Ryuugazaki: I'm on chapter TEN, yo.
Chapter Ten | City of Jasmine
(15 July 1191, 1:30PM – Damascus, Damascus Governorate, Syria)
So many weapons! Enough for near a thousand men. And it's the smiths of Souk Al-Silaah who will prepare them. When this job is done, I must learn what I can of the one who's financed this endeavour.
Altaïr saved a scholar from being beaten by some city guards. In return, the scholar told his fellow scholars about the deed and they agreed to help him get inside the city.
Damascus was a very lively city. It smelled of jasmine, hence the city's nickname. The city was divided into three districts: the poor district, the middle district, and the rich district. The poor district contained the Souk Al-Silaah and the Assassin bureau. Altaïr forgot who exactly overlooked the Order in Damascus. He would find out when he get there, he supposed.
Altaïr went into the isolated alley and climbed the ladder to the bureau. The bureau entrance was on the roof and was protected with a screen. It was currently open. Altaïr descended into the main room of the bureau. There were pillows in one corner, a table in another, and prayer rugs in the centre. Then there was the entrance. Altaïr carefully walked around the prayer rugs and stood at the entrance. He looked inside of the study. The Rafiq was dancing. Or, at least, Altaïr thought it was dancing.
Altaïr cleared his throat and the Rafiq stopped his movement.
"Oh, Altaïr!" The Rafiq smiled. "It's you!" Altaïr looked at the Rafiq. "Don't you remember me?" He shook his head. "Ah, well then. I am Ishaq bin Ibrahim. Don't you remember me now?"
"Not very much."
"It's no matter. You'll remember me soon enough." Ishaq went behind the desk. Ishaq bin Ibrahim was a man who was in his mid-thirties. Altaïr wondered if he was in a class with this man before because his voice sounds very familiar.
"So, um, I am here for my mission." Ishaq leaned forward.
"Yes?"
"And I'm waiting for you to tell me about my target?" Ishaq bin Ibrahim firmly placed his hands on the desk. He grinned and started to ramble in the desk.
"Right, right! Your target!" He turned around to face the shelves. The shelves were littered with pottery – all made by Ishaq – and papers. "Altaïr, your rank was taken, right?" Altaïr nodded and Ishaq turned around and went to the shelf that had "novice" over it. There were three other scrolls on that shelf. "Ah! Here is Al Mualim's letter!" Ishaq turned around to face Altaïr and looked down at the letter. He started to read it aloud:
"Ishaq ibn Ibrahim,
I am sending Altaïr ibn Umar to your bureau so you can give him guidance. His target is the arms dealer, Tamir ibn Musa. I ask you to please brief him on the basics of his target and send him off to investigate. Safety and peace be upon you. Al Mualim."
Ishaq bin Ibrahim rolled the letter back up and put it on the shelf. He smiled.
"So, there you have it," Ishaq pulled out a vase that he was working on. "Al Mualim wants you to investigate and assassinate Tamir bin Musa. He is an arms dealer that mainly operates in my district." Ishaq bin Ibrahim pulled out a small jug of water. "Oh! Before you go, I must tell you that Tamir is very proud of his work." Altaïr deadpanned.
"How does that help me?"
"I'm sure you'll find some use for that titbit of information," Ishaq said as he pulled out some paints. Then he paused. "You should probably start at Souk Al-Silaah. That's where he does most of his work." Altaïr nodded and started to walk out. "Also, Altaïr, do you think… do you think that I should add words to the pattern I'm about to paint or no?" Altaïr walked back to Ishaq and went over to look at the vase. "No?"
"I think you should have a branching pattern. Maybe you can add rose vines to it." Ishaq grinned and nodded. "Is that good?"
"Yes! Thank you!" Ishaq dipped his brush into the green paint. "You may go now. Safety and peace be upon you, Ibn Umar."
Altaïr left the study, exited the main room, and climbed out of the bureau. He strolled casually to the Souk Al-Silaah. He roamed the Souk, feigning interest in the wares. At one stall, there was a man selling cooking wares and kitchen items. At another stall, there were spices, teas, and produce. And at another stall, babouches, raw silk, and djellabas. Then there was the stall that had sharp objects. The seller insisted that his work was quality. There were two men by it, talking.
"Do you understand?" The man in the red turban asked.
"Yes. I am to deliver the letter to your merchant friend." The man in the grey kufi said confidently.
"And you know who to see?"
"The same man as always."
"Do not think to betray my presence in this city. We have many eyes, many ears—" The man in the turban was cut off by his associate.
"And many arms, yes. Good for silencing those who say too much. I know this well. You have my word."
"Good. Then be quick about it. Time is short." Once the men parted company, Altaïr followed the man in the grey turban. He seemed unconcerned that there was a man dressed similarly to a scholar silently following him. Altaïr picked up his walking speed and stole the letter.
Altaïr didn't see the need to wait for his target to turn around to check for his object only to see that it isn't there. He's seen it all before. They stop, look to their right, look to their left, pat their pouch, and panic over the realization that their item has been lost. How they reach that conclusion is unknown to Altaïr.
Then Altaïr left the Souk to find his next piece of information.
Tamir has called a meeting with the merchants in his souk. Whatever he has planned for them must be important.
"Assalamu alaikum, Altaïr!" Altaïr looked behind him. He saw a man in all white – white jellabiya, white jilbāb, white niqab – standing behind a pillar. The only things that weren't white on him were the slithers of tanned skin showing from his niqab and sleeves and the basket that was on his back. The man beckoned him over so Altaïr went. "I need your assistance!" Altaïr made a face at how direct his brother was, but couldn't be upset because at least he was able to cut to the chase. "I took something from one of Tamir's men and now they're after me. See me to safety and I'll share it with you! Please!" The man grabbed Altaïr's arm. "Is that a yes?"
"Of course, brother." The man hugged Altaïr tightly. "However, I will ask that you please let go of me." The man let go gladly and smiled. "What is your name again? I'm sure that we've met before."
"Hamdan ibn Abu Bakr." Altaïr nodded. They left from the pillar and walked about the district, making light conversation.
"So, Hamdan, what can you tell me of Tamir?"
"Aside from him being a black market dealer, I can tell you that he is a… he is a…"
"He is a what?"
"Guards." Ibn Abu Bakr made a gesture, pointing at the group of seven guards on patrol. "Can we go around?"
"Have you been having unpleasant experiences with the city guards?"
"Yes. I am afraid that they will recognize my face and come after me. I would like to avoid a conflict." Altaïr nodded. "These guards, they are so cruel, you know." Hamdan sighed. "I put my basket down because I needed to put something in it. You know what they did? They started kicking my basket around! Bastards!" Hamdan lifted up the bottom part of his niqab and spat on the ground.
Altaïr and Hamdan went around the areas littered with guards and made it to a stall.
"Hamdan, where are you planning on going?"
"Back to Masyaf. I need to restock and relax for a bit. Then maybe I will come back to Damascus." Altaïr nodded. "Take me to the nearest city gate?" Altaïr nodded and he escorted Hamdan to the city gate – which wasn't very far from the stalls. They walked over to the stable.
"Here you are, friend," Altaïr said as he patted a horse's neck. "I wish you safety and peace on your way back to Masyaf."
"And I wish you safety and peace as you carry out your investigation." Hamdan got on a white horse. "Oh! Before I forget," Hamdan reached into a pocket on his jellabiya. "This should aid you in your mission. It seems to be an invitation of sorts." Altaïr took the invitation and put it in his robes. "Safety and peace, brother!"
"To you as well, my friend!"
Ryuugazaki: You know how I said in chapter eight that I should have chapters nine and ten up within the night? Well, as you can see, I lied. I l i e d.