On the next morning, after sending the pigeons with messages about Abbas to their mains bureaus, Altair looked at Malik from his table. He didn't look to happy after knowing Maria was going to stay at Masyaf.

"Why are you going to torture me like that?" He asked, finally.

"Come on, Malik… don't be so dramatic…" Altair said, getting up with maps on his hands. "Maria is nice to you…"

Malik sneered.

"Nice? She drives me nuts…" Malik said, waving his only hand in the air.

Altair laughed.

"This is not funny, Altair…" Malik scolded.

"I'll talk to her to take easy on you…" He said.

"Again, why don't you take her?" Malik asked.

"I need you and her to stay here at Masyaf…" Altair said. "Besides, I'm a jealous man…"

"She must be loving this…" Malik said, sarcastic.

"Let's say she understand me..." Altair said. "Let's go…"

They left Altair's office and went in the direction of the stables…

X ~ X ~ X

Altair and Malik were walking into part of the city that took to the main stables, where most of the horses stayed in several stalls. The weather was freezing and the snow that fall the night before was smooth under their feet.

All the Assassins that would be on the expedition were there. Maria, Laila, Ornai and Aisha were also there. When Altair and Malik arrived, Ornai looked at them.

"Everything is ready, master…" Ornai announced.

Maria, Laila and Aisha looked at them.

"That's good…" Altair said, lowering his hood as he approached Maria. All of them were dressed in warm clothes. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Maria followed him.

"What is it?" She asked when he stopped and turned to her.

"I don't intend to waist more than ten days looking for Abbas…" He said. "I feel that he is near… out history is not over…"

Maria seemed surprised and worried.

"But Altair…" She said, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Don't worry…" Altair said. "I know that I will find him, and nothing will happen with me…"

Maria remained quiet and looked down. Altair called her attention, passing his hand quickly under her chin.

"Hey…" He said smiling.

Maria looked at him.

"I'll come back…" He said again, approaching her and putting his hands on her arms. "and when I do, I won't let you alone…'

"Is that a promise?" She asked.

"Yeah…" He said, smiling.

Altair then kissed her and put his hood again.

Maria watched him go and climb on his black horse. The Assassin did the same with their horses.

"Abbas will be caught…" Altair said on his restless horse. "And will pay for his treason… Who's with me?"

The Assassins yelled and followed Altair when he left the stables galloping…

X ~ X ~ X

For ten days, the Assassins looked for Abbas and Swami. But with no success. Altair was more frustrated and irritated than ever and no one, not even the members of the council dared to talk with him. Only Rauf could.

Now, they were on a large cave where they would pass the night and hide from the snowstorm. The cave was on the way back to Masyaf.

The assassins were around a bonfire, talking. Rauf saw Altair alone in front another small bonfire, a wolf for blanket was around him. His gaze was fixed and his expression undecipherable. So, Rauf decided to get up and go to him.

"Altair?" Rauf said approaching. "I know you're anger and frustrated…"

Altair sighed, but remained looking at the fire.

"I should have killed him when I discovered his treason, Rauf…"

"It was the right choice, Altair…" Rauf said, knelling beside him. "Don't be so hard with yourself… you're still young and has a lot on your shoulders already…you'll learn…"

Altair nodded.

"Besides, things go wrong…" Rauf continued. "You can't control everything… you can try, but it's impossible…"

He nodded. How many kills did go wrong for him? How many times he had to run away from guards or he hurt himself because things went wrong?

"Yes, I know…" Altair said. "But we didn't capture Abbas, and this is dangerous for the brotherhood and for the people of Masyaf… and this will be my fault…"

"So, we will prevent this …"

Altair nodded, and they were quiet for a few seconds.

"At least, Maria will be waiting for you in Masyaf…" Rauf said.

Altair smiled.

"true…" He said. "It'll be good to go home…"