Kendra's POV (when we last saw her and Altaïr)
The journey wasn't as short as I expected it. Because of what Altaïr did to Tamir, we had to keep off the main road to be away from the guards as well as the Templar and Saracens. I thought I had enough of this whole Templar-Assassin thing but I guess it couldn't be helped. I'm only with him until I finally figured out how to defend for myself, then I don't have to be near him. I still haven't forgiven him for what he did at the alley or when he tried to ditch me but still he's the only way to safety.
The journey made me so tired but I couldn't fall asleep and find out when I wake up that he ditched me. Besides, I've tried persuading him several times to stop and rest but he's too stubborn to do so. The countryside was different from what I had expected. It was lush green and the people around us didn't really notice that he was an assassin but then again, nobody knew that I was from an assassin family.
"Altaïr-"
"If you were going to ask me to rest, the answer is no." I shook my head, which I thought after a while was dumb because I was riding right behind him.
"No, I was just wondering how long it would take to...Get... To... Masyaf..." My body wanted to sleep but I still kept myself awake. "Wanna see what I was going to show you?" Without thinking, I reached for my satchel and grabbed out the Apple.
"We're already at the gates." I looked around him and saw a massive wooden gate ahead of us, guards decked in Assassin attire protecting the gate. There's no mistake. This is an Assassin base. I put the Apple back, hoping he or anybody else didn't see it. He set the horse near the stable with the other horses and left me as I was forced to get off the horse myself and get through the guards yet again. They let me pass but I notice their conversation.
"Did Altaïr actually brought a woman here?"
"I thought he didn't want to do anything besides his mission. You know, after what happen to Adha."
"She was a close friend of Altaïr, was she not? What happen to her anyways?"
"All you need to know is that she won't be coming back." I didn't want to hear the rest of their conversation so I left to go find Altaïr. I looked for him and I didn't realize that my necklace was showing until I was getting near the castle where some assassins looked at me while I was going there. Before I could get close to the castle, I was stopped by a man with one arm.
"What business do you have to the Brotherhood?"
"I was sent with Altaïr by the Rafiq of Damascus to see Al Mualim." I found a bench near where we were and sat on it. "2 days I went without any sleep, some water, and no food. He was practically trying to kill me! He left me at the stables where I almost passed out."
"Altaïr's here? Damn, I need a word with him. No, I want him out of the Brotherhood."
"Did he do something to you?"
"Yes, when Altaïr, my brother Kadar, and I were sent to Solomon's Temple to 'receive' the treasure, he ignored all three tenants and because of him, my brother's dead and my arm had to be removed."
"Keep your blade away from the flesh of the innocent, hide in plain sight and never compromise the Brotherhood." He looked at me suspiciously as if I were a spy which wouldn't happen because I would be just blow my cover every time I went out on a mission and possibly hurt myself or get killed in the process.
"How do you know the tenants?"
"My family, from the land where I came from, they were Assassins and I overheard them reciting the tenants. I guess the words had gotten etched into my mind. How did he compromise the Brotherhood?"
"He led the Templars to here without his knowledge. Still, Al Mualim had to punish him. He was reduced to a Novice and was given 9 targets and he had to find the traitor. So far, he killed the traitor and Tamir from what I'm hearing but I never heard anybody talking about him bringing a woman here."
"Yeah, the Rafiq must be very secretive." I wondered for some seconds. "The 'keep your blade away from the innocent" tenant?"
"Killed someone in the Temple that wasn't a Templar."
"Hide in plain sight?"
"How did you think they followed him here?" He sighed. "You may pass. Now, I must be on my way to Jerusalem. I wish you luck with your problem with Altaïr."
"Thank you, I'll need it." He left and I started to slump. He's worse than I thought, but still..."I would be mad to if my brother was killed." I whispered.
It was only 5 minutes later did I realize that Altaïr-dammit why do I always say his name- he wasn't coming so I did the unthinkable and get to the castle. Most of the time, I would just give up and walk away. But now that I'm in the middle of the, I don't know, Third Crusades, so I have better chance to stay alive with them than all by myself.
The people around me looked like they're watching a madwoman. Well, I admit that I think that too but you would think the same way if you had waited for him too. I stood up and walked all the way to the castle. In there, the assassins were just like the villagers from below, thinking that I was crazy to even be here. They all wore the same things, some were different color, some old, some young. There were men training in this pit.
"A woman should not be here!" A random person comes up to me. Judging from his appearance, he seem to be a very weak minded person, a man who is holding a grudge against someone else for a long time.
"Have you seen Altaïr? I have business."
"That man! I should have known he would do something like this. He should have been killed by Al Mualim instead of living right now!"
"I'm guessing you have a grudge on him as well?" He shook off that question as a obvious yes.
"He told me that my own father killed himself. Ha, he would never do such a thing and yet he was always favorited by Al Mualim. He's in the castle right now, talking to Al Mualim. But women are not allowed." I took out my necklace of the Brotherhood symbol.
"I was sent here with him by the Rafiq of Damascus. Believe me, if there was another assassin there, I would have gone with him."
"I would have had Kadar here instead of Altaïr."
"Ahh. I have to see him if you don't mind." I ran to the steps and heard him yell.
"I won't but Al Mualim might." I just nodded my head and continued my way up the steps until I found myself inside the castle. Most people thought of me as crazy in here as well but change their minds after looking at my necklace. I swear, my necklace has magical powers or something like that or the symbol of the Brotherhood is plain obvious.
I went up and only stayed behind a little bit because I knew that the conversation wasn't one I should get involved in.
"You've done well, Altaïr. And I'm confident this is but the first of many successes." A large, booming voice of a old man was heard. So this must be the great Al Mualim.
"Tamir spoke as if he knew you well. He implied my work had a larger meaning."
"Significance comes not from a single act, but the context in which it is performed. The consequences borne of it."
"Then is there more I need to know?"
"Altaïr, your greatest failure was born of knowing too much. If I choose to withhold information, it is only to ensure you do make not the same mistake a second time."
"I see."
"No you don't! And it will remain this way until you've learned your lesson! Still you have performed competently, and as such I restore a rank, and will return a piece of your equipment. Go now, either to Acre or Jerusalem. There are men in both cities who require your attention. The Bureau leaders can tell you more of what needs to be done." He looks in my direction, making feel numb to the core. "What is the meaning of this? A woman being here, where men are able to-"
"The Rafiq of Damascus had requested for you to meet her," Altaïr interrupted Al Mualim as I came closer to the both of them to properly introduce myself.
"My name is Kendra. My family has served the Order in France, but they sent me before the whole family was sacked. I'm the only survivor and I want to carry out what my parents and their parents before them. Please, let me become one of you, one of the assassins." I had to lie a little, okay. I was only lying about me being from France and wanting to be an Assassin.
"A woman being an Assassin? No, she's sacrificing too much. If I even let become one, there's no other-"
"I'll train her." Both Al Mualim and I moved our heads to Altaïr. It would never work, I just don't see- "If my punishment for breaking the tenants is killing some Templars might as take her with me."
I couldn't believe what he was saying. Me as his apprentice? That would be impossible to train me because I would just be too stubborn to join the Assassin Order. What shocked me the most is Al Mualim's answer.
"Do as you wish. Once she is complete with her training, make sure she is obedient."
Holy crap, I have to be an Assassin now. And if this couldn't get any worse, the stubborn assassin, out of everybody else in this God forsaken castle, is my mentor. Well aren't I lucky?
~and that's a wrap. Sorry I meant to publish this earlier but I have been busy with other fanfics, thanks you Guest for reminding me about this. So, sayonara and good luck to me on finishing this!