Hello!
Next year, this fanfic will celebrate 15 years of existence. Looking back, I remember the summer of '08 as one of the happiest periods of my whole life. I had just discovered AC and soon after that I started writing on this fic and became so thoroughly hooked on this franchise and its fandom.
It meant so much to write here and realize that there were people out there who read and enjoyed what I created. I'd dreamed of writing books since I was a small child and now I could finally receive some response about my passion and actually test the waters somewhat.
Today I am in the middle of correcting the first draft of my first book (which is in my native language) and I know that the kind words, the enthusiasm and the encouragement you provided via this fic is what lay the foundation for my confidence and determination to see my dream through. I've come a long way towards my goal and I feel like I can't express how much that means to me. I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I love you all so, so much.
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About this new and rewritten version of 'A Different Kind of View':
Like before, it takes place right after the mission in Solomon's Temple in the beginning of the first game. After that the similarities end, storywise. Al Mualim is not a Templar Boss in this, he is just a pompous jerk.
I have removed all chapters and will be posting the updated ones as soon as they are rewritten. Most of the content will stay roughly the same, as I wanted to keep as much of the original atmosphere as possible, but some things will be forever altered.
Even though I will stick to my main story, it is possible that the overall theme of this will be a tad more serious than the old version, especially towards the end of this story. Just how much it truly differs remains to be seen.
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Please enjoy and take care of each other in these troubled times.
Safety and peace,
Theoris
Chapter 1
"Maiid!"
The guard wasted no time as he rushed into the room while drawing ragged, uneven breaths. The woman in question turned around and hurried to her friend's side, urging him to calm down with a gentle hand to his sweaty back.
"Adin, what is the matter?"
She wasn't used to seeing him this worked up – he usually always kept his calm no matter the situation. Something horrible must have happened and the girl frowned deeply, mustering all her patience not to rush him. When Adin had finally caught his breath somewhat, he stared up at her with pain in his eyes. His voice came out thin and cracked.
"It is your father. He… he is dead, Maiid."
She ran through the busy streets of Damascus with all of her speed. The citizens shot surprised looks at her or shouted warnings to cease this rude behavior of hers, but the young lady couldn't care less. Nothing or no one could be more important than the one objective she had set herself up to. Nothing or no one. She was furious, confused and filled to the brim with sorrow that she only with great willpower managed to keep in check for the moment. There was simply no time to mourn now – she had to find the killer before he left the city. She wasn't the only one looking, of course, but all the other guards went on their patrolling rounds as well and that meant that they had limited time to look for the culprit. The girl on the other hand was free to roam the streets all day and that was exactly what she did.
Maiid halted abruptly, causing a shower of dust and sand to spray over the hems of a shopping couple in front of her. As the pair complained their lungs out, Maiid tensed and directed her attention elsewhere. Was there someone following her? She could feel eyes digging holes in her back with a different intent than the townsfolk around her. At the same time she gritted her teeth in frustration; she didn't have time for this.
"Never turn your head fully. If you are suspecting that someone is following you, best is to barely glance to the side and pretend something over there caught your attention. This way, the follower will not put as much effort into hiding as he would have if you turned around completely."
She casually turned her head to the left and pretended to watch a man selling pots next to her. She waited a second and then quickly glanced sideways. Several paces behind her was a man that she thought stood out from the rest. He was dressed in worn, brownish clothes with a cloth covering all but his eyes, and as she had halted he bent down as if to examine his boots. He didn't care to actually disappear from her sight. Thanks to Adin and his helpful advice she now had the upper hand in the situation.
But she couldn't help but frown deeply as she set off down the street again. Whoever that man was, she really had no time for him. Usually something like this would send chills down her spine and urge her to seek shelter, but today was a different day. Today Maiid was very distracted and for more than a good reason.
The young woman rounded the block and launched herself into a sprint. Hopefully, if she just kept up her pace the man would eventually lose sight of her. If not, she would alert her friends and they would keep an eye out for her.
It had really come in handy being the daughter of the Guard Commander. Not only had she grown up among the guards and the protection they provided, they now also served as lifelong friends and comrades to her and in Adins case even a brother in all but blood. He had been there, serving her father and always staying close to her side ever since she was a child. That also meant that he had been the center of all the pranks and messes she had made during her childhood. If there was but one man in the whole world that could be defined as truly patient, it would be him.
His words from earlier spun around in her head. Her father had been killed on one of the rooftops close to the great Mosque, so that was where she would start looking for clues. As the huge building came into view she quickly checked behind her but found no trace of the man in brown. Hopefully she really had lost him by now. Pleased with herself, she dove into an alley and carefully began to scale the wall. Maiid wasn't as good a climber as some of her guard friends, but since no ladder was in sight the urgent situation got the better of her. After a small eternity, she finally crawled over the edge and dusted herself off.
The sun greeted her along with a warm and kind wind that played with her soft hood. She pulled it down to feel the air along her loosely braided, brown hair. It was another hot day in Damascus, the ones she enjoyed the most. It was almost as if the catastrophe had never happened and it made her furious. The rest of the world was not supposed to carry on as if everything was alright. It certainly wasn't, and it never would be again.
She carefully made her way over the rooftops. She had yet to make the most daring of leaps and would rather use a ladder or two if they were available. Her thoughts drifted off to the times when her father had taught her how to jump and land correctly to avoid unnecessary strain on her knees and back. She shook her head to clear it and kept running.
Maiid arrived at the scene of crime and scanned the area, but everything seemed to have been tidied away. She looked and looked for what felt like ages until she finally stopped and sat down on the warm roof to think.
"You are not supposed to be here!"
Maiid quickly turned around to face the guard who had yelled at her.
"Easy, La'lem - it is just me", she said.
The guard relaxed and walked over to her with light steps.
"Forgive me my rudeness, milady - at first I thought you were someone else. After all, it was a long time since you last visited us. Have you been busy?"
The woman gave him a sad smile.
"I am sorry. Yes, I have. And it seems as if I will remain so now that my father is no longer among us."
She saw a shadow settle over the young man's face.
"I am deeply sorry for your loss. It is most unfortunate as I was near and patrolling when the culprit struck. I saw the event transpire, but I was not lucky enough to be by his side in time to save him..."
He sighed and shook his head.
"I am sure you did all you could, La'lem..."
"Are you also out looking for the killer?"
Maiid nodded gravely.
"Then you must have heard what he looks like?"
"Yes. He wore white robes, so he could be a scholar of some sort. White robes and a red sash…"
"But no scholar would harm another being, especially not kill one?"
"It surely seems rather strange. Nonetheless, he must be found."
"Yes, milady. I will report to you if I uncover anything."
Maiid smiled and was just about to thank her friend when a sudden noise could be heard from the streets next to them. La'lem hurried to the edge of the roof and jumped down without saying goodbye. She moved closer to the edge to see what had caused such ruckus.
Citizens screamed and were running around in panic before her eyes. In the middle of it all lay a man, dead and with his mouth open in a silent scream. A flower of blood was slowly blooming from under him. Guards were shouting now as they ran past the corpse, chasing after someone Maiid couldn't see.
"Assassin!" they screamed. "Get him!"
Maiid tilted her head and frowned.
An assassin in Damascus? She didn't really know all that much about these ruthless killers, only that they randomly visited her town from time to time and killed a man here and there. She hadn't taken more than three steps along the edge of the roof before she felt someone grab her and whirl her around. Maiid instinctively kicked whoever it was and luckily tore herself loose, jumping back from the threat. It was the man in brown.
She mentally cursed herself for her carelessness; she had forgotten all about him. Now she was all alone with her stalker, a stranger armed with both a short sword and a knife that he pulled forth the minute she got out of his grasp. The man chuckled.
"Easy there, girl," he drawled. "I am not harming you unless I have to."
In shock, Maiid kept moving backwards until she felt open air kiss the tip of her heel. She couldn't get down from this side and all the guards in the area had left chasing the…
"Are you… an assassin?"
The man frowned and stopped advancing.
"Assassin? Wench, I am the leader of a growing thief's guild, not some damned killer for hire!"
"Then what do you want?" Maiid asked, trying to buy time to think herself out of this mess. The only plausible weapon she was carrying was the old short blade that she had found earlier today in her father's study. It had been his favorite and she couldn't let it be once she saw it. But it was heavy and the grip was a little too thick to feel comfortable in her hand. Still, if there was no other option, it would have to do.
"Why, I plan to kidnap you to demoralize all the guards in this city further and then let my men plunder whatever they can find! After that, I might even hand you back to your friends… for a generous sum."
Oh no.
Being surrounded with warriors all her life, it never occurred to her that her life would ever actually be in danger. She had grown up feeling safe and carefree, even though her father had set up quite a few rules to keep her out of trouble, such as never leaving the residence after dark or leaving Damascus without company. Still, she was now faced with a huge disadvantage – she had never met real danger before and now that she did, she didn't know what to do. And it absolutely terrified her.
The thief and soon-to-be-kidnapper raised a hand towards her. He seemed to have caught on quickly.
"Let us not make any hasty decisions now", he said. "Come with me, nice and slowly, and no one will need to get hurt…"
Her short sword awkwardly sliced the air between them and the thief quickly pulled back his hand.
"Stay away from me!" she hissed and held her weapon pointing straight for his heart. Her enemy growled at her.
Maiid tried to come up with something, anything, but all her thoughts were blurry and slow. She couldn't reach the street from this side of the building because… they were too high up for her and the closest building was too far away. But if she moved from the edge… the man would throw himself at her. As long as she stayed next to it, he wouldn't dare advance on her, as it might make her lose her footing and meet an early end. If he wanted her alive to bargain with for some ransom later, he couldn't move forward at the moment.
But he did. The thud from his boot as he stepped closer rang in her ears. She steadied her dagger towards him but he was hardly fazed. She knew he could read the question in her eyes as he snorted.
"I do not truly care whether you come with me or die here. No matter the outcome, I will reach my goal and throw the guarding forces off their feet. I am a humble thief – I have no interest in fighting unless I absolutely have to."
And he took another step. Realizing her life depended on it, Maiid launched forward in a clumsy attack. She didn't aim to actually hurt him; she was only after the distraction that might lead to her escape. But her luck was out because he caught her so easily in his strong arms, putting a choke-hold on her and poking her belly with his knife.
"Easy-" he began but stopped when she twisted violently from under his grasp. She wouldn't let it end this way – she wouldn't leave this place peacefully if it meant harm to her friends and family. She wouldn't.
The sharp, gut-wrenching pain in her side seized all of her struggles in a second. The world faded and only bits and pieces remained; the curse the thief muttered from behind her; the warm roof as she hit it face first; the agony in her body and the warm liquid flowing between her fingers. There was a scream in the distance and then…
Darkness.
