*Really having writer's block now :O In advanced I apologize for any errors you see in my writing. Sometimes what happens when I copy and paste to Doc Manger the formatting gets changed and sentences get altered :P*
Chapter Ten
I mouthed the word: no, as the Templar walked up to my beautiful mahogany brown horse. I watched helplessly as they untied the reins and pulled my horse with the black mane and spotted white sides away. Altair's horse was parked somewhere else safely tied to a palm tree farther away from the sight of the Templars. Again I mouthed: not my horse.
"Damn," I whispered faintly forgetting that Altair was exerted pressure on my arms restraining me to talk any farther even though the risk of being detected now faded.
"Isn't this your horse sir?" The Templars discussed their agreement as Robert de Sable scanned the horse. Ah shit, I blinked at the connection, bringing the horse you stole from your kidnapper's to travel equals more than coincidences!
"What makes you believe this is the same horse?" Robert lurched forward at the Templar viciously. Uh oh, I thought beginning to feel a tickle in my nose. Little white specks danced in the air which I assumed were floating seeds from weeds or flowers. I gradually tilted my head back into Altair's chest ready to sneeze. I couldn't reach to plug my nose because of Altair refusing to let go of my arms, stitching them to my side. Damn, I thought again feeling the prickling sensation knowing that it wasn't going to go away. At the last second when I lunged my head forward Altair wrenched my neck back then plugged my nose and smothered my mouth as I sneezed. His hand solid upon my forehead and the other solid on my mouth. With my hands free I slapped his off of me leaning farther away from him.
"It has the brand sir," Robert took a step closer lifting up the horse's saddle to check the rear. I never knew they branded their horses... or maybe it was just Templars in higher ranks that had that on their horse. Quiet mumbles stirred and whispers and hisses chattered.
"Ah don't you remember!" Robert rejoiced, "Are you around watching my men and I? Have you come to kill me yet?" There was no answer but the wind picked up and the trees began to moan. Pebbles rolled across the ground and the sun bore shimmering yellow tears into the wrinkles of the unsettling sea.
"You go make a distraction," Altair's voice coiled into my ear though suddenly frightened by how hushed it could be I nodded cautiously. He slid out from under me as I nodded, my back side left frigid compared to before. Altair scooted along the wall going back around the house as my cue to go do something insanely clever. I bounced out on a limb not knowing what I was capable of distracting tin idiots with blades but just give them one hell of a show.
"What are the odds?" my gaze directed lower than usual with a cryptic character. Robert de Sable gave that redundant laugh of his.
"Easier than I imagined you walk out in the open so mature, so exposed. Now after six years you manage to pluck the nerve and face me? Scars run deeper than skin you know..." He was referring back to the scar on my torso of the Templar cross. I drove my feet into brass colored dirt spitting out the fear. I presented my black blades loving the: Shing! Sound they made as I drew them out. "I bet you stole those robes too, to make yourself seem useful after that night in blood," he jeered with his men to back him up. I sprinted up towards him both our blades crossed in tension. His men were quick to react pulling out their swords as they encircled me around Robert. "Haven't you assassins learned anything in the temple?" I had no record of what he was bantering on about but I made the connection that it started and ended with something such as this. I kicked him right at home below the belt stunning him enough for me to swing around my sword to the nearest Templar. I can't kill him yet, I gritted my teeth punching one sword under a Templar's chin up his skull.
"You'll burn," twirling my blades around countering multiple attacks with the confidence to clean an army out from behind. "Like every candle you'll burn," I made an "X" across my chest deflected a two-handed sword swing. Thrusting the heavy Templar off me I sliced through the chain armor with one sword and jabbed the other through his eye socket. This would all be more tolerant if I had some daggers. "Until there isn't anything left to burn," I chopped the shoulder of another enemy off.
"Sarraf!" Altair hollered with his horse galloping by sword lowered. As if it was muscle memory I dropped my back to the ground ducking under his blade that would give a man a close shave. His sword claimed the life of a Templar.
"More of a warning next time!" I shouted back standing up right now. "Ouch..." that had stretched my lower back considerably. I still had about a pinch more of Templars to clear but my arms were getting sleepy swinging the swords with such power through all their heavy armor. I locked eyes on my target Robert like daggers. "Sarraf!" Altair called as I missed Robert's blow that could take a chunk out of my side. We both looked up at the same time Altair's hand stretched far leaning out from the side of his horse.
"To hell with that," I gaped, "I'd rather walk!" I complained. I turned sarcastically to Robert batting my eyelashes, "Pardon," I said in "sorry" French. Altair's hand whisked by latching onto the back of my robes pulling me up on his white horse. "What do I do? What do I do? What the hell do you want me to do Altair!" I spat in a frenzy to cling on as I sat backwards on the horse getting a view of the rest of the Templars faces as we rode off.
"Hold on," he lashed at the reins making the horse accelerate at speed. I kissed my hand waving goodbye with their short legs and heavy metal pulling them back until they were no more than just any other white speck of a flower's seed.
-(New Paragraph)-
Altair and I changed the plans around for the next couple of weeks sleeping in at dawn and traveling at dusk. With all my sweet promises I made towards the people to let me take their horse bargaining with such little items that were of use, no takers would let me have their horse. There weren't anymore quarrels or run-ins with guards or Templars. We kept low profile for the rest of the week. Little talk and a lot of traveling to get back to Masyaf. Though Jerusalem was my home just reliving the green slopes and deep side mountains that belonged to Masyaf made the knot in my stomach loosen. It was embarrassing when Altair pulled the reins at a walking pace once we reached the landmark of the mountain sides widening into an open cliff. Our lower bodies in sync with the horse's walking pace. Hips had to sway back and forth to make the horse's job much lighter. "Haydar Ganim," Altair looked over his shoulder at me. My head resting on his back as I had been sleeping for the last hour or so. Was he actually directed a conversation at me?
"What?" I yawned fatigued coming out of a sleepy state. "What about Dalal's father?" I looked up drawing back from Altair.
"He crafted my father's weapons who handed them down to me," he said. Altair's horse halted to munch on some hay now at the stables. I jumped off and removed the saddle. The horse was sweaty crazily so I told a guard to get some buckets of water and pour it all over the horse, then scrape it down for the horse to be dry when we got back. "Last I spoke to Al Mualim he demanded to see you next this time." Altair ran up the sides of the building to reach the fortress efficiently. I smiled once he left drinking in the familiar friendly noises of Masyaf and sun dipping by the mountains. I took the longest way up to the Assassin fortress saying hello to people that I hadn't talked to in a while. When I made it to the gates Abbas was leaning in on the gate.
"And here she returns," his words repelled me. "You too have fallen like a pet to Al Mualim. Brainwashed into thinking you'll truly be apart of the Brotherhood," I wiped the slimy words off my cheek.
"It's your doing to blame for letting Al Mualim recognize my acts in one day than yours in your lifetime to the Creed," I shot back walking at fast pace by him. Abbas said nothing more but continued to lean against the gate like a bully. I jogged into the stone fortress up the stairs to Al Mualim's study. Altair and Al Mualim both waited as I approached still keeping distance from Altair.
"Come forth Natasha," Al Mualim beckoned me closer to the light to see his wrinkled face. "I heard the news of your success children as it is good because it shall provoke peace upon the land."
"Quite ironic to say it such as that," I spoke maybe too far out of place.
"What do you mean?" Al Mualim raised a hand to express outer confusion.
"Each men we have slain has confessed strange words, at least to me," Altair cut in. He took a step forward to our Master, "They say things as if they do not regret the cause that they serve. Each man unique they die believing what they did was justice for all. Why do these men believe so strongly in what they do?" Altair recruited back into the shadows when Al Mualim seemed to scowl but it disintegrated fashionably.
"There is a difference between what we are told to be true and what we see to be true. Most men do not bother to distinguish them. But why is that you need to distinguish both?" Al Mualim averted to real question Altair was trying to ask as if layering that question with a more complex one to answer that.
"Then what connects these men?" I took my chance to speak.
"It is in our nature as Assassins that observe in the dark to question what is beyond the comforting darkness that we know into the light. Therefore you must still these thoughts and trust your master to guide you through the minds of a true Assassin."
"You speak to us in circles. Telling me at least, to be open but then not to think in that matter. Which is it?" Altair raised a good point though. Al Mualim paced back behind his desk to a bookshelf opening up a small cage.
"You will both know when there is no need to ask anymore," Al Mualim tied parchment paper to the pigeon's leg then let it fly through the window.
"Then what have you brought us here for if it's all just a lecture?" Altair bit sourly.
"Very well, there is more to be done. As of now you shall head off to Jerusalem and assassinate Talal. I have alerted the Assassin Bureau leader of your arrival so be gone. I have another rank restored to you Altair and one gained by you Natasha." I looked up as his hands that motioned me closer to see there were weapons outstretched on his desk. Altair took a couple more throwing knives putting them away in his boots now. The only weapon left was crossbow and some arrows.
"You wish for me to take this Master?" I swallowed hard when he nodded.
"A weapon not so commonly given. Unless you wish to leave it here and wait for the next time you visit?" I wasn't going to let Al Mualim know I had never really used a bow or give him the pleasure of witnessing me to deny a weapon granted to me.
"No I'll take it," I grabbed it flinging it over my back securing it with the strap and taking half a dozen arrows putting them over my shoulders as well.
"Come on," Altair groaned jerking the reins of his horse out of the hands of the care taker for the horses.
"This horse is exhausted, why not ride another horse? This one needs to rest," the man bravely took the reins out from Altair's hands leading the horse back into the stables.
"Fucking great," Altair mumbled as he had to deal with taking a brown horse. I stood there waiting in the gates hoping to see Dalal come running.
"Don't stand here," one guard pushed me out of the way to clear the gates.
"Let's go Sarraf!" Altair steered his horse so that when I turned around I nearly kissed the horse.
"Hey there," I gently stroked the side of the horse pressing my cheek to the mare. "I'm waiting for someone!" I insisted challenging Altair's stare.
"I'm already ready to go so let's move," Altair's knuckles turned white clutching the reins.
I rolled my eyes, "I didn't mean you ass, what I meant was, I'm waiting for a friend," I stressed looking back out of the gates. I spotted something purple come running towards me.
"Wait! Hold on a second!" Dalal breathed heavily and I let out a great sigh. "I'm glad I caught you just before you left! Leaving already?" Dalal asked somberly. I sagged my shoulders and my lower lip pouting.
"By Al Mualim's command we cannot stay long. We're going to Jerusalem now," the horse care taker interrupted by shaking the reins in my face. I snatched them irritably beginning to saddle up on this black stallion.
"Let me come with you!" Dalal's eyes gleamed.
"What? Can she?" I darted at Altair but I didn't know why asked for his approval.
"No, we barely got away with it last time," Altair slammed that option right back in my face.
"Oh," Dalal raised suggestively. Altair turned his attention towards Dalal.
"Not like that," he answered curtly.
"Why do you wish to see Jerusalem?" I got up onto my horse flicking away the horse flies. Dalal swayed her purple robes all too innocently.
"Masyaf grows all too same for someone who's lived here since they inhaled their first breath. Let me come with you on your adventures to share," Dalal clasped her hands together pleading to me.
"No I won't allow such a thing," Altair said sternly. I had never listened to such a tone as harsh.
"It's not like Dalal would come on our assassinations and investigations," I reasoned, "Get on a horse," I told Dalal who awed in gratitude.
"Thank you Natasha!" Dalal skipped to the side of my horse with a finger twitching me to tell me something.
"I'm not letting someone who can't help come along!" Altair slammed his reins down startling the horses around. "She must make the agreement to stay in Jerusalem unless on her own terms," he growled.
I was about to oppose-
"Deal!" Dalal shouted still too excited.
"What?" I strained befuddled. She couldn't really mean what she was saying. Why would she just agree to such a thing? "It's a one way trip Dalal. If you want to return to Masyaf I don't think I could convince Altair to allow me to take you back," I whispered into her ear.
"I don't want to come back to Masyaf. I want to go to Jerusalem," she seemed confident in her choice. But I knew such a path a little too well, I just didn't want my best friend to regret it. With that Altair ordered his horse and galloped away not wanting to stay himself.
"Be fast and get on a horse!" I squeezed through my lips not wanting to lose Altair.
"About that..." Dalal hinted, "I can't ride a horse."
I dropped a hand, "Get on," I persisted helping my friend get on the horse. She did better than I imagined. Dalal flicked her brown locks out of her mouth once on. The horse began to move and Dalal squealed.
"What do you want me to do Natasha?" her eyes round as I thought that perhaps she had never been on a horse before.
I whipped the reins, "Hold on."
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