Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Highlands Children

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Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Highlands Children (French: Assassin's Creed: Fragments – Les Enfants des Highlands) is a novel by Alain T. Puysségur. It was released in French on 16 September 2021, as the second entry in the Assassin's Creed: Fragments young adult series by 404 Éditions. An English translation was released on 14 November 2023.

The events of the novel take place in Scotland, following Fillan and his sister Ailéas during the invasion by King Edward I of England in 1296, and focused on the local culture of the Highlands.

Official synopsis

Scotland, 1296. The English troops of King Edward are ordered to attack and ransack the Scottish town of Berwick. During the chaos of the battle, Fillian and his twin sister Aileas get separated. Fillian finds protection within a mysterious group of warriors, while Aileas is saved from certain death by an English Captain. Thrust into the dangers of the violent conflict opposing not only Scotland and England, but also Assassins and Templars, each teen embarks on their own perilous journey. When the time comes, will the two siblings be reunited?

Summary

Chapter 1 — Shadows

In the middle of the night at Berwick, a shop is broken into by goldsmith Glenn. Within moments, Glenn is held by scissors at his neck by a young woman named Ailéas, who released him upon recognition. Behind the shop's counter, experienced tailor Alastair Aitken talks with Glenn, who looked at the shop's current destruction, and they discuss the battle outside their doors. Four days earlier, a battalion of English soldiers were ordered by King Edward I of England to attack Berwick in retaliation to King John Balliol of Scotland allying with the French and rejecting a call to arms from King Edward. Soon, Ailéas' twin brother Fillan returns and asks Glenn of his purpose here while welcoming him. Glenn demands that they all leave as the town's leader is readying to abdicate, leading to all of their deaths.

Alastair agrees but is quickly reprimanded by Glenn for his lack of haste. Although Fillian defends his master, the tailor soon sends the teenager away to pack while he talks with Glenn about their preparations. Meanwhile, Ailéas ponders at leaving her home and recalls when Alastair took them in after the parents were massacred eight years ago and made them his apprentices. After Glenn leaves, Ailéas comments that they are leaving others behind. Alastair states that survival is the upmost importance and that they must leave. He soon tells the twins to tell one more guild member before they leave. They leave their home while Ailéas tries to talk about their parents, but Fillan shuts down any conversation about it. They soon arrive at the cobbler's door but finds the cobbler killed and his shop ransacked. Immediately, shouts are heard while news spread of the leader's surrender while a man tells the twins to run. Although Ailéas tries to help him, the man, bleeding from a spear in his back, yells at them to run. The twins run immediately from incoming English troops.

Chapter 2 — Massacre

With Berwick in chaos, the twins try to escape and make their way back to Alastair, but come across three young soldiers who held a grudge against Fillan. Fillian goads them into a fight but is beaten down by one of the soldiers. Before the soldier could stab him, Ailéas knocks him out and scares the other soldiers away. Embarrassed, Fillian pushes her hand away and then both continued on their way. Venturing past bodies and people running, they arrive at Alastair's shop but finds Alastair beaten up by unknown soldiers wearing red capes. The leader demands him to tell them the location of the Children of Fal but Alastair remains silent. After the leader chokes him, he lets him go and plunges his sword into Alastair. Shocked, the twins tear up while Fillan lets out a cry. The leader tells his men to seize them but Ailéas tells Fillan to run for the quays.

Escaping within the crowds of people running, the twins head for the roofs and then react to the chaos and fires burning their hometown. Meanwhile, their pursuers sought them and pushed or slew down any bodies in their way. Fortunately, they managed to escape the soldiers but Fillan falls behind Ailéas, who heads for the quays. Before he could change direction, he hears Ailéas scream aloud.

Chapter 3 — Rupture

Fillan looks for his sister but finds a man on the floor dying on his last breath instead. Traversing through the madness, he becomes overcome with relief of not seeing Ailéas' body but feels anguish over the casualities. However, he finds Ailéas' blood and ripped fabric soon and then sees her motionless body being carried by a English soldier. Before he can act, he was grabbed by one of the red cape soldiers. Fortunately, a burning building falls atop the soldier and Fillan escapes, but not before losing sight of Ailéas. Fillan manages to overlook the massacre happening in front of him and makes his way to the town square. The remaining resistance, which included blacksmith Charles, composed of a last ditch effort to fight the English. Soon, while running, Fillan loses his footing as a dead body falls atop of him.

Pushing the body off him, Fillan begins to run again and evades capture. Sadly, he comes across Glenn dead in a sea of blood and other corpses. He soon finds his way to the quays but finds most of the boats burning. He remembers a large pontoon he boarded and swims towards it. Calling out for any survivors, he realizes an incoming English soldier with a dagger in his hand. Paralyzed, he accepts his fate but falls down from a blow to his head. Before losing consciousness, he hopes to see his sister again in death.

Chapter 4 — Mercenaries

Fillan wakes up to feel the grass on his face and wrists bounded. Soon, he finds himself eavesdropping on a conversation between a Norwegian man and a woman talking about why the Brotherhood wants him. Soon, another man named Edan notices Fillan awake and raises him to sit up right. Edan tries to have Fillan talk but the boy is shaking in terror and pain from what he escaped. The other man, whose build is tremendous and frightening, asks Fillan to recount everything that happened. As best he can, Fillan tells them all what has transpired, especially Alastair's death. Realizing he cannot fight back, Fillan tries to run away. However, he is tripped by another woman in the group of mercenaries.

The Norwegian soon goes to the boy and states that this is a child's way. Fillan states that he is not a child, admits his name, and wants to go back to Berwick. However, the Norwegian states that the village is gone and thus his sister. Realizing time is against them, they all prepare to leave with Fillan. Meanwhile, the Norwegian brings Fillan to an edge of the forest, where they can see Berwick burning. Trying to convince him to leave, the man reveals his name to be Sören and how he and the others were tasked by the Brotherhood to bring him and his sister to them to Dalkeith. Although he senses something off, Fillan agrees to go with Sören and his mercenaries. Ready, they depart to meet the Brotherhood.

Chapter 5 — Hunted

Fillan rides along the mercenaries to their destination, despite the struggle of riding and the bad omen of leaving Berwick behind. Moira suggests to take his time riding but he almost loses control of his steed. After finding a place to rest, Fillan hopes to sleep after they rode for most of the day. Before he can, Sören talks with him about who the mercenaries are and gives him food. He confirms the bald man is Edan and one of the women is Kyle, who begins to tussle with Edan. Too tired, Fillan falls asleep while Sören assigns Edan first guard duty. While trying to sleep, Fillan keeps waking up from nightmares in his sleep.

The next day, they begin to ride again, but are joined by two more mercenaries Craig and Fergus. While riding, Sören assigns Kyle to leave the group midway. Fillan soon notices Edan becoming more restless while still tired from the journey. Resting for a moment, Fillan awakes from the sound of swords clashing. While the sound ends, Fillan arms himself with a branch only to see Kyle escort a captured English soldier forward. She states that three of them were tracking them. Sören interrogates the soldier, who, after a moment with a dagger, admits to tracking the boy after being told a description. After talking with the other mercenaries, Sören quickly kills the soldier, much to Fillan's horror.

Chapter 6 — Captivity

An injured person wakes up in a camp of English soldiers and notices their injuries. Within the tent, she notices three other injured people and then a captain named Bradley checks up on her wounds. He warns her not to move and rest for her injuries, however the captive distrusts the captain. Realizing they need to escape, they leave but barely makes it to a stream. Soon, a commander finds them but not before Bradley comes to excuse the captive as an English soldier hallucinating. Outranking the commander, Bradley hurries the captive back but the commander comes back for a report and notices the truth of the captive. Instantly, Bradley slits the commander's throat and hides the body. Hurrying the young captive back into the tent, Bradley tells them to be careful as he cannot save them again.

Chapter 7 — Cranshaws

For the next two days, Fillan drifts in and out of consciousness until he wakes up to see Moira tending to him. Before long, both he and Moira walk to the river as he realizes a wound across his face. Moira reveals that they all decided to hide Fillan's appearance with a scar, which happens to be superficial. Sören enters and asks Fillan why the English are after him. Fillan admits that the English may think that he killed a captain but admits it was a blacksmith. Calm, Sören tells Fillan to clean up while he states their venture towards Cranshaws. Moira has Fillan ride with her as they ride towards the village. Within a day, they arrive at Cranshaws but notice a bleak atmosphere around the village.

Craig scouts the area while the rest of the group waits. However, an alarm is raised, which makes the group ride into the town. They soon see Craig having killed two English soldiers while they see the bodies around the houses. Realizing it is a trap, Sören orders his mercenaries to fight while Fergus stays with Fillan. Within seconds, the mercenaries fight off seven soldiers, two of whom fight Sören. However, although one of English soldiers remain, a battalion enters from the other side of the town. Fillan recognizes the leader as the antler leader of the red capes and readies a sword. Ignoring Sören and Fergus' orders, Fillan runs towards the captain, who stares back with his black eyes. Terrorized, Fillan freezes on the spot.

Chapter 8 — Lann Fala

A fire begins to grow and take over the whole village while the antlered-helmet man winds up his sword. Sören yells for Craig, who defends Fillan from the man's attack. Instantly, Craig fights the man while Moira angrily grabs a frozen Fillan and scolds him for his idiocy. Moira and Fillan are jumped by a soldier, but Moira quickly kills him and they rush towards the horses next to Fergus. With more Englishmen coming, they all retreat while Craig sacrificed himself and is beheaded by the leader. Despite Edan's desire to fight, they all escape by twelve miles. While they wonder if they are safe, Sören immediately grabs Fillan by the neck and demands answers from him.

Fillan states that the man killed Alastair and how the English are after him over a dead captain. However, Sören divulges that the man is called Cornavii, a leader of a group of trackers called the Lann Fala. The mercenaries talk about abandoning the mission but Sören disagrees. Angry, Sören throws a sword in front of Fillan and orders him to fight. Shaky, Fillan is able to block a sword attack from Sören but loses the sword. Sören immediately breaks Fillan's nose but not before Moira steps in to stop. However, right before Sören is going to backhand Fillan, he notices a birthmark on Fillan's wrist. Walking off, he orders the rest to set up camp while Kyle helps Fillan up. Confused, Fillan wonders why Sören left in such a state.

Chapter 9 — Trust

At camp, Fillan has not seen Sören the full morning while Moira tends to his dislocated nose. However, he sees everyone looking at him and judging him for having Craig sacrifice himself. Kyle moves towards him and tries to console him about his part in Craig's part. She also reveals that Fergus is feeling the worse with Craig having been his cousin. Kyle asks why Fillan tried to attack Cornavii and he explains that the man killed his mentor Alastair and indirectly killed his twin sister. Kyle soon asks where he is from and Fillan admits that he only remembers his clan dying when he was eight but not anymore where he came from, sadly. Kyle soon asks about Ailéas, to which Fillan remembers how alike they look but how different they were to each other.

Happy, Fillan recalls his memories with Ailéas in Berwick while talking with Kyle. Kyle admits how she was an only child and how her father named her Kyle over wanting one boy. Fillan soon turns sour over recalling how unfair he treated Ailéas and asks Kyle why she wants to know. Kyle wonders why they drifted apart and Fillan knows that it was mostly because of his attitude and actions towards her. Kyle explains that when they arrive in Dalkeith, he must somber less and grow up. Initially mad, Fillan realizes that Kyle wants to advise him to be someone new.

Chapter 10 — Training

Fillan wakes up to a sheathed sword in his face and Kyle over him. Together, they slip out of the tent while Kyle tells him that she is going to train him how to fight. After chastizing him, Kyle leads him to a clearing and starts to help him on how to properly grasp a sword. Embarassed, Fillan holds his tongue as he knows that he was not the fighter like Ailéas. After a moment, he learns how to hold a sword but then Kyle points out his amateurish stance. Time passes and Fillan stops fighting and just listens to Kyle. Although she still corrects him, Fillan asks if the rest still hates him. Kyle retorts that she figures that he grew up in the south due to his interest in what others think of him.

Fillan then asks about the Lann Fala but Kyle shoots him with a dark look as she explains the danger they represent. She explains they are a part of another group but stops herself when Fillan asks who. Instantly, Kyle swings her sword at him and practices once more. Soon, after Kyle calms down Fillan's worries, Sören appears and takes Kyle to talk. Kyle and Sören talk about Fillan's training while Kyle worries over the Lann Fala tracking them. She soon asks why, which Sören admits that he believes Fillan to be a Child of Fal. Shocked, Kyle realizes they are in more danger than expected.

Chapter 11 — Meeting

Whilst riding to Dalkeith, Fillan continues his training with Kyle and earns bruises for every time Kyle lands a "fatal" blow. On the seventh day, Fillan sees the towers of the fort and grows worried. Sören notices and tells him that the village and the land is held by the Patrick of the Graham clan, a purebred Scotsman who rather fight than let the English in willingly. When they enter the village, the mercenaries pull their hoods down while Fillan is amazed at the oblivion of the townspeople. Moira states that they are readying for Bealltainn. Sören tells the group to wait while he and Fillan head to the contact.

Entering an inn, Sören speaks to the bartender, who goes to the back. Within moments, they meet with an equally tall man named Deorsa, who asked why they all took so long. Stern, Sören admits that they hit some snags, including Cornavii. Deorsa remains stalwart and Sören grows enraged that the Brotherhood kept this from him. Deorsa tells that this happens when you leave and Sören grabs the man by the neck while Fillan watches intensely. After a brief spat, Sören releases Deorsa. Deorsa soon looks at Fillan and wonders why he is scarred. Sören states to evade capture and notice by the English and the Lann Fala. Deorsa soon informs Sören that they must take him to Scone, much to Sören's dismay. Deorsa promises to double the price, which calms Sören's anger and the Norwegian accepts. Joyful, Deorsa asks them to stay for Bealltainn. While Deorsa left, Fillan feels uneased as he knows less of what has happened and why he is in the middle of all of this.

Chapter 12 — Trust

After battling through an infection and staying silent with Bradley, the injured captive reveals herself to be Ailéas. Through time and silence, she breaks down her defenses and talks with Bradley. After a while, she plays chance with him as the other injured died earlier. She finally asks him why he saved her, to which he initially stated because of honor. However, she prods him for the truth and thus he points to her wrist and her birthmark. Bradley reveals that before he became a soldier, he was a traveler and spent time in the Highlands. One instance after a bear attack, he was found and healed by a clan with the same birthmark. As a request, he was told to protect those with the same birthmark.

Afterwards, while Bradley dealt with a small matter, Ailéas feels at ease. When he returned, they continue their game of chance. However, Ailéas asks what happens now. Bradley states the battalion is moving forward and Ailéas is healed enough to walk. Ailéas asks why he would stay but Bradley admits that the Lann Fala is hunting her from the Massacre of Berwick. He continues to reveal that they are part of a group called the Templars, who have allied with King Edward. Bradley also informs her of Fillan's survival, much to Ailéas' satisfaction. Ailéas wonders why she is joining them but Bradley surmises that under the enemy's nose is better and how she can seen as a healer for her cover. Ailéas tries to protest but Bradley makes a point of the Lann Fala using her to find him. Scared for her brother, the dice roll from Bradley's hands. Unsure of the future of the war, they both continue while Ailéas fears for hers and Fillan's survival.

Chapter 13 — Uncertainty

With Deorsa's lies, Fillan and the mercenaries are able to find sleep in the inn in Dalkeith. Fillan is unable to garner a conversation with Deorsa while he learns from Sören that the Graham clan and other Scottish chiefs were planning to hold the English off at Dunbar. Meanwhile, Fergus and Edan frequent a promisicious establishment within the village while Kyle and Fillan continue to train together. After four days, Fillan's training comes to a new turn when Sören comes to take a turn with Fillan. Making good progress, Fillan begins to duel with Sören while asking him about Deorsa's involvement. Sören explains that Deorsa is part of the Brotherhood as a spy while putting Fillan on his feet. He also explains what the Brotherhood is but grows annoyed at Fillan's questioning.

Fillan asks more about the Children of Fal and the Lann Fala but Sören grows more rageful and starts to beat on the boy further. Disarmed, Fillan tries to fight back but Sören manages to hold him and calls him a coward and a child. However, Fillan expresses that he is not, which leads Sören to add him to a small raid on an English party near the village with him and Kyle. Sören states that the plan is to eliminate the English soldiers before leaving Fillan on the ground. Afraid, Fillan is terrified over the thought of his first fight, let alone the prospect of his first kill.

Chapter 14 — Raid

Sören leads his group to the English camp and has Fillan armored well for their task. Fillan recalls of Deorsa's worry but was stopped by Kyle, who gave him a pendant of Ogme, a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann. At the encampment, Sören signals his group to ready their swords while he disappears into the shadows. Fillan is tasked to kill a sleeping guard while the rest deal with the other soldiers. Left alone, Fillan approaches the camp while hiding among the trees and bushes. He waits to make sure any noises are left alone and ignores Sören's signal while he overhears the soldiers talking about how Cornavii's men returned back to Berwick. While nearing the tent, Fillan hears the most slightest sound of Sören and the group taking out the soldiers Fillan heard earlier. In the tent, he sees the soldier asleep and notices their age resemblance. However, Sören comes in and takes the blade to kill the English guard in his sleep. Sören explains to Fillan on how to act quick and solve what inner turmoil he has. After Sören leaves, Fillan cannot stop thinking and hallucinating about Ailéas.

Chapter 15 — Bealltainn

In Dalkeith, the festival of Bealltainn has commenced with great fervor as the people celebrate and rouse each other, especially Fergus and his playing. However, the fires and commotion make Fillan relive the massacre again. While sulking around, he meets a seemingly drunk Deorsa who congratulates him on his "first" kill. Admitting Sören helped him, Fillan soon asks Deorsa what the Brotherhood wants with him. However, Deorsa sobers up and tells Fillan to remain quiet and find time to himself away from the mercenaries. While Deorsa leaves, Kyle comes to check in on Fillan. Soon, they watch a druid perform her ritual and then meet with Kyle. Kyle introduces her as Tilda and asks her to read Fillan before the other people. Reluctant, Fillan agrees while Tilda takes them into her cottage. Reading Fillan, Tilda tells him how his guilt weighs him down and he must face his emotions in order to grow.

Tilda also reminds him that he must address it sooner rather than later. Leaving the cottage, Kyle begins to cheer up Fillan and starts to enjoy the festival together. Dancing and drinking the night away, they return back to their training ground where Kyle kisses him. Before he can respond, Fillan is suddenly blinded with a hood and taken away. Hitting his head, he becomes unconsciousness after hearing stones scraping each other.

Chapter 16 — Rite

Fillan wakes up, only to find himself alone in a dolmen, an ancient chamber where bodies were placed for eternal rest. Cutting himself on the sharp stones around him, he soon envisions a younger Ailéas and finds himself screaming. Believing it may be the power of Bealltainn, he stops screaming and talks to the young Ailéas. Calling her by her nickname "Ale," Fillan begins to cry and ask for forgiveness, which she states "It's no use," before disappearing. Overwrought with a multitude of emotions, Fillan hears her voice, which states he must forgive himself not her.

The voice soon changes to Tilda's and he begins to understand that he must protect himself. Soon, he recalls a memory of him and Ailéas and builds up his determination to move forward. Calming down, Fillan looks around to find his way out and finds a boulder blocking his way. Finding a broken femur, Fillan looks and finds a small opening. Budging the bone through it, he manages to create an opening and cool air blows against him. Narrowly escaping, he breathes and feels relieved at being somewhat reborn. Walking from the mound, he finds Sören smiling.

Media

Editions

• ISBN 9791032404188; 404 Éditions; 16 September 2021; French-language hardcover

International

• ISBN 9781803363554; Titan Books; 14 November 2023; English-language paperback

Cover gallery

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  French cover
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