Chapter Twenty: Accidere Potuit Pessimus

"Desmond?"

He shifted, trying to ignore the pain pulsating in his head.

"Desmond?"

"Wake up." The new voice was familiar and enough to cause his eyes to blink open. He was met with darkness. "Desmond. Wake up."

"Ezio?" He groaned, reaching for his head, but he found his hands bound.

"Desmond!" Rebecca's frantic tone gave him pause.

"What?" He licked his lips, wincing when he ran his tongue along a cut. "Ugh...what happened?"

"The Animus..." She hesitated, her voice filled with worry. "I don't know what happened exactly. It sparked a little and then..."

"It sent you back even further in time." Shaun cut in. "Instead of 1191 to Altair, it sent you back to the third century. Well, 250 A.D. to be exact."

Desmond shifted around, trying to figure out where exactly he was.

"Can I get back?"

"No." Rebecca said quickly. "As it is, I can barely keep Baby running enough to communicate with you. I'm going to run some diagnostics and see about fixing the Animus, but returning you to here? Risky. I could end up sending you even further back in time and...I don't know..."

"All right." Desmond managed to get himself upright and pressed against a wall. "Information then. Where am I? Do I have allies I can trust? What languages am I going to need to learn?"

"You're near Lyon, France." Shaun quickly informed him. "Well, what will be Lyon, France. Right now, it's known as Lugdunum, for short, in Gaul and falls under the jurisdiction of the Roman Empire. You're in luck: there should be an Assassin Brotherhood stationed there, though it is a small group. One, no, two of your ancestors live there: Aquilus and his father Lucius. The biggest problem is that you are travelling away from it. You've been captured, I'm assuming, by slave traders. They're taking you away from Lugdunum."

Desmond frowned upon just then realizing he was in some kind of cart skittering down a rocky dirt road.

"Huh..." Desmond immediately got to work removing his binds. "Aquilus...not surprising. I mean, he's my ancestor. Of course the Animus would send me near an ancestor. Okay."

Loosed from his bonds, he peaked out of the covered cart he was in.

Happy to see the small caravan wasn't well-guarded, he slipped out of the cart and quickly hid in some nearby bushes to wait.

"Okay." Desmond finally whispered as soon as the caravan had disappeared from sight. "Rebecca, how long?"

"Probably...a...uh...a day or two? Or more...I don't know how long that will be to you, but I'll do my best."

"Got it." He sighed. "And Shaun? Which direction should I go?"

Silence answered him and he took the pause to glance around the area.

"Shaun?"

When he was again given no reply, his suspicions were confirmed.

"Dammit."

Rising to his feet, he took a wild guess and headed off towards what he hoped was Lugdunum.

Lugdunum turned out to be a sprawling city full of life and commerce. Surprised, but pleasantly so, Desmond slid into the city with ease, taking in the sights and sounds of a Roman-governed Gaul. Hood up, he knew it wouldn't take long for an Assassin to recognize the iconic attire and come after him, something he was hoping for because his Latin was lacking and his ancient French (or whatever it was called, he didn't know) was absent completely.

He knew the moment he had been spotted and sensed the presence of one sneaking up on him. Part of him was tempted to let them, but he changed his mind at the last second, turning hastily and flicking out his hidden blade as a warning.

The man to meet him showed maddening similarities to Desmond's own face, though the same fierceness he had seen in Altair's younger years. With a sigh, he resigned he was going to look a lot like all of his ancestors.

Pressing his hand to his chest, the other Assassin spoke in a language Desmond did not recognize, but he maintained respect regardless. Hand to his own chest, he spoke in English, hoping to convey his lack of understanding. The other Assassin immediately seemed to understand as he changed to Latin with hope.

"Latine loqui tibi, frater?"

"Paulo." Desmond replied, holding up his hand to indicate how little he knew because he was worried he hadn't used the correct word.

The Assassin nodded, worry on his features, but he still introduced himself. "Aquilus."

"Desmond."

Aquilus smiled, though barely, and encouraged Desmond to walk with him.

Speech between them was difficult, given Desmond only knew a few words, but he was more than willing to learn. Having learned several languages in the past he had a pretty good system down for learning new ones and he already understood the basics of Latin.

"From where do you hail?" Aquilus questioned as they made their way towards the edge of the sprawling city.

Desmond deliberated, pretending to suffer over the language barrier. "Alamut."

Aquilus' brows rose as he began instead to speak Arabic. "You can understand me like this then?"

"Oh, thank the heavens." Desmond shared a laugh with the other Assassin.

"What brings you to Lugdunum, brother?" Aquilus asked, relaxing a fraction.

"In all honesty, I didn't intend to be here." Desmond informed him. "I have pursued an enemy all over Gaul and captured him to the north. It wasn't long after I was taken by surprise and captured by slave traders. I only escaped them last night."

Aquilus smiled slyly. "You were captured, brother? Tsk."

Desmond grinned back. "I was exhausted, friend, from my long pursuit of my quarry, though you are right. There is no excuse good enough for such behavior."

Chuckling lightly, Aquilus seemed to relax further. "My father, Lucius, will like to welcome you and you are more than welcome to stay with my wife, Valeria, and I while you rest."

"You have no idea how much this aids me, brother."

Aquilus clapped him on the back. "For a brother? Of course! You are one of us, no matter where you hail. Though I am surprised our brothers in Alamut would send you so far!"

"He wasn't supposed to run so far!" Desmond snickered. "It is amazing the distance we will go to live a day longer."

"It seems he lived a bit more than a day, brother."

"Indeed."

"Come." Aquilus led him through a back alley, away from the packed streets. "My father awaits to meet you. We were worried you were a fake. We do not get many visiting brothers from other Orders."

"Naturally." Desmond tailed the Assassin. "The distance to travel is so great and it really isn't appropriate to cross borders. You are more than capable of handling this side of Rome for the Order. Had not my quarry been of such importance to the Brotherhood...ah, but I shouldn't speak of such things."

Aquilus agreed. "Yes. At least, not yet."

"Tell me, brother, where am I, exactly?"

"The city of Lugdunum in Gaul." Aquilus explained. "It's a Roman controlled city, though is mostly for trade and commerce. Some battles are fought for it, from time to time, but there has been mostly peace here. The Celts have in general accepted the Roman influence, even its language, though some of us still speak Gaulish."

"So you are..."

"Gallo-Roman." Aquilus grinned back at him. "A true born Celt who obtained Roman citizenship."

"Impressive."

"Indeed. My father, Lucius, however, raised me up to be an Assassin. Most of my family serves the Order."

"As does mine."

"It is likely best this way..."

"Some fresh ideas aren't always a bad thing." Desmond shrugged when Aquilus gave him a confused look. "Well, sometimes."

They entered a small home and, expectantly, Desmond was instantly surrounded by blades. A smile slid onto his features as Aquilus stepped further into the room before turning around to grin wryly at him, though only suspicion filled his eyes.

"Who are you really and why are you here?" Aquilus crossed his arms, surveying Desmond with his fox-like eyes.

"I told you I am Desmond and I come from Alamut." Desmond responded, unable to tame his smirk. "And I was here on business for them there."

"Alamut has not had contact with us for nearly a century." Aquilus snapped, all former kindness gone. "You care to inform us as to why those miserable Syrians would be working now? It has been painfully obvious they've traded sides, forsaking our cause."

"Have they?" Desmond was genuinely surprised as he had learned of betrayal only from Al Mualim.

"This is an unjust assumption." A new voice flitted into the room as an older man, reminding Desmond so much of his father, stepped into his vision. "Desmond, is it? What a peculiar name."

"A bit." Desmond shrugged. "I understand your distrust, but I assure you I am no enemy."

The man studied him before giving a motion to the other Assassins, all of whom lowered their weapons while Aquilus frowned.

"My name is Lucius." The man told him. "Follow me."

Led into an adjoining room, Desmond was followed by Aquilus, still watching him like a hawk.

"Drink?" Lucius questioned, holding up a jug.

"Please." Desmond took the offered seat from Aquilus and the three sat down together.

"Tell me..." Lucius began as he poured them each a cup of wine. "What brings you to Gaul?"

Desmond nodded a thanks for the drink before setting it down before him.

"Are you the Mentor?"

Lucius snorted in amusement. "No, but I am the closest in these parts. We do not have a Mentor."

"I see..." Desmond lifted the drink to his lips, but did not partake of it. "Then you would be the one I could speak to."

"Oh?" Lucius also lifted his cup to his lips, but also did not drink of it. "Speak of what?"

"The true purpose of my being here." Desmond responded, watching in his peripheral vision as Aquilus tensed.

"Which is?"

"I am on a quest...one Alamut did not place me upon."

"I see. Go on."

Desmond stared down into his drink, watching as the last bits of powder was absorbed by the wine.

"There is a place...a...temple of a sort. I need to find it."

"What sort of temple?"

"I wish I could describe it better." Desmond pulled out the key. "But all I know is this should be able to open it."

Lucius took the key from him and studied it, his eyes narrowing. "These symbols...hmmm...the Celts to the North may be able to help you, but I can offer no further advice on the matter."

"That is more than I have gained elsewhere." Desmond told him as he took back the key.

"What is the purpose of finding this temple?" Lucius questioned, again pretending to drink.

"To stop a calamity in the future." Desmond sighed. "At least, I hope to."

"What sort of calamity?"

"One to befall the whole world."

Lucius frowned as he took the drink from Desmond. "You are indeed one of us: trained to know if poison sits in your drink."

Desmond smiled as Lucius rid them of the toxin.

"I will help you." Lucius told him. "If you will take my aid."

"I would be grateful for it."

"Aquilus." Lucius turned to his son. "You will remain here and protect the Brotherhood. Lead them. They trust you."

Aquilus bowed respectfully.

"We will leave in a week's time." Lucius informed Desmond. "Rest and I will prepare for our travels."

"I thank you again." Desmond stood to give the man a proper bow.

"It is what we should each do for our brothers." Lucius smiled. "Go. Aquilus will accommodate you."