The first few weeks were consumed in discussion and debate. The delegates from 12 out of the 13 colonies were intertwined in distrust from one another. Georgia could not be in attendance due to the fear and uprising of the Creek at their border. Georgia requested aid of the British troops. This was a symptom of being their own Independent colonies.
Catherine watched the presenting arguments made by the delegates. James and herself sat at a table in the back table, as a guest of Samuel Adams. Though, it was admittedly clear that she was not welcome due to her gender. Many of the men in the room saw that women did not belong in politics. Sam Adams argued that she was there to an observer. The president that oversaw the congress, Peyton Randolph, agreed to allow James and Catherine to be seated in the room.
The younger Cormac was making small conversation with a few of the delegates before the start of the next session. One of which she was a pleasant conversation with, a Virginia Delegate by the name of George Washington. Catherine clasped her hands in front of her skirt as she talked, she explained that she was here for support of her colony of Massachusetts. She was a proud supporter of the work of the sons of liberty.
She listened to the man talked about his military career during the 7-year war. Catherine nodded as she listened to him talk. She glanced over his shoulder at the other delegates around the room. James was in the corner talking to Samuel Adams and John Adams. Master Washington stopped in mid-sentence to look across the room.
"Another delegate looks like has arrived, though I thought everyone had arrived." Washington hummed.
Catherine turned around to see who was the last to come. A pit dropped in Catherine's stomach when she saw the navy blue coat with the matching tricone hat. Catherine knew her jig was up, she had place all of her plans. They vanished in smoke and
She wonder if the Grandmaster of the Colonial rite was there for her or for the Continental Congress. Catherine straighten up to stare at the Grandmaster. He only stood a mere few feet from her. He seemed surprise to see her as much as he did. Catherine's eyes peered into the older grey eyes.
The tension broke with an eruption when announcement of the start of the session. Washington saw the look of the young Irish woman, "Miss. Cormac, shall I tell Master. Quinn that you will be joining us today?"
There were questions on to find out why Haytham was here. It was obvious he and the other Templars supported the British.
"We talk, now." He grasped her arm family, Catherine didn't have time to protest as the Grandmaster pulled her out the building.
"Unhand me," Catherine finally found her words as
Haytham swung the younger woman in front of him, pushing her hard against the brick building. It was out of sight from any prying eye. "I will not hear any lip from you, Catherine." He unleashed his hidden blade showing he was threatening her.
The Grandmaster could end the young woman in a blink of an eye. Everyone is already that she was dead, so it would make things easier. Catherine took a firm grip onto his wrist that held her in place, "I would suggest you unhand me. It would not be very pleasant for you if you are caught with a young woman screaming in your grasp."
A cynical grin spread across his thin lips almost to say that he had outwitted the assassin. "I Can slit your throat before anyone can answer your cries for help." He said, "Though, I am surprised that someone with your training would resort to such tactics."
Catherine frowned at the man, "What do you want, Kenway?" She spat with venom.
"I was curious, first I heard of a young woman purchased native land right after William Johnson's death. She even had the insolence to trespass onto Johnson's homestead and bargain with the natives."
The young assassin suddenly felt foolish, what she had done had been brazenly brainless. She had imagined that she was awful clever for buying the land in her name and not in a pseudonym.
"You thought you could fake your death and sign your name on a deed of land. A woman purchasing land brings gossip." The Grandmaster chided like the small child he had known her as. "Oh, not to mention that you being guest of Samuel Adams at the Continental Congress adds to the gossip. You are not very skilled at hiding in plain sight." He pushed the young woman back as he let her go. "What are you doing here, Catherine?"
"I came home to help," Catherine put it plainly, "Purchasing the land was in favor of a friend. No one will threaten his land again."
Haytham stepped back away from her clasping his hands behind his back as if he was in thought, "my son."
"Aye, his land." Catherine cocked as she placed her hands on her hips. "With the money that I earned while living in France." He knew he would question her finances.
"To train with the assassins." It was more of an accusation than a question.
Catherine did not deny it, "If you think I am here to disturb your plans….it depends if you disturb mine. I rather not deal with you, or lee." She turned her cheek brazing her thin white scar to Haytham.
The well-dressed man seemed inclined to ask about her scar when he chose not too. "Does your father know you are alive?"
Catherine hid the look of guilt poorly, "no, it's easier this way in case if I do die." Her eyes flashed back towards the Templar Grandmaster. "I imagine you did not come all this way to kill me, did you?"
"Don't feel special girl. I was here on my mission. But imagine my surprise when I came into town when I heard that you were here."
"So you investigated,"
"I was on my way here anyway."
Catherine felt suspicious of him. "Why?"
"I want to make sure the congress is successful, I am investigating to see if I can dispel rumors of interruption of the Congress."
That caught Catherine's interest, "Someone intends to halt the proceedings."
"That's what I just said, girl." He rolled his eyes with tired sass. "Someone intends on killing a few of the delegates to grind it all to a halt."
Catherine was surprised that it was in the Templars interest for the Congress to processed. "You don't agree with the British?" She asked.
"No, the king is an idiot. We need Congress to have proper negotiations with the British." Haytham put bluntly, "I had one lead, I came here to see to investigate it further, but instead I run into you."
He had the type of tone that sounded like he wished Catherine was the last person he'd see. The Grandmaster was thrust upon knowledge of the young woman's life. After Catherine's funeral, he kept an ear open of any word of the possibility that Catherine could be alive since there were no remains found. He had rumors of red hair woman of Irish descent working closely around the Royal Courts of Versailles. The Grandmaster concludes at the time it was possible that the girl could still be alive and fled to France. His theory was confirmed when he saw a copy of a deed of the land that was purchased under her name.
Seeing her in front of him, she was adorned in linen brown dress. From what his grey eyes could see, she had posed no threat to the Templar. If it was not in the middle of daylight, she could be easily disposed of.
"You are only looking for an opportunity to slip your hold onto the Congress."
"On the contrary my dear, a few of these men are already pledge to the order."
Catherine folded her arms, her wish was that a solution to be solved before war broke out between the Colonies and British. "So, you're here to make the Templars position was not to be threatened."
"Yes, though, it seems like our interest a line for once."
The assassin crossed her arms over her chest, "How can I trust that you're telling the truth?"
"You would already be dead."
There was no lie about that. "Fine…I want to come."
Haytham looked puzzled at the idea of the young assassin to tag along with him, but he thought about it for a moment. "Very well then, you do exactly as I say, girl."
"No, we work together, I am not a child you need to tell what to do." Catherine barked looking at Haytham's smug look.
"You choose a childish choice." Haytham said, "Meet me in the Black Cat Inn tonight," He want to turn his back to leave, but stopped. He studied the young woman for a moment, "Tie your hair back too, it will get in the way,"
Catherine made a disgusted noise in her throat as she stepped back from him. "Fine, I'll meet you tonight, but I can't promise the last request."
With that note, the two went their separate ways.