System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Brotherhood? Hidden Ones?

[Current Balance: £362 19s. 10d.](11,615R)

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An hour had passed since Alaric knocked Bernard out. Now the entire Kenway household aside from Edward sat in the Grand Hall of Solomon’s house, with the slave hidden in a room. Everyone was quiet except for two people.

(P.S: Living rooms during the 1700s were referred to as ”Grand Hall” although it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s grandiose.)

”I can’t b’lieve it,” Linette muttered as she massaged her temples. ”We can’t be doin’ this.”

”Why, aunt?” Alaric asked calmly from his wooden stool, facing them all. ”Is it hard for you to be under the same roof as someone with a different skin color?”

”W-What? I am naught like that, ’Laric!” Linette glared at him. ”I’m only thinkin’ ’bout the well-bein’ of our family.”

’Hmm,’ Alaric mused. He understood her point, even if he did not agree.

”Why am I even arguin’ with a kid? AND this is not even our house to decide anything,” Linette continued, turning to Leonard. ”Why have you been so quiet? Aren’t you gonna scold your son?”

Leonard said nothing. He stared out the window while Eleanor listened to the whole story.

”We keep that slave here and we are bound to meet our end,” Linette declared as she stood. ”What about it can’t you understand?”

Alaric stayed silent a moment longer. He wanted to speak but then he noticed a movement. ”Oh?”

”Ugh,” came a grumble.

All eyes turned toward Bernard Kenway.

”What in God’s name happened?”

”All I remembered was...” Bernard’s eyes widened as he looked around and then locked onto Alaric. ”The slave... where did he go?”

”Go?” Alaric chuckled. ”He didn’t go anywhere, uncle. He’s in one of the rooms upstairs.”

”Saints preserve us...” Bernard leaned back against his seat and shook his head. ”This is the end of our kin. We are done for.”

”Oh, come on, uncle,” Alaric said with a smile as he waved his hands. ”Think about it. The slave could help us. We need extra manpower. We cannot just leave him out there. With some trainin’, he might help us earn more when we start our farm.”

”Manpower? Farm? What farm?” Bernard sneered bitterly. ”The city has eyes everywhere. One whisper from outside these walls and we are finished before we can make a farm.”

’Damn, is there really no other way to save one person?’ Alaric cursed silently as the main door opened. Everyone turned their attention to it.

”Hey everyone, I just got back from the market.” Solomon said as he entered in his usual ottoman clothes.

”Solomon!”

”Hello there,” Solomon replied but when he saw their faces, his curiousity peaked, ”Is everything alright?”

Bernard stood, and Eleanor stepped forward. ”We have a problem.”

”Problem?” Solomon asked as he moved to an empty seat after setting his things down. ”Of what kind?”

There was a heavy silence.

Then Solomon pressed, ”Don’t tell me you broke something in the house?”

”Ah... no, It is not that,” Bernard began, massaging the back of his neck. ”Little ’Laric over here has taken in a slave.”

Solomon’s eyes widened for a moment before he hid his surprise, although Alaric noticed it immediately with his heightened perception.

”A slave, eh?” Solomon folded his arms and asked, ”Where is this slave?”

Alaric rose from his stool and walked toward the stairs. ”Follow me.”

Solomon raised an eyebrow and followed.

The other didn’t follow as they’ve already seen the young slave. Bernard and Eleanor stayed with the others in the Grand Hall, striking a conversation with Alaric’s parents.

”Brother,” Bernard said, grabbing Leonard’s attention as he slumped back into his seat. ”What, are you a mute? Are you just letting your five-year-old lad do whatever he pleases?”

”...”

Bernard sighed, rubbing his neck. ”It hasn’t even been a month, and this happens. If this continues, I don’t even want to think about what is going to happen.”

”Alaric, he...” Leonard finally spoke. ”He’s something else.”

Silence fell again.

Bernard looked at Leonard. ”This is absurd.”

”Yes, he is absurdly strong,” Leonard said. ”You have seen him move. Tell me it is not madness to think a five-year-old like Alaric is that strong and quick.”

Bernard could only nod. ”I... yes. When he knocked me out, it was unbelievable.”

All eyes turned to Bernard as he explained what had happened.

”When I went to drag the slave to the guards myself, Alaric would not budge no matter how hard I tried to shove him aside,” Bernard said while still rubbing his neck. ”He is fast too. Next thing I know, BAM! I wake up here.”

”Impossible,” Eleanor whispered. She could not wrap her head around it.

”It is possible,” Leonard said as he rose and headed for the door. ”I saw him punch a stone fence clean to splinters.”

”Where are you going, love?” Eleanor asked, following him.

Leonard grabbed the door handle and sighed. Then he looked back with a small smile. ”I just need a moment to breathe.”

After Leonard and Eleanor left, Linette sighed as she massaged her temples. ”I am stressed at this very moment.”

---

Alaric walked walked while Solomon followed him.

”I used one of your spare rooms,” he announced as he opened the door where he had hidden the young slave. ”Here.”

The door opened to reveal a black-skinned boy sitting on the floor. The boy hugged his knees and looked cautious. His eyes were wary as he observed the newcomers.

Solomon stepped closer and studied the boy. ”Poor kid,” he said quietly.

Alaric knelt in front of the boy and then glanced back at Solomon. ”Can we hide him here for a while?” he asked in a plain tone.

”Hide? Interesting,” Solomon looked from the boy to Alaric. ”How long do you plan to keep him hidden?” he asked but paused, considering the situation carefully.

”I think we should keep him safe until we figure out a way to help him,” Alaric replied. ”He might be useful to us in the long run. We need to take care of our own selves too, however, if he learns a few things, he might be of help when my family starts a farm business.”

Solomon nodded carefully slowly and stepped closer again. He noticed a small wound on the boy’s arm. ”This wound does not look healthy, we cannot leave him like this.”

Alaric activated his System interface. He focused and selected an item.

[Buy][Sell]

He mentally clicked the [Buy] button and chose [Hyuga Clan Secret Ointment - 1s. 3d.].

[-1s. 3d.](2R)

[Current Balance: £362 18s. 7d.](11,613R)

Pretending to reach into his pocket, Alaric pulled out the ointment. He extended his hand and said, ”Give me your hand.”

The boy slowly extended his right hand. Alaric unscrewed the lead and used his finger to scoop a small amount of ointment. ”This will hurt a bit, but it will help the wound heal.”

The boy nodded and clenched his hand. As Alaric applied the ointment, the boy winced briefly as his wounds that were treated sizzles and a white smoke rose from his skin. He did not cry, but his face showed the pain while the wound closed immediately.

”Amazing,” Solomon watched the scene carefully. ”I don’t recognize such item.”

”Where did you get such salve, ’Laric?”

”Well... I made it,” Alaric replied with a slight smile. ”You can use it on any of your wounds if needed.”

The boy looked up at Alaric with a mix of relief and curiosity.

Solomon observed them for a long moment before speaking again. ”That’s some talent you have right there, lad. But this situation is serious. It’s dangerous to house a slave here in Bristol, especially a runaway slave.”

Solomon then looks toward the slave and asks, ”Tell me, who’s the slave-trader that enslaved you?”

”...”

The room was silent as the young slave thought hard of the name.

”Umm...” The young slave’s eyes were everywhere trying to think of the name, ”Col...ton?”

”Colton?” Solomon raised an eyebrow, ”You mean Colston?”

The slaves eyes widened and nodded his head, ”Y-Yes! Colston!”

”Hmm... that’s difficult,” Solomon folded his arms over his chest, ”Edward Colston... he’s a very wealthy slave-trader here in Bristol, I’m surprised this young one managed to escape somehow.”

”Edward Colston huh...” Alaric looked at the boy, then back at Solomon. ”We can keep him hidden for now and find a way to get him proper care. If he is willing, I can teach him a few things here and there and see if he can be of help to us.”

”Teach him? You?” Solomon questioned while looking at Alaric’s small body, ”You’re five years old, how would you do that?”

Alaric sighed as he could understand how Solomon could question his words, ’How would I convince him... Hmm.. what if...’

”I’ll say something that will convince you, no matter what.” Alaric grins while stating, making Solomon raise his eyebrows.

”No matter what?” The egyptian merchant unfolded his arms and placed his hands on the side of his waist. ”And what are you gonna say, young lad?”

Alaric could only continue his grin, although he was prepared to jump backwards if everything turns upside down. ”Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.”

”You...” Solomon widened his eyes and glared at Alaric, ”Has the brotherhood gone insane? Taking in a child like you?”

”Nope... I’m not an Assassin like you, although I know a lot of things of your brotherhood,” Alaric stated then his became cold, ”I’m surprised that the Hidden Ones are still active in Egypt, I thought the organization declined in middle east after Basim’s disappearance.”

Solomon widened his eyes once more, Alaric’s words were disorganizing him. ’A 5 year old child from Swansea knows of the brotherhood despite us not having any movements there? How does he know about us? Especially the Hidden Ones, and how does he know about my ancestor Basim Ibn Ishaq? This is baffling.’

Solomon considered the words carefully. The room was quiet as the weight of Alaric’s words sank into the egyptian. Finally, Solomon said, ”Who are you?”

”I’m Alaric, duh?” Alaric raised an eyebrow while walking towards a window, scanning the outside perimeter, ”Jokes aside, all I can tell you is that I’ve encountered a fragment of the Isu legacy in Swansea. Other than that... I can fight, and I can kill, that’s all you need to know.”

Alaric’s words ringed once more on Solomon’s ears as the egyptian widened his eyes at the realization, ’So it was because of an Isu fragment. It makes perfect sense, no one knows the power of Isu, even us high-ranking members of the brotherhood, he could’ve encountered an Isu fragment that displayed memories of our old ancestors.’

”In any case, I’ll do what I can to make sure this kid right here will be safe,” Alaric claimed as he turned to look at Solomon. ”Give me a week, and the boy will be gone to a much safer place than here.”

Silence.

’It seems he’s still processing the entire thing, DAMN that was a perfect lie!’ Alaric thought proudly at what he did, ’It’s a perfect excuse too, I can do whatever the hell I want now that he thinks I side with him.’

”Okay... one week,” Solomon sighed and stared at Alaric, ”The boy needs to be out of here by then, I’m having a hard time taking all of this in, but I’ll take your word for it, for now.”

Alaric nodded. ”Good. I’ll make sure to make it happen, Suleiman Al Rashidi.”

Solomon could only chuckle slightly, ’This is baffling yet interesting at the same time, I wonder what he meant when he said he can fight and kill? Has he killed already?’

For a moment, the room was still as they all processed the situation. Then Alaric spoke again with clear intent and sat on a stool in the room.

”You do merchandising on the side, right? Help me will ya? I’ll pay you.”