I'll Be With You

Chapter 31: Mary's POV

We stepped inside as Edward went with the kids to take a seat. "Right this way Ms. Read." They were awfully nice. "Everything Alright?" He asked. "No, actually. I find it funny how when I save lives in public, I'm praised. When a friend, a pirate, for that matter, dies, they're recognized, so if you'd please, I'd like to get this over with as quickly as possible." I felt annoyed and anxious. I had this feeling that something bad was going to happen, and just wanted to leave before my instincts were right. "Please, if you need anything beforehand, now is the time." They told me. I walked to Edward. "Anything wrong?" He questioned. "Keep an eye on the children. I've a bad feeling. Just make sure your pistols are ready in case we need to engage in combat." I explained. "Alright. I will." He said unsheathing a sword and keeping it at his side.

I walked back over to the area as before. "Ready?" I asked. "If you are Miss." "Just Read. No miss please." I asked. "Very well then, right this way, Read." They stood me in front of a large room of people, more than I was comfortable with. "Are you okay?" A guard asked. "Yes, just somewhat nervous is all." I told him. "No need, all of us are heavily armed." He said. "Exactly why I feel this way." I said as I gave him a look to leave me alone.

The ceremony began. "We're here to honor two women who saved the lives of fellow guards and civilians in the West Indies, Mary Read, and Anne Bonny who sadly wasn't able to be with us." That felt like a huge fuck you. I heard them mention my name, pirate, and a few other things, but blanked out as I was studying the audience.

Just as they were saying things I didn't care much about, a man and woman took a seat, and his guards sat in back of him. I looked at Edward, realizing he was suspicious of them as well as I was. He looked at me, as I raised my head, then lowered it, and he tilted his a bit back, grasping his sword, and making sure all the children were around. He handed Jenny a dagger as he whispered something to her while she nodded and hid the dagger.

A guard walked up to me, distracting me from my distraction, if that makes sense. "We hope you'd accept this on behalf of Anne, and this for yourself. They handed me some awards and medallions that meant nothing if Anne wouldn't be standing here next to me accepting her own, but they were hers. I could give them to Shay. "Mary Read, we Thank You." Heavily armed men stood and saluted, as the crowd did as well, Edward holding up the kids to see better as they smiled, and I smiled back at them.

As the ceremony was at it's end, I anxiously walked toward Edward and held Emily as he did Shay, and told Jenny, "If you have to, take a pistol. I don't trust these people." She nodded, and grabbed one of mine, as Edward looked near ready to kill me. "Why? Why a pistol?" He questioned. "Relax, you act as though she's never used one before." I said. "She's never used one with me around." Edward said. "Well she's quite a good shot." I said with a smile as we were trying to hurry out. I could tell he was angry. "Edward, she's a 13 year old girl being raised by 2 pirates. It was inevitable." I replied at his annoyance, smiling, hoping to piss him off even more. "She's a natural. You knew she practiced." "With a sword!" He interrupted. "Well who do you think shot through the heads of the practice targets? Couldn't do it on my own." I smiled biting my tongue as he gave an undeniable smile too.

We finally made it out of the area, but they were following. "Mr. And Mrs. Kenway, a minute please!" They asked as we stopped. "Kenway and Read." I told them. "Ah, excuse my ignorance. I thought both of you were married." Edward looked at me. "Well, I mean- Shut up Kenway." I looked at him. "Will do." "So, what's wrong?" I asked. "A new Templar Grandmaster is waiting. He's targeting innocent people, men. Women. Even children such as your own. They want assassins and those associated with them gone. Can you two help?" He asked. I looked at Edward and the kids, and would have more than revenge if anything happened. "Time to take back England?" Edward asked. "Consider them dead." I replied, everyone smiling.