A silent night, once more. The citizens of Acre have returned to their homes, only some stray beggars and thieves run away as they hear the footsteps of the knights. I don't care. I don't run. They will not hurt me.
I walk to the old fountain where I tend to spend time when the others are gone and kneel on the edge, taking off my hood that covers my face. For a few seconds I stare at myself, blue eyes staring at blue, until I put my hands in the water and wash my face. I feel the scars. The scars cut in my face years ago, by the men I called – and still do – my brothers.
It all happened seven years ago. I had been living in Masyaf for the third year, and had just married my beloved. Even though I had lived in Acre the most of my life, Masyaf felt like home... especially in her arms. I felt like I belonged there, like my place was there, had been and will always be. I didn't care about my family heritage, I was happy.
But... now it's all gone. Now my left eye is blind, my face scarred, my brothers hunt me for treason I have never committed and if I've ever met from Masyaf again, I will be killed.
The men I cared for, the men I was willing to sacrifice my life for, my brothers who promised to do the same for me cast me out and left me for dead. I would still die for them. But they would as happily take my life. Hell, every single day I fear for my life. I know them well enough from my years in Masyaf that they are ruthless and will not stop. The neverending cat and mouse.
All because of Dunya, my wife, my world, my dearest dove and the love of my life. Even though I don't want to believe it and she claims she didn't mean to, that she did it for Masyaf and that she was scared, she betrayed me. Cast me out of the life that had felt like fate. I still love her. She's still my world.
But every time I see her in our secret meeting places, every time I hear her voice, feel her arms around me and lips on my own, I feel it's wrong... like I shouldn't. It was because of her that I can't meet her in public, hold her hand as we walk on the street, or live like normal people... like a husband and a wife. But I can't help myself.
"Kazim?" I hear a familiar voice and raise my gaze from the water, covering my face. A Teutonic knight, walks to me and holds out his hand, raising me from the ground. "How have you been?" he asks.
"I'm just fine, father" I say with a merry tone. But under my mask, I don't smile.