I stepped behind the house, glancing back to the tavern. No one had noticed my leaving yet. I turned back to the thin path between the houses.

   There was a gasp of surprise and the person slipped out and started running.

   Without thinking I shot after him. The wind pulled at my hair and robes. I had expected to catch him right away, I didn't. Evidently, he could move fast too.

   I started to push myself. I pushed off harder with every step, taking longer strides. I almost tripped at the extra jolt of speed I added. I leaped forward, tackling the person. They shouted in surprise and tried to roll over.

   I let them roll onto their back. I noticed for the first time that they wore gray assassin robes. I held him down as we studied each other.

   His hood had fallen off when I'd tackled him. He had dark brown hair and slightly pointed ears. His eyes were mostly closed so I couldn't see them very well. He looked about my age.

   He smirked. "Hello there." He didn't sound like anyone else I'd met. His accent sounded strange, but it also sounded familiar.

   "Hello." I stood up cautiously, still not fully trusting this mysterious assassin.

   He pushed himself up with the same cautiousness, pulling his hood up. Only after his hood was up did he open his eyes fully. His hood must have been enchanted, because it cast a dark shadow over his face, obscuring everything but his mouth, nose, and the slightest glint of his eyes.

   He tilted his head slightly. "I've never met someone who can run as fast as me." He smiled. "It feels a little odd."

   "I swear you read my mind," I muttered.

   The man laughed and held out a hand. "I'm Archer. Archer Cormac."

   "Rook," I took his hand and shook it. "Rook Drake." I wondered briefly how many people I would introduce myself to today.

   Archer frowned at me when I said my fake last name. "Interesting... You have a brother?"

   I froze. "No not that I'm aware of... Why?"

   Archer narrowed his barely visible eyes at me. "Just wondering."

   He must know someone with the last name Drake. This was going to be awkward if I met that person. We stood in uncomfortable silence for a while.

   I heard a faint shouting in the distance. Archer and I both listened.

   "Rook!"

   Again, they were looking for me. I felt an unexpected flash of frustration. I tried to smother it, knowing it was just my magic.

   There was a whoosh of wind. I looked over, Archer was running off. I hesitated a moment before I shot after him. The voices of my friends calling me faded into the rushing of the wind in my ears.

   I took long strides again, trying to make up for lost time. I felt a sudden rush of dizziness and I stopped running. I rubbed my forehead and stared after Archer. There was no way I could catch up to him.

   I sighed and started walking toward where I'd heard Edward and Raven. I struggled with the anger my magic kept forcing into my head. Raven had said I needed unleash the power in order to control it, but he had also warned about losing myself.

   I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Raven until he put an arm around my shoulders. I jumped and looked up at him.

   He smiled. "Where did you go? Edward's worried about you."

   "I went for a walk." I decided to keep my meeting with Archer to myself. "I just needed to get away for a bit and ponder life."

   "You should do that more," Raven said with amusement. "Edward is really funny when he's worried about you."

   "Is he? Maybe I should work on my sneakiness so I can see for myself."

   Raven laughed. "Maybe you should. I was amused and Benjamin was trying to get Edward to calm down."

   I smiled at that picture, even though I didn't like Ben. We walked in silence all the way to the beach right in front of the Jackdaw.

   Raven said Edward was on board. I wasn't ready to leave just yet, so I told him to wait for me.

   I watched Raven climb up onto the deck of the Jackdaw before I sat down on a log. I was still trying to make sense of everything Raven had told me.

   Almost the instant I sat down, my stomach growled. I realized that I was starving, even though it had only been two hours since I'd last eaten.

   I sighed. "I guess I do need to get on board now," I grumbled.

   I rather reluctantly started for Edward's birdie-brig.

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I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! The song is one that I found yesterday that I really enjoy.

Q&A
None for this book, but there will be one in the next update of The Assassins of Skyrim! Feel free to ask any questions you have, and I will answer them.

May the wind blow strong in your sails and good fortune smile upon you!