Broken Soldier ~ Assassin's Creed 4

Chapter Six

I asked Edith if I could borrow some of her clothing, to look less like a rich girl and more like a normal person. I felt as if the Kenways would feel...embarassed, maybe, by the obvious opposites between us. Now that I think about it, three hours after visiting them, I don't think they would have cared. They aren't bothered by material things. I should really have guessed that... Anyway, Edith refused to begin with, but I snuck into the wash room to take a few of her things, with all intentions of giving them back. A small bonnet was tied around my head to hide my well-kept hair and I pulled a few strands of hair from it. The dress I wore did not fit well to my frame at all, causing me to tie a thick ribbon around my waist. My shoes were scuffed and were too big. However, looking at myself in the mirror, I was much happier with my scruffy look rather than my usual neat clothing.

I managed to dodge everyone except Dave, who didn't question at all. He even handed me a little extra money for what I was doing. And, what was I doing? I was planning on taking some food along to Edward's parents and to cook them a meal. The whole outfit was purely to fit in better. That was the only reason I hid from my parents - the outfit. I was certain that father would have been ashamed.

That was all I thought about while walking around the market. I bought bread, vegetables, spices and some wine to make and serve stew. Linette and Bernard had no idea that I was going to be there, but I planned to make it a special dinner. I had also heard that a gang had attacked their farm, burning my mother's work to the ground. At least, that is what mother had said.

With a shaky breath, I knocked on the door. Within moments, a woman with grey hair and sunken eyes opened it. Her wrinkled face held a look of confusion and she squinted in the light to see me. I gave a weak smile. I was taller than her now - quite a bit taller.

"Who are you?" Her voice was croaky and she sounded as if she had been crying. Her eyes were slightly red, her cheeks wet. I frowned.

"Mrs. Kenway, are you alright?" She glared.

"I asked you a question." Her eyes travelled down to the basket on my arm. I held it a little higher so she could investigate it. My description of her sounds awful, but she still looked very young, despite the wrinkles and hoarse voice.

"I am Elisa Dawson. I used to come here as a child with my father. I have been speaking with Edward while he is away on the Emperor and he has been telling me of how he misses you."

"I want nothing to do with that boy." I stuck my arm through the door to stop her from shutting it all the way.

"Mrs. Kenway, please. I wanted to cook a meal for you and Mr. Kenway, if you wouldn't mind." She sighed, letting me in.

"Come right in. Bernard won't be home for quite some time. He's working. Now that we have no animals to earn money from, he has had to work longer hours."

"I was sorry to hear about the farm. That's part of the reason I wanted to cook a meal. That and I would like to speak with you about Edward and his letters."

"He is no son of mine anymore. I don't know why I ever agreed for him to stay with us."

"Mrs. Kenway—"

"No. Don't try to talk me around. He left his wife, whom he had been trying for a child with, and she walked out. He was a fool, that stupid boy." I set my basket down on the counter. "Now, he's a privateer, sailing and fighting his life away, and for what? Money? Power? A string of bloody guards following him and watching his every move to ensure he doesn't kill anyone else? No, I suggest you break contact with that...bastard..."

"Stop it." Her stony eyes caught mine. "You stop this right now. In his letters, he describes wanting money for his wife and family. He wants to help and was getting nowhere by working on a farm. I can't sit here and listen to you blathering on about how he has disappointed you." I growled slightly. "Help me make this food - I'll tell you more about the letters as long as you promise to listen without talking back." Her face softened as she nodded. "I don't mean to be so harsh. I'm used to keeping quiet when my parents argue. I suppose I'm just tired of staying back."

"It's alright, Elisa. I was a little ridiculous, I guess. And anyway, why are you dressed like that?"

"I had nothing clean and this is actually rather comfortable." Elisa, what kind of liar have you become? I gave a little smile. "I would like to start on the stew by myself." I reached down into the basket, below all of the vegetables and pulled out the bread and a few letters. "Try the bread, and I think you should see for yourself what I told you." She nodded hesitantly. "There's nothing bad in those, don't worry. I'm sure you're just paranoid."

"I suppose I am. When Bernard gets home, I'll be sure to let him look these over."

"I'm sure your son would like that."

~~

It wasn't even thirty minutes before Bernard was home. He dropped a sack onto the floor, along with a few tools. He had a key on a rope around his neck which he placed onto a hook. His hair was still an ashy blonde colour and his face bore many more wrinkles than Linette. However, knowing what Edward had grown to look like, I saw that he had given all of his features to his son. Bernard looked up with a smile, not seeing me around the corner.

"Linette, I got a little extra money today from one customer. She seemed really excited to be buying bread made from our wheat. We have just enough to pay the rest of our rent." I grinned into my shoulder.

"That's wonderful. But, were you not going to say hello to our guest?" Bernard emerged with a shocked look on his face.

"That's her. The girl who gave me the money."

"You remember the Dawsons?"

"Oh? Elisa?" I nodded with a smile. "Well, it's lovely to see you again. Those clothes, though... I wouldn't exactly fit you with them. What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to make a meal. Don't bite my head off at this, but I also have letters from Edward. He spoke highly of the two of you and I wanted you both to read his kind words." Bernard screwed up his face. "Mr. Kenway, I assure you that I wouldn't be here if I wasn't serious."

"Bernard, sit. Read these." Linette pulled at his sleeve, causing flour to plume into the air. He took a seat beside her, trusting in his wife. She passed the papers over one by one and smiled wider with each one. While they flipped through them, I added the vegetables to the pot of boiling water. I also picked off a piece of the bread to chew on while I waited. Occasional mumbles came from Bernard.

"He seemed fond of you, Elisa." He pointed out.

"The same as when we were children. We would play with little soldiers and-" I pulled my soldier from within my coin purse. "We both still have them."

"He told us he had never seen any of you - you or your sisters."

"I told my parents the same. But they both know now, as do you."

"Well, what are you cooking?"

"I suppose it's a stew, but there's no meat in it. A vegetable soup, maybe?" Bernard gave a smile.

"I'm sure it'll be amazing."