The next morning, when Maria woke up, Altair wasn't there. She sighed and resolved to get up too.
As she was getting ready, she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened at the party yesterday: Altair was looking at her in a different way, as she danced with Marcus. When she looked at him, he lowered his head, feeling guilty to have been caught.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Maria sighed again. The truth was that the anger she felt towards Altair, more than a month ago, had ended... it was more because she had lost her status in the order than for De Sable...
To be honest, Robert De Sable was a tyrant… he should have died long ago... for what he did while they were still in Europe and for what he did with her: several times, when Maria was with him in France, she had seen what he was capable of… and when he discovered his lieutenant was a woman and made his advances on her, it disgusted her… in the beginning, it was by force. When she realized he protected her and he made her his protégée again, she pretended she didn't care and even tried to enjoy herself, but was unable to... when she lost everything with his death, she saw herself trying to get revenge on the Assassin…
Even then, if she was true with herself, deep inside, she longed to see him again... the Assassin, who had shattered her dream with the Templars and had marked her shoulder in Jerusalem…
After Altair showed up in Acre, confronted her and made her his hostage, Maria noticed how his mind worked…the mistrust changed into trust and then to a quick friendship…
Now, after yesterday... could this friendship become something else?
X ~ X ~ X
When Maria left the room, she looked up for Altair. She found him talking with Marcus and a few more people, outside the house. A big ship was behind them, which wasn't there yesterday.
"Good morning" Maria said. When she saw Altair's face, she asked: "What's wrong?"
Altair and the others looked at her.
"These are Ornai and his wife, Laila... she's also my sister…" Altair said, approaching her. "I received some bad News from Masyaf... I need to get back, Raouf is sick..."
Maria looked at them, then to Altair.
"Who is Raouf?" She asked.
"One of my best friends and the person who I left in charge in my place, before leaving for Acre…" Altair explained, approaching her. "Fortunately, Marcus says he knows someone who have some medicine for this illness, but we have to take it to Raouf..."
Maria nodded.
"Sure..." She said. "Your friend can't wait..."
'I'm sorry..." He said, "I know you want to travel, but…"
"Well, this is a goodbye then?" She asked, a little disappointed.
"Unless... you come with us to Masyaf..." Altair said. "We can travel later…"
Maria widened her eyes.
"Are you mad? I can't go there..." she said. "I'm an ex – templar, remember that?"
"Maria, I won't allow my Brothers to harm you..." Altair said.
Maria still afraid, but trusted Altair. At least she nodded.
"Ok..." Maria said. "I'll go with you to Masyaf..."
X ~ X ~ X