He remembers the shock coursing through his body. Gasping for breath as blood trickled down the side of his lip. Tasting the strong iron with the mixture of dirt and gun smoke. Everything was in utter chaos with soldiers running to and fro. He wanted to speak but his throat was dry. He wanted to scream but the pain was numbing.
"Stay with us Webster." He heard someone say.
Eyes tried to see clearly but the figure who was pressing against his chest with a gauge looked to the wounded soldier. David was not in a panic from his senses. In fact he could not even feel the pressure. He was feeling cold. He probably didn't even notice the needle sticking out of his arm. All David could feel was nothing.
'Am I going to die?'
He has never seen such a city scarred. A city whose residents knew suffering all too well, whose eyes hid sorrow and whose shoulders were stooped with sadness. This city was plagued with dark times: siege, disease, starvation, cruelty, and bloodshed. As both Altair and David walked these streets, the stench of death had lingered and drunken brawls made for easy escape. Eyes looked to these two hooded men who walked like monks giving out solemn prayers. Some had looked with hope while others turned away or watched their every move. David has never seen such a thing before; not even in Afghanistan. There in the towns of Afghanistan, the locals had either ignored or helped the American soldier's who have crossed the dirt streets. Many had sought freedom from the terrorists threatening their lands or many just wanted to stay out of the way of war to live a somewhat peaceful life.
Then again, Afghanistan did not look much like Acre. Both were so different and yet war has the same look. There were no signs of impacts left by bullet ricochet, smoke from fires, mortar rounds going off in the distance or even the laughter of children running up to you and wondering what you were. The news made it seem it was nothing more than destruction. Some areas were hit heavy but most towns, villages, and cities were teaming with life; much like Acre. The difference between them is time and disease.
"The Chain District is an area where it does not reek of despair and death." Altair spoke quietly. David looked to the assassin not truly understanding what he was saying. As they continued to walk through the death stench, the former soldier was becoming more lost in thought. Altair barely spoken a word through his language and yet speaks so little when he wants to. Maybe the assassin was speaking out loud and not even knowing it. "The crusaders had pronounced Acre the capital of the kingdom of Jerusalem."
They had walked for what seemed like a never-ending maze. Their destination was, as always, the assassin bureau. David had come to much realization that in order for an assassination to take place the assassin must first get the permission of the man in charge of the district. Al Mualim had been teaching the former soldier some of the assassin secrets when called to his study. Rafiq's were the teachers and knew much about the city they are watching. They get information from sources hiding in the shadows. To David it reminded him of the missions he has been on where the use of information from an outside source; who was key to completing the objective. Many times David had to be a scout as his eyesight was the best and his hearing a blessing. Intuition as David had put it.
It was a gift since his younger childhood days. But, even his childhood was blank spaces. David never really talked about his childhood or could even think about it. Blank and darkness was all he could see. Sometimes he would think if he ever had a childhood or that he wanted to remember. Each time he felt like he was seeing through someones eyes but yet, they shared the same soul.
They made it to the building they sought. Inside was not much different than the one in Damas. The bureau leader sat cooing gently to a pigeon he held. Each rafiq had to be different. Each had to have some personal knowledge of the city to which they reside in. Rafiq's were intelligent in David's eyes. The older man looked up to both the assassin and the novice who had entered without so much as a noise. It was so as they are taught to be like cat's and land on their feet with grace.
"Ah. Altair," he said pleasantly. "A little bird told me you'd be paying a visit." Curious eyes looked to David as the rafiq opened his hands to set the pigeon free. The bird flapped its wings as it took flight out the window and into the skies.
"Al Mualim has ordered the execution of Garnier de Naplouse." The rafiq looked curiously to Altiar without much second thought to David. Curious eyes no longer seemed to bother the former soldier as he stood quiet in the background. His mind focusing on the name that was spoken by Altair.
"The grand master of the Knights Hospitalier?" The rafiq seemed to have been surprised. Altair nodded with agreement not much wanting to talk further. David took a step forward causing both assassins to look upon him. Altair held a gaze of anger while the rafiq looked again with curious older eyes.
"You must be David," he spoke with a much calm voice. David had grown use to the idea that these assassin's spoke English, but Altair kept to his native tongue. It was becoming clear that the assassin could understand David and as much as the idea of holding a true conversation, David would play the dumb one; much to his annoyance.
Bowing slightly to the rafiq as it is polite and that these men do not know of a handshakes, David stood straight after a few moments while Altair brushed passed him. Time was not going to be wasted under the watch of Altair. Gather his information and head off to kill the intended target. David might have to sit this one out but knowing these men it was not so easy to predict them.
"Do not mind Altair's behavior. As much as his new profound ideals of being a novice once more and training one such as you, I take the boy has grown accustomed to being shadowed." The rafiq spoke as David turned his attention towards the older man.
"It is not I who chose to become his second shadow." David said with little empathy in his voice. The rafiq nodded his head in understanding.
"A foreigner in a land that is not his. A voice I have never heard speak such words. The master has some reason for you or he already knows who or what you are, David." Confused, David stood silent waiting for the rafiq to answer further.
"He knows what I am. Who I am is not for the concern of others." David spoke keeping his words simple.
The rafiq gently smiled as he placed his hands on the table. Looking to David and observing the much taller man. Such a brute-like complex and yet so little knowledge of what is to come.
"Who you are can be many things, young man. What you have done in your past can determine the outcome of your future. As a man who has seen war has a stance that is fitting for a soldier. Tiredness. Awareness. Subtle eyesight and I can see that you have such eyes like a hawk. You must have been such a man who hides in the shadows which makes you like an assassin. Our master saw it quickly for his eyes never miss anything." The rafiq's words were soaking deep within David's mind. From just a simple glance and enough time, the older man has figured out his soldier ability. This given David a much more understanding of how the assassin's worked.
'They observe' He thought keeping a steady breathe with his heart trying not to run against his chest.
"Your master is very wise. Who I am is still written deep within my very bones. I am aware of my eyesight but my enemies are not."
"Which makes you a perfect man to sit above the rooftops as Altair goes about his findings for his next target. Follow him through the streets. Hide in plain sight, do not cause attention to yourself. Altair will be aware of you, but leave him be. When his time comes, you two will know the truth. The man that needs to be put to death is a man; a Templar." The rafiq motioned his hand to David. A simple signal to the former soldier to move now.
David never perfected the skill of blending with the crowds around him. It was much more complex then seeing it being done by other assassin's. The former soldier was still a novice and tried not to become frustrated at his own mistakes. What seemed like hours Altair was within sight and moving steadily. To not cause distraction was to move slow and with the motion of the crowd. Unlike the movies (David has seen with spies moving fast and going about unnoticed) this was something different. Time was counted but it was also noted with precise strike.
Moving past people to be within Altair's range, the former soldier was seeing a true master assassin at work in his environment. The soldier that still resides in himself was working; acting as if he were back on the streets of Afghanistan. Instead of wearing the traditional garb of an assassin novice, David would be wearing at least a hundred pounds worth of equipment. Within his hands would be his M16 locked and ready on stand by if he were to come across a no-friendly.
But reality had struck him as Altair vanished in a sea of people. No longer in the streets of Afghanistan, David was back in Acre. Looking at himself he was not wearing the equipment of a soldier. He was back wearing the robes of a novice, with a sword at his hip and a knife hidden within his garb. Those weapons were his source of protection.
Keeping his steady pace within the crowd David rounded a corner into a dark alleyway. He had lost Altair. Cursing to himself he turned around only to find Altair standing before him. David took a step back almost drawing his weapon. His eyes widened and his heart beat fast. Once a calm man learning his mistake took on the form of a man on the defensive.
'Calm down. Calm down' He repeated to himself.
"Fucker..." David muttered under his breath.
Those flashbacks of his days out in the zones and hotspots clearly have not left the former soldier. He had put his guard down for only a few moments. He did not even hear Altair sneaking up behind him. Oh how David wanted to curse and scream at the assassin for such a foolish thing, but he had to remember quickly as to not forget that they are the enemy within the walls. Even so, Altair would not be able to understand these flashbacks and the terror that can be held if one where to trigger something within a battle worn soldier.
'Would a soldier understand in these times? Would one have such flashbacks such as me?'
Altair looked on curiously not understanding the word that was used. Such a strange word coming from the mouth of this man. However, the assassin knew David was following him and he has somewhat improved on blending. But his footsteps were sloppy and his eyes were only kept forwards as a normal person would look around and about. Still, David was but a novice...unwillingly. Al Mualim truly made a mistake, but Altair would not tell that to his master or face more serious trouble.
Making no apologies to David, Altair had motioned for David to follow him back to the rafiq. All his investigation was now complete and the time to strike would be decided.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait my reader's. So much has been keeping me occupied for the past couple of months. I got married, am pregnant with our first child! Going to Annual Training in New Jersey... So I have my schedule filled. But I will have time for this story and will let everyone know what happens as we progress with David.
: David will make a connection within the A.C world. Just gonna take some time. :)
Dimepiece18: I find that a compliment. I've known and come across soldiers throughout my life to know and being military myself I figured that this was the best way to characterize a soldier. Not some gun trotting war machine that you see in movies and games.
Nobody Important: Well, Altair is not the type to easily make buddy-buddy with. With his personality trait I kinda figured he is more interested in doing his job to prove that he is worthy of his rank, unlike David who through hard work gained his through respect and leadership on and off the frontlines.