"We have brain activity." A female voice said. The sound of shuffling feet quicken its pace.
Darkness surrounded him. His breathing was slow.
"Can we get him out of there? It would be too risky for us, but he is a little stable." A man's voice asked.
"You know we cannot do that. Have you forgotten what has happened to others in the past who have been taken out in the middle of a memory?" She said.
"He has been in there too long. He does not understand what is going on. We have to get him out of there, Now!"
These voices were not familiar. Back and fourth the man and woman went arguing what to do. Was he dreaming? No, it could not be a dream. He could physically feel something cold and dark. His body was laying down on something. His brain was trying to understand what was happening when he felt a sharp pain go through his nerves.
Opening his eyes, David was looking at the Holy city blow him from far above a building. His breathing staggered as he tried to keep balance. He cannot remember how he managed to get so high above. Pinching the bridge of his nose he cleared his mind. His heart was racing against his chest. The winds blew against his sweaty skin. It was time to find the Bureau. That was what Altair tasked him with.
Moving his left foot forwards and jumped from the rooftop down to the busy city below. A haystack softened the blow without any suspicious eyes. Back on the rooftop he lay hidden away from sight. His eyes watched the man take the leap of faith.
Altair has been watchful of David. Three days has the man not been so focused. Something was not right with David. Each time Altair observed him, David would come back to reality with a far off look to his eyes. Sweat would roll down his brow and he would breathe rather heavily. Altair was not worried but wondered what it was that made David act in such a weird way. Now was not the time to make such speculations. He had a mission to complete whether David could focus or not. But he was not going to have the man get himself killed.
...
Jerusalem. For the faith of the Jews, it is where God resided. According to the Hebrew Bible, the first Temple was built by King Solomon. It was most scared and where they worshiped. Mount Moriah is where Abraham almost sacrificed his son and talked to God himself. To the Christian belief it is where Jesus Christ was brought as a child, preached to the poor, crucified, and resurrected. To them, it was the most Holy city. Islam is where the first *qibla served for Muslims. It is also where the prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven. Which is where the Dome of the rock is built to represent their most beloved Holy man.
Jerusalem held a presence for many who come. But as the times change, the battle to control the land will always be divided. Religion has surely made a mess of things. Where there is hope is where men feed on the desperate.
The Dome of the Rock was visible and it's roof shined like gold against the sun. The walls surrounding the Holy city of ancient Jerusalem spread for miles. People making pilgrimage travels passed them. Some have come to seek refuge from the invading forces. Politics, the Roman church, the desert nomads, and any seek to control this place. But what brought people was to cleanse themselves of their sins. They wanted to be closer to God. David could feel the powerful presence that brought all the faiths together in such a place. He could feel his soul calming. Maybe God was here in this city. To see Jerusalem untouched by the war in the future and all it's original placement, David wanted to take a picture and forever treasure it.
He entered the Bureau's entrance from the roof. Like many others, this place was not different in design. David had come to admire how the assassin's could be hidden within plan sight. Each Bureau had a purpose as to not attract attention. It was a clever disguise. Once he landed on his feet, David walked into the front.
The smell of something sweet lingered in the air. Like some flower's scent burning in the incense. He looked around not seeing the rafiq. Usually they would be behind the counter working. In this case, this rafiq was rather talented in making maps.
Curiosity made David place his finger on the parchment. Tracing each line and eyes in amazement that someone could accurately remember and recognize each landmark. Modern military maps were not so crafted like this.
"You act more like a child than a novice."
Taking his finger away from the map quickly, David looked behind him. The rafiq was not the bit amused by his actions. He looked annoyed rather and walked passed David to get behind the counter. The rafiq looked familiar, but his eyes followed something missing.
'The assassin that lost his arm.' David thought. 'What was his name? Malik?'
"Does something amuse you, novice?" He asked knowing that David was staring at his lack of another arm. Malik was well informed about the foreigner. He did not speak the Arabic language but used the modern tongue of those invaders coming into the east.
"N-no." David looked away in shame. It would not be the first time the former soldier saw a missing limb on a body. He knew it was rude to stare because it could make that person ashamed or rather sad that they lost a part of themselves.
"I see you have been better. They told me that you made a full recovery when I asked your master." David spoke.
Malik was not one to conversant about it. He was always angry when it was brought up. They saw him as a burden. Once a great assassin now deemed to making maps and seeking out intelligence, while many-like Altair- go about with missions.
"Did they?" Malik mocked.
"I did not mean to offend." David looked to the floor. Malik ignored the man to continue his drawings.
David stood there awkwardly not really knowing what to do.
"Are you to stand there finding a strand of thread on your clothes or are you going to tell me why it is you are here alone without your shadow?" Malik did not have to look up from his maps to see David picking at something on his cloak.
"I am told to come here and wait..." Malik raised his hand from the drawing to silence David. The former soldier closed his mouth and stood straight.
"You do not understand me when I say this. I want to know WHY. The brotherhood may not question it, but if they do they do not speak loud enough." Malik looked at David. The novice stood firm and tall. The tallest man Malik has ever seen, but it did nothing to make him fear the novice.
David did not know what to say. How could he explain the events before he was found? David did not understand himself. Breathing is a deep breath into his chest, the sound of feet landing in the next room made both of the men look to the doorway.
Altair stood in place as if in some sort of shock.
"Safety and peace, Malik." Altair said at last in their native language. David crossed his arms with all thought of their conversation put on hold. It was some sort of luck that Altair made himself known before anything else could be said. David let out a long slow breath.
"Your presence here deprives me of both. What do you want?" There was malice in Malik's voice. His anger towards Altair did not go unnoticed.
"Al Mualim has asked-" But before Altair could finish Malik knew what he was going to say.
"That you perform some task in an effort to redeem yourself?" He sneered. "So. Out with it. What have you learned?" Malik moved his single arm so all could here in a language they could understand. Novice, outsider, David was an assassin in training. Malik could not let a novice go without having knowledge of what was to come. He did what he had to in the annoyance of Altair of coarse.
David kept his ears open for anything that could provide him information.
"This is what I know," answered Altair. "The target is Talal, who traffics in human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem's citizens and selling them into slavery. His base is a warehouse located inside the barbican north of here. As we speak, he prepares a caravan for travel. I'll strike while he's inspecting his stock. If I can avoid his men, Talal himself should prove little challenge."
Malik curled his lip. "Little challenge? Listen to you. Such arrogance. Even the novice here who stands in silence has the intent of listening and following orders."
Altair held back his tongue. Malik was right. David was silent lost in his own thought. Altair being called out by another assassin was humorous but it was a life lesson. The assassin made himself to be higher than any other. Each mission, each task, no matter how easy things could be there was always caution. David has seen such arrogance in soldier's which could be a dangerous thing. Soldier's died out in the war zone or right there next to their battle because they were full of themselves.
Altair was the embodiment of arrogance. Though, it was not the first time David has seen it. He has known Altair to be full of himself. It angered the former soldier when Altair did show it, but what could he have done?
"Are we finished? Are you satisfied with what I learned?" Altair did not want to show Malik any emotion. There was a hatred there that Malik had for Altair. David had learned the few days after the invasion of Robert de Sable, Altair cost Malik his arm and brother. Al Mualim spoke about Malik who was another great assassin before the loss of his arm due to Altair arrogance. David understood why Malik would lash out at his fellow brother.
"No. But it would have to do." From a shelf below the counter, Malik took out a feather.
...
*qiblah: the direction of the Kaaba (the sacred building at Mecca), to which Muslims turn at prayer
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A/N: Sorry for the long wait reader's. Had a busy month dealing with some stuff. So hopefully this was a good enough chapter for you all. Please leave a review if you like. That would be appreciative. Give me some constructive criticism, anything. I want to know who is reading this. I know I have favorites and followers. :)