Chapter 21
They had been riding for ten minutes before the female felt as though she was awake enough to open her mouth. Although she did not like arguments or confrontation, she knew that she could sometimes be an unintentionally stroppy cow in the mornings. She had pulled some fruit out of her bag and offered half of it to the Master Assassin, and frowned when he shook his head in response, "I didn't see you eat any breakfast."
"I ate before I woke you." He replied before he glanced towards her, "Besides, I've seen your hand itching for that pocket since you woke up this morning. You're starving."
Well, that was true. She was hungry. She always was. Waste not want not, Hana took an unintentionally large and rather unladylike bite out of the apple, causing the Master Assassin to shake his head lightly in amusement.
"I've taken one of Malik's books for you to read." He informed her, gesturing a hand towards the saddlebag on his right. "It's an easy one with larger writing inside. You should be able to teach yourself quite quickly with it."
"I've tried to read." She replied, only just realising that the mouthful she had taken was a little too large after she had painfully swallowed it. "And it's not working out."
"You will continue." He said, his tone taking on one of authority. "If you try you will succeed."
She nodded her head eventually, "Fine, I'll try. How long will it take? A few days?"
"It depends on how determined you are." He replied, "Children can usually learn basic words and sentences in a couple of weeks, with assistance."
"Weeks?" She moaned, "I was hoping to just do it and finish in a day or two."
"It'll take time." He replied, "Some children take months, and some people are still practicing even though they can read."
"Do you still practice?"
"Yes. Even though I can read, I keep on top of it. I don't think anyone has forgotten how to do it, but even so, reading is a greatly valued skill to have."
"Can Al Mualim read?"
"Of course he can, even blind in one eye."
"What about the maids?" She asked then, "If reading is a great skill, are women allowed to do it?"
"Some of the maids can, but not very well. I believe it is because lessons are expensive. Like most families, parents pay for their children to learn and because of the price, it is only affordable for one child…and because sons usually take on the business of the father, it is they who have the opportunity."
Hana nodded her head in understanding, "Then I think I will try to teach myself." She sighed a little sadly, "But it's going to take a long time, isn't it? I'm patient, but I don't think I'm that patient. It's taken me nineteen years to try so far, and I still can't do it."
"Although I found it frustrating," Altair began, "You have done well so far. Did you try to teach yourself?"
"I didn't really know it was something to learn." She said, "I thought it was just something to understand. I understood it, and because I did I didn't bother to continue."
"But now you know," The Master Assassin began, "You will try?"
"If you deem it as valued and as important as it sounds, then yes, I will try."
"Very well then," He retrieved the book from his saddlebag before passing it over from his horse to hers, "You can start when we stop for the evening, and then you will continue for the next few days. You will have a week until your next assignment."
"It's an everyday thing?" She asked, open mouthed.
"If you want to learn quickly, then yes." He replied with a smirk, to show his amusement at her outburst.
"I suppose everyone else has had to make the sacrifice." She said, "So I must too."
"Then it is settled," Altair began, "The next time we meet, I shall have a test for you."
A/N: Please review xx