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Authors: Oliver Bowden
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are doing is right. Please don’t read into this an expression of ideological
doubt on my behalf, for I have never been more firm in my beliefs that the Brotherhood stands
for what is right in this world. My doubt, dear Arbaaz, lies in the application of that
ideology, and this doubt is what keeps me awake at night, wondering if we fail our children by
moulding them into our image, when, in fact, we should be teaching them to follow a path of
their own. I wonder, are we merely paying lip service to the very principles we espouse?
With my own children I have attempted to take an alternative path to the one I have always
followed in the past, and different to the one I tried to follow with Jayadeep. Rather than
indoctrinating them, I have instead strived to give them the tools with which to teach
themselves.
It pleases me that their trajectory follows my own. As you know, in London, the Assassin
presence is long since depleted. Our Brotherhood is weak here, while the Templars, under the
command of their Grand Master, Crawford Starrick, continue to thrive; indeed, news has reached
us that our enemy’s infiltration into the city’s elite is even more pronounced
than we feared. They have plans afoot, of that there is no doubt. Big plans. And oneday, when they are ready, Jacob and Evie will join the struggle against
them.
When they are ready.
Note that well,
Arbaaz. I allowed them to find their own path, and I have abided by the principle that they
should only call themselves fully fledged Assassins when I know them to be as mentally capable
of fulfilling the task as they are physically. I do this in the knowledge that we are all
individuals, some of us suited to one direction, some to another. Assassins we may be in name,
yet not all of us can be ‘assassins’ in nature.
And so it is with Jayadeep. I understand how heartbreaking it must be for you. He is, after
all, your son. You yourself are a great Assassin and he has the potential to be one. However,
what I know for sure is that though he may be skilled and talented in the means of dealing
death, Jayadeep lacks the heart to do so.
He will kill. Yes, he will kill, if needs be. In a heartbeat if it were in defence of
himself or of those he loves. But I wonder, will he do so in the name of an ideology? Will he
do so for the creed?
Will he do so in cold blood?
Which brings me to the timing of my letter. The troubling news has reached me that Jayadeep
is to embark upon his first real-world assignment. An assassination.
Firstly, I must say how much I
appreciate that you took my concerns of six years ago seriously enough to delay his blooding
until after his seventeenth birthday. For this I am grateful, and commend you for your wisdom
and restraint. However, it is my view that Jayadeep lacks the core resolve needed for such an
act –
and nor will he ever attain it.
Simply put, he is different to you and me. Perhaps different to Jacob and Evie. Further, it
is my belief – and a belief that is entirely consistent with the core values of the
Brotherhood – thatwe should embrace what is different about him. We
should celebrate that individuality and turn it to good use for the Brotherhood, rather than
try to deny it and mould it into rough and awkward shapes.
To put it another way, by sending Jayadeep into action, you are inviting something far
worse than your (imagined, if I may say so) disgrace that your son cannot follow in your own
esteemed footsteps, in favour of a much, much more profound disgrace: abject failure.
I beg of you, please, retire him from this assignation, take a fresh view of him, utilize
the best of your extraordinary son’s abilities for the good of the Brotherhood rather
than depending on the worst.
I hope to hear your decision by return, and I pray that you show the same wisdom and
restraint for which I have already commended you. You have trusted me in the past; please,
Arbaaz, trust me again.
Yours, as ever,
Ethan Frye
London
12
Letter to
doubt on my behalf, for I have never been more firm in my beliefs that the Brotherhood stands
for what is right in this world. My doubt, dear Arbaaz, lies in the application of that
ideology, and this doubt is what keeps me awake at night, wondering if we fail our children by
moulding them into our image, when, in fact, we should be teaching them to follow a path of
their own. I wonder, are we merely paying lip service to the very principles we espouse?
With my own children I have attempted to take an alternative path to the one I have always
followed in the past, and different to the one I tried to follow with Jayadeep. Rather than
indoctrinating them, I have instead strived to give them the tools with which to teach
themselves.
It pleases me that their trajectory follows my own. As you know, in London, the Assassin
presence is long since depleted. Our Brotherhood is weak here, while the Templars, under the
command of their Grand Master, Crawford Starrick, continue to thrive; indeed, news has reached
us that our enemy’s infiltration into the city’s elite is even more pronounced
than we feared. They have plans afoot, of that there is no doubt. Big plans. And oneday, when they are ready, Jacob and Evie will join the struggle against
them.
When they are ready.
Note that well,
Arbaaz. I allowed them to find their own path, and I have abided by the principle that they
should only call themselves fully fledged Assassins when I know them to be as mentally capable
of fulfilling the task as they are physically. I do this in the knowledge that we are all
individuals, some of us suited to one direction, some to another. Assassins we may be in name,
yet not all of us can be ‘assassins’ in nature.
And so it is with Jayadeep. I understand how heartbreaking it must be for you. He is, after
all, your son. You yourself are a great Assassin and he has the potential to be one. However,
what I know for sure is that though he may be skilled and talented in the means of dealing
death, Jayadeep lacks the heart to do so.
He will kill. Yes, he will kill, if needs be. In a heartbeat if it were in defence of
himself or of those he loves. But I wonder, will he do so in the name of an ideology? Will he
do so for the creed?
Will he do so in cold blood?
Which brings me to the timing of my letter. The troubling news has reached me that Jayadeep
is to embark upon his first real-world assignment. An assassination.
Firstly, I must say how much I
appreciate that you took my concerns of six years ago seriously enough to delay his blooding
until after his seventeenth birthday. For this I am grateful, and commend you for your wisdom
and restraint. However, it is my view that Jayadeep lacks the core resolve needed for such an
act –
and nor will he ever attain it.
Simply put, he is different to you and me. Perhaps different to Jacob and Evie. Further, it
is my belief – and a belief that is entirely consistent with the core values of the
Brotherhood – thatwe should embrace what is different about him. We
should celebrate that individuality and turn it to good use for the Brotherhood, rather than
try to deny it and mould it into rough and awkward shapes.
To put it another way, by sending Jayadeep into action, you are inviting something far
worse than your (imagined, if I may say so) disgrace that your son cannot follow in your own
esteemed footsteps, in favour of a much, much more profound disgrace: abject failure.
I beg of you, please, retire him from this assignation, take a fresh view of him, utilize
the best of your extraordinary son’s abilities for the good of the Brotherhood rather
than depending on the worst.
I hope to hear your decision by return, and I pray that you show the same wisdom and
restraint for which I have already commended you. You have trusted me in the past; please,
Arbaaz, trust me again.
Yours, as ever,
Ethan Frye
London
12
Letter to
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