The sun set at 4:16 today. It was just depressing.
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Chapter 3
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They'd been on the road for perhaps an hour when they began to be followed. Another two before Altair brought it up. Maria had replied there was no way it was Templars; they hadn't even been gone a day, so there was no way they would think she was gone, and there was no sign of a struggle so there was no reason for them to even begin to think that anything bad had happened. Not only that, but for them to not only know the direction she was going and being able to find them was incredibly unlikely. Add to that they were merely trailing the pair, rather than capturing them – well, what reason could the Templars possibly have for that?
"They're probably just going in the same direction as us, that's all." She'd said with finality.
Altair had made a non-committal noise, and checked that all his weapons were loose in their sheaths.
Another hour passed before Altair finally took them off the main road, tucking them behind a pile of ruins.
"You're being foolish, Altair." Maria sighed, exasperated.
"If I am, they'll simply pass us by, no harm done." Altair replied simply. The sound of hoof beats grew closer. He shushed her with a finger to his lips, creeping along the crumbling wall that ran parallel to the road.
"…We've lost them!"
"They can't have gotten far."
Altair smirked in Maria's direction. He'd been right, after all. She rolled her eyes, before sliding off the horse, sword in hand. He eyes widened, and he shook his head, motioning for her to stay back. She snorted softly, and joined him near his hiding place. He looked at her pleadingly, but she simply scowled, her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"You check over there; I'll take this way."
"Right, right…."
Altair clung to the wall, listening to the footsteps grow nearer.
He flexed his hand, waiting for the soldier to pass behind the wall where he and Maria hid.
Nearer.
Nearer.
There – the soldier passed behind the wall. Altair's horse snorted, and the man began to turn, but it was too late. Grasping the man's head, Altair swiftly pulled him behind the wall, his hidden blade in the man's brain before he had time to blink.
Without pausing, Altair quickly vaulted over the wall, sprinting across the road to where the other man searched, his back turned. With practiced movements, Altair leapt, landing both feet on the man's back and forcing him to the ground, knocking the breath out of him. Before he had time to regain it, Altair's blade, still stained with the blood of his comrade, was at his throat.
"Who sent you?" Altair demanded, "And consider your answer well, for I've no qualms about leaving you on the side of the road for the carrion birds."
"I… I was just sent here by my captain! I don't know who ordered it!" The man protested, eyeing the blade fearfully.
"How did you find us?!" Altair pressed the wicked blade against the man's throat, drawing a trickle of blood.
"I was told you'd be on your way to Masyaf!" The man replied frantically, "And that'd you'd left yesterday, so it wasn't hard to think how far you'd gone. Please don't kill me, I –"
But the rest was lost in a gurgle, as blood flooded the man's throat.
"You really don't show any mercy, do you?" Maria commented, leading their horse back onto the road.
"Best not to leave a trail." He replied, hefting the body and throwing it haphazardly into the bushes lining the road. "You said you can ride, right?"
"Of course I can ride." She snapped, "I am a knight, you know."
"Then do so. I'll take one of their horses. I want to reach Masyaf as soon as possible and figure this out." He frowned as he caught the reins of one of the beasts, who shied, upset at the scent of blood. He couldn't think of anyone who would have known they were leaving, much less when and where…
"And Maria?" He said as he pulled himself up into the saddle, "Please, just stay back next time."
"How dare you!" She snarled, "I'm perfectly capable of holding my own in a fight, you damn assassin!"
"I know that." He sighed, "Better than most. But please," He trotted up next to her, "You're not just endangering yourself. A well-aimed punch to the gut, and…" He trailed off.
"Tch. Fine then." She pushed her horse ahead, "But your seed is causing me a great deal of trouble. Just like his father, I suppose."
"My apologies." He said with a smile, trotting his horse to be even with hers again. "Come. If we hurry we could reach Masyaf in another two days."