Shades of Grey

Prologue

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The citadel of Masyaf was one of the largest ever seen. For the little standing in the gardens of that great edifice, it was larger than anything she had seen outside her home. It wasn't much of a comparison since it was her first trip to the citadel. It was to be the first of a long line of visits to the citadel of her father's longtime friends.

Her robes flapped in the breeze as she gazed upwards. Her dark hair was drawn back into a single braid that trailed down the middle of her back. The shorter locks fell out of the braid and were blowing with the breeze. Her eyes that were an unusual shade, red brown, took in every detail they sought out of the building she had grown to love. She wanted to embed the image in her memory.

While she was looking up, she didn't seem to see the shadow that glided over the grass of the gardens making its way towards her. In fact she didn't know that she wasn't alone until she was grabbed from behind. She let out a squeal but also retaliated with her feet and her elbows. Her wriggling caused her and her captor to fall to the ground and they burst out laughing.

"You have sharp talons Little Falcon," her attacker said as he propped himself up on his forearms. His honey colored eyes looked at her as he smiled and added, "You almost had me, Selma."

Selma turned her head towards her companion, preferring to remain lying on her back on the grass. She replied, "I did see you. I just let you catch me." She lifted her head to peer at him and asked, "Unless you wanted me to see you Altair?"

Altair looked at Selma. At ten years old she was already starting to turn into the beauty she was going to become as a woman. She also was intelligent and very perceptive of things around her. He had never met anyone like her in Masyaf until she arrived two months ago with her father. His father introduced him to her and she asked if he liked to ride horses and of course he said that he did.

They had become fast friends. They went almost everywhere together where it was permitted. One was not usually seen without the other. He showed her everything about the citadel; all the secrets that he had discovered he had shown her. He even started teaching her the things he had been learning and she taught him a few things. It was a good two months.

Selma blinked at Altair, her red brown eyes flickering like those of a falcon, hence the pet name he bestowed upon her the first day they met. He took in her gaze as he replied, "I wanted you to see me because your father is looking for you and I said I would find you. The soldiers are at the gate."

Selma sighed, not because her father wanted her but because of the trouble that was currently plaguing Masyaf. Looking up at the clear blue sky she asked, "Why are they attacking us Altair?"

At eleven years old, Altair never expected to be deferred to as someone who could answer such a question with some modicum of knowledge. He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I don't know Little Falcon."

Selma was silent for a moment as she pondered on her back. Then she sat up quickly and crossed her legs like she was sitting down at the feet of one of the masters to receive instruct with her legs crossed. She took a breath and recited, "We are to know but we do not know."

"Everything is permitted. Nothing is true," Altair replied as he took in her thoughtful expression. Since they met, he had never once condemned her intelligence especially when it was clear she had thought long and hard about things. He continued, "I don't know Little Falcon but I know your father wants you come. Father is to take you somewhere safe." He stood up and offered her a hand up.

Selma looked at the proffered hand and then up at Altair. She reached for his hand and allowed him to help her to her feet. She asked, "What about you?"

"I will do what I am told," Altair replied solemnly as he beckoned her to follow him. He looked away so she wouldn't see his expression. "The Mentor's wishes must be obeyed."

Selma had heard that before. Her father was the master of his order and a similar phrase had been said of him when she questioned one of his orders. His word was command. She knew that it was not worth it to protest so she remained silent on that and followed Altair through the gardens and through the citadel. After a time she couldn't help but say, "I wish you were going with me."

Altair wanted to go. If anything it was to make sure she was safe from everything that could hurt her. "I would protect you Little Falcon," he replied with a quiet conviction. He had been her protector from the other initiates that attempted to torment her. Not everyone was willing to let a woman in to see the secrets of Masyaf. He beckoned with his hand, "Come."

Selma replied quietly, "Yes Altair," as she put her hand into his.

They managed to make it to where Altair was supposed to bring her when shouts drew their attention. They turned when they heard the name Umar Ibn-La' Ahad. They both stopped and looked in the direction of the noise that followed. Selma frowned in confusion, wondering what was going on. She didn't realize that Altair had pulled her scarf up and put it over her head in an attempt to hide her face but it was done with a distracted air.

For once, Altair disobeyed and headed in the direction of the shouting after making sure Selma's head was properly covered. His father's name had been called and he aimed to know why. He forgot that Selma would naturally follow and she did keeping his tall figure in her sight. He parted the way through the crowd, pushing his way through. He pushed through just in time for the pair of them to see his father heading towards the wicker gate.

Selma pushed through behind Altair and managed to squeeze around one of the men to see what was going on. She could see soldiers on the other side of the gate. They looked fierce with swords and weapons and their leader looked… she didn't like it. It was ugly. She didn't like him either she decided in her ten year old manner. She also saw a man from Altair's order being held by the soldiers. He was cut, bleeding and he looked broken. What was going on?

"Father?"

Selma turned to see Altair looking at the retreating form of Umar, his father. She watched as the man paused at the sound of his son's voice. She opened her mouth to say something but no sound came out. She looked around and wondered why none of the others were doing anything. What had Umar done that he was going out there?

Umar had been their host during their stay. He had met her and her father when they arrived and gave them the tour of the village and the citadel. She liked the man who was very formal with her father and he didn't show her contempt because she was a girl that was being given the privilege to be privy to the knowledge that was only granted to men. He had introduced his son to her and encouraged their relationship despite what others said.

Selma couldn't believe that Umar was certainly walking towards his doom. She heard Altair's continued call for his father as she watched the man go through the gate. Her mouth was open but no sound was coming out. It was like she was being prevented from speaking. She just couldn't and all she could do was watch.

She watched as the other man that belonged to Altair's order was shoved through the gate to their side and Umar was grabbed roughly by the soldiers and yanked towards… She took a quick look at the man that had been shoved through. She saw him give a sorrowful look at Altair and her friend turned to look towards the gate and called for his father. She looked up to see her father and the Mentor of the order looking at everything going on. Her father didn't see her but she could tell that he was looking for her since Altair was making himself be known calling for his father. Her eyes were wide open as she saw the events unfold.

They were wide eyed when the soldiers stretched Umar over a block. It was clear what they were going to do. She could hear Altair calling for his father, the tone indicating that he knew what was going to happen but he couldn't understand why. She glanced to see that she was right next to him after she felt his robes brush against her. She had been forgotten.

Instinctively, she reached out and grasped the sleeve of his robes. She held on silently as she watched Umar being prepped and she saw the sword gleaming. The next thing she knew she felt Altair's arms wrapping around her and trying to turn her away as she saw the glint of the blade from the sun. She wrapped her arm around Altair's arm to hold on as she saw the sword being raised. Her mouth was opened in a silent gasp.

She watched as the blade swung down with a sickening thud. She heard Altair calling out to his father and felt her arms pulling on his arms as if to hold him from running out there. A slight gasp left her mouth as she held on. It was the only sound came out as it hit what she had just seen. Umar Ibn-La' Ahad was dead and she had witnessed it with her own eyes…


A/N: Here I go again only this time with Assassin's Creed. Reviews are welcome and stay tuned for the next time on Shades of Grey...