AN: Madrassa is the Arabic word for 'school'. Please, please review! I want to know how I am doing!

When Alya and Bassam made it back to Jerusalem it was almost morning two days later. The sun was just beginning to come up over the east wall and the city was already awakening. Just outside the city Alya and Bassam stopped to take care of their horses at the Guardian's private stable. They were greeted by the old stable hand, Hafiz.

When he saw them approaching he smiled and put away the saddle he was oiling. "So, the wandering children return! And just to see old Hafiz before you set off on your next daring adventure!" He bowed at them and took their reins. "I am truly honored."

"You should be," Bassam said sarcastically, following the old man into the stable. "If it weren't for our undying love for you, we would never have come back."

"Of course you would have," said a deep voice behind them. "You both test to qualify for the rank of master tomorrow, and you know how disappointed I would be if you were not there."Alya laughed and turned around to a very large, very muscular black man.

"And we would not want to disappoint you, Sayyid," she said, allowing him to wrap her in a bear hug. Behind there was a sharp slap, followed by an surprised cry from Bassam.

"What was that for?" he yelped, rubbing his forehead.

"Making fun of an old man," Hafiz sniffed, indignant. He then walked away with their horses, studiously ignoring them.

"I wasn't making fun of you!" Bassam cried after him. Alya snickered and stepped over to her friend. Pulling his hood off, she inspected his forehead. His unusual blue eyes danced with amusement and mild anger.

"You will be fine. He did not hit you hard." Sayyid chuckled behind her.

"Easy for you to say," Bassam muttered darkly, going to lean against the wall. "He didn't hit you!"

"And already the smiling one has gotten himself in trouble." Sayyid's deep laughter echoed through the stable. Bassam glowered and pulled his hood up. "It is good to have you two back."

"It is good to be back." Alya replied, stretching. "And good to be off a horse!"

"I would think so." Sayyid smiled and gestured towards the door. " Are you ready to go into the city? You need to rest and regain your strength before tomorrow." He winked at Alya as they walked ahead and said loudly, "I know Bassam at least will need some last minute practice, if only to avoid failing miserably."

"Be that as it may," Bassam replied coolly, dropping down in front of them from a rafter he had apparently climbed up to, "I can still beat you both to the Madrassa without breaking a sweat." Blinding them with his smile, he took off, running up the side of the nearest building.

"It does not count if you get a head start!" Alya yelled, sprinting along the ground after her friend. Sayyid's booming laugh followed and she knew he was right behind her. Above them Bassam was leaping from house to house, moving fast like a panther in the trees. Villagers they passed just laughed and called encouragement to their favorite; they were used to the impromptu races through the streets. Behind Alya, Sayyid had managed to get onto the roofs as well, and was quickly gaining on both she and Bassam. Knowing she couldn't win on the ground, Alya searched for a way up as she ran.

Her opportunity came when they reached the marketplace. Jumping on a storage crate, she grabbed a beam that ran the length of the enclosed area and flung herself into thin air. Landing neatly on the short wall that bordered the shops, she used her momentum to propel herself onto the roof of the closest house. Not pausing for a moment, she sprinted after her friends, her shorter legs pumping to keep up. Ahead of her, they were reaching the great wall around the city, each beginning their own ascent to the top. Only seconds behind them, she flung herself at the wall and grabbed the nearest handhold, hauling herself up after them.

Halfway up the wall, Sayyid had finally caught Bassam. Reaching up with one massively muscled arm, he grabbed the younger man's foot and yanked, pulling Bassam off the wall and sending him plummeting towards the ground.

Spinning around as he fell, Bassam kicked off the wall, back-flipping just in time to land on all fours. Alya laughed when she heard him yell, "That was cheating, Sayyid!"

"You cheated first!" he roared back as he reached the top. He paused only to smile tauntingly at them before he disappeared over the wall. Behind her, Alya heard Bassam snarl and begin to climb again. Smiling, she forced herself to concentrate and quickly made it to the top. Checking for guards, she pulled herself over the edge and sprinted the ten feet to the other side of the wall. Without hesitating, she flung her arms out and leaped into space, pigeons flying as she startled them from their perch. Wind whistled in her ears and she pulled her knees in, flipping onto her back right before she landed in a massive pile of hay.

Shaking pieces of straw from her hair, she yanked her hood down and took off after Sayyid. Her small size giving her a distinct advantage in the crowded city, she quickly caught up to him. Threading her way through a throng of people in front of a temple, she grabbed a tree branch and swung herself to the top of a street vendor's stall. From there, she jumped to a window and hauled herself up to the roof. Pausing to orient herself, she smiled when she saw Sayyid get stuck as a farmer herded his flock to market through a massive crowd.

Leaving her friend to his traffic jam, Alya ran swiftly along the rooftops, carefully avoiding the archers and ever-present guards. As she came close to her destination she jumped down to the rafters that spanned the streets between the houses. She jumped from one to another until the Madrassa came into view; then she grabbed onto an iron lamp-holder and swung herself to the ground. Sprinting the last few feet, she skidded to a stop in front of a well worn door, dust swirling around her.

Smiling in triumph, she nodded breathlessly at the guard. He shook his head and and laughed as he waved her in. Pushing the door open, she strode proudly into the main hallway, beaming with her victory. As the door slammed shut behind her, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"It's about time you got here," Bassam said, laughing at the stunned look on Alya's face. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get me next time." His trademark smile flashed on his hooded face.