For the first time in years, Shay was unsure about what to do. He should have been unconsciously waiting for Monroe to pull him to safety but instead he was here. Riding to New York with Hope. Although he was changing the Assassin order he knew too much about the Colonial Rite to say that they were purely villains. He knew that the majority of Templars were not as exceptional as the ones here there was an odd feeling stirring. It was the same feeling he had when he turned on the Assassins. His hands tensed on the reigns.

Hope on the other hand was trying to start a conversation. There was some mention of how she disliked sharing a horse. She told him something of how the homestead should have a proper stable so next time when they were short a horse they wouldn't have to ride like this. It pulled him out of his thoughts enough to get a one-word response but nothing more. It was clear that he had no want to keep talking and they rode in silence for a while.

"How much longer?" Hope eventually asked.

"We should be passing Concord by sundown. If we ride through the night we can make it to New York by the early morning."

"I know that. I want to know how much longer until you tell me what's making you uneasy." He gave a short laugh. He never realized she could read him when she wasn't looking at his face.

"I'm just… surprised. I wasn't expecting to be…"

"Alive?"

"Sort of. I wasn't expecting to still be trusted," he wasn't going to tell her how he wasn't expecting to still be an assassin.

"I somehow doubt you got away freely. Achilles might not have said anything but the others will likely need time before they trust you again." Shay shot her a queer look. "What? Did you wonder if they'll just forgive you without hesitation?"

"No but I wonder why you did." He kept looking over his shoulder to see her expression but she just made a childish thinking face with her hand curled up under her chin. "You're not going to answer me are ya?"

She said nothing but she smiled bright. . He could only give a weary one in response. The horse trot on but soon he felt her hand on his shoulder. Hope's cheeks were vaguely flushed and her voice was just louder than a whisper. "I didn't want to give up on you."

She pulled her hand away. Shay slowed the horse to a stop. His heart was beating faster. For many years he thought Hope was loyal to the Brotherhood first and individuals second. Now he knew that assumption was wrong. He turned as far as he could to look her in the eyes and slipped his hand into hers. "Thank you." He wanted to say more but he couldn't form the words he was looking for. Hope just smiled to herself as he fumbled his words. He wasn't a smooth gentleman but there was a charm to it.

Hours passed before Shay and Hope reached the stables in Concord. When they arrived the weather had taken a turn for the worst. Taking heed of the townsfolk they paid for a space at the inn and were having dinner in the adjoining tavern.

A violent wind rushed in as the door opened and let another passer-by in. Once inside he brushed the snow off the feathers of his shawl. He looked up and instantly recognized the two assassins sitting in the far corner. "What are you two doing here?" Kesegowaase said as he pulled his hood down.

"Going to New York" Hope replied. "What are you doing?"

"Our ally in Kanatahséton sent a letter saying that in a few months she will not be willing to leave her village. She wanted to discus the state of her village with Achilles before then."

"So why are you out here?"

"She said the way to the homestead would take a toll on her that she cannot risk but could meet someone here without trouble."

"Don't talk about me when I'm in the room Kesegowaase." All three of them turned to a Mohawk woman who appeared out of nowhere. Kesegowaase and Ziio exchanged some friendly banter in another langue that made the usually grim man smirk.

Hope greeted her kindly "It's been a while Ziio! How have you been?"

"I've been fine. I'm irritated that I don't have the stamina that I did a while ago but not much has changed for me."

Soon they forgot to introduce Shay. He felt out of place but he could figure out a few things just from watching. She was obviously close to the assassins but he didn't remember her at all. She was slender apart from the pregnant belly and (although he was no expert on the subject) he assumed she must have been expecting in the next few months. Despite that she carried a strong presence and a dagger on her hip.

Eventually Hope and Kesegowaase turned their attention to a waitress leaving the two by themselves. Ziio turned to look at Shay, "And who are you?"

Shay snapped up and realized she was speaking to him. "Shay Patrick Cormac," he extended his hand but she didn't move. After a moment he awkwardly brought it back to his side. "I gather you're Ziio?"

"Of course." She tilted her head, "Is there anything more you know about me?"

"I don't think so. I was sent on a mission in Lisbon and have only gotten back quite recently." He turned away from her. He didn't want to explain what had happened in Lisbon again so he rationalized that silently looking uninterested would get that across.

Ziio saw how he made no attempt to continue the conversation. Although she was used to mean colonists she hadn't met someone who was rude enough to pretend she didn't exist after talking to her.

"You must not be very observant then."

She got his attention. "Excuse me but I don't think I'm the unobservant one here." He was an Assassin after all. Taking in the situation has been essential for him.

"Then you must know more than a name by now. You have to at least know more about me than I do of you. Or are you still a novice?"

"Oh! Is that a challenge then?" Ziio grinned. It was always easy to irritate hotheads.

Hope tapped him on the shoulder, "I hate to deflate your ego but you would lose." She and Kesegowaase had come back in time to stop the two from proposing any contest. "Ziio has more tricks and skills than most people on the homestead."

"Really? Name one person she coul-"

"You. She could out match you and Liam without much effort," Kesegowaase said.

"She actually did flip Liam out of a tree when she first met him," Hope added.

Shay turned to Ziio, "You wouldn't happen to be in our merry band, would you?" He couldn't imagine a regular person being able to get anything past Liam.

"No, I worked with Achilles a few times before but I'd rather work towards my own goals than play in your secret wars." It was hard for Shay to remember that there were people in the world who didn't care about the centuries old fight between the Assassins and Templars.

"What keeps you away? You must share goals with the Brotherhood if you're an ally."

She sighed, she must have explained this a few times already.

"First, I don't think there's anything to gain from searching for ancient artifacts. While we could use them to tap into medicines and inventions to ease life and speed up development, not all people are so altruistic. We fight for space to live and argue over who should have power or make decisions. There is no safe way to give people control over others, even in the hands of the Assassins." Given the recent event at the homestead and Lisbon, Shay could see where she was coming from.

"Second, I want the same things as the Assassins but I can't say that all the Templars do is evil. I know can be callous towards the suffering, careless with lives, and work only for their profit but still they build places for their own and provide a security that the Assassins cannot. I don't like their methods of controlling people to achieve peace but I can't deny that some of their actions have made safer places for your people."

The four of them were silent. In Shay's mind there was finally someone else who saw that both sides were neither purely good nor purely bad. The server brought food and drink for them but they couldn't find a way to change the subject.

Shay spoke up at last, "Have you worked with them then?" His question made Kesegowaase and Hope uneasy. Shay stared at her but Ziio's expression didn't change. She was as unreadable as the manuscript.

Finally she responded, "Yes." Ziio unknowingly put her had around her stomach. It looked like nobody noticed the subconscious gesture.

"Is that why you won't be able to contact the Assassins?"

She stared at him. "You are the most oblivious person in the world if you're asking that." Shay gave her a confused face and she realized he honestly didn't figure it out. "I'm pregnant Shay, what would you have me do? Rush onto a battle field when my water breaks?"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that…" He turned his head down in embarrassment as she continued.

"Not to mention I would have a new born to raise. Although I will likely return to the Brotherhood for help with my people I'd like to enjoy my time with my child without worry about your conflict. If the child is anything like their father they will be more than difficult to raise." That got a few muttered laughs from around the table. They were all relieved to be having a lighter conversation.

"Not to mention you and your husband will be very busy if the child's half as spirited as you."

Ziio gave a faint smile. She had been unreadable before but now there was something pained in her eyes. "I suppose so." Shay had seen that face before. On a young woman who came to the sisters in Lisbon. She was expecting a baby and the father was no longer with her. She was scared, ashamed, and essentially everything Ziio wasn't. However, that one glimmer in her eyes was enough to tell him they shared a feeling of worry.

He put a hand on her shoulder, "You know, I would have been honored to have a parent that would put me before their work or other obligations. And yes, you are strong enough to do all the rearing, teaching, and training but don't let yourself think you have to be alone in the endeavor. You can call on us at any time."

She smiled. "Thank you."

It was past midnight when Hope stepped outside her room. She had waited until she thought Shay was sleeping and long after Kesegowaase had left to stay in the hunting lodge to creep into the hallway. Only Ziio was awake now. She never slept for long in a new environment and sat by the window looking out into the night. She could see Hope and all the things behind her in the glass's reflection.

"Has the storm passed?" Hope asked as she got closer.

"Most of it. Only some clouds and the snow are left."

Hope pulled up a chair and looked in the direction Ziio was looking at. It was towards her village in the valley.

"Do you miss him?"

"Who?"

"The father."

Ziio pursed her lips slightly, "Yes. It gets unbearable at times but I know getting him involved would assure our child's fate."

She was acutely aware of what Hope would ask next. "Ziio, I saw how you reacted when Shay asked about you and them. He's a Templar isn't he?"

"He is, but even now I wouldn't want anything to befall him." She stopped looking out the window and turned to Hope. They had only known each other for a few months now and the news of a Templar being personally involved might not go over well. She expected to see some anger or distrust but instead Hope looked worried.

"I might be able to step in if I knew his name."

Ziio exhaled in a short laugh, "No you couldn't. I don't think Haytham could change even if he wanted to."

The news was welcome as the bone-chilling wind outside. Hope's jaw dropped a bit in shock. "I'm so sorry Ziio. I knew you never wanted a true part in this but it must be especially difficult to be on the sidelines. It's terrible to be caught between both sides like this." She looked down at the floorboards as she tried to think of what to say.

"I'll be fine Hope," Ziio turned back to look at the mirror, "I don't believe I'm then only one caught between." Hope was observant but Ziio was rarely caught off guard. Even now she looked into the glass. Her eyes returned to the spot she was looking at, it was the direction of her village but also more than that. At just the right angle, there was the reflection of the man who had gone unnoticed by the Assassin standing at the far end of the hall. It was rather impressive that he was undetected, Hope was right to say he had potential.