Chapter One

My pale grey robes flap lazily in the afternoon breeze as I perch precariously on the single cross atop Acre's major church. Eyes scanning the view below, I watch carefully as my target moves warily past the bustling crowd as the golden glow from my eagle vision illuminates his steps. I steady my feet, take a deep breath, and jump.
Arms spread out like a pair of wings, I freefall off the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, my robes now rustling at full volume. I faintly hear the frightened cries of a woman as I tumble into a haystack, cushioning my fall. The shouts I heard earlier are now louder than ever. Quickly I jump out of the blonde coloured heap and ignore the frantic yelling, knowing that I cannot let my target get away. Just as I'm about to sprint after the swiftly disappearing golden figure in the distance, a hand immediately grabs me on the arm.
"What the hell was that? You could've gotten yourself killed!" a concerned yet angry female voice demands. "Are you okay? Why were you even up there?"
I sigh, barely listening as the woman rambles on and on about my safety. She throws a multitude of questions and demands at me again and again, a seemingly endless torrent of daggers. Irritated, I easily pull the clinging hand from my arm and start to set off after my target again.
"Hey! Don't walk away from me like that! You just fell off one of the highest buildings around here; I'm only trying to help!"
This time, I'm simply annoyed. I turn onto the individual, ready to draw my hidden blade if I need to, but I stop. I don't know what makes me halt, but I do. The woman, who looks like she's in her early twenties, stares back at me, her hazel eyes full of apprehension. A waterfall of curly brown hair frames her elegant features, while she wears an expression of something between interest and frustration. I gape soundlessly at her, not sure what to say. I want to tell the woman to get away, to leave me alone, but a strange feeling rises up my chest and for a moment all I can hear is the frantic beating of my heart. Time seems to slow as a wonderfully emotion trickles through my every vein. Never have I felt such affections towards another like this. Guiltily, it makes me want to abandon my target and learn more about this woman. For a moment I just stare and stare in silence, taking in her appearance as the strange feelings increase. My hands begin to shake as a single bead of sweat rolls down my cheek and splatters onto the cobblestone paths beneath me. I quickly make a decision, but it's not the one I'd rather choose. I know that will probably regret it later but Al Mualim would not be pleased to know that one of his most advanced assassins would be this easily distracted. There are more important things to do than talk to women, I think, trying to persuade myself. But deep down I know I believe otherwise. There's something different about this one. Something that singled her out of the rest, something that triggered those odd emotions to begin swirling within me.
"Umm... I need to go," I mutter, before awkwardly dragging myself away, legs shaking and hands sweating.
I've lost my target but I continue to meander forward, compelled to get away from the outlandish feelings rippling through my body. Just as I'm about to disappear into the crowd, the woman speaks.
"Khara."
Surprised, I turn around and walk a few steps towards her, my dark bronze boots like pounding drums in the silence of our conversation. For a moment all I can make myself do is stand there amazed - her voice sounds like the most beautiful melody I've ever heard. Finally, I snap out of my reverie, realising I should say something.
"Pardon?"
The woman looks slightly amused as she peers back at me, trying to define the features beneath my dusty white hood. For a few moments we simply stay there gazing at each other, but before long, another song escapes out of her lips.
"My name is Khara."
Taken aback, my mind reels, trying to get words out of my mouth in time.
"Oh ri-right," I stutter, "Okay. Khara."
I begin to walk away again but this time I feel more confused than ever.