Days passed without a word being said. Altaïr avoided the bureau and Malik never left the bureau, they purposely avoided each other. Altaïr didn't avoid Malik because of anger, he avoided Malik because of shame. After the fight Altaïr had a lot of time to think about things and the more he thought about the way he had accused Malik without any evidence, the more guilty he felt. He really wanted to apologise to Malik but his pride would not allow him. He did not have the courage to admit that he was wrong. His guilt was not good, it played on his mind constantly, the picture of Malik about to cry kept replaying in his head. He could not concentrate on the world around him or what he was doing. Altaïr desperately needed to concentrate but he remembered the night when he had confessed his love. He remembered how happy he had felt and how Malik had smiled. That sweet smile. He wished that he could have that moment back, when everything was perfect and for the first time in a long time he felt safe. Suddenly a sharp pain pierced through Altaïr's leg and he awoke from his daydream to see that his leg had been cut open. He was in the middle of a fight with some guards and he was losing because he could not concentrate. He was now in no state to fight, he tried to run but he could not run very fast because of his injury. He knew that if he didn't move he would die right there but a part of him told himself that he deserved to die for hurting the most wonderful man he had ever met. He remember the throwing knives that he had taken from Malik. He threw them at the guards to create some distance but there were too many and he was still being followed. He fell to the ground and shouted in pain. He was sure that the guards would cut him to pieces but a majestic white horse charged towards the guards making them jump out of the way. It then stopped in front of Altaïr and he realised that it was his horse. He quickly climbed to his feet and onto the horse and sped away.

Altaïr had finally fled the city and escaped the guards but he was unsure where to go, he could have easily hidden in the bureau but he did not want to face Malik. If he was in another city he would have easily taken refuge in the bureau but he couldn't. He couldn't return to Masyaf either because he had not yet finished his mission, in fact he may have possibly failed his mission and failure would not be accepted. His leg started to feel numb, he looked down and was alarmed at the amount of blood all over his leg and trousers. He carefully climbed off of his horse and bandaged his leg with the red sash that he kept tied under his weapon belt. It would not properly stop the bleeding but it was a temporary fix. The only place where Altaïr knew he could be safely healed was a bureau and the next nearest bureau was in Acre which was quite far. He rode his horse as fast as he could but the heat of the midday sun drained both him and his horse. He started to feel weak, he was losing too much blood. He fell off his horse, and landed on hot sand but he hardly felt any pain. "Is this it?" he asked himself "Was my stubbornness and my pride really the cause of my own death? Is this the end?". He closed his eyes.

"Altaïr can you hear me? Are you okay?" a voice said, it sounded like Malik
"Malik? Is that you?" he mumbled
"Altaïr wake up!" the voice shouted. Altaïr opened his eyes and could not believe who was standing on the sand in front of him. Malik's younger brother Kadar with a look of concern
"Kadar? How is this possible? Am I dead?" he asked
"No you're not dead, not yet. How are you feeling?" he said calmly
"The pain in my leg is gone."
"What about the pain in your heart?"
"...You know?"
"Of course I know. I can see everything that happens." Kadar smiled
"And… you're not angry?" Altaïr asked feeling surprised
"Of course not. When you die you realise that the difference between people never really mattered. Wealth, power, race, gender, religion, culture and creed is all meaningless. The only thing that really matters is the soul. The soul is genderless and without race or religion. The soul is only good or bad. The soul doesn't judge. The love between you and my brother is nothing bad, love is still love and nothing else can affect it because love is a connection of the souls." he gently explained
"I wish other people could see it like that. So many wars could have been avoided if people thought in this way."
"Maybe I could have lived longer if people had thought this way"
"Kadar… I'm sorry that you died. It was my fault, if I had not been so arrogant, you would still be here today"
"I'm still here, I'm talking to you am I not?! And don't be sorry, because it was not your fault. It was Robert's fault. He ordered for me and my brother to be killed but they had only succeeded in killing me. Robert's only motivation was power and that greed is what had caused my death"
"It should have been me. You were so young but still one of the best fighters that I had seen."
"I learned from the best" he smirked
"Your brother?"
"No, you. Our time here is short, you need to wake up soon or maybe you will be stuck talking with me forever. I want you to do something for me."
"I'll do anything. What do you need?"
"Please look after my brother. Sometimes I talk to him in his dreams and he is heart broken. Now that he has lost you, he feels like he is losing everything all over again. Swallow your pride and apologise to him. He loves you."
"I will." he smiled
"Thank you." Kadar smiled and slowly faded

Altaïr slowly woke up on a bed surrounded by incense, bandages and bowls of water. There was a plate of bread next to the bed. Remembering his injury, he checked his leg. It was stitched up nicely but there was a huge scar. Malik appeared in the doorway with a look of relief on his face.

"I was afraid you would never wake up" Malik said sitting at the end of the bed
"Malik. You saved me. But how?" Altaïr asked astonished
"I heard about the chaos you caused in my city, many people were talking about it. They said how you had been chased out of the city and I had heard some rumours about you having a limp as you left. I was worried so I left the city to search for you. I figured that you would go to Acre and I found you lying on the side of the road. I brought you back here"
"You did all that with one arm?"
"Yes, I'm missing an arm not a brain, novice!"
"Malik, I'm sorry"
"Don't worry, many people talk about my missing arm. I'm used to it now"
"No, not that. I'm sorry for accusing you…" he said. Malik stayed silent. "I was wrong, it was foolish of me to accuse you with no reason. I had not reason to distrust you. My foolishness has hurt you, can you forgive me? Please?" tears were coming to Altaïr's eyes. Malik smiled and kissed him.
"I can't stay angry with you. I forgive you but please trust me more, I would never hurt you." he winked
"I will look after you. I will make sure no one hurts you again, I missed you so much."
"I missed you too."