I lit the pile of wood at the top of the tower. Come on! I thought. One of the ships closest to the shore fired a round at the city. I smiled. There. I jumped into a haystack at the bottom of the tower. I climbed out of the haystack as something exploded in the house next to me. I was thrown back. I shook my head hard. My vision had a red tinge to it. I staggered to my feet and stumbled down the streets.

   My head throbbed tremendously. I need to get inside the fort. I thought. I wasn't sure if I was going the right way. Worst case scenario I would come across Charles Lee and get two targets in one night. I pushed the door open and stumbled through the hallways. Another explosion sent me flying through a window. My head was spinning. "I'm in no condition to fight," I murmured. "I need to avoid the guards." I winced and put my hand on a barrel to steady myself. I recognized where I was. Charles Lee's place. "Charles!" I called. "Where are you?"

   "Gone," a familiar voice said.

   I turned and almost fell over. Haytham lunged forward and punched me. I tumbled to the ground and did my best to defend myself. I grabbed Haytham's arm and tried to pull him over.

   "You cannot best me Connor," Haytham said. "You still have too much to learn."

   I pushed him in an attempt to knock him down and lunged with my hidden blade. Haytham whipped out a knife and stabbed my hand. I recoiled and pushed my hand over the wound. It burned worse than fire. "Where is Lee?" I asked. I was exhausted, all I wanted to do was get this over with so I could sleep. I wanted to know if Lee was around or not.

   "I told you," Haytham said. "Gone. He promised a better future, and the sheep need a shepherd."

   That makes no sense at all. I struggled to my feet and twisted my hidden blade so that it was a knife instead. I grabbed the edge of the barrel and used it to pull myself up. "He can do nothing for you," I said. "He has been demoted." Has he though? I wondered. Even what I say doesn't make sense. I must be worse than I thought.

   "A temporary setback," Haytham said. "He will return." Haytham drew his sword.

   Oh, no. We had been evenly matched. Well... almost. But now, he had the obvious advantage. I put the knife back onto my hidden blade and pulled my tomahawk out of my belt. Haytham and I circled each other. I had my back to the barrel. Haytham swung his sword, I caught it with my tomahawk and pushed him against the barrel, giving him a kick for good measure. The barrel fell apart, thoroughly surprising me. I dropped my tomahawk and drew my knife again. When Haytham attacked I blocked and swung back. I swung harder than I meant to and we both fell backwards.

   I pulled myself forward, trying to get to where Haytham had fallen. "Surrender," I gasped. "And I will spare your life."

   "Brave words," Haytham said.

   I tried to get my hidden blade into his chest, but he grabbed my arm and pinned me down. He put a hand around my neck and my vision flickered. Not this again! my mind complained. Look for an opening.

   "You can appear to triumph. But we will still rise again... Do you know why?!" I tried to push Haytham off and failed miserably. "It's because we were born of REALIZATION. We don't need a Creed, all we need is that the world stay the way it is. That is why the Templars will never be destroyed." He took his hand off of my wrist and put it around my neck as well.

   My vision started to turn black. I quickly raised my hidden blade and stabbed his neck. He grunted and pulled away. I almost passed out from the sudden burst of energy that came with the air. I gasped as Haytham staggered back.

   He touched his neck and then looked at his hand. "Don't think I have any intention of saying I was wrong! I will not wonder what might have been." I pushed myself up to almost sitting as he talked. "I'm sure you understand." I stood as Haytham fell to his knees. "Still, I can't help but feel proud of you, in a way. You have shown great strength and courage. Fine qualities... I should have killed you long ago."

   I looked down at him as he fell back. I sighed. "Goodbye, father," I said. I turned and started to walk away. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit me and I stumbled. Edward! I called through the anchor.

   Coming, Edward said.

   I wondered, not for the first time, how Edward knew what I needed without me telling him. I couldn't keep my eyes open. I sat with my back against a well, and closed my eyes.