Chapter Text
Kingston Prison was undoubtedly the filthiest place I had ever known, and yet I had collapsed on the floor in more than one tavern. The warm Jamaican night brought a biting wind that my clothes did nothing to stop. The taste of the iron cage where I was locked had filled my mouth for several days now, my stomach was empty from malnutrition, and I was slowly beginning to delirious. I had already tried to break the bars and the padlock, but I had only managed to bleed my fingers and anger the guards. The fortress that served as a prison rose before me, large and menacing, as I was displayed in that damned iron cage as an example to others.
When I thought of everything that had happened to me these past few years, I couldn't help but sigh. It was me, Edward Kenway, the Welsh pirate who had sown terror across the Caribbean seas. I had known men of honor like Ben Hornigold, Edward Thatch "Blackbeard," Charles Vane, Calico Jack Rackham, Stede Bonnet, and others. My ship, the Jackdaw, had once sailed me across the Caribbean Sea to Africa, and it had never abandoned me.
At least, that's what I thought. A few weeks or months ago (I'd lost track of time), my crew had abandoned me to that scoundrel Bartholomew Roberts, but I digress; let's start from the beginning.
I was born in England and was just a farmer when I met my wife, Caroline Scott. I married her, and I truly loved her; all my decisions were solely for her happiness. To lift us out of the poverty of the farm, I signed on as a privateer on a ship, an old childhood dream. Thanks to this profession, I was going to earn enough money to pull us out of this poverty; I only needed two years. But Caroline didn't see it that way; she preferred to go back to her parents' house. I couldn't blame her; life at sea was dangerous, and there was no guarantee I'd come back alive. But my captain had chosen piracy, and I'd followed him with the goal of becoming rich. After that, I met Duncan Walpole, a name that would change my life forever, before I killed him and assumed his identity. That's how I met the Assassins and the Templars before stealing the Jackdaw and returning to piracy, this time as captain. My one and only goal was to get rich; I didn't care about the Assassins' creed or the Templars' ambitions. I had made friends and plundered countless ships, but all my efforts were focused on one man: Bartholomew Roberts "the Sage." This man could take me to the Observatory, a device capable of seeing through someone's eyes and which would make me rich. But Roberts had betrayed me and taken me to Kingston.
I missed my friends, but Blackbeard was dead, as were Ben Hornigold, Stede Bonnet, and Rackham, and Charles Vane had gone mad on Isla Providencia. Only Mary Read and Anne Bonny remained, the two strongest female pirates I had ever seen, but they too were locked in that prison and were pregnant. If I had one wish, it was to sacrifice my life for them.
In the cold night, the moon was high in the sky, and the guards were mocking me, when I heard a small rustling in the trees. At first, I thought it was my own madness, but then I saw him: Ah, Tabai, the Master of Assassins. He moved silently along the tree branches until he reached a guard. With a swift movement, he threw a rope dagger that pierced the guard's neck and lifted him up, dangling him from the branch. The other guards didn't have time to cry out because the Assassin used sleep darts and his hidden blades to avoid a fight. He retrieved the keys to the iron cage and threw them to him, then quickly freed himself.
- (Ed) Thank you.
- (Ah) I don't need your thanks. I'm not here for you, but for Mary. But I could use some help, you know.
The Assassin handed me some hidden blades, which I fastened to my wrists, and we set off for the prison. Several guards blocked the path, but the bushes and trees allowed us to hide and infiltrate the prison. Finally, we reached the prison gate.
- (Ah) Look for Mary in the cells; she must be held somewhere.
- (Ed) Aye, I'm not leaving without her and Anne.
Fortunately, there weren't many guards that night, so I was able to move through the prison undisturbed until I heard women screaming. I hurried, killing the guards in my path until I reached Mary and Anne's cell.
- (Ed) Mary! Anne! It's me, Edward!
- (An) Edward! Mary is sick! Her delivery went badly, and she hasn't stopped screaming in pain since earlier!
I broke the padlock on the cell and crouched down beside Mary. Indeed, her face was tired and pale, and she was slowly losing blood. Her cries of pain pierced my eardrums, and I couldn't bear to see her like that.
- (Ma) Ed-Edward? Is that you?
- (Ed) Yes, I'm here. Come, I'll take you to a doctor.
- (Ma) No, it's too late for me… Edward, run… I'm going to die here, but you… you can still make a difference…
- (Ed) No, there's no way I'm leaving you here. The three of us are going to get out of here.
- (Ma) Stop, please… leave me here.
- (??) I apologize for interrupting this conversation, but I agree with Captain Kenway.
I had barely heard that unfamiliar voice behind me, but I turned around, ready to kill anyone who would prevent me from saving Mary and Anne, but I couldn't suppress my surprise. A woman stood there in the doorway. She was beautiful, with a thick brown braid over her shoulder and eyes that made me feel as if she could see my soul. She wore a typical pirate leather tunic with a tricorn hat, and around her neck was a necklace with an eagle's skull. A sword, a pistol, and a broken spear hung from her belt. Ah Tabai and Adewalé, my quartermaster, were standing beside her.
- (Ed) Adewalé? What are you doing here? And who is she?
- (Ad) Don't worry, Edward. She's a friend I met, and she can help us.
- (??) Indeed, I have the power to save your friend, but before that, allow me to introduce myself: my name is Kassandra, I'm a pirate like you.
- (Ed) I don't care who you are, please, save Mary and Anne.
Kassandra smiled slightly before kneeling beside Mary and taking her hand. A small light emanated from Kassandra's fingers and spread across Mary's arm. But whatever that light was, it had soothed Mary, who had fallen asleep and was breathing more gently, and Kassandra did the same for Anne.
- (Ed) What did you do?
- (Ka) I simply treated them and eased their pain; they fell asleep because they no longer had the strength to stay awake. But I'm afraid we don't have much time to discuss this here.
- (Ah) She's right, Captain Kenway. The guards could arrive any minute; we have to be quick.
- (Ad) The Jackdaw isn't far; you'll be able to maneuver it again.
Ah Tabai and Adewalé took care of Anne while I carried Mary, and Kassandra went ahead to clear the path for us. Despite all those weeks of hunger, thirst, and lack of sleep, I still had the strength to lift Mary. I refused to leave her there when there was a chance to escape together. No matter who this Kassandra was, she was our best chance, and besides, she had "cured" Mary and Anne, so I felt compelled to believe her.
After several minutes of walking that felt like hours, we finally reached the exit. Kassandra waited on the beach in front of a boat while several dead British soldiers lay on the ground. After safely aboard the boat, Ah Tabai and Adewalé began rowing while Kassandra made sure no one was following us. I, for my part, checked on Mary and Anne. Apart from being unusually thin and pale, they were in good health thanks to Kassandra. I still didn't know if she was an Assassin or something else, but she had just helped us, so I decided not to ask her any questions.
And for the first time in weeks, I tasted the fresh air of freedom and hope.