[Current Balance: 374,924,149 scudi, 90 baiocchi.]
---
[System Currency Updated]
[Scudo Converted to Pound Sterling Currency...]
[Conversion Fee: - 1 scudo, 80 baiocchi.]
[Current Balance: 374,924,148 scudi, 10 baiocchi = £117,163,796 5s. 7d.]
[Current Balance: £117,163,796 5s. 7d.]
Three weeks.
That's how long the voyage from Civitavecchia back to Bristol took, even with La Providencia making only one brief stop in Lisbon to restock fresh water and food.
Now, in the grey light of early morning, the familiar sights and sounds of Bristol Harbor greeted them. The air was cooler here, carrying the scent of damp earth and coal smoke instead of Mediterranean salt.
Oldgate stood on the quarterdeck, bellowing orders as his crew expertly maneuvered the large galleon towards a suitable berth along the quay.
"Heave ho, lads! Easy now! Watch that tide! Fenders out! Prepare mooring lines! Look lively!"
Alaric stood near the railing, the crimson Justacorps draped over his shoulders billowing slightly in the morning breeze.
Kassandra stood beside him, looking around with open curiosity at the different style of architecture, the numerous ships, the bustling activity of the English port. It was hundreds of years ago since she last came here, and that was the time when she fought and met Eivor.
Alaric scanned the docks, his eyes noting the distinct lack of slave ships. No chains, no auction blocks, none of the grim sights that had once been commonplace here.
'It was effective then,' he thought with a surge of quiet satisfaction. 'The Queen held up her end. Good.'
'And Penn too... but I don't feel his signature here...'
As the final mooring lines were secured and the gangplank lowered, Oldgate stomped over, wiping sweat from his brow despite the cool air. "Well, lad," he announced, clapping Alaric on the back. "We've arrived. Bristol docks. End of the line for this charter."
Alaric nodded, turning to face the captain. "Thanks for the swift passage, Whitebeard. You earned your pay." He gestured towards the ship. "As promised, I placed the money inside my old cabin. Should be in a large chest by the desk... fifty thousand pounds sterling, as agreed."
[Money Withdrawal: £50,000]
[Current Balance: £117,113,796 5s. 7d.]
"Aye, I'll collect it before we offload the cargo." Oldgate's eyes widened slightly, still seemingly unable to fully believe the amount, but he nodded curtly. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, a surprisingly friendly tone in his gruff voice, "Say, lad... I've grown rather fond of you and that... uh... friend of yours, Reuben. Never had passengers quite like you."
He glanced towards the city. "Since I'll be here a day or two selling the goods we picked up in Rome... why don't I visit this grand Estate of yours for once? See how the other half lives, eh?"
Alaric raised an eyebrow, then a genuine smile touched his lips. "You want to visit?" Kassandra walked up the stairs from below deck just then, carrying the bags she'd acquired in Civitavecchia. Alaric turned to Oldgate. "Sure, why not? We're heading there now... you wanna come with us?"
"Don't mind if I do!" Oldgate grinned broadly... he turned and bellowed orders to his First Mate, Thomas, who had just come ashore. "Thomas! See to the docking fees! Get the merchants ready to inspect the Roman goods! Give the lads shore leave 'til nightfall... tell 'em anyone not back aboard by midnight gets keel-hauled! We might sail for London on tomorrow morning's tide!" He clapped Thomas on the shoulder, then turned back to Alaric and Kassandra with an expectant look.
Alaric chuckled at the captain's enthusiasm. He then spotted a familiar sight further down the quay... a sturdy cargo wagon waiting near the customs house. Sitting patiently on the box seat beside the coachman, eyes closed against the early hour, was a man Alaric recognized instantly.
He turned to Kassandra, taking most of the bags from her hands despite her protests. "Come on," he said, nodding towards the wagon. "Our ride's here. Let's go?"
Kassandra nodded, still looking around curiously. "Let's..."
Alaric led the way down the gangplank, Kassandra beside him, and a slightly self-conscious Oldgate following a step behind, trying not to look out of place among the dockworkers. They walked towards the waiting wagon. The man beside the coachman remained oblivious, seemingly dozing.
Alaric neared the wagon, carefully setting Kassandra's bags on the ground beside it. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he reached up and delivered a playful but firm jab with his knuckles into the sleeping man's ribs.
"Wha-!?" The man jolted awake, widening his eyes and immediately scrambling up from his seat, looking around defensively. "Who are yo-" His eyes landed on Alaric.
"Is that how I trained you, Jonathan?" Alaric asked, folding his arms and sighing dramatically. "To sleep on duty? How come you didn't even notice me approach?"
The brunette butler, Jonathan Hugh, stared, his jaw dropping slightly as recognition dawned. "...'Laric!" he exclaimed, then quickly corrected himself, adopting a more formal tone despite his shock. "Master Alaric? Is that truly you?" He immediately hopped down from the box seat, his earlier drowsiness completely gone. The coachman beside him looked equally bewildered.
"It is I, in the flesh," Alaric smirked.
Jonathan could only stare at his young master's face for a moment, taking in the subtle changes... the lighter hair, the refined clothes, the aura of power that seemed even stronger than before. He let out a long sigh.
"This is unfair," Jonathan mumbled, mostly to himself. "Do the Gods favor you excessively, Master?"
Alaric chuckled. "Perhaps." He then gestured to his companions. "Jonathan, allow me to introduce Kassandra, my wife." Kassandra offered Jonathan a polite, curious nod. "And this," Alaric continued, indicating the large captain, "is a close friend, Captain Edward Oldgate."
Jonathan's eyes widened but immediately bowed respectfully. "A pleasure to meet you both, Lady Kassandra, Captain Oldgate." He looked Oldgate up and down, his eyes widening slightly. "Reuben mentioned you, Captain. Said you were... formidable." He paused. "He failed to mention you were nearly as tall as Thulani."
Oldgate chuckled heartily, clapping Jonathan on the shoulder perhaps a bit too hard. "Aye, lad! Good to meet one of Alaric's household!"
"So," Alaric interjected, getting back to business. "Are you waiting for a shipment here, Jonathan? Or is this wagon available? We need to get back to the Estate."
Jonathan shook his head immediately. "No, Master Alaric. Actually... you arrived just in time. We just finished dropping off the last shipment of every product we have, this one's bound for London from the warehouse. Demand has been... extraordinary."
Alaric's eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise. "Already? The entire stock?" He chuckled. "That was faster than I expected..."
Jonathan scratched the back of his head. "Well... the Kenway family business has skyrocketed since the Queen endorsed the products, Master. Orders are pouring in from across England, even the continent now."
Alaric nodded, pleased. "Excellent. So, the wagon's free then? Come on... let's get to the Estate already. I need to see the family."
Jonathan blinked, then quickly composed himself. "Ah, yes, of course, Master!" He gestured towards the back of the large cargo wagon.
Alaric helped Kassandra up, tossing her bags in, before climbing in himself along with Oldgate.
Despite it being just the three of them, the sturdy wagon visibly shifted and groaned under their combined weight. Alaric and Oldgate were large men, and Kassandra was exceptionally tall for a woman, even for men.
Jonathan climbed back onto the box seat beside the slightly intimidated coachman.
With a flick of the reins and a word to the horses, the wagon lurched forward, heading away from the harbor towards the Kenway Estate.
'I wonder how they are...'
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