Chapter 3. "New life."
Claire had no idea when she fell asleep again. Regardless Claire opened her eyes and felt refreshed. Leah was already awake, and she was in the kitchen working. Claire's head throbbed slightly when she lifted herself from the bed.
"Good morning. How are you feeling today?" Leah heard the shuffling of the bed and did not turn when she spoke.
Claire pulled herself to a sitting position and stretched her arms. Bones cracked in several places. Claire noticed part of her jacket was torn slightly.
"I had a good sleep," Claire answered. She gazed around the house, wondering about something and a bit shy to ask about it.
"You... want to wash up?" Leah stopped what she was doing and watched her.
Claire was not even sure if it is called a bathroom to these people. "Yeah and..."
"The Privy is outside to the left of the house," Leah added.
Claire went for the front door, and for the first time, she saw how things look outside. The weather was pleasant despite the arid appearance of the village. There was a greenish hue of vegetation that blanketed the area. The howling wind forced Claire to observe the sky as there were seemingly rain clouds approaching Maysaf.
Leah's house seemingly was the base of a mountain cliff. At least what Claire thought was a mountain. The ground was a mix of green and rough rocks. By the slight incline of the ground, Claire noticed that it started to go upward into a steep slope further past the houses. There was a small wooden fence covering the front of the house. Right to her left, she saw what looked like a public bathroom. Those you find in parks and such places.
A tiny room meant for one person to enter and complete their business.
Claire pushed the door slowly to see what it looks like inside. Surprisingly it was clean, and the toilet was built close to what they would look like in the future, but broader like a wooden chair with a hole in the center.
There was a bucket filled with water next to it.
Right near the bathroom was a well. Another bucket is ready for Claire to use to wash her face.
"Okay," She whispered. "I guess this isn't too bad."
Claire knelt down and held the bucket. It was a bit heavy, but she managed to title it slightly, and water started to fill her open fist. Claire breathed and splashed herself. She let out a gasp at how wintry it felt. Still, the jolt of water gave her a sense of life.
From her peripheral vision, Claire noticed onlookers nearby were observing her and whispering to each other, perhaps because of her red hair. It figures, someone like her does not always show up here. Still, this felt strange, so she finished her business, then hurried back.
"Come and have breakfast," Leah gestured for Claire to sit. As usual, it was a loaf of bread but with what seemed to be white rice.
Claire sat and took a cup of water. 'Hydrate or die-drate' was her motto. It was a dumb motto, but it was a joke that her brother said to her when they exercised. Of course, Chris did not mean to say something dumb, but it was enough to endear her remembering it fondly.
"So you wish to go to the pond today? Nothing feels greater than a bath in the morning." Leah broke the silence.
Bath in a pond? The more Claire pondered to herself about it, it was both striking and horrifying. How clean is that water? And get naked in front of others? Do they even have soaps and shampoos? What if it is the kind that ruins her hair!?
"I... don't know," Claire answered.
"Come on, it's okay. You are gonna like it, I promise. Men are never allowed there. They have their own pond to wash in." Leah responded to comfort Claire.
Reluctantly Claire agreed. She needs to face this after all. And if Claire is gonna stay here for a while, she needs to find out about such things.
"Can you tell me about yourself?" Claire relaxed her stiff posture.
Leah cleared her throat.
"I'm an orphan from a young age. It was suggested that I leave and join my relatives in Jerusalem, but Masyaf is my home. So I improved my skills and took a job."
Jerusalem? That's part of western Asia, from little of what Claire remembered from history classes.
Still, a woman living alone and working.
"You are... allowed to do that?" Claire asked. "I mean... living alone and, working?"
Once again, the look in Leah's eyes was like Claire has grown three heads.
"Of course, I'm allowed," Leah whispered. "The only thing women aren't allowed to do is become a soldier in the ranks."
Such information is a shock, to say the least, but still significant to know.
... And so the women went out of the house together after they finished their breakfast...
The moment Claire stepped out of the house, the sky looked like an ocean with the clouds like ripples.
The sun's rays gave a shade of grey Claire loved. Rain would defiantly lift up her mood a bit.
Claire could see several men walking about. They were in long dresses with what looked like a belt around their waists. Others wore turbans to cover their heads. Some women were hiding their faces, only their eyes are visible, and some women had their hair loose.
The village seems to be small and uneven, built within a valley of mountains. The primary structures Claire observed were mud-brick cottages, and several were built into the edge of canyons. Leah's home was closer to the village market and was designated at the low end of the valley, where the populace could barter and converse. Judging from the incline, Claire was able to recognize the base of the hill was the settlement. There were not enough trees to block visibility for the village but enough to guide a resident.
Claire was impressed by the layout since the shade provided by the trees would strategically goad people to interact with each other.
An uncut boulder fence went up the incline as a dozen column-shaped trees proudly guided residents toward what appeared to be a castle or fortress.
When walking beside Leah, Claire noticed several vigilant soldiers. Several of them narrowed their eyes toward her. Claire recognized their body language as hatred and suspicion.
"So, you like the place? I could take you on tour if you want." Leah noticed the soldiers and stepped in front to block Claire's vision of them.
Claire slightly shook her head to remember Leah's presence and could not deny that the sense of a simple life seemed charming.
She pointed with her finger up at what appeared to be a castle.
"What is that place?"
"That is the fortress for soldiers, training, getting orders, seeking shelter if there is a siege," Leah answered. "It's also where the village master resides."
From the angle of the village in the valley, in the peak of the valley rests the castle. The high stone walls reminded Claire of a government building from her time. Something that is specifically designed to influence an observer to feel small by comparison. It was an excellent momentary distraction during the middle of their walk. Claire felt an itch in the back of her brain. Her instincts were screaming; eyes stared at her.
Claire gazed back at her surroundings. She could see nothing but people walking about, chatter and laughter all around.
Still, Claire could not shake the instinct that someone was watching her. She had experienced this before, from her trauma in Raccoon city and running away from Umbrella employees, getting sent to Rockfort Island. When your life is in danger, your senses are heightened.
Especially when you have undead zombies at every corner. Crazy birds who want to scratch you to oblivion. However, there is a nostalgia for ignorance toward your surroundings.
Claire would never forget what Chris taught her about self-defense, and hopefully, she won't need to use it on people again.
"Are you alright, Claire?" Leah brought her back from her train of thought.
She remained silent for a few minutes, watching the crowd around them. Where is this person watching her? Everything looks normal. People walk about their mundane daily lives. A few kids ran by, playing catch with each other. The duo approached the gate to go to the pond, Leah mentioned earlier.
"Claire?" Leah shook her slightly. It was like she was in a trance and woke up from it. Still comforted by Leah, Claire nearly grabbed her arm in desperation.
"Yes?" She replied.
Leah raised an eyebrow, confused. "Let's just go to the pond, alright?" She led her out of the wooden gate. Dozens of cylinder-cut wood stood upright by thick bindings while soldiers stood on both sides. Claire was not as enlightened on the methods of siege defense, but if Leah trusted it, then Claire would benefit from the doubt.
Leah nodded to the soldiers, and the captain returned the gesture.
What intrigued Claire about the gate was a pair of flags on top of it. Half-white and crimson flags with a sideways 'V' with a crescent and a small red transparent diamond within the V. Claire was not knowledgeable enough to know what it all meant but cemented it to her memory.
Past the gate, the valley was still narrow for the most part but wide enough for carriages and horses to traverse. The column-shaped trees were spread out in a disorganized fashion and included the trees. Dust kicked up in the wind, instinctively forcing Claire to raise her hand to shelter her face. What surprised Claire was an upside-down 'U' shaped stone column beckoning travelers. Leah noticed once the two were no longer close to residents of Maysaf, Claire was visibly relieved.
There was a side dirt path going down. She could see several women walking up from there.
Once she reached the spot, her jaw dropped to the floor.
There was a waterfall from in between mountain rocks. The water was crystal clear blue with only some leaves in some corners, perhaps from recent women jumping in. The water was constantly moving in gentle ripples. Dirty water would wash away.
"This is so beautiful," Claire commented.
"I told you you are gonna like it," Leah smirked. "Come, I have new clothes for you."
Claire went for the bench to inspect the new clothing. It was a purple dress. Claire did not wish to change her clothes. A good washing never harms. She could clean her clothes and wear them next time. But maybe she could wear a dress this time, then get back to her clothes.
Leah started to strip. First, she let loose her dark hair and then removed her dress. She grabbed the tail of the dress and pulled it all the way off her face.
Claire noticed Leah had an hourglass figure some woman might kill for.
To Claire's surprise, Leah had a bra and a pantie on. Who would have imagined this existed in the old ages? Or maybe she was dumb for wondering such a thing. However, the bra and underwear looked like they were made from palm tree leaves. Leah unhooked her bra and threw it with the rest of her clothes, and just like that, she was stark naked. Leah wasn't uncomfortable by this at all, it is normal to take showers with others. She slowly walked into the water and sat down, a big smile on her face.
"Well, come and join me already." Leah waved for her.
This is it. Claire should not be uncomfortable. It is just a bath, and no men are allowed.
"Alright." Reluctantly she removed her jacket and started stripping down.
Of course, her black bra and underwear earned her comments from Leah.
"Ah, they look so pretty. I wish I had that style."
'Sorry Leah, those would be made me around eight hundred years later or even more.' Claire was not sure about the date. Still, the thought was funny in her head, and she chuckled.
Claire stipped in carefully with her toes first. The water felt balanced. Neither cold nor hot. So she jumped in immediately, causing Leah to get splashed.
"Thank you... for that." Leah chuckled and pointed at something behind her shoulder. "You can use it when you feel like it."
Claire saw there was what seemed to be a very old-fashioned lye soap. But, at least, it is something to use. Better than nothing.
She stretched herself in the water and felt its ripples against her body. Claire felt greatly enamored by the sense of relaxation, she could fall asleep there.
"I can stay here as long as I want, right?"
Leah dived into the water and swam slightly until she jumped up and splashed Claire all over her face. She laughed and let her worry wash away. It was a good time indeed.
"Not too long, sorry," Leah answered. "Our master wants to meet you."
If it is not for the water, Claire would have grown stressed to an unimaginable level. But she was too relaxed to give a shit at the moment, and she chose to ignore what she just heard. For the time being.
Altair did not know what he was doing. There he was, walking nearby to Leah's house, in the hope to get a glimpse of the foreigner he brought with him yesterday.
It's absolutely abhorrent. He could not keep the woman out of his mind.
He stood between two trees, where people constantly were walking around him.
The door of her house opened, and he saw Leah walk out with the woman following behind. She seemed to be doing well. Her red hair was tied in a ponytail. Her clothes were a mystery, though. He has never seen something like this before. But then again, he has never been to a European nation.
The two women took a walk around the market before the house. Leah seemed to be telling her about things.
"Where did she come from?" He muttered to himself.
However, he froze when the woman stopped and gazed back in his direction. No way, how did she feel his presence? he is the best when blending in with the crowd. Did he get careless? However, the woman's eyes were drifting everywhere, searching. So it seems she didn't locate him. However, she felt him watching.
'Intriguing.' The Assassin thought to himself since a woman can have a skill like that. Altair heaved a sigh and started heading back to his house. He needed to get out of his equipment and rest.
Claire stared at herself in the watery mirror. She wore a casual sleaved-purple dress with a scarf around her hips. Claire had to admit to herself that it complimented her features nicely. There is nothing else to it, a straightforward design like most women around here.
This time though, she let her hair loose with a pearl chain headpiece as an accessory. She might as well change her hairstyle, and she liked what she saw in the reflection.
"You look nice. Let's go." Leah urged.
The two women returned to the village when the sky showed the first sign of rain. They felt water drops on their heads. The storm is coming, which meant staying inside their homes.
Leah hurried with Claire up a steep climb to the castle path... it was the first time she saw this side of the village. The rectangular structure stood proudly and proclaimed itself as the might of the faction within the region. Although toward the left, it was more detailed than the other structure, it reminded Claire of a church. The silhouette cast a shadow over the village as it was the pinnacle of power and faith.
Claire did feel the price of the ascension in the slight burn of her legs and back. She'd go out for jogs in the mornings from the Safehouse of her time.
The soldiers were not as hardened in their body language as those in the village, but Claire felt invigorated by Leah's presence. They passed the trees and stone fence and walked by several guard posts.
The white and red flags with the V-shaped sigil started to appear more often. So much that Claire would need to be blind to miss seeing it. The sigil was carved into the stone structure as well. Getting a better look at it, appeared like an arrowhead.
After several minutes of walking, Claire and Leah stood in front of the castle's main gate. The sigil was at its most significant and appeared to be a training ring in the central courtyard. Disarmed by Leah's presence, the soldiers nodded and allowed the women passage.
The moment she entered through the gate. She saw several men wandering about the place. Most of them wore the same outfit, a white hoodie with a red belt.
Left to her right, Claire observed the soldiers training with wooden swords. What pulled her attention the most was the octagon training ring. The rigid outline was nothing special but the decorative star underneath the training ring. It must have held true significance to these people. It stuck out to Claire because of the typical obnoxious advertisements from her time. It was pleasant to see something of actual importance be respected.
The sigil, by now, was everywhere. No matter where Claire glanced, there would be a banner or stone carving of the sigil. There were wooden structures connected to the stone, and the occupants were carrying out their designated routines.
Leah continued to escort Claire up in slightly steep steps until they reached the entrance to the place. There, Claire saw a man watching her. She could tell even with the hoodie hiding his eyes. His arms were crossed, and he had a bit of a trimmed beard and a mustache.
"This is Altair... " Leah broke the silence to introduce the two. She touched his elbow and spoke. "Altair, this is Claire."
Claire felt a bit awkward and stiff, unsure of what to do or say.
"Um... hello." Claire forced a smile. Again there was silence for a few seconds.
Altair heaved a sigh and corrected his posture. "It is nice to see you've recovered, my Lady." The tone of his voice was strange. She could not read anything from that. Was he annoyed? Bored of her? Or was he casual and polite about it?
Altair turned his back to her. "Follow me. The master is up ahead," then went ahead in silence.
Claire swallowed a lump in her throat and followed him. Inside, she could see bookshelves on both sides with three hooded soldiers on each side of them. There was a staircase before her, and another open door overlooks what seems to be a garden. The stairs then split in the middle to the left and right. The time traveler's mind reeled as she took the left steps and saw a large window in the front. There stood a man wearing a dark purple hoodie. His hands were folded behind his back. There was a desk and a chair, several papers scattered on it.
Altair stood a few feet behind and cleared his throat. "Master, our guest is here."
The man turned and faced them, Claire could see him now. He was an old man with a thick white beard. His left eye seems to be blinded. She could see nothing but pure white.
The man smiled and put his hands together. "Welcome. It is a pleasure to meet you." His voice was calm and sweet like honey. Such a voice would make anyone, anywhere, listen to him intently, without distraction.
Claire remained silent for a few seconds. "Um... thank you, Lord." She whispered.
"People call me the old man of the mountain, but I'm mostly known as Al Mualim." He gestured for her to sit. She was hesitant and appeared that way to them.
She walked past Altair and took a seat. The chair creaked slightly under her, and she stared down at her lap.
"Please, you mustn't fear me." Al Mualim continued. "You are most welcome to live here among us. Our home is open to those in need."
"Thank you," Claire spoke, and her voice was a bit clearer now.
Al Mualim took a seat at last and reclined in his chair. "I wish to know your name. Where is your home? Can you tell me what happened to you?"
Those were the questions she dreaded the most. What is she supposed to tell them? That she was from the future and, for some reason, ended up here?
They would think that she is gone in the head and pity her.
Once she didn't answer immediately, Al Mualim spoke again."We will never hand you over to the enemy. You are a citizen here now." He paused for a moment. "It is okay. You don't have to tell me because I think I know what happened."
Claire gazed up at him surprised. What was he going to say?
"News has reached me of a massacre that happened in a poor village in Europe. Prisoners were taken from there to be sold as slaves in Acre, and you were lucky enough to survive."
Another silence dominated the place. Oddly enough, this could be Claire's only way out. It's a good story. Deep down in her mind, she thanked whatever divine power is out there for this.
"My name is... Claire." She answered her, a bit confident.
"So you have a name." Al Mualim chuckled slightly. "Tell me, do you wish to reside here with us? And if you have the name of your attackers, you will help us significantly to track them down and put a stop to their atrocity."
"Sir, please," Claire replied. "I just wish to be safe and left alone for a time."
Al Mualim nodded in agreement. "Please, rest assured. There is no pressure on you to talk with us, but you must understand, we must be cautious, for the sake of our people."
"I understand." Claire bowed her head slightly. "I genuinely appreciate your hospitality. I owe you my life."
Al Mualim cracked a smile once again. "Go on, return to your home before it rains. I wouldn't wish for you to get sick."
Claire excused herself and left.
Altair watched the foreigner walk away, a look of stress evident on her face. It is apparent to him. He sighed and gazed back at his master. To his surprise, Al Mualim was watching him with a strange glint in his eyes.
"Is there something wrong, master?" Altair tilted his head.
"Nothing," Al Mualim shook his head. "You may go."
Loud thunder echoed upon the whole village as if it was an earthquake befalling them all. Then, not soon after, rain fell.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you The95will.