They left Acre like phantoms in the night. Another man dead by the blade of Altair. The sound of alarm echoed through the city all through the night. He could remember the fresh warmth of blood, followed by the mans last words. So full of riddle as he looked up to the night sky. The stars shining bright making the constellations easy to see. Tamir and De Naplouse had spoke of something that did not sit well in Altair's mind. He lived his life not questioning the Brotherhood; not questioning Al Mualim. The master assassin was like his second father. Raising him and Abbas like his own son's. He followed every order given to him like all the assassins when they were old enough to be taught. Altair's own father was beheaded when he was just a boy after trading his life for that of Ahmad. His mind blurred as David moved to his side causing the horses to lightly neigh.

'Do not think of the past.' Altair thought looking at David. His eyes were well adjusted to the night that every shadow made by the moon looked alive.

Altair kept the memory of his boyhood deep inside of his mind. His thoughts did not need to go back to the corpse's of his life. Everything that his father did was unforgivable. It made him look like a traitor to the Brotherhood. And Ahmad... That night so long ago.

'Abbas has not forgiven me for what his father did.'

The foreigner was tossing and turning causing the horses to move and be cautious. Altair knew David was having some night terror yet again. Sitting still with watchful eyes, Altair could see that David was not getting any better at staying in one position in his sleep. What dreams he was having, Altair could not say. But Altair knew night terrors like it was an old friend.

...

When morning came with the cool fresh breeze they traveled in silence. David was a couple hooves behind Altair keeping his distance. He was exhausted. Traveling through the countryside, stopping for rest, and continuing on for what felt like days in the mountains until David could make out the familiar gate of Masyaf.

Acre almost killed David. His mind was not focused on escaping. The words spoken to him by the sickly man in the hospital confused him. What was a Sage? He wanted to ask Al Mualim since he was the wisest of assassin's.

'I was too focused that I fell hard on crates and ended up having Altair save my ass.' David thought with distaste. He could remember running on the rooftops with Altair way ahead of him. Each jump further than the last until a miscalculation caused David to slip on the edge and fall.

'Why did he save me?'

Leaving their horses at the stable and in the care of stable boys, both men removed their belongings from their mounts and continued inside. The village was full of life despite still being in the midst of recovery. There were homes still being rebuilt, but the people did what was best for them. David watched every man, woman, and child going about their day. These people were resilient and they held no fear because they were under the protection of the Brotherhood.

Nearing the fortress David could hear the sound of swords clashing against one another. It has been nearly two months since David arrived without any explanation. No matter how many times David wanted an answer there was none. Since then, he just kept that thought to himself. There was too much going through his mind that he felt someone push him roughly to the ground.

"For such a novice, your eyes are blind." All commotion seemed to cease to a halt.

David looked up to a very familiar face. Anger boiled in his blood at the sight of the assassin. Recovering quickly, the former soldier stood to his feet. Hovering like a giant over Abbas- who did not look at all intimidated- Altair turned around watching for a few minutes before turning back to go see his master to report on the mission.

'What Abbas has planned has nothing to do with me.' He thought not feeling the least of guilt for David. Deep down inside, Altair knew that the giant man could handle his own. But he was not going to tell anyone that.

"Speak in a language I can understand." David said lowering his voice with intimidation.

"You do not belong here. You have not been trained since boyhood by relentless men. Looking at you standing far above me in height, you cannot continue to master our ways." Abbas mocked taking a step back. Most of the assassin's stared at the spectacle waiting for David to make some move. His fists were clenched tightly wanting to throw a punch, but he relented.

"So... you can understand me." David turned around not wanting to cause any trouble. He knew he was outnumbered and outmatched. He would be surrounded if he threw a punch, but with there hidden blade- David had to think twice before wanting to fight. He could probably hold his own against one maybe two, but a whole courtyard of deadly people? He'd rather live to see another day.

"You do not turn your back on an assassin!" Abbas yelled.

Looking back quickly to see the assassin run at him in such a quick pace, David took a defensive stance. With what training that was given to him, David had to remember about the rules of the fight. Rule one: Never turn your back to an enemy. Colliding with Abbas' chest, David pushed the assassin back causing him to hit the ground. Fearing the retaliation of the other assassin's, none attacked. They simply watched with fascination or continued on minding their own. David felt relief for a second before feeling a punch to his gut.

Rule two: Never forget your surroundings.

Abbas was going in for a killing blow to David's spine when he doubled over. It would only take a second for the hidden blade to be released and into the flesh of the unwanted foreign man. David moved his body grabbing Abbas by the arm which had the hidden blade and twisted it. Abbas was turned over with his arm behind him. David was stronger but Abbase was faster. The assassin used his other arm to knock David in the cheek causing him to let the arm go.

Rule three: Never let your enemy get the upper hand.

Shaking his head to recover from the blow, David saw Abbas run towards him. The assassin moved in quickly with a strike but David blocked pushing down the assassin. Nimble frame recovered standing back up and punched David again, but the former soldier grabbed hold of both the assassin's arm and threw him to the ground as hard as he could.

Gasping for breath with David's body weight crushing him, Abbas tried to move his legs to his chest to get David off, but with the giant's weight he could not do it. His arms were held tightly almost making them numb. Abbas looked up to David and saw a void. There was no emotion in his eyes, but there was a snarl like growl on his lips. Not many things frightened Abbas. He has seen his enemies look like vicious animals. David, however, looked as if he was going in for the kill.

Quickly as the fight has begun it had ended. David stood up grabbing Abbas by the arms. A few inches off the ground and Abbas was thrown a few inches away. David breathed in a deep breath. Looking at the assassin's once more and wishing that they could have joined in. These men were scholar's and trained in very advance discipline that the Army could not compete with. But today all David saw was disobedient children. He was a foreigner in a strange land, but he did not need to be reminded. He had enough problems as it was.

"Stand down if you know what is best for you." David said loud enough for all to hear.

Those that could understand saw it as a challenge. David was not feared by the assassin's no matter his height or his build. They have gone against enemies bigger, tougher, and the assassin's have always hit their mark. David was no different.

Rule four: Kill your enemy.

"Al Mualim may have made you some novice in the Brotherhood." Abbas spat.

"He is generous to those that he is curious about. Whoever you may be, you are no assassin." Standing on shaky legs and a bruised chest, Abbas looked at David. With the flick of his wrist the hidden blade shown itself in the sunlight. David kept his eyes on the deadly weapon.

"Enough, Abbas!" Shouted Altair from the balcony of the entrance.

"Altair." Abbas hissed.

"You have lost your fight. Go to the medicine man and heal whatever wounds you have... and your pride." Altair spoke.

David looked dumbfounded with a slack jaw hearing- for the first time in weeks- Altair speaking in English. Deep inside the former soldier was pissed. 'He was able to understand everything I said. He fucking understands English?!' Altair ignored the anger coming from David. The assassin had no intention of speaking in his language, but he was impatient. His meeting with the master was cut short about the mission. There was still questions that Al Mualim did not answer. He only gave what Altair did not want to hear. He was hiding something.

"You are one to talk, Altair. Having this man follow you like some dog on your mission. What is he to any of us but a burden?" Abbas flick his wrist once again to sheathe the blade. He was beaten and he hated it.

"You question the choice that the master has made?" Altair scolded.

"I question no one." Abbas turned his back and walked out of the courtyard.

There was a tense silence. Altair looked to David who was still glaring at him. Altair turned and walked inside. The day was long and his body needed rest before he and David were to travel to Jerusalem. The thought the burdened him the most was how Al Mualim stated that there was someone in Jerusalem that Altair did not want to meet.

A/N: Please review