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Description
September 16, 1814; New York City, New York

As soon as the bombardment of Fort McHenry had ended (and to Aveza's dismay, with an American victory) the Assassins sailed the Aquila to New York City and anchored in the harbor. Aveza checked all of her weapons before turning to leave the ship. Arnold stopped her before she left. “Stay safe, okay?” he said, worried for his friend. Aveza gave him a reassuring smile.

“I promise,” she said. The two hugged. She kissed him quickly, said goodbye, and then hopped off the ship. She made her way through the streets of New York. A slight drizzle had begun to fall after the skies filled with gray clouds. Aveza looked around the city until she eventually found her destination: St. George's Chapel. She instinctively checked her hidden blades as she cautiously approached the cemetery that was right beside the chapel. She walked through the entrance and looked ahead of her.

Sure enough, standing with his back turned to Aveza, at the edge of the cemetery, was Shay Patrick Cormac. Aveza gulped nervously and approached him slowly. He didn't move at all. He just stood in front of a large tombstone that had a tall cross on top of it. Aveza could tell by the way he was standing that he was leaning on his cane. She slowly walked towards him. Her fingers instinctively flexed, anxious to yank on the mechanisms of her hidden blades at the first sign of danger. She came closer… and closer… until…

“Thank you,” he suddenly said without turning around or moving at all. “Thank you for coming, Ms. Deryn.”

His voice was old, quiet, and had a hint of sadness and regret. Aveza just looked at him.

“You're welcome,” was all she could think to say.

Shay looked down at the grave. Neither said anything for a moment. The only sounds were the patter of raindrops on the ground. It made Aveza very uncomfortable.

“Today's the anniversary, you know,” said Shay suddenly. “The anniversary of Master Haytham’s death at the hands of his son 33 years ago.”

Aveza said nothing. Shay sighed sadly.

“I wish I could've been there during the battle,” he said slowly “I wish I could've done something to help him. But I couldn't. I was away on a mission across the world, a mission he sent me on. And so when I returned to hear that both he and Master Lee had fallen, that the Assassins had undid all of our business in the colonies... I… I didn't know what to do… It was just me then… the only one left…”

It was then that he turned to face Aveza. Aveza got a good look at his old, scarred, and sad face. The two just looked at each other.

“I don't know what Connor tells you about his father,” he continued. “Good or bad, I don't know. But I want to tell you here and now, Haytham Kenway was a good man.”

Aveza said nothing.

“He had hoped for peace,” continued Shay. “Peace between Assassins and Templars. He thought that together, we could make the world great. But I think he realized too late that it was just a dream. That our ideologies were too different to achieve an alliance. And now I think I've come to a revelation about our two orders as well.”

He slowly limped towards Aveza. She tightened her muscles to fight, but Shay just walked past her, towards the exit of the cemetery.

He looked at her with pleading eyes. “Walk with me?” he asked.

She looked at him, analyzing him.

“Why should I trust you?” she asked.

“I didn't ask you to trust me. I asked you to walk with me.”

Aveza looked at him a bit longer, considering her options.

“Okay…” she eventually said. She cautiously walked to his side, but not too close.

“Thank you,” he said to her. He started walking out of the cemetery with Aveza by his side. They walked onto the street and started making their way westward. The people of New York bustled about despite the gloomy drizzle. People scurried about the streets, going about their lives. Aveza watched them, and she noticed that Shay did as well. Neither of them said anything. They just listened to the sounds of the city.

But Aveza suddenly thought she heard a distinct noise. A scraping? She looked around, but saw nothing but the citizens walking around. She kept walking. She figured she was just getting paranoid.

Eventually, the two arrived at the place Shay was leading them to: Fort Arsenal. Aveza looked up at it. It looked old and worn down. As the two passed through the gates of the fort, Aveza noticed a single crow flying above the place. It just stayed up in the sky, circling, watching.

Aveza and Shay walked up the path that led to Shay’s mansion. Shay unlocked the door and politely offered Aveza to enter first. She did, with caution. Shay followed her inside and closed the door behind him, locking it. This worried Aveza at first, but then she realized that the windows were open, giving her an easy escape route. If he truly meant to harm her, he would've closed and locked those too, right? Still, she stayed alert.

Shay slowly led them through the mansion’s rooms, which were laced in old Templar decorations. They walked upstairs to a room that Aveza recognized as his meeting room, right next to what looked like a weapons room. The meeting room’s large table had been pushed to the side and now two old but comfortable-looking chairs sat by the fireplace. Shay offered Aveza to sit in one, which she did. Shay sat in the other one, putting his cane aside and picking up the teapot on the little table in front of them.

“Tea?” he offered.

“No thank you,” said Aveza.

“Suit yourself.” Shay poured himself a cup of tea, but he didn't drink it. He just held the cup in his lap. Neither one said anything for a moment.

“You know,” Shay eventually said, quietly in his raspy Irish voice. “If there's anything I've learned over the decades, it's this: allegiance doesn't matter in the end. Assassins. Templars. British. American. It doesn't matter what you call yourself. But what does matter, is if you do good by that title. If you as an individual take action to make the world a better place for everyone, than that is what decides whether you are a good or bad person.”

Aveza looked at him. She could tell he meant what he was saying. She didn't know why, but she could tell he truly meant his words. He slowly looked up at her through his spectacles. He looked like he was full of regret.

“When I was a young man, I was foolish enough to think that a creed alone could save the world, that it could end all conflicts. But I now realize that it's not the words that matter, it's making sure those words are upheld for the good of all.” He paused. “I'm not saying you Assassins are right, but I'm not saying we Templars are either. Both orders have had periods of good and evil.” He looked her directly in the eyes. She could feel the years that weighed down on his expression.”

“I've seen Assassins level entire cities,” he continued, “just to gain an upper hand over the Templars. But I've also seen Assassins risking everything they had to save entire countries from burning to the ground.” He paused again. “I've seen Templars, save the world from literally falling apart. But I've also seen Templars put entire cities to the sword just for the chance of killing one Assassin.”

He paused and lowered his head before looking back up at Aveza. “I cannot say with certainty whether one order is inherently good or evil,” he said. “But I've learned to judge individuals as so. And I've learned to see what impact they'll have on the world, if they'll save it… or burn it.” He paused. “I want to tell you right now, Ms. Deryn, the people I'd call good and evil. Connor is good people. That friend of yours, Arnold, is good people.”

He paused.

“You, Ms. Deryn, are good people.”

Aveza didn't know what to say. This was the man who was supposed to be her greatest enemy, the one leading the oppressive Templars. And yet here, he seemed so disconnected from Assassin or Templar. He was something else entirely, it seemed. An outsider.

A friend.

“You lot have worked so hard to protect the Native peoples,” continued Shay. “And you haven't done anything to harm any innocent whites either. You seek peace in all things, in all people, and that is admirable, Ms. Deryn. You're not like the people I used to call friends. Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison. They are bad people, of this I am sure. Despite my efforts, their greed corrupted them. And now I've allowed their corruption to spread across my whole order. That is a shame I will never forgive myself for, Ms. Deryn. I just wanted to make sure you knew that.”

Aveza lowered her head a bit, but said nothing. The only sound was the crackle of the fireplace and the patter of raindrops. Shay finally took a sip of his tea, but only a quick one. He put the cup down, and slowly stood up. He went over to the fireplace and went to unlock a small box that sat atop it.

Aveza watched as he did. Suddenly, she thought she heard another quick noise from outside. Footsteps? She shook her head. It was probably just the rain.

Shay finally opened the box and he reached for what was inside. He hid it in his palms until he sat back down and looked at Aveza. He slowly opened his hands, and as he did, a slight blue glow emerged from within. Aveza gasped when he fully opened his hands and revealed a small peg made of what seemed like obsidian. It had bizarre etchings all across its surface, which glowed with the same supernatural glow as the walls of the Temple of the Angels. It looked like exactly the right size and shape. Could it really be?

“The key to the Precursor temple in Prophetstown,” Shay said.

“How did… where…?” Aveza stuttered.

“I've had this object for about three years now. Sent my best men to retrieve it the second we had a lead. But I never told the rest of my men. Not when men like Andrew would be so eager to take it for their own. And now, Ms. Deryn, I pass it on to you.”

Aveza reached for the key slowly, and took it from his hands. She looked down at the glowing object. She thought back to Tecumseh, and how his mission could finally be completed. She didn't know what to say.

“I… I… oh my God… thank you, Mr. Cormac,” she said, flabbergasted.

“You're welcome, Ms. Deryn.”

“But… but why?”

“Because I know that your hands are capable ones. I know that you'll enter that temple and do what is right. And I know that you'll keep it safe from people like Andrew, who would use whatever is inside that temple to become the dictator that he wants to be. I have faith in you, Ms. Deryn. You, and your friends.”

Aveza didn't know what to say. She stared down at the key, then at Shay, then back to the key. She shoved the key back into her coat pocket. As she did, she felt her hand brush up against a familiar sheet of paper. She realized what it was, and looked at Shay. He seemed so old, and so tired, like his life had been full of so many tragic things. She thought of the kindness he was showing, of the regret he clearly felt for not stopping his order from committing the terrible atrocities that they had. She felt the paper in her pocket. She felt like she should show him a little kindness in return.

She pulled out the paper and offered it to Shay. He looked curiously at it.

“What's this?” he asked as he weakly took it and unfolded it.

“An old letter,” said Aveza. “We found it in an old box at the Davenport Homestead. A final message of sorts from someone named… Liam?”

Shay looked down at the letter. He read it slowly, taking in the words. Aveza could see tears forming in his eyes. She saw the beginnings of a smile on his face, albeit a weak one. He slowly lowered the letter and wiped his eyes.

“Thank you…” he said quietly. “Thank you so much for this, Ms. Deryn.”

“Don't mention it.”

Shay looked like he was about to say something, but he stopped when a large bang was heard from outside. Shay and Aveza both looked towards the window. Aveza stood up and went to go look at what it was. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw a huge group of armed American soldiers marching into the fort. And at the front of them, was none other than Andrew Jackson.

“Oh my God…” she said. She turned to Shay, who seemed surprisingly undisturbed by this. He just seemed sad.

“It’s Jackson,” Aveza said, panicked. “Bloody wretch brought a bloody army here!”

“I knew this would happen eventually…” Shay said sadly.

“What?”

Shay looked up at her, a worried look on his face. He pushed himself out of his chair and walked over to Aveza. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Listen to me,” he said, “He's come for the key, I know it. I tried to hide it as best I could, but it seems he's discovered my secret.”

“We have to get out of here then!”

“No. You have to get out of here. Take the key and take it far away from this place. Get to the Temple before Andrew can.”

“What about you?”

They could already hear Jackson's men barging into the mansion.

“I'll stay and fight them off. Keep them distracted,” said Shay.

“You can't! We can-”

“No! You have to go! This is the end of my road. This is my last chance to make sure the world can be saved. Now please, Ms. Deryn, take the key and go! Take it and make sure you save the world.”

Aveza looked at him with pleading eyes. He returned the look. They could hear the soldiers marching up the stairs.

“Please…” he said. Aveza looked at him. He truly wanted to stand and fight, to make one last attempt to make amends for everything, and she could clearly do nothing to convince him otherwise. She sadly sighed.

“Okay…” she said.

Shay’s expression lightened, though only slightly.

“Thank you…” he said. “Now go! Out the window before they break in.”

Aveza sadly nodded and went to leap out the window.

“Ms. Deryn!” Shay called before she left. She looked at him.

“Please just promise me one thing,” he said. “Promise that if whatever is in that temple could become disastrous in the wrong hands, you'll destroy it, or at least keep it out of reach of Andrew and his followers.”

Aveza nodded. “I promise,” she said.

Shay gave an old, sad smile. “Thank you,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Cormac,” she said. “And good luck.”

Shay nodded. “I make my own luck,” he said simply.

The soldiers started banging on the locked door of the meeting room. It would come down any second. The last thing Aveza saw before leaping out the window and onto a tree branch was Shay facing the door, and flicking out his hidden blades.

She didn't look back. She darted through the trees of the fort’s yard, whizzing past all the soldiers below her before they had a chance to see her. One soldier managed to spot her, though, and he tried to shoot her, but missed. Aveza jumped from tree to tree, making her way to the fort’s walls as fast as she could. And eventually, she made it to the wall. She jumped over, landing safely with a roll, and she took off sprinting into the streets of New York City. The last thing she heard before Fort Arsenal was completely out of her sight, was an agonizing scream from the mansion. A scream from Shay. Aveza felt tears welling up in her eyes as she ran.

“Rest in peace, Mr. Cormac,” she said under her breath.

She sprinted until she made it back to the Aquila, out of breath. Connor and Arnold rushed up to her, asking frantically if she was okay.

“I'm… I'm fine guys,” she said. “I think…”

“What happened out there?” asked Arnold. “What did Shay want?”

Aveza looked at him and Connor. She silently reached into her pocket and pulled out the key. Connor and Arnold’s jaws dropped. “Is that…?” Connor asked. Aveza nodded.

“Courtesy of Shay Cormac,” she said sadly.

“...And what of Shay?”

Aveza lowered her head.

“Andrew Jackson attacked with his soldiers. I managed to escape, but Shay…”

She paused. Arnold and Connor looked at each other.

“He wanted to redeem his sins,” said Aveza sadly. “He sacrificed himself so that I could escape with the key.”

“Really?” said Arnold. Aveza nodded.

“We have to get to the Temple of the Angels. Now,” she said.

“I wish we could,” said Connor. “But William Henry Harrison has men crawling all over the frontier. Going to the Indiana Territory now would be too risky. Until this war is over and the soldiers are forced to clear out, we won't be able to get to the Temple.”

Aveza lowered her head in sad understanding.

“Then this damn war had better end soon,” she said. “I've got a promise to keep.”

Description
September 16, 1814; New York City, New York

As soon as the bombardment of Fort McHenry had ended (and to Aveza's dismay, with an American victory) the Assassins sailed the Aquila to New York City and anchored in the harbor. Aveza checked all of her weapons before turning to leave the ship. Arnold stopped her before she left. “Stay safe, okay?” he said, worried for his friend. Aveza gave him a reassuring smile.

“I promise,” she said. The two hugged. She kissed him quickly, said goodbye, and then hopped off the ship. She made her way through the streets of New York. A slight drizzle had begun to fall after the skies filled with gray clouds. Aveza looked around the city until she eventually found her destination: St. George's Chapel. She instinctively checked her hidden blades as she cautiously approached the cemetery that was right beside the chapel. She walked through the entrance and looked ahead of her.

Sure enough, standing with his back turned to Aveza, at the edge of the cemetery, was Shay Patrick Cormac. Aveza gulped nervously and approached him slowly. He didn't move at all. He just stood in front of a large tombstone that had a tall cross on top of it. Aveza could tell by the way he was standing that he was leaning on his cane. She slowly walked towards him. Her fingers instinctively flexed, anxious to yank on the mechanisms of her hidden blades at the first sign of danger. She came closer… and closer… until…

“Thank you,” he suddenly said without turning around or moving at all. “Thank you for coming, Ms. Deryn.”

His voice was old, quiet, and had a hint of sadness and regret. Aveza just looked at him.

“You're welcome,” was all she could think to say.

Shay looked down at the grave. Neither said anything for a moment. The only sounds were the patter of raindrops on the ground. It made Aveza very uncomfortable.

“Today's the anniversary, you know,” said Shay suddenly. “The anniversary of Master Haytham’s death at the hands of his son 33 years ago.”

Aveza said nothing. Shay sighed sadly.

“I wish I could've been there during the battle,” he said slowly “I wish I could've done something to help him. But I couldn't. I was away on a mission across the world, a mission he sent me on. And so when I returned to hear that both he and Master Lee had fallen, that the Assassins had undid all of our business in the colonies... I… I didn't know what to do… It was just me then… the only one left…”

It was then that he turned to face Aveza. Aveza got a good look at his old, scarred, and sad face. The two just looked at each other.

“I don't know what Connor tells you about his father,” he continued. “Good or bad, I don't know. But I want to tell you here and now, Haytham Kenway was a good man.”

Aveza said nothing.

“He had hoped for peace,” continued Shay. “Peace between Assassins and Templars. He thought that together, we could make the world great. But I think he realized too late that it was just a dream. That our ideologies were too different to achieve an alliance. And now I think I've come to a revelation about our two orders as well.”

He slowly limped towards Aveza. She tightened her muscles to fight, but Shay just walked past her, towards the exit of the cemetery.

He looked at her with pleading eyes. “Walk with me?” he asked.

She looked at him, analyzing him.

“Why should I trust you?” she asked.

“I didn't ask you to trust me. I asked you to walk with me.”

Aveza looked at him a bit longer, considering her options.

“Okay…” she eventually said. She cautiously walked to his side, but not too close.

“Thank you,” he said to her. He started walking out of the cemetery with Aveza by his side. They walked onto the street and started making their way westward. The people of New York bustled about despite the gloomy drizzle. People scurried about the streets, going about their lives. Aveza watched them, and she noticed that Shay did as well. Neither of them said anything. They just listened to the sounds of the city.

But Aveza suddenly thought she heard a distinct noise. A scraping? She looked around, but saw nothing but the citizens walking around. She kept walking. She figured she was just getting paranoid.

Eventually, the two arrived at the place Shay was leading them to: Fort Arsenal. Aveza looked up at it. It looked old and worn down. As the two passed through the gates of the fort, Aveza noticed a single crow flying above the place. It just stayed up in the sky, circling, watching.

Aveza and Shay walked up the path that led to Shay’s mansion. Shay unlocked the door and politely offered Aveza to enter first. She did, with caution. Shay followed her inside and closed the door behind him, locking it. This worried Aveza at first, but then she realized that the windows were open, giving her an easy escape route. If he truly meant to harm her, he would've closed and locked those too, right? Still, she stayed alert.

Shay slowly led them through the mansion’s rooms, which were laced in old Templar decorations. They walked upstairs to a room that Aveza recognized as his meeting room, right next to what looked like a weapons room. The meeting room’s large table had been pushed to the side and now two old but comfortable-looking chairs sat by the fireplace. Shay offered Aveza to sit in one, which she did. Shay sat in the other one, putting his cane aside and picking up the teapot on the little table in front of them.

“Tea?” he offered.

“No thank you,” said Aveza.

“Suit yourself.” Shay poured himself a cup of tea, but he didn't drink it. He just held the cup in his lap. Neither one said anything for a moment.

“You know,” Shay eventually said, quietly in his raspy Irish voice. “If there's anything I've learned over the decades, it's this: allegiance doesn't matter in the end. Assassins. Templars. British. American. It doesn't matter what you call yourself. But what does matter, is if you do good by that title. If you as an individual take action to make the world a better place for everyone, than that is what decides whether you are a good or bad person.”

Aveza looked at him. She could tell he meant what he was saying. She didn't know why, but she could tell he truly meant his words. He slowly looked up at her through his spectacles. He looked like he was full of regret.

“When I was a young man, I was foolish enough to think that a creed alone could save the world, that it could end all conflicts. But I now realize that it's not the words that matter, it's making sure those words are upheld for the good of all.” He paused. “I'm not saying you Assassins are right, but I'm not saying we Templars are either. Both orders have had periods of good and evil.” He looked her directly in the eyes. She could feel the years that weighed down on his expression.”

“I've seen Assassins level entire cities,” he continued, “just to gain an upper hand over the Templars. But I've also seen Assassins risking everything they had to save entire countries from burning to the ground.” He paused again. “I've seen Templars, save the world from literally falling apart. But I've also seen Templars put entire cities to the sword just for the chance of killing one Assassin.”

He paused and lowered his head before looking back up at Aveza. “I cannot say with certainty whether one order is inherently good or evil,” he said. “But I've learned to judge individuals as so. And I've learned to see what impact they'll have on the world, if they'll save it… or burn it.” He paused. “I want to tell you right now, Ms. Deryn, the people I'd call good and evil. Connor is good people. That friend of yours, Arnold, is good people.”

He paused.

“You, Ms. Deryn, are good people.”

Aveza didn't know what to say. This was the man who was supposed to be her greatest enemy, the one leading the oppressive Templars. And yet here, he seemed so disconnected from Assassin or Templar. He was something else entirely, it seemed. An outsider.

A friend.

“You lot have worked so hard to protect the Native peoples,” continued Shay. “And you haven't done anything to harm any innocent whites either. You seek peace in all things, in all people, and that is admirable, Ms. Deryn. You're not like the people I used to call friends. Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison. They are bad people, of this I am sure. Despite my efforts, their greed corrupted them. And now I've allowed their corruption to spread across my whole order. That is a shame I will never forgive myself for, Ms. Deryn. I just wanted to make sure you knew that.”

Aveza lowered her head a bit, but said nothing. The only sound was the crackle of the fireplace and the patter of raindrops. Shay finally took a sip of his tea, but only a quick one. He put the cup down, and slowly stood up. He went over to the fireplace and went to unlock a small box that sat atop it.

Aveza watched as he did. Suddenly, she thought she heard another quick noise from outside. Footsteps? She shook her head. It was probably just the rain.

Shay finally opened the box and he reached for what was inside. He hid it in his palms until he sat back down and looked at Aveza. He slowly opened his hands, and as he did, a slight blue glow emerged from within. Aveza gasped when he fully opened his hands and revealed a small peg made of what seemed like obsidian. It had bizarre etchings all across its surface, which glowed with the same supernatural glow as the walls of the Temple of the Angels. It looked like exactly the right size and shape. Could it really be?

“The key to the Precursor temple in Prophetstown,” Shay said.

“How did… where…?” Aveza stuttered.

“I've had this object for about three years now. Sent my best men to retrieve it the second we had a lead. But I never told the rest of my men. Not when men like Andrew would be so eager to take it for their own. And now, Ms. Deryn, I pass it on to you.”

Aveza reached for the key slowly, and took it from his hands. She looked down at the glowing object. She thought back to Tecumseh, and how his mission could finally be completed. She didn't know what to say.

“I… I… oh my God… thank you, Mr. Cormac,” she said, flabbergasted.

“You're welcome, Ms. Deryn.”

“But… but why?”

“Because I know that your hands are capable ones. I know that you'll enter that temple and do what is right. And I know that you'll keep it safe from people like Andrew, who would use whatever is inside that temple to become the dictator that he wants to be. I have faith in you, Ms. Deryn. You, and your friends.”

Aveza didn't know what to say. She stared down at the key, then at Shay, then back to the key. She shoved the key back into her coat pocket. As she did, she felt her hand brush up against a familiar sheet of paper. She realized what it was, and looked at Shay. He seemed so old, and so tired, like his life had been full of so many tragic things. She thought of the kindness he was showing, of the regret he clearly felt for not stopping his order from committing the terrible atrocities that they had. She felt the paper in her pocket. She felt like she should show him a little kindness in return.

She pulled out the paper and offered it to Shay. He looked curiously at it.

“What's this?” he asked as he weakly took it and unfolded it.

“An old letter,” said Aveza. “We found it in an old box at the Davenport Homestead. A final message of sorts from someone named… Liam?”

Shay looked down at the letter. He read it slowly, taking in the words. Aveza could see tears forming in his eyes. She saw the beginnings of a smile on his face, albeit a weak one. He slowly lowered the letter and wiped his eyes.

“Thank you…” he said quietly. “Thank you so much for this, Ms. Deryn.”

“Don't mention it.”

Shay looked like he was about to say something, but he stopped when a large bang was heard from outside. Shay and Aveza both looked towards the window. Aveza stood up and went to go look at what it was. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw a huge group of armed American soldiers marching into the fort. And at the front of them, was none other than Andrew Jackson.

“Oh my God…” she said. She turned to Shay, who seemed surprisingly undisturbed by this. He just seemed sad.

“It’s Jackson,” Aveza said, panicked. “Bloody wretch brought a bloody army here!”

“I knew this would happen eventually…” Shay said sadly.

“What?”

Shay looked up at her, a worried look on his face. He pushed himself out of his chair and walked over to Aveza. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Listen to me,” he said, “He's come for the key, I know it. I tried to hide it as best I could, but it seems he's discovered my secret.”

“We have to get out of here then!”

“No. You have to get out of here. Take the key and take it far away from this place. Get to the Temple before Andrew can.”

“What about you?”

They could already hear Jackson's men barging into the mansion.

“I'll stay and fight them off. Keep them distracted,” said Shay.

“You can't! We can-”

“No! You have to go! This is the end of my road. This is my last chance to make sure the world can be saved. Now please, Ms. Deryn, take the key and go! Take it and make sure you save the world.”

Aveza looked at him with pleading eyes. He returned the look. They could hear the soldiers marching up the stairs.

“Please…” he said. Aveza looked at him. He truly wanted to stand and fight, to make one last attempt to make amends for everything, and she could clearly do nothing to convince him otherwise. She sadly sighed.

“Okay…” she said.

Shay’s expression lightened, though only slightly.

“Thank you…” he said. “Now go! Out the window before they break in.”

Aveza sadly nodded and went to leap out the window.

“Ms. Deryn!” Shay called before she left. She looked at him.

“Please just promise me one thing,” he said. “Promise that if whatever is in that temple could become disastrous in the wrong hands, you'll destroy it, or at least keep it out of reach of Andrew and his followers.”

Aveza nodded. “I promise,” she said.

Shay gave an old, sad smile. “Thank you,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Cormac,” she said. “And good luck.”

Shay nodded. “I make my own luck,” he said simply.

The soldiers started banging on the locked door of the meeting room. It would come down any second. The last thing Aveza saw before leaping out the window and onto a tree branch was Shay facing the door, and flicking out his hidden blades.

She didn't look back. She darted through the trees of the fort’s yard, whizzing past all the soldiers below her before they had a chance to see her. One soldier managed to spot her, though, and he tried to shoot her, but missed. Aveza jumped from tree to tree, making her way to the fort’s walls as fast as she could. And eventually, she made it to the wall. She jumped over, landing safely with a roll, and she took off sprinting into the streets of New York City. The last thing she heard before Fort Arsenal was completely out of her sight, was an agonizing scream from the mansion. A scream from Shay. Aveza felt tears welling up in her eyes as she ran.

“Rest in peace, Mr. Cormac,” she said under her breath.

She sprinted until she made it back to the Aquila, out of breath. Connor and Arnold rushed up to her, asking frantically if she was okay.

“I'm… I'm fine guys,” she said. “I think…”

“What happened out there?” asked Arnold. “What did Shay want?”

Aveza looked at him and Connor. She silently reached into her pocket and pulled out the key. Connor and Arnold’s jaws dropped. “Is that…?” Connor asked. Aveza nodded.

“Courtesy of Shay Cormac,” she said sadly.

“...And what of Shay?”

Aveza lowered her head.

“Andrew Jackson attacked with his soldiers. I managed to escape, but Shay…”

She paused. Arnold and Connor looked at each other.

“He wanted to redeem his sins,” said Aveza sadly. “He sacrificed himself so that I could escape with the key.”

“Really?” said Arnold. Aveza nodded.

“We have to get to the Temple of the Angels. Now,” she said.

“I wish we could,” said Connor. “But William Henry Harrison has men crawling all over the frontier. Going to the Indiana Territory now would be too risky. Until this war is over and the soldiers are forced to clear out, we won't be able to get to the Temple.”

Aveza lowered her head in sad understanding.

“Then this damn war had better end soon,” she said. “I've got a promise to keep.”