…the trickier the action gets

Connor, August 1786

Clipper's friend, Albert Kingston, actually assured them of his help. With all of his tools he had come to Davenport where they had already prepared all the materials he would need for his work. Big Dave had agreed to let Albert work in his forge, where he had the chance to melt the glass he was working with and fill it into a mould he had created with Connor's part of the key. Although he didn't know exactly what it was about, he invested much time an effort into this work, but he needed almost a month and several failed attempts to make a mirrored copy of the artefact, until he finally ordered Connor to come into the forge. Certain that he finally had been successful.
Together with Olivia, Connor visited Albert in the forge, where he was always waiting for them with a satisfied smile on his lips.
"I think you will be pleased this time, Connor", he said and beckoned them over to the table, where he had spread his tools. He pulled a rag aside and gave Connor a small, blue object. Almost with the shape of a drop, entirely smooth and with an apparent break on its edge.
"On the first sight better than the other tries", Connor said and held the glass stone towards the open window where the daylight shone into the forge. As expected, the light broke insight the object but Albert had somehow managed it to work some facets into it so that it almost looked like the original artefact. Connor pulled at the leather string around his neck and held the artefact beside the counterfeit. Now it was clearly visible that they were made of different materials, but even if the breaks didn't match, you could actually think the counterfeit was real on the first sight and that was what they had wanted to reach.
"Thank you, Albert. This is exactly what we need." Connor stretched his right hand out to the glazier, who took it with a nod.
"No problem. It was finally a task that was challenging for me. I should thank you for the job."
Connor put the counterfeit into his pocket, they bid farewell to Albert and went back into the homestead.
"Now that we have the counterfeit, we could finally start to realize our plan", Olivia said and looked at Connor from the side. He nodded slowly.
"We can. I only have to speak with Dr White about the laudanum and you should ask Lillian for clothes."
"I really have to?" Olivia screwed up her face. "I doubt that it needs a skirt to bewitch men."
"I do not want you to go there unharmed and you can hide weapons under a skirt. Furthermore your disguise wouldn't appear believable if you go there dressed like you are now."
Olivia mumbled something but didn't keep contradicting. Over the last weeks, she had actually taken to follow Connor's orders although she didn't have to at all. He didn't want to command her or anybody else. He wasn't responsible for her but because she had joined him more or less, maybe because of her feeling of guilt, he was somehow. No matter for what reasons: Connor was grateful for her support and that was why he wanted her to stay unharmed when they realized the plan they had developed to replace the artefact. Olivia would pretend to be a barmaid and offer the guards on Callaghan's property fresh Ale. The assassins had already found out that there was a certain point in time in the week where the templar left his house to do some businesses. He always took most of his men with him. Only a few would stay and they would eliminate them with the Ale which they wanted to mix with laudanum first. As soon as they were knocked out, Connor and Olivia would enter the house to search for the artefact, replace it and disappear again. They wouldn't need to kill anyone and would leave no traces behind. As long as everything was doing well. Connor was tensed when he thought of this plan but it was the only appropriate which had come to their minds and he needed to trust his own decisions. It would take long anymore until they could step into action. There were only a few preparations left.

While Olivia went to the manor to see Lillian, Connor went to Dr White. He had already talked with the doctor about his plans. The guards by the house should only become unconscious and don't now anything about what happened when they woke up again. Nobody should be seriously harmed and so Connor trusted the correct dosage of the narcotics which Dr White had filled into a small vial. It was the last thing Connor had needed before they could go to Boston and because Callaghan was going to leave his house in two days, Connor wanted to set off tomorrow. As long as Olivia was prepared, too. His way led him back to the manor as well and when he stepped inside, he could already hear the voices of Lillian and Olivia who must be upstairs in the bedroom.
"Do you feel reasonably comfortable?", Lillian just asked as Connor slowly went upstairs.
"Define reasonably", Olivia snorted. "The bodice is tight."
"Don't exaggerate." He could hear Lillian smirk. "It has to be tight but if I can wear it everyday, you can do it for some hours."
"You are used to this other instrument of torture. I have to feel as if I can fight with it at least."
As Connor stepped through the open bedroom door and leaned against the frame, he could see the two women in front of the mirror. Olivia wore a white blouse, a dark-green waistcoat and a skirt in the same colour and really looked anything but pleased. Lillian on the other hand wore a small grin on her lips as she shook her head.
"We can leave it out but then you have to keep the waistcoat closed so that no one sees it."
"Gracias a Díos! It saves my life. So you will borrow me the clothes."
"If they stay intact and without blood stains, yes."
"Great." Olivia looked herself over in the mirror again and finally turned around to Connor. "Am I allowed to stir up the guards like this?", she asked grinning, but Connor only shrugged his shoulders.
"In the end, you need to be convincing", he said. "So are you prepared? I want to set off tomorrow."
Olivia nodded. "I'm ready." She grabbed her shirt and her jacket which were lying on the bed and hung them over her arm, before patting against her waist and looking at Lillian. "I will give you the instrument of torture back tomorrow."
"Do it", Lillian smirked and Olivia pushed herself past Connor saying "I'll come to the stables in the morning". He only nodded and looked after her until she had went downstairs and he heard the front door shut behind her.
"Thank you for your help", he finally said to Lillian who had started to fold the other skirts Olivia had tried on and put it back into the closet. She glanced at him and shook her head.
"I'm glad when I can contribute something to this whole plan at least, even some clothes." She closed the closet and stepped to him. "So Albert managed it to fake the artefact?"
Without giving her a concrete answer, Connor grabbed into his pocket and took out the piece of coloured glass to give it to Lillian. Like he had done it before, she lifted it to hold it into the light and scrutinized it.
"Almost perfect", she murmured. "Hopefully it's enough to fool Callaghan." She returned the counterfeit to Connor and used the chance to grab his stretched out hand firmly with her own. Her gaze was serious as she looked at him.
"You will destroy both pieces as soon as you have them, don't you?"
She had asked Connor this question several times over the last weeks and until now he had always been able to avoid an answer. The simple truth was that he didn't know what to do when he possessed both pieces of the key. He was sure that he had to prevent anyone from finding the temple and the Apple of Eden. To destroy the key was the easiest way, but Connor had the feeling that it wouldn't be so easy. There was something they didn't know yet and this thought stopped him from the decision to destroy the key. He knew that Lillian felt uncomfortable in the presence of the piece they had and wanted to know it destroyed. That was why he hadn't uttered his concerns yet. If she could have the smallest hope that this whole thing about the key was over soon, he didn't want to take it away from her. But they way she looked at her know made Connor realize that she already knew that he was hiding his thoughts from her.
"I don't know", he answered honestly. "I want to get the other half first before thinking about it. Who knows what it will bring?"
For a split of a second, Lillian's expression darkened and she frowned. Certainly she didn't want t think of what it could bring to have both halves of the key. But she didn't reply anything.
"Good", she said shortly and Connor knew that it was only an empty phrase. Nothing was good in Lillian's opinion but obviously she had decided to leave this decision to him. She would deal with her discomfort on her own, but Connor wished he could take it from her somehow. But how, if he didn't know how to go on? He had nothing left but to take the other half and see what was coming next.

Two days later, Olivia, Connor and Stephane stood in front of his tavern and the two men heaved the small barrel of Ale, which they had mixed with the laudanum before, onto a handcart. It was early afternoon and Callaghan had already left his house an hour ago, according to Duncan who had kept an eye on the house. Now Connor and Olivia had to realize their plan. The young woman wore the clothes Lillian had given to her and hid her pants, holster and short sword under the skirt. If she should get in trouble, she could defend herself but Connor didn't intend to let things get that far.
"I will take position on a roof on the other side of the street", he explained to her when they slowly went to Callaghan's house. "If you need help, I will be there immediately. Take no risks. If you think that they will cause you trouble, leave or give me a signal. Alright?"
"It already was the three times before when you told me that." Olivia gave him an amused gaze from the side. "Relax. I can handle this."
Connor didn't doubt it. Olivia was very self confident in everything she did and had often proved that she could keep a clear head. Despite her obvious temperament. He only hoped that it wouldn't be her doom one day. She was very young and reckless. But still he trusted her. She went through more things than other women of her age.
"Be careful", he said nevertheless as he gave her the handcarts handle and without saying one more word, he turned into a side alley. Callaghan's house was only a block away and he would cover the last distance over the roves. Like this, he could make sure that there were no unwanted surprises waiting for them. The assassin climbed up a house, pulled himself up on the roves edge and ran over the smooth shingles which were heated up by the sunlight. He could feel the warmth through the soles of his moccasins and also the stones of the chimney felt hot under his hands as he leaped over it. But Connor kept running, from roof to roof, looking down at the street from time to time. Olivia's steps were entirely calm while she wriggled through the people, animals and carts of Boston. Entirely inconspicuous as it would be suitable for an assassin. Not only once she stopped, not even when a man talked to her. She wasn't impressed by it and obviously totally concentrated on her aim. Connor quickened his own steps once again, jumped over a gap between two houses and was soon on a roof opposite of the templar's house. With his gift, he was able to detect the two guards at the front door. Then the man on one of the two balconies, another at a window on the first floor. Connor couldn't see more men on the first sight, but it was enough. The assassin kneeled down and sneaked closer to the edge of the roof, leaned against the chimney to hide behind it and peered down to the street.
Olivia just came around the corner. She had made a detour to come from a direction that suited her role as a barmaid. Now she directly went to Callaghan's house and to the two guards who had already noticed her.
"What do my tired eyes see? A pretty lady bringing something to drink. How pleasant."
The street was so narrow that Connor could clearly hear their voices. He could also see the smile Olivia put on as she reached the men.
"To be honest, I really wanted to give the barrel to someone and it seems like men like you can take something as good as this. My boss, the innkeeper of the tavern one block away wanted to dispose this good stuff. Says it's already stale but I'm sure you will appreciate it. I'll give it to you if you want it." She patted at the barrel and the two men grinned at each other before one of them pulled away from the door and strolled to Olivia. Connor tensed immediately, ready to help her.
She said it too casually, he thought. Olivia had made it too easy but obviously this wasn't going to be her problem.
"Show me what you got in there", the man said to her and Olivia lifted the barely lid smirking.
"The finest Ale", she said. "Already opened but it's still delicious."
"I have no doubt." The man bent over the barrel and looked at Olivia again. "And you don't want anything for it? Sure?"
"I'm always glad to make men like you happy."
"Well, normally I think of other things..." The man reached out for Olivia, but she took a step back and cocked her head.
"I'm sorry, I don't have so much time." She smiled and stepped to the man again, laid a hand on his chest. Connor couldn't hear what she said next but he seemed to like it. The assassin screwed up his face as he noticed the smug and lusty gaze of the man who turned to his comrade. How quickly the sense of some of other men wandered into the lower regions of their bodies.
"Get the others, Duck. Here's Ale that wants to be emptied. We don't want that the lady came here for nothing." He turned to Olivia again. "So we will see us later." He tried to touch Olivia but she evaded him skilfully.
"I'm looking forward to it", she purred and turned away. Swaying her hips, she went down the street again. Connor stayed in his position and watched how the two men brought the barrel into the house. He waited if one of them came out again to follow Olivia, but nothing like this happened.

The assassin stood up and continued his path over the roofs. Olivia and he had planned a meeting point close to the house where they wanted to wait until they could enter it without disturbance. When he reached narrow, dark side alley, he climbed off the building he was on and landed, after an elegant jump, directly in front of Olivia who was leaning against a wall.
"This was just too easy", she mumbled and tied her blonde hair up to a braid. "I only had to tell this guy I would show him my gratitude if he and his comrades emptied the barrel and I got him safe on the hook. You men are so predictable."
"Not all of us." Connor leaned against the wall in front of her and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Olivia uttered a snort.
"Yes, of course. I'm sure Lillian has caught the only exception of this norm."
Connor didn't reply. First of all, he knew that he wasn't so simply minded like other men and second of all, he was sure that he wasn't the only exception of this "norm" either. In the end, the weakness of these other men was their advantage at the moment. As long as they really drunk the bear.
"It should not take so long until they are knocked out", he said and turned his eyes to the alley's end. "We will come over the roofs. Do you think you can do this?" He looked at Olivia again, who just slipped out of the skirt and hung it over a fence behind her.
"Of course", she said and tugged at the skirt's hem. "Lillian won't be pleased when it stays here."
Connor raised an eyebrow. "It is a skirt. She will get over it."
"If you say so." Olivia smirked and leaned against the fence again. Silently they stayed like this for a while until Connor indicated to Olivia that she should follow him. They left the alley, went down the road and turned into the next alley to take the next chance to get onto the roofs. Olivia had some more problems with it than Connor, but soon she stood next to him close to the roof's edge and looked to Callaghan's house. They only had to climb through the tree between the two houses but for now, Connor turned his attention to the area. He could see no guards by the house. They had to be inside but he couldn't know if they all had drifted into the world of sleep by now. Now they should draw no attention to themselves.
"Stay here. I will give you a signal when you can follow me", Connor ordered Olivia to do and before he leaped off the edge and onto the closest branch. He balanced to the trunk, pushed himself past it to run over the next branch. It ended exactly at the roof's edge of the templar's house on which Connor held to, to drop himself onto the balcony underneath it. The door was open. Carefully Connor opened it a bit more, one hand on his tomahawk. His steps caused no sound on the wooden floor of the parlour which he crossed to walk through the open into the hallway. It was deadly silent inside the house. No voices. No steps. It seemed like their plan had worked and really. As Connor took a few steps downstairs, he saw four snorting men in the narrow hallway. They had met there to enjoy the ale and now they were sitting there sleeping.
So this is done. Now we only have to find the artefact, Connor thought and went to the balcony to give Olivia the signal.

Shortly afterwards they were both in Callaghan's study and let their gazes roam through the tidy room. It was obvious that the templar was a man of the military. Everything was in order and had a system. From the smallest pencils on the desk to the big, document-stuffed folders in the shelves which were taking up every wall in the small room.
"So you're sure that he hasn't the artefact with him but hides it here somewhere?", Olivia asked while she pulled out a folder and opened it.
"He feels safe here. I doubt that he is carrying the artefact with him where everyone could take it from him", Connor said and gave the blonde a warning gaze, who was still scrolling through the folder. "Concentrate on the search and be careful what you are touching. I think that a man like Callaghan knows exactly how he had left everything. He should not notice that somebody has been here."
Olivia murmured an answer and put the folder back. Silently they began searching the study. Always careful to leave everything behind like they had found it. But they neither found the artefact, nor a hint where it could be hidden. Connor already wanted to spread the search over the other rooms, as he turned to Olivia who was just searching a commode.
"Did you find something?", he asked.
"No", she said slowly and closed the commode again. She turned around to him and her eyes widened. "Er...Connor?" She pointed at him and as Connor lowered his eyes, he saw the blue shine under his shirt, too. He pulled at the leather band and brought the half of the key to light, which was lightly shining from the inside. Like it had done in the mine. Following an intuition, Connor used his eagle vision and looked down on the artefact, whose blue light appeared golden now and as Connor raised his eyes and let it roam through the room, it was the same golden light he could see somewhere else. At the mount of a lamp, hanging in the middle of the room. Like a light that was falling through a crack of a door, it was only a faint strip of light but it was visible. Without paying attention to Olivia's confused expression, he pulled a chair under the lamp, climbed on it and got a closer look at the mount. It seemed like there was a small lid in it, which wasn't visible with the naked eye. Connor let his hidden blade slide out and pushed it carefully against the edge of the lid. It opened with a quiet crack and revealed the second artefact. It was covered with a white silk cloth but as Connor cleared his vision, the blue light was clearly visible through the thin fabric.
"Incredible", Olivia murmured as he carefully took the small bundle out of the secret compartment, put it on his hand and pushed the fabrics aside. A drop-like, blue object with a fracture was inside. The exact counterpart of the artefact Connor already possessed. When he put both next to each other, they stopped shining.
"As if they searched for and found each other", Olivia commented and Connor had to agree with her inwardly. Obviously the two halves had reacted to each other. Without the first, he wouldn't have found the other one.
"So we got what we have come for", Connor simply said, pocketed both pieces and took out the counterfeit to wrap it into the silk and put it into the secret compartment. He closed it, climbed off the chair and put it back where it had been.
"This was everything?" Olivia appeared to be disappointed. "I imagined it more exciting, to be honest."
"Believe me, I am glad it went like this." In Connor's opinion, it maybe had been too easy, but in the end everything had gone according to plan. Nobody had seen them, they got the artefact and would leave no traces. Probably Callaghan wouldn't even notice that he didn't possess the real artefact anymore and while he kept searching for Ray and the other half of the key, Connor would be able to destroy both or maybe even finally reveal their secret. But until then, Olivia and he had to disappear first, as undetected as they had come.

They crossed the hallway to return to the balcony and this time Connor let Olivia go first. She climbed through the tree to the opposite roof while he stayed on the balcony, watching that they didn't get caught in the end. But everything stayed silent until he climbed onto the tree, too. He just balanced over a branch as a shout sounded from underneath him. "Damn it! Assassins!"
Connor looked down and saw a young man, wearing the same uniform like the other guards. Their gazes met and for a split of a second, Connor felt like he was looking into the eyes of a scared deer that had detected him, the hunter, in the thicket. And like a deer, the man turned around in an instant and ran off.
"To Stephane!", Connor shouted at Olivia and didn't wait for an answer. He jumped off the branch, rolled when he hit the ground and was on his feet in the next moment to follow the guard. He would run straight to a colleague or even to Callaghan himself. He would tell them about Connor and Olivia and the templars would become suspicious. Everything would be for nothing and that was why Connor needed to kill the man before it happened. The man had run straight to one of the main streets, probably hoping he could hide between all the people. Connor could see him between the strolling passers-by from time to time but like his pursuer, the pursued had to blaze his trail through the crowd. Connor was more skilled in doing so. His reflexes were faster, he was more trained. Within a short time, the distance between him and his target had become a lot smaller, but instead of following the street, the assassin turned right and climbed over some crates on the edge of the street. From there he jumped onto a wooden canopy of a shop and stayed on this height while using other canopies, decorations and scaffolds to move forward. Now he had clear sight on the young man who kept looking over his shoulder nervously. Connor didn't know how long it would take until he reached his destination. The assassin had to act now. He grabbed into one of his pockets on his belt and took out a small, metal throwing knife. Its blade was prepared with a poison that killed its victims within a short time. Clean and for the most part discreet, as long as Connor did it right.
He quickened his pace, got closer to the man and waited for the right moment. Then he threw the knife. It flew through the air and hit his target's shoulder. The young man stumbled, stopped and reached out for his shoulder. Connor could see how his eyes widened as he pulled out the knife. It seemed like it hit him. The realization that he hadn't escaped the assassin. In the meantime, the poison spread through his body. He started to stagger, took some steps which brought him the sceptical gazes of other people, then he collapsed. While the people complained about this drunken idiot who dared to collapse on the street in the middle of the day, Connor climbed off his higher position and slowly went to the body. He kneeled down and took the knife out of the limp hand.
"If you just had come a moment later", he murmured, then the assassin stood up, turned away and had blended in on Boston's streets shortly afterwards.


Greetings from Hungary. I am there for the next two weeks and luckily I have Wifi to update at least. :D The last two titles are very badly translated parts of a quote of Erich Kästner. And I should stop typing right now. The Hungarian keyboard is a mess for me. :D