Ani kol-kakh miztairet – I am so sorry (female)
Aifo hayita? – Where have you been? (Female)
000
"There are two informants in each district; Nakim and Adin are located in this district, Abbas and Rauf in the poor, Yasif and Nikil in the rich district. You will be informed of assassins coming to the city but keep the roof open as a rule in case of emergency visits – unless there is a danger of the bureau being discovered." The Rafiq looked around the bureau for a long moment and turned back to the other, "There are no visits expected anytime soon, so take the time to rest, heal and just adapt." He placed some medicine to dull pain and a salve for wounds on the counter, "The healer says to use them."
"Will they make my arm grow back?"
"…Malik…" the Rafiq frowned at the Assassin, he felt bad for the other, he was twenty six, the prime of his life, a fantastic Assassin who had everything he could ever want and was humble about it. And now, his brother was dead, his left arm had been amputated barely a two months prior, the Rafiq had also heard that Malik had lost a woman he had been serious about. "You may have lost many things, brother, but becoming a Dai is a great honour – you rank higher than most…even me!" The miserable look he received made him sigh heavily, he could tell just by the Assassin's eyes that he would go back to be a novice if he could have Kadar back. "At least it can get no worse…you may be at the bottom of the mountain now but you can only go up from here."
A month passed since Malik had spoken to the Rafiq, he had grown accustomed to life at the bureau and living in Jerusalem. He tried to train as much as he could but he fell often, he grew frustrated, angry and he cried often – for his brother, for his arm, even for Altaïr and he cried for her. Why had he been punished fir Altaïr's arrogance? He had always followed the creed, he trained hard, he studied tirelessly, he had done everything he could to help raise Kadar, he had tried to be a good friend when Altaïr became unbearable…so why? Why did he have to be punished? And what did Altaïr get? His rank stripped away but then he was given a second chance to redeem himself! It wasn't fair! Today he recalled what the Rafiq had said, 'At least it can get no worse'. So why did he feel like he had just had his heart forcibly torn from his chest and trampled?
He had left the bureau for some supplies and someone had bumped him causing him to lose balance and fall against a wall, "Ani kol-kakh miztairet! I was not looking!" Malik froze at the voice, he knew it…he knew who owned that voice and he could not look at her, "…M-Malik?" her hand rested on his right shoulder and she leant in to better see his face, "Aifo hayita? You never came for me Malik…why? I waited, all night for you." The Assassin kept his face turned away from her, he could not face her, not like this – she would be disgusted. "Malik! Do not ignore me!" he pushed her away and ran. Even when he heard her yell after him, Malik ran out of the mouth of the small alley he had seen her in and did not stop until he was back in his bureau – away from her. Tahlia.
00
She saw him through the mist of smoke coming from the hookah; his dark eyes watching her with a sharp intensity that almost made her stop her movements and stand paralysed by his stare. He was sat with two others, both dressed in similar clothing to the man who had caught her attention – white, like scholars, these could not be monks because a monk would never step foot into a place like this. She was simply a dancer and nothing more, she knew that many of the other girls offered there bodies and was thankful she was not forced to. She stepped down from the little stage and felt herself being pulled toward the men in the darkened corner, they would get the wrong idea and what would she say? 'I saw you looking at me and walked over.' Or maybe, 'Are you a sorcerer because I am under your spell.' he would laugh at her.
There was a movement from the hooded man sat with the man, she knew he was regarding her silently, curiously even and then the eyes of the youngest flickered up to her, his words drifting away as he forgot what he was saying. "Wow…" Tahlia heard the youngest's breathless sigh and giggled behind her hand, he was adorable. Kadar blushed, he had not meant to be heard by the dancer and he frowned as Altaïr and Malik chuckled at his embarrassment. Malik looked at her again, he knew he should not stare but she was an amazing creature. Caramel skin, blue eyes and long, wavy black hair that he was certain would feel like cashmere in his hands. Her eyes were lined with black and her plump lips were painted red, the same colour as her clothing, the skirt hung low on her hips, a gold belt richly decorated with cascading tassels keeping it in place and fell down to her ankles, which were adorned with golden bangles, the sides were split up the entire, long length of her legs and he wanted to reach out and stroke the skin of her thigh. More golden bangles wrapped around her upper arms and dangled noisily from her wrists, she held her clasped hands in front of her and the assassin could not help letting his eyes wander from the gold loops to her displayed body, he wanted to run his hands up that firm tummy, up her sides and come to rest on – "are you not cold?"
Malik stared back at his little brother in amazement, here was a beautiful woman, body presented like a gift and he was worried about her warmth! "The dancing keeps me warm and," she took one of the novice's hands and rested his palm over the material of her breast, "because of all the tassels and decorations, it keeps me warm." Kadar turned scarlet and she released him with a wink. The youngest stared at the top that left nothing to the imagination and matched her melt with nothing short of fascination. Malik felt a little jealous, his younger brother always got the attention, he was cute, shy and his pales eyes caught attention like Altaïr's gold ones. He caught her gaze as she stared at him, why was she over here? "I caught you staring." She said with a little smile.
The Assassin let a slow smile spread across his lips, "So you have caught me…" he tilted his head to the side, "what will you do with me?"
00
What she had done was cruel – she made him adore her, crave her…it didn't matter that she was promised to a rich merchant by the name of Tamir. He had promised that she would not have to marry him; he had said that as soon as his mission in Solomon's Temple was finished he would meet her by the city gates and he would take her to Masyaf. They had known each other for eight months prior to that mission, they had to hide in the shadows and meet secretly, it was a week before the mission – before her marriage to Tamir. Somehow, kissing went to touching, touching led to her begging him to take her and that led to him making promises afterwards that he would rescue her from the other man and that they could be together in Masyaf…
Malik knew as he staggered home that he could make it back and get her, he had visions of storming in on the ceremony, picking her up and running away with her in his arms but as his flesh was cut, his bone sawed and the skin burnt…he knew he would not be able to carry her. He could not go to her like this – deformed, broken and unworthy of her affections. The Dai kicked the little chess table over and threw anything he could get hold of, he raged and cursed and asked a god he didn't believe in – why him? She had seen him, but not the damage, she did not see the empty sleeve and for that he was grateful. She had been upset though, though he refused to look at her, he heard it in the tremor of her voice, the way she held onto him – did she think he had abandoned her? He would rather have her think that he had taken his pleasure from her body and then left her than let know what had really happened…let her see. No, he would pretend she never existed.
00
Tahlia walked the halls of the huge house she lived in, she had seen Malik…she had thought he was dead. She was happy that he was breathing; she was so relieved and glad. But it made her wonder; where had he been? He had promised to save her from Tamir, the forced marriage and her life in a shady little dancing hall. He promised! Malik kept his promises! He was kind, gentle…Malik had said they would be together. Why didn't he come for her? Why had he let her sit all night in the freezing night air and not come for her? she knew what he did for a living, she knew the dangers and when he hadn't come she thought he was dead – and then the news that part of the Temple had collapsed reached her ears; a body was pulled out and placed outside for someone to identify and collect.
It had been Kadar. She was told there were other bodies inside but it was not safe to retrieve them and so she claimed Kadar's body. She told her soon to be husband that it was her half brother and she wanted him to have a proper burial. It was done and she mourned for both brothers, she married Tamir, he was cruel and hit her if she displeased him – she prayed everyday that Malik would come for her. And then today, she found him or he found her! She thought hard about the brief encounter, he would not talk to her, he would not look at her and then he pushed her away and ran. Malik had run from her. "Woman, do not walk around my house as if someone had died!" Tahlia looked up startled, her husband stood before her with his face furrowed in anger.
"Forgive me…" she murmured and wiped at the tears she hadn't realised were falling – why had Malik rejected her? "I am not feeling well. I was just going to take a nap, it is what the healer suggested after all." Tamir stared at her for a long moment and brushed past. She sighed in relief and went into the bedroom he had just left. Now that she thought about healers, something popped up in her mind; Malik had felt hot under his clothing, in fact – his clothing was different! He wore a different uniform completely! Was he sick? Maybe he had run away because he thought he'd make her sick? It would explain why he didn't come for her sooner…he had come for her after all!
000
Chapter 1…just something I was playing with in my head – should I continue?
I am still doing Safety and Peace! Don't panic – just needed to get this out.
Iguanablogger is the bestest translator in the world!