I was basically bedridden for for the next week, but doc Thomas was right. I really am healing faster than any human has a right to. All of the wounds Doc Thomas had stitched up were completely closed. The swelling in my knee had disappeared, and it only bothered me when I did hard stops with it.

While I was waiting, I talked to a few of the men about the layout of the city and how far my target’s mansion was from it. It wasn’t very surprising, but none of the men had any idea about my targets mansion.

I mentally go through the details again, kill Diego Mera, he is tall, dark hair with a silver streak, and a large facial scar. Doesn’t matter how I kill him, just don’t get caught. He’ll be having a huge party in a couple days, and Mrs. Brown wants it done then. It should all be easy enough. I’ll just get a poisoned blade, stab him, and then run like crazy. The most important thing is not to get cornered and give into my blood high. There is no telling how many people I might end up killing before it runs out of steam.

I spend the rest of my time sharpening my blades, cleaning my guns, and oiling my harness. When I get into town, I’ll find an oversized dress coat to hide my weapons.

“So, how do I look?”

Bheki answers in a deadpanned voice, “Like a child playing in his father’s clothes. How did you think that would work?”

I look down at the oversized dress frock coat. I guess it was pretty big but it can’t be that bad. I look over to Zijde, wondering what he thought.

“My friend… that coat screams, ’I have weapons. You better search me!’. You won’t make it through the front gate without taking it off.”

Bheki chuckles, “Now, you could stash the weapons over the wall and then take advantage of it’s… ample space. That’s an option.”

Zijde just shakes his head, “I still think that since he’s using his mansion by the ocean, we should use my idea. We won’t have to worry about you getting killed that way.”

I just roll my eyes, and Bheki clears his throat, “Cap’n I don’t think bombarding the party via ship will go over very well with the aristocracy of Cuba. I don’t think Mrs. Brown will be happy with the outcome either.”

Zijde shakes his head in defiance, “She did say she didn’t care how it was done.”

I walk up, putting my hand on his shoulder, “Cap’n other than the… ‘heavy handed’ nature of your plan, there is one major problem. How am I going to make sure he dies? I’m sure the chances aren’t in his favor, but with my luck, I’d kill everyone but him. You know Bheki and I are right.”

Zijde looks out from the pier for a few moments, “I suppose you both are right, but once darkness falls we will have the ship in place to pick you up. There might just be a oil-doused pile of wood on the beach, that could be set ablaze to… oh I don’t know, commence the bombardment of a bunch of pompous Spaniards.”

Bheki gives me apprehensive look as he waits for me to answer. I look at Zijde and just nod my head, “Alright Cap’n I’ll keep it in mind, but don’t get your hopes up.”

Zijde walks off grumbling something about not knowing a good idea if it bite you in the ass. I look at Bheki and smile, “He has his day doesn’t he?”

Bheki studies me for a moment before smiling, “I can’t help but agree. You should probably head out though. You have quite a bit to do before the day is over.”

I just nod before making my way towards the mansion. As I make my way down the winding road I think about everything that has happened the last few weeks. I really have become a part of the game. I feel way more accepted her than I do in real life. No matter how hard I tried to clear my name, I never got anywhere. I mean, the proof was right there. My lieutenant colonel was clearly corrupt when he was forced to retire just after my discharge. I had recordings, correspondence, but it was never enough. I just don’t understand how I could go from modern day war hero to criminal in just under a year. It just seems that everything about the situation has been suppressed…

I shake myself out of my self pity as I start approaching the main gate. I guard holding a musket, stops me, “Hello sir, could I see your invitation?”

… What the fuck. How could Mrs. Brown not tell me about an invitation? Isn’t that pretty standard for an infiltration? Damn, I bet all that shit with Hybi distracted her and caused her to forget. I can't help but smile, “A pain in my ass even from here.”

“Excuse me sir?”

I wave him off, “Ah nothing, I seem to have left the invitation in my room in town. I will go collect it and be back shortly.”

The man studies me for a moment, “Fucking peasants, get out of here.”

I give him a friendly smile, “Be glad I’m busy.”

I walk away from the guard yelling some dumb shit to the back of my head. When I’m out of sight, I cut through the dense foliage, and I make my way to the estate wall. It’s about eight feet tall, and I struggle to make it over with all of the gear on my person. After I bust my ass on the other side, I get up brushing myself off.

“Eh, I’m starting to think that Zijde might have had the winning idea.” I look back at the wall, “Yea, that fucking wall would look much better after a few cannonballs.” I pull out a three inch knife Liber made me. It has a needle sharp point, that quickly spreads out to be three inches across. Perfect for what I have planned tonight.

After 15 minutes of pushing my way through what I thought was jungle, I come across a stone pathway, “Huh... of course the rich guy has a fucking maze. Maybe Zijde had a point when he was talking about just shelling the damn place.”

It’s definitely a rich guy maze though. The stones are a soft, uniform gray, and each stone is flush with the one beside it, leaving nothing to possibly trip on. The hedges must be some kind of tropical variety since they have huge ombre flowers that go from white to purple with every shade in between. Also, the walls aren’t a solid mass of sticks and leaves, more like a tropical bush that made it easy to slip inside as the partygoers walk past.

After an infuriating hour of slinking and hiding, I made my way to the party proper. I decided to stash my coat and weapon harness at the beginning of the maze… I hate to admit it, but after seeing how the other guests are dressed, Bheki is right about me looking ridiculous.

Now, the maze was pretty well lit, but it’s nothing compared to the courtyard at the entrance. A large open area with palm trees lining the edges. Between each tree are candles inside an opaque glass housing, each emitting a dim yellow glow, but add the hundreds of them together, it made for gorgeous party lighting. Inside the row of trees, tables lined each side the entire 100 plus yards to the mansion. Each table filled with all the food and drink one could hope for.

Now, the mansion was a sight to behold… four stories tall, with marble balconies jutting out from the first couple stories. The walls are a cream color, with the pillars and windows painted to a rich green color. The through the floor-to-ceiling window, I can see huge crystal chandeliers and paintings along the walls. Above it all, are two 30 foot, square towers topped with terracotta roofs.

“Stupid rich doesn’t even touch this… this is the culmination of generations of men with micro-peens trying to compensate rich.”

“Excuse me?”

I turn around to see a woman trying too hard with makeup, and wearing a green ball gown worth more than most men’s yearly wages, “Oh uh… was that out loud? It’s just something I do to make me feel better about my lack of funds. I honestly can’t believe that I was invited her in the first place.”

She twists her face into a disgusting sneer, “Oh my, the really did show pity on some of the ‘lessers’ this time. I guess it does make for good entertainment, watching you fumble around clearly out of place.”

She spins around, flicking her hand into the air, as she walks away. I watch as she laughs all the way over to a group of people, talks to them for a moment, points me out, and they all begin to laugh at my expense. I do my best to rein in the fire from my chest, but I can’t do much about changing shades of red though. Mhhh, Zijde may have had the winning plan from the start...

Before the I snap on somebody, I walk off towards a table full of different drinks. I see an older man with a dark, leathery tan serving alcohol from a couple dozen bottles.

I cock and eyebrow as he makes a show of flipping bottles, mixing drinks with both hands, and tossing used fruit into a trash bin about 20 feet away. As I approach, he flashes a bright white smile that surprises me. His teeth would give a hollywood actor a run for his money they are so well kept.

“What will my kind sir be drinking tonight? We have several vintages of red and white wine, brandy, rum, ales, scotch, and something new tonight, tequila.”

His voice is deep and raspy, but makes me feel like he really cares about me. I have no idea why, but I just feel like I could trust him to watch a $1000 dollars for me. And until he mentioned tequila, he made everything sound so appetizing, but I must have grimaced when he said tequila since he started chuckling.

“Oh my, already made its acquaintance eh? Well, my personal favorite is this peach brandy, but the peach wine is a close second.”

“Oh you could say I love tequila, but tequila doesn't love me. Well, how bout a drink of brandy to start me off and a glass of wine to carry with me.”

He smiles and nods with satisfaction, “Excellent choice my kind sir! I would likely have chosen the very same thing in your position. Here you are, first the brandy.”

I take the small crystal glass, bringing it to my lips. The sweetness of the peaches made my mouth water as the subtle sourness only made it taste that much more of peaches. Then I couldn’t help but sigh as the alcohol warmed my belly.

“I see my kind sir agrees with my taste in spirits, I’m sure the wine will be just as pleasing.”

I take a glass of wine, giving him my best smile, “So, who brewed the wine that made the brandy?”

A spark of pride flickers in the man’s eyes, “Oh I brew all the wine we serve at the properties here sir, and I also distill the brandy. I have been doing so for the last 15 years.”

“Oh? You must really know your way around winemaking? What does a man of your talents make a year? I would be more than willing to give you half again what you make now.”

No sooner than the words leave my mouth, the pride leaves his eyes, “I do apologize for my kind sir, but I am not that kind of employee of Mr. Mera. You would need to speak with him about purchasing me.”

Ugh… purchase him? I know that slavery was in it’s hayday here, but a man talking about being bought to my face just fucks with me. It’s all I can do to keep the conversation halfway smoothly, “Oh, well eh… where could I find Mr. Mera? I have some other business to discuss with him as well.”

The man smiles once again, but I can feel the sadness from him. I can only imagine how hard it is to be proud of your profession when your considered ‘property’, “Yes, you can walk through the double doors at the base of the mansion. I appreciate your enthusiasm when it comes to Mr. Mera’s wine.”

“What’s your name sir?”

He looks slightly taken aback when I address him as sir, “My name is Tormal.”

“Excellent Mr. Tormal. I just want you to remember something. This wine isn’t Mr. Mera’... if you disappeared right now, Mr. Mera wouldn’t have shit.”

It’s almost impossible to see through his deeply tanned skin, but I think I see the man blush, “If you say so, sir.”

I start to walk to the doors to find the man I am supposed to assassinate, but a thought stops me short, “Mr. Tormal, where are the slave quarters in relation to the mansion?”