Chapter Eleven: Mortem Omnibus Ostium
They did not go to the fortress, not that this helped Desmond any. Karim, as well as, Faheem, who was Kadar's father substituting for another Assassin, were by their sides the entire way. For Kadar, it was nearly impossible to not call Faheem his father as he stumbled over his sentences whenever he nearly did. Meanwhile, Desmond was still staring down at the ground, unable to meet Karim's gaze. Eventually, Faheem rushed off to find a healer, leaving Karim to help Kadar undress the upper half of his torso.
"Where are you from?" Karim questioned, looking them over. "I do not recognize you."
"Alamut." Desmond responded, shifting his foot along the dirt floor of the dwelling they were in.
"What brings you to Masyaf, brother?" Karim set aside the bloody robes. "And how did this happen?"
"He was hurt bad in the chest." Desmond explained. "With a bolt from a crossbow. I was able to save him from this wound, but then his arm...it went black. I had no choice, but to remove it. This happened a couple of days ago."
"It is finely stitched." Karim gave an approving nod. "It is likely the stitches were merely pulled when you were moving."
"Excuse me." A voice brought Desmond's gaze to a young man in novice robes. "Um...my father sent me to help."
"Bring me a bowl of water, Kadar." Karim ordered and the youth left.
It was now Kadar's turn to stare at the ground.
Desmond again shifted. It was going to be a long six to eight weeks.
Kadar walked over to the window where Desmond was staring out at Karim as the low-ranking Assassin practiced with Faheem.
"You know him?" Kadar questioned.
It had been two weeks since their arrival and they had finally been able to look at the young Kadar and Karim, conquering themselves and their fears.
"I do." Desmond said then corrected. "I did. I've time-traveled before. It was another time, another age. I went to this time period and met Karim. We...knew each other well."
"You were friends?"
Desmond smiled at this. "A little more than friends, Kadar. We were lovers."
Kadar blanched at this, looking out at the man in surprise and then back at Desmond. "Ya Allah, Desmond! That's not funny!"
"It's not a joke."
Kadar's eyes grew wider, though Desmond hadn't thought this possible, and then he blushed. "Oh..."
"Sorry." Desmond smiled. "That was rude of me. Just because it happened at one point in...a now no longer existent time...doesn't mean I should have shared it with you. It's just hard...I mean, I was stupid and thought he and I...well, it was stupid."
"You like men then?" Kadar dared to ask.
"Yes, I do."
"Oh..."
Desmond laughed at how nervous Kadar was. "Don't worry."
He left the window to sit down at the table, picking up a book Karim had brought him.
"I don't think you're stupid." Kadar said abruptly as he took a seat across from him.
"I might not be as stupid as I was," Desmond told him. "But I am stupid. I do stupid things. That's a given. Like changing the past. I'm an idiot because I don't care about possibly making myself disappear, but I didn't want to see Malik hurt or Altair in trouble. It's stupid."
"Malik got hurt?" Kadar furrowed his brows.
"It's not something to worry about." Desmond waved his hand. "Just get better soon, okay?"
"Okay..."
The six week mark arrived quicker than Desmond had anticipated and with it a reason to leave.
"You never did say why you were here in Masyaf." Karim said, watching them with worry. "And I am sorry the Mentor was unavailable. He had business in Alep."
"Think nothing of it." Desmond waved his hand. "And we had business in Damascus. It was upon our return to Alamut we found trouble. I am sorry. I cannot speak of what business it was."
"I see..." Karim did not question him further. "Than safe travels friend. Are you sure we could not lend you a horse?"
"I am sure of it." Desmond pressed his hand to his chest. "Safety and peace, brother."
"Safety and peace."
The two started off while Karim and several of the other Assassins who had helped to care for them, gave them worried glances.
It wasn't until they were out of sight of the gate that Desmond asked Rebecca to put them in 1191.
A flash of light brought them into the loading screen.
"What the..." Kadar grabbed onto Desmond. "Where are we?"
"The Animus." Desmond explained. "This is what takes us through time."
"I don't..." Kadar gaped at his surroundings. "This is...weird..."
"It is a bit."
"Who's that?'
"Huh?" Desmond spun to see where Kadar was pointing and he jumped upon seeing a blurred image of Ezio. "Rebecca, what is this?"
When no response came, he decided to approach the Italian, eyeing it suspiciously.
"Ezio?"
"Desmond." The Italian spoke, causing both Assassins to jump in alarm. "Egli non deve mai incontrare di nuovo i suoi fratelli."
"What's he saying?" Kadar questioned, nervousness in his tone. "Desmond?"
He was promptly hushed.
"Egli non può mai andare a casa," Ezio continued. "... altrimenti morirà."
Desmond frowned as Ezio faded from the Animus.
"What did he say?" Kadar asked. "What did he want?"
"He says you can never see your brothers again and can never go home."
"What?" Kadar gasped, horrified. "Why? Why would he say that?"
"Because..." Desmond gave the young man an apologetic look. "You'll die."
Short chapter because I'm lazy. :D