Hope – Chapter 3 – Masyaf
Miriam looked up at the great castle that towered over the village of Masyaf.
"Impressive, is it not?" Maria asked her as she joined the girl at the stables.
"Very. I heard stories about this place. The great fortress of the Assassins."
"Come, let us go meet the mentor."
Miriam nodded and followed Maria through the village. At the castle Maria walked passed the guards, but they moved to block the young girl.
"It is all right, she is with me." Maria said.
"Yes, but she wears a Templar sigil, Lady Maria." One said.
"I am not a Templar, they killed my family!" The girl said defensively.
"Where are you from, girl?" another said.
"Perhaps it is a trap, Lady Maria." The third said.
"She was a prisoner. Come, I bring her to Altair." Maria said holding her ground. She well knew not long ago she was regarded in this fashion as well.
They nodded and one moved to follow them. Perhaps they thought this girl in her bulky over garments was a threat. She was only armed with a knife, but she made no move to draw it as she walked behind Maria to the great fortress.
Once within Maria took her to the library and nodded to the girl to follow her up the stairs and to the master's study. She knocked on the door, a formality, and waited for Altair to acknowledge her. "Come." Came Altair's baritone voice.
Maria opened the door and entered pressing the girl before her. The girl was small for her age and she walked with her eyes down to the desk as Altair rose.
"Who is this, Maria?"
"Miriam Bashir." Maria said. She smiled. "She was being held by the Templars in Acre."
"No, they saved me from them. Templars murdered my family." The girl said. She looked up for the first time. Altair was amazed at how green her eyes were and he blinked. There was no lie there. The girl truly believed that.
He came around the desk and looked at the veiled girl. He lifted the sigil. "Then what is this, my dear."
"My second father gave it to me. He told me it would be for my protection."
"For his ownership." Maria said.
Altair nodded and looked up at his wife. "You said you think she was held captive. Why do you say that?"
"She never left the citadel and she has worn a veil. She is too young to wear one according to the laws of Islam."
Again Altair nodded. He lifted a hand and lowered the veil. She stood ramrod straight looking up at him. She was beautiful and young. Younger than his youngest son.
"Why were you brought to Acre?"
"My parents were killed by Templars and the man found me after I came out of hiding. He told me I was special and I needed to be taken care of." She looked about. "I seem to have traded one prison for another, however. At least the people here are nicer. The people in Acre to not speak to me."
Altair shook his head. "Nay, my dear. You are free to do as you please, but I do offer you my protection." He looked at Maria. "You did well to bring her here. She has a great purpose and yet she is so young." He smiled. "Would you stay with us, Miriam Bashir?"
She looked up at him. "I have never known such kindness. Even with your guards being suspicious of me, they were polite."
Altair took her hand in his. "Come let us find you a room, shall we, and then find some food. My sons will be hungry from training. You can eat with them."
"You have sons?" She asked startled. "You look young."
He smiled at her as she walked with him. "I am older than I appear, child."
He took her to a guest room in the living quarters of this own family. Though his sons had gone to be with the boys their age in the dormitories below, the rooms were comfortable and he looked back at her. "This will be your room." He smiled. "It once belonged to my younger son, Sef."
"Thank you, master…" She looked up at him.
"My title is mentor, child, but to you, you may call me mentor or Altair." He smiled. "I will have the boys find you for your meal."
"Thank you, Altair."
ZzZ
An hour later she was found by Sef, a lanky young teenager who had his father's charm and his mother's bright eyes. He walked with her to the common meal area. His elder brother was already there. They were in novice dress and the girl asked them many questions about the area and Masyaf itself. They were delighted to speak to her, a girl their own age. It was after dark when Maria came down to find the three teenagers talking about where she had grown up. She listened a moment to the laughter of her sons and the soft voice of the girl as she told them the stories.
She then shooed her sons back to their lessons while she took the girl back to her rooms.
The young girl did not stay there long, however. She found a more comfortable dress and then moved about the passageways exploring the new home. The wind made sounds that made her teeth go on edge, but she had a freedom here.
A guard spotted her as she look to going along the battlement. He only smiled at her and asked how her evening was. Startled, she realized Altair had made good on his promise. She was not a prisoner here. She was free to explore.
It was after midnight when she returned to her rooms after watching the moon rise over the mountains. She had always been forced to go to her room and stay away from the windows under her adopted father's directive. Here she was free to watch and the only sounds were wolves in the hills and the snap of fires in the braziers on the wall.
She well knew the guards were watching her, but she returned to her room exhausted and as she opened the door she nearly walked into Altair. He looked down at her and cocked his head. "You are about late, child."
"I wanted to see the moon." She said.
He looked at her window and back to her. "I see."
She yawned and he smiled. "You must be tired. I will speak to you in the morning. Sleep well, Miriam."
"You as well Mentor."
He nodded and walked from the room.
She looked about and then settled into bed for the night.