Well well well my pretties. It has been ridiculously long since I've updated. And I apologize. Can't promise that I'll update profusely like I did before I kinda went on hiatus, I'll most likely update sporadically when my schedule allows it. But beleive me when I say this, I will finish this story. And I have ideas to go on to the following games. It may take a long while, but I will finish this and all my other stories.

Enjoy.

Chapter eleven

"No! No, the king can only move one square. Only the queen can move any number of spaces. That's why she's the best one to have." It was one of Altair's frequent visits, and I was trying to teach him how to play chess, but he wasn't catching on very well. He stared venomously at the black and white checker board, his eyebrows furrowed and mouth turned down. It was actually quite cute, but I didn't want to wound his man pride by telling him such.

"That is not right! A king is more powerful than the queen; he should be able to move as many times as he wants."

I hid my giggle behind my hand that I used to cover my mouth. "But that's not how this game works."

"This is a stupid game," he pouted, folding his arms across his chest. Once again, I had to cover my mouth with my hand as I burst into a fit of giggles. Altair glared at me from under his hood. I peeked at him through my fingers and stuck my tongue out at him, but his expression remained the same.

"Stop being childish," he ordered, his frown deepening. His golden eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Abandoning our game of chess, I rolled onto my back and looked up at him.

"Why the long face, twinkletoes?" I teased, poking his leg. He rubbed his temple.

"Must you torment me with that abhorrent nickname?" I smiled and rolled back onto my belly, placing my chin on my hands.

"Yes, I must."

Returning his hand to its former place in his lap, he looked down at me with his serene golden eyes. I just looked back at him and smiled. He broke the gaze and turned to the floorboards that had so suddenly gained his attention. "I must leave soon."

My smile dropped. "But you've only been here for an hour, not even." He shook his head and looked back up at me. "I've a mission to depart on. Two other assassins along with myself must go and retrieve something of great importance for Al Mualim."

I bit my lip. "When are you leaving?"

"Within two days."

I just sat, looking at him. He just sat across from me, looking at me. Neither of us said anything.

"Well…you know what we must do to ready you for your departure?" I said, smiling a little. He raised an eyebrow at me. "What?"

As quick as lightning I grabbed a cushion off my bed and threw it at him, socking him in the face and throwing him off balance. "Pillow fight!"

He sat still for a moment, then slowly turned to gaze at me from under his hood. "Prepare to lose," he said in a deep voice. I squealed and jumped up, running away as he leaped after me. I rolled over and off the other side of my bed, and he threw a pillow in my direction. I ducked, and it hit the wall. Smiling at him, I picked up another pillow and threw it as his head. He caught it and threw it back, socking me in the stomach. I groaned playfully and grabbed a pillow off the floor. Running, I leaped over my mattress and onto Altair, knocking him to the ground. I pushed his shoulders down to the floor and playfully hit him repeatedly with the pillow until I figured he'd had enough. The corners of his mouth turned up the slightest bit. Shifting under me as I sat across him, he crossed his arms behind his head.

"I let you win, you know."

I laughed and covered my mouth with my fingers. "I know. Next time you shouldn't go so easy on me. I need a challenge," I joked, pulling the edge of his hood down over his face.

"Touché," he grunted, fixing his cover. His eyes sparkled mischievously and his face smirked at me from where he lay. I played with the leather tassels on his vest, wrapping them around my fingers. We were both quiet, enjoying the peaceful moment and sunlight streaming through the windows.

"Kahlia…" he started, but trailed off.

I raised my eyebrows slightly, looking at him to finish. "Yes?"

"May I ask you something?"

I took a second to reply. "Of course. You can ask me anything."

He took more than a second to ask his question. Then he cleared his throat. "Have you…been with a man?"

I froze. Why Altair of all people would ask me such a thing, I could not fathom. I looked at his face intently. He seemed to be serious, (as he always is), and no trace of a joking or teasing matter I could sense. "Do you mean, as what happens between two people...in bed?"

He didn't hesitate. "Yes."

I felt the heat rise to my face. Not anger, no. I could only imagine my face an awkward color of pink. "Um, no…I have never."

"Have you ever considered it?"

I thought out my reply before speaking. "I think it should happen between two lovers, not when two are drunk or when a man decides he needs pleasure and so takes it like he pleases. I'd always thought of myself doing it with my true love."

Altair nodded. "That makes sense."

I bit my lip, studying his face. "Have you?"

"Not with a man, no. I have no interest in that."

"But with…women?"

"Yes."

"Ah…" I rolled onto the floor beside him, facing the ceiling. There was a strange, constricting feeling in my chest; I wasn't sure what it was. I wasn't jealous…was I? No, I had said myself I thought it should be between two lovers, and Altair of all people is certainly not my lover. I chuckled inwardly. I couldn't exactly picture him as someone's lover. He was handsome and attractive, no doubt, but he was serious almost 24/7. Not to mention he was an assassin. He stirred beside me and stood up. "Now it really is time for me to depart." I stood up also and faced him. He easily towered over me; the top of my head barely came to his chin.

"Will you come back before you have to leave?"

He shrugged. "I will see what I can do."

I nodded. "Alright. I guess I'll see you later then." I trailed off. I never liked goodbyes to be awkward, and yet that was as awkward as a goodbye could get. He stepped slightly away from me and turned towards the doors and before I could blink, he was gone.

Reviews and constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated.