Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story. All characters belong to Ubisoft unless otherwise stated.

Thank you The-Stupidest-Author-Ever for beta-ing and partially co-writing this with me.

A/N: This chapter will be done in Selah's P.O.V. So I would like to thank The-Stupidest-Author-Ever for collaborating with me to bring you an inside look of Selah's brain.

Chapter 5

Sequence 2: The Kenway Manor 1770

"We've found them," Haytham said from his spot on the beach. My eyes widened and I was filled with glee.

"Who?" Connor asked. That name was so much easier to say than Ratoontahaygon.

"The Assassins, Connor," Shay replied for Haytham, who had folded his arms behind his back and opened his mouth reproachfully. I heard Connor shuffle his feet in embarrassment of his lack of knowledge but my eyes never left Haytham. He nodded slightly, confirming that the information was accurate.

"Let's go. They won't just wait around, will they?" I asked before vaulting the railing of the ship and landing on the gravelly beach in a roll.

Haytham started to run up to the house and I followed him. It must have been important, if Mister Never-Exerts-Himself-Ever was running. When we reached the house, Haytham led me into the study where he had been in his usual position of answering reports of the comings and going of the Assassins.

"They're at Martha's Vineyard," Haytham said as he passed me a report. "It looks like it's a relatively small operation, but you can never be too careful." I nodded.

"Do you want me and Shay go after them?" I asked.

"Perhaps," Haytham said, "but considering that went so well last time, I have a different approach in mind."

I scowled. I clearly remembered the last time Shay and I went against the Assassins. Shay almost got killed, and I almost abandoned the Order, my new home. But I would not let the same thing happen again. I didn't say anything, though. No one won an argument against Haytham.

"So what do you have in mind?" I asked.

"We send Connor," Haytham said flatly.

"What?!" I yelled. "You would send your own son?!" The man put his hands up in peace.

"Hear me out. The boy needs experience-" He was interrupted as I scoffed. "-And more importantly, he's been in contact with these Assassins. He may know more about them than any of us."

"He's a boy, Haytham, not a spy. You have a whole Order for that. His naivete will get himself killed."

"Which is why you and Shay will go with him and keep him out of trouble. If it is inevitable, prevent as much harm as possible from being done."

I felt angry. Connor was like a brother to me. A kind brother, but he was rash and naive. He still had much to learn to be a true Templar Knight. And this was not a mission for such a boy. He did not know what he was doing. He did not have the skills or the instinct. I already lost one family. I couldn't risk losing anymore I loved.

"Why is this so important to you, Haytham?" I asked before I realized the only reason he would condone this. "You're testing him. Like you tested me by sending me after the Assassins."

"I have to learn what he's capable of," Haytham said. "But you're right, he's still my son. I will do everything in my power to see him safe. But that means I have to place my trust in you. Can I do that, Selah?"

I gritted my teeth. I didn't like any of this. It was one thing to send a spare mercenary into the lion's den. It was quite another to send Connor. But, the boy vowed to be a Templar, just like me. And this was what a Templar meant. Stopping the Assassins from their plots-no matter the cost. I had learned that the hard way. Even if the Brotherhood would always be a part of me.

"You can be assured with me," I said. "I will bring him back safely." Haytham smiled.

"Thank you, my dear."


The sun was sinking into the ocean by the time the Morrigan crawled into the Vineyard's harbor. It was filled with merchant ships docking for the day. Looking at the little town filled me with nostalgia. This was the place where I recognized Shay as a brother.

I leaned on the railing, hearing footsteps behind me. since they were not heavy enough to be Shay's, it was easy to determine who it was. I turned to see Connor, but I still felt uneasiness when I noticed his attire. The robes he stole from the Assassin, Richard. Since Richard was bigger than him, the white clothing was loose on him, but it looked… fitting. And that was the most terrifying of all.

"How does it look?" Connor asked.

"Ridiculous," I sneered, though it was a lie. Connor glared at me, but I only laughed. Before I could tease him further, Shay appeared.

"We'll be making port soon," he said. "Selah, you ready?"

"Just have to change," I said. Shay nodded.

"Good," he said. Connor just looked at us, confused.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"Selah's going with you to the town, lad," Shay said.

"What? But, would she not be recognized by the Assassins?" Connor asked.

"And won't they notice you're too short to be Richard?" I retorted.

"Well… you're a woman," Connor said.

"Which means?" I asked, glaring at him. Connor flushed.

"Hey, now," Shay said. "We have it handled. Selah, go get ready. We'll be docked by the time you're done."

"Fine," I said.

Giving one more glare at Connor, I went below deck to my quarters. Noticing several men staring at me, I shut the door with a slam. I would have to thank Shay later for adding it just for little old me. I pulled out my new outfit and put it on.

The coat was deep brown, almost as dark as my eyes. Underneath was an ivory waistcoat, neatly buttoned save for the upper two. A golden broach of the Templar cross was attached to the waistcoat, but it was hidden by the overcoat. I wore light brown trousers, held up by a belt that presented Assassin symbol, only inverted. As a reminder that the Brotherhood lived on in me, but it too had it's faults. To complete the outfit, I wore a pair of hidden blades, brown bracers that complimented my coat nicely. I slipped on a hat, tucking my long hair underneath. I looked in the mirror and was pleased to see at first glance to any person, I looked like a man. Grinning broadly, I walked back to the deck to see the Morrigan had docked.

"The local fort is Fort Phoenix," Shay said as i walked up beside him. "It was supposed to be abandoned ages ago, but it appears that the Assassins have been staying there."

"We'll go to the local tavern, see if anyone has heard any gossip from the fort," I said.

"Would it not be easier just to go to the fort itself?" Connor asked causing me to roll my eyes. This was why I didn't want him to come.

"Because I don't want to push our luck," I said. "It will be hard enough to get back to the ship if we get into trouble as it is."

"And you're less likely to run into anyone that can identify you. Nevertheless I would be careful there. Wouldn't want you to get too close to any men. Though I would love to teach them a lesson or two," Shay said.

I glared at the captain, only for the Templar to wink. Connor just looked between us confused.

"What-?" he tried to ask, but I didn't allow it. I grabbed his collar and dragged him off the ship, only letting him go once we were far enough away from the Irishman and his ship.

The tavern hadn't changed from the last time I was here. Except there were no regulars. Men filled the tables, drinking away, as Amanda, the owner, weaved between them. The tavern was full and I already felt heat from the bodies filling the room, added by fires to warm the tavern from the cold. I stood tall, keeping my disguise, and was proud Connor was playing his part. He hid in the shadow of his hood, making him look exactly like an Assassin.

"We'll split up," I whispered to him, "but stay in each other's sights. See what you can find."

Connor nodded and we went our separate ways. I leaned on the bar's surface while he took a corner of the tavern. I ordered a pint of beer in a deep voice. Just as the bartender walked away, I heard the mutterings of a pair of men beside me.

"Richard Montgomery's has been busy, lately," one of them said. "Several ships a day come by the fort."

"Investments," his friend said. "He's buildin' up a business."

"For what?" the first one asked.

"Dunno. Probably has somethin' to do with those forest blokes he always talks with. Savages, don't know why a man would waste time with those creatures."

I made a fist in fury when I realized that he was talking about the natives. I knew people did not have the same opinion of the natives as I had of Connor. Still, it was hard to hear them speak of the people I had respected since I was a little girl in such a manner. I heard the yell of a drunk man behind me.

"Hey! Richard, how've ya been?" he said.

"Um, well, thank you," Connor said, nervous. He made his voice deeper to match Richard's, but I doubted it was enough. If he spoke too long, they would realize he was an imposter.

"Wha'dya doin' in the Vineyard?" the drunk asked. "Thought ya be with the old man."

"He, uh, sent me to check on things," Connor said.

"How come? Richard said he just sent a letter to him fillin' him in," the drunk said.

"Huh? Oh, yes, I sent a letter saying I was coming," Connor said.

"No, I meant the other Richard. Montgomery. And wha'dya talkin' about? Achilles doesn't send letters to the island."

At that, I knew our cover was blown. Damn it, Haytham, you just had to send Connor along. Nonetheless, I had to help Connor. Leaving my drink, I turned around, only to run into a man standing next to me. I knocked into his drink, sending most of the liquid onto his front, causing him to yell in anger.

I muttered an apology and looked over to Connor. The drunk had grabbed the boy's collar and was in inch from his face. He did not look happy. I tried to move towards him, but the man whose drink i had spilled blocked my path. I flinched back from his breath.

"You owe me a drink," he growled.

"No, I don't," I said. "Buy your own."

I shoved passed him, only for the man to grab my arm and pull me back. It caused my hat to fall off, having my hair fall across my shoulders. The man's eyes widened.

"You're… a woman," he gasped before grinning lecherously. "Why don't we go to my room and I can forget about all this."

I didn't have a choice. I twisted my arm around so that the hand holding it was as loose as possible. I then yanked free and started to walk towards Connor who was struggling to get away from the man yelling in his face peacefully.

"Hey where're you goin', whore?" the man whose drink I had spilled called.

I stopped dead in my tracks. I remembered years ago, when I was just a girl. I had foolishly gone into a tavern alone, and a drunk had assaulted me. This time, I was no longer a girl. I looked back to the man, now remembering a story Haytham told me during the first days in America.

"I was leaving," I said icily, turning to glare at him.

"And now?" he asked, oblivious to the death glare I was sending his way.

"Well now, I'm going to feed you your teeth," I said.

I landed a sucker punch to his jaw. Yep, certainly eating his teeth. He landed on the floor, unconscious. Another man saw this and angrily stood up.

"Oi, that's my-"

Before he could finish his sentence, I sent a kick to his groin. The man screamed and doubled over. I then sent my knee into his chin, sending him back. I felt strong arms suddenly wrap around me, pinning my arms to my side and lifting my feet off the floor. I merely threw my head back, hearing a cracking sound and a yell of pain. The man holding me let go, having my fall back to the ground. I immediately turned around and kicked his shin, having him fall. I then slammed my elbow into his temple, knocking him unconscious.

I looked around for Connor, only to see him wrestling with a mercenary. The man that had spoken with him was fleeing.

"That's not Richard!" he yelled. "Get 'im, boys!"

Then it was like a dog pile attacking Connor, the boy disappearing from sight. How many Assassins were there?! I saw the man running for the door. I ran after him, only for someone to throw a chair in my way. I fell over it, hearing laughter fill the air. Angry and embarrassed, I slowly climbed to my feet, glaring at the man that interrupted my hunt. The ugly fellow leaned on the bar, sneering at me.

"Where ya goin', sweetheart?" he asked.

He tilted his head back and laughed, his mates joining him. One of them was laughing so much he could barely hold on to his wasn't a problem as the wine bottle shattered into countless pieces, spilling the red liquid all over the floor. The men immediately stopped laughing as they looked between the destroyed bottle and my smoking flintlock. The drink's owner's face turned red.

"Get 'er!" he yelled.

Now I had a dog pile attacking me. One man charged me, completely exposed, allowing me to land a punch to his throat. I twisted to plant my foot in another's stomach, turning back around as a third man tried to punch me. I ducked and a snatched a tankard, hitting his head with it. The mercenary fell to the floor, right in front of another one charging at me. The drunk fell right on top of him. He tried to get to his feet, but I wouldn't allow it. I grabbed a chair and lifted it over my head. With a yell, I slammed it down on his head. The furniture shattered and the man fell back down.

"Selah," Connor said before blocking a drunkard with his arm and proceeding to punch his assailant in the head. "We need to get out of here!"

"I noticed!" I yelled back as I elbowed a man that attempted to sneak up on me.

Shoving past a drunk and Connor punching him in the face, we forced our way out of the tavern. We ran all the way back to the Morrigan, knowing it was only a matter of time until the Assassins were alerted of our presence.

"What in the Devil-" Shay said, but I interrupted him.

"Not now!" I yelled. "Raise anchor! Get us out of here!"

"You heard her, Gist!" Shay yelled, having the good sense not to argue. "Full sail!"

"Aye, Captain!" Gist said. "Let's go, men! Get up the rigging! Let's move!"

The crew went to action at the orders and the Morrigan was moving away from port in record time. Connor and I joined Shay and Gist at the wheel. I wanted to say we were making good time, but the wind was against us, slowing the Morrigan. It allowed two frigates to appear at the mouth of the harbor, acting as a blockade.

"Blast it!" I cursed.

"They're fast," Shay said, almost like he was complimenting them.

"That's the Assassins for you," Gist said as he crossed his arms.

"How do we get past them?" Connor asked.

"We bring the fight to them," Shay said. "Beat to quarters! Battle stations!"

The crew obeyed, manning cannons, the puckle guns, and the mortars. I wasn't surprised Shay ordered to fire the mortars first. I watched as artillery fell on both enemy frigates, ripping apart their hulls and masts. Now they were angry. The ships turned towards the Morrigan, the wind with them, allowing them to come full speed.

"Uh, oh," Gist said as he peered through his spyglass. "Looks like Johann de Kalb's on one of those frigates."

"What's he doin' here?" Shay asked. "He's supposed to be in France."

"Who?" I asked.

In answer, Gist simply held out his spyglass. I took it from him and peered through it. Sure enough, at the wheel of one of the frigate was a man in a French naval uniform. He wore a blue coat and a bicorn hat. His silver hair was tied in a queue and his brown eyes were filled with fury as he glared at the Morrigan. A look that said he had every intention to see it destroyed.

"Uh, oh," I said.

When the ships came closer, Shay turned hard starboard, having the port side of the sloop-of-war face the incoming ships. He pointed.

"Fire!" he yelled.

All the cannons fired, having smoke cover the deck. The cannonballs hit one of the frigates while the other veered away just in time. The puckle guns fired, aiming for the weak point in the hull of the damaged ship. I jumped as they struck the gunpowder storage, making the ship go up in flames. The crew cheered in victory.

But while the Morrigan fought one of the frigates, the other pulled beside her. I glanced up at the enemy ship. I saw a rifleman on the deck… aiming for Shay.

"Shay!" I screamed.

I tackled into him just as the gunshot went off. I felt pain in my arm and Shay yelled in agony. We fell onto the deck and I jumped off of Shay as soon as I could. A nasty wound was in his shoulder, blood oozing over his black coat. He grimaced in pain and held the wound.

"Captain!" Gist yelled.

"No!" Connor yelled.

Abandoning the wheel, we surrounded him, but Shay would not have it.

"Take the wheel, lad!" he ordered, pointing at it. "Get us out of here!"

"But-" Connor tried to say, his eyes wide in disbelief and fear.

"But nothing!" Shay yelled. "I taught you how to sail. Do it!"
Connor looked to me, as if I had the answer. There was no way Shay could pilot the Morrigan with a bleeding shoulder, and Gist was too old to react quickly. Meanwhile I didn't have the most intimate relationship with sailing. It was Connor who learned under Shay. He was the most capable of all of us.

"Do it," I said.

Connor nodded and took the wheel. He turned to port, going between the ships.

"Fire all cannons!" he yelled.

Wait, what? Sure enough, every cannon on both sides fired, ripping into both frigates. The volley stuck another cache of gunpowder on the damaged frigate, spreading more fire across the deck. Her crew began to jump overboard and she slowly sunk to the sea. One down. Unfortunately, it wasn't the one that held De Kalb.

His ship and the Morrigan circled around each other. This time De Kalb acted first, cannonballs flew through the air straight for us.

"Brace!" Connor screamed.

I hit the deck, Gist landing beside me. Shay was already laying the floor, so he simply covered his head with his arms. There were screams as the attack impacted, destroying half the mast and taking out a puckle gun, as well as the oil barrels. Flames engulfed the Morrigan, the blast hitting two young sailors.

"Fire!" Gist yelled. "Put her out before she spreads!"

The crew went to work immediately, bringing buckets of water and dumping it on the flames. I stomped on any embers near me.

"Connor! We need to retreat!" I called.

"No! We finish this now!" he said. "Fire!"

I was horrified to see the dark fury in his eyes, like he was reminded of something dark and painful. What was wrong with him? The ship was on fire and Shay was injured. We had no time for this! I couldn't protest as the crew left to tend the cannons fired, hitting De Kalb's ship once again. The mortars were quick to follow. I saw De Kalb's ship was a mess. The hull was falling apart and corpses filled the deck. A few more hits and she would be gone. De Kalb must have saw this, too. The ship suddenly turned away, out of the harbor.

"After them!" Connor bellowed, but I had had enough.

"No!" I retorted as I got into his face. "This battle is over. You are not yet ready to fight the Assassins. We retreat to fight another day." Connor glared.

"This is our chance to finish him off! If he leaves now we may never see him again!"

"At what cost though?!" I shouted flinched at that.

"I-" he started but I cut him off.

"Templars do not act on emotion," I said. "We fight for order and peace. This is not peace."

I waved my hand over the wreckage of the ship and gestured to the frigate that was still slowly sinking beneath the waves. Connor looked at Shay, who was still writhing in pain as Gist treated his wounds. I felt the heat as the flames still burned, sailors yelling orders as they continued to battle the fire. The sweat on Connor's brow showed me he felt it, too.

Connor growled angrily but turned the ship away from the fleeing Assassin. I kept quiet as we pulled away and turned towards home, deciding to not push my luck and anger him further. As the port was too dangerous, we sailed away when the fire was put out, sailing back for the manor in silence.