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

Chapter 15

   It turned out that Connor, Archer, and Shay were as good at loosing guards as I was, which was to say they were really good at it. Almost the instant we were two houses away we all piled into a haystack, trying to stifle our laughter.

   I'm sure it would have been funny to see the four of us crowded into the one haystack. I was sitting on top of everyone with a thin layer of hay above my head.

   "Rook, get off," Connor's voice was muffled by the hay around us.

   "I can't there isn't enough room," I said squirming around in an attempt to do what he wanted me to.

   "Ow. Ouch. Would you stop moving?" Shay said.

   "Well Connor wanted me off," I objected.

   "Will you three shut up?" Archer asked. "The last thing we need right now is to get caught."

   "Good idea," Connor grunted and shoved me out of the haystack.

   I landed on the ground with a thump. "Connor!"

   Footsteps sounded from the street. "I'm sure they went this way. They can't be far."

   I pressed myself into the shadow against the wall of the house, hoping the patrol wouldn't notice me. Four guards stopped at the mouth of the alley and looked down it. They looked right at me, but none of them registered I was there.

   "Nothing down this way," one of them said. "I can't believe they got away!"

   I held my breath as they walked away.

   "Where do you think Rook's gone?" I heard Shay ask from the haystack. "The guards didn't see her so she must not be around."

   "Oh man!" I said. "Look at this perfect pile of hay! I think I'll lay down and wait for the others to come!"

   "No! Rook stop!" Connor shouted, just before a muffled, "Oomf!" as I landed on top of them again.

   "Rook," Archer complained, shoving everyone out of the haystack. "You are going to be the death of us all."

   "Not if I can help it," I said cheerfully. "Come on. The Jackdaw's this way."

   I led all three tired and extremely grumpy assassins to where the Jackdaw was anchored. It was kind of funny watching them climb up to the deck, me not being tired at all. Archer went first, with Shay close behind. Shay slipped about half way up and fell, knocking both himself and Connor into the water and making them both soaked.

   I climbed up before Shay and Connor got themselves sorted out. Archer stood uncertainly close to the edge. He didn't seem to know what to think about being on a strange boat alone.

   Unable to resist the temptation, I crept up behind him and tapped his shoulder. "Whatcha thinkin'?"

   Archer jumped. "Nothing," he said. "Where did you go after Connor shoved you out of the haystack?"

   I knew he was changing the subject on purpose. I narrowed my eyes at him, but didn't push him in any other way. "I just stayed up against the wall. There were a lot of shadows. I'm sure you noticed that. I am just as surprised they didn't notice me as you are."

   Archer smiled slightly as Shay and Connor tumbled onto the deck, soaking wet. "Then you aren't surprised at all."

   I frowned. "That is not true at all. I am surprised. I just thought you were surprised as well. That's all."

   "Haven't you noticed anything odd about your robes?" Archer asked. "The fact that Anne could hardly see you when you went to her. When Connor almost crashed into you because he couldn't see you, even though you were right in front of him. That didn't make you surprised at all? But the guards not seeing you did?"

   I thought about that as Shay and Connor made themselves comfortable on the deck on some bedrolls that seemed to have magically appeared. "I didn't really think about it. It's happened to me so frequently that I hardly notice unless I'm in danger."

   Archer's eyes widened. "You mean this has happened to you before?"

   "Well, not this exact thing. But guards never seem to see me when I stand in the shadows, and I can sneak up behind almost anyone without them noticing me even when I step on something loud."

   "I don't know much," Archer said in an apologetic way. "But I do know a little bit."

   "About what? You're making me confused and nervous Archer!"

   Archer shook his head. "Just a story I heard from one of the Master Assassins who trained me. It had something to do with an assassin that could become one with the shadows. He called them the Shadow Assassin. Anywhere they went Templars would die mysteriously and none of the guards ever saw anything suspicious. I'm sorry, I don't remember many details, but the Shadow Assassin disappeared. Nobody knows what happened to them. It happened long enough ago that they'd be dead by now. I'm just wondering if you could be a Shadow Assassin."

   I frowned. The sounds of Shay and Connor snoring were starting to make me annoyed, or was it my magic? Great, I can't even tell when my magic is making me feel something from when I feel something. 

   Archer had said he didn't know much, but what he'd just told me was enough to make my head spin. I did find shadows appealing, especially when I was in danger.

   I thought back to the night I'd first met Edward, when the shadows had seemed to be alive. I thought about telling Archer that. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not.

   Archer yawned. "I'm going to bed. Wake me up if you need anything."

   I nodded, still deep in thought.

   Archer started to walk away then paused and looked back at me. "There isn't anything wrong with being a Shadow Assassin," he said. "It fits well with 'we work in the dark to serve the light', but from what Achilles told me, there is a great power that also comes with it. Many people can be led astray by power. Don't let that happen to you."

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Hey everyone! Another update on schedule this time. If you don't get the joke the picture is making I'll explain it here. 'Everything is pepperoni (Everything is permitted). Nothing is cheese (Nothing is true).' It took me a while to get that one, but it's kind of funny now that I understand it.

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May the wind blow strong in your sails and fortune favor your blade!