Everything comes together (I)

It took a while until Lillian fell asleep again. She hadn't dared to leave the tent. Out of shame towards the men but especially towards Haytham. She was determined to apologize for her behavior but now the events were too fresh in her mind so that she couldn't walk past the rebels, who had mocked her, with her head held high. Ratonhnhaké:ton left the decision to her and stayed with her. After everything, he didn't want to leave her out of his sight but there was still the conversation he wanted to hold with his father and especially Benjamin Franklin and so he carefully pulled away from the sleeping Lillian, stood up, and left their tent.

Two hours had passed since the incident, but the sunlight was hardly noticeable. A grey, cloudy sky arched over the sparse tree-tops and emitted a constant drizzle. Most of the men had sought shelter in their tents and only a few figures in raincoats were sitting by the nearest fire like giant crows. The only person standing was Haytham Kenway, who was staring into the flames with his arms crossed and only raised his eyes, as Ratonhnhaké:ton stood beside him.

"How is she?"

"As good as she can be expected under the circumstances. She is sleeping right now. I will have to look for Logan. Her wound needs to be bandaged again." Ratonhnhaké:ton stretched his hands to the warming flames and rubbed his palms together. The rain brought a coldness that was foretelling the nearing winter. It would bury this camp, he was sure of it by now.

"You knew what happened to her, did you not?", the Mohawk asked, without looking at his father. This thought was troubling him for a while now and didn't leave him.

"I didn't know. I guessed it since she ran into us in the woods. It confused me that it had been so easy for her to escape from the pyramid. Why should she be successful where so many failed before? Her behavior this morning was the proof."

"And it never came to your mind that you should tell me?"

"Oh, yes. I should have. I'm sure, you would have believed me that your girl came back to kill you."

It wasn't only Haytham's sarcastic, mocking tone that made Connor press his lips together and frown angrily. It was also the fact, that Haytham wasn't entirely wrong. He wouldn't have believed him, although so much had indicated that something about Lillian's return had been wrong. But she was here. Washington's attack had failed and Lillian had got over it. Maybe she wasn't well, bus she was alive, had come back to her senses, and above all: She was with him.

"How did you know how you could bring her back?", he asked now, as if Haytham's remark didn't exist. Still, he didn't look at his father, but from the corners of his eyes, he saw him shrug.

"Another guess. Mr. Franklin here…" He nodded at one of the figures in front of them who Ratonhnhaké:ton just recognized as said man. The two men beside him must be the guards who were supposed to keep an eye on him all of the time. The elder man wore a worn-out, big hat whose brim caused a constant waterfall of raindrops, as he raised his head and looked at them, while Haytham kept talking. "…told me about his time under Washington's control. Tell him what you told me. Also how you came back to your senses."

Franklin straightened up, cleared his throat, and took his glasses off his nose to wipe them with one of his sleeves, only smearing them with rainwater. He didn't seem to notice as he slowly and objectively started to explain. As if it wasn't about him but some other person. He explained how Washington's influence through the Apple had felt and his words weren't new to Ratonhnhaké:ton. They almost matched Lillian's explanation of how Washington had taken possession of her mind. But the theory, the scientist inside of Franklin had elaborated about the sudden end of this control, was far more interesting.

"I think, it's some sort of hypnosis. A trance, with the difference that the victim is aware of their actions and thoughts, but cannot control them. As if they got a second consciousness. To wake up from this trance, they need an impulse. One strong enough to eclipse this new consciousness. Pain, for example. One of the strongest feelings a man can have and a very strong impulse."

Franklin's explanation appeared quite theoretical to Ratonhnhaké:ton, but still, he had listened attentively and thought about it. Arnold had come back to his senses when Ratonhnhaké:ton had thrust a dagger into his body. Franklin had come back when he had shot an arrow into his shoulder. And Lillian…

"So this is why you caused pain on her. You meant what you said. That you did what I couldn't have done to her." He didn't speak directly to him, but Haytham knew that his son meant him and nodded.

"I thought, it's worth a try."

It had been. Ratonhnhaké:ton would have never considered hurting Lillian. It didn't mean that he was grateful to Haytham and it neither meant that he was going to thank him. But he saw his actions in a different light now and was glad that his father had possessed this presence of mind. But what was going to happen to Lillian now? The guards beside Franklin were mostly supposed to extinguish any doubts regarding his loyalty. Just in case Franklin changed sides again and became a danger.

"Did you ever feel like you are losing control again?", Ratonhnhaké:ton asked and looked at Franklin, to see his reaction. But the man stayed relaxed and shook his head.

"First, I kept hearing his voice, but it was quiet and became more and more silent. Not only once, I couldn't ignore it."

"So, Lillian is freed from his influence once and for all?"

"I can't tell." Franklin put his glasses on, murmured something irritated as the smeared lenses took his sight and he had to put them off again. Still frowning, he continued with a dogmatic expression. "For me, it was easy to resist the temptation to give in to Washington. But she is a woman. Women are mentally weak, it's their nature. She may lose her free will again."

"I think, you are underestimating her", Ratonhnhaké:ton replied coldly. The arrogance in Franklin's voice irritated him but at the same time, he didn't want to start a discussion. He wasn't the first with a disregarding opinion about women. It was trivial and he had got an answer, at least. It was possible that Lillian could fall back into this trance, how Franklin had called it, but he was sure that the possibility wasn't as high as Franklin thought it was. She wasn't mentally weak and if the old man had managed, she would resist the temptation as well. At least he hoped so.

"Do you know where I can find Logan?", he asked instead. It was time that he looked after Lillian again and above all, that her wound was treated.

"Unfortunately not", Haytham verbalized the headshaking of the other men and let his eyes roam over their surroundings. "Maybe he's in the woods, restocking his herb-supplies."

"Did he not report to the guards, in this case?"

"Normally not. As a doctor, he is allowed to move freely."

A very inconsistent rule for Ratonhnhaké:ton's taste. Logan was one of the main men to talk to and one of the men responsible for the camp but when they decided that no one was allowed to leave the camp, because of the traitor, Ratonhnhaké:ton had thought this rule concerned everyone. He had always stuck to it, too. He knew that the rebels had another doctor in their ranks, although he had never met him since he was responsible for another part of the large camp. If both doctors were allowed to move freely, it was indispensable for the medical care in the camp, but also a security breach.

"I will look for him", Ratonhnhaké:ton murmured to no one in particular and turned away. He walked past the tents with hurried steps, looking for the tall doctor and asking the men he met on his way. He just wanted to give up his search, as finally one of the men nodded after his question, putting on a stupid grin at the same time.

"Went to your tent and disappeared inside. Maybe he's giving your girl a special treatment. Seems to need it if she goes for your throat like that."

"Watch your tongue." Ratonhnhaké:ton clenched his right fist. The urge to punch the still grinning man's nose was too tempting. He was already sick of the behavior of men like him, but looking at the men close by, who were staring at them, made him change his mind. This man and his stupid remark weren't worth his anger, nor his time. So he just gave him an ice-cold look and turned away. His search for Logan was over, at least and Lillian's wound was treated. He could have done it himself, but Logan had better means to ensure quick and good healing.

Ratonhnhaké:ton wrapped his arms around his chest and pulled the fabric of his tunic tighter, as a cold wind rushed through the trees and tents, blowing the drizzling rain into his face. It prickled on his skin like tiny needles and made him lower his eyes. So he saw the small, inconspicuous plant on the muddy ground before he stepped on it. It's sight stirred something inside of Ratonhnhaké:ton. An uneasy feeling he couldn't explain. It was his instinct, telling him that something was wrong. He stopped and bent down to pick up the plant. It was the dried stalk of a flower with bristly, tiny hairs. Comfrey.

Ratonhnhaké:ton raised his eyes. He was only a few steps away from their tent and again it was his instinct that made him run and cross the remaining distance. He bumped into two men on his way, who shouted insults after him, but Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't care. He had barely reached the tent, as he tore the tarp aside and what he saw, made him utter a furious growl. Lillian was lying motionlessly on the furs, even paler than the moment he had left her. Logan was kneeling beside her and had bent over her arm. Her small knife in his hand, laying it against the thin skin of her wrist.

"Go away from her!"

He couldn't react fast enough, as Ratonhnhaké:ton grabbed him by his collar and tore him back, throwing him out of the tent. He landed on his back in the mud, the knife still in his hand. He thrust it up as Ratonhnhaké:ton kneeled over him, the blade barely missing his neck. The Mohawk shoved it aside with the palm of his hand and struck his fist against the other man's chin. If Logan hadn't turned his head away, his nose would have been the target. Growling angrily, he tried to defend himself against his attacker but lost the knife before he could shove Ratonhnhaké:ton off himself so that he landed in the mud as well. Logan leaped onto his feet, as agile as the Mohawk, despite his size and muscled figure. Ratonhnhaké:ton pulled his knees up to his chest, to kick into Logan's stomach as he wanted to jump on him. Shortly afterward, they faced each other with their fists up, staring at each other with furious eyes and driven by the cheering shouts of the men, who expected to watch a meaningless brawl. But just when Logan wanted to jump forward to strike, an authoritarian voice drowned out the cheering and Haytham Kenway pushed himself between the opponents, almost as angry as them.

"What is going on here? What is this fuss about?", he demanded to know and looked back and forth between Logan and Ratonhnhaké:ton, who kept staring at each other.

"He attacked me."

"Because you tried to do something to Lillian!" Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't believe how brazenly Logan pretended to be innocent. As if Ratonhnhaké:ton hadn't seen what he had tried to do. "He wanted to cut her wrist with her knife."

"What?" Logan laughed. "Oh, please. I wanted to treat her leg when you came in and tore me away from her. I could hardly grab for the knife."

"This is not true! I saw it. She is even unconscious." Ratonhnhaké:ton gestured towards the tent and stepped towards Logan. He wanted to grab him by his collar but his father pushed his flat hand against his chest. But it didn't stop him from giving Logan a hateful stare. "What did you do to her? Did you give something to her?"

"For her pain, yes. Something to calm her. She's asleep."

"He's lying."

The thin voice drew all the attention and even the men who had whispered to each other, were silent in an instant and stared at Lillian, who was standing in front of the tent on trembling legs. Her sight made Ratonhnhaké:ton forget Logan for a moment and he pushed himself past his father to go to her. He had wanted to stop Logan from getting away, but he should have looked after her. He couldn't have known if Logan had done something to her. Bus as he reached and wanted to ask her, Lillian raised her hand and shook her head. Her eyes were resting on Logan and Ratonhnhaké:ton could see a gleam in them that told him how angry she was, despite her weak appearance.

"He's lying", she repeated. "He came to me and pretended that he wanted to treat my leg. We talked until he started asking about Ezra. He wanted to know what Ezra and I had talked about before his death. I said I wouldn't tell him anything and he became angry. He claimed that Ezra had told me what he knew about him and that I would never tell anyone. I couldn't react when he pressed his hand against my mouth and squeezed my neck with the other until I got unconscious." She brushed her messily braided hair from her shoulder and pointed at a red spot on the left side of her neck. Ratonhnhaké:ton stepped closer to her and saw right away, what Logan must have done.

"He clamped the artery", he said, loud enough to be heard by everyone. "Someone who knows how to do it can make someone lose their consciousness without leaving traces."

The whispers of the surrounding men got louder. Some seem to question if Lillian's words were true while others sided with Logan and uttered rude insults. Neither Ratonhnhaké:ton, nor Lillian reacted on any of it. Lillian never turned her eyes away from the doctor. His face had turned red and the vein on his temple got prominent as he spat out and raised a hand to point at her.

"I don't know what kind of game you're playing but nothing you say is true. I gave you something for your pain and yes, I have to confess that I must have made a mistake with the dosage." He raised both hands in a surrendering manner and much to Ratonhnhaké:ton's anger, his voice lacked any sign of nervousness. He sounded terribly honest. "You got unconscious and I cannot rule out that you had hallucinations. But I won't let you use it against me. I neither talked to you about Ezra, nor I have touched you. I can't believe that you two are accusing me of something like this."

A wave of support washed over to him but was drowned out and silenced by Haytham. The Grandmaster had stood behind Logan until now, listening to the argument until he stepped into the center of the small crowd that had turned into the arena of both parties.

"That's enough. These are severe accusations. We should postpone this argument until we are in the commando-tent. We can talk there in private." His cold gaze slid over the crowd who didn't even dare to make a sound. "You go and find a practical activity and you come with me."

With that, he had turned to Lillian, Logan, and Ratonhnhaké:ton again who followed him to the commando-tent with some distance to each other. Lillian was heavily limping because of her injury and was struggling to stay on her feet in general. Her breath left her lungs in puffs and was sucked in a hiss between clenched teeth while she seemed to be trying not to show any weakness. For Ratonhnhaké:ton, who had to walk behind her because of the narrow path, it was hard to watch and he made a courageous step forward to lift her onto his arms. Lillian protested and struck angrily against his chest. Her anger about Logan hadn't subsided and Ratonhnhaké:ton knew that this anger was only feeding her pride, which she confirmed.

"You are in pain and should go easy on your leg", he had explained his actions, but Lillian vigorously shook her head.

"They are already mocking me. I don't want them to consider me weak all the time. Especially not now. They will never take my words seriously."

"They will have to because you are saying the truth." Ratonhnhaké:ton lowered his eyes from the path to Lillian who was looking at him reproachfully. He understood her concerns but didn't share them. "Inner strength has nothing to do with physical strength, Lillian. They are stupid to see only your physical condition. I see it, too, and I am concerned, but I still know that you are going to resolve this situation and I will not let you overstrain your body."

Lillian's lips parted and he could see that she wanted to contradict, but she didn't. Still, she closed her mouth again and lowered her eyes.

"Can you put me down in front of the tent?", she asked quietly, almost inaudibly.

"Of course."

He heard her murmur her thanks and finally felt her relaxing. A few feet away from the tent, Ratonhnhaké:ton let her down, as promised, but kept an arm around her waist, as she staggered and tried to find her balance. He wanted to support her, but she raised a hand and smiled weakly, before pulling away from him and went to the tent. He followed her. Inside waited Thomas Jefferson, Haytham, and Logan. The latter stood close to the iron oven and stared grimly into the flames inside. After the rainy coldness outside, the warmth in the tent was a relief.

Lillian sank on one of the chairs and like during their first stay here, Ratonhnhaké:ton took a position beside her, putting a hand on the backrest. Back then it had been an unconscious but natural decision, now he had the open intention to show that whoever wanted to get to Lillian, had to get past him first. Especially Logan. And so the conversation started that appeared more like a trial where the prosecutor and the accused were only obvious for themselves. At first, Jefferson asked Lillian, then Logan to explain what had happened, and again, the doctor claimed, that Lillian had imagined something and Ratonhnhaké:ton had got the situation wrong, too. That he had never wanted to hurt her. Even for the still visible red mark on her neck, where he had clamped her artery, he had an explanation. It was a relic of a passionate moment with Ratonhnhaké:ton, who had to suppress an angry growl as Logan said it with a shrug. But contrary to him, Lillian wasn't impressed by Logan's blatant shamelessness. Her hands, that were clawing at the green fabric of her skirt, were the only sign of her inner turmoil, while her face remained calm and cold.

"Let's forget about me, for a moment", she said surprisingly calmly. "I'm more interested in what you were doing over the last couple of weeks."

Logan raised an eyebrow mockingly. "You mean when I saved other people's asses because I patched them up?"

"No. I mean how you managed that some became patients in the first place."

"Lillian. If you have anything to say, then do it. No vague hints, please." Thomas Jefferson had sat on the other chair behind the desk and had listened silently. Now he leaned forward, folding his hands on the tabletop and giving Lillian a warning look. He certainly wasn't pleased that one of his most trusted men was facing such accusations. But he would have to realize that Lillian and Ratonhnhaké:ton were speaking the truth even though the latter wasn't sure what she was aiming at.

"With pleasure", she started shortly, still not turning her eyes away from Logan. "I simply asked myself what you meant, when you wanted to know what Ezra had told me about you, and what it could be, what others shouldn't know about you. And there is only one thing I can think of. That you are the traitor."

"That's…" Logan lost control of his expression. For a moment, he just stared at Lillian before his eyes glared up in anger. "I was a part of this group right from the beginning. I did so much and now someone from outside accuses me of treason?"

"It may be true that I'm not here for so long", Lillian replied coldly. "But looking back, there were two situations that could only be explained with treason and you were playing a very important role in one of them." She looked over her shoulder at Ratonhnhaké:ton, who had listened attentively without turning his eyes away from Logan. Now he did, to meet Lillian's gaze.

"Do you remember the evening in Boston, when the bluecoats suddenly showed up in the tavern?", she asked. "Logan wasn't there when they attacked and appeared shortly afterward, telling that this boy was the traitor. But he never showed up again."

"Because I called him to account. I told you. They even shot at me or do you think, I did it to myself?" Logan had crossed his arms in front of his broad chest and his expression showed clearly that he didn't like the turn of this conversation. It was as dark as the sky during a thunderstorm. A sign of his guilt? Ratonhnhaké:ton had never thought about this particular evening in Boston, but now the memory returned. The memory of the soldier who had pestered Lillian. The following fight as suddenly more soldiers had stormed the tavern and the soldier who had indicated that they had been betrayed. But he hadn't been able to tell them more.

"You shot the bluecoat who could have told me who the traitor was."

Logan's attention turned to him but he simply pursed his lips mockingly. "Because he was the enemy and you were wasting time."

"And what about New York?", asked Lillian, whose tension was getting hearable in her voice. It also didn't escape her notice that Logan wasn't to be unsettled. "When Kanen'tó:kon, Mr. Kenway and I wanted to flee from the city, there were suddenly a lot of soldiers and again it was you, who appeared out of nowhere shortly afterward."

Logan uttered a sneering laugh. "So I sent the soldiers after you, without knowing where you were? I think you are getting ahead of yourself. You can't take this seriously. Haytham? Thomas?" He turned to the men he had talked to, who had still listened silently and attentively. Especially the Grandmaster didn't show what he was thinking about this dispute. He stood upright, his hands folded behind his back, beside the entrance, and turned his eyes at Logan almost lazily. As if he thought this conversation was irrelevant.

"It was indeed suspicious that so many soldiers happened to be in the abandoned district", he said calmly. "But this theory is very vague even though I have to say that this story about the attack in Boston does sound strange, Logan. I can understand their suspicion in this case. But it is just that. A suspicion."

"Which has to be proven." Logan, who had shortly pinched his lips after Haytham's words, saw himself on top again. Ratonhnhaké:ton believed to see the confidence of victory in the eyes of the doctor, only fuelling his anger. Logan shouldn't be off the hook so easily. Not after everything he had done. Not after he had risked so many lives. There must be something he could be convicted with and since Lillian had uttered her suspicion against Logan, he asked himself if there was more evidence for Logan's guilt. He recalled every conversation they had ever held. Every situation where Logan had or hadn't been present and which had appeared strange to him. He thought of even the tiniest occurrences and he actually remembered something.

"Is your bag torn?"

"It's…a bit worn out, yes. But what has it to do with this?" Now there was open confusion in Logan's eyes. He hadn't expected this question and it gave Ratonhnhaké:ton some kind of satisfaction. Maybe he was on the right path.

"You are losing herbs. Comfrey, for example. A versatile, medical herb. I found one in the woods, the night before yesterday. Shortly after we heard someone sneaking through the woods."

"It was in the woods. This is where plants usually grow." It was obvious that Logan kept trying to appear calm and to extinguish every accusation before they could flare-up. But Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't swayed by it. On the contrary. This short hint of insecurity in Logan's eyes had given him a taste of it.

"But not comfrey", he replied calmly. Making sure that everyone could hear and understand what he had to say. "Not here and certainly not dried. I also found some on the way to our tent, shortly before I pulled you away from Lillian."

"You found them. What about it? I am almost constantly in the woods to gather herbs and I have all my supplies in this bag. I probably lost them. It doesn't make your theory true, though. Do you believe this?" Logan looked at Thomas Jefferson and Haytham again and not only the fact that he seemed to be searching for their help and agreement, proved his nervousness. His voice had lost its calm tone and it didn't escape Ratonhnhaké:ton's notice, how Logan rubbed the palm of his right hand with the thumb of his left. Where he had burnt himself a few days ago. Shortly after Ezra's dead. Comfrey wasn't only used on burns but also on grazes. Was there another connection?

While Ratonhnhaké:ton thought about it, Jefferson rose from his seat, his fingertips still propped up on the table. "I have to say that it's difficult to answer", he said in a sympathetic tone. "There are many facts that speak against you. But you two are the only people with such suspicion."

"But we are speaking the truth!", Lillian called out, no longer master over her anger. But it was best to stay calm. Otherwise, it would be easier for Logan to explain her words with her condition. Ratonhnhaké:ton touched her shoulder, hoping to calm her like this. But it didn't seem like she even noticed it.

"He attacked me! And who knows? Maybe he did something to Ezra, too. He seems to believe that Ezra knew he was a traitor, after all."

"It's enough. You are crazy. Now I have killed Ezra, too?" Logan laughed and shook his head vigorously. But Lillian wasn't impressed by it. Did she come to the same conclusion as Ratonhnhaké:ton or did she speak in desperation?

"You already asked questions right after his death. You wanted to know what we talked about this day and I refused to answer. I thought you believed he was the traitor, but now I see it in a different light. You wanted to make sure that I couldn't expose you."

"And that's why I attacked you and helped Ezra hang himself before?" Logan laughed again. It seems like he had found back his confidence.

"That's why you made sure I wouldn't reach the Hermans' farm", Lillian replied with a trembling voice. "And since it didn't work…"

"I have enough! This is all your imagination. You have no proof at all." Logan weighed from one foot onto the other, his arms crossed in front of his chest. His whole appearance and the way his eyes flitted back and forth between Haytham and Jefferson, showed his nervousness once again. Ratonhnhaké:ton was finally sure that they had convicted him and that Lillian had hit a raw nerve with her words. He saw it clearly, but unfortunately, he seemed to be the only one.

"I agree with Logan", Jefferson said who still hadn't left the desk. "It's your word against his, especially since you're making serious accusations."

"But I am not making this up!" Lillian's body twitched up as if she wanted to leap to her feet and changed her mind because of her injury. Jefferson's words sounded like a final judgment, which Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't want to accept either. "He attacked me. Maybe he wanted to make it look like suicide, just like he did with Ezra. And even if I was dazed, Ratonhnhaké:ton wasn't. He saw it." She turned her head to look over her shoulder at Ratonhnhaké:ton. He could read a silent plea in her eyes. As if she feared he could disagree and turn his back on her. An unfounded fear and unfortunately her gaze couldn't escape the others' notice either. Especially to Logan, it was catnip and he sounded very confident, as he said: "And it's only natural that he agrees with you."

A relatable conclusion which angered Ratonhnhaké:ton even more, since it made him look like he had no own mind and opinion. Still, he didn't show his anger. Even his voice sounded calm and controlled.

"I only say what I saw and my personal feelings have nothing to do with it."

Logan huffed sneeringly. "That's what you say."

"That's enough, gentlemen." Jefferson pulled away from the table and straightened up. "I get the feeling that we are making no progress here. I suggest that I will talk to some other men about these incidents you were talking about. We shouldn't come to the wrong conclusions."

Another sneering huff was uttered, this time by Lillian, who had crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned her eyes to her knees. She was frowning and her lips were only a narrow, pale line before she started to speak: "No. Obviously, you can only delay important decisions."

Ratonhnhaké:ton gave her a warning look which she didn't notice. He understood her anger and knew what she was aiming at. But it was anything but smart to set Jefferson or even his father against her and risk their decision in her favor. And if Jefferson decided that Lillian had only made up her accusations against Logan, Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't want to imagine what could happen if the other men learned about it. Jefferson was irritated by her words and gave her such a grim look that Ratonhnhaké:ton stepped closer to her chair.

"I don't think that you can judge our situation, Lillian", Jefferson said. "We will solve this and until then, this conversation is over."

As if he wanted to emphasize his words, Jefferson sank on his chair again and released them with a simple gesture. As if their meeting hadn't been about one of his men being accused of murder and treachery. Logan couldn't hold back a triumphant smile and left the tent with squared shoulders. He appeared like a vain peacock who had just fought and won against an opponent. Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't believe that he had started to consider the doctor a friend. It was frightening how the appearance of a man could deceive you. Ratonhnhaké:ton's grim look followed him, meeting his father's on the way. He couldn't tell what Haytham was thinking about the conversation, but Ratonhnhaké:ton caught himself in the hope, that he would believe them. He would be a strong voice against Logan, but Ratonhnhaké:ton knew that Haytham didn't follow his personal feelings while making decisions either. He had proved it in the past when he had decided to protect Charles Lee and the Templar Order and to challenge his son in a fight, although both of them had known that only one of them could survive. Haytham didn't know anything about it right now, as he returned Ratonhnhaké:ton's look for a moment and finally turned away to leave the tent, too.

Beside him, Lillian rose shakily from the chair, but pushed his arm aside, as he offered it to her. Thomas Jefferson was bent over some paperwork and seemed to pretend that they weren't there. He had shown himself in a different light, too, and Ratonhnhaké:ton couldn't say that he still respected this idle man, who didn't even show a reaction as they left the tent. Outside, Ratonhnhaké:ton wanted to lift Lillian on his arms again, so that she could spare her leg, but she pushed him aside with a shake of her head.

"Please, only this time", she said and he could read in her eyes, that now it was even more important for her, to walk through the camp on her own feet, than before. Past the men who had heard her accusing Logan and who would learn that she couldn't prove these accusations. Although everything inside him opposed, Ratonhnhaké:ton nodded but stayed close behind her, as they walked back to the camp.

Shortly before they reached the first tents, Ratonhnhaké:ton saw his father and Logan on the edge of the path, engrossed in a conversation. It appeared like Logan was talking insistently to Haytham, who stood with his back towards Ratonhnhaké:ton and Lillian. The closer they came, the more they could hear what Logan was saying.

"… favored me over Church for nothing and ordered me here. I'm still here to support the Order, but how can I do that, if you don't trust me?"

"I don't have to trust you", Haytham replied coldly. "Our cause is more important than that and if you are not up to it, I do not need you."

It seemed like Logan wanted to say something, but he noticed Lillian and Ratonhnhaké:ton, who were almost beside them and changed his mind.

"We will see", he growled, bowed his head in a failed respectful gesture, turned on his heels, and stomped back to the tents. When Haytham turned around, he didn't appear surprised to see Lillian and Ratonhnhaké:ton. He showed no reaction at all, simply nodded at them, and walked back to the commando-tent. The temptation, to hold him back and ask him about his conversation with Logan, was big. So, he was a Templar? Ratonhnhaké:ton hadn't expected this at all. But he wasn't surprised that the Order seems to have a bigger, and especially their own goal. Something he had already expected, not only because Haytham had mentioned it himself. He had known from the beginning, that the Templars didn't support the rebellion for the good of the people. No. The Templars never acted without a goal and certainly not selflessly and there was only one thing that could be the true reason. The Apple of Eden. The source of ancient power and with that, of interest to the Order.

It seems like I do not have to be an Assassin to see my interests collide with the Templars', Ratonhnhaké:ton thought while watching his father disappear between the trees. If Haytham was after the Apple, they could get into each other's way since the Apple was still Ratonhnhaké:ton's main goal. He hadn't given up the hope that the artifact could be the key to return home. Whatever the Templars were planning, they shouldn't get ahead of him. Another, possible obstacle he had to take if he wanted to bring Lillian home.

Lillian herself hadn't paid attention to Logan and Haytham. While Ratonhnhaké:ton had slowed his steps, she had kept going so that he had to hurry to follow her. Her back and shoulders were straight, her chin raised and she was taking every step with care to hide her limping. Ratonhnhaké:ton knew her well enough to know that the pride she was showing and about which he was certain, that it was also in her eyes, was a shield. Her armor, which she always put on when she didn't want the world to know about her emotional state. Now, all the sneering looks, insulting calls, and the men, who were on Logan's side and spat in front of her feet as she passed, bounced off it. As if she was alone on this earth, Lillian walked past the tents while it was difficult for Ratonhnhaké:ton, to ignore all the hostility that was shown to her. Sometimes there were holes in her armor. Sometimes it gave in and she got hurt anyway and he wanted to protect her from it. But when they reached their tent and slipped inside, the thin tarp turned into a thick wall, that shielded them from the other men, who eventually turned back to their duties. As if she was in a safe place, Lillian took off her armor. She had sat on their bed and first, it was her back that slumped down. Then her shoulders and her chin sank, as she turned her eyes to the fur underneath her. She had been taught to always stand upright and keeping her posture straight had eventually become her second nature. It was rare for her to slump like this and it only showed how she was feeling right now and what Ratonhnhaké:ton saw, made him feel a helpless pain.

He sank to his knees beside her, grabbed her cold hands, and held them firmly, but gently.

"The truth will come to light. Logan will not get away with this", he said quietly, but Lillian shook her head without raising her eyes.

"It doesn't matter anyway", she whispered and made Ratonhnhaké:ton frown in confusion. A few minutes ago, she had fought for justice and now it suddenly didn't matter?

"Lillian, he wanted to kill you. He betrayed us all. It does matter."

"No, it does not." Lillian raised her eyes and although they were filled with tears, their gaze was clear and forceful. "All of this doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if Logan or someone else betrayed the rebellion. It doesn't matter who was killed by him and who almost died. Nothing of this matters to us because we are stuck anyway. Even if the truth comes to light, It will not help us. It will not bring us forward. Nothing we did and experienced the last couple of weeks brought us anywhere. Every time we thought we took a step forward, we were thrown back again." With every word, her voice had become faster and more emotional while the first tears ran down her cheeks and she took some deep breaths, before continuing a bit calmer than before. "I got so tired of everything, Ratonhnhaké:ton. I wanted to stay positive and don't give up hope. I wanted to be strong and have your back because you keep giving me hope. I wanted to get through this and no matter what happened, I wanted to bear it. But I have no strength left. It's too much. I can't bear it any longer."

Her voice broke with the last sentences and Lillian buried her face in her hands as she sobbed loudly. A tremble ran through her body and when Ratonhnhaké:ton wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest, she had already started to cry bitterly. Everything her armor had held back, broke out of her. Her fear. Her hopelessness. Her pain and all of it, even her words, he could understand. He didn't need to ask what she was talking about when she said that nothing mattered anymore. He understood it now. It was obvious. The only reason, why they had traveled to New York and had joined the rebellion, was their shared wish to escape the Apple's reality and return home and although he wished he could contradict, he had to admit that she was right. She spoke out what was troubling him and made him angry as well. Each step they had made, had meant a setback or a stillstand. The optimism, he had felt on their way from his village to Boston, had vanished long since. He had thought it would be so easy and still he knew his goal, the Apple. But the path to it had proven to be winded, confusing, and rocky, and still, they had followed it for so long. It only had been a matter of time until they grew tired and Lillian had reached this point now and made him realize that he was close, too.

This morning, he had told Lillian not to give up hope, no matter how senseless it seemed. But it had been a desperate optimism he hadn't really believed in. Everything he had ever wanted was to keep Lillian safe. Her fear was unbearable for him and he wanted to say everything that could have comforted her. But all of it seemed hypocritical at this point.

"The evening before you brought me to Mr. Herman, I was so convinced that everything was going to be alright", Lillian explained with a strained voice, as her frantic sobbing had subsided. "I wanted to have hope but then we were thrown back again. What happened was the final straw. I have no hope left. Although you tried everything. I am so sorry."

"Do not apologize." Ratonhnhaké:ton held her tighter for a moment and lowered his lips to her hair, before resting his chin on her head. Her words hurt, especially since he understood them too well.

"I am feeling the same", he said quietly and did, what normally was hard for him. Confessing his own weakness. But should he lie to her? "I see no way out, right now. We keep running in circles and I do not know anymore, what is right and what is wrong. What I should do and what not. I want to know you are safe and bring us home, but I do not know how anymore."

"You did everything you could. Maybe we should have known from the start that we had no chance", Lillian whispered. "We are dealing with powers beyond our imagination. The Apple is too powerful. We should have known that it wouldn't be so easy to get to it."

"We never failed because of the Apple, Lillian", Ratonhnhaké:ton contradicted quietly. "It was because of the people we put hope into. It would have been difficult alone and the rebels could have been of help if they were as we expected."

"Maybe. But even if they had helped us, who says that Washington wouldn't have killed us all with the Apple, as soon as he realized the threat?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton pinched his lips. She was right. Maybe he had taken on too much with his plan to take the scepter from Washington. But he had never forgotten how dangerous the Apple was. He had seen it as a calculated risk since there had been no other way. But what had changed? Was leaving the rebels, going far away, and finding a safe place to try to build a new life, this other way? In a foreign land? Without their friends? Without Caleb and without their daughter?

No!, Ratonhnhaké:ton thought grimly and almost shook his head. We will not stay here. I will not allow us to give up and surrender to this fate. There is no new life if there is one we already have.

And at this moment, he had made a final decision.