During their ride, George thought he heard chase after them several times. The rustling of bushes, the sound of hooves striking forest floor...
But when he looked, he only saw foxes dashing through the undergrowth and elk and deer racing away from them.
Twice, he turned to look at the Omega Assassin seated behind him, but the young man simply gestured sharply, face an emotionless mask, and George refocused on guiding his horse toward the Homestead.
Five miles out, George longed to stop and rest. Give the horse some water. Read the letter that had been entrusted to him (and how thankful he was that this one need not be consumed by flames!) and see Connor’s elegant script again.
But a quick look at Clipper’s face told him all that he needed to know.
They were not yet safe.
And so they rode on, not quite a gallop, not quite a trot.
In 20 miles, they finally slowed to a stop.
Clipper wordlessly handed him a skin of water and a large metal pan and he gratefully took a short sip before pouring the rest of the water into the pan and letting the poor horse drink.
“A short rest for the horse,” the Assassin told him, “and then we will need to get moving again. It will be best to get as close to the Homestead as possible.”
It wasn’t what George was hoping for, but he supposed he had time to read a bit of the letter.
And really, that was all he wanted at this point.
After making sure that the horse was properly resting and while the Assassin stood on wary guard, George reached for the letter in his pocket.
He held it in his hand for a moment, admiring its crisp elegant lines, only slightly crumpled by its stay against his body, before removing the seal and opening it up to read.
As he read on, he felt shock, anger and...betrayal.
Dear George,
By now, you have probably heard of the falling out between Lee and my father. I would be glad to say that it is because of me if it had not been for the way it came about.
I am sorry, George.
I was neither strong enough nor prudent enough and...
I do not want to write this, but you deserve the truth.
Lee forced himself upon me again.
George’s hand clenched on the letter at this.
My father had agreed that Lee would stay his distance in his negotiations with me. This trespass against my person angered him almost as much as it angered me, and Lee is no longer in his good graces.
I am sorry to say that I wish that Lee were still in my father’s favor and that he had not seen fit to force his attentions upon me. But I know that I should not. This is a potential boon for us.
George did not see it as a boon. He, too, wished that Lee had not raped Connor again.
My father ordered me removed from Lee’s home and into his own temporary lodgings. I have arranged for my recruits to help free me from my father’s townhouse.
I want to say that I will see you soon, but I do not want your last memory of me to be of a lie.
Two of the men my father assigned to guard my steps are fearsome and notorious. I would not have my recruits fight against them.
Gerhard von Stantten and Frederico Perez.
George could see why Connor did not want his recruits, his brothers, to go up against them.
It is too risky. They would not win against them, and I do not want to lose them to this fight. They have battles elsewhere that are far more critical.
George felt unease crawl up his spine. He wasn’t sure what it was, but...
They must help you with the war. They must protect you from the Templars, and George, you must win this war. And stay alive.
You cannot let Lee gain your position and influence. Destroy that viper and his place in the army before he can poison everyone.
I trust that Stephane will have explained your role.
The Assassin did. And George didn’t like it.
I know you must be confused.
I shall be blunt.
I do not expect to survive this.
George felt his breath catch in his throat.
I have instructed my recruits to sneak in my weapons using Yusuf. And then, they are to create a distraction with the animals and lead as many of my guards as possible on a chase. Thankfully, neither of my two fearsome guards are particularly fast, and they should be safe enough as long as they do not engage.
And they have been ordered not to engage.
I will sneak out during the commotion, take down as many of them as possible and then escape.
But George, my two fearsome guards are not stupid. And they will realize what is going on.
I fear they already do.
If they do not participate in the chase then...
Then these will be my last words to you.
No!
My father gave me a choice after Lee’s attack. He told me I could marry a Templar or choose to die.
Though I do not want to marry a Templar, I wish to die even less.
But I may not have a choice.
Undoubtedly, if my two guards see me fleeing, they will shoot to kill.
My father has told them that any attempt to escape will be the same as my choosing to die.
I will likely only have a couple of hidden blades.
And I have no doubt that those two, together, will kill me.
I do not want to leave you George.
Know that I love you and will try my best to get back to you.
But if I do not, then please know that I will die with your name on my lips, with your voice in my heart and the knowledge of your love in my soul.
Strange Fates 27
Chapter 27 - A Second Letter
During their ride, George thought he heard chase after them several times. The rustling of bushes, the sound of hooves striking forest floor...
But when he looked, he only saw foxes dashing through the undergrowth and elk and deer racing away from them.
Twice, he turned to look at the Omega Assassin seated behind him, but the young man simply gestured sharply, face an emotionless mask, and George refocused on guiding his horse toward the Homestead.
Five miles out, George longed to stop and rest. Give the horse some water. Read the letter that had been entrusted to him (and how thankful he was that this one need not be consumed by flames!) and see Connor’s elegant script again.
But a quick look at Clipper’s face told him all that he needed to know.
They were not yet safe.
And so they rode on, not quite a gallop, not quite a trot.
In 20 miles, they finally slowed to a stop.
Clipper wordlessly handed him a skin of water and a large metal pan and he gratefully took a short sip before pouring the rest of the water into the pan and letting the poor horse drink.
“A short rest for the horse,” the Assassin told him, “and then we will need to get moving again. It will be best to get as close to the Homestead as possible.”
It wasn’t what George was hoping for, but he supposed he had time to read a bit of the letter.
And really, that was all he wanted at this point.
After making sure that the horse was properly resting and while the Assassin stood on wary guard, George reached for the letter in his pocket.
He held it in his hand for a moment, admiring its crisp elegant lines, only slightly crumpled by its stay against his body, before removing the seal and opening it up to read.
As he read on, he felt shock, anger and...betrayal.
Dear George,
By now, you have probably heard of the falling out between Lee and my father. I would be glad to say that it is because of me if it had not been for the way it came about.
I am sorry, George.
I was neither strong enough nor prudent enough and...
I do not want to write this, but you deserve the truth.
Lee forced himself upon me again.
George’s hand clenched on the letter at this.
My father had agreed that Lee would stay his distance in his negotiations with me. This trespass against my person angered him almost as much as it angered me, and Lee is no longer in his good graces.
I am sorry to say that I wish that Lee were still in my father’s favor and that he had not seen fit to force his attentions upon me. But I know that I should not. This is a potential boon for us.
George did not see it as a boon. He, too, wished that Lee had not raped Connor again.
My father ordered me removed from Lee’s home and into his own temporary lodgings. I have arranged for my recruits to help free me from my father’s townhouse.
I want to say that I will see you soon, but I do not want your last memory of me to be of a lie.
Two of the men my father assigned to guard my steps are fearsome and notorious. I would not have my recruits fight against them.
Gerhard von Stantten and Frederico Perez.
George could see why Connor did not want his recruits, his brothers, to go up against them.
It is too risky. They would not win against them, and I do not want to lose them to this fight. They have battles elsewhere that are far more critical.
George felt unease crawl up his spine. He wasn’t sure what it was, but...
They must help you with the war. They must protect you from the Templars, and George, you must win this war. And stay alive.
You cannot let Lee gain your position and influence. Destroy that viper and his place in the army before he can poison everyone.
I trust that Stephane will have explained your role.
The Assassin did. And George didn’t like it.
I know you must be confused.
I shall be blunt.
I do not expect to survive this.
George felt his breath catch in his throat.
I have instructed my recruits to sneak in my weapons using Yusuf. And then, they are to create a distraction with the animals and lead as many of my guards as possible on a chase. Thankfully, neither of my two fearsome guards are particularly fast, and they should be safe enough as long as they do not engage.
And they have been ordered not to engage.
I will sneak out during the commotion, take down as many of them as possible and then escape.
But George, my two fearsome guards are not stupid. And they will realize what is going on.
I fear they already do.
If they do not participate in the chase then...
Then these will be my last words to you.
No!
My father gave me a choice after Lee’s attack. He told me I could marry a Templar or choose to die.
Though I do not want to marry a Templar, I wish to die even less.
But I may not have a choice.
Undoubtedly, if my two guards see me fleeing, they will shoot to kill.
My father has told them that any attempt to escape will be the same as my choosing to die.
I will likely only have a couple of hidden blades.
And I have no doubt that those two, together, will kill me.
I do not want to leave you George.
Know that I love you and will try my best to get back to you.
But if I do not, then please know that I will die with your name on my lips, with your voice in my heart and the knowledge of your love in my soul.
Thank you George.
George crumpled the letter.