I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG. I'VE HAD A LOT TO DO.
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Desmond POV
I snap awake to the sound of a deep, hacking cough coming from across the hall. I sit up, listening carefully as the coughing sound filters through the walls again. Altair? Dammit. I stand up, pulling on my robes and mask before stepping out of my room, the Rafiq doing the same. He peers at me and says "I'll call for a doctor at first light, that doesn't sound very good."
I nod to him thankfully and knock on Altair's door, hearing a soft "Come in?" From inside. I open the door and step inside, walking over to his bed, shutting the door behind me. He's laying on his side under the covers, shivering and pale. "Hey… you don't feel well do you?" I say gently, rubbing his shoulder as I crouch down. He shakes his head after a moment and let's out another deep cough, making me nod. He must have inhaled more water than he coughed out.
"Come on, I need you to sit up." I say gently, urging him into a seated position. He immediately let out another deep cough, trying to hack up what was left in his lungs. I wrap an arm around him and he holds onto me, coughing and gasping for air. I rub his back and say "It's okay. Try and keep that up, whatever is making you sick needs to come out." He clings to me and coughs, eventually hacking out something as his breathing eases.
Someone knocks on the door a moment later, opening it a moment after. The Rafiq steps inside with a tray with something to eat and two drinks. I thank him softly as he sets it on the end table, leaving me with him again. Okay. Based on the fact that he's burning up, but chilled elsewhere I'd say he has a fever. That cough and his recent dip in the water means that he probably has a respiratory infection. I just have to keep him warm, hydrated, and coughing that stuff up.
I belatedly realize how late at night it is, since the moon hangs high in his window. I wrap the blanket on him around his shoulders and grab a drink, still having one arm trapped in Altair's grasp. I look at the drink and see it's just a cup of water, something I'm grateful for. I move around and offer the cup to him, Altair shaking his head and trying to hide his face before another coughing fit takes over.
After he finished trying to hack up a lung I say "You have to drink Altair." Trying to offer the cup again as he pulls away and raspily says "But my throat hurts…" I nod and say "That's why you need to drink. It'll help, I promise." He makes a soft sound that I can't quite place as annoyance before shakily taking the cup and sipping it. "All of it, the more you drink and rest the sooner you'll be better. We'll have a doctor for you in the morning, but you'll have to deal with me till then."
He nods as he holds onto me, relinquishing my arm in favor of drinking the water he now gulps quickly. "You were thirsty weren't you?" I ask gently, picking up the bowl and realizing that it's a soup of some kind, but it seems like a good thing for him to eat. He nods and I take the cup, handing him the bowl and saying "Try and eat that too. You'll need energy to get better. You don't have to eat it all, but please try."
He nods and slowly starts eating, letting me get a chair and move it beside his bed, grabbing a basin as well incase he vomits. He eats maybe a third before stopping with a small grimace, handing it back to me. I set it down and patiently stand up, setting the basin beside him and saying "If you need to vomit, do so in that. I'll be right back." He nods and pulls his blankets close to him.
I step out of his room and into mine, grabbing some cleaning tools for my blades and a few books. As I step back into his room he starts coughing again, the sound better than the first time. I nod and shut the doors, walking back to my seat and sitting down beside him. I set my books down at the foot of his bed, watching him a moment before saying "Since you're sick, I'm suspending your physical training until you're better. That doesn't however mean I'm going to let you slack on your mental training."
He nods at me and gives me a tiny smile before I show him my hidden blade. "Watch closely." I say before moving my wrist slightly back and seeing the blade spring forward, long and deadly. He stared in wonder as I say "The bracers on your arms are weighted for the hidden blade, they'll make sure your body adjusts to the weight of them. Once you've gotten to a certain point in your training, I'll give you one. Than I'll teach you how to use it. Now tell me, what is our Creed?"
He blinks a second and raspily says "Nothing it true, and everything is permitted." I nod and ask "Do you know what that means?" He shrugs and says "Not really…" I nod again and say "Wise words. You'll find the answer on your own one day." He looks a little crestfallen at that but keeps quiet as I pull off my hidden blade and begin to take it apart, showing him how it works. His coughing is worrisome, but the distraction seems to help him. I just hope he can kick this infection before anything really bad happens.
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Altair POV - 5 days later
I bounced where I sat, waiting anxiously for Desmond to come back. If I didn't have a fever, than I was clear to start training again. If I can start training again then I'll be closer to being an Assassin, and I'll be out of this infernal room! Desmond hadn't let me leave, making me rest and sleep sitting up for days. I wanted to get up and run and talk to the other people here.
So I waited as Desmond stepped back into the room, giving me a hidden smile as he steps over and places a hand on my forehead. He hums a moment, watching me before saying "Okay. I guess you can start back training today." I jump up in my bed and shout "YES!" Tossing my hands into the air. He laughs at my excitement, shaking his head and saying "Get ready, it's time for a run."
I jump down from my bed and rush over to my bag, hearing him leave and shut the door as I quickly change, pulling everything on and making sure it was on right before running out to him. He's standing on the roof of the Bureau as he waits for me. I hurriedly climb up, rushing to the top of the roof with a grin. My hands ache as I pull up onto the roof, standing quickly as I grin at him.
He turns around and looks out at the city, my vision following his. He motions to a flag just a building away and says "I want you to collect those with me, you'll run first. I'll be right behind you, and you have till nightfall, since they are in a route. There's thirty of them, so keep track." I nod and take off, getting a running start before rushing across the beam between the two buildings and grabbing the flag. It's white with the Assassin's mark upon it.
I look for a few seconds before spying the next one and running to it, and climbing the small wall up to it. I grab my second flag and start looking for the next one, running after it and jumping from roof to roof, Desmond a step behind me. After what felt like forever I finally grabbed the thirtieth flag, panting as I hand them to him. He gives an approving nod and says "Well done, you did all that in two hours. Ready to get something to eat? Than i'll start you on something new."
I grin and nod, jumping down into a bale of hay after him, smiling as we walk through the city. Along the way he surreptitiously handed the flags off to a man in white robes as we walk over to a market vendor. The man and his wife were selling some kind of soup by the bowl, the scent of spices and herbs hung around the stall as Desmond ordered two bowls and handed me one. The couple motioned to a nearby garden and we walked over, sitting upon the stone benches.
"We can eat here, I don't want to go too far." He says, the two of us sitting between the two exits of the garden. The food tasted amazing, reminding me of the food they served at Masyaf. Once we were done we walked back to the stall, returning the bowls as the woman nodded at us, but oddly another man was there instead of the man we saw before. Desmond stiffens at the sight of it, grabbing my arm and walking is quickly back to the garden.
I'm beyond confused as he grabs a small knife from the belt at his waist and hands it to me. "I'm gonna boost you up, get on the roof and get back to the bureau. Something's wrong, and I don't like it." I nod and take the knife, Desmond showing me quickly how to keep it in my belt before picking me up. He steps up onto the bench as I hear guards shout "ASSASSIN! KILL HIM!"
Within a moment I'm literally thrown up onto the roof as Desmond orders "Run!" Turning and bolting out of the garden, three guards and a man in white and red attire running after him. The red cross on his outfit makes my blood run cold. He's being chased by a Templar! The fear makes me move, running along the buildings toward the Bureau, feet pounding across the sun bleached stone, only to be seen by a guard.
I look at him in fear as he shouts at me, him and another guard rushing after me. I can't enter the bureau being chased! I run along the roof, trying to keep ahead of them while also trying to lose them. I run as fast as I can, but they are steadily gaining ground, and eventually I mess up and trip. I cry out as I fall, hitting my shoulder as my face nearly meets the roof.
I try and scramble up, but I'm not fast enough, the guard grabbing the back of my robe and hoisting me up into the air. I struggle, kicking out and trying to get him to let me go. "Quit that you filthy brat! I'm-" Something in my head almost seems to snap, all the pain of people calling me names since I was old enough to remember seemed to flood my being as I grabbed the blade in my belt and twisted. I moved and with every ounce of strength I had I used to slam the blade into his arm.
He screams as he let's me go, my hand hurting all of a sudden as I held onto the blade, now with both hands as my weight ripped the blade down his arm. Blood splashes across my face, gushing out of the wound as I fall to the ground again, right on my butt with the blade staying gripped in my hands. He screamed as he backed up, blood splashing upon the dried and hot roof. His partner moving toward me before letting out a choked gasp, stumbling and falling at my feet.
Desmond stands behind him, rushing the second guard and hitting his back, the man letting out a choking sound and falling forward. I only belatedly realize the blood that soaks into the first guards uniform, his face frozen in a look of shock. Desmond steps over them and grabbed my arm, yanking me to my feet and worriedly looking me over. "You weren't hurt were you? God you're covered in blood…" I shake my head and say "N-no… it's his…"
I peer down at the second guard, who laid upon his stomach while he looked away from us. The blood dripped onto the roof as Desmond pulled my arm, gently leading me off. We walk calmly for a while as I watch the blade in my hand, the blood hot and sticky as it begins to dry in the heat of the sun. Before long Desmond scooped me up suddenly and did some weird jump down into the Bureau.
He gently sets me on the floor again, gently pulling my arm and turning me around. I look down as Desmond pulled the blade from my hands, him looking over them as I realize I have a large tear in my right glove. It's about an inch and a half long, cutting into my palm. That's why my hand hurts… Desmond suddenly ruffled my hair as my brain starts to clear as he says "It's nothing, it'll heal before you know it. But it'll probably scar. Still, you did well, fighting till I got here."
I nod at him as my hands shake, blood sticking my fingers together. Desmond seems to realize something's off and says "Let's wash your hands. And get something to bind that with, I need to talk to you about that." I nod again, letting him lead me over to a basin and helping me pull off the gloves on my hands before rinsing my hand carefully. He asks the Rafiq for something that I don't catch before he pulled my now mostly clean hands from the water.
Desmond says something else that I simply nod to, a quite numb feeling settling in my chest. They're dead… they're dead because of me... He gripped onto my hand tightly and splashed my hand with a small brown bottle. Pain arcs up my arm, making me try and yank away as he passed the bottle away. I manage to stifle the shout of pain that wanted to work up my throat, tears still drip down my face as he quickly wrapped my hand in cloth.
He dries his hands on a towel they handed him as I cradle my throbbing hand close to my chest and he asks "Do you know how you hurt your hand?" I shake my hand and wipe the tears angrily from my face. "The knife slipped and cut your hand, you hit the bone in that mans arm." I shiver at the mention of it as he says "Altair. Quit thinking they died because of you." I look up at him, my eyes widening in shock as he says "They died because I killed them, their blood will be upon my hands. You injured him yes, but you are not the reason he's dead."
I slowly nod as he continues with "People will die in our line of work Altair, people with hopes and wishes and dreams. People who will slip from our minds and people who will haunt our dreams, every life you take will never leave you. But what we can hope is that with their deaths, we can have a world where people don't have to be killed for the stubbornness of others." I nod again and say "I… I think I understand…"
He nods at me and looks back at my gloves before saying "We'll need a new pair of these, they should have an extra set here. Would you like to rest or continue with what I had planned?" I give him a tiny smile and say "Continue please, I'm not quite tired yet." He nods and leads me into the back room of the bureau. This room seemed to be between our rooms and the main room. It was large, and had small targets set up across from us, along with a table with practice swords laid out upon it.
Desmond nodded to the targets and said "Alright, this is what we'll be doing for a little while. Until you can hit that target perfectly, every time." I stare up at him in shock and exclaim "Every time? What will I even be hitting it with? Arrows?" He shakes his head and pulls a small blade from the sheath at hit waist. He holds up the blade and explains "These are throwing knives. They're weighted and balanced for throwing, meaning I can do this."
Without even looking over to his right he flung his arm out, the knife glinting in the lamp light as it spun toward it's target, hitting the it in the dead center. It quivered as it stuck with a 'thump' sound. I stare in awe as he continues with "Once you get good enough, you can even hit someone with the hilt, knocking them out or making them stumble. Always useful if you're trying to catch someone with information you need. Here, feel the weight."
I took the knife, which was identical to the small blade I'd used not to long ago. It was lighter than I thought it'd be, but now that he mentioned it, it did feel balanced in my hands. He then began to show me the proper way to throw it, helping me move through the motions as I got used to it. It was at least three hours before I could even hit the target though, and even then I just nicked it.
I was angry with myself, unhappy at my inability to get it. Even with my hand hurting with each throw. Desmond watched me patiently, calmly letting me walk back over to get the blade and return to my place so I can throw it again. After all of this my shoulder and arm started hurting from the same move over and over. When I wince once while moving my arm he simply says "I think that's enough for now. I think you can start sparring with the other apprentices here."
I look up at him as he turns and begins to leave before saying "Stay here." I nod as I see the edge of his robe swish out the door. He returns within ten minutes, the other three apprentices at trailing behind him with two other mentors. Desmond motions toward the center of the room and says "I shall be working with Tramir to show you a simple defensive move. You'll have to master this before you can move on, as it's the basis for many other moves."
One of the two mentors, an older male with the beginnings of graying hair within his long beard nods and begins to step over to the middle of the room before the second man, who has a short trimmed mustache that appeared to be well kept says "My apprentice is far past that. I don't think I should hold him back while you bring these younglings up to speed."
I can already feel the disapproving look that Desmond is giving the man, and he isn't even looking at me. "Ophir, hold your tongue. Even I know to treat Desmond with respect, especially since he's choosing to allow our apprentices to train with his. I have heard good things about this boy, something I can't say for yours." Tramir pointedly states, glancing at the largest boy here, who looked like he was built like the stories of trolls Malik's mother would tell us.
He was obviously a few years older than the rest of us, and stood nearly a head over me. He looked angry at the other mentors, and I noticed that he had an actual apprentice blade instead of a training blade, like the other two apprentices. His robes however marked him as a courier, like his mentor as I now notice. The other two had on assassins robes, but looked to be about a year older then me.
Desmond calmly holds up a hand and says "Feel free to remove your apprentice from this. I will not stop you, but be aware of the knowledge you could be keeping from him." He simply glared at Desmond before sighing through his nose and watching Desmond nod before walking over to what I now see is a roughly etched circle. Desmond draws his blade, and I see the other two apprentices move a little closer.
Tramir does the same as he falls into a stance like Desmond's, waiting for a signal of some kind. It came in the form of a very tiny nod before Tramir swung his blade at Desmond from above, making a powerful strike down. Desmond gripped his blade carefully with one hand and gently sidestepped, using his blade to deflect the blade stroke to his left, and off balancing Tramir. He caught himself and pulled away as Desmond says "It takes energy to completely block a hit, and it can lock you in a stalemate with your opponent."
He faced us and showed us how he moved again, letting us see that the whole move seemed to make him almost dance away from his opponent. "You will not always be able to defeat your opponent with strength. Especially if you're fighting more than one. This block will let you get close enough to do a killing or dilapidating blow." I tilt my head to the side and openly ask "What does dilapidating mean?"
Desmond nods and easily answers "To allow something to fall into disrepair or ruin. Anyone else have a question?" The rest of them shake their heads as Desmond has us all draw our practice blades and has the other apprentice collect one from the table. He paired us up and had us start on the move, one swinging like Tramir and one of us blocking like Desmond did. I liked the move that Desmond showed us, the way it let us let the blow glance away from us was almost calming.
I was a little happy that he'd paired me up with one of the boys that was a year ahead of me, instead of the tallest boy. After we had apparently reached whatever point Desmond seemed acceptable both of my arms ached, as he made us practice with both arms. I just wanted a nap, any thoughts of what happened today was muddled with tiredness as he gently lead me out and passed a bowl of food to me while the others did the same.
I ate quickly, Desmond ruffling my hair before saying "Off to bed with you. I don't want to make you sick again." I nod tiredly before make my way over there, barely remembering where my room is as I walk in and yank off my uniform as I shut the door. I pull on the far lighter sleep clothes that I have before laying sideways across my bed, not even bothering to cover up under the warm blankets before falling asleep, thoughts far from the death I saw today.
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Desmond POV
(AN: We will have an area of this that deals with spousal abuse and beating more than one character of mine. You have been warned.)
I hide a smile as he tiredly walks to his room, I know I'd pushed him a good bit today. However my mood darkens as the thoughts of the run in with the Templar I had today. What on earth would one of them be doing in Damascus? The third crusade doesn't start for a few years more. I hum as I turn and gently walk into the main room, gaining the attention of Tramir as he nods at me and says "I heard. I'm having an old friend do some investigating. So far, I have no news. But I should soon."
I cross my arms and stare down at the floor for a moment before saying "I'm going to go do some digging myself. If I'm not back by dawn make sure Altair starts on his throwing knives again." Tramir starts at my words and hastily replies "Already? He is a little young for that don't you think?" I shake my head and state "I want him to have the ability to kill from a distance. He's not strong enough to use a bow or powerful enough to use a sword in close combat. With this he'll have the distance to stay safe as he grows stronger."
He seems thoughtful a moment before humming. "Perhaps my apprentices shall join him as well. They're a quick pair, I'm sure they'll be happy to have someone to work with." I nod before turning and walking to my room, opening the door and grabbing my bow and quiver, shutting my door behind me. I secure my quiver in place as I walk, ensuring it won't shift to much as I run.
I sling my bow into place as well as I walk past Tramir and climb out of the Bureau and into the beautiful twilight cloaked city. Perfect. I can go meet an old… friend? I think that's what she counts as. I start running across roofs and jumping over alleys and rushing past guards, ducking out of sight quickly. Once I reach the building I want I jump down from the roof and roll to break my fall.
I dust myself off and walk out into the street, and into a rather large building. A few drunk men stumbled out of the building, purses far lighter now than they were before, but happy grins on their faces. As I step through the door the scent of sex and alcohol lingers under the far stronger scent of spices and gently burning wood in the fireplace. The room is lavishly decorated in plush rugs and comfortable looking pillows.
It's also sectioned off with beautifully painted screens of wood and fabric to provide small amount of privacy for those who sit down. And to hide the walls, whenever they aren't covered in warmly colored cloth and gently burning candles. I notice more than one woman attached to the arm of her client, batting her lashes and coyly listening to his woes.
A few well paid guards are stationed near the door, watching the girls carefully. The girls themselves are covered in beautiful fabric, sometimes with slits in them to show parts themselves in a seductive manner. The guards stiffen at the sight of my bow and glare at me menacingly, a look I shrug off and quietly to the leftmost guard say "I must speak to Nadia, if she's in. Tell her an old friend in is town." He watches me warily and nods to another guard before he walks off and the guard leads me to a far back screened area.
The upper level is for well paying clients who don't want their faces to be shown amongst the men here. Those with money and wives who would be very angry should they hear of a husband's infidelity. It also has private rooms for those with some performance problems. I calmly sit down upon the rugs and lean against a pillow, not caring as the guard stations himself at the left side of the screen or the soft moaning of the pair a screen away.
A few moments later a young girl with pitch black hair and clothed in a deep red dress cautiously walks in with a small tray laying against against her stomach. She looks barely fifteen, And this was obviously her first night here, or first night around actual clients. She bows to me and while making an effort to steady her voice she hesitantly asks if there was anything I would like to drink. I hum a moment and say "No, I'm quite alright for the moment. Thank you for asking."
She nods and bows again, quietly exiting and padding softly on bare feet to another area. I barely wait another minute before Nadia makes an appearance, looking just as breathtaking as I had remembered. She had long black hair that she kept pinned into place with a jeweled pins that matched the deep sapphire color of her dress, which complemented the lovely figure she was so proud of.
She smiles at me and sits beside me, crossing her legs elegantly as she leans back against a pillow. The girl makes a reappearance as Nadia gently says "Wine for me. The red one that's in the back. And you my friend?" I shake my head as the girl quickly rushes off to follow her request. "Rather young yes?" I say as she makes herself comfortable. She smiles at me and says "Safiyya is just learning now. She needs the confidence we can give her before I let her anywhere near a client. And I want her to be older as well, however lovely she may be."
I nod as she looks at me and quietly questions "I however am rather curious as to why you have graced me with your presence once again. It's been what? A year now?" I chuckle and reply "I am here to ask for the information that your lovely ladies have always had a knack for collecting." She hums at me, thinking a moment before looking sharply at me and saying "I'll have them answer any question you have, but. You will have to do something for me."
I raise an eyebrow, whatever it is must mean a lot for her to use that tone with me of all people. She stands as the girl returns with the wine she requested. She takes the cup from the tray and thanks the girl and motions for me to stand. "Follow me a moment." I nod and stand, follow her up to the back of the room, father past the thick curtains and into an area that was obvious for personal use for the girls. A few very pregnant girls cooked some food or made drinks for the clients.
However she leads me back farther to a large plush room with pillows and blankets, meant for the girls to sleep and interact. She leads me to a girl who nurses a spot on her face. I feel my anger spike as I see the obvious bruises on her arms. "Rayhana came to me less than two hours ago, bruised and beaten. I want the man who did this to never raise a hand to another one of my girls. Regardless of how you make this happen, I want others to know why." Nadia says angrily, rage making her clench her hands and glare at me.
I gently move around her and sit across from Rayhana, she flinches sharply as I do, and I hold up both hands in a placating gesture. She watches me warily, moving a little closer to Nadia as I say "I will not touch you, but if you would allow it, I would like to see your wounds. You don't have to, but it would be helpful to me." She shakes her head at me and I nod in acceptance, standing once more and gently motioning Nadia away.
"Give me a name. I don't know what happened between those two, but he shouldn't have hit her." She nods and replies "I agree. His name was Gilead Nagi. He was a little shorter than I am and a mean drunk. I left orders with my girls to severely limit his drinking whenever he was here, so he started coming in drunk. I contemplated throwing him out, but he never hurt anyone before this, so I had no reason till now. But with this he went way too far."
I nod sharply before turning around and striding away, leaving the building without a second thought and headed toward the nearest place to buy wine and beer at cheap prices. I step softly up to the vendor, hearing people talk happily about wives or friends. I pull two silver coins from my pouch and gently set it on the table, watching the vendors eyes light up upon seeing it.
"One coin, and you tell me where I can find Gilead Nagi, two coins and you never saw me here." I say softly as I lean against the table. The vendor grins and says "You'll find him one street down, just listen for the angry shouting. He's a loud drunk, you'll have no trouble finding him." I nod and release my grip on the coins and turn away, watching him swipe them off the table and begin a conversation with the next man to stumble up to the bar in the now completely night cloaked city.
Must be nearly eleven. My footsteps are soft as I quietly make my way past yawning guards making their last rounds through the city, easily hearing the sounds of shouting. As I get closer I see a house with the lights still lit despite the time, and see the door still open. I quietly slip closer, listening to what's being said. "I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW PATHETIC YOU'RE BEING. GET UP YOU STUPID WOMAN. I SAID GET UP." I hear what sounds like someone being slapped and decide I've heard enough.
I peek around the door and see a little kid, barely five being held closely by a softly crying woman. She had a red mark on her cheek, and a fading bruise on her neck. Gilead looked like he was barely drunk to me, standing steady and angry. "GET UP YOU PATHETIC BITCH." He shouts, and I feel it's time to intervene. I stride purposefully into the room and kick him in the back of the leg, causing it to buckle under his weight.
He curses as I slam my elbow into his shoulder and send him careening to the floor. He curses as he slams into the floor, and I grab my bow and nock an arrow, aiming carefully at his chest as I hold it at full draw. I know it makes for a very terrifying picture as everyone goes silent. His entire face pales as he tries inching back away from me, holding up both hands in a fearful attempt to keep me from shooting him.
"You so much as twitch, and you'll have an arrow in you. Am I clear?" He shakily says "Y-Yes…" I nod and look over enough to have both him and his wife in my sight. "Are you alright? And your child?" She nods slowly with an almost relieved expression, pulling the child closer. Now that I have a better view, I see that it's a little girl, who looks just as afraid as her mother. "I won't hurt you, I'm just here for him." I add gently, watching her relax slightly.
Gilead shows more anger at that statement, snapping "Why do you care about the filthy little slut? She only got what she deserved. Why are you even here? To scare me? Like hell that will happen." He moves then, moving to stand and I adjust my aim to his lower arm and fire, the arrow slamming through his arm and burying itself into the wood below him. I hear the two people behind me cry out in surprise as he screams in pain.
"I said 'if you so much as twitch you'll have an arrow in you.' Test me again, Gilead Nagi, and you won't walk away from this. Now I want you to think back to a few hours ago, when you went into a whore house. You beat a young girl named Rayhana, and unlike your wife she leads a very expensive life. And with that comes people who will happily kill you to make her happy again." I calmly state as I pull another black feathered arrow from my quiver and nock it on the string.
Now he honestly looks terrified as he watches me, not even daring to breathe loudly as I pull my bow back. "You will never drink again. You will never step inside that place again, nor shall you speak to another girl who works there. Because next time it won't me who comes knocking on your door, and you won't be breathing after they leave. You will however tell people exactly why you have that wound. Or I'll give you another."
He nods rapidly as tears start dripping down his face from the pain. I nod back and relax my grip on my bow, replacing my arrow within my quiver. I place my bow on my back before I slam my boot on his arm, making him scream again as I rip my arrow from his arm. I remove my boot as he cowers away from me, cradling his profusely bleeding arm against his chest. I step over to the table and grab a cloth and wipe off my arrow, placing it back in my quiver.
I turn to his wife and offer her a hand, gently helping her to her feet as she holds her small daughter close, obviously afraid of me. I give her space and ask "Do you wish to stay here?" She blinks at me in shock as I say "I can take you from here, and you'll never have to look at him again. Ever. You'll have a safe place to raise her, should you choose. Or I could accompany you to the home of a family member."
She had such a relieved smile that I almost smiled back at her. "My brother lives in the middle district and never really liked my marriage to Gilead… He should take me in." I nod to her and say "Then pack your things and I shall accompany you." She nods back and walks into the back of the house, grabbing out a large basket and quickly carrying it upstairs. Within a few rather loud minutes as she rushed around she carried the basket back down with her small daughter following her.
They both looked far more relaxed as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed down important items, packing them carefully, adding food and any toys her daughter came up to her with. As she tied off the top I walked over and lifted it, easily holding the weight. She smiled at my thankfully before wrapping her daughter in a warm blanket before picking her up. Her husband seems to have passed out from the pain in his arm, but seems to be alive as I lead her out.
It took us over an hour to walk through the streets to get to her brothers, but it was worth it to see her relax as she was finally free of that pathetic man. When we reach her brothers home I knock heavily on the door, waking the people within. He comes running to the door, shirtless as he looks at us in confusion.
She quietly explains that she has left her husband, and asks if he will allow her to remain with him. He looks confused as to why she would leave him and I say "Look at her neck." He blinks at me and peers at her neck, seeing the old hand print. The anger that clouds his face was understandable as I continue with "I doubt he'll be hitting anyone for the time being. But I didn't want to leave her there, especially not with the little girl she has as well."
He nods and takes the large basket that I carry and ushers them within. I bow to him and bid them a good night, the little girl shouting goodbye after me as I wave and begin making my way back to Nadia. I'm rather glad I injured that fucker, he deserved it. It takes me less time to make it back to Nadia, since I could run across the roofs by moonlight and slip past guards. Before long I was walking back through her door.
I didn't even have to ask for her this time, as she was grabbing my arm and dragging me to the back before I'd even said a single word. She stopped once we were away from her clients and stared at me as I smiled and said "I doubt his right arm will ever work the same way again. Now, I needed some information from you." She nods and says "Ask anything my friend, and my girls and I shall find it for you." I grin at her and ask "What do you know of a soldier wearing white with a red cross?"
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And that's where we end for today! I'm sorry this took me so long to update. I've had a lot to do over the last few months. I hope this does make up for it though.
