Chapter Twenty-Nine
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A/N: Thank you all for you reviews. I apologize for the last chapter being short and for this one being late. So this weekend, you get two chapters again, this one early because I'm so freaking tired, the next later, after I wake up. It will still be on Sunday by some standards but none the less, it'll be a second chapter. Next week I'll post regularly again. On a side note, over 25k hits. You guys are awesome. Thank you all so much.
The morning sun rose and with it, the assassins. I swear, these guys have an alarm clock somewhere, I just don't know where. I had woken up to the smell of something sweet as a pastry was dangled under my nose, the sugary substance pulling me out of the darkness, pulling me out of…whatever the dream, if I dreamt, was. Cracking open an eye, I saw the sight of what looked like bread with some sort of glaze. "Donut?" No, no, donuts weren't for…man, I needed to brush up on my history. I heard a chuckle before the sweet thing was moved away. I sat up, before I got into a stretch, my arms out in front of me as my fingers stretched as far as they could before flexing, my nails scratching at the ground beneath me as my back arched. I knew I stretched like a cat but I had to admit, when I do a stretch like a feline, I could help but revile in the feeling that soreness was gone, replaced by the familiar burns of muscle and the satisfactory cracking of my joints.
Once my stretch was over, I peered up at the one holding the treat, seeing Kalil smile down at me as he crouched near me, holding it out again. "Breakfast. I didn't know what you liked so I hope it's satisfactory."
I took the sweet treat, feeling the fluffy pastry beneath my fingers as the glaze spilled over in a thick roll. Once the small meal left his fingers, the rafik of Damascus sucked on his rough fingers, cleaning them from the glaze. Switching hands, I followed suit, tasting sweet sweet honey. Oh, honey, I've missed you! "What is this?" I asked, replacing my forefinger with my thumb, my teeth grazing the pad of my thumb to remove the thick substance.
The rafik shrugged, his smile is a lopsided one, his playful attitude showing through as he stood. "It's a treat from across the seas, England, if I were to guess." His eyes flickered to another pile of cushions not too far from me. The smile was gone, replaced by something serious. "He's worried." Immediately I knew Kalil was talking about Altair, the mood suddenly replaced. "He won't show it, he never does, but you're worrying him, and that, in turn, is worrying me."
I lowered my gaze, watching as honey dripped down to my fingers. "I'm an innocent," I said gently. "Abul's party, it was tragic." I shook my head. "I've seen it several times and yet, that was the first time it affected me." His shadow's head tilted. Oh shit! I blinked hard gritting my teeth. "It's not exactly easy to see death. Traveling with an assassin certainly hardens a person but that, that wasn't an assassin's work, that was cruelty. They all died for nothing." Anger filled me up; I could feel it boiling in my skin.
Kalil knelt again, I heard his knees popping. "He was known to be strange and so it wouldn't exactly be difficult to comprehend that he has killed many of those innocents." He set a hand on my head. "You seem to be better than you were. It's a shame someone like you had to see that."
I shook my head, feeling his hand rub due to my movement. "I've seen Altair kill before but all those people…" I shuddered. "Why would someone do that, to all those people? They were lured in, baited, trapped!"
"The working of a mad man's mind is mysterious," he said, almost sending me into a fit of déjà vu. He was calm, too calm, but the look on his face was a mixture of concern and contemplation. I had a feeling the worry was brief but the concentrated look was genuine. He was an assassin after all, perhaps he was thinking on what the fat Templar was, what the goal was, perhaps even, if my small theory was correct, what would have happened if Altair hadn't slain his target.
A cold shudder ran through me. If Abul Nuqoud hadn't died, what would have done? Would he go through the courtyard, to find survivors? Would he torture said survivors? What if he had found me? I would have to sleep with him then, I had somewhat promised… EW! A shudder ran through me and I was suddenly not hungry anymore.
The sound of something landing next to us made me turn my head, seeing Altair crouched down before he stood tall, he hands in fists as he was slightly out of breath. "I couldn't find anything. It's as if everything was destroyed." He seemed upset by this, whatever it was, his anger showing in his eyes but the stoic mask remained in place. The rafik nodded, his eyes casted down, in deep thought. Altair took a few steps before plopping down next to me, leaning his head back as it thud against the stone wall, the hood covering more of his face now.
As confused as I was, I couldn't help but think that Altair was pouting just a small bit. Of course, his lips weren't in the normal pout position but in my mind's eye, I could see a smaller version on him pouting, frustrated with his arms crossed. I almost burst out laughing when he actually did cross his arms, his head lowering as I saw his eyes narrow. Ripping off a bite, I held the gooey messy pastry to Altair, hoping to catch his attention. For a few seconds, he didn't seem to notice but his eyes slid to the pastry before he took it out of my hand, ripping off a piece before eating it. I followed suit, tasting the food at last. Damn the honey, it was so thick! Still, it was filling and my stomach was grateful. I don't think I could handle this assassin diet, I was pretty sure I had lost weight since my arrival.
…How long ago was that…? I had to think in different terms now, the days and nights were melting together, especially while on the horse going to and from one city to another. I put a hand to my lower belly; my body was my only means of guessing. My last period was when I was home, actually, when I was at work and that was perhaps a few days before I arrived. But I had counted down days not too long ago, seeming as if I was here for a month, perhaps longer now. But then, why would my period come by later and later?
My freshman health instructor came into my head then, teaching us about the female reproduction and how changes in diet and stress can alter the menstrual cycle. Well, I think it's safe to assume I was pretty stressed out. Could the charm also affect my period? I'd have to ask Alima when I get back to Masyaf. I was pretty learned in terms of my time, my world, but this was all so new and I'd need to know. My stomach roared, snapping my concentration.
My head snapped up, as I looked around. Kalil and Altair were missing but I could hear their voices inside the bureau as well as the sounds of metal. I was wary to stand, I wasn't sure if I was still bleeding or not so I don't know if I spotted my borrowed clothes or the cushions. I felt like I needed a bath, just to make sure. As I stood though, I couldn't see any stains but that didn't mean anything. One problem done, down to another. That's right! The pot. Disgusting non-plumbing backwaters medieval times! At least the Romans had plumbing and toilets! I was grateful though, as my bladder was empty and it was evident that I had finished my cycle. I was relieved about it.
Returning into the main room of the bureau, I saw Altair setting up his blades, checking his hidden blade as he ran two fingers up and down the edge before his middle finger tapped the tip a few times, blood beading where the skin was pricked. "You have everything?" I heard Kalil ask Altair. The assassin grunted before turning his eyes to me briefly. "Ah, she emerges!" I felt the mood lighten as Kalil smiled brightly. I couldn't imagine him without a wife now; he was too sweet, too kindhearted, and too lovable to be alone. I'm suddenly thankful for him finding a special someone out there. "Here, as promised, I'm returning them."
A pouch was set on the counter, the contents inside jingled to tell me that they were metallic of some kind. My mind went blank as I stared at the bag, the mood suddenly gone; leaving me missing it in the coldness it left in its wake. I knew that inside was the borrowed jewelry, cleaned of any and all blood and yet, I couldn't bring myself to go near it. The blood that once covered them, it were the blood from those people who died. They were gifts from a dead woman. I was numb all over as my body went to the counter, grabbing the pouch, my grip so tight I could feel every shape of the jewelry.
I didn't want to think of what was in my hand, what it went through, it was all too much, the horrible memories and the smell of the salty blood filled my senses.
"Elisheba?" I sharply inhaled, my head clearing right away as Kalil looked at me with concern. "Is everything alright?"
I nodded mutely as I looked to Altair. He didn't look at me like Kalil did, he just looked. Impassive, I supposed. My eyes trailed his face. I was so familiar with him now, his straight nose, golden eyes, the scar on his lips, everything was familiar. Well, almost everything. I cracked a grin before tapping my chin with a finger. "You missed some."
There on his chin was a drop of honey, glistening without a care in the world. I felt my insides flutter when his tongue snaked out to get part of the dribble. He then raised his hand and wiped the rest away, making his glove sticky. I don't think I minded that bit, he has a wide tongue. And my mind went perverted! I blinked and looked away, trying to kill this blue while my inner fangirl was throwing up images of so many dark and naughty things.
Forcing myself to turn away, I paid attention to some rather interesting pots Kalil had previously made perhaps days before while I heard said rafik chuckle over something. "Altair, you should not keep Al Mualim waiting, he would want to hear of your progress immediately." I heard Altair's hood move before he walked out the door, I caught sight of him from the corner of my eye. "Come, let us take the back." He was personally escorting me out? I was in shock and awe but he was the sweetest rafik in the game. "Perhaps we'll meet again."
I smiled and nodded. "If Altair receives word to come back, you can rest assure that I'll join him."
"Then I'll await that day. Until then, please take care," he said with a huge smile, sending me off to follow after the stoic assassin.
Altair didn't look pleased that I didn't follow him up, perhaps he was waiting for me, but it didn't matter, he said nothing as we eased our way out of Damascus, leaving the city. Looking into my pouch of borrowed jewelry, I took out a simple silver ring, one that went on my thumb, dropped it in the sand outside of the side and covered it with my foot, burying it.
It wasn't much, a simple piece of silver, not worthy of all those lives that were tragically taken, but it helped ease my heart as their dying sounds finally faded from my ears.
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Yes, it's uploaded early. The second chapter will be up later today and to show my appreciation, the next chapter will have a special treat for you all. And yes, before I get complaints, next chapter will be longer than this.
