Chapter 25

Desmond nervously played with the hidden blades Minerva had provided him. He was silently watching how the templars marched forward, riders at the front. He couldn't make out Dominique however and Desmond guessed he would stay behind to use the apple.

The assassins had taken their places as well, he saw countless of them on the cliffs or hidden behind rocks. They would launch an attack from afar, with their crossbows and throwing knives. They probably would take out the enemies archers first, at least that is what Desmond would do. The rest of the assassins were gathered on normal ground in battle position, with Altair and Malik at the front. Their faces looked grim and when the first templar dismounted their horses, Desmond knew the battle would start any minute now.

Eventually the leading templar gave the signal and Desmond saw Altair doing the same and then, the battle began. Sword clashed, metal met and people died. It made Desmond sick to think that this fight between templar and assassins would go on for centuries to come. He sighed and shook his head.

"Humans are violent creature by nature, Desmond Miles, it was how they were created," a voice in his head suddenly said.

"But why Minerva? Why not just create them to be peaceful?"

"Because no being is truly peaceful, not animal is peaceful and we are neither."

Desmond knew she was referring to her and the others of the first civilization. He eventually nodded., "I should join the battle now!"

"I agree, but watch out for Dominique de Sable. If you do not interfere, Desmond, he will kill Altair today. You have to stop him!"

Desmond nodded and finally stepped out of the shadows. He quickly checked the battlefield, but couldn't make out the all too familiar form of de Sable.

"Go to Altair, Dominique will find you then and now hurry, before it's too late!"

Desmond decided he did not like the tone of Minerva's voice at all and he quickly looked out for his ancestor. Thanks to his eagle vision, he soon spotted the figure of Altair, fighting as if he was possessed. All around him laid dead bodies, the earth under his feet was drenched with the blood of his enemies, yet Altair seemed unharmed. Desmond allowed himself to sigh in relief, before stepping closer to the cliff's edge. He would made sure that Altair stayed save, and if it killed him. And with that, he jumped down and joined his brothers in their fight.

At some point Desmond had stopped counting the men he had killed, while trying to reach Altair. The older assassin seemed to be moving further away with every step Desmond took in his direction, but of course Desmond knew that this was just his imagination.

The other assassins had quickly figured out who he was, he apparently had gained quite the reputation, and the moved aside to let him pass, the templar however, seemed drawn towards him. In groups they would stand in his way and he struck them down without mercy, Desmond's first priority was Altair.

Eventually Desmond spotted the de Sable heir in the crowd, he was also heading towards Altair's destination, but his path wasn't blocked by enemies. The glowing apple in his hand made sure of that.

The light made the French man's eyes glitter strange and dangerously and a shudder ran down Desmond's spine at the mad grin he had on his face. The young assassin cursed loudly when yet another templar blocked his path and he decided that he finally had enough.

Instead of meeting their blades with his own, Desmond kept on running towards them. He dodged their attack and jumped rather clumsy on their shoulders and heads and successfully made his way towards the still fighting Altair, whose robes had turned from white to red. The grand master of the assassins was so deep in concentration, so engaged in the movements he made, that he didn't notice Dominique de Sable approaching from behind him. But luckily Desmond was there to protect his comrade.

He jumped from the shoulder of one of the knights, who crashed to the ground from the shove and he landed right behind the French man, who turned around to look at the intruder.

"Ah, it is the brother," he greeted Desmond.

"It ends here and now de Sable!"

"Indeed!" the templar confirmed and drew his sword, grinning manically.

Desmond expression turned to determination and in the next moment, the metal of his sword met de Sable's. Altair had finally noticed the templar leader behind him and almost had attacked him, when he caught sight of the French man's opponent. At first he did not recognize the man, fighting his enemy, but eventually he identified the movements as these of Desmond's. He quickly shoved his irritation down and was about to join Desmond in his fight, when more templar stepped forward, right between him and the two opponent.

He cursed his luck, the templar and eventually even Desmond, but then he quickly turned towards his new challenger.

Desmond and Dominique danced around each other, parrying blows and attacking. The French man's fighting style was graceful and controlled, but Desmond had no problem keeping up with the stronger build man. He was more agile, faster and could use acrobatic manoeuvres to keep his opponent at bay and to eventually force him back, away from Altair.

Dominique gritted his teeth in frustration, "Why do you not just give up, assassin? You and your companions have no chance against me and my templar!"

"We will never surrender!" Desmond replied, while circling his opponent.

"You are all fools!"

"Says the one, who hides behind the apple!"

Dominique bared his teeth at that, "I am not hiding, assassin! I am fighting am I not?"

"Now you are," Desmond agreed, "But until I approached you, you where making sure that no one even touched you! Face it, you are a coward and a bastard and you will lose!"

"Never! I will never lose! You and your precious brotherhood are going to lose! I am going to send you all to hell, where you belong."

"So far, you are not doing a good job," Desmond gave him a provocative smile.

The French man roared and lunged forward, but Desmond had foreseen this move. Dominique was easy to make angry and therefore he was easy to manipulate and to control. He would take advantage of the fact and hope, that this will be enough to beat him.