Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The Final Clues

The early morning sun fluttered into the room and onto Morgan's face. Moaning a little, she turned and covered her head with her hood. "Stupid sun…" She mumbled.

Feeling around, she tried to find her head phones to find them gone. She jolted up and looked around, "Where is it?" She asked, tossing pillows around, trying to find her Ipod. She grabbed her hair and twisted around. She jumped over her Vans that were on the floor and ran into the room where Altair was sitting. The blanket he used was folded next to him and he was messing around with her Ipod.

She watched him for a second before sighing with relief and leaning against the door pain. Altair must have heard her and looked up, "Finally you're awake!" He yelled.

She blinked a few times and scratched her head, "Whatever…" She reached into her back pocket and pulled out one of the many Stride™ Gum packs she had. She shoved one in her mouth and sighed. This is probably the closest thing I'll get to brushing my teeth in a long time… Feeling her back pockets, she felt 2 packs in each pocket.

She looked back to Altair who was watching her, "What was that?" He asked, curious.

"Gum… to freshen my breath… do you have any toothbrushes around here?" She asked looking around and walking to the desk to find out.

"What in the world are toothbrushes and Gum…?" He demanded.

She reached into her back pocket and pulled out the pack, plucking one of the pieces out. She tossed it to him and he caught it expertly before examining it. She jumped onto the counter and sighed, watching as he examined the wrapping, before peeling it off. First he smelled it and then jumped back a bit at the strong mint smell of it. He stuck out his tongue and licked it, his eyes widening at the sudden feeling on his tongue. He pulled the whole strip out and put it in his mouth, chewing it.

"Why is it… not…" He tried to find a word for it, and then just waved his hand around.

"Well," She started, pulling out her clay bowl, "You're not supposed to swallow it, Altair."

"Why not?"

"I don't know you just don't…"

He glared at her, "And what the hell is this?" He demanded holding up her Ipod.

"My Ipod…" She answered, "It plays music…"

"So I've gathered," He rolled his eyes.

It was clear to each other that both of them were not morning people. "Morning!!" The Rafek smiled, walking in. Morgan and Altair made a groan in response, "It's a beautiful day to go about and look for more clues on Tamir… speaking of which, how is it going?"

"So far," Morgan said, crossing her legs so he could open the gate and go behind the counter, "We know that Tamir is preparing a shipment of armory that is not intended for Salahadein…"

"The shipment is large and going to take many days to transport."

The Rafek nodded, "Anything else?"

"No, I- I mean, we," He growled, as he received a look from Morgan, "… Intend on looking around more today. Hopefully we'll find out where he is…"

Morgan let a smirk cross her lips as she thought about how she had vital information that Altair needed. The Rafek nodded and pulled out his pots and paints, "Well, good luck! Return here if you need help or if you need to rest…"

Morgan threw her arms in the air and yawned as she walked next to Altair, "Man, I'm tired! I hardly got any sleep last night…"

Altair looked at her, "Keep an ear open. You never know when someone might say something useful."

"I know I know…" She nodded, pulling out her ponytail. She ran her fingers through her black hair, "But still, I'm starved! You can't gather information on an empty stomach!"

Altair looked down at his own stomach, "Well I guess you've got a point…"

"Great!" Morgan smiled, grabbing his arm, "Let's go!"

Altair crossed one leg over the other and leaned his back against the wall as he waited for Morgan to finish eating. "I hope we find something useful…" She muttered to herself, wiping her hands of the bread crumbs.

He glared at her, "We will… If you keep your mouth shut…"

She glared at him, "Oh that was clever, Altair, maybe you can shove me into another basket while YOU BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF SOMEONE!" She smirked, leaning close to him.

He grabbed her collar, "What do you think you're doing!?" He hissed.

"Calm down, no one paid any attention…" She let her head fall back so she was looking behind her, "Besides, no one is really out here… You have nothing to worry about."

He let go of her collar and she fell off the bench. "They've called another meeting."

"What is it this time? Another warning? Another execution?"

"No, it's something else for us to do…"

Altair stopped and turned to the two men talking. "This means we won't be paid!"

"He's abandoned the way of the Merchant's Guild. Simply does as he pleases now…"

"He greets us as if we were his servants!"

Morgan sat up and watched the two talking, "What a jerk…" She mumbled.

"And the guard does nothing to stop him! If we are late, he will be angry, and we'll suffer for it!"

"Perhaps one day, someone will have the courage to stand up to him."

"Perhaps, but until that day arrives we should do as we're told."

Altair smirked, "That day is coming sooner then they think…"

Morgan looked at him, before laying back on her elbows, "So, he's in the souqe?"

"Yeah, he'll be there today. Probably to check on the progress of the large shipment…"

She smirked and began to pick at her nails, "Do you, uh," She flicked some hair back, "Know how to get in?"

He glared at her, "Okay," He leaned in and put his finger to her nose and pushed back, "You know something and you're not telling me! I suggest you inform me on how to get in!"

She slapped his hand away, "See, it's an attitude like that that makes people not want to tell you stuff…"

He glared at her, "Morgan…"

"No, I am not telling until you're nicer to me!"

"My mission is at stake and being you're stubborn!" He growled, "Just tell me!"

"You're not doing very well when it comes to the whole personality change thing…" She muttered, going back to her nails.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and took some shaky breaths to calm himself down. "Please, tell me what you know and I'll cut back on the 'wench' calling…"

She smiled and sat up, crossing her legs under her, "That's better! Here's what I know: You can get to the central courtyard, which leads to the souqe, through some beams. Apparently, children or rats have been getting up there and causing havoc for local businessmen…"

He thought about it, "I see…" He put a hand to his mouth in thought. She watched him for a minute, "Everything I've…" He sighed, "We've gathered should be enough to get the marker for the assassination…"

She jumped up, "Than what are we waiting for!? Let's get back to the Rafek and get that marker!"

He stared up at her, "It's not even noon yet and you're peppy?"

She shrugged, "I had something to eat, I'm in a good mood."

He stared at her before walking away.

Morgan dropped down into the bureau and moved so Altair could as well. Pushing past her, he walked into the Rafek's room where he was bent over a book, "Altair!" He waited until Morgan came in and glared at the assassin, "Morgan! Welcome! Welcome!"

"I've done what you've asked. Now give me the marker." He demanded.

"Ah, first thing's first!" He smiled.

"Yeah, stupid, you got to tell him all the crap you know," Morgan grumbled, looking away and crossing her arms.

"In blunt terms, yes, tell me what you know!"

"Tamir rules over the souqe, Al Shala. He makes his fortune selling arms and armor, ported by his many endeavor; Blacksmiths, traders, fanners. He's the largest death-dealer in the land…"

The Rafek pondered over this thought for a minute before looking back at the two, "And have you two devised a way to rid us of this plight?"

"To shank him!" Morgan smiled and the two looked at her confused. She knew she was quoting a Comcast™ commercial, but she said, "It's a verb, 'To Shank'." She made the motion of stabbing someone.

The Rafek looked to Altair, who shrugged and started talking, "A meeting is being held at Souqe Al Shala to discuss an important sale. They say it is the largest deal Tamir has ever made. He'll be distracted by his work; this is when I will strike."

"Shank…" She stated.

"Kill…"

"By shanking him…"

"Listen, I'm not going to 'Shank' him I'm going to stab him!"

"It's the same thing!" She growled.

"Your plan seems solid enough!" The Rafek stopped them, reaching under his desk, "You have my leave to go."

He placed a feather on the table. Altair went to get it but Morgan snatched it and stared at it in wonder, "Al Mualim's famous marker." She ran her fingers over it, "It's so… amaz- Hey!"

Altair snatched it back and shoved it in his pocket. She let out a "Hmph" and crossed her arms, sticking out her tongue.

Rafek laughed, "You two may rest here until you're ready…"