24. Join me in death

You could only meet so many Templars at once until your blade would give in.

Both Altair and Hatim had learned that in the early stages of their apprenticeship, but no wise words and limits would hold them. On every single day, Hatim asked himself when exacly this would cost Altair's life, Altair who loved it so much to butcher through hordes of Templars.

He told himself, if he was there, the day Altair's blade would break, if the man would search his eyes and mouth, "Join me in death," he would drop everything else and gladly do so.

26. Resurrection

A cloud of gray rose from the spot where had been their home only seconds ago, Altair stood and gaped for a while. Rasheed. Hatim. They were still inside. But he couldn't bring himself to move, struck by astounishment, too afraid of what he may find.

Then, Hatim rose from the ashes and it was like the resurrection of the Messiah to Altair.

27. Decisions

Hatim coughed and tried to squint his eyes to see through the stinging mix of smoke and dirt, holding his dark scarf to his face. From the right a shrill scream pierced the mist, followed by a few others which the Assassin dismissed for a much deeper, muffled cry in the opposite direction. Without a second of hesitation he took off over the piles of debris and wooden pillars, almost blinded, swinging over the slope a wall had created and crouching low behind it, hands digging into the remains of the burning house, revealing a cavity.

Rasheed peeked out of it.

"Father!" he exclaimed, pushing on the debris to help work his way out, "We've got to-" the hole was finally big enough for him to crawl out, "We've got to help the villagers! And the fortress! Father- "

Both Hatim and his son rose, Rasheed suddenly noticing the way the Assassin looked at him. Another thoughtful second, and Hatim turned, leaving without any rush, into the smoke and dust.

His son would make the right decision.