A Chance of love

Chapter 5: Preparing for battle

Haytham Point of view
I have noticed the men have become more curious about my relationship with Ziio, Hickey mocking is the worse. His talks of sexual nature, he's a foul bastard some days if not the most. This is merely a partnership I tell the men, once our interests are no longer united any communication between us will cease. Yet as I speak the words, my heart calls me a liar I find myself thinking about her more and more with each passing day. Noting about her is wrong compared to the cold stiff women in England and the boisterous rowdy women in here in the colonies.

Ziio is a warrior, cunning, fierce and deadly she carries herself with such grace and poise, I hardly expected a native to have. Ziio movements and words are sure and confident. There was something about her that excites me, that draws me to her like a moth to a flame, a large part of me desires Ziio and what hides behind that tough warrior spirit. Perhaps a softer and gentle person, as I fear that may not ever come to pass my work the order needs me. We are to leave soon, the journey to her camp is much longer than I expected all of our effort and hard work has gone into ensuring our success. Braddock will fall today we have spent months and weeks planning to take him down for good.
Haytham Kenway, journal entry, July 9th 1755.

Benjamin: first it was too cold, now it's too dammed hot!
I trimmed as I rode in front of my men, heading to Ziio camp I could feel the sweat coming from my heavy clothing I wore. The weather in the colonies was hostile at best, but newly freezing to death in the winter and fortunate not to burn alive in the summer months.
Pitcam: and humid too! It's a right swap I'll tell you!
As Pitcam gave his opinion about the weather changes,
Hickey: to say nothing of the mosquitoes, damm I'll buggers all the bitin and itchin drive a man crazy!
of course Hickey granted is his remakes as well, as I exhaled sharply.
Haytham: warm weather and bugs are soon to be the least of our worries, focus men.
Hickey: wot Ya man the bulldog? Oh please we'll be in that ones beef soon enough!
Yes Braddock wasn't the most superb soldier or leader, but during my training of becoming a Templar is that you should never underestimate your opponent. I glanced at Hickey fixing him with a stern expression as I shook my head in displeasure, Hickey had a lot to learn.
Haytham: never I mean..never underestimate your enemy.
Hickey was about to open his mouth, and I half expected another comment for questioning my logic. But he turned his attention to our path, as Church rode next to me.

Benjamin: where's your boy Lee gone off to anyway?
Haytham: returned to finish out his service under Braddock
Benjamin: really now? I imagine the bulldog none too pleased after the stunt, we pulled
The was light laughter coming from Benjamin, as I grinned to myself.
Haytham: Lee to spin a tale of my incompetence and such and beg forgiveness. He's has his way with word, especially when it comes to flattery. I expect he'll be welcomed with open arms.
Benjamin: which would give us a man inside
I nodded at his response
Haytham: precisely
Benjamin: hmm clever
Although the Pitcam was unconvinced
Pitcam: unless you've underestimated our enemy
Braddock proved to be a slimy bastard, able to wriggle and worm his way out of trouble.
Haytham: Charles will sense it first and make his escape, he's more clever than you think, give the lad some credit.
Hickey: when this is done I'm takin a week off in New York, it's high time I went and saw the sights.
I nodded shortly for once I agreed with Hickey because I was worn, weary and sleeplessness and constant travelling taxing on my body.

Haytham: a vacation sound very nice Hickey
Hickey: yeah and you'll spend yours with that buxom native beauty, what's er name again? Aytham?
Dammit to hell! This shit again! I thought as William, Pitcam and Benjamin looked nervously at me. No matter how many times I told them of my relation with Ziio and I had far beyond coining my digits. But I was still guilty of having an affair with Ziio in question, as I gripped the reins tightly and I rotated my horse to Hickey as I glared sharply at him my nerves taut with aggravation.
Haytham: I will tell you this ONE more time because you are obviously hard of hearing. There is nothing between Ziio and me, I barely SPEAK to her let alone TOUCH her and the sooner you get those blasted ideas of her and I FUCKING get those dirty thoughts out of your dumb pathetic skull! The better of you will be!
I hissed every word through clenched teeth, as my conscience dubbing me a liar to voice such falsehoods. Each word a tiny blade to my heart, I returned my gaze forward as I rode further up annoyed with Hickey and praying the rest of the journey would continue in silence.
As I heard Pitcam whistled low in his throat acting if nothing happened, William coughed awkwardly into his fist. I imagined a proud, malicious smirk was present on after shutting Hickey, boasting that his goading had finally triggered to such an explosion from my words.
Serves you right bastard! I thought
Benjamin: so how much further, till we reach at this.. woman camp?
Church prodded gently understanding fully that my fury still resumed, I was vaguely grateful that he didn't call her a savage and for that I kept my response civil.
Haytham: it should be over this hill now, we're close now.
At last my request was granted and I continued to think about Ziio who was always in my mind.

A little further into the brush, I found Ziio waiting for me I dismounted from my horse and made my way down to her side. I bowed slightly in a show of respect as her eyes met mine, and a small smile turned from the corner of her lips. Three native men approached us, who associated with Ziio stood patiently in front of Ziio awaiting further orders.
Haytham: I see you've been busy
Ziio: all these men are from different tribes, united in their desire to see Braddock sent away. The Abenaki, The Lenape, The Shawnee.
She pointed to each man respectively
Haytham: and you? Who do you fight for?
I stepped closer as I gazed at her inquisitively, as I moved in front of her as she spared a glance in my direction. Her hands placed on her hips, exuding the authority and confidence I expected from her.
Ziio: myself
Haytham: what would you have me do?
I asked
Ziio: we will help the others to prepare
That sounded simply enough, I nodded my head.
Ziio: follow

Most of my time was spent looking over the map, attempting to formulate some strategy other than the ambush we agreed upon earlier. Earlier plans for constructing any sort of approach were immediately demolished, once I began to think of the kiss me and Ziio shared a month ago.
Dear god that kiss! I thought
To feel the texture of her lips again, the pecks I'd offered to women beforehand palled in comparison. Intoxicating but forbidden never before had something felt so right and so wrong, my lack of care regarding the consequences. I groaned cradling my head in my palm, as my mind and thoughts began to wander again.
Why did she kiss me? Perhaps she's become fond of me, but why did I kiss her back? Have I become to fond of her?

This was hopeless it was almost impossible to gain any real progress on the task at hand, without her interrupting my train of thought. All of a sudden I felt a feather light touch, far too small to be a mans hand and I looked down to see the same native women who captured my heart since day one. She wasn't making my job easier and I had a sneaking suspicion, that she knew this as well.
Haytham: may I help you?
I huffed in annoyance
Ziio: no I simply wished to see what you were doing
As I blinked in confusion, was she being serious.
Haytham: couldn't you have asked? I would have kindly informed you, I was currently occupied at the moment.
An infuriating coy smirk creased her face.
Ziio: I prefer this way come, we've discovered a scout camp not too far from here
I shook my head wearily, not even bothering to ask her any more questions as I followed behind her dutifully.

I'm sorry if this chapter was a bit boring, but I promise the next chapter will be the surprise attack on Edward Braddock and the cave scene between Haytham and Ziio.