evenly, "They will come. We must hold the bay until they do."

Their ship already sustained damage heavily and Robert smacked the banister with his fist to point out, "This is madness! You're alone and we're without reinforcements!"

There was nothing Ratonhnhaké:ton could do to change that but before he could answer, Caroline's voice hollered through the silence, "Nine o'clock! Man O' War's firing!"

This was the last thing they needed right now. The Aquila sped forward to avoid the attack range of the incoming heavy ship and Robert stated tightly, "All our guns are down. We've no way to defend ourselves now! That beast is sure to sink us if we're not careful."

They had very little ammunition after the heavy skirmish and the size of the Man O' War was not small. Ratonhnhaké:ton had faced these naval foes before and he knew the Aquila could hold her own in a head-on collision. He was no longer an inexperienced captain and his ship endured numerous upgrades to survive scuffles. Bullets would not take down the larger vessel but he wielded one powerful weapon as a last resort against the behemoth. Without hesitation, he gave out his next order firmly with conviction, "Charge forward!"

He swerved the Aquila fluidly to avoid incoming barrages of cannon fire and the Vaillante followed his lead to draw its attention. They couldn't focus on two frigates at once but he knew the Aquila would be the main prize to sink. Their ally still held some ammunition in store and fired off several cannonballs to distract the enemy. Ratonhnhaké:ton would accept whatever aid was available as he cut the distance to the Man O'War ever shorter. Robert saw the linear movement over the water and grasped the banister tightly, glancing over at his superior to balk, "You're not really planning to board them, are ye?"

"I have nothing else left to fight with" he answered tightly to their wasted ammunition since the enemy wave had not been tiny. There was only one mode of attack that would yield damage with a high-velocity impact while he would land onboard to execute the top officers. Without proper leadership and an injured hull, the mighty vessel would be inoperable.

This was not the first time Ratonhnhaké:ton had taken a risky move to win a battle but he always succeeded. From the crow's nest, Caroline's ears burned when she heard voices echoing from below, "Has he lost his mind? He's going to get us all killed!"

Being the type to never question her loyalty to her leader, she did not hesitate to nip such questions in the bud and shouted firmly, "Your captain has given an order, full sail ahead!"

David and Richard followed the redhead in the loyalty boat, ready to charge forward with his orders. The same loyalty echoed when they corralled anyone that thought otherwise. With neither top officers questioning their captain, the Aquila sailed straight ahead with the Vaillante providing cover fire. The whizzing of cannonballs and heavy splashes of seawater filled the air as the Aquila avoided incoming fire. Everyone, minus the captain, held their breath as the frigate picked up more speed towards the side of the Man O'War and Robert shouted to everyone, "Brace yourselves!"

Everyone clung to the nearest piece of wood or metal that was bolted down as the top deck of the Man O' War became visible. One downward movement of the waves plowed the Aquila straight into the right stern of the larger ship to bring the smaller frigate parallel to the injured ship. He would cripple the ship and leave it without its captain to successfully incapacitate it without the Aquila's armaments. Robert was quick to order the top deck to begin boarding procedures to align the Aquila while Richard hollered from below to send his team to offer firing support on top.

Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded to his first mate to hand over leadership momentarily, "The ship is yours, Mister Faulkner."

Without another word, he released the steering wheel to Robert and ran to the left side of the ship to disembark. The old sailor clutched the wheel for dear life as he stabilized his footing after the harsh lurch while Ratonhnhaké:ton jumped ship with ease like a limber cat. Caroline watched her spouse land safely on the opposite ship and sighed in relief, quickly returning to work when she heard Robert from below, "Burnett, you're my eyes!"

Through the gray smoke billowing from exchanging gunfire, she scanned the top deck carefully before calling out, "Twelve men on deck! Heading to 1 o'clock towards the captain!"

"Smoke bomb 'em, lads" David ordered swiftly to confuse the larger number on the enemy ship and buy Ratonhnhaké:ton some time. Just as their sailors hurled the bombs as best they could by hand, cannonfire rung through the air as the Vaillante targeted the main mast of the Man O' War. They were on the last of their ammunition and made it count with a strike that splintered the dense wood to damage the ship further.

The outside aid did indeed assist Ratonhnhaké:ton as he analyzed the numbers scrambling on the deck. He needed to find the captain quickly to untie the Aquila and keep her crew safe. The enemy sailors with knives and swords were easier to eliminate compared to those with bayonets, using his pistol to shoot them first before they could pull the trigger. When one jabbed the sharp bayonet in his direction, he surprised them by reaching forward to grip the barrel and yanked the weapon clear out of his hands. With a heavy swing, he used their own weapon against them by striking the man over the head and rendering him unconscious.

It did not take long to find the well-dressed captain in his blue attire and he dove forward with his hidden blade. The captain attempted to defend himself with his unsheathed sword but Ratonhnhaké:ton's strength shoved it aside, allowing him to dive his blade deep into the man's chest. The single wound was lethal and he stepped away to leave the ship, only to catch sight of the gunpowder storage peeking out from the mangled lower deck. Before the lingering sailors could attack, he withdrew his pistol to shoot the center barrel of the stash and the resounding explosion was deafening. From the Aquila, her crew hunkered down when a muffled explosion was heard before pieces of the hull attached to the windows exploded. Wooden debris filled the air as the embers were swallowed into the waves but the ship became beyond repair.

Through the smoke, nobody could see anything until Ratonhnhaké:ton burst from the gray cloud to land neatly on the Aquila's top deck yet again. The crew was swift in disengaging from the burning Man O'War, ringing the departure bell once more to let the Vaillante know they were in the clear. The navigations team saw no more white shrouds past the Vaillante and Caroline relaxed against the mast as the first part of the plan succeeded. Seeing her husband hurl himself from ship to ship was never easy and she hoped Cora would not have a similar knack when older.

Her sentiments were echoed by Robert when he shook his head in disapproval but his laugh said otherwise when he remarked bluntly, "You mad bastard."

Bells rung from the Vaillante as it returned to half-sail on the open sea and the navigations crew turned to see white sails in the opposite direction. Dozens of ships sailed with the French flag as the fleet finally arrived and Adam called out to her from the foremast, "The French are coming!"

"About bloody time!" Robert shot back with a frown at having to fight the enemy on their own without ammunition. From the sound of Ratonhnhaké:ton's plan, they would be the ones risking their skin the most but the payoff would be catastrophic for the Templars.

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The arrival of the French allowed Ratonhnhaké:ton to meet with Admiral de Grasse again for the next stage of his plan. The Aquila and Vaillante were trying to patch up their ships, and their crew, with the time given to them during this meeting along with borrowing ammunition from the other ships. They had held the line alone while all their other escorts sunk to the sea but the French forces were able to retrieve some of their sailors afterwards. Ratonhnhaké:ton promised to uphold his end to buy them time and kept his word; now it was the other captain's turn.

The Admiral was not as skeptical of the other captain's skill with their new interaction, remarking matter-of-factly, "They say you took down the man-of-war all alone. Perhaps Lafayette did not exaggerate when he spoke of your abilities. As promised, my ships are yours to command. What do you require?"

"Five of them must enter New York's harbor, flying British flags" he answered carefully for the naval infiltration team that would distract the fortress. He needed the French to buy him time to enter Ft. George and kill Lee, which would ultimately hand over the fortress to the Patriots and their allies.

De Grasse, on the other hand, was flabbergasted at his true intent and sputtered, "Wait, wait. I thought you might need some pirates killed or goods transported. Instead you ask for us to, what, shell New York?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head before answering politely, "No. Of course not."

This answer relieved the captain momentarily at avoiding a fight with an entire city and he sighed, "Ah. . ."

"Only part of it" Ratonhnhaké:ton revealed casually about their prime target and tried to keep a straight face when the other man glared in question.

"Explain yourself" De Grasse ordered with an airy sigh at what insane ploy he would have to undergo. Lafayette was already daring in his own right so he was not surprised to see he kept similar friends. Hopefully, he would not endure a watery grave by that evening.

Ratonhnhaké:ton did not mean to imply the city of civilians would be under siege, or send his ships inwards to be shot down, and clarified, "I mean to infiltrate Fort George. But it is too well-guarded. Cannon fire will breach its walls and scatter its guards."

De Grasse understood his plan at shaking the fortress only, unknown to its true purpose, and nodded with agreement, "And a ship that flies the French flag could never get near it . . ."

"You understand, then?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked carefully because he did not want his plan to fail before striking the fortress. Otherwise, he would have to return to the drawing board and retreat with the battered Aquila. His crew, his wife, the Valliante, and Aveline would not be happy.

De Grasse shook his head to state bluntly without hesitation, "Not at all. But a promise is a promise - even when made to a lunatique."

"I will light a signal fire when it is time for you to attack" he replied calmly, ignoring the insult but he did have a penchant for daring moves. Still, the majority of his decisions always paid off in success. With his friends and team behind him, he was even more confident to win today.

Ratonhnhaké:ton departed the French vessel when De Grasse began shouting orders and returned swiftly to his own ship. He needed to disembark the Aquila to meet with his Assassins to infiltrate the fort and granted Robert control over the ship to head to the port. The Vaillante would also stay out of the fight since it was too fresh from battle to slide with the French ships undetected. He could ask no more of them after that naval battle and would let them restock before their return to Davenport for medical aid. The Aquila would follow as well but Caroline requested that their vessel wait until their captain was safely back onboard. They would not be leaving the city without him and Robert seconded that motion.

While Ratonhnhaké:ton changed from his captain's attire to his Assassin robes, Caroline snuck inside their shared cabin. While they returned to port, she sought one last moment with him before he was sent into another raging battle. He was an indomitable force of nature and she believed he would achieve his goal today with so many at his side the whole way. Ratonhnhaké:ton was one step ahead of his wife when he heard the creaking floorboards and raised his hood over his dark hair, turning around to smile faintly at her, "You are not coming with me."

She would not deny that was her first choice but conceded to his ultimate decision to stay behind. Her faith would lie with the Assassins to watch over both him and Elizabeth after their entry into the tunnels below the fort. It was a tough internal struggle to not sneak off the ship and trail after them but she stuck to her orders. Crossing her arms, she pretended to feign ignorance and chided, "I didn't say a word."

"I know you too well" he replied with amusement at her offended pout which lightened the tense mood. Neither wanted to leave the other but he had to ensure Cora would have her mother return that day. He promised to keep his wife safe and leading her straight to Lee would be dangerous and foolish. At the same time, he needed a second leader to aid Robeet with the naval crew while he was away and instructed her, "I need you here with Mr. Faulkner to watch over our crew. I have the others."

"Aye, aye, cap'n" she obliged respectfully with a wavering voice but embraced him tightly around the shoulders. Separating from him during battle was the worst heartache but she had orders to follow. They were no longer the childless couple from years prior and had to preserve the future. She did not want to return home without him and pleaded quietly, "Please, return to us safely. Cora waits for you."

He kissed her forehead, relieved that his naval crew would be kept out of the firefight while the next team prepared for combat. She would not follow him on that road but he admired her perseverance to jump into the jaws of death to protect him. He cherished the loyalty of his wife, grateful she didn't tire of his fight, and told her with regret, "For many years I have told you one more fight and it has been a lie . . . I hope today is the day it rings true."

"It will" she reassured with a fond smile because he needed to enter this fight confidently. There was no room for error this time with so much weighing in the balance. He inspired all of them to believe the very best in themselves and she would encourage him to the very end. Hugging him tightly, she wanted a few more precious seconds with him before releasing him to chaos and whispered, "Give him hell."

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Ratonhnhaké:ton left Chesapeake Bay to return to port and rendezvoused with his Assassins to enter the underground tunnels. They lay on the outskirts of Fort George and Jacob's crew had found an entrance by an old dilapidated church which worked in their favor for privacy. Stephane awaited him when he departed the Aquila, accompanied by Aveline after she hopped off the Vaillante to offer aid for the infiltration team. The two French Assassins headed towards their meeting area together while he stuck behind to let them chat together. He was not a social butterfly and preferred to keep quiet before dangerous missions. After promising his family to return, he could not allow any distractions. If there was a persistent thought that flickered through, it was Cora and her wellbeing back home.

Darkness engulfed him when he entered the underground tunnels, the smell of stagnant water and wet earth filling the air. He was never a fan of being underground, especially when he had to scour dark endless caverns in his youth. He passed by Clipper and Elizabeth, who would keep the infiltration team covered by protecting the tunnels. He wanted to keep them away from the fight but he also needed dependable riflemen to keep outside enemies from entering the tunnels to stop them. Elizabeth winked at him as she filled the ammunition bag on her belt and reassured, "We have your back, boss."

Everyone else would be leaving the tunnels to eliminate their enemies topside, leaving Aveline to cover the infiltration entrance. She had already aided him in the naval battle and Ratonhnhaké:ton would not throw her into another scuffle that quickly. He passed by each of his Assassins as they finished preparing their gear and heard Stephane's voice echo from deeper in the tunnels. As he trudged forward, the lighting from the lanterns nailed to the walls illuminated Stephane, Aveline, and Gilbert. The three had stopped to talk by the last leg of the tunnels to await him with Stephane speaking aloud, "Sometimes I worry. . . That these Patriots - for all their talk of liberty and equality - will fall back into the old ways!"

Aveline crossed her arms to that foreboding thought, especially for the aid the Assassins lent them, and stated grimly, "It will be a shame if they become that which they fought."

Gilbert held hope for the new nation in the making and put forth his opinion on the key to that success, "It will depend greatly on who is chosen to lead them. A man of humble means - who has worked to earn his place . . . I think a man like that is less likely to dream of thrones."

Stephane shook his head with skepticism that none would crave for power and pointed out dryly, "All men dream of thrones. It is in our nature . . ."

"Then what would you do?" Gilbert inquired because he would hate to see his allies distort their original dream into a nightmare. He had put his life on the line multiple times, even risked his own reputation among his people, and did not want it to be a waste.

The Assassin had a foolproof plan to remove that risk by stating matter-of-factly, "Ensure their leader is sterile. Without an heir, the threat of succession is ended - and might be left to the people once more."

"That is one unique way to end the beginning of a monarchy" Aveline agreed with an amused smile because there was only one way to confirm a man was sterile. She doubted someone who wanted extreme power would go to such drastic means when they could easily declare themselves a dictator until death. Kings were no better than a dictator or emperor, a cycle that repeated itself through the centuries.

The trio noticed Ratonhnhaké:ton's arrival as his shadow slid across the dimly lit tunnel and Gilbert greeted him warmly, "Connor! This tunnel will take you into the military district."

The last hurdle to reach Fort George was within his grip but he needed to make sure the French held their end of the deal, clarifying, "And the Admiral?"

Gilbert knew the fleet would keep its promise and nodded with confidence, "He waits for you to light the signal - and then the strike begins!"

Stephane glanced over his right shoulder to smile at the New Yorker and Bostonian Assassins that were ready behind him. Ratonhnhaké:ton had trained them all for years and they could hold their own in a fight. He allowed only the original members to assist him, being the most experienced, to keep their team small and effective. The chef was happy to see them all come together for one last push against the Templars and told him, "And we will be there as well!"

Clipper waved the end of his rifle to be included in that tally and reminded his leader, "We're not leaving without you either!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded with acknowledgment, aware his sister-in-law would not leave unless she dragged him out herself. Entering the narrow tunnel, he headed forward in the shrouded darkness where only his footsteps sloshing over wet earth and his breathing were detectable. His special sight allowed him to see in the dark and lead his group forward until a sliver of light illuminated them from above. There was a circular opening above them but it was the entry point they needed. His fingers sought the wall for a decent grip before ascending upwards, the crumbly earth shifting to harder stone on the way to the surface.

He gained entry to the fort through an old unused well, climbing silently with his followers behind him. Since he was taking the risk of entering the fort, he would take out the first guards to keep the others safe. He quickly dispatched a nearby guard circling the well with his hidden blade and covered the others as they exited the well. He would make his way to the signal tower alone to ensure the armada began their bombardment. His Assassins followed suit and dispersed across the courtyard to take defensive positions to await his signal. They would silently eliminate anyone who threatened to expose their position but leave the other guards in the interior untouched.

They kept him shrouded against the guards as he made his way to the signal tower. Creating the replica at home assisted greatly in his navigation of the fortress by its familiar landmarks. He stuck closely to the brick walls until he reached the doorway of the tower, striking the metal lock with the underside of his metal gauntlet to break it open. The metal creaked as he lifted the latch, silently slipping inside to ascend the wooden stairway. His footsteps were cautious on the creaky wood as he shifted his weight carefully, keeping his gaze locked at every turn. He expected a guard to jump out at him but luck was on his side when he reached the top without a single encounter. He spotted the wooden hatch that led to the signal tower and he propped it open, his hidden blade unsheathed as he jumped out.

Again, he was alone on top of the tower and the pyre was untouched. The neat stack of tied vertical wooden branches and hay were ready to be lit for which he grabbed nearby rocks to swiftly swipe them together for a spark. After several fervent tries, he achieved a small ember that he tended to with a faint breath until it began growing deeper into the stack. Once the fire was set and blazing brightly, he accomplished that phase of the mission and moved on to the next task. He had to leave the tower promptly and found a ledge where he spotted a hay cart that could cushion his fall.

Dropping off the ledge, he fell neatly through the sky to land inside the cart of hay. Gripping the edge of the wagon, he pulled himself up to escape its safety net. Before he could swing one leg over the edge, a resounding explosion burst forth and the cart was flipped onto its right side. He managed to scramble out of the haystack as the earth shook with the cannon fire that ripped through the fortress walls. The falling debris reminded him of leaving Bunker Hill and this time, he was not lucky when the tower beside him collapsed. Its shadow engulfed his frame as he tried to run to safety but the heavy bricks struck his right side, sending him flying into another pile of fallen debris. Pain shot through his abdomen from the blunt strike of stone against flesh and he scrambled to stand upright before becoming trapped under another barrage. Being buried alive was not part of the plan but he was not surprised that his rare streak of luck ran out.

Clutching his right side, he drew in a sharp breath as he stumbled into a dark area of the fortress. His focus was solely on targeting Lee's silhouette amongst the chaos but his head swam with dizziness from the sudden strike. Shaking his head to clear that bothersome sensation, he inhaled deeply and ignored the pain in his side as he encouraged himself, "Need to get . . . inside the fort . . ."

He leaned against the wall of a corridor leading to one of the buildings to let guards run by. He could not engage any of them with what little strength remained in his body after that painful injury. His right side ached with every breath and he knew there was already a lecture awaiting him on the Aquila. Taking refuge in the empty home, he leaned against a nearby table to clear his head and pinched the bridge of his nose to refocus. His vision had become blurry upon impact but it was gradually returning as the dizziness faded. He would not risk leaving the safety of that hallway until the pain subsided and gripped the table tightly. Disappointment filled him for falling to friendly fire before reaching Lee and promised himself, I will return to you, Cora. I cannot leave you behind.

With a clear head once more, he wandered through the empty first floor without incident. There was an open doorway that led to the outside once more and without any open corners in his sight, he quickly crossed the distance to leave the building. Unfortunately, his exit was followed by another bombardment that catapulted him forward and he struggled to catch his footing. If the pain was not severe before, it definitely was now.

Struggling to stand upright, his head pulsed painfully while his backside took the brunt of the hit this time. His joints ached terribly as he pushed up against gravity to right himself against the nearest pile of rubble for balance. Looking to his right, there was a chasm that opened in the wall of the fortress that led further into the interior. He crept slowly towards the crevice as he calmed his breathing, resting momentarily in the darkness of the new tunnel to ponder, I am in no condition to fight. I need to stay away from the guards.

Ratonhnhaké:ton slid through the rocky crevice until it opened up to reveal an open courtyard. It was void of guards and empty but the isolation did not fill him with comfort but impending doom. He refused to be caught unaware by any lingering traps and took a deep breath to trudge forward. Leaving the fortress without killing Lee was not an option. Shoving his pain to the back of his mind, he refocused on finding his main target and yelled out, "Where are you, Charles?!"

The voice he least expected – and dreaded - to hear that day echoed behind him when Haytham revealed, "Gone."

Rage filled him at having his father protect that scoundrel once more instead of striving for peace. What happened to protecting Cora? If Lee lived, there was nothing to stop him from harming her. Before he could turn around and confront Haytham, the older man punched him across the face to disorient him. Already enduring a terrible headache from the bombardment, his head swam while his vision blurred momentarily. Another strike to his backside and a kick to his chest almost winded him but Haytham struck the uninjured left side, giving him a chance to counter. He punched the closest area visible to him, the lower abdomen, before being able to stand upright and throwing back a punch of his own across Haytham's face. The force was enough to stagger his father and Ratonhnhaké:ton gripped his left arm, twisting it sharply behind Haytham's back to immobilize him.

Both men bled from the blunt strikes to the face but his father's protection of Lee hurt worse than any physical injury. Was his talk for a ceasefire meaningless? What was the point of seeking forgiveness and visiting his family when he didn't hesitate to attack him here? It was all for nothing! He managed to restrain Haytham but it didn't stop the man from insulting him, "Come now, you cannot hope to match me, Connor. For all your skills, you're still but a boy - with so much left to learn."

After many years of a tumultuous relationship with the man, this was the final straw. He was tired of falling for his claims of turning a new leaf and completely shredding that promise. It was fine when it was aimed towards him, but his daughter deserved better from someone who claimed to love her. Without a second thought, he removed one of his knives to drive it deep into Haytham's left forearm to pent out that betrayed rage. The brunt force was enough for the knife to enter cleanly through the top of his arm and exit out the other side. Haytham winced with pain at the stabbing which effectively hampered the dexterity of his left hand, rendering it useless. He was right-handed with weapons but no matter, he would have to use his dominant hand for everything.

Ratonhnhaké:ton tossed his father aside to face him appropriately with a glare when he applied pressure to his new wound. Why was he here to begin with? Did he know of his attack? He did not want to fight him in replacement of his main target, becoming more annoyed, and shouted at him, "Give me Lee!"

Haytham pulled out the knife from his throbbing forearm in one move, irritating his son further by refusing, "Impossible. He is the promise of a better future. The sheep need a shepherd."

Did he really place that much confidence in a man that the Patriots had shunned? Ratonhnhaké:ton did not understand why his father was staunchly loyal to Lee when he was the only obstacle standing in the way of peace. Without Lee, Haytham could rebuild the Templars differently rather than continue their immobile views on control. What happened to his claims of change? Were they for nothing? Was all their work in vain? Subduing the anger inside him, he told him bluntly, "He has been dismissed and censured. He can do nothing for you now. He will likely be imprisoned once found."

His argument did little to dent his father's choice and gritted his teeth when Haytham replied evenly, "A temporary setback. He will be restored."

"Do you really believe that?" Ratonhnhaké:ton questioned skeptically on his sheer blindness to see the worst traits of Lee. Did he really think the Patriots and the new country would accept him with open arms again? If he was really the best the Templars had to offer, he really did not see a bright future for both factions. He was a ruthless killer and would show no mercy to anyone! Why did he choose Lee repeatedly? Did he not see that without him, they held a better chance of reaching peace. His family believed Haytham was worthy of redemption but again, he deceived them. Shaking his head, he snapped tightly against his resolution, "You would put your faith in that man? Instead of me? If you had any shred of decency, you would protect Cora instead of Charles like I am right now!"

For a brief moment, he believed his words had an effect on shaking his allegiance to Charles. Haytham hesitated to attack him outright but a second later, he brandished his sword to continue their fight. He was clearly not relenting on their battle to buy Lee time to flee, even when cannonballs whistled overhead to strike the buildings of the fortress. De Grasse's fleet would not stop their bombardment until Fort George became rubble or the Aquila signaled for them to stop. It was a dangerous fight for the Assassins on the ground floor, which is precisely why he kept his family out of it entirely.

Left with no choice, he removed his tomahawk to attack him at short range. The pain and lack of rest after being caught in two attacks did not help his vision so he had to give it his best now. Their weapons clashed together, the metal sound deafened by the crumbling of bricks upon the ground. Ratonhnhaké:ton pushed back against his father with a determined grunt despite his aching body and Haytham narrowed his gaze to insult harshly, "You act as though you have some right to judge. To declare me and mine wrong for the world."

Ratonhnhaké:ton evaded a charge and used his own body to push back his father against nearby barrels. It saved him precious seconds and spared him another wound as he watched his father stand upright. Haytham was none too pleased with another hit and declared heatedly, "Yet everything I've shown you - all I've said and done - should clearly demonstrate otherwise. Who says you are in the right with your blind idealism?"

"I would not trust a man that throttled me as a child to protect the innocent" Ratonhnhaké:ton shot back coldly after taking a chance in believing Haytham could improve. He had fallen for the trap again despite the back of his mind always held reservation. For once, he hated being correct but for the disappointment his daughter would receive. He regretted introducing them and having her form a bond with her grandfather, who would cast her aside carelessly for his Templars. Just as he had done before to his mother. Deflecting a strike to his head, he shouted furiously at his father, "He would burn everything to the ground to see himself in power. Just like you and all your Templars. Nothing matters to you but absolute control!"

This time, he failed to evade an incoming punch after deflecting his sword and his headache worsened instantly. Quickly stepping away, he shook his head to clear his spotty vision and heard his father proclaim, "We worked to see this land united and at peace. Under our rule, all will be equal. Do the Patriots promise the same?"

Circling around the man while his vision gradually cleared, he bought himself time by answering swiftly, "They offer freedom. I would trust the future in them rather than you."

The two jumped back in unison when a whistling cannonball struck an adjacent building. Splintered wood and shattered bricks spilled out of the new chasm in the building, the force strong enough to topple it outwards. The fighting field surrounding them became much smaller as the falling debris clouded the air and Haytham chastised, "Which I've told you - time and time again - is dangerous! There will never be consensus, son, among those you have helped to ascend. They will all differ in their views of what it means to be free. The peace you so desperately seek does not exist."

Kicking a fallen barrel out of his path, he continued firmly to lecture his naivety, "This is why I tell you to stay out of this fight and head west, abandon any hope you have for this freedom spiel they claim! At the end of it all, they will contort the future to fit themselves – not the people!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton refused to fall prey to his lies as they reached the end of their feud and disagreed, "No. Together, they will forge something new - better than what came before."

His daughter would be a far better person than himself and in that, he secured a future better than the one he lived in. She would learn the good and evil of her world to make honorable decisions to help those in need. Even if he perished today, she would have her mother to guide her and a safe place for refuge in the north to thrive. Haytham assumed he meant the future lay in the Patriots but Ratonhnhaké:ton believed in the new Assassin generation as well. He stopped listening when his father lunged forward with his sword, allowing him to dodge and throw a crate in his direction to distract him, irritating the Templar. Kicking the bothersome debris away, he reasoned coldly, "These men are united now by a common cause but when this war ends, they will fall to fighting amongst themselves about how best to ensure control. In time, it will lead to war. You will see."

The hopes of the new nation were far from Templar ideals, only if he killed Lee to prevent nefarious corruption. It would not be perfect but the first attempt at success never was. He acknowledged that setback but he believed in the new leadership. The people needed stability after years of war and he would offer that to his child, telling him, "The Patriot leaders do not seek control. That is your Templar ideology! The people will have the power - as they should."

Haytham scoffed dismissively, pointing the end of his sword at him, and snapped, "The people never have the power. Only the illusion of it. And here's the real secret: they don't want it. The responsibility is too great to bear. It's why they're so quick to fall in line as soon as someone takes charge. They want to be told what to do. They yearn for that subjugation from their superiors. Little wonder, that, since all mankind was built to sever."

He dodged a swipe to the head by Ratonhnhaké:ton, who refused to be anybody's puppet, and the young man demanded, "So because we are inclined by nature to be controlled, who better than the Templars? It is a poor offer!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton caught his breath as each calculated strike drained him of what little energy was left. The bombardment had worn his strength down to nothing while his father was at his full strength. He would have to win this fight using his environment and incapacitate Haytham with quick but deadly wounds. The Templar circled him as he caught his breath, shaking his head derisively before pointing out shrewdly, "It is truth! Principle and practice are two very different beasts. You and your bunch are the only ones who refuse to accept it!"

The two clashed weapons once more as their strength tested the other to break the tie. Ratonhnhaké:ton glared heatedly at his father for putting him through all of this and stated coldly, "No, father. You have given up and would have us all do the same! I will not subject my friends and family to that. Cora would be ashamed to have you call her nothing more than a lamb to slaughter for Lee. That is what you are proposing!"

Haytham managed to overpower him with a swift kick to his right knee, breaking his balance. He knocked away the tomahawk in his hand and reached over to grasp him by the collar. Ratonhnhaké:ton expected his throat to be skewered by his hidden blade but his father accused vehemently, "Cora will be a victim of your fruitless war for freedom and you will be to blame, not me. I told you repeatedly to take her away from here and you refused to listen!"

Haytham tightened his grip over his throat but the two were knocked back when another cannonball ripped through the air above them. They were thrown back from the tremors and exploding debris from the left side of the field flung them to the opposite side. Ratonhnhaké:ton was already on the last reserves of his strength while his father sustained enough injuries to topple his usual lethality. Crawling on all fours, he shook off chunks of splintered wood and brick while dust flew into the air from his back. His vision swam heavily with dark spots but he managed to pin down his father a few feet off to his left side.

His left hand clutched the blue cape to immobilize his father, spitting out blood against the ground, and tried to compromise, "Surrender and I will spare you. Do not make me kill you."

He wanted Lee dead, not his father's blood on his hands, and still sought a way to save the man that thwarted his goal to eliminate the Templars. Cora deserved to have a grandfather that truly loved her, not one that played the role out of convenience. She would only know of him in passing from now to shield her from his manipulation. Haytham knocked him away and Ratonhnhaké:ton struck the ground on his back, breathing in sharply from the sting up his spine. His father claimed the upper hand when he sat up and reached down to grasp his throat, threatening him, "Brave words from a man about to die."

The constricting grip against his throat lessened momentarily as Haytham pondered aloud, "Still, I'm proud of you in a way. You have shown great conviction. Strength. Courage. All noble qualities. I should have killed you long ago."

Ratonhnhaké:ton scowled at his words after never receiving a single compliment all his life. The only ones were aimed indirectly at Cora but even his daughter was too little to understand the dangers Haytham posed. Why was he so resistant against him but willing to die for Lee? He fought against his father's grip, aware of how close the other man was for a lethal strike, and shot back, "You fare no better. I wish I could say I was proud to be your son but I will be a far better one to Cora, who will never remember you after today."

He refused to kill Haytham after being manipulated once before and made the lesser choice of two evils. Achilles warned him that letting the Templar live would undo all of their progress but he refused to become a killer. He was an obstacle that he needed to remove to get to Lee. With that in mind, he gripped his father's hands by the wrist and released his hidden blades to sever the flesh and bone. Haytham reared back from the severe strike, blood gushing from both wrists, and tried to stop the bleeding with firm pressure. Ratonhnhaké:ton sat up dizzily but hesitated on piercing his father's neck now that he dealt a severe wound to his left arm while incapacitating his right hand. Without mobility in his hands, he was dead in the water as a fighter.

An incoming cannonball struck the earth beside them, sending dust and rocks into the air to conceal their positions. Ratonhnhaké:ton was becoming sick and tired of the cannonballs after earning more strikes from that than Haytham. He could no longer see his father through the brown haze as he managed to stand upright, calling out angrily, "Where are you?!"

He growled with frustration at being thwarted by the airborne strike, tossing caution aside as he ventured through the haze. He knew his father was there but his experience at stealth was working now that he was incapacitated. The earth shook once more as another section of the wall surrounding the fort crumbled and the tremors induced the collapse of a weakened building beside him. He could not see where the remnants were collapsing but the echoing thuds told him to move. He could not worry about his father when he was still in a dangerous area.

The shroud of dust thickened further with the new collapse and he decided to abort finding Haytham. His prime focus had always been to find Lee and if he perished, that lifelong mission ended for him. The buildings resembled paper in the wind as the blue-gray sky darkened with brown dust, toppling over one another as they succumbed to the metal power of mankind. Unfortunately, he was caught in that crossfire as he tried to escape. He tried to make his way back to the well where he had entered but the path was completely obscured, confusing his pounding head even further.

He dodged several flying bricks, covering his head for protection, but the speed of their fall was quicker than he could escape the path of destruction. The rainfall of debris overcame Ratonhnhaké:ton and he was struck multiple times with projectiles until they rendered him unconscious. His last thought was returning to Cora and failing to keep his promise to her. He did not want to come so close only to fail not only himself and the Order but his daughter. He vowed to keep her safe and without him, she would be vulnerable against his enemies.

The darkness that enveloped him was lifted as a curtain just as soon as it dropped. His hearing returned first before his eyes opened to blurriness until his surroundings focused. Stephane was shaking him awake while Duncan stood behind him, keeping an eye on their backsides. The two Assassins found him unconscious, choosing to wander through the rubble, while sending Jacob to lead everyone else back to the tunnels to safety. The bombardment was still ongoing and the lack of enemies wandering the fortress told them to leave before they were discovered by reinforcements. Stephane saw their leader lift his head as he returned to consciousness and he refocused him, "Connor!"

"Get up, we have to go!" Duncan urged him as Stephane hastily assisted Ratonhnhaké:ton to his feet. Every muscle in his body felt heavy after being beaten by both cannonballs, buildings, and his father. He wobbled in his first steps to regain his balance and shook his head to clear away the mental fog. If the two were here, where was Haytham?

Ratonhnhaké:ton glanced around the area frantically, spotting only rubble covering the ground. Had all the buildings collapsed on top of them? Well, he could not fault De Grasse for keeping his word. Stephane motioned for them to leave promptly but Ratonhnhaké:ton stated sharply on the lingering threat, "My father is still out there! He cannot escape!"

"Not with this collapsed rubble" Duncan answered because he only allowed himself and Stephane to venture deep into the courtyard to search for him. Everyone else was evacuated to safety but he knew the others would inquire about their leader's whereabouts. His recent blackout did not make it safe to leave him alone while cannonballs still whizzed by overhead. Ratonhnhaké:ton hesitated on leaving the battlefield after severely injuring his father but they were the only ones in the area. Where could he have gone? Had he perished before his friends found him? Or escaped? Before he attempted to dig up the rubble around them, Duncan grasped his left shoulder and told him, "We barely found you."

He did not want to lose the progress he earned and risk his father escaping back to Lee. Not being able to eliminate him was already a brutal loss and although he did not want to kill Haytham, he acknowledged letting him escape would bode ill. It was clear that he was on the Templar side and not for peace. Releasing an aggravated sigh, he blurted, "He was right there-"

"Not anymore" Stephane interjected to remind him of their current situation and escaping was their best option. The mission had not succeeded in killing Lee but at least they knew the Templar Grandmaster was injured. Lingering behind for more answers was not in their best or safest interest.

"It's too risky to stay and find out" Duncan warned as the seconds of safety were only temporary, a sharp crash echoing in the distance. The bombardment would not be ignored by the English as they scrambled to begin a land offense to join the counterattack at sea. Time was of the essence now to keep their Order hidden and he reiterated sharply, "We have to leave before reinforcements arrive or the French kill us."

Ratonhnhaké:ton conceded to their judgment since his body and mind took a beating. He was not confident in his skill anymore and would not risk his people over hubris to find the injured Haytham. Only time would tell if he truly eliminated him but he knew that his hunt for Lee would not end. All he could do was return to his home and secure the town against future retaliation. With a heavy heart of defeat, he bid the tattered fortress and his paternal bond farewell, Goodbye, father.

---

The Aquila saw the return of her captain after he was escorted by his team to ensure he did not try to return to Fort George. Jacob and his team would be in charge of surveillance to determine where Lee fled and whether Haytham was alive. Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted them to lie low for several days since he was ordering the same from his Bostonian Assassins. The crew breathed a sigh of relief at his return after waiting patiently in place, glad that he did not give chase to their missing enemies.

Caroline did not miss the disheveled and bloody appearance of her spouse, abandoning the steering deck to reunite with him. She was relieved to see Elizabeth behind him, who kept a strict eye on him, and she could only imagine what he did out there. None of them sported clean and tidy attire anymore. Aveline shot her colleague a knowing glance when Caroline embraced her spouse tightly and told her, "One captain returned to you . . . not in mint condition, mind you."

She released him immediately when he winced from the pain in his ribs but he reassured her he was fine. He was walking, right? As long as he could escape danger, he determined he would survive. Caroline brushed off dust from his shoulders and noted he was covered in it from head to toe. Had a building crashed down beside him? What kind of battle had he been in? Robert was incredulous about his captain's condition and couldn't help but ask with bewilderment, "Did Lee do all of this?"

"No" Ratonhnhaké:ton responded curtly at his crew assuming his enemy bested him. Lee fled every time they were in the same area! If that was the type of leader his father wanted, he would not last long with cowardice.

"Oh, that would have surprised me" Robert agreed with an amused grin at his offended scowl. Ratonhnhaké:ton hobbled over to the nearest stack of crates to sit and catch his breath. Caroline was not confident in his claim of health, especially when every step caused him to wince. Even with the full force of the Assassins, he experienced a tough fight but came out alive. She couldn't wait to leave the harbor and return home now, at least to tend to his wounds.

Elizabeth cleared her throat awkwardly as she stood within the crowd and revealed to her sister, "It was Mr. Kenway."

"That doesn't surprise me" Caroline sighed despondently at hoping the Templar would stay out of the fight. They had created the plan covertly to avoid encountering Haytham but he was always one step ahead. She was very disappointed that he chose to protect Lee in the end instead of allowing the two to finish their longstanding feud. Now, they would have to explain to Cora that her grandfather would not be a part of her life. It was best that the bonds were severed now than when she was older but she was happy that her daughter would have her father back.

"I cannot remember the end of our fight" he explained with confusion to the last moments before he lost consciousness. Had he killed his father or did he escape? There was no doubt he grievously wounded him but death was uncertain. There was a bitterness of defeat in failing to kill Lee and potentially leaving Haytham alive did not decrease the original danger. He would be back at step one all over again! Frustrated with himself, he told them, "I was about to stab him in the neck when rubble fell on us and that was it. I do not know if I dealt a finishing blow."

"Time will tell . . . but that fortress is completely decimated" Aveline spoke earnestly because it was too early to tally the total number of casualties. They would be foolish to wander close now that the city was on high alert for danger. Evacuation was mandatory now that everyone was assembled and she would head to Davenport on the Vaillante to undergo repairs before traveling southbound again. The Templar branch of the English colonies was not an easy sect to destroy and she warned him, "They barely got you out before reinforcements arrived."

"Do you think he is alive?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked quietly, dreading another incident with his father that would leave both broken and bloody again. At the same time, he was stuck between regret for being forced to fight him and guilt for losing what could have been their last chance at redemption as a family. He always tried his best to reach the gap between them but his father never made it easy. Were his words about the future all a lie? Did he never truly care about the remnants of their family but the Templar cause itself?

Caroline did not want her husband to be stricken with remorse for actions that were out of his hands and answered gently, "Lee, most definitely, but your father . . . who knows."

"I mean, there were a lot of blood splatters" Stephane added in helpfully to the brutality of their battle across the field. The falling buildings and flying cannonballs did not help stopping the blood loss either from both combatants. He and Duncan had rummaged through a few debris piles until noting faint movement under the one he was buried under. If they had arrived a second later or not seen the rolling debris, they would have passed by him unaware.

Ratonhnhaké:ton thinned his lips at the unknown status of his father and stated coldly, "I cannot trust my father to be dead until there is a corpse."

"Let's focus on finding Lee, not Haytham" Clipper spoke up to change the subject and regroup away from New York city. He and Elizabeth were the least worse for wear so they could be deployed to search for the man. Robert agreed with that plan entirely, motioning for the crew to return to their positions to leave the port. The sooner they left, the faster they could heal and plan the next attack against the Templars.

"I will see you in Davenport" Aveline agreed to see her own ship safe at a friendly harbor and would take the lead north after having the Aquila deplete her ammunition. Ratonhnhaké:ton was also injured himself so the ship would be vulnerable to attack. The team bid her farewell since the naval battle had not been easy and being the group lookout brought everyone safely back. She could not wait to fall asleep that evening and departed the ship, waving over her head to call out, "Safe journey to us all."

Clipper and Elizabeth sat down on either side of their leader to silently keep watch. They had been assigned to cover the rear so most of the action was witnessed by Duncan and Stephane. Ratonhnhaké:ton eyed the two skeptically for a brief moment until his wife shot him a firm glance to stay put. He did not expect to come back in such a bruised condition but his friends had indeed brought him back rather than leaving him for dead. Of course, he would not say that aloud for fear of retribution by his spouse. His attention was seized when a brown leather-bound book was given to him and he reached out tentatively to grab it, ignoring the ache in his right shoulder.

"I found this in the wreckage of their hideout" Duncan explained since he and Stephane worked together to clear the path to the tower where Lee had last been seen. They assumed Ratonhnhaké:ton would make his way there but when they arrived, most of the area had been reduced to rubble. Only a sliver of what remained of the small chamber was accessible and he seized the abandoned book laying on the ground, ignoring unimportant scattered papers. The high quality of the book, along with the precious few seconds, brought it to his attention and he informed his leader, "Figured you might give it a read."

"Thank you" Ratonhnhaké:ton replied faintly, opening the front cover of the dusty book to read its contents. He did not expect much from the book, given the military fortress. Instead of military notes or accounts, he found neatly cursive handwriting across the white pages. On the top right corner, he was surprised to read the year of the writings began more than a decade ago. The wielder of the journal was also a surprise to him when the name read clearly on the first page: Haytham Kenway.

The gathered group noticed his brow furrow, their interest growing when he drew the book closer to eye level, and Duncan asked, "What is it?"

"My father's . . . journal?" he revealed to them as he dusted off the pages from lingering debris, surprised the book was still in one piece. He was trying to hold his ribs together after having a building collapse on top of him while this book was practically pristine despite the bombardment. Why did he leave that behind of all things? Was he planning to return? Had it slipped his mind? It confounded him that Haytham would leave such a personal detail of himself in an accessible area and wondered aloud, "I find it hard to believe he would leave a physical footprint of his nefarious planning."

"It's worth a read anyway" Caroline informed him on the strange find so they could dissect it back home and remarked solemnly, "Might give us insight why he threw us all away."

"Even in the end, he chose them" Ratonhnhaké:ton muttered bitterly because they were more than generous, given Haytham's past deceit. They brokered for peace to save lives and give Cora a hopeful future but his father plummeted that dream. He would have to work harder to eliminate the Templars and keep his daughter safe. There was more pain in disappointing her than having him his father try to kill him, admitting to his wife, "It does not hurt as it originally did."

Caroline smiled sympathetically since this journey was an emotionally arduous one for him. She was relieved immensely to have him return safely but knew the physical wounds were not as painful as being betrayed by your parent. They needed to leave quickly for their sanctuary so he could be with Cora and soothe that pain away with the love of their family. Their children would be everything he would ever need and she had to envelop him in that infinite safety bubble. Heartbreak was a given in their secret war and she stated matter-of-factly, "We've been stung before. We have to soften the blow for Cora."

He handed her the journal to stand upright with painful breath and looked to Robert to declare, "Let's set sail for home."

Robert shook his head vehemently with a sharp laugh at his stubborn bravery and chastised, "You are not steering this ship in your condition."

Before he could argue that he was stable enough to stand, Caroline handed the journal back to him and nodded with a firm tone, "I concur."

For the first time, Robert took the reins of leadership since his captain was heavily injured. He needed to take a moment to assess his wounds and rest after that grueling fight. The trip north would be easier now that the city was in a scuffle to put out fires and rescue the injured. The departure bells of the Vaillante rang as they pulled anchor to lead the trip home and Robert told the group, "I will take her home. Burnett, you're promoted to first mate for the time being."

Caroline turned sharply at the change of position, surprised by his choice, and asked hesitantly, "Are you sure? David has seniority-"

"I'm more at home with the cannons" David declined quickly to retain his beloved position by the banister. He was not looking for any type of leadership job, preferring to be on the front lines. It was why he approved for her to be the navigator instead of splitting the job with his brother.

She was not ready to step into Robert's shoes and like David, preferred the crow's nest overlooking the ocean. What if she didn't live up to his expectations? Her husband and Robert were a great team, leading her to offer the position to their other colleague, "Richard-"

"Nope!" he replied before turning away to head to the lower deck with his men. He would be taking the time to assist the men in mending wounds until they arrived at Davenport for real medical care.

"Fine!" Caroline agreed swiftly to get a move on and return everyone to safety. Lingering in the port would not bode well for them and she bit down her own flickers of not being suitable. Ratonhnhaké:ton had nothing but confidence in his wife after having her onboard for years and her curiosity to learn made her an ideal candidate. He was aware that her time away from the Aquila stirred uncertainty but he trusted his crew to get him home. She met his gaze briefly to accept his approval and turned to her team leader to order, "Smith, you've been promoted to navigator."

The blond sailor stiffened in similarity to his superior, expecting someone else to be thrown onto that pedestal, and he blurted, "Am I ready? I don't know if I'm ready!"

Caroline offered him a kind smile at their shared kinship of sudden promotion and reassured him, "I don't know if I'm ready either but this is the current situation."

Adam nodded quickly to accept his new role as temporary navigator and Caroline clasped his right shoulder to hearten him. Robert believed in her and she believed in Adam so they had to shine brightly. They weren't heading into a battle but their eyes had to remain vigilant for any rearing danger. The top deck of the Aquila was strange to her, accustomed to the high ground of the masts and sails. It was a bit suffocating to be grounded but she had a job to do alongside her new captain. Nodding to Robert, she inquired with a friendly smile, "Your orders, Captain Faulkner?"

Robert waved a dismissive hand at the title, causing the deck to break into relieving laughter after a tense day. He motioned for the crew to raise the anchor and ring the departure bell now that the Vaillante was out at sea. The French navy had now ended their bombardment after flattening the fortress into rubble, its broken walls now descending into the deep ocean. He pointed to Ratonhnhaké:ton, who was more than comfortable in his spot, and ordered him, "First, our ol' cap'n is heading back inside his cabin."

"I am regretting this decision" he commented flatly but obeyed the two, mainly because his wife would enforce that order. Clutching the dusty journal under his right arm, he stood up with an aching body to walk towards his cabin to rest. He trusted his team to get him home and accepted letting go of the situation to leave it to them. If he accidentally fell during steering and injured himself further, none of his crew would be happy. Caroline motioned for Elizabeth and Clipper to keep guard outside the door, leading her husband to sigh, "I have become a prisoner of war."

Ignoring the chide, Robert turned to ascend the stairs to the steering deck with Caroline in tow. It was a surreal moment to follow in the steps of the first mate, whom had taught Ratonhnhaké:ton everything he knew, and admired him for trusting her. She smiled brightly and took her position to his left side like he always did with her husband as he gripped the steering wheel. The old sailor chuckled warmly and instructed her, "Second, I want a full sail with a course to the north at a sharp 9 o'clock!"

Caroline nodded with acknowledgment before calling out for the top deck to hear the first set of orders, "Full sail ahead, 9 o'clock! Full sail, 9 o'clock! Let's go home!"

With the Aquila's remaining crew hard at work to open the sails, Duncan instructed Stephane to help the injured down below, "Let us help how we can until we land."

---

The Bostonian Assassins remained with the Aquila to assist with the injured upon landing. Some endured broken limbs or gunshot wounds that required walking assistance to the cove. The quartet took turns in bringing sailors to the sand or leaning against tree trunks for support. The Vaillante also had their own wounded that Aveline was attempting to triage. The return of the two frigates drew the attention of the town with Godfrey and Patrick leaving the mill to investigate. Their family corralled to care for Cora, who missed her parents and continually kept asking her aunt about them during the previous night, and wanted to see whether the couple returned safely.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was able to bandage himself during the trip home and attempted to assist his injured crew. After being knocked around in the fort, Caroline ordered him to sit down before he aggravated his injuries further. Robert began to section off the cove into triage areas for those with broken bones, lacerations, burns, and gunshot wounds. He was not a medic but he was relieved when the townsfolk arrived for an extra set of hands. Godfrey had quickly summoned Dr. White along the way north from the mill since the dirty and damaged sails gave way to a recent battle.

"Boban! Patrick!" Caroline greeted happily with tears brimming her eyes when they entered the cove. She did not know if she would return to them but now, her concern was for her crew. There were many injured and not enough of them to handle the rising numbers. Clipper and Elizabeth were already trying to clean wounds with water from the cove while Stephane and Duncan were trying to set dislocated joints into place. Aveline and Robert found a trunk of alcohol to aid in numbing the pain for those with bleeding wounds while they waited for help. Even with their numbers, it was not enough.

She hugged her family tightly with relief as her heart hammered on how to help the injured. Ratonhnhaké:ton ignored the order to stay put and was tearing white fabric into strips for binding wounds. Caroline knew better than to dissuade her spouse when helping others and she requested from their town medic, "Dr. White, I know it's a lot to ask-"

Lyle gazed over the cove littered with dozens of injured men when there was only one of himself. How was he going to tend to the insurmountable number alone? Drawing in a sharp deep breath, he explained frankly on his limitations, "I simply can't get to all these men in reasonable time. I need help. From you, from anyone!"

"I will fetch you aid" Ratonhnhaké:ton promised, handing the baskets full of strips over to Elizabeth. The redhead gladly took the basket for the injured and waved to her family on her way back to the sailors. Godfrey was not surprised by his daughter's persistence but let her carry on at seeing she bore no injuries herself. The same was said for his oldest but he noticed a delay in Ratonhnhaké:ton's speed when he walked.

Not one to sit idly by during hard times, the lumberjack told the medic, "Tell us what to do."

"I need splints, hot water, needles, bandages, and a lot of hands" Lyle answered to have sufficient materials to treat the injured and achieve the best outcome. Without any of it, the men would have less of a chance to heal adequately and at high risk for infection. Dwelling on the negative would get him nowhere and he focused on what he did have. With two extra set of hands available, he ordered the two lumberjacks quickly, "Godfrey, help Robert with setting dislocations. Patrick, help Elizabeth with wrapping superficial wounds. Do not wrap any with shrapnel until I evaluate them."

With everyone assigned to their tasks, Caroline tackled the role of heading into town and promised, "We can gather the supplies."

Leaving the cove that echoed groans of pain, she found her spouse ahead of her on the path that led into town. Even when injured, he was quiet in his escape. Breaking into a jog to catch up to him, she stopped beside him to walk at his pace and he assured her, "I am fine, Caroline."

She did not want to be the overbearing spouse and trusted him to stay safe in their town. He would be seeking their townsfolk so someone would always be with him. His knack for making others agree to help would come in handy while she would collect the items their medic needed. She strode forward to head in the direction of her childhood home and called over her right shoulder, "Good, so I can go grab the materials while you rally the town."

While Caroline headed in the direction of her home, he was traveling to the home beside hers. He was amused by her choice to aid him independently while simultaneously keeping an eye on him. Being back home was comforting and his mind went to Cora, wondering how she coped with their absence. Was she distressed or angry with them? He never wanted to cause her heart pain but the ongoing years in the war were inevitable in causing it. He approached the doorstep of the Galloway homestead and knocked on the door to call out politely, "Diana. Come with me. I need your help."

The latch was unlocked with a protesting creak and the blond peeked out of her open doorway. She was still dressed in her blue working dress with flour and fruit spread decorating her white apron. Both her children were in school for the day with Alice so her home did not require a sitter anymore. She didn't hesitate to help her neighbor and smiled warmly, "Of course. What's the matter?"

"Dr. White is overwhelmed by my injured sailors and needs some extra hands" he explained since the indoor work of the homemaker omitted a view of the sails peeking over the tree line. When it came to healing, she had a knack for assisting Dr. White when he needed an extra hand. She had been present at Cora's birth to assist him and he had no doubt she would be an incredible help. His wife already planned on having her present at the birth of their next child and so did many women of the town.

His request was beyond her skill limit and her blue eyes widened with surprise as she blurted nervously, "I'm no doctor, Connor!"

He would not sell her abilities short, given how women were not on equal footing with their male counterpart, and assured, "Maybe not, but I have seen you care for people before. You have the way of it."

Diana inhaled deeply to hearten her courage on tackling the number of injured but ultimately nodded in agreement. What else could she say? Deny him aid and let people die? No, she was better than that. She began to lock the metal latch to her home while Caroline knocked on the opposite door of her parents' home. Hasty footsteps echoed from inside before Catherine opened her door to greet her eldest. Caroline opened her mouth to speak but her mother swept her into a tight hug, happy to see her alive again. Amelia had informed the family of her abrupt departure and she visited her granddaughter repeatedly to keep close to them all. Caroline returned the hug with a content smile, grateful to her family for protecting Cora and never critiquing her questionable choices. Even she had hesitated on leaving Cora but her husband needed all the help he could get, which ended up being the right choice.

Releasing her, Caroline returned to business swiftly and grasped her shoulders to request, "Mother, can you have Ellen, Myriam, and Martha bring hot water, thread and needles, bandages, and wooden splints to the cove? Our injured need help."

Catherine nodded hastily, especially at seeing Diana leave her home with Ratonhnhaké:ton, and Caroline added in, "Elizabeth is fine, she's also helping right now. We really need the help."

Kissing her mother on the cheek in farewell, she headed down the hill once more and informed her family, "I'm going to fetch Prudence for extra help."

Ratonhnhaké:ton watched his wife depart with haste to summon more of the townsfolk to the cove. Prudence was gifted in the use of herbs for healing, remembering her tonics for Caroline during her early months of pregnancy. Much like himself, she used the gifts of the earth for healing and Dr. White would gladly accept the help from his old friend. He did not think much of his injuries until realizing that Diana was keeping pace with him on the dusty path. She caught his confused stare and laughed aloud, joking gently, "I have to make sure you do not become my patient."

His steps did not hasten, taking note of his current limitations to heed her words. He still needed to reunite with Cora and return home with his family after today's chaos. If he sprained his ankle after surviving the bombardment of Ft. George, he would never hear the end of it from his wife. The two settled into a brisk pace to reach Dr. White first before his wife or her mother. He understood why Caroline darted off first with her mother to save his feet the distance to cover and aid in recuperation. When the dirt road gave way to the rockier terrain of the cove, they arrived to see Dr. White had set up a makeshift exam table from crates and a table to treat the injured. The sailors appeared better for wear from the combined help of the lumberjacks and the Assassins. He motioned for Diana to enter the shore of the cove and spoke up, "Diana can aid you and my wife will bring the others."

With that said, everyone set to work to mend the wounded. Ratonhnhaké:ton did not have a healer's hands but he assisted in positioning the injured sailors for treatment. Resetting bones required stillness and strength which he offered to Dr. White while Diana splinted the fixed limbs. Lyle and Diana handled the lacerations easily, especially when the rest of the town arrived with the much needed materials. Ellen assisted with suturing superficial wounds while Clipper and Elizabeth helped to wrap the sites. The burns were trickier to treat to prevent infection, particularly open skin, so silver and honey were utilized by Prudence and Diana to aid healing. It was a grueling task of injuries for dozens of sailors but little by little, the town helped Dr. White treat every case.

"Thank you, Connor" Lyle sighed tiredly when he discharged more than half to rest from their injuries. His pristine blue attire was splattered with caked blood now and he washed his hands in a nearby basin to keep them clean. He was accustomed to treating a small town, not two war ships, and it pushed his emergency skills to the limit. Ratonhnhaké:ton simply brought the aid required and he was glad that they all worked together to rid others of their pain. Broken bones would hurt but they would mend. Lyle was grateful for the healers, whom he could teach for backup support when he was stretched thin, and told him, "You brought more than enough to help."

"I cannot disappoint my crew and friends" he answered truthfully since they followed him into a dangerous battle at sea and on the ground. His sailors took the worst of the strike while his Assassins were simply worn from fatigue. He had already offered shelter for everyone that night to help them recuperate and the Mile's End would prepare a hot meal for them.

"We're all right here, go be with Cora" Diana suggested with a kind smile to usher him back to his own family. He was a caretaker by nature but now that they had the situation handled, he could let go. Both crews were stable and the head officers could return to their duties and mend their own injuries. She did not want him to return to Cora battered and exhausted, advising him, "She misses you greatly."

He acknowledged the advice from the duo and decided to step away from the field. Robert was more than capable of managing without him for an hour while he collected Cora. Glancing around the shore, he found Caroline distributing water for the tired sailors and approached her. She could have left to tend to their daughter but like himself, assumed responsibility for tending to the wounded. He grasped the bucket in her hands to reassign it to Stephane, who was quick to entice the men for a drink with a hearty laugh. Caroline glanced at him in confusion for being removed and he nodded towards the road leading back to town, "Come away with me."

Now, she was even more confounded by this change and asked uncertainly, "Where?"

"To our daughter" he pointed out with a faint smile and she agreed instantly, bidding farewell to their friends. She did not want to leave until he deemed it safe and trusted his judgement. Running through her town earlier beckoned her to stop by Amelia's but her daughter was safe while her crew was not. They had to pick their battles and now that the danger was over, he told her, "Dr. White has it handled."

The couple darted south of the path with a hasty pace and Caroline did not chastise him when he passed her. They were both eager to reunite with their daughter after spending a day without her and couldn't imagine how her first night alone had gone. Cora trusted her family but she was still very attached to her parents as a small child. With Amelia's home being closer to the school by Ellen's home, the two passed the white schoolhouse where Alice taught class. It was a return to normalcy that lowered their heightened awareness for danger, allowing them to finally relax. The cozy log cabin with its surrounding flowering garden invited them and Caroline picked up speed to zoom past Ratonhnhaké:ton to knock on the door.

Within seconds, it flew open and Amelia burst forth to hug the couple with joy, "I saw the sails, I'm so glad you're both all right!"

She had witnessed the hustle and bustle of the town to the north and worried for her sister until spotting their mother. While Catherine was on her way to collect Ellen, she informed Amelia of their safe return which was echoed to Cora. The little raven-haired girl was ecstatic, eager to see her parents again after spending the night with her aunt. Amelia kept her occupied with toys and tasty snacks, lulling her to sleep with a story after tiring her out with hide and seek. She hated to lie that her parents were out on an errand but Michael took away Cora's worry with a wheelbarrow ride to mimic a wagon.

The couple returned her hug happily, grateful for her support throughout their lives. Ratonhnhaké:ton never knew the safety net of siblings until being adopted into their family. Amelia ushered them inside with a perky wave of the hand, calling over her shoulder, "Michael, they're home!"

Her husband had been trying to figure out how to use a puppet that Walter ordered through the paper catalogues of the cities. The blue marionette doll moved erratically as he adjusted the strings through the wooden holder. How was this fascinating to children? He stared at the doll just as confused as Cora, whose blue eyes followed the flimsy doll. Ratonhnhaké:ton had never been happier to see his little one as her back faced him, satisfied at finally seeing her. Michael dropped the toy with disinterest at failing to understand it and welcomed the couple, picking up Cora into his arms to return her.

"Thank you for everything" Caroline gushed joyfully, relieved her daughter behaved well and was not distressed. The life of an Assassin was not an easy one and being a stable parent was a hard role as the war progressed. She struggled to protect both Ratonhnhaké:ton and Cora but leaving her in their sanctuary was a viable option during a critical mission. Without a support system, they could not function as a unit and she thanked them, "Both of you, we are eternally grateful."

Michael shrugged dismissively since he was accustomed to caring for children as both an elder sibling and teacher. Despite not having children, he and Amelia managed to keep her safe, happy, and fed under their roof. Their family visited throughout the day to distract Cora until the evening arrived but she had fallen asleep easily from the day's events. Today, she asked for her parents and toys had been a welcome distraction until Amelia spotted the inbound sails in the cove. She set to work on preparing a basket of goods for them to eat while he played with Cora, impatiently waiting for the couple. The suspense was palpable as they tried to focus on their tasks until Catherine reassured them. Michael bounced Cora in his arms to redirect her attention from the toy pile to her parents and told them, "We're happy godparents but we cannot replace you."

Cora fiddled with her left plait, trying to grasp the pink ribbon to remove it. Nowadays, her parents left her hair free but Caroline was happy to see her dressed neatly. Her previous dress was gone, replaced by a pale green and figured their mother must have fetched it from their home. Her arms opened to draw Cora's attention, smiling widely at her, and welcomed her, "Cora, my dearest."

Her limbs wiggled instantly for freedom, her arms reaching out to them, and she called excitedly, "Ista! Rakeni!"

Ratonhnhaké:ton beat his wife in picking up their daughter, clutching her tightly to his chest, and his heart lightened instantly. He never realized how excruciating it could be to leave one's child behind and knew he could never be like his own father. If he was not an Assassin, he would never willingly leave her. She was at his side again, enjoying her happy nonsensical rambling, and he kissed the top of her head with a fond smile to promise, "I will never let you go."

Caroline embraced her around her slim shoulders, kissing her freckled cheeks, and blinked back tears as she asked, "Did you have fun with auntie and uncle?"

"Yes!" Cora declared happily, none the wiser to her worried parents, and cupped her mother's face. She missed her hugs immensely and waking them in the morning when she scrambled out of her bed. Her aunts and uncles never disappointed her with fun but she preferred being beside her parents. Not keen on being left behind again, she latched onto her father to cling on tightly for safe measure. He hated to have her feel that he could leave her at any second, wishing to provide a more stable life for her.

"Good, rakeni and I had an important errand but we are home now" Caroline reassured brightly, squeezing her little hands tightly. One day, they would reveal the truth to her to help her understand the necessity of their missions. She had hoped the conflict would be over by Cora's adulthood but today's events made that dream very unlikely.

"One day, you will travel with us but you're very small right now" Ratonhnhaké:ton stated warmly, tapping her little nose affectionately, and smiled when she batted away his hand. She would discover the world on her own just as he had but he would be with her during her formative years. Robert already picked a few spots for sightseeing once she was older and he would take her along the coast one day.

"Go home?" she piped up eagerly, missing her bed and the familiar corners of their home. The overnight stay felt like years to her young mind and she pointed towards the door with a swift jab of her index finger.

Caroline chuckled with embarrassment at her eagerness to leave, offering an apologetic glance at her sister, and agreed, "Yes, we will go home."

The couple did not want to intrude further than they already had and bid them farewell. Ratonhnhaké:ton was halfway out the door with Cora when Michael reminded Amelia of the food basket. The redhead was quick to pull her sister back inside by the arm and led her to the dinner table. Her husband was one step ahead and picked up the wicker basket, handing it over to Caroline to say, "Here, I'm sure you're famished. Amelia put a few bits together for you all."

"No doubt mother will make supper for all of us tonight" Amelia remarked to their caretaking mother, a trait that never left and extended to the whole town. After seeing the injured sailors on the shore, Caroline had no doubt she would aid Corrine in cooking a hot meal to aid their healing. When her family worried, they began working to concentrate that nagging concern into something productive. Amelia smiled apologetically for the future inbound company and admitted, "She was very worried."

Caroline had hoped a successful mission would allow her to pull away from an active role in the Order. Distressing her family and leaving Cora in their care was not part of the long-term plan but the failed assassination increased the reoccurrence. They would have to start all over by finding Lee and planning a new mission. She clutched the basket to her chest with a silent nod, thankful for the help, and Michael spoke gently, "We will not ask what happened out there, but we are really happy to have you back."

"So are we" she replied appreciatively that they returned alive but the threat of the Templars still loomed over their heads. Until they were neutralized, her town would never be safe.

---

After settling Cora down for a nap and cleaning up from their excursion, Ratonhnhaké:ton made the trek up to the manor. Caroline allowed him to leave only after he had bandaged his injuries and eaten a decent portion of the food Amelia prepared for them. Without her to remind him, he would have likely continued onwards in pain and hunger. He refused to take any pain droughts but accepted tea from their herb garden to calm his mind after the day's events. Once he was fully fed, she shooed him on with satisfaction before returning to their daughter.

Achilles had already been in ill health when he left which implored Ratonhnhaké:ton to visit him. His mentor had always been fiercely independent but the years had finally caught up. One day, he would follow in his footsteps as well and Ratonhnhaké:ton hoped to have his children nearby for their comforting presence as he reached the end of his lifespan. Entering the manor, he called out his arrival and heard nothing in reply but the creaking of his footsteps. Was Achilles asleep? Venturing further into the home, he headed for the largest study which housed his current bedroom. He expected to find the old man sleeping but found Achilles reclined in his favorite chair.

Approaching his dozing form, he grasped him by the right shoulder to shake him gently, "Old man. Achilles."

When he failed to wake, Ratonhnhaké:ton used a stronger grip but the older man failed to rouse. Immediately concerned, he leaned down to note that his chest didn't rise nor did his nose move to inhale. Tentatively, he reached out to touch the pulse point on his neck and sighed despondently when he failed to find one. While he was focused on eliminating the Templars and failed, Achilles had passed by himself. For an Assassin, a peaceful death in one's home was a luxury and he was glad his mentor did not suffer.

He spotted a piece of white paper clutched in Achilles' right hand and leaned down to grasp it. Removing the folded paper from his cold hand, he opened it to read his name on the first line. He closed it as quickly as he opened it, closing his eyes in mourning for his old mentor. They had their best and bad times throughout their teacher-student relationship but eventually, Achilles became family. A stubborn one but still. With his death, the only Assassin left by seniority was Robert but he was a naval man only. On land, he was officially the most senior member and that carried a great weight on his shoulders for the new generation under his wing. There would be no more pieces of advice from the old man and it was all up to him now.

He could not leave Achilles alone in his home like this and turned away to leave the manor. Colonials were different with burial traditions but he wanted to respect his old mentor. Guilt filled him for leaving when Achilles was not feeling his best but the old man understood the necessity to attack the fort. The guilt only intensified at losing both Lee and his father in the scuffle, aware that at least the former was alive. Ratonhnhaké:ton found his way to the town church, finding it empty since it was still too early before evening mass.

Father Timothy had been called earlier to pray for a few of the sailors after Dr. White finished with their care, keeping him busy that day. He was never one to deny spiritual healing to anyone and found himself surprised to find Ratonhnhaké:ton in the church. He was aware he followed his clan's traditions, being attuned to the earth, but would join Caroline during the weekend and holiday sermons. Noticing his glum disposition, he stopped cleaning a pew and dropped his rag to approach him. He hoped none of the injured sailors from earlier perished already and asked quickly, "What is it?"

"Achilles has passed" he revealed sullenly, surprising the father with the unexpected death. His expectation was to arrive home and receive a lecture for letting Lee escape but approval for engaging his father in a fight. Had all his planning been for nothing? He could have been with Achilles today and attacked the fort tomorrow if it mean the same outcome.

Ratonhnhaké:ton was not prepared to say goodbye to Achilles, still absorbing the realization of his passing. Death was a part of life but he was not ready to face it after the fiasco of Ft. George. Timothy saw the conflict in the young man's eyes and sympathized with his sudden loss, "I'm so sorry, Connor."

"He passed peacefully and with dignity" he replied with a small sense of satisfaction to his end, hoping the same would be said of him one day. He did not exactly have that advantage on his paternal line after his grandfather was murdered and his own father may be dead after today by his hand. His own mother had died tragically as well. How would he explain his family line to Cora one day? At least his wife could easily say they were farmers and lumberjacks while his own was quite complicated.

Father Timothy's soothing voice snapped him out of his dark thoughts when he proposed, "A service then?"

Perfect! He did not know the burial procedures for colonists, especially when nobody had died in their town before. This was the first time he was encountering death in Davenport and he was glad to have Father Timothy for the help. Timothy could take care of the ceremonial aspect while he prepared the burial site to grant him an eternal slumber. He nodded quickly, uncertain of how funeral rites occurred, and agreed without hesitation, "Yes. Please prepare something . . . appropriate. I will see the grave is dug. Can you gather everyone?"

He nodded agreeably to allow Ratonhnhaké:ton time to process and grieve what he stumbled upon. The poor man had only arrived into town for a few hours before finding his old friend deceased, which was not an easy situation to cope with. Ratonhnhaké:ton left the church with haste in his steps to return to his sanctuary, creating distance from the manor on the way back. Death was not what he wanted to ponder about on his walk home and couldn't help but feel it followed him whenever he entered or left a battlefield.

Opening the door to his home, he entered with a withdrawn sigh but fortunate to see his family again. Achilles lost his wife and child before middle age and he could not imagine bearing such sorrow. He smiled warmly at spotting Cora playing with her wooden blocks, building a tower before knocking it down with glee, and hoped she would live a long peaceful life. She waved at him perkily, content that her family was back together, and returned to demolishing her blocks. This day had become quite turbulent for him and he spotted his wife in the kitchen area as she tossed laundry into metal pails. Was she going to start washing already? While she sorted through their clothing, he tried to draw her attention, "Caroline."

She dropped the clothes to glance up with a bright smile to propose for their dinner, "All right, mother wants to know if you want rabbit or chicken – what's wrong?"

His grave expression gave her pause and she tossed the clothes aside to grasp his hands. Like himself, Caroline had grown up alongside the old man and dropped by when he couldn't to oversee his wellbeing. This was the first death they would face together in town and he admitted softly with a downcast gaze, "Achilles passed."

She gripped his hands tightly to absorb the news since they had seen him only a day prior. He appeared tired but comfortable in his bed when Diana had been there to assist with his meals. Had he deteriorated so quickly? They had just spoken to him yesterday! She inhaled deeply to the surreal moment, nodding quietly to accept his words, and asked quietly, "When?"

"Couldn't have been more than half a day, I missed saying farewell" he answered with disappointment at failing to return on time, blaming the mess his father created. If he had not been there, he could have eliminated Lee and arrived home early enough to say goodbye. Maybe. Either way, he would never know but he was tired of being unable to properly grieve for his loved ones. His mother. Kanen'tó:kon. Now, Achilles.

Caroline smiled apologetically but the two left their relationship on a positive note. Despite their turbulent years and varying views on the Order, they respected one another. Achilles never hesitated to advise or help him, even when it contradicted her husband's ideas. They were both stubborn but they learned from each other to rebuild the Assassin's Order. There was nothing Ratonhnhaké:ton should regret and she whispered soothingly, "He knew your sentiment, love. Don't question yourself."

Releasing her hands, he informed her of his next task with a deep sigh, "I must dig his grave so I cannot stay just yet."

Did she just hear him correctly?

"You just came home after having multiple buildings fall on you!" she pointed out about her main concern over his health now that he was home so he could heal properly. There were moments in the bombardment when the wall crashed inwards and she dreaded it killing him. It was a risky mission and he had not escaped unscathed, worrying her that he was heading out the door again. Did he think a stack of papers fell instead of heavy bricks? She did not want him overworking himself after dealing with blunt trauma and moved to his side to nod firmly, "All right."

He preferred an agreeable wife to a resentful one but he faltered in his steps when she began to follow him. When she leaned down to scoop up Cora into her arms, he asked hesitantly, "Where are you going?"

Caroline grinned slyly at solving her inner dilemma and pointed out easily, "I'm helping you, what's it look like?"

"What about Cora?" he questioned awkwardly at having their daughter beside him while he dug a grave. Death was a natural part of life but she was too little to understand the concept. Their daughter smiled excitedly at being part of an adventure, peering at her parents with expectant eyes. Caroline chuckled at her wanderlust but made one quick check of her feet to ensure her shoes were on. Otherwise, their floor would be messy upon returning.

"She can play in the dirt and pick flowers" she reasoned confidently to her easygoing nature and they would both be keeping an eye on her. Cora grinned instantly at hearing the former and pointed to the door for them to get moving. Her father was not as enthused to bring her to Davenport's makeshift graveyard behind the manor but she would eventually learn about it. Caroline looped her free arm through his left and encouraged him onwards, "We will do this together. You're not alone, Ratonhnhaké:ton."

They were mere words but meant the world to him as he carried on with the Order. His early years of learning their secret life and maneuvering through a new world was difficult on his own. There were many social mistakes, increasing his awkwardness, but he was thankful that the first residents were kind to him. His wife was his first friend in the colonial world and he appreciated everything she did for him each day. Even now, she was abandoning her chores to decrease his burden over Achilles' death.

The family of three set out for the small graveyard behind the manor. He learned about the headstones during his initial exploration but it was only until he learned how to read English that he realized they were Achilles' family. Reading his given name on one of the headstones was humbling since he never inquired how and why Achilles chose that name. Ratonhnhaké:ton decided that having him slumber eternally beside his fallen family would be best. He dug the grave beside Connor so the child would be surrounded by both his parents. The physical soreness exacerbated by his gravedigging was ignored but the effort was less with Caroline helping him to dig the dirt. Cora was more than happy to make a mound out of the earth to sit down and played with the flowers she picked for the funeral.

Driving the shovel deep into the earth, he glanced over his left shoulder to tell his wife, "If I leave this world before you, bury me by our homestead."

Caroline did not mind speaking about future events to be fully prepared but privately hoped he outlived her. His life had not been the easiest and he deserved to live his last years in peace. For Ratonhnhaké:ton, he hoped to pass first so he did not have to bear another death. Neither wanted to leave the other but death was a part of life. In the event of tragedy, he had spoken to her about his final wishes after their engagement and she clarified, "Not by the lake of your village?"

"That was before Cora arrived" he answered with a fond smile at their daughter, who was busy arranging her flowers over the grass. He struggled to legalize his marriage to Caroline and receive approval for their homestead. Back then, they pondered about heading north once the Templars were extinguished but realized the town needed them. Now that Achilles passed, he was the oldest settler of the town but the job of overseeing Davenport had always been his. Whenever danger neared, he was the one everyone ran to for help. His identity was now represented by its townsfolk and their daughter was a piece of it. He could never leave Davenport willingly and pointed out, "It will still be by the water."

"What about the mountains overlooking the town?" she suggested after her siblings dubbed him the lord of the manor. He was the unofficial town leader and could climb the highest peaks to overlook his home. She wanted him to be happy in his final resting place but she also knew he enjoyed his peace and quiet.

He reached outside of the ditch to grasp Cora's hands when she attempted to throw back the dirt he removed seconds prior. She pouted at that interception but he reminded her that her job was to make small bouquets of flowers. Her bundle of three would not be enough for the whole town and Caroline pointed to the pile of wildflowers that they had picked recently. She dropped the shovel to climb out of the hole and sat beside her daughter to help her assemble another bundle. He never wanted to be far from his beloved family and admitted, "Although I enjoy solitude, I want to be on the land of my family."

"I will lay you to rest myself and if I perish first, make sure I am beside you" she vowed with a fond smile to grant him justice after years of treasuring him. She was lucky to have met him and after eleven years, she never lost the excitement in loving him. She was grateful for their three years of marriage and considered each day a precious one beside him. Cora was a living symbol of their love and she adored her father, assuring him, "Then Cora will take care of you."

With each month, Ratonhnhaké:ton loved her physical features as he noted the blend of himself with Caroline. Her bright blue eyes were her mother's but her dark hair matched his. Even small freckles were now dotting her fair cheeks. He still remembered her days as a newborn, swaddled tightly against his chest, and now, he had to keep up with her quick steps. Caroline abandoned digging the grave to focus on Cora, who decided she would bury the flowers to regrow them. Her innocent ideas were amusing, no matter how messy, and she smiled widely to ask, "Can you imagine her being our age one day?"

They once believed they would never grow old enough to match the adult townsfolk but now, they were parents. Time moved faster every year and the couple acknowledged that Achilles would only be the first of many along the way that they would bury. Ratonhnhaké:ton sighed under his breath, pausing in his digging to glance at their daughter. Cora was oblivious to the grave and more than happy to make small bundles of colorful wildflowers for their upcoming guests. She had already tossed her shoes to dig her little toes in the free earth and he smiled faintly at her sheer happiness. He and Caroline would strive to keep it that way and he pondered quietly, "Let's hope her life is easier than this."

He remembered the letter he retrieved from Achilles and took a moment to read its contents. Earlier, he was too shocked to do anything else but see to his burial preparations. At the same time, he hesitated at knowing his last words. After failing his mission today, he did not want to disappoint his mentor. Opening the crinkled paper, he began to read silently.

Connor, if you are reading this, I have failed to say goodbye as I wanted, but the time never seemed appropriate. I leave this land and all its resources to you.

"He left everything to me?" he blurted with astonishment, looking behind him at the large manor. What was he supposed to do with that large home? He could not believe he had left all of his belongings to him but Caroline smiled sympathetically at him.

"You're all he had left" she pointed out to their bond because despite how much the two bickered, they were there for one another. It was not a deceitful relationship like his and Haytham's but an honest one. They never held back on divulging each other's weak spots, strengthening their friendship. Achilles had never shooed them away when they had silly questions and listened to their concerns. He was the closest thing to a father figure her husband had and she stated earnestly, "You are his legacy."

He did not care about material goods but he was grateful to be appointed as his caretaker. He would not allow the manor to fall into ruin again or disappoint their town. Despite their quarrels, Achilles trusted him enough to leave his homestead in his stead.

I trust you now know this place has become something of great significance. A community to serve as an example of what this would-be nation could become. But the larger and stronger it grows, the more fragile and difficult to defend it becomes. I hope your friends who are birthing this infant country understand this truth. Your unwavering tenacity and honesty have burdened you with responsibility far greater than any one man should bear. But you are capable. Never question yourself. You have given an old man hope that all is not lost and for that, I thank you. I only ask that you lay my bones to rest on the hill overlooking the water, there is no other place on this earth I'd rather be. I have waited a long time to rest beside my Abigail and Connor but I leave peacefully knowing it is all in your hands. Do not weep or carry guilt, death is a part of life but I am humbled by your persistence to stay at my side when I was not at my best.

Ratonhnhaké:ton blinked back tears as the loss of his old friend hit hard for the first time. Being a mere boy in the frontier, Achilles trained him to become an efficient survivalist and an Assassin. He would no longer be there to chastise him when he was being stubborn but accepted that he did not leave with negative thoughts about him. His reserved nature and native background thwarted his efforts to befriend others in the frontier but Achilles never lectured him for that. Being natural outsiders brought them together and he was grateful for the lessons he learned.

The pain of losing him subsided when he read his last words, I am grateful to have met you, knowing you will guide this land and these people to a better future. Yours in brotherhood, Achilles.

He folded the letter neatly to tuck it in his coat's pocket, intending to place it in his journal for safekeeping. It was the last piece of his old friend that he would ever receive and he would not lose that precious token. Caroline left Cora to her fiddling with the flowers to reach over and embraced him around the shoulders. Death was never easy to handle but he was endlessly kind for taking charge in Achilles' resting place. She would miss the old man after visiting weekly, remembering all the care packages she and her siblings dropped off through the years. Cora would remember her story times with him, even the ones during his last days when he persisted to read to her while Caroline heated up his meals. He had been a part of all their lives for so long that they did not imagine one without him. They were a makeshift family despite having no blood bonds and she whispered with pride, "He was proud of you and so are we."

Ratonhnhaké:ton did not feel so alone with them beside him and hugged his wife back. Cora noted her parents' emotional turmoil and stood up to join the hug, dropping her white flowers. The couple engulfed their little one between them as they held her, proud of her empathy for others. Just like Achilles, they would fade one day as well and Cora would be entrusted with the new generation to care for their town. With the funeral ceremony upon them, they needed to clean up once again and he told his family, "Let us gather the town."

This time, Caroline and Cora took over to summon everyone for the service. Her husband needed a moment to rest his mind and heart after the day's events rather than jumping into another emotional situation. Cora was more than happy to knock on doors around town and hand over her little bouquet of flowers as an invitation. Nobody declined the invitation after hearing the news and everyone gathered on top of the hill overlooking the cove to bid Achilles farewell. Even Robert had patched himself up like Ratonhnhaké:ton to bid goodbye to their old friend. Upon learning of his death, he rallied the other Assassins to attend to pay their respect. The service had been set up so quickly that everyone arrived in their everyday clothing but it was the thought that mattered.

Father Timothy gathered everyone around the newly dug grave that fit Achilles' final resting place. Lance requested the help of Big Dave, Warren, and Terry to build his coffin on time with the materials he had on hand. Despite the time constraint, the mahogany-toned coffin was polished beautifully with his name inscribed on top. Ellen and Prudence handled Achilles' body by cleaning and dressing him in his finest clothes, placing one of Abigail's handkerchiefs in his vest pocket. The men carried the coffin to its final resting place behind the manor and Father Timothy began the service soon after.

Ratonhnhaké:ton stood beside the father since he was the closest person to Achilles. He held onto Cora's little hand as she opted to stand for the service rather than be carried. They were now the future of Davenport in the eyes of the town and Father Timothy spoke to the congregation, "Prayer and sermon do not suit this occasion. Achilles was not a man of God. Not my God, at any rate, but we must respect that. He certainly believed in a guiding force in life, and he is at peace now and for that we can be grateful. We lay him to rest here, atop the bluff where he made his honorable and dignified life, so he can remain that comforting presence – the old man on the hill – that we have all grown to depend on."

Cora squeezed her father's hand tightly when his shoulders slumped, aware that he was hurting. He had explained the passing of Achilles to her young mind and that he would now sleep underground forever. She would miss running through the large manor and bringing him books to read. Ratonhnhaké:ton returned her comforting squeeze as Father Timothy continued, "You all had your own relationships with him, your own moments and I implore you to return here when the time is right for you and share those stories with the waves and the trees. Achilles. You will be missed but never forgotten. Go safely into the afterlife, old man, safely to where your soul need rest."

One by one, the original homesteaders dropped the bouquets of flowers into the open hole. Ratonhnhaké:ton motioned for Caroline to join her family since she began her life on the little green hill across the manor. Cora stuck to her father while she joined Elizabeth, embracing her sniffling younger sister. They had both been frequent visitors in their youth to help around the property and Elizabeth never forgot how he allowed her to tend to his horses. Achilles always held a soft spot for her and Alice as the youngest girls of the family, always giving them a coin or two when he could spare it.

Godfrey smiled forlornly at his family, whom had grown considerably since 1770, and told them, "He loved you lot for all you did."

Caroline and Elizabeth tossed their flowers together, watching them disappear into the darkness. Their love and memories would be with Achilles forever, silently thanking him for the help over the years. The elder redhead thinned her lips as she cleared her throat to promise, "Farewell, Mr. Davenport. We shall watch over the town until we meet again."

With that said, she allowed Robert to take their place with their band of Assassins. The old sailor had returned home and prepared to reminisce with his friend over drinks later that day. It was their usual get-together after a mission once Ratonhnhaké:ton debriefed Achilles since he didn't drink and opted to be with his family. Instead, he returned for a funeral! With a heavy sigh, he tossed the flowers over his friend's coffin and clasped his hands together to say, "I always thought I'd go first, given my penchant for the sea. But I'm glad you left in peace on your own terms. Goodbye, old friend."

Ratonhnhaké:ton waited until everyone placed their flowers inside the grave to have Cora add in her little bouquet. She wanted Achilles to be surrounded forever by all the pretty flowers of the hills. Father Timothy ushered the townsfolk to the Mile's End to grant him a few moments in privacy. Caroline waved to Cora, silently motioning for her to stay with her father, and she nodded quickly. She would stick to him like glue until he was ready to leave the grave site. Ratonhnhaké:ton withdrew a white feather from his vest pocket and kneeled to let it fall into the open grave.

He would listen to his mentor's words of not carrying guilt but lament that their time together had ended. Everything left unfinished with the Templars was up to him now and he promised, "I will make you proud, old man."

---

After the arrival of the injured Aquila crew and Achilles' funeral, the town decided to hold a vigil and dinner at the Mile's End. It was safe to say the entire town was exhausted and Ratonhnhaké:ton was thankful when the townsfolk gave their support with anything he needed. He could not ask for anything more after today, seeing everyone working together at the cove and the funeral. Even his Cora took part in it. He was more than happy to sit down and eat a fresh hot meal beside his family.

He inhaled the savory buttery mashed potatoes and smiled when Cora stuck her spoon in to sneak a bite. Although Caroline held her on her lap, she snuck in bites from both their plates to fill her stomach. He offered her a piece of his cornbread but she declined, pushing the piece towards him so he could eat it. She was already taking after her mother, who stabbed his fork into a sliced piece of pork sausage. Accepting both offers, he filled his stomach with the delicious food and dug into his meal to devour the meat first. Caroline chuckled softly, cherishing his food quirks and offered her own sausage coin to Cora for her to nibble on. The couple was content in finally settling back into their home life, even with their recent loss.

"Don't carry any regrets" Robert advised him as he sat across from the couple, picking at his own meal. The day had spun out of everyone's hands with the naval battle, infiltrating Fort George, losing Lee, returning home with the injured, and burying Achilles. It was a rough day and he locked gazes with Ratonhnhaké:ton to emphasize, "You did a lot for him and the Order. We're proud of ye."

"You couldn't have done more than you did" Caroline agreed gently to his kindness in fulfilling Achilles' last wishes. He arrived home tired and beaten from battle but he did not hesitate to help with the funeral. Without hesitation, he had jumped in to help his old friend. Exhaustion lined his eyes but he refused to cave to its clutches until he was home again.

"Thank you for joining me for Achilles' funeral" Ratonhnhaké:ton spoke up to tell the gathered guests in the inn. He could always count on the townsfolk to come together and tonight, they could reminisce over their shared memories. His early days had been awkward from the start as he adapted to his new life but his neighbors and Achilles aided him in understanding colonial customs. Their helping hand never ended which is why he protected them fiercely and he thanked them, "I appreciate all the help you all provided me today on the cove."

"I second that" Robert agreed, raising his ale mug in praise for the town, and soft laughter echoed through the room. The town that began with less than a dozen now branched into more than double as new residents rolled in and marriages occurred, bringing the rise of the new generation. He was glad to see the abandoned town flourished from the ashes of death after the last Assassin purge and knew Ratonhnhaké:ton would continue that work.

"Our crew would not have survived without your help" Caroline added in because the number of injured outweighed the number able to offer aid. She had a few bruises from tumbling around the crow's nest and plucked off a few splinters but nothing that required medical attention. Cora found her mother's bruising interesting like a cow's patches and kept poking her arms whenever her sleeve exposed one. Even when she bumped into objects, she found curiosity in poking her bruises instead of crying. Caroline assumed she was already taking after her father by brushing off flesh wounds like nothing.

Caroline snuggled Cora, who was more than happy to bask in the affection, before picking up their forks to continue eating. While the adults could stay up late, children had an earlier bedtime and she didn't want to nurse an upset tummy she could have prevented. Ratonhnhaké:ton watched the camaraderie in the room, missing the presence of Achilles among the crowd, and made a pivotal decision. They both clashed on the matter but now that he was leading the northern branches to purge the Templars, he could not hold his silence anymore.

"Achilles was a dependable friend and mentor" he spoke openly and gazed briefly at his team of Assassins before taking a deep breath. Turning around in his seat to face the occupied tablets behind him, he continued, "With that in mind, there is something I must reveal to you."

The serious tone in his voice alerted Robert first on what he was willing to divulge and warned, "Connor."

"Dearest" Caroline beckoned to avoid a regrettable decision since honesty was important to him. However, it could head down to different roads so he needed to tread carefully.

Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head to have them stand down and Caroline silently returned to feeding their daughter. Robert decided to bury his concerns in the ale mug and took a bountiful swig. They abided by his decision, aware that he struggled to reveal the truth as time went on. Caroline admired his honesty and was lucky her family accepted it but they did have reservations about the danger. He struggled for words on retelling his path but did not want to bore them with tedious details. His tale had been short for his wife's family years ago and he began, "There is a truth we hid from you and with Achilles passing, I will take the blame if you are disappointed for it."

This stirred the curiosity of the townsfolk and their ears burned for the secret. Alice and Samuel were the only children unaware from the family so he hoped not to disappoint them. The expectant eyes of his neighbors stirred nerves in his stomach but he pushed it aside to continue, "I have been part of a secret war that has lasted for centuries and I stumbled upon it through Achilles. He taught me everything I know. This conflict is currently tied to the revolution since our enemies would manipulate either side to subjugate all civilians to their rule. I am trying to stop that plan by aiding the Patriots."

Confusion echoed through the occupied tables since it was the last thing they expected to hear. Alice, Samuel, Maria, and Anne were absolutely invested in hearing this from their table while the smaller children like Daniel, Hunter, Matthew, and Cora were more interested in the food. Catherine eyed her husband with a dry stare when he continued eating with the little ones, giving away their previous knowledge of the secret war. Ratonhnhaké:ton did not want them to believe he deceived them maliciously and revealed, "I am an Assassin, carrying out missions to free this land of tyranny from the crown and our enemy, the Templar Order."

Caroline instinctively clutched Cora in case she needed a quick escape, earning a defiant whine from her daughter. Her greatest fear was being rejected by her childhood home and having to escape. It was one reason why she hesitated revealing the truth and made her understand why her husband kept the secret from her as well. She had not reacted well in the heat of the moment, opting to process the truth by herself, and hoped the town would be kinder. He was braver than she ever could be and she glanced worriedly at Robert, who shook his head calmly. If the town was in cahoots with the Templars or disapproved, they would have heard it already. Still, it didn't lighten her nerves when Diana asked with alarm, "You assassinate people?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton held his breath, pensive over the label because both groups enacted harm. He tried to avoid killing individuals but like Achilles once taught him, leaving someone alive could backfire terribly in the future. It was his choice to reveal the truth and he would stand by it. Becoming his father was not in his plans and he answered truthfully, "That is the name of our Order but both sides are not innocent of bloodshed. I will not lie to you about that. Even civilians have shed blood to survive on the frontier."

"You've been in this group for years?" Big Dave asked curiously but his neighbor was very private about his life. It was usually Caroline that revealed his travels and the milestones of their shared life. The only time he shared a private plan was for his engagement since he was the town smithy. Nonetheless, he had saved his life plenty and opted that he did this for a good reason.

"Achilles trained me to revive it after I learned my father led the Templars" he explained after his spirit journey led him to the old man to stop the Templar threat. They could not gain access to the ruined temple lying dormant, especially when they had a piece that could potentially grant access. His father had admitted the mission was a failure and Ratonhnhaké:ton reasoned the farther he kept them away, the safer it would be. This second reveal sent the town into shocked gasps since they had heard rumors of the man visiting from Caroline's siblings. He had multiple pieces in the war to worry about and he deliberated further, "Their mission is to attain complete control of the colonies to restrict freedom and become their sheep. They are searching for artifacts that would grant them open access to this land's resources and its people. If they gain access to ancient ruins left by all our ancestors, the world will fall to ruin. I cannot allow that to happen."

"And what is your mission?" Prudence asked, giving him a chance to present his case to the town. Like the original homesteaders, she never found ill will in him and doubted it existed now. He did not hesitate to save her from a bear attack, jumping headfirst into danger, and helped during the birth of her son. She trusted him like a family member and it would not change her mind.

"Freedom and peace" he answered clearly to his end goal in eradicating the Templars. When the Patriots won, he wanted the new nation to be free of ominous forces that could manipulate the new hope of the rising nation. His daughter deserved to live in a safer world and not delve into the Assassin-Templar conflict when she became older. The failed mission spurred him even more now to find Lee and kill him swiftly before he squirmed away again. He was becoming harder to kill than a cockroach and he continued, "The right to live just as equally as any other person. Any secrets of the ancient world before us should remain untouched for our continued existence."

Myriam stretched her arms over her head, unaffected by the news, and trusted her friend to make a smart decision. They would not have survived as a town if he were a dunce or held malevolent intentions. Nothing would change her view and she would happily live in her town, telling everyone nonchalantly, "This town is a prime example of freedom."

"Do these Templars pose a threat to us?" Prudence asked on behalf of the children of their town in case she needed to carry more than a walking stick. If the two inbound ships carrying the injured were the result of a fight between both factions, they would need to increase their security. They could not risk danger to the children since they already dealt with rampant wildlife on a daily basis.

"As of today, they may" Ratonhnhaké:ton answered frankly after his encounter with Haytham that left Davenport vulnerable. Unlike Lee, he knew where they lived and nothing would stop him from sending his agents to destroy the town. Keeping everyone safe was now the priority while the dust settled after the attack in New York. He did not want to bring unwarranted trouble for the town and hoped they would not hold it against him. He would not blame them at all if they did and further explained, "I was attempting to bridge peace with my father but he sided with his own, forsaking our family and any chance to end this war. I tried to make him understand . . ."

"Do not blame yourself" Caroline reassured him after endless conversations over the past several years. He never stopped believing he could find a way to attain peace with Haytham to stop the bloodshed. Unfortunately, they could not force him or they would be no worse than the Templars. The subsequent deaths that would occur after today would not be their fault after attempting peace through various means. They were still going to kill Lee but the man earned that sentence. He would sleep better without that burden on his shoulders and she reiterated, "You did everything right."

Lyle always had an inkling his native friend was into a secret trade but expected it to be in naval security or the fur trade. The naval ship deceived him and assumed the crew had been injured from an enemy vessel attempting to steal from them. Instead, he learned they attacked a fort with the help of the French to assist the Patriots in the current war. He never thought about asking about his line of work since he trusted the man and asked, "So, what exactly do Assassins do?"

"We're not all action-packed members" Robert spoke candidly about the glamour and glitz of being in the Order. There was more danger attached than rewards in the job so it would not be everybody's cup of tea. His boss was fine risking his own life but hesitated on involving his family to keep them safe. It was not a choice to take lightly but there were roles not fit for the field and he told them, "Connor here travels everywhere and we've all seen him in a fight. Me, on the other hand, not so much. The sea is my chanty and age has caught up with me."

Ratonhnhaké:ton tried not to smile at his dejected tone but his first mate should never be underestimated. There were situations that he could not have maneuvered through without his help. Today was another prime example of his strength since he was not fit to steer the ship and he did not hesitate to take up the mantle. He could always rely on him and Caroline through thick and thin. His apprehension that the town would view him negatively did not come to pass as they formed their own opinion of his secret work.

"Well, do you need help with ammunition?" Big Dave inquired about his supply since he was the number one customer when it came to purchasing bullets. The only ones who matched his purchasing level were Myriam and Elizabeth. If he was heading out of town to fight anyone that threatened their town, he was all for it.

"What?" he asked, surprised at the unexpected offer from the smith. He expected pushback from his reveal since it wasn't an everyday occurrence to have an Assassin neighbor. They weren't upset at him and ready to grab pitchforks to demand more answers?

"Well, you've been running out there alone for years with us being none the wiser" he answered easily about the situation and the room echoed in agreement. His neighbor had never given off an ominous vibe and he would give him the benefit of the doubt. Big Dave's trust was placed in Ratonhnhaké:ton himself, not the secret group. He would always lend a hand to him after his endless help, especially when he refused to give him up to the English army during the town attack, and vowed, "You've protected and helped us without question. So, it's our turn to help you."

"We don't need to know your Assassin business but never hesitate to ask for our help" Terry called out, trusting his family to the man that saved his life more than once. Frankly, he was sure Ratonhnhaké:ton saved everyone's lives at some point in their journey as neighbors. There would be no distrust towards him, appreciating his honesty and the necessity of hiding it to protect everyone. It was not easy assisting the Patriot army while being part of a secret order.

Ellen was quick to jump in to lend her services and nodded with a kind smile, "If you ever need attire mended or made, I'm available."

"Again, ammo" Big Dave volunteered with a wink to his multiple services from weapons to ammunition. Heck, he could make horseshoes for the entire group.

"You don't even need to ask me about free poison" Lyle offered nonchalantly to the different arsenal in his skill set, idly tapping his nose. He could easily patch up the injured with able hands to assist him, finding it thrilling today to set up a makeshift hospital on the cove. Rural life did not throw multiple gunshot victims at him unless they were attacked but even then, their town was efficient enough that they sent the enemy running after heavy casualties.

"Dr. White" Prudence hushed with an amused laugh, especially for being the one to supply him with the herbs needed for such poultices. Now that Hunter was running around exploring their town, she had to fence off the section of her garden dedicated to medicinal plants. She could not allow curious hands to pluck and eat herbs and flowers that could prove dangerous to children.

Lyle dismissed her concerns over his hobby of creating potions and justified swiftly, "I am helping to maintain our freedom!"

"If you need provisions for the road" Oliver offered helpfully and Walter cleared his throat awkwardly before admitting he was helping with goods from the general store. Being family and co-owner with Ratonhnhaké:ton, he was privy to the secret. His friend would decline the offer of provisions but he would always give it to Caroline, who would sneak the care package inside her husband's bag. Instead of being lectured, Oliver nodded with approval to his grandson's decision to help others.

"We've trusted you for years, Connor, and we won't stop now" Norris emphasized to their collective approval to help and guard his secret. His friend was not a random person they recently met or one that made grievous errors and bad decisions. Everything he did was for safety and to help others thrive in life. He and Myriam would stick by their friend after his selfless attitude since meeting. After all, he would not have met his wife if they had not decided to live in Davenport.

"We're here to help you" Lance promised kindly to their loyalty and made a note to craft arrows for his friend. Given that he returned with an injured crew, he would likely need all the ammunition he could get to fend off any intruders. Nobody had breached their walls, apart from the English, but everyone worked together to get rid of them. He was no longer a young bachelor that could fistfight, but he could shoot a rifle when required. His work boomed when moving the rural town, which was more of a stop when he first arrived, and stated confidently, "Achilles may be gone but we're not."

"Thank you, all of you" Ratonhnhaké:ton declared gratefully for their kindness, expecting criticism for his choice. Did the town truly trust him this much? There was so much relief intertwined with being honest and not having a negative fallout from it. He did not want to imagine having to move his family from Davenport to a new town where they knew nobody. Their approval was humbling after keeping his Assassin affiliation secret and told them, "I will always protect our home from all enemies."

"I'm going to take a guess and say you lot are Assassins" Corrine smiled warmly after seeing their familiar faces for years during the holiday season. She assumed they were friends of Achilles and Ratonhnhaké:ton but there was more than met the eye, apparently. They were always clean and polite guests at the inn so she never minded boarding them.

"Guilty" Duncan agreed sheepishly, dropping the pretense of his travels to the town. They always welcomed his group without a problem and Caroline considered him family after all their travels. For the first time in a long time, he had a home away from home in Boston.

Elizabeth stood up from the table where her family sat and reassured the town with a friendly smile, "You have nothing to fear from us."

"We like to keep a low profile" Caroline agreed openly to reveal her affiliation and stood by her husband. If he was risking his neck, so would she. They shared everything so she would not leave him alone to bear any criticism. She tried to simultaneously feed Cora but her little one reached out for her father with wiggling fingers demanding attention. He picked her up before she began crying and his fatherly smile soon evaporated when she began picking at his uneaten food to feed herself.

"How dare you keep this from me?" Samuel demanded from Elizabeth, grasping her left arm to shake her lightly for the insult. He had always been curious about their secret work but was told he was too little to understand. Now, his other sister was part of it too? He was no longer so little anymore and worked shifts at the lumber mill, aware that it would fall into his hands one day. He and his sisters were no longer little kids running around the town but aiming to sustain it. Still, the boyish wanderlust lingered in his heart and he declared, "I crave adventure!"

It took years but Elizabeth finally learned why Caroline kept her in the dark after seeing the devastation of Fort George. She and Clipper had been underground but they did not doubt for a second that the tunnels could have caved in, entombing everyone alive inside them. The fear from that thought was not one she would want to pass to Samuel and she admitted softly, "Our work is not glamorous."

"We mean no harm, only to live on our own terms" Clipper reiterated to make sure they wouldn't be chased out of the town. They might be loyal to Ratonhnhaké:ton but the same might not apply to them. Godfrey reassured the town that the small group was harmless after discovering the truth years ago and meeting each of them one by one. It didn't help the old lumberjack that two of his daughters were part of it and fancied men of the same work.

"Please, enjoy the food and rest well after today" Ratonhnhaké:ton thanked everyone after that grueling day and returned to helping Cora stab her fork into vegetables. Her blue eyes narrowed at having to switch from the buttery potatoes to the sliced carrots but he motioned for her to eat. The toddler whined pitifully for mercy but obeyed her father, stirring amused smiles from her parents. He would take a fussy toddler ten times over than repeat the events at the fort or digging a grave.

The couple was approached by Aveline, prompting Cora to hug her father with distrust of the new face. Caroline tickled her cheek to reassure her it was safe and apologized to their friend. Aveline saw nothing wrong with natural insecurity from the little girl, sitting down beside the couple to wave gently at Cora. The raven-haired girl chewed her food silently, assessing the new threat with her azure gaze, and reasoned her parents knew better before returning to her food. Ratonhnhaké:ton smiled down at his little enforcer while Caroline chuckled, "Sorry. She is becoming much like her father already."

"Thank you for allowing me to bid your old mentor farewell" Aveline spoke with lament at returning to the town for his funeral rather than thanking him for the invite north. Although Ratonhnhaké:ton ran the Order, there was a high level of respect for their elder by both of them. Once the Templars were eradicated, she would lead the southern colonies that were not part of the new Americas while they would both branch out west. She hoped they could see that dream come true one day and promised them, "I will depart tomorrow morning but I hope to see you all more often in the years to come."

"Once Lee is dead, there will no longer be a threat" he agreed with a firm nod where none of them had to look over their shoulder for a Templar threat. He could only leave Cora in Davenport, finding the cities too much of a danger for her until he purged all the Templars. Their looming threat was a reason why he delayed starting a family but the years dragged on and on with no end in sight. Achilles had told him the war spanned centuries and maybe he was foolish to think he could put a pause to it but he was going to try for Cora. After all, it had taken years for Ezio Auditore to end the Borgia threat and the same befell him with Lee and his father.

"Pending your father's demise" Caroline corrected because they had no idea on his whereabouts. He could be alive or dead at that very moment without them being none the wiser. It was the first time they faced him in a battle and they were lost to the outcome!

"How could he give you up?" Aveline sighed softly at the little girl, who was more fascinated by her father's dinner than her surroundings, and smiled at the couple to propose, "When she is of age, I will be more than happy to teach her."

"She will likely stay for the food" Caroline chuckled at her ravenous appetite, especially now that she could eat by herself. The days of tending to a newborn were gone now, a mere dream for her as a first-time parent but she cherished those first months. Each milestone that Cora struck filled them with hope for her future and they would teach her to survive in the world. Neither of them would be with her forever and she could learn from so many of their loved ones that were present that night. She smiled with gratitude for her friend's offer and stated kindly, "Thank you for your help, Aveline. Our home is always open to you."

The older Assassin nodded to them in farewell to retreat for the night since the voyage south would not be short. Without knowing how long the search for Lee would last, Ratonhnhaké:ton thought it best for her to return home rather than keep her away for an extended period of time. The jovial sounds of conversation and tinkling of dinnerware soothed him after a long day, dissipating the plaguing thoughts on retaliation by the Templars. Cora was unaware of the worries that affected him and he clutched her to his chest, comforted by her presence. She pouted at having her mealtime disturbed until seeing his face and leaned happily into the hug. As long as he had his family, he could survive anything and sighed under his breath with exhaustion, "What a day."

"You handled all of this very well" Caroline complimented with a fond smile after darting back and forth through the town. Their plan had been to return to heal the injured and begin their next steps to find Lee, not schedule a funeral. Her husband needed to get a good night's sleep to refresh and begin anew tomorrow to stay ahead. The town now knew what their second life consisted of and aired out the dirty laundry they hid, removing the curtain of secrecy they held. They were both caught by surprise by their offers of aid and she teased lightly, "I knew it was only a matter of time before you told the town."

"Achilles would not have approved" he pointed out glumly about their differing views on keeping the town in the dark. He did not want them to be attacked and have such a huge secret kept from them to cause resentment. After all the help they lent him, he never wanted to deceive them. Yes, his mentor had a good reason that the less they knew the better but it could also have severe consequences if the Templars found them. Now that his father was an unknown variable and had the town's location, it made that stark reality even more possible. He would not disappoint them, watching their happy faces and lively conversations through the room, and vowed firmly, "I will protect them all."

"It's time to make your own decisions" she advised him quietly now that he was the sole leader of their Order. There was no more Achilles to offer viewpoints into the past or different perspective. It was all resting on his shoulders now but she and the others would be there for him. They did not hesitate to follow him into unknown danger and it would stay that way. She reached out to squeeze his right forearm as it rested on the table, along with bordering Cora to thwart her escape, and spoke with unwavering loyalty, "I will always follow you to the very end."

---

A/N: There's a reason we did not see much of Haytham's viewpoint in this battle, which will be explained in the next chapter. Fort George was an emotional battle in the game and I decided to keep Haytham MIA until the next chapter. After pondering over his canon ending, the fan queries have pushed me to explore that alternate route of 'what if' so I diverged off-road with the original timeline. I also wanted the inclusion of every colonial Assassin for this final push to bring them all together for Achille's passing since the next missions were done solo by Connor. Poor Connor was all over the place this chapter, which was incredibly lengthy, and he can finally have some peace with Cora at the end. With him assuming leadership, his first action was to finally reveal everything to the town to let them be aware. The next chapter will continue with the aftermath of the fight and Connor's trip to Boston to hunt down Lee, which will still not be easy for him.

Thank you for waiting for this lengthy chapter and for my last chapter reviews!

East Coast Captain: I lumped that entire mission and the funeral into this one chapter so there were a lot of feels in trying to set the right tone in each scene. The end with Connor coming clean about the Assassins was just an extra to tie the community into the family that they are. Haytham is definitely not trying to corrupt or harm Cora but he is always the complex type in unveiling his secret plans and the Charles vs Connor conflict puts him right in the middle. I am eager to write out the next chapter with more Haytham while Connor sets out to find Lee.

ThyDevoutBeliever: The battle played out similarly to the canon fight but it swerved at the end because I really liked Haytham's character. Shay will definitely pop out in the next chapter which I am enjoying writing because I find him to have a blunt sense of humor while Haytham is more dry sarcasm. A heartfelt thank you for following this story!

Next Chapter Excerpt:

"To what do I owe this visit?" Haytham asked calmly as he strode to the campfire, sitting down neatly beside her. Ziio did not stop sharpening the knife as her brow focused on her weapon, remaining silent. He was aware that she no longer existed but here, in the deep crevices of his mind, she was as real as anybody else. The orange illumination from the fire outlined her sharp features, accenting her freckled cheeks, and danced alongside her moving hands. Even in the darkness, she was a beacon of strength and he saw the same reflected in their son. He tapped his fingers upon his legs and offered a halfhearted quip to draw her closer to the fire, "It is quite dark."

"Your mind is pensive as of late" she remarked simply, her concentration never slipping from her task.

This was not the first conversation they held in his mind and he would often dream of her during times of conflict. She had been his escape from the world many years ago and her spirit lingered through the passage of time. His conversations with her ranged from chatty to silent in her calming presence, content with her temporary ghostly existence. The tumultuous war that Connor and Charles led was not making things easier, leading him to mutter, "Many variables to ponder over to reach the end of this war."

"Despite how much you try to run from it, you are tied to our son" she pointed out firmly at the lingering reminder of their failed relationship. Their son was originally an innocent party but his continued involvement with the Assassins made it difficult for Haytham. If he stepped aside or never became involved with them, their story would have evolved far differently. Instead, he was trying to figure out how to salvage both sides and he smiled faintly when she added in, "So am I."

"I have never denied our relationship" he disagreed earnestly since it was hard denying their blended features in Connor. Every time he looked at the boy, he saw Ziio's gaze staring right back at him. Her body no longer existed but her spirit endured in their son and she wandered sporadically through his dreams. Their shared memories were all he had until their son showed up and his dreamscape began. He did not have many trusted confidantes but he could confess to her in the safety of his own mind. Crossing his arms, he muttered to her with annoyance, "He is not making it easy."

Ziio shot him a mildly amused gaze, pausing her tool sharpening, and drew in a sharp breath before advising him, "The choice of the Templars over his life will soon come to a head. You must decide."

"Must we speak of dreary subjects?" he sighed morosely at the looming threat of either decimating the Templar Order or murdering his own child. There was no easy way to tiptoe around it and although he fought Connor on his first peace offering, he was trying his best to salvage the second. His son's relentless revenge against Lee hampered those efforts and became a heavy obstacle to remove. Lee had not helped in the slightest by attacking children and cursed him for dragging him into this mess. Dreams of peace always seemed that – an illusion – until his son came along and he sighed bitterly, "Why can we not simply coexist?"

"We tried and failed" she answered quietly since both factions failed to reach an understanding. Haytham shooting Achilles in the leg and converting one of his agents into a Templar had not helped smooth things over either. The time for contemplating peace had passed long ago until working with Connor, silently blaming him for the sentimentality that awakened. He was the new piece to the game that changed everything and that threatened the order Haytham instilled in the colonies under Templar control. He grew tired of being in the middle of everything and she reminded him grimly, "Again, you will face the same forked road."

When she raised her newly sharpened knife, he tensed immediately at the thought of being stabbed in his dream. It had yet to happen but his dreams had not been peaceful at all lately. Ziio, however, held it upright with a firm gleam in her brown eyes and she spoke with finality, "This knife will be aimed at one of them. You must decide who it will be."

"I can keep them both" he insisted if he conjured a decent plan to keep both sides appeased and grumbled under his breath at realizing this was what Connor tried all along. Hmm, maybe he had become a stubborn old man now. He abhorred foolish sentimentality but here he was, contemplating how to best conserve his order and keep his family. Family. That word had been lost to him for a long time, devoting his life to the Templar cause until meeting Ziio where it faltered for the first time. If he had known about Connor, there was a strong chance he would have left it all behind and begun anew. The nagging 'what if's continued strongly now that Cora existed and he tried to find one last sliver of hope, "The Templars-"

"Will kill our family" Ziio interjected with cold logic to the reality of a Templar victory that would eradicate their descendants. There would be no safe harbor for them against the dominant force and the Templars would only spread west to continue conquering other colonies. Haytham led them but he had purged the entire order decades prior and the current tug-of-war would lead to another if they won. He could simmer the flames temporarily and Ziio spoke earnestly, "You and our son may be seeking peace but are all your people in line?"

Haytham frowned at the single member that started the whole mess to begin with, "You mean Charles?"

"Our son will either kill him or Charles will kill him" she explained easily to the final battle that would determine the end of their story. Haytham was tied to both and his final decision would have repercussions for both sides. Would he betray his Order or his son? Was Lee worth dying over? If he recused himself, would the two feuding men end the struggle? Being in the middle certainly had not helped matters but would stepping aside allow him to live with the final verdict? Would he be happy with Lee leading the Templars one day and his family annihilated or the Templars in shambles and his family thriving? Ziio saw the conflict in his blue gaze, resting her weapon on his knee, and stated somberly, "There is no other way."

It was clear now that the Kenway name would be shrouded in tragedy and he attempted another alternative, "If I keep them apart-"

"Nothing stays silent forever" she said evenly because one side would always overlap into the other. Boundaries were never eternal and fixed. He had tried it already after Connor left him in Valley Forge but Lee and Connor were in a direct collision to end the Templar control of the colonies. No matter what new idea he attempted, the pending fight could not be stopped and there would only be one victor. She was right in the inevitable fight and he crossed his arms as she played his logical consciousness by pointing out, "If you choose Charles, you will extinguish everything. You will keep your Templars, as you did many years ago before I died, but at a greater cost."

"Why must there only be one choice?" he questioned irritably at trying something else to calm both sides, grasping at strings.

"Because the wheels were set in motion long ago and they cannot be stopped" Ziio answered sympathetically as all the past events rolled to a standstill in Haytham's decision. While he implored Lee to hide to avoid the fight, it was only serving to prolong it. Connor would not stop his search for the man and his letters were also clear for him to step aside and let them handle it. Under normal circumstances, he would not care about an Assassin and Templar fighting to the death but the man in question was his son. If he sided with Lee, his family would be lost and he treasured his innocent grandchild most of all. If he sided with Connor, his Order would collapse and restructuring it would not be easy – if at all. Ziio placed her hand over his left forearm with a firm squeeze and advised, "The choice is yours but if you choose your Order once more, I will not be the only figure haunting you in this space."

"You do not haunt me" he whispered solemnly, wishing she did not live only in his memories and dreamscape. She was one of several ghosts that plagued him but the one he missed most. His son blamed him for that loss as well despite having no hand in it but he had not made the boy's life easy. If he stepped aside willingly, would he gain his trust – even if it meant Lee could ultimately kill him? Or would blocking him serve better to save him from death? Either decision would have consequences and his shoulders slouched as he sighed aloud, "I have . . . many regrets."

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Thank you for reading!