Chapter 4
The city of Damascus bustled around while Morgan watched from the roof. No one noticed she was up there just watching them (which she now noticed was kind of creepy). She was bent down, supporting herself on her knees and watched as 6 women begged for money or food, 8 scholars walked by, 17 men tried to sell stuff, and 23 guards walked by, looking for her and Altair. The said assassin was sitting a bit behind her, tying up his wound with a piece of her shirt that he had taken without her consent. She had been extremely aggravated, seeing as she was talking and he just put a hand over her mouth, reached down, tore it off, and then went back to what he was doing.
She turned around to him and watched him for a minute. His intent on tying the perfect knot was beginning to annoy her as much as him completely ignoring her. She stood up and walked over to him, rubbing the back of her neck, "So… um, how's your leg?"
"It's fine…" He grumbled.
She looked at him untie it than retie it. "What the hell are you doing…?" She questioned, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
He glared up at her, "Didn't anyone tell you it's not lady like to swear…?"
Her glare didn't falter, "Shut the hell up!!"
"No!" He yelled back.
"Yes!"
He glared at her and shook his head, returning to his knot. "You know you don't have to be such a jerk!" He didn't say anything, "You could be a bit nicer to me! I mean, I am the one who got sent into this world…!" Again, he didn't answer her or even look. She growled and tapped her foot, "Oh, real mature, Altair! Just give me the silent treatment…" He finally decided on the knot and stood up.
She watched him for a second. She looked around then back to his retreating figure. "Hey!" She yelled, running after him.
"Why are you still here!?" Altair yelled, turning around fiercely.
"Because!"
"That's not a valid answer!"
"Who says it has to be valid!?"
"I do!"
"Who died and-"
"You're going to die here soon!"
"You can't kill me!"
"Yes I can!"
She stopped and stared at him. "How…? I'm innocent…"
"No you're not," He smirked, "You're compromising me. Your yelling could expose me and any other assassins around…"
Morgan blinked a few times, opened her mouth only to close it. She sighed, "Alright, you win…" He smiled proudly, "But you're still a douche bag…"
"I swear to God I will spill your blood…"
She was taken aback and made this known by shaking her head and looking around, "Dude, who even says that…?"
Altair groaned loudly and threw his hands up in the air.
"Hey! Where are you going!?" Morgan questioned following him.
"You should know!" he growled, looking over his shoulder, "I'm going to the Rafek to state my business…"
"Right, because of your demotion…"
His breathing got heavy as he sent an evil glare at her. She moved away a bit as they continued walking. "So…" She started.
"Stop talking…"
The two looked down into the entrance of the Assassin's bureau. Altair sighed, "Great…"
Morgan glanced at him, "What…?"
"It's a hole…"
She gave him a sickly sweet smiled, "Very good! Now what is that…?" She pointed to a box, "A box! That's right!"
He glared at her, "That's not what I meant, wench." She groaned softly at the name he had for her, "It's just… Ugh, nothing… never mind…" He motioned to the hole, "You first…"
She jumped slightly and stared at him, raising an eyebrow, "Boy, are you crazy…?"
"Do it…" He said shoving her.
She gave a yelp, but managed to grab onto his hood and pulled him down with her. They both screamed loudly and went down. Morgan expected to hit a hard ground. However, she landed on top of Altair who landed on some pillows. She gasped and looked at him. He sat up a bit, looking around.
"Ah, Altair! It is good to see you! And in one piece!"
"You as well, friend…" He growled, glaring at Morgan, who didn't seem to notice. She was too busy looking around- while still on top of him of course. "Get off!!" He yelled shoving her to the floor.
"Hey!" She yelled falling on to her stomach.
The Rafek watched the exchange with interest, before turning back to Altair, "Who is this…?"
He didn't take his glare off of her, "Satan's spawn…"
The Rafek laughed, "Oh, Altair, I've heard so much about your strength, but not about your sense of humor…"
Morgan smiled up at him from her position on the floor, "I got a feeling he's being serious."
"Oh…?" He smiled then held out a hand, "Here, let me take a look at you in my study.
Morgan followed him and they both left Altair on the floor. He growled and stood up, noting that he had been growling a lot lately. He followed the two into the room and leaned against the door pane, crossing his arms. He watched as the Rafek went behind his desk and let Morgan stand in the light. He rolled his eyes and began to examine the pots on the shelves.
"Eyes like the sky…" He smiled, "The one thing man can never touch or take control of…" He examined her clothes, "Very strange…" He mumbled. He looked from her to Altair, "I'm sorry for your troubles, Altair…"
He put the pot he was holding back on the shelf, "Think nothing of it…" He muttered, stepping forward.
"A few of your brothers were here earlier, in fact," He closed his eyes and whistled, "If you'd heard the things they said!" Morgan could see Altair's hands clench, "I'm certain you would of-"
"Hey!" Morgan said, picking up a pot, "Look at this!" She shoved it the Rafek's hands.
He stared at it before looking at her, "It's a pot…"
"Isn't it nice…?" She asked.
"Yeah, I guess…"
"It's quite alright…" Altair said to the Rafek.
Morgan groaned, noticing her plan to get off the subject didn't work. The Rafek continued, "Yes, you've never been on for the Creed, have you?"
"Is that all!?" He snapped.
"I'm sorry," He smiled, picking up the paint brush and continued, "Sometimes I forget myself. What business brings you and your friend to Damascus?"
"First of all, she's not my friend," He grumbled, "Second; it's about a man named Tamir."
"Aw," She smiled to the assassin, "You don't want to be my buddy?"
"No."
"How about my chum…?"
"No!"
The Rafek chuckled, but was a little shocked, "I take it you two don't get along?"
She leaned against the desk, "No, he really is the biggest pain you would ever see!"
"Alright! That's enough!" He snapped, "I am meant to bring an end to Tamir. Now, tell me where to find him!"
"Surely, you remember how to track an enemy," He smiled.
"Of course!" He rolled his eyes, "Learn where he'll be and when! But that sort of work is left for-…" He stopped short.
Morgan lifted up her chin from her hand. She felt the air in the room change to match Altair's mood: humiliated, embarrassed, and self hatred. "I understand…" He answered finally.
She looked to the Rafek and they exchanged sympathetic look. "Go and search the city," He smiled, trying to lighten the mood, "determine what he's planning and where he works."
"Preparation makes the victor!" She quoted from him.
He smiled, "Exactly!"
Altair looked from her to the Rafek, "What can you tell me of him?"
Morgan raised her hand, "Oh! I know something!"
Altair seemed shocked, "Then why didn't you tell me before!?"
"You never asked…"
"She has a point…"
Altair groaned, "What do you know…?"
She smiled, "Say 'please…'"
He glared at her, "… Please."
"All I know about the guy," She said, hopping up onto the table, "Is that he's a black market dude thing."
"Very good," The Rafek nodded, "She's right; Tamir makes his living as a black market merchant." He put his paint brush in the water and continued, "So the souqe district should be your destination. I would suggest you seek out the following places: a small souqe northeast of here, the maudresa to your east, and the gardens southwest of this burea. Focus on these places and he shall become well known to you."
Altair nodded and crossed his arms, "I assume you want us to return to you once this is done…"
Morgan glanced up from the clay ball in her hands to Altair, Did he just say… 'Us'…?
"Yes, come back to me. I'll give you Al Mualim's marker and you'll give us Tamir's life."
"As you wish…" He said.
"Remember Altair, if you find yourselves in trouble and the city turned against you, return to the bureau. I can shelter you from the storm," He looked to Morgan, taking the clay bowl she was making from her hands, "Be warned though, if your enemies are to close, my door will remain closed until you've lost them. Do you guys understand…?"
"Yes!" he said, with new (and quite scary in Morgan's eyes) valor, "To bring the enemy inside could compromise the brotherhood…"
The room fell silent, until Morgan broke it, "Okay, I wasn't the only one creeped out by that was I…?"
"No…" Altair said, putting a hand to his head, "I was too…"
"Very well," The Rafek beamed, "Off you two go…"