A/N's Note: Sorry it took so long... So busy with homework... Now to work on Chapter 5. Please review!

Irony Is Bitter, Is It Not?

Ch. 4: A City I Dread Visiting Again

We arrived in Masyaf. Altair and Al Mualim spoke to each other. I waited downstairs in the library to entertain myself before the old man summoned me next. I saw as Altair walked down the stairs and approached me. I returned the book I was holding to its proper place and faced the man. Altair did not need words to say what he wanted to say. I nodded and walked past him to the stairs.

"Suhayl, I have received your report," Al Mualim said once I came before him. "I am not satisfied with progress."

"I am not satisfied either," I replied quickly. "My report reflected my own feelings about his progress. He really irritates me!"

"... I see. This is why I chose you. Did you not state in your report that you gave him many chances? That he did not take them?"

I nodded. "Why, then, was I the one chosen to guide him the right way?" I asked, still confused.

"Unlike the others, you seem to be the only one that sees through another and sees who they truly are. You accept them as they are. I want you to do the same with Altair. The next time you send a report, indicate that you are doing so. Make him learn from his mistakes."

I stayed silent for a while in thought. "... Is that all you wanted to see me for?" I asked.

The old man nodded and waved me off to dismiss me. I obliged. Altair didn't seem to want to take a rest, dedicated to his work. To be honest, I didn't mind that he was so dedicated; it was an admirable characteristic of his. Also, on days like this one, there was nothing for me to do, so I didn't care about leaving Masyaf right after coming back. I didn't care if Altair wanted to leave so soon.

This time, we rode to Acre. The path to the port city was unfamiliar to me and I thanked Altair mentally that he knew the way. I payed undivided attention to the surroundings, just incase I ever had to go to Acre again or leave it. We were almost there; I had seen a Crusader camp along the way and the smell had changed slightly. Malik had told me at Jerusalem that Acre had a sinister aura. I could feel it for myself as we came closer to our destination.

The sky had become dark and the stench became stronger. It was the stench of death... I cringed when I saw where it came from. Bodies-- lifeless, bloody, lined or piled up, covered with white fabrics. It was a sickening sight to see, especially for me because of my sudden and extreme promotion. On the other hand, Altair didn't seem to care, probably quite used to it.

Altair and I left our horses outside the city walls in a stable again and entered the city with scholars whom we had earned the trust of. With my command, we headed to the Assassin's Bureau. Of course, I didn't know the location and Altair unwillingly led the way. As we went, I tried to memorize the surroundings, completely disregarding the dead bodies... or at least trying. I realized why they were there: Acre had just been conquered, had it not? This city is obviously in ruins, what with the burning and destroyed buildings and the bloody stains on the ground. Yet, people still live here. How could they handle living in such a place, calling it their home?

A question made its way into my mind. Altair had to be the one to answer it. As I walked behind him through the streets of Acre, I averted my gaze from the surroundings to the man.

"Altair," I started. He glanced over his shoulder briefly at me to show that he was paying attention. "From your experience in Acre, I would like to know what you think about it. Since this is my first time here, I want to learn more about it first through one who knows it well."

Without looking away from the path, he answered indifferently, "Acre is very... violent. The place is in ruins from being conquered recently. The beggars are quite annoying. However, with a higher multitude of guards, I prefer it to the other cities. It has much more activity, so missions are often assigned for Acre. From my own experience, I would say that Acre is a cruel city with many men who must die for the favor of the people that unwillingly follow."

I merely stared, registering what he said into my mind. So, Malik and Kadar were correct; even Altair agreed that it had a negative atmosphere-- and yet, he enjoyed the fact. None of this came as a surprise... Ignoring the mixed stenches of death and smoke and a few beggars along the way, we finally arrived at the Assassin's Bureau and entered the second room. An old man stood behind the counter, feeding the birds there. He seemed strict, but obviously too weak to continue the job of the assassin. I looked around at the Acre Bureau as the old Rafiq greeted Altair bitterly. I chuckled softly; everyone in the Order now looked down upon Altair due to his actions and this Rafiq reflected those feelings. I had to wonder myself whether or not I was included in that group. I noticed that, most of the time, I was not so rude to Altair as everyone else had been, but instead willing to forgive and forget. There were times when I grew impatient and bitter towards the man, yes. But I had been quite quick to shrug off any of those minor events and looked at how exactly Altair may have changed in comparison to before and during the mission to underneath King Solomon's Temple. As far as I've seen though, he hasn't changed much at all-- only a little.

"Boy, what is your name?" I heard a voice ask me, pulling me out of my thoughts. It had to be the old man and it was. I confirmed that when I turned to reply.

"Suhayl Ibn-Ahmed." I managed to restrain myself from saying my own name instead of my older brother's. Although I usually had to introduce myself with that name, I always felt the need to be reminded of my real name somehow. Introducing myself as my brother made me remember and miss him. I wondered where he was, what he was doing, what became of him.

The Rafiq smiled widely at me. "Ahmed's son! Your father was a good friend of mine. If you ever need anything, you can come to me."

I smiled back and nodded. "Thank you." I was glad to know that my father stayed true to his name and that he had so many connections that I would be helped willingly by people in the Order that I didn't even know. I continued, "I would like to stay here, though..."

"Why?" Altair asked. "You want to stay away from me?"

I shook my head and smiled. "Not at all. I simply don't like Acre. Horrible place, really."

Altair stared at me surprised. Ever since the incident, no one had smiled at him. No one had been this kind. Everyone wanted to keep their distance from such a disgrace. I seemed to be the only exception.

The Rafiq told Altair where he should search for information. The young assassin listened intently, though he actually couldn't care less. He felt he could have started the mission all by himself without coming here to the Bureau. All he needed to do was go up a tower, look around, perform a Leap of Faith, and gain information in suspicious areas. He didn't need advice or be told what to do. He earned his position before being demoted fair and square. A master assassin! And now, he had to act like an amateur like when he first joined the Order. Ridiculous, he thought.

I covered my face with my hands in frustration once the Rafiq finished talking to Altair; I had to go back out there! Nooooo!! My first time in Acre and I hated it! Hate, I tell you! I complained under my breath as Altair and I climbed out of the Bureau (not without being dragged by the man again at one point). My complaints were not heard, thankfully.

I followed Altair to wherever he was heading for information, unfortunately jumping from roof to roof constantly. Ever since what happened in Damascus, we had not walked within the crowds. And who's fault was that?!

Damn it all... it was mine...

Altair's target was Garnier de Naplouse, grandmaster of the Hospitalier Knights. I had actually heard very little about the man and was curious as to what crime he ever committed. But I resisted from asking Altair, who probably knew just as little.

We passed a circular fountain surrounded by four rectangular ponds and spotted an Informer near the stairs. We approached him and he spoke from beneath his facemask: "Master Suhayl! Altair." He uttered Altair's name bitterly as everyone else in the Brotherhood in contrast with how he happily greeted me. I slightly shook my head in disapproval.

"What brings you here?" the Informer continued.

"Fahd," I said as a small laugh escaped my lips, "I know you are not here for nothing. Al Mualim sent you, did he not?"

Although I could not see, I could tell that Fahd the Informer was smirking under his mask. But he did not respond immediately. I tapped my foot impatiently before warning, "Spit it out, Fahd, and answer my question."

"Of course, Master," Fahd bowed. He replied, "You saw right through me. Unfortunately, Al Mualim has sent me to test Altair. If he passes, I shall share some information about Garnier de Naplouse." He told Altair that he was to collect Masyaf flags that he had spread out in the area. Altair sped off after that, for he was being timed with three minutes. As soon as Altair was out of earshot, Fahd chuckled, "He won't make it on time... He is too much of a disgrace in the Clan."

I stepped closer to the man threateningly and growled lowly, "Back off, Fahd. Don't disrespect him. He is my responsibility and if you disrespect him, you disrespect me. Now give him a chance. Is that clear?"

The Informer yielded to my tone, which was enough to make him think twice. He fell silent until Altair came back after about one minute and a half. I smiled at the approaching man and patted him on the back once he reached us. Altair looked at me in confusion; he could swear that I was bipolar. In Damascus, I acted hostile to him. Now in Acre, I was completely different-- like an old friend that wouldn't give up hope! I shrugged at his bewildered expression and smiled warmly before Fahd spoke again. He gave Altair information about Garnier de Naplouse as he promised, making a few hidden insults as he went along. I glared in warning at him to show that I noticed those few insults. He didn't stop until he finished and walked away. Was he persistent or what?!

"What was that all about?" I heard Altair ask curiously.

"What what was?" I asked back, turning to face him.

"You were glaring at Fahd."

"Oh! That? He was insulting you a fair bit of times," I replied to his question casually. He still had a questioning look upon his face, however, and I continued, "You need to be given a chance and not treated so harshly. After all, I was talking to Malik before he left for Jerusalem. I said that it was an accident; Robert threw you out of the room-- there was no way back, was there?"

Altair shook his head in response. "If there was, I would have come back."

"Good. I do not doubt that."

There was a pause-- a silence for a moment except for the crowd of Acre. The man spoke again, "You are strange, boy."

"And if I am?"

Altair only stared with his piercing chestnut brown eyes and walked away after he shook his head in even more confusion. I chuckled softly before following. As we explored the Poor District of Acre, Altair gained more information from interrogation, eavesdropping, pickpocketing, and another Informer that we encountered near the cliffs looking down on the sharp rocks of the sea. I kept my distance from the stone wall that prevented anyone from falling in, still paranoid. The Informer Yushua was a cowardly man; he was always being discovered and ran away each time, in hopes that someone else would rid of the one that spotted him. This time was no exception and Altair answered his prayers. Altair helped in exchange for information, but not without annoyance at Yushua's cowardess. I could not help but be slightly irritated as well.

We went back to the Bureau by midnight like before. I dropped onto the pillows in the first room as soon as we arrived. I was tired and did not waste time to take the chance to sleep. Altair gave the information he gained to the old Rafiq, obtaining the eagle feather after that as approval.

"You'd better go on ahead, Altair. I'm staying to write my report," I explained to the taller man who woke me up for the mission. I spoke into one of the pillows, still tired, but I knew Altair heard me.

"Didn't Al Mualim say that you had to accompany me constantly?" Altair asked, crossing his arms.

"Do you want me to? I will come if that is your wish." I pushed myself up from the ground and looked at him curiously.

He nodded. "Please. Just watch me. I shall prove myself worthy to the Master and the Brotherhood."

I stared, eyes narrow in suspicion. "So you're not doing this for the people, but instead for yourself..."

Altair did not reply and stood up from his crouching position, then walked over to the exit. I shook my head in disapproval; still a selfish one, I see. Nonetheless, I stood up and stretched before climbing out of the Bureau lazily. As I followed the demoted star, thoughts ran through my head again.

I was curious about Garnier. Why not come along then? And surely, if I did not, Al Mualim would have my head! If I had stayed behind, I would not be following my mission. Everyone in the Brotherhood knew that the old man did not tolerate such things, such actions... Everyone in turn knew the consequences. Not that I minded my mission, but... All right, I did in the beginning. Still! Hmm... What changed that, I wonder? Was it the fact that I seemed such a merciful person to others? Tch, right... I can never be too sure. Besides, they've not seen the other side of me.

When we arrived at Garnier's hospital, I noticed a few people staggering in their walk and covering their faces as if insane. Each time one came near, they would shove them like a scared cat, clawing at the victim. For all I knew, they probably were insane. Then, the truth hit me like a ton of bricks. Were these Garnier's so-called patients? Were these men and women a result of his experimentations? I had heard about the doctor's actions last night before I fell into my deep slumber, when Altair and the old Rafiq were conversing about the mission. I was curious and decided to listen. However, I had been much too tired and did not hear the end of their conversation. When Altair would strike and a few more details, I did not know. Was the doctor actually heartless? What was his intention in these experimentations of his? Too many questions... Perhaps I would find out the answers soon.

Altair and I made our way inside with the help of a few fellow scholars. There were no problems encountered. Inside, there were men and women with similar attire to the insane ones just outside. But they walked around casually. Of course, a few screams from the actual interior of the hospital broke that casualty and the silence that came with it. Blood-curdling screams... I flinched slightly, not used to this type of environment. Those screams... were not the type I was used to. The only screams I had ever heard in my life were of minor pain, surprise, and battle cries, but never this... Never these painful and sorrowful screams. My eyes widened and I hugged myself, suddenly cold from the thought. Altair noticed and turned to me to ask what was wrong, but was interrupted by the yell of a man bursting out from inside, shouting how Garnier was mad and deranged. He ran up to everyone, yelling in their faces, grabbing their shoulders and shaking them back and forth. Two guards emerged and caught the scrawny man, beating him in the process. Suddenly, the central doors slammed open and an old man surrounded by more Hospitalier knights came out, commanding the two guards to stop. The old man had a French accent and his bloodstained clothes just screamed 'mad doctor.' This had to be Garnier de Naplouse!

"Enough, my child! I asked you to retrieve the patient, not to kill him!" the old grandmaster scolded the two guards. He looked back down at the scared patient, his expression softened. "There, there... Everything will be all right."

"No, no!" the patient began, interrupting Garnier. "No! Don't touch me! Not again!"

"Cast out this fear. Else, I cannot help you."

"Help me?! Like you helped the others?! You took their souls! I saw! I saw!! But not mine! No, you'll not have mine!"

Garnier slapped the patient suddenly with the back of his hand sharply, hoping to knock "sense" into him. "Get a hold of yourself! You think this gives me pleasure? Do you think I want to hurt you? But you leave me no choice..."

The patient pulled from the guards holding him and moved around at the crowd, pleading once more, the guards still restraining him. He spoke of how Garnier was a liar. Garnier, of course, did not take kindly to this.

"You should not have done that," Garnier said lowly, his demeanor quickly changing to emotionless. He turned and commanded something to the guards.

The patient spoke again, now defiant, "You cannot keep me here! I shall escape!"

Garnier turned again and glared, "You won't. Break his legs-- both of them."

The two other guards obeyed as I looked away. I wasn't ready for the sound of breaking bones and agonizing screams that came after. I wondered again why I was promoted to such a high rank. Garnier apologized to the man as the guards dragged the pained man inside the hospital. Garnier and the two other guards followed, closing the central door behind them, after Garnier shooed the other patients away with ease. I tensed, knowing that we would have to go inside to assassinate the Hospitalier Grandmaster and see the people suffering. Altair turned to me with an expression that looked almost concerned. I noticed and glanced at him.

"Suhayl, are you all right?"

My eyes widened in surprise at the man's question; it was unexpected, coming from him. I did not think he would ever be concerned about anyone, nonetheless someone he barely knew... someone like me. Rather than expressing my surprise and being rude, I smiled in approval and replied, "I'm fine, Altair. I appreciate your worry very much. I'm just not ready for this... kind of environment..." My smile faded as I finished.

Altair nodded slowly. "Of course. You've been promoted to a high rank so suddenly. You wouldn't be used to such sights, noises, or stenches."

"Glad you understand." I turned away from him and towards one of the entrances. "Well? Shall we continue?"

Altair nodded again and led the way inside. As soon as we made it in, we saw Garnier tending to one of his "patients." We heard him speaking to them in a caring voice. It was strange to hear him in such a tone, considering what had just happened. His voice held truth, comfort-- things that I did not sense before. He was acting like a true doctor, not a mad scientist. As we strolled through the small hospital, we overheard his conversations with his patients and I began to think different of Garnier, even beginning to admire the man. I glanced at Altair, who walked beside me on my left.

"Altair, it seems almost as if Garnier doesn't deserve his upcoming death," I whispered loud enough for only him to hear me. "He is not hurting these patients. Almost all of them love him like a father."

Altair did not respond and continued to follow Garnier.

"I shall speak to him."

"What!" The taller man finally spoke as I walked ahead of him. He tried to grab my upper arm, but failed; I was already nearing the doctor.

Garnier noticed me walking up to him shyly, as if I was not sure now whether or not to converse with him. He turned from his work and smiled kindly at me, making a gesture for me to approach.

"What is it you want, child?" he asked.

I stepped back, but continued approaching him, now confident. "May I talk to you, kind sir?"

"My ears are wide open. Tell me anything you want, my boy."

"I am not a patient here, but I would like to ask you a few questions. From what I see here, these women and men appear fine. So why do you treat them if there is nothing wrong with them?"

Garnier smiled a fatherly smile and patted my head. "But there is, my child. They are ill inside. They are still children-- my children. Until I know they are still well inside, they will still be children and will still need tending to. But, of course, I would be very hurt if ever they left me. You see, parents find it quite hard when their children are finally ready to leave. They even resort to tears... and I do not want tears. You have yet to understand this, child."

I nodded and stared at the old doctor. "Actually, I do understand. I lost my parents; I wasn't ready for them to leave me. I was very young when they passed away, you see..."

"Ah, but that wound can heal. It is when you lose your children that a wound of loss will take a long, long time to recover. You will learn to understand that one day."

I made a small smile and registered what he said. "Thank you for your wisdom, kind doctor..."

Not a second later, from behind the doctor came a blade though his neck. I flinched at Altair's sudden action, a little blood flying to my face. Altair took out a feather and wiped it gently across Garnier's bloodied neck. He slowly brought Garnier's lifeless body to the floor, closing his widened eyes soon after.

"Thank you for the distraction, boy," Altair whispered as he stood back up. He grabbed my upper arm and dragged me to the middle of a group of scholars nearby. We folded our hands, acting like the scholars, and followed them out of the hospital. I stared in awe at Altair as we left the scholars and walked calmly back to the Bureau; He had made it out without anyone discovering him, without making much of a fuss, without guards chasing him this time... Such skill! Does Al Mualim expect me to be that good?

"... I wasn't talking to Garnier for a distraction," I said after a while. "I wanted answers and he did not deserve such a fate."

Altair stayed silent. That meant that he agreed! He just wasn't sure... The views of his dear master Al Mualim clouded his judgment. I had to wonder, too: Why had he really sent his star student to kill nine prominent men? Already, one of these men showed good will. Altair probably overheard my conversation with the doctor, making him more uncertain than before. Not only that, the patients proved that good will rather obviously; you couldn't ignore the fact.

At the Bureau, Altair expressed his uncertainty to the Rafiq, who responded with a tone as if the matter was obvious and something that Altair need not worry about. I wrote my report in the meanwhile and I vented the same uncertainty towards Al Mualim about the same case. He was holding something back, even from Altair! And whatever it was, it had to be important. I-- no, we had to get to the bottom of this and get answers... eventually. I didn't care if it was too early in the mission to ask. Something told me that a few of the assassination targets would be similar to Garnier de Naplouse and I wasn't going to wait to find out.