The moon was bright on a clear night. All the people in the city of Jerusalem were asleep in their homes. A stray dog barked with it's echoed cry bouncing off the walls. The wind blew against his skin making him feel at peace. Below him in a spare room, the foreigner sleeps. His body still in recovery from the fall he endured. Malik has checked on the man every hour until he deemed it to three to four hours. The rafiq has checked every part of the novice's body to make sure nothing was broken or bleeding.

The man tosses and turns in his sleep in a never ending nightmare. His eyes move and he snarls like some animal. He sweats even when the night is cool. Malik did not know why, but it reminded him on how Altair once slept many years ago. Altair had a rough boyhood and the secrets he kept are well hidden in his head. David was like the assassin, keeping things hidden. Malik has seen this kind of behavior in battle worn soldiers or those who experienced a rough upbringing. There was a word for it but he was not sure if the translation fit.

David was once a soldier. He has seen battle. Malik has done what was necessary to gather information, but their master did not allow much to escape his thoughts. Al Maulim was keeping David's true self a secret. Fortunately, Malik has his own eyes in Masayaf.

He could hear David move under the blankets. He groaned and sat up on the mat. His breathing was heavy.

When he made a full recovery, David would have to be trained to become a silent killer. Al Maulim sees something in this foreigner. What it was, Malik didn't know. He tried to answer the question many times. There was a code, a riddle that was keeping the assassin's in the dark. David was different from the people that cross into the Holy land. He was taller than any man he has seen. He was a mixed breed of human and his accent was different from any crusader he has encountered in his life.

There was something abut David that did not sit well in the map-makers mind. He has read many ancient texts speaking of the first people. Like the Bible, Qur'an, even Jewish text, they spoke of the first people. Immortal men living for centuries doing God's will. There was no possible way that this man could be one of the first people. It was only a story. There were no descriptions of the first people.

Malik wondered as he looked to the moon. Assassin's are like shadows that only appear when they are needed. Every text he has read or has seen talks about a man. A man that has lived since the first age. They called him a Sage. David was not some legend. He was a man who has come to the Brotherhood and is now training under them.

Al Maulim is hiding something. He knows who or What David is.

Even if it cost him his life, Malik was going to find out what it was his master is hiding. David was no ordinary man.

"What do you know about assassin's?" Malik asked.

David stood on the rooftop watching closely as his opponent was circling around him. He was prey to the predator. Eyes trained from years of extensive training. He was focused on his on his opponent, the rafiq: Malik. The map-maker of Jerusalem and a once great assassin; until Altair cost him his arm and the life of his brother. It was not a tragic tale that Malik liked to remember. His brother Kadar was just becoming an assassin from the rank of a novice. He was inexperienced in their ways.

"Speak quickly."

The rafiq walked in front of the novice waiting for an answer. Malik was not the most patient of men to be kept waiting. David was not sure how he wanted to answer because if he were to answer wrong, Malik would have him do some minimal task that could cause David's body to grow tired.

He is worse than a Sargent on a powertrip.

"I've been training under the Brotherhood since I arrived. What I learned from my interactions with them..." David paused when Malik swung his leg to hit the former solider, knocking him down. Scratch that... he is the commander giving a powerpoint lesson.

"You hesitate." Malik said looking down to David. He looked amused at this play. "If you hesitate with a simple answer you die. Can you not see that your words are actions. If I were an enemy I would have cut off your head without second thought. An assassin is a work of God who works well in the shadows without the eyes of man watching him. You are like a child learning very slowly."

David stood up on shaky knees. Catching his breath, Malik swung at him with his only arm. David quickly dodged him, but the rafiq was just as quick to catch David's arm and swung him around until he hit the ground. David noticed that Malik was very agile for a handicapped. He did not let the disability get in the way of training. He felt foolish as he has seen many people with missing limbs doing everyday things like any other.

"I am no child. I have been taught in the way of my people how to do things in a different manner." David said through clenched teeth. His body was already sore.

"Tell me, David. What is your teaching?" David could hear the mocking tone in Malik's voice.

"To fire only when commanded to." David sat up, placing his hand on his side. He could feel bruising settle.

Malik looked away from David in silent thought.

...

Kadar fell flat on his back. Pain went through his body as he gasped for air. Malik shook his head, watching his younger brother fail once more in his test. Kadar was not ready to be an assassin. He was still making far to many mistakes.

"Little brother, you are not ready." Malik said reaching out his hand to his younger brother.

Kadar looked up to him. Shame. Embarrassment. Around them both the brotherhood stood and watched. Al Mualim placed his hands behind his back deep in thought. By his side, Altair stood watching like a loyal dog by his master. Each assassin has taking the test to reach their next rank. If one could stand against a high ranking assassin, they could advance forward.

Kadar was moments away from achieving his goal. The only person to stand against him was his older brother. Malik was no easy opponent because of his experience. Kadar was certain he was ready to move on from being a simple novice. Like his older brother, Kadar wanted to go on missions and learn about assassin's. But as he slapped his brother's hand away, he wanted to hide away in the darkness. He failed himself.

"Kadar..." Malik spoke but his younger brother quickly stood up. Looking at the assassin's with shame in his heart and trembling lips, he bowed before Al Mualim knowing that this year was not going to be the easiest for him. Kadar has failed enough times and it made Malik realize that he mourned his brother's loss.

A/N: Ah, thank you for the review and follow and favorite. You guys are awesome.