Test of Faith

Chapter 71

Connor found himself walking into the Assassin den, and he avoided the odd looks he received from his peers. He made his way down the hall, stopping at Gianni's office and knocking politely.

The large Assassin glanced up at Connor for a moment. "Welcome back - and how was Martinique?" he asked casually. 

The boy looked down sheepishly, dreading the next few moments. "Gianni, I...I owe you an apology...." At first he was waved off, but Connor continued anyway.

"It was wrong of me to say the things I did...." Finally, the Assassin Mentor looked up from his writing with a frown. 

"Your words were harsh, Connor...but there was also truth there. I failed the Order...my sister...allowed her to work alone and let the Templars take control...." he admitted, looking down in shame.

"But now their hold is weakened, which makes me believe there's a chance for peace! Imagine what might be accomplished if we were to unite!" Connor said optimistically.

Gianni looked up again in confusion. "Why the change of heart? Where is this coming from?" he asked. Connor then turned away, sheepish once again, and Gianni sighed.

"You've met your father, haven't you?" he asked, standing up. "I do not claim to trust the man, or even like him. But...I would be remiss to ignore this opportunity," Connor protested, standing tall.

Gianni shook his head. "Haytham may listen, but will he understand? And even if he does, will he agree? I know very well he cares deeply for my sister, but that is not enough to come to a decision," Gianni explained gently.

"Even he must admit that we achieve more together than we do alone, regardless of Mirabella's presence," Connor protested. Gianni remained silent, staring into the boy's hopeful, desperate eyes. He turned away with a sigh of defeat. "I assume you're off to find him?" he prompted.

Connor nodded. "Yes. I ride for New York to see what might be done," he replied. Gianni nodded, sitting back down in his chair. "Is she with him?" Connor nodded again, and the older Assassin pursed his lips and looked away.

"Because of my rage, I drove her straight into enemy hands," he mumbled. "That is not true." Gianni scoffed, smiling bitterly. "Yes it is, son, and you know it is, as well. Just...please look out for her? She sees you as a son, she will be more inclined to listen to you rather than me."

~~~~

Mirabella sent Connor a nod in greeting when he met up with her and Haytham in New York. "We're so close to victory - a few more well-placed attacks and we'll be able to put an end to this civil war and be rid of the Crown," Haytham said hopefully, greeting his son.

"What do you intend?" Connor asked curiously. "Well, nothing at the moment since we're completely in the dark." Connor scoffed. "I thought the Templars had eyes and ears everywhere?" he said in almost a teasing tone. "No, figlio, that is us," Mirabella corrected, and Connor snickered quietly.

"Oh no, we did. Until you lot started cutting them off," Haytham cut in sharply. Mirabella merely rolled her eyes. "Your contact said 'orders from above'. It tells us exactly what we need to do: track down the Loyalist commanders," Connor said simply.

Mirabella nodded in approval, touching the boy's arm. "A smart strategy - lead the way, ragazzo."

~~~~

"You have little patience, I see!" Mirabella called, ducking under a punch and stabbing the redcoat. After successfully tracking down the three commanders, the eavesdropping had proven to be useless, which led to Haytham - quite literally - dropping in.

"They were talking in circles!" he pointed out, slamming a redcoat down and shooting him. A larger redcoat in a kilt then approached, swinging his axe down; Mirabella rolled to the side, unsheathing her Blade and slashing at his ankles.

The guard stumbled to his knees, and Connor quickly rushed in to finish him off. "Is that the last of them?" Haytham called, sheathing his sword. "Yes." The three of them then cornered the commanders, and Mirabella kept her hand on her gun.

Haytham then began to tie them up. "We'll bring them to my quarters at Fort George and see what secrets they might share," he told the two Assassins. One of them suddenly took off, and Mirabella managed to merely graze him with a bullet. "Corri, ragazzo! Presto!" she told the boy.

He hesitated with a sigh before chasing after the commander, and Mirabella looked to the other two. "If either of you run - I promise I won't miss."