Author's note:
I thank heartily DualKatanas, a native speaker, for beta-reading this translated story of mine. It is my first try in this fandom and rather short, I know. I've only read a few of Assassin's Creed fanfictions, yet. All the best wishes for 2013 to all of you!
For the first time
They all stood down there and looked up. Every gaze was focused on one thing. Him. He could see the people's skin and eyes as they were glowing in the sun.
So deep… and the hay stack, which was his target, seemed to be so small, so tiny. The possibility seemed higher to him to hit the ground or the crowd beside it.
Don't look down! Don't look down! Don't look down, he thought again and again.
It didn't help. Altair had to look down to measure and appraise his jump. There was the little hay stack again.
He located the hay stack, swallowed – and forced himself to jump. As the air around him whizzed past, Altair closed his eyes and stretched his body, first by spreading his arms, to just take them together over his head like a dive into water. No jump from a house wall, from a tree or a cliff down to the sea could have trained him to do this in complete safety. He had dared it – there was no way back.
The hay stack came nearer and nearer at a rapid pace. Shortly before his fingertips touched the first straw, Altair curled up his body. The roll, which he did one half in the air and one half within the hay, stopped his fall and its impetus.
He landed on the back and slid down the hay stack with the remaining drive. Altair crawled out the last part of the sharp hay.
His condisciples applauded, Malik ahead of them, who stood directly before him, as Altair stood and straightened up proudly.
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Electronic Arts.
