I'm not very happy with this chapter. Too much dialogue IMO, but I hope to make up for it with the next chapter. Reviews = love!
Altair dropped silently back into the Bureau when the moon was high and guards were scant on the streets. Sneaking around at night was much easier than doing so during the day, and the cool wind made it easier to sprint down the streets without getting too tired.
He peeked around the corner and saw Malik asleep, the counter and a book as his pillow, snoring softly. He crept over.
"Malik," he whispered. " Malik?" Malik eyelids fluttered. Altair reached over and shoved Malik's shoulder slightly. There was a flash of moon on metal, and Altair found himself holding Malik's arm back, a short blade mere inches from his neck. "Your skills haven't diminished in your months you've stayed cooped up here, Brother." Altair said.
"Altair," Malik snapped, snatching his arm back and putting his blade back in its sheath. "What in the name of Allah do you think you're doing? What time is it?"
"I don't know. Malik, tell me what you know about this!" He said. Malik stared at him groggily, obviously wanting to go back to sleep.
"I have no idea what you're-" he started, but Altair cut him off.
"Yes, you do! About Adha!" Altair snapped. Malik shook his head.
"Altair, I'm exhausted. You can't ask me about these things in the middle of the night. You've known me long enough to know this." Altair gnashed his teeth in frustration.
"I don't have time for this! Either you tell me about the Templar holding Adha, or I'll go find him myself!" He snapped. Malik sighed.
"Ah. Him."
"Yes! Him! Now, tell me!"
"Wait, wait, I think I'm getting sucked back into a timestream here!" Malik said sarcastically. Altair stared at him. "Is my arm still bleeding?" Altair scowled.
"Sorry. Please tell me."
"Alright. His name is Lord Henry IV," he stopped when Altair snorted in amusement. "He resides in the rich district of the city currently. I hear he's here to deliver judgment on a few poor souls." Altair made a face.
"Why is it that these people consider themselves able to judge others?" Altair snapped.
"Do we not make that same assumption?" Malik pointed out. Altair faltered, and then glared.
"Keep your philosophy discussions to the novices. Tell me what I need to know."
"Fine. I'd start-"
"Wait… We're still doing this?" Altair snapped. Malik blinked.
"Doing what?"
"The whole 'I have to do everything myself' deal!" Altair snarled. "There's no time for that!"
"Altair, I only just received the word that he was even here!" Malik sighed. "I don't have all the information. That's for you to find. Unless you want to wait more, of course." Altair glared fiercely at Malik, who returned the look defiantly.
"Fine," Altair snarled. "I will do as you ask, Dai."
"Rest, Altair. You have a long day ahead of you." Malik said wearily, going back to sleep. Altair stalked back into the adjacent room and sat stiffly on the pillows, waiting for sleep he knew wouldn't come.
--
The next day, Altair set out for the places Malik described. He spent the day walking among the people, listening to mutterings among the crowds. However, he'd received a rather abrupt clue in from Malik.
"Remember, Altair. You're mission isn't to kill Henry." Altair turned and stared at the man, who was looking up from his maps. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Because that's what I was told the mission was." Altair said, surprised.
"I doubt it. You were mistaken. The mission is to retrieve Adha, the Chalice. Kill Henry only if need be." Altair rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Fine. I'll keep that in mind." He said irritably.
"Please do." Malik said, turning back to his maps.
Altair sighed again, sitting down to listen to someone's conversation.
"I hear Henry's going to be performing an execution," a man said quietly to another.
"Yes. And strange people as well," the other said, somewhat troubled.
"What do you mean?"
"A scholar he accuses of being an assassin-"
"He sounds like Sibrand," the other man said with amusement.
"An infidel-"
"Good riddance."
"And a woman," said the man with finality.
"A woman?!" The other man was stunned.
"Yes. A Christian woman as well, from what I hear."
"Why would he-?"
"I don't know. But he's going to today. If he's anything like Madj Addin, we'll get an ear full before she dies. We'll see just what crime she's committed."
The two men left, leaving Altair sitting on the bench, silent and troubled.
He went through the city, gathering information. He learned that the man was staying with a woman who was beautiful beyond compare, though what he did with her wasn't exactly clear to public eye. The woman appeared to be confined to the place they were staying, though the place was strange. They stayed in a suite above the prison. And then Altair stumbled upon them as he leapt across the rooftops, stopping and perching precariously on a high point, watching keenly, an eagle circling overhead.
The man was clearly Lord Henry. He was tall and cruel-looking, wearing Templar armor and a sword at his hip and a crossbow at his side. In chains behind him were the three captives. They all were dressed in red, and had sacks over their faces. Altair considered the situation. These people were obviously being murdered, not tried. Yet, if word of mouth was true and Adha was confined in that building, this was the perfect time to rescue her. Altair, as he waited for the man to leave, considered his options, and came to a conclusion. He'd rescue Adha quickly, take her to the Bureau, then go and see if any of these people could be saved.
With that, he leapt off, into a haystack, and snuck across the street, into the shadows around the building, and out of sight.