The Assassin's Sister
Chapter 11 - Seduction, Romance, and Revenge
Malik blinked feeling the sun on his face.
He turned his head away and looked over. He was in a litter, bouncing on the road. He had been placed in this litter a couple days ago. He was to travel, heal, and become Jerusalem's new Rafiq since her was no longer able to preform the full duties of an assassin, though he did have his mind which was sharp, and his hobby of cartography that Al Mualim also saw value in. He was a strict follower of the Creed and a good man.
"Where are we?" He asked, lifting a hand to block he sun.
"On the road to Jerusalem." A'sha said with some amusement as she sat at the far side from him. On her arm was a large eagle with a headdress that blocked her eyes to keep her calm. A'sha was caressing the bird's stomach gently before lifting her to her stand near her.
"What do you plan to do with that?" He asked nodding to the bird.
"She is my friend. She comes with me wherever I go."
He nodded. He looked out at the caravan they were in. "How far are we from the town?"
"Four days." She said sitting back, clearly bored also.
"Why are you not on horseback?"
"I needed to keep an eye on you."
"Me? I am well enough."
"You have an injury that will take weeks to heal fully, brother. It is only a week old."
"So you are to travel with me as my healer? Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?"
She looked at him and leaned forward, eyes glittering from under her cowl. "What offends you more, brother, that you have a nursemaid or that I am Altair's sister?" She asked.
He swallowed. Really? Could she so easily read hearts? Perhaps there was credence to the rumor he had heard that she was a magic user.
"Being an assassin, surely it offends you more to be my nursemaid."
She laughed at that. "Perhaps, but honestly, I have had harder duties. I get to learn a new town, feel her heartbeat like our home. Know the people."
"You are actually excited about it."
"Why would I not be? It is a change. A chance to see something new. Learn new things."
He smiled in spite of himself as she sat back. "You are a very interesting creature, A'sha."
She cocked her head. "Creature?"
"You have a strange way about you. I really have no way to judge your character and normally I am good at it."
"An enigma then. It is good we will know each other in the coming days then, is it not? I am to be your right-hand man, though perhaps I should be the left, given the circumstances." She said.
He grunted. "Arrogance must be breed into your family."
"Just as a lack of humor must be bred into yours." She said eating a fig her eyes watchful and they danced under her cowl.
Oh, this child would be a handful. Child, hell she was only five years his junior. Perhaps she was right. He needed an ally he could fully trust, and yet, she was the sister of the man who had cost him his arm, his brother, and almost his life, despite the fact she had saved his.
He watched her as they fell into silence. She was beautiful, clever, and spoke her mind only when she was comfortable with someone. She was mysterious. He cocked his head as he looked out at the caravan. He had a deep-set anger and need for revenge against Altair, but perhaps his sister was the key to it.
To bed her, turn her into his whore, make her loyal to him and not her brother. That would give him an odd sense of justice.
But how to go about it?
She had been raped. He had heard that that left emotion baggage that did not fully heal. Perhaps he could help her learn that she did have self-worth. He knew from talking to Altair that her brother feared that one day she would become so detached from her emotions she would be an ice queen, killing and losing her soul.
As night fell he watched her sleep. How could anyone have harmed such a creature.
Something caught his eye. He moved quickly, catching it as it made for her out stretched arm. However, it put him in very close proximity to her. She smelled of cinnamon and another warm spice he could not place.
He shifted to move away and blinked finding her had cool steel against his neck and her palm near it, her hidden blade extended to his flesh. He froze as she looked at him.
"What are you doing?" She hissed at him.
He lifted the scorpion he held that was struggling.
She relaxed. The blade retracted. "Apologies." She said.
He nodded and tossed the creature out, but then smiled ruefully at her. "You are a very light sleeper."
"When on a mission or the road…yes." She said settling back.
He nodded. "Sorry I woke you, sister."
She waved it off.
ZzZ
They arrived at the Bureau and Malik set about seeing to his new duties. The older Rafiq took his leave, allowing the pair to see how things were done. He offered advice to Malik, which the new Rafiq took well, knowing experience counted for a lot in a region such as this.
A'sha saw to replenishing the medical stores. She then set about making her room a place she could live in for some time.
Malik did the same. The Rafiq's quarters were the largest in the Bureau. Two doors down was A'sha. He could see the light coming from the curtain as she moved about after night fell.
She came to see to his dressing. He sat, allowing her to see to him as he remained naked from the waist up. She looked up and saw him watching her.
She then stood back and bowed. "Is there anything else you require, Rafiq?" She asked.
"Share a meal with me?" He asked nodding to the meal that had been brought for him. It was set on a low table with cushions about it.
She had been expecting to find some on her own, but after a moment she nodded, washing her hands and dropping to the cushions. He pulled on his robes and sat down also, finding the meal to be quite delicious.
The cook was Syrian, naturally, as they were, and had made unleavened bread with many sauces. Fruits and sugar coated treats were for dessert.
The pair spoke, learning about each other. The more he learned, the more he wished to learn more. A'sha was a very interesting woman. Often overshadowed by her brother and the rest of the brotherhood, it was clear Al Mualim saw, as he too was beginning to see the value the mouse of the order had.
ZzZ
At was a long month, but Malik grew strong again. He was amazed one day when A'sha had brought him his Rafiq over-robe of black that she had modified. She had sewn the left sleeve to just below where his stump was.
A thoughtful gift.
She always seemed to treat him with dignity and tried to assist him as much as she could. She truly was his most trusted man, though he had three others whom he had as well, friends he had called upon from Masyaf and whom the master had allowed to travel to him.
He was working on a map when A'sha returned from tracking. She knew well Talal was a man who should not be trusted. An expert marksman with a bow, as she was, she had gotten close to him by being in an archery tournament, disguised as a man.
She returned to Bureau and had not had time to change.
Malik looked up, startled to see the stranger walk into his Bureau. He blinked and was about to draw his weapon when he noticed the eyes. Those eyes could belong to no other.
She smiled, in her guise and went to her rooms.
He followed, amazed she was able to pull off such a disguise. She made a rather fair boy, but still it was hard to see that she was female.
She did not hear him enter as she pulled off the wig and hat that hid her hair, that tumbled down her back in a waterfall. She then pulled off her tunic, revealing the linen that bound her breasts to her body.
He blinked, suddenly stirred as she reached for the end. His hand came and stayed hers. She gasped startled, feeling his close proximity to her. He then took the end and tugged slightly.
He smiled as she moved, twirling until it unraveled and dropped from her, revealing her full breasts. He stared at them and she looked at him and snapped her fingers to gain his attention.
"Oh! What did you learn?" He asked as she turned pulling on a fresh tunic and she began to wipe the painted facial hair she had on.
"He deals in human lives. A cruel man. He likes to use his bow though. He did not take well to me defeating him in the first round."
"Surely you let him win."
"Of course, when it mattered. I could not reveal myself, but he seemed to appreciate that I had his same skills. He spoke openly about his work."
"Well done."
She turned to him.
He dipped his head. "Dinner will be served shortly."
She nodded.
ZzZ
She came to his room and sat down. She wore a loose tunic and linen pants. She had her hair loose about her shoulders. For the first time she did not wear kohl on her eyes and was not have a cowl.
They ate, speaking about the temperament of Jerusalem.
When their meal was done, she saw to his arm. It had healed very well. Though it pained him a little, he clearly had made it through the worst of it.
He turned his head, his breathing had changed. She looked up at him. Her eyes were so lovely. The tattoos oddly enhanced her strange beauty and his feelings for her.
He lifted his hand to her cheek and bent kissing her, softly, his lips asking a soft question. Can I have you?
She answered, kissing softly back, but then pulled back, looking at him. "I should go."
"You could stay." He said taking hold of her hand. He brought it to his lips.
She took a breath and shivered. He realized she was conflicted.
"A'sha. I know what happened to you. I do not want you to be uncomfortable or scared. But know, I enjoy your company."
She nodded closing her eyes.
He let her hand go to show he was sincere.
She took a deep breath. "Do you have wine?"
He smiled a little and nodded. "Of course." He rose and poured her a beaker. She downed it hurriedly and lifted it for another. He blinked and poured it. This time she sipped it.
"Forgive me. I need to calm myself." She said.
He nodded as she sat down on the bed. She finished the wine and then walked a few paces away. "Malik…I want you to see me." There was a polished mirror behind her on the chest.
"I do see you. Strong and proud."
"All of me." She murmured as she lifted the tunic over her head.
He blinked seeing her full breasts again. He realized then that his want to wound Altair was secondary to his desire for this woman, no matter who she was. He rose to his feet and went to her. He stood close to her and his hand moved, fleeting up the taut flesh of her belly and then cupped the breast.
"You are so beautiful." He murmured.
She shook her head. "Not all of me." She said slowly.
"What?"
She reached up, removing the earring she wore, revealing part of her ear removed. He touched it and shook his head. "A message to Al Mualim." He said. "That makes no difference."
Slowly she turned to him, revealing her scarred back. Malik shuddered, but only to think at the pain she had endured to survive this. He dropped his head in sorrow.
"See, you cannot look at them." She said turning back to him and moving to claim her tunic from the floor.
His hand shot out to stop her. "No." He said. "I cannot look at them because I know the pain you suffered. This was done with such fury and hate." He shook his head and then bent and kissed her deeply, pressing her back against the chest, bumping it. The mirror wobbled a little.
His hand went and touched the scars and she shivered a little at the curious feel.
"Will you have me?" He asked softly.
She looked at him, her arms going to his neck. "Yes, Malik. I will have you."
He smiled as he kissed her again, tasting the wine there as his tongue touched hers. She gasped, but did not push him away. Her body reacted and she kissed him back.
He smiled, lifting her to him he walked them backwards to the sleeping pallet. He sat down, pulling her down to him, her knees to either side of his own. She kissed him again, his arm wondering his back and downward to the waistband of her pants. He ducked his hand in, cupping a buttock, squeezing it as he pulled her closer.
She felt his desire for her. When she was breathless from kissing him, she pulled back from him. He looked at her, a question in his eyes. She smiled and simply pulled the linen pants from her hips and moved behind him on the bed.
He watched her. "You have the most glorious ass I have ever seen on a woman. Has anyone ever told you?" He asked rising.
She laughed and moved her legs looking at him. "No. That is not what they normally are looking at. Most remark on my blue eyes."
"Well. Those are lovely too, but everyone sees those." He said.
"You saw me before once."
He blew out the candles, except the one beside the pallet. He walked to her, slowly and then sat. He carefully shed his own pants and rolled looking at her.
"Yes, but at that point I was too afraid of you to even try to bed you."
"You are not now?"
"Oh I am, but I am sure I will be safe. I am a Rafiq after all. It would be hard to explain."
She laughed at him as she rolled onto her back.
"You laugh is like music. You should do it more." He said nuzzling her breasts as he lay beside her. He took one in his mouth and then held the other with his hand.
She moaned softly. She shivered a little in the cool night air that came in through the window.
"Don't worry." He said, drawing the bed clothing about them. "I will warm you, my sweet."
She felt him shift and she moved her legs to accommodate him. "You have done this before." She said looking at him.
He looked suddenly affronted. "Of course, I have. More than your brother."
She shook her head. "I have no interest in boys and their conquests."
"Well you did ask." He said settling and kissing her nose.
She beamed. "So I did." She felt his hot desire for her against her thigh.
He looked down at her as he lifted himself on his one arm. He then realized he had an issue. Thankfully, she realized it without him saying a word and she reached down between them and found him. She shifted her hips, looking up at him as she put him to her entrance.
Her hands, small and delicate on him made him forget his task in hand at the moment, but he snapped back to reality when he felt the tip of himself resting against her. He looked down as her hand snaked back up to his chest. He then looked at her face as he thrust forward.
She gasped sharply. She had not been expecting it to have a sharp pain. But it was gone almost as fast as it had come. She smiled up at him and moved her legs a little as she pulled him down for a kiss as he looked at her dubiously.
He had hurt her. He had not wished to do that, but he was losing his self-control quickly buried to the hilt within her. His balls against her warm rump as she cradled him there. Her hand went to his own buttock as he began to move, holding himself above her as he moved deeply within her.
She made the most interesting and erotic noises as she moved with him, her legs over the backs of his. She gasped, eyes opening, as she arched against him, mouth open as she gave a breathy whimper. He had never seen something more erotic.
The other girls had been quick, in the dark, conquests, nothing more, a game of boys, but this girl was not a quick roll in the hay. No he wanted to have her at his side. He knew, with some pleasure that it would be a barb to Altair to have his sister with another man.
His thoughts jumbled as he grunted, feeling himself spurt into her as he moved in an odd staccato way of men when they ejaculated into a woman. He then sighed and collapsed on her. Fleetingly, he thought he should keep his weight light, but when she wrapped herself about him, he relaxed, head against her collarbone, letting his heart settle, feeling it against her chest, feeling her own doing the same.
He wondered. Had she ever had such pleasure since her attack? He had a certain pride to think he had been the one to be there for her after. He would be there for her now always.
He lifted himself and blew out the candle as he settled against her. She rolled onto her side and he smiled, pulling her back against him, bodily, holding her in his arms. He watched her fall asleep. The trust that took was not lost on him.
ZzZ
They had been lovers four times that night. He woke with an odd restlessness in his limbs. He looked over. She was her stomach.
For the first time he could clearly see the scars of her back. They crossed and had left little, but bone in places. He traced one with his finger. He sighed. No one would harm he so ever again.
He bent and kissed the scar.
She woke and shivered a little. "What are you doing?" She asked softly.
"Good morning, sweetheart." He murmured, laving another with his tongue.
She twitched. "That feels strange."
He smiled. "I want you to know. I do not see scars. I see a beautiful woman. Just as you do not see half a man." He said lifting his stub as she rolled to her back.
She smiled. "Malik…"
He kissed her soundly. "Come. I am starving. I am sure you are as well." He said.
She nodded, smiling playfully as he shot out of bed and dressed as she rolled over moving to gather her things in a slower pace, finding that her thighs had an odd tenderness to them, that walking about seemed to help.
They ate together in the main hall. "How are you?" He asked gently.
"Hungry." She said eating the flatbread with the lovely fig jam and tea.
He arched an eyebrow.
"Oh. I am fine." She said smiling. She he had seen her walking.
"Indeed. I only wonder since I clearly took your virginity. I wanted to make sure you are well enough."
She froze. "You know well enough that was taken from me years ago." She hissed lowly aware his men were near.
He smiled and leaned close to her. "Yes, but that was unwillingly stripped from you. This was one you gave willingly." His dark eyes were watching her. "And if any ask, the blood on the sheets will stop talk about your attack."
"What?" She blinked.
"You bleed." He said softly, a hand going to her cheek. "You have lain with no one since have you?"
She swallowed. "No." She said.
"Good." He said, voice full of possession.
ZzZ
It was a month later when Altair had come back.
Malik and A'sha had been lovers ever since their first night together, speaking long and frankly about what they had both been through. It was healing for them both. He had listened, held her, prepared to mend her as best he could as she spoke, strangely with little emotion at what she had suffered. She had listened to how he felt about the loss of his arm.
In this, a love bloomed between them. One that was reflected in word and action. Malik was the calmer of the two, slower to anger, but once his ire was raised it did not dissipate as hers did. He was far less forgiving than she was.
Their frequent encounters had warmed her, making her more open to speaking to other assassins who came to rest and stay in the Bureau. She had the respect as the second highest ranking person there who could order as the Rafiq could.
Though his men knew of their love affair, few others did. They kept it well enough hidden for her protection he claimed, but more that he wished to watch Altair's face when he told him that his sister was now his and there was nothing the former master assassin could do about it.
A pigeon had informed Malik that the low ranked assassin was on his way. As part of his punishment he was required to rise through the ranks again. That gave Malik a certain pleasure, but he fumed about Altair living when he had been told he had died.
A'sha commented that perhaps the master saw something none of the others did. Perhaps giving him a chance to redeem himself was the way to keep order.
Perhaps…
He knew, by how she reacted, that she had known of his survival.
Strange.
How would she have known…unless…the master had ordered her to assist him.
Altair arrived five days later. Malik had sent A'sha on a mission to gather information for him. Veiled no one paid heed to her.
The master had been amused when Altair left. Now he knew why. He had found it amusing that Altair would again cross paths with Malik.
He walked into the Bureau and saw Malik there behind the desk. The two regarded each other, neither bothering to hide his distain for the other. Then Malik turned, slowly, showing Altair where his arm had once been.
Altair blanched. Of course. Damaged in the fight with De Sable's men, the best surgeon in Masyaf, his own sister, had been unable to save Malik's left arm and had been forced to amputate.
Malik smiled. It was a bittersweet smile of victory that came at too high a price. Altair remembered himself then. He had no business treating Malik with anything but humility and respect. He bowed his head in acknowledgement of the other man's losses. His arm, his brother, his status. Though as a Rafiq he was higher in status than he had been, he would never rise above it due to his injury.
"Safety and Peace, Malik." He said.
"Your presence deprives me of both." Malik spat. He on the other hand had plenty of business treating Altair with distain. It was clear he meant to do so. "What do you want?"
"Al Mualim has asked…"
"That you complete some minimal task in order to redeem yourself. Very well, out with it."
"Tell me what you can about the one they call Talal."
"It is your duty to locate and assassinate the man, Altair, not mine."
"You would do well to assist me. His death benefits the entire land."
"Do you deny his death benefits you as well?"
"Such things do not concern me."
"Your actions VERY much concern me!"
"Then do not help me I'll find him myself." Altair said moving to leave.
"Wait. Wait." Malik said sighing. "It won't do having you stumbling about the city like blind man." Better to know where to begin your search."
"I'm listening."
"I can think of three places. South of here in the markets that line the border between the Muslim and Jewish districts, to the north near the mosque of this district, and east in front of St. Anne's church, close to the barbican."
"Is that everything?"
"It is enough to get you started, which is more than you deserve." Malik said turning from him.
ZzZ
Altair returned near sundown.
"Come to waste more of my time?" Malik asked looking up from his maps he was working on.
A'sha had returned. She sat on the stairway leading to the sleeping rooms. She shot her lover a look and he looked back at Altair, ignoring the barb she shot him. Give him a chance, her eyes said.
"I have found Talal. I am ready to begin my mission." Altair said.
"That is for me to decide." Malik said, lifting a book from the desk.
"Very well, here is what I know. He traffics in human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem citizens and selling them into slavery. His base is a warehouse located inside the Barbican north of here." Malik was listening as he paced. Altair had not noticed his sister was there, listening also. "As we speak, he prepares a caravan for travel. I'll strike while he's inspecting his stock. If I can avoid his men, Talal himself should prove to be little challenge."
"Little challenge. Listen to yourself. Such arrogance." Malik hissed.
"Are we finished, are you satisfied with what I have learned?"
"No!" Malik said. His eyes caught A'sha's. "But it will have to do." He said lifting a white feather, a marker to be dipped in the blood of the target as proof of the kill. "Rest, prepare, cry in the corner, whatever it is you do before a mission, do, but do it quietly." He mocked.
A'sha's eyes narrowed as she descended the rest of the stairs as her brother turned.
He gasped, seeing her. He ran to her, folding her into his embrace and sighing happily. He kissed her hair and looked heavenward. She was still here at least.
Malik watched. As much anger as he had for the man, watching him embrace his sister with affection made him know Altair was a good man somewhere within him.