I gasped. Altair glared at me, while holding something to my neck. I slowly looked down his face to his hand, which was now holding a knife.
How did that get there? He certainly doesn't hold knives in his sleep, does he?
Altair noticed me glancing at his knife. He rolled his eyes. "No, I am not armed in my sleep, girl. Don't be ridiculous."
"But then how did you-"
"I keep my weapons close by," he interrupted. "When I rolled over, I grabbed it."
"Oh," I said. Nobody would actually sleep with a blade, unless they were idiots. They could injure themselves in their sleep.
"If you are trying to sneak in, I would recommend not splashing around in the fountain. Also, sneaking into a building full of trained assassins is pure stupidity." I felt his other hand moving to the back of my neck. He smirked.
"MALIK! Get in here! Look what I found!" Wait, Malik was here? Why wasn't he in the entrance room?
"What Altair? I am having an important discussion with the Rafik."
"Just come in here. I found a girl." Altair looked proud as he made me stand up with him, his blade still on my neck.
"Pshh, yeah right Altair. I am definitely going to fall for that one again," Malik called out from the other room. He started to talk to the Rafik again.
"Malik, I am not kidding about the girl this time," said Altair exasperatingly. I found this hilarious.
"This time?" I asked Altair, with a smug grin. He narrowed his eyes at me, and squeezed my neck.
"Hey, watch it!" I yelled. Stomping of feet was later heard.
Oh shitake mushrooms.
"In Allah's name, there is a girl!" exclaimed Malik. The Rafik soon joined us in the entrance area. He shook his head.
"I have a name; it's Emma, not girl," I said, moving my neck. Altair's grip was getting painful. The Rafik raised one of his eyebrows. It looked like a grey, fuzzy caterpillar. I stared at it with interest.
"Emma, hmm? What an unusual name," the Rafik said, while tapping his chin with his fingers. Altair sighed.
"That's because it's obviously a fake name. She is most likely a Templar spy. Just look as her clothes and the colors. I should have seen it sooner." Altair continued narrowing his eyes. I swear, you could've blind folded him with dental floss or something.
"Well, look at your clothes jerk. Same colors." I gestured to his robes for emphasis. Malik and the Rafik nodded. Of course, Alty just continued being stubborn. Suddenly, Malik perked up.
"Altair, you told us that you should've seen it sooner. So, you bumped into this young lady- pardon me, Emma- sooner?" said Malik. I smiled at him. I was starting to like this guy. I heard Altair growl. He nodded.
"Yes, she was being attacked by guards. I saved her-"
"After I already knocked out one, and then ditched me!" I added angrily. Malik looked surprised.
"Women don't usually fight back. You aren't from around here, are you?" I shook my head in reply.
"Then what business do you have here, especially in the Assassin's Bureau?" asked Altair, harshly. Jeez, somebody's grumpy.
"Food? Shelter?" I asked.
"Well, now that you know of the Brotherhood, you have to stay here while our Master decides what to do with you."
"Wait, you mean Al Mualim?!" I shrieked. They closed in on me. I gulped. I had to think of an excuse.
"Altair said it in his sleep. Hehehe…" The two turned their gazes to Altair. If looks could kill, well, Altair would've been long gone.
"Well, next time we'll just gag Altair in his sleep then. Maybe it will somehow stop his snoring, too." Malik teased. Yep, I liked this guy a lot, now. Altair let go of my neck and crossed his arms, still holding his blade. He started talking.
"We should also gag you too, Malik. Maybe then we can stop hearing your fictional conversations with supposedly-attractive women- if you can call those conversations… I remember a name, Aatifa, I believe. Oh and there was also a… " I let out a giggle. Okay, maybe Altair wasn't so bad. He was still hotter than Malik, anyway. Malik was blushing furiously.
"Okay, Altair, that's enough. Now Malik, let's go and finish our discussion. You can also tell me about those girls…" The door slammed. I heard some muffled protests through the door. The Rafik was enjoying torturing Malik.
"High-five, Alty!" I yelled at Altair, holding up my hand. He just sat there, watching. I noticed his missing finger.
"High-four, then! Come on!" I tried to convince him. He pulled his hood up further onto his face and sighed.