please listen to Confessions by ANIIML for this chapter.

lemme know what you think.

-g.

"What a hardy one to have survived childbirth on this god forsaken island. Have you seen the welp yet?"

Hornigold lifted a glass towards Rogers as the man stood looking absolutely proud of himself as he looked over the new commands made of him by his idiot king and a letter from Torres all at the same time.

"Why bother? There will be plenty of time for dealings once the brat is old enough to teach. For now, he suckles at the teat of that witch until I see fit to strip him of her."

He was to be sent to Kingston, now that his work over the last months had taken root in Nassau for the most part. Hornigold had convinced nearly all the captains who had remained in the shanty town that it was in there best interest to cut their losses now and take the kings pardon.

It had been a stroke of luck and ingenuity to find Hornigold who's ambitions were wider than those of the common man, so it had been only natural after a few months to introduce the man to the Templar order.

If Woodes thought he'd needed any tactic to convince the man, it was in vain as Ben jumped at the chance to prove himself for this new order like a starving dog after fresh meat.

So now, on the very morning of the birth of his heir, to receive news that his machinations had done their purpose in the eyes of a king he only pretended to serve, it was like a cherry on the cake of his career & being.

Hornigold had come with the post from the docks, and upon his arrival had hear the whispered buzzing that filled the halls of the fort.

Liete was to give birth this day.

Ben had not been a fool. He'd counselled the man before him, smug and triumphant, to the course of Liete's dealings in Nassau and her previous consort.

It had surprised him how easily Woodes dismissed the possibility that the child growing in her womb could have been Kenway's, and it had left Ben with a mental note moving forward.

That all of them held pride, even the servants of kings, but this did not mean they weren't blinded by it no matter their station.

It had made sense to him once Woodes had giddily explained further his plan to use the babe for his own personal gain, as the Beckford name was absolute in their society…

But it was the note he had thought of that he wouldn't soon forget, so as they sat this morn in wait until one of the nurses came running in to the day room with news of a healthy baby boy, it was immediate the itch to see the babe.

Liete was a hellcat, bewitching and frightening in her time among them. It made Ben all the more interested to see if the child hadn't been born with its own set of horns to reflect her true nature made flesh in her offspring.

"And will you take the babe from it's mother?"

Woodes leaned back in the plush Victorian chair, and grinned towards Ben as If they discussed an amusing game rather than a life.

"I should right away shouldn't I? So as not to be spoiled by the harpy that birthed him… But then again, come at time for re-entering society, if I strip him of her now it may make me seem callous to have done so at so young an age and may reflect badly on myself." Hornigold grimaced at the thought of high society and instead of answering took a drought from the rum that had been poured for him upon arrival.

"All the same, you might care to look over the babe to make any calls for further physicians or care? If you are to leave for Kingston shortly, such travel on so young a welp may bring about failure to thrive. This to assume sir, that you mean to bring the witch and her offspring with you, rather than leave them here for further Templar plots?"

Woodes looked at him them with a calculating eye, as the thought of his departure had never moved from the thought that Liete would come along still as his prisoner. Torres had commended him for his recapture of the Beckford daughter, and although upon bringing her to Kingston where her brother, the very brother that had sold her down wind to the Templars in the first place, would be present and none to happy to find her alive, such a tool was a welcome one for their order.

Peter Beckford Jr. was easily controlled, unlike his sister, and although he had given no reason for his want of the disposal of his sister Woodes doubted the man would rescind his association with the Templars over it as they had brought about the wheels of industry that brought triple the fortune the Beckford's had once had.

At the same time, Rogers also doubted Peter Jr. would go up against him once unveiling the family connecting that now existed between them.

"I guess there is not harm in making sure my son is healthy and all is well for travel & voyage." Standing with his words, Woodes gathered his tumbler to finish his drink off, before throwing an arm around the thinner man's frame his hand finding it's way to the back of his neck with jovial practice as they exited the room towards his very chamber.

Woodes really had gotten everything he'd striven for hadn't he?

A governorship, a high rank among those chosen to shape the new world with the Templars, and now an heir to replace the one he'd lost with the most powerful and rich family known at the time.

If it wasn't so gauche, he'd have pat himself on the back but he'd make do with the Cheshire grin that now graced his face as he made his way with his new confidant to view his son for the first time.

The heavy wooden door to his room was slightly ajar as the younger of Liete's maids exited carrying a chamber pot with a cloth covering it.

She bowed awkwardly at the two men before scuttling off towards the privy, dealing with the afterbirth or worse no doubt.

Feeling magnanimous, Rogers held the door open for Hornigold who entered first to find the room nearly blindingly bright as opposed to the others areas of the fort. The weather outside was still perplexing with its rain but bright sunlight answering it. It was an odd finding, as Hornigold had only ever heard of a dark birthing room prior to this.

The room found the midwife just off to the right of Rogers four post bed, quiet with hands folded as she watched Liete who was sat straight up in bed holding a swaddled babe to her breast, a child who although was content in his suckling looked out at the room with wide eyes filled with wonder.

Hornigold was the first to see, and felt a wave of not fear come over him, but it was a feeling that was in itself easy to describe and not. It was the same feeling when advice was given and disregarded leading to a man's demise. What came then? What was the next step to take?

The physical change came to Woodes before anything else, as the hand that had rested against the nape of Ben's neck suddenly tightened, and his arm rigid against the man's shoulders.

Liete looked to them then in silent triumph, her eyes spinning with torrential speeds that brought on a nausea within both men that persisted for hours even when they'd withdrawn to their drinking and brooding.

No man could deny that upon first look, no one in their right mind would think the child in Liete's arms was fathered by Woodes Rogers. For those that had seen Kenway, and knew of his traits, there was no other father that could be named.

Other than the silver in the eyes that marked the child as Liete's, it was as if a replicate had been made of the welsh man in face and aged younger.

If the striking resemblance hadn't fully done the damage, the truly triumphant look that beamed from Liete's face would have been the nail in the coffin.

It glowed with such victory, ruthless and cold, it was chilling to the bone as the men each on their own came to the near same conclusion that through everything, Liete had one upped Woodes Rogers. He may have thought he'd stolen her virtue from her, but she'd already given it freely to a pirate.

1718

"What news Ade?"

Edward came upon the small building with official signage, out of the way of the bustling main streets. His mannerism's appearing manic as he scanned the area around him with a feral eye.

Since he'd been left marooned for dead after the loss of Thatch, his mind and heart had hardened to an almost unrecognizable state.

His crew now was a constant revolving door, he wanted no man to get comfortable and think he held some say over his nation of Jackdaw. The only constant now was Adewale, and even then, the man's sharp eyes singed Edward.

Since he'd left Nassau, since he'd left Liete… It had been like her madness had taken root within him.

How could it not? Caroline had left him at his time of need, and Liete had done so not once but twice, and he had been foolish enough to think it wouldn't happen again when he'd practically groveled to her upon finding her in Nassau.

No… He'd never lower himself that way again. It was time to put aside all the foolishness, all of the damned antics that had gotten Thatch killed and find the damned Observatory.

"This Bargeman works for the African Royal company, Tell him what you told me." Ade was clearly agitated, although it was common whenever they made port in a 'civilized' settlement, as the racism ran rampant towards the man.

The white man with brown and wasting teeth glared at the darker man, arms crossed over his chest clearly annoyed at having to answer anything he was asked by Ade.

"I haven't seen The Princess in eight weeks or more, meaning she may soon be back."

"What else?" The growl and hand gesture Ade made brought one of Edward's eyebrows up at Ade who usually was able to hold his anger in check, but clearly before he'd entered the conversation the words exchanged between the two men had not been pleasant.

Edward, although understanding the anger Ade had for the man whose livelihood consisted of aiding in the trafficking of slaves, he needed the information that the man held if he were to find the sage, and so for all Ade's discomfort it was necessary.

'I thought this buck was with the other men who were talking about the Princess this morning so I told him-" Immediately Edwards interest was peak and it was almost embarrassing the speed at which he spoke interrupting the slaver.

"What other men?"

"A jaunty sailor in plain rags, and a gent with a scare just here." The man pointed to his left cheek and it made Edward's throat constrict and an anger enter his veins that was almost blinding.

Woodes Rogers.

How even just the damned simple description of him could elicit such a reaction was in frightening. It had less to do with the Templar order, and everything to do with Liete

So, the governor had left his post in Nassau, and come to Kingston.

Had he brought Liete?

The errant thought was a betrayal to the stoned heart he'd been carrying since the year prior, and he tried desperately to quell the rising heartbeat within him.

She left you for that cesspot you idiot., His mind growled at him as he tried to focus back to the man.

He'd laid awake in his quarters many a night, visions of her playing round in his head, taunting him, driving him mad. He tried to make sense as to why she'd left, why she'd even let him touch her if she'd been so willing to run to another man…

He'd known women that hadn't preferred the company of men, but when she'd looked at him, and just him, it had felt like love.

It had been love. At Least for him.

"Where have they got to?"

"Staying around the corner they said." Nodding with a grimace Edward turned towards where the man referenced, his emotions getting the better of him as his breathing turned frantic. Just as he meant to take off, Ade grabbed his arm almost painfully wrenching him back to face him.

"I grow tired of chasing these fantasies Edward, as does the crew."

It was a plea, one that although he hadn't voiced for some time particularly since Edward had come back from his marooning, was poignant and desperate.

Edward wanted to listen to it, he did. But the flash of silver eyes just beyond in Edwards imagination pushed it away and his own greed and wounded pride reminded him of the prize that would trump all else.

"Hang in there man, were getting close."

Without bothering to look at the reaction of his quartermaster to his words, Edward set off towards where his old friend and the damned Rogers meant to be staying as he fought to control the pit in his heart that threatened to spread once more.

Unbeknownst to Edward, just off the center of town towards the port of Kingston, a hulking form cautiously checked his surroundings before motioning to the hound at his side, stepping into a clearing that was vaguely familiar as he had only seen it for a few mere moments a year and a few months prior.

A smaller but still large man turned from a large wooden table drawing a sword from his hip instantly ready to fight off whatever threat had entered into his space.

Holding hands up to show a friendly gesture that he remained unarmed, slowly pulling away at the hood he wore to reveal a head full of flopsy strawberry blonde hair that was in dire need of a cut, and a wide smile with missing teeth. The hulking dog on the other hand flopped near his masters feet looking disinterested in everything taking place.

Drew looked skinny and gaunt with the time that had passed, with no one he trusted he'd taken to simply sheering his hair with a dagger whenever it grew too long to cover his eyes, and now walked with a slight limp where his broken femur had healed but nowhere near as strong as before.

His large size was now simply from his height, as months of eating scraps and hiding away trying to catch up to Kenway wherever he heard whisper had stripped him of any fat his body may have held on to.

Not only was Drew scared of the men who had captured him finding him once more, it came very evident that the whole of the pirating community had decided that it was Liete who had brought down the king upon them.

In that thread of thinking, it was Drew who had been her closest confidant and must have been involved.

It had been a miserable few months of recovery, as Drew could no longer stay at their shanty, with disgruntled pirates showing up every other day looking for someone to blame..

It had been almost immediate to his escape, that Gerald had limped his way back home, and Drew was angry at the thought that they'd thrown the old dog from their damned fort like trash, to truly isolate Liete.

He'd found solace with Jane then, who along with her mother, had taken pity on him. Once his leg had healed enough for him to stand and move about on his own, he'd been given the news by Faith of the whispers surrounding Liete.

She had been with child, and he hadn't known.

It made instant sense in his mind all of her actions then.

She was to be a mother, and mothers protect above all else, in his mind.

If she'd been threatened, if she'd done anything that might put her little baby at risk, she do anything to make sure it had been safe.

Drew had never lost faith in his girl.

He knew she wouldn't have gone with that damned ugly whoreson of her own freewill.

And so, he knew he had to find Kenway. She'd let herself get captured once more to give him the time to escape, she deserved nothing less than his entire being in saving her now.

He had to be wiser than before.

Storming the fort from the very entrance had been a mistake, he had to be smart now. He had to.

So, he'd stayed in town, slowly building his credibility back up with Faith's help whispering into the ears of all who would listen of the truth behind Liete Beckford. He had to make his move with the right people in place, and so he planned.

Drew was not someone would call smart, he didn't know how to write, could read just enough to get by, but it didn't take any educated to realize that by himself there wasn't a thing he could do against such powerful people.

Before he had met Liete, the idea of royalty and power had made him giddy and starstruck. He'd been afraid of such people and often cowed down to it.

Now he had seen that true power came from those willing to be honest to themselves and others even in the face of adversity. He wasn't cowed anymore.

He made a list of all the people he'd met, even those without names, and made a point to find them and ask for help, get them to see his side of things. He was not a speaking man, but he had conviction and it had to work. For Liete's sake, it had too.

The news of the governor's departure came with the joyous news that Liete had survived delivery & to a son.

Drew had wept then at the news, that his poor Liete had gone through such a thing alone.

Faith had held him then, calm and calculating reminding him of Liete she helped him formulate a plan.

In Kingston, the Governor was likely to be more preoccupied, out and about with his deeds and duties. Drew knew Kingston, he'd been brought there as a boy, there were people that he could turn to now to find the ones he really needed.

What he really needed was an opening. Just one.

When the governor set sail, on a man o' war that seemed as big as the very island of Nassau, Drew took passage on a merchant ship with coin given with blessing from Jane and Faith.

He'd not wanted to leave them, Jane weeping even as she quietly kissed his cheek. But he had too. He'd return he promised. He'd come back and he'd make an honest woman of her. But first, he had to save his friend.

Upon arriving in Kingston, Drew had gone to work.

As he spoke to fellow Sailors who had not heard any talk of his supposed defection to his majesty with a women with eyes of silver, they directed him towards a man they said helped those in need now in Kingston. This man they said, dark as night, slipped through the shadow unseen saving his brothers and other slaves from their masters.

A good man.

So, as he followed the makeshift directions, whispered to him by a slave-turned-pirate in a dark corner of The Kingston Crown, he came upon a familiar clearing that he and Liete had stumbled upon once before.

The man before him, with an odd set of sandals on his feet, was the same man that had called Liete a rare bird.

"I know your face, but it twas behind a woman the last I'd seen it." The man although recognizing Drew's features, did not sheath his weapon even as his shoulder slowly fell from the immediate fight that had run through him.

"N' she be da reason I am here. T'was told a man in need of help was ta come see you." Continuing to hold his hands open wide and in plain view, Drew moved a bit closer to the man but only a bit.

The man sized him up, and Drew couldn't help but smile. He looked like he was exactly who Drew needed.

"I'll need to be moving my head quarters if I was this easily found."

"I would na' call it easy, sir." The darker man laughed at that and finally moved to sheath his sword, clasping his hands behind his back as he moved closer to Drew his own smile white against his skin.

"What is it you need from me Englishman?"

"I need help saving a woman n' her child from a' evil mahn." Striding forward with the invitation Drew shrugged the pack he'd shouldered off to land in the dirt, reaching out with a large mitt in friendship.

The man looked at him then with amusement and a delicate delight before taking the hand in his own, both men with calloused palms.

"Come, tell me more. My name is Anton."