Edward's head rang and his eyes throbbed behind their closed lids. He was somewhere between being asleep and awake when a strong pat on the chest and a familiar voice brought him to full consciousness.
"You look like a bowl of plum duff!"
Edward's eyes shot open to see his old Quartermaster, Adéwalé, standing over him with a large smile.
"christ. I've got a head for ten." Edward responded, earning a laugh from Adé. He holds out a hand for Edward, "On your feet." He said and helped Edward to stand. Now upright and regaining his composure, Edward's smile faded somewhat as he said. "You put me on a spot Adé. After you leaving me with Roberts, I should have hard feelings about seeing you here. But mostly, I'm Bloody glad."
"Me too, breddah. And you'll be chuffed to know your Jackdaw is still in one piece." Looking out into the harbor, they laid their eyes on the majesty that was the formidable brig known as the Jackdaw. Relief and joy washed over Edward as he looked upon her. "Shall we set sail for-" When he turned to look back at Adé, he saw that his friend's smile had flown from his face, "You're leaving?" Adé nodded slightly," Aye, Edward. For I've another calling elsewhere."
Adé, Listen…" But Adé held up his hand and silenced Edward. "When your heart and your head are ready, visit the Assassins. I think you'll understand when you find what's waiting for you there."
He parted without another word, intent on making his way to Tulum. He hoped that Edward would follow in his own time. Edward went to his ship and was met with a loud cheer from his crew. As they made preparations to weigh anchor and leave port, Edward went to his quarters. On the desk where laid all of his charts and map he carved three names. Rogers, Torres, and Roberts. His wish for their deaths aligned with the goals of the Assassins. Moreover, he knew that the Assassins were the only ones who would protect the Observatory when others might use it to rule all of mankind.
He left his quarters and went to the helm. There he called out to unfurl the main sails and began his course to Great Inagua. He intended to go to Tulum soon but first had to make sure his ship was in top shape for when he went for Roberts and his galleon the Royal Fortune. It was a relatively short trip to the island, and refitting a quick process for Adé had taken great care of the Jackdaw. Now his course was set westward, across the whole of the West Indies to the coast of Mexico.
This journey was significantly longer, and he would exact his revenge for the death of Mary on most British ships that crossed his path. After two weeks at sea, the Jackdaw would weigh anchor in the cove of Tulum. He went to shore immediately upon arrival, where he was greeted only by the gulls and waves crashing on the shore. He walked along the jungle path slowly, thinking of what he would say when he reached the Assassins.
The guilt washed over him like warm seafoam as he thought of his actions and how they led to this moment. It seemed now that he was the last of his kind, a king atop a pile of the bones of his comrades. The jungle around him faded as images of their faces played in his mind. As the thought of Mary and the hope she had in him commanded his mind, the jungle before him parted, and the great stone works of the Mayans stretched out in his view.
Just ahead, Adé helped and Assassin stood as they held pressure on the wound in their side. "Ahoy Adé! What has happened?" Adé looks at Edward as he is greeted, but does not smile. "It appears the damage you have caused six years ago has not been undone."
"I'm not an easy man to call friend, am I? Is that why you're here?" Edward asked.
"To fight beside a man so driven by personal gain and glory is a hard thing, Edward. And I have come to feel the Assassins, and their creed, are a more honorable course. Have I been unfair?"
Edward hung his head and replied, "No. For years I've been rushing around, taking whatever I fancied, not giving a tinker's curse for those I hurt. Yet, here I am. With riches and reputation, feeling no wiser than when I left home. Yet when I turn around, and look at the course I've run, here's not a man or woman that I love left standing beside me."
"Maybe not. Yet there is still time to make amends, Captain Kenway." Ah Tabai replied as he approached from the temple.
"Marry…" Edward's eyes filled with grief, "Before she died she asked me to do good by her. To sort out the mess I'd made. Can you help me?"
Ah Tabai turned and pointed to one of the huts that flanked the temple. "Perhaps, but before we begin something is waiting for you there. Go and see, and return when you are ready."
Edward wondered what might be so important that it would delay all else, and as he approached the hut a small amount of anxiety came upon him. Hesitating for a moment, he steeled himself and stepped into the dimly lit room. The sweet smell of Frangipani flowers filled his nostrils and he studied the room before his eyes fell on a hammock hanging in the back of the room. He cleared his throat, and a head rose from the hammock. There was a gasp from the head, then a long silence. Edward's eyes were beginning to adjust to the dark, and he finally spoke. "Pardon my intrusion, I was told there would be something for me here."
The figure got to their feet on somewhat unsteady legs. A soft but gravelly voice that seemed familiar to him spoke. "Come closer, so that you may see." Tentatively, he crossed the room to standing front of this smaller figure. They took his hand in theirs and raised it to their face. Feeling under his hand a scar that ran down their right cheek, images of a face he thought had passed into memory now appeared as a ghost before him.
His voice faltered as he took the pistols from his chest rig and dropped them to the floor before pulling the figure into his embrace. "Mary, sweet Mary!"
"Yes, by Jove it's me." She responded as he returned his embrace, her arms now not as strong as he remembered. He could have held her there for all of eternity, for he feared that if he let her go it would all be a dream that he would suddenly wake up from. Eventually, Mary released him and lit a candle on the small table nearby. In the soft, flickering glow of the candlelight, he saw her gaunt and pale face for the first time since Kingston.