Hey guys! I am done with another chapter, I am introducing a new OC and I had some help with this chapter, I have to thank Oddity Empress. :) I am giving Catherine a special new friend!
Connor held an ax as he went to counter chopping wood for the chilly air. He had a bundle under his arm as he made his way back to the house when he notices a lone horse rider rode up to the Davenport Homestead. He was curious to see who it was until he saw was a young man with a tri-cone hat. The man rode up to Connor, "Are you, Connor?"
"Yes,"
The man steadies his horse before reaching into his messenger bag, "I have a letter from Catherine Cormac." He. held out am an envelope to the young native boy. The boy took the letter from the man who tipped his hat before riding back the way he came. He saw the letter was entitled to himself and Achilles.
His stomach churned with excitement, the boy wasn't expecting a letter so soon from her after a week. Achilles was waiting on the porch with his cane seeing the man had ridden up. "What was that?"
"Catherine sent a letter to us."
Achilles plucked the letter from Connor to open it. The old man scanned the letter before looking at Connor with a grim expression.
"What is it Achilles?"
"Catherine has seemed to encounter your father."
Connor gave an astonished expression. "is she alright?"
"Yes, but the templars still have an attentive eye on the girl."
Connor growled, "I have to assist her,"
"And how are you going to accomplish that? Haytham has spies everywhere."
"The Boston tunnels,"
Achilles was quiet for a moment, "There is one that leads right under her mother tavern. Just don't get caught, or draw too much attention to yourself."
Connor nodded taking Achilles blessing.
Catherine made her way through the busy markets of Boston. She slipped her through the dazed eye patrons who completely ignored the presence of the girl. A basket hung under Catherine's arm that was covered with a cloth, the basket filled sweet rolls and raisin bread, James personal favorite. The basket was an olive branch for the embarrassment rejection over two weeks ago. She had not seen or heard a word from James since the night she came home.
Catherine spotted the old chipped sign that displayed a horseshoe, she knew it was the location that James held his apprenticeship at. The girl walked towards the open stall where Master. Mack was instructing a particular technique over the forge. Catherine floated in the background watching James watching until Mack looked up from his work.
"Lad, you have a visitor, a very charming visitor."
Catherine's cheeks turn bright red, "It's alright, Master. Mack. I came by to drop off this for James, but you're both welcome to it."
James wiped his brow of the sweat from being over the forge for a little too long, "What are you doing here Catherine?"
"I came thanking you for putting my ad in in the Boston in Gazzet." She reached into her basket to pull out the article and flipping to the back of it. She pointed to the bottom of it, "I am hoping to hear an inquiry by the end of the week." She sat the basket on the counter.
There was an awkward silence between the two until the elderly blacksmith coughed, "Tell me, When are you going to open the ole' tavern again?" he bestowed a toothless smile.
"I am going doing a test run tomorrow, I will be cleaning and restocking today."
The man smiled, "I am overjoyed to hear, James and I will be your first customers."
"Thanks, It will be later in the afternoon."
James wanted to say something, but his face was flush.
The air lingered with embarrassment from the implied event that has occurred a few weeks back. "Master. Mack, may I take a moment to speak James?"
"No Catherine, we have work," James spoke through his teeth his pride had gotten the best of him. "I will see you tomorrow."
Catherine took a moment to take in the rejection. "it's fine, I hope to see you tomorrow." She went to turn, but paused for just a moment, "I am sorry for snapping at you James."
The girl left without another word heading back home, James watched her leave but was slapped upside the head with a heavy glove. "Boy, you are foolish for trapping such a young girl."
James wined an ow as he glanced at his mentor, "Trapping? I didn't trap her!"
"You did, you proposed to her after her mother died. She doesn't need a husband, that lass needs a friend."
James was taken back by the opined comment from his mentor. "I don't ever see you two getting married. Your more brother and sister then relationship. It may happen down the road, but it damn well won't happen now."
James stayed silent at his mentor's words but understood what he meant. Maybe he was being a stubborn mule after all.
Hickey was listening to the conversation not far from the blacksmith stall, but his prime focus was on the kid. He was doing Haytham and Cormac a solid by watching this little girl, so far he collected that she was a kind too goody kid. It was almost humorous to observe her try to barter for a stock of fresh spirits and beers, but she managed to obtain a good price for it. He even witnessed the girl hand a loaf of bread from her basket to a group of street urchins. Sweet kid, it's a shame what happened to her mother causing her to be frame for the mess on mass murder. The girl wasn't bad on the eyes either, though he didn't like them young.
Thomas Hickey heard footsteps come up behind him, he smiled when he recognized who exactly who it was. "What a delightful surprise, lass."
Beside Thomas stood a handsome woman, an exotic beauty, she was equal in Thomas' age but looked to be younger. "Hello Thomas," The Persian woman spoke. Her hair was black as a starless night with her eyes green as a shining emerald which was her most capturing feature. She was a lean and tall woman with small size bosoms.
Her name was Azura Edgar.
"What is the reason why you summon me?"
"We need-well I- need you Zuzu." He stated as he pulled out a copy of the Boston Gazette, he waved it in front of her face before she snatched it from his teasing grip.
"I'm only arranging this so Ma has the coin for her medicine. You should be thrilled I know how to work as a barmaid." She followed Thomas as he began to walk forward to follow Catherine.
"Well," Hickey grinned, "You certainly have done a marvelous job, especially when you take care of me." Hickey stopped when he noticed Catherine paused to look at a commotion of people began to gather at a stall."Make sure you observe her, we don't need the girl running off again."
Thomas and Azura had known each other going way back to both their childhoods, both of them had immigrated to the colonies as small children. Hickey came from a strong Irish family while Azura mother was Persian while her father was English. Thomas didn't know match of her story besides her family living outside of Boston.
They grew up on the same street but didn't stay in contact. Until a few years ago when Hickey had walked into her on the street where they considered catching up in a nearby inn in a rented bed. Azura came back to the city to bring in extra money, and that is how she started work with the Templars. She was a simple spy inside the taverns and other places to feed any information to Thomas.
Hickey wipes his nose as he observed the girl that walked ahead of them. "Seems ya might achieve an opportunity Zuzu."
"Did I mention that you have no right to call me that? I do not consider you a friend, you drunk bastard."
"Ahh, come on Zuzu, we've known each other for a long time. Even shared a bed a few times." he grinned at the spiteful glare.
"That is because we have to work together and those nights I wish to forget." Azura walked ahead of Thomas to gaze at the girl, "She is such a young thing to get involved with the Templars, who is she?"
"She is the sole daughter of ole' Shay Cormac."
"The assassin hunter?I didn't know he had a child."
"Aye, her mommy just died leaving her to be abandon. Cormac kept her a secret in case the assassins came after her. We are afraid that she might have some contact with Achilles." Hickey looked at Zuzu before glancing at Catherine.
"Keep an eye on the girl. I need to have time to get ready for my part."
"If you need help, just give me holler...I think blue looks stunning on ya," He winks before smacking her behind.
Hickey then quickly ducked when a fist past through the air where his head had just been. Moving again he took several steps back from the fuming woman with a chuckle appreciating the way her cheeks flushed with her anger. "Do that again ya drunk bastard and ill aim with my leg where the sun doesn't shine!" she yelled at the mans retreating back through a small smile never left her lips as she turned to head home to change.
Hickey laughed when he observed her leave.
Catherine was not aware of the Templar knight and his charming associate following the girl, instead, she was too caught up in her own thoughts about James. She had noticed a small crowd gathers around a stall with an assortment of cages. It was no surprise to see exotic items in a pop-up stall once in a while. To her much surprise, there were birds inside these cages, most likely caught from the frontier. There were small finches to might hawks even an eagle or two, but they seemed to be young. Catherine scanned the different cages in awe until she distinguished one of the hawks, a sharp-shinned hawk. She recognized from a book she had read about birds of prey. The hawk looked sickly with pale eyes, the sickle thing had lost all shine to his feathers and looked sadden.
The man who stood by the stall smiled. "That one won't last long, little lady," The man smelled of bird shit, and she didn't care for his tone.
"Do you ever let these birds out?" She looked up in disgust at the old man.
The man tisk "I wouldn't hold onto my merchandise, but this one has another good day, or so before I have to snuff him out."
Catherine's eyes widen at the cruelty had towards this bird, she had to do something so this for the hawk. "How much?"
"Eh? You want to purchase this bird?"
"Aye, I do. What's your price?"
"50 pounds,"
"50?! That's outrageous, make it 20, the poor bird is on his deathbed!"
The man grumbled, "Fine, 20,"
The young girl reached into her pockets and pulled out her coin purse before handing the bank notes to the man. The man grumbled as he counted it, but kept to himself turning his back onto the cage. Instead of picking up the cage, Catherine opened the cage door letting the small hawk jump out to flap its wings. The poor creature didn't go far before it hobbled a few feet. The hawk was too weak to fly, Catherine's heart broke for the small animal. Gently, Catherine scooped up the creature wrapping it in her shawl before taking the small hawk to her home.
Catherine knew she had gotten over her head with purchasing the small hawk, but her heartfelt pity for the small animal. The first thing she needed was to feed the creature.
"Don't worry, I will take care of you, but I am going to name you something special… Aries…you will be named Aries."
The bird cried his call as he settled into the girl's shawl feeling safe for the first time in a long time.