A Rookie's Flight |Assassin's Creed Fanfiction|

Chapter 7

   James handed me a box of bits of metal and rocks of various shapes and sizes. "You can use those. There are tools in there too."

   I dumped the contents of the box onto the table and started sorting through everything. "What can you tell me about... myself?" I smiled at how odd that sounded. 

   James laughed. "I can't tell you a single thing about yourself," she said, "but I know what you meant." She thought for a moment as I studied a dark blue rock. "You are... stronger than most others, which is probably why Edward couldn't knock you out but Midnight Star could, you have more stamina and, from what I've seen of Midnight Star's abilities, a natural instinct for weapons of any kind."

   I thought about that and pulled out a tree shaped bit of metal, holding it against the blue stone. "So I'm stronger, faster, and better at fighting than the average person?"

   "Aye," James nodded. "That sounds about right."

   "What about you then? Why do you pretend to be a man?" I picked up a small chisel and started chipping away and the blue stone, making the shape of the tree while also making it round.

   "You haven't met many captains yet, but most of them hold the firm belief that a woman can't be one. After I first saw one of the three masted sailers, I knew that's what I wanted to do," she shook her head with a smile. "Never imagined becoming an assassin though."

   "So, I'm guessing your name isn't James?" I set the tree onto the blue stone and pounded it into the tight space. I picked up a metal base and put the stone onto it. "Do you have anything sticky?"

   James smiled slightly. "There's some honey by the bowl, and no, my name isn't James Kidd, it's Mary Reed."

   I got up, grabbed the honey and quickly sat back down again. I put a little dot of it onto the base and set the stone on top again. My eyes landed on a chain that seemed to be made of tiny marbles. I picked it up and put it through the hole in my newly created pendent.

   Mary leaned forward and smiled. "Did you mean to enchant it?"

   I frowned. "No. Did I?"

   Mary reached into the pile of pieces and pulled out a pendent that was exactly like the one I'd just made, only it was made with a dark green stone instead of a blue one. "The only reason it's enchanted is because you made it exactly like this one, except for the color." She held the pendent out to me. "You might want to keep that for anyone who becomes a close friend to you. You'll be able to talk to them mentally as long as they are wearing it."

   I took the pendent and dropped it into a pocket in my belt. "I'll keep it for that someone."

   "I thought you might."

   Mary and I sat in silence for a while longer. A black bird flew through the window. I instantly recognized it as a rook. I held out a hand and it landed on my palm. I smiled and put the bird gently on my shoulder.

   It cawed. "People come! Look you!" 

   I looked at the bird. "Are you sure?"

   It nipped my ear in annoyance. "Yes yes! Black-Wing-Tail right always!"

   Mary looked at me quizzically. "Are you talking to the bird?"

   The rook glared at her. "Of course, course. What else?"

   "Yes," I narrowed my eyes at the bird. "You could use some manners. He says there are people coming."

   "What people?" Mary asked.

   "Silly people with leaf-things like yours."

   "He said people with clothes like ours," I translated for Mary. "I'd guess Edward, Raven, and Iqua." I looked at the bird. "Would you mind getting off my shoulder? I'll knock you off if you don't."

   "J-just leaving," the bird cawed and flew out the window.

   I undid the clasp on my necklace and put it on. It felt good to have one again. Mary expertly tied her hair up in the red bandanna and opened the door. She gave me a speculative look. "Let's go greet them. We'll talk more later."

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Hello again everyone! I hope you don't mind the short chapter today.

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