[Current Balance: £367,019,740 5s. 7d.]
---Previously---
Oldgate finally broke the tense silence. "Well... what is it, lad? Bad news?"
Alaric looked up, his eyes sweeping over all the worried faces around the table… his family, his friends, his allies, his love. He held up the small scroll.
"...You should all read this."
---Now---
Alaric passed the scroll to Bernard, who sat closest.
Bernard took it, confused, and unrolled it. He squinted at the script.
'Beneath the waning moon the crow returns to shore;
Rivers swell and currents shift with hidden purpose.
In quiet darkness two thousand shadows stir.
Silent blades await the gilded dawn's false promise.
Tides will rise to seal each fleeing path.
Only watchful hearts may chart the hidden course.
Let slumbering eyes feign calm within the keep.
Ravens circle, heralds of unwelcome wings.
And toll the hour when iron meets the gate.
In whispered corridors their footsteps echo.
Dark banners flare beneath the crown's cold favor.
The hour is late, heed this final omen.
Only flight by secret vaults may bring salvation.
Night itself must cloak your hastened steps.
In hidden alcoves you must take your refuge.
Ghostly roads, unmarked by mortal foot, await.
Hold fast the key that none but kin may know.
Take wing before the hunter's net is cast.
-W.P'
Bernard finished reading, scratching his head. "Huh? What's this nonsense? A poem?"
Eleanor leaned over. "A rather dark poem, it seems."
Linette took the scroll from her husband, reading it herself, equally perplexed. Matteo, Flavia, and Reuben leaned in, trying to make sense of the cryptic verses. Kassandra read it over Alaric's shoulder earlier, her eyes narrowing slightly, sensing the hidden meaning but not immediately grasping it. Oldgate just looked confused.
Alaric watched their confusion for a moment, then sighed. "It's not just a poem," he stated flatly. "It's an acrostic. Read the first letter of each line, downwards."
Bernard snatched the paper back, his eyes scanning the first letters: B... R... I... S... T... O... L... R... A... I... D... T... O... N... I... G... H... T... His eyes widened in horror.
"D-DAMN! WHAT!?" he roared, jumping to his feet and nearly knocking his chair over.
His violent reaction shocked everyone else (except Alaric and Kassandra). Linette grabbed the paper from his trembling hands. "Bernard, what is it, love? What do you-" Her voice cut off as she deciphered the message herself, her face paling dramatically. "B-R-I-S-T-O-L R-A-I-D T-O-N-I-G-H-T!?" she mouthed, horrified.
A wave of understanding and alarm swept through the room. Kassandra looked at Alaric, her expression grim, and he nodded back slowly.
"The 'Iron meeting the gate' and 'dark banners'..." Alaric explained quickly, his mind racing. "That definitely points to a military assault, soldiers... 'under the crown's cold favor' suggests royal orders."
Kassandra crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "Two thousand shadows stir," she added. "Two thousand soldiers, most likely."
The grim reality settled over the group. But why?
"The 'crow returns to shore'..." Alaric muttered, then his eyes snapped towards Reuben. "Reuben! Your missions in Italy... did they give you a title? A codename? Something involving a crow or a raven?"
Reuben looked surprised, then nodded slowly. "Well... yes. After the Venice operation, some of the locals started calling me..."
"Il Corvo d'Ombra," Flavia finished for him, her voice tight with realization. "The Shadow Raven."
Alaric let out a dark chuckle, shaking his head. "There it is. 'Beneath the waning moon the crow returns to shore'. Our raven here has been spotted. Someone reported your arrival in Bristol, Reuben."
Bernard looked alarmed. "Spotted? But... they wouldn't attack the whole city just for him, would they? They wouldn't know he's here."
Alaric shook his head grimly, but Kassandra answered, her voice sharp with urgency. "No. We cannot assume that. 'Let slumbering eyes feign calm within the keep'... 'Ravens circle'... 'In whispered corridors their footsteps echo'. They likely know exactly where he specifically is, where we are. We must assume this Estate is the target."
Kassandra looked around the table with her firm gaze. "The message is clear. 'Tides will rise to seal each fleeing path'... 'Take wing before the hunter's net is cast'. We must leave. Immediately." She glanced pointedly at Matteo, who, despite his earlier pride, nodded curtly in agreement with her assessment.
"But why?" Alaric voiced the question aloud, frowning. "Why would the Crown order a raid on the family's estate? I made a deal with Queen Anne... a very beneficial deal for both sides!"
Everyone except Kassandra and Oldgate looked at him strangely again.
"What?" Alaric asked, noticing their expressions.
Reuben exchanged a look with Jonathan, then answered hesitantly. "'Laric... this must be news to you, given... well, where you've been. Queen Anne... she died. Months ago, August 1714… rumor in the brotherhood? The templars assassinated the Queen because they didn't like the idea of Bristol being slave-free. So there's a new King on the throne now, George from Hanover."
'Queen Anne... dead? Fuck, why would she die now!? ' Alaric stared, completely blindsided.'The only way she would die is by being murdered... she should have no illnesses due to my blood...'
He processed the implications rapidly. A new monarch, one who likely had no knowledge of, or inclination to honor, his clandestine agreement with Anne. A monarch potentially influenced by Templars who saw the Kenway & Penn operation and the influx of Assassins as a threat.
He grit his teeth. "So... it's the new King making this decision, then?"
Everyone nodded grimly. "It would seem so," Reuben confirmed.
"Damn it," Alaric slammed his fist lightly on the table, making the cups rattle. He took a deep breath, pushing down his frustration. "Alright then."
He looked around at the assembled group, his expression hardening with resolve. "Everyone, it seems we need to say goodbye to England. For now, at least."
A heavy silence fell. Then, surprisingly, Leonard and Eleanor exchanged a look, and a small, determined smile appeared on Eleanor's face. Linette mirrored the expression, placing a hand on Bernard's arm.
"Well," Linette said quietly but firmly, "William Penn spoke highly of Pennsylvania. Perhaps it's time we saw the New World for ourselves."
Bernard nodded vigorously. "Aye! We've been cooped up here too long anyway! What use is all this wealth Alaric earned us if we're living under a King's suspicious eye?" Leonard added his quiet agreement.
Kassandra watched the family's resilience, then looked at Alaric, who let out a short, surprised chuckle at his family's reaction. She felt a surge of warmth for this strange, loyal, adaptable family he belonged to.
Alaric took his cigar from his mouth, regarding his family with pride. "Pennsylvania could be good," he agreed thoughtfully. "It's still technically British territory, but far enough away to operate more freely. And from there... we could always retreat farther west if needed, depending on the situation."
He sighed, then stood up, his voice taking on a tone of command. "Alright everyone, listen up. We need to move, and we need to move now. From now on, start grabbing only the essentials – things you absolutely cannot live without. Jonathan," he looked at the butler, "notify all the household staff immediately. Inform them of the situation, offer them severance pay, but also the option to come with us to Pennsylvania, if they wish to continue their service under new circumstances. We need to be quick, discreet."
Everyone nodded, the urgency clear. People began to rise, a sense of purpose replacing the earlier shock.
"Thulani," Alaric continued, turning to the large warrior, "head out to the farms immediately. Inform our people there ... the workers, the families. Same offer: severance or passage to a new life. Ensure they understand the danger."
Thulani nodded once, his expression grim, and immediately headed for the exit.
"Whitebeard," Alaric turned his heat towards Oldgate before smiling. "Here to Pennsylvania, fifty thousand pounds... deal?"
Oldgate could only shake his head before chuckling. The blonde Kenway was too calm for two thousand soldiers. "Damn it... deal." With that, he immediately left towards the harbor to restock as much food and cargo he had.
As the room began to empty, people rushing off to pack or relay instructions, Alaric remained by the table, taking another long drag from his cigar while looking at the big window that he recently opened. Kassandra came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his back.
"Are you okay, agápi mou?" she asked softly.
Alaric sighed, leaning back into her embrace for a moment. "Yeah," he replied quietly. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just... processing. A lot happened while I was gone." He turned in her arms to face her. "Are you okay? I'm sorry... your first real day here, meeting my family, and now this."
Kassandra smiled softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. "I am fine, Alaric. More than fine." Her eyes held a deep warmth. "I am glad to have finally met your family. They are... strong. Like you... and,"
"I am with you. That is all that matters."
Alaric smiled back, feeling a wave of affection wash over him, momentarily pushing aside the stress. He leaned down, about to kiss her, but paused. "You wanted to know how strong I am, right?" he asked, his expression turning serious again.
Kassandra nodded slowly, her eyes searching his, but then a flicker of worry crossed her features as she guessed his intention. "'Laric... don't do anything reckless..."
He shook his head, his gaze hardening. "I'm not planning on starting a war. But these soldiers... they're coming here, to my home, threatening my family, our family." He looked towards the training grounds entrance.
"I'm just going to make an example out of their vanguard. Send a message." He met her worried gaze. "I may fear becoming numb, Kassandra, becoming just a killing machine... but I fear losing all of this," he gestured around the now-emptying room, "losing you, far more."
Kassandra held his gaze, her expression softening with understanding and fierce determination. She tightened her embrace.
"You will never become just a machine, Alaric Kenway," she vowed fiercely. "Not while I am here. I promise you that."
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