My father followed my gaze but didn't seem to see anything out of the ordinary. "You've been with the assassins for too long daughter. You're starting to see hope in places there are none."

   I looked away from Shay and Archer to meet his eyes. "I see hope only when my friends do. It's very clear that they do see it. You're just to blind to notice."

   "You saw your allies. Where are they?"

   I bit my lip and looked back at the street. Only the townsfolk. Thank gosh you two moved, I thought to myself. "They were in the street but they're gone now."

   Father frowned. "What do you mean they're gone?"

   I shrugged and smirked at him. "You'd be surprised what we assassins can do when people aren't looking."

   He gave me a disgusted look. "We're going back home and you aren't leaving without me knowing about it."

   When he turned away I glared at his back and made a face.

   "You'd better go with him Blackbird," a soft voice said in my ear.

   I jumped and looked over. Archer was walking in the center of a small group of people. He nodded to me and looked up at the closest rooftop. I looked up as well and saw Shay crouched on the edge, bending dangerously far over. He saw me looking and waved cheerfully. I didn't think now was the best time for cheerful waves, but I couldn't help but smile back.

   I dashed after my father, hoping that he would give me food that wasn't poisoned. He started talking the instant I was a couple of feet behind him. I ignored everything he said until he mentioned assassins.

   I snapped out of La-la Land and looked at him sharply. "What was that last part?"

   He looked at me reproachfully. "Weren't you listening at all?"

   I sighed dramatically and poured sarcasm into my words. "Alas, that isn't exactly my strong suit."

   "I said," he continued, ignoring my sarcasm, "that I was going to use you to capture the assassins. I'm sure they'll come after you at some point."

   "Not if I told them to stay away!" I raised my voice a little louder than necessary, hoping Shay and Archer were close enough to get the point and also that it didn't mean something like 'come save me now'.

   Unfortunately for me, and most likely to the great amusement of the two brothers, 'not if I told them to stay away' did apparently mean 'come save me now'. Either that, they hadn't heard or they didn't listen. Because no sooner had I sat down at the table with my father to eat, Archer and Shay, dressed as waiters, came in to serve us food.

   I did my best to hide my annoyance with the two of them, but I don't think it worked very well. Shay kept smirking at me and Archer looked like he was trying not to smile.

   After they had left my father shook his head. "I don't know what is up with those two. They started acting strange yesterday and now they're watching you. I think I should be worried."

   I looked up. "Why would you be worried about a couple of waiters looking at me? Does it even matter?"

   He huffed. "Of course it matters my dea-"

   I stood up and pounded the table. "Do not call me 'my dear'! And don't call me 'daughter' either! I'm not either one. I am an assassin. I am Rook. That. Is. Final."

   "You are not an assassin. You are a Templar. You must learn to follow the Father of Understanding."

   "I am an assassin. I dress like one, I fight like one, I act like one. The Father of Understanding doesn't exist. The assassins fight for freedom of everyone and you fight for control. Nobody needs to control the world."

   My father looked at me pityingly. "You don't know what you're saying. Perhaps you are just tired. Why don't you get some rest?"

   "I'm not tired. This is like the books I've read. The bad guy is trying to take over the world and the good guy is going to stop him. You're the bad, we're the good." I was surprised at how calm I sounded after my initial outburst.

   My father stood up slowly and walked toward me. "It is getting late. You should rest."

   "No." I stepped away from the table. "Leave me alone."

   "Rook. Calm down. I think you went a little wrong in the head. I want to he-"

   I glared at him. "I am not crazy. Can I have my weapons back now? I really want to throw a knife at you right now."

   My father sighed. "I didn't want it to be this way..."

   He leaped forward catching me by surprise, but I still had time to bounce out of the way. There was a quiet pop when I moved, letting me know that I'd gone a little faster than was possible. He fell to the floor with a thump.

   "What are you doing down there?" I asked acidly. "You weren't supposed to fall like that."

   Archer and Shay chose that moment to come back. Shay stopped in the doorway and Archer bumped into him, trying to peek around. He poked Shay's side and Shay stepped into the dining room.

   "Is there anything we can do to help sir?" Archer asked politely, shooting me a worried glance.

   I mouthed, I'm fine and he nodded.

   "You can get her up to her room right now!" my father bellowed, pushing himself up. "And hurry with it!"

   "Yes sir," Shay said.

   They each took one of my arms and led me out the door and up the stairs. When we were safely in my room I locked the door and rounded on them. "I don't need rescuing."

   Archer smiled. "No you don't, but Connor would kill us if we didn't at least try to help you out."

   My anger vanished and I smiled. "Thanks. I'm glad someone is around to stop me from doing anything stupid."

   "I thought you didn't want us to rescue you," Shay objected. "And now you're thanking us?"

   "And why didn't you tell us you were Crawford's daughter?" Archer asked. "That seems like a pretty important detail."

   "It isn't important!" I said. 

   They both looked at me.

   "Okay, okay... maybe it is a little important." I sat down on my bed. "Does it really matter that much?"

   "No, not really," Shay said. He glanced toward the door. "I don't know how much longer we should stay up here."

   "Long enough to answer one more question," I said. I looked out the window. "Do either of you know what happened to Raven?"

   "Raven?" Archer asked, looking confused, but Shay nodded.

   "I met him when I was pacing the beach. He looked fine to me. Why do you ask?" Shay said.

   I looked down. "I think he's dead."

   They were silent for a minute. I felt a hand brush my shoulder and looked up to see Archer gazing out the window, deep in thought. His hood continued to cast a shadow over his eyes even though he was looking directly into a light.

   "We should go," Shay said. "If we take too much longer Crawford might get suspicious. See you tomorrow Rookie."

   "Good night Blackbird," Archer said.

   "Good night you two," I murmured as the door closed quietly behind them.

   I gazed out the window again to see several guards stationed on the rooftop that I had escaped with Edward on. I sighed. I wouldn't be running off tonight. It was going to be very boring.

   There was a quiet scraping sound from my door. I looked over, instantly on high alert. Something long and silver was being shoved through the gap between the door and the floor. A tray.

   I got up and pulled the tray the rest of the way into my room, glad the space under the door was wide. Sitting on the tray were two shining swords, a belt of throwing knives, the pistol Edward had given me, and my pair of hidden blades. Underneath all of that was a note. I carefully unfolded it.

Get your butt out of there. Meet at Queen Elizabeth's Clock Tower at midnight. I know you won't be tired.

-Connor

   I smiled and put the note in my pocket. Tonight wouldn't be so boring after all.

_____________

Hey there everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

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May the wind blow strong in your sails and fortune favor your blade!