The Ottoman Stories – Return to Constantinople
July 24th, 1808
Dear Mademoiselle de la Serre,
I plan to strike against the corrupt Sultan of our Empire, Mustafa IV. His reign has gone on for long enough, and the people of the Empire will suffer for as long as he is on the throne. Bring yourself to Constantinople as quickly as you are able, and upon your arrival, I will fill you in on our plan.
I eagerly await your arrival.
Sincerely, Haran Alona.
Elise smiled after re-reading the letter, and tucked it into the pocket of her breeches. She straightened out her black and red robes, and walked over to a desk where her weaponry was. She placed Kenway's Blade into her scabbard, after she had polished it. Elise picked up her Hidden Blade bracer, and slid it onto her left forearm. She flicked the Blade out, and grabbed a piece of cloth. She gently ran the cloth along the edges of the blade until it shined. She flicked the blade back into the bracer, and walked up to the deck of the ship to take in the scenery around the Golden Horn. Elise spied a familiar face in Haran as her ship docked. She walked off of the ship, and met up with Haran.
"Hello there, Elise." Haran greeted her. "I'd recognize that red hair anywhere."
"Hello again, Haran." Elise replied. "Glad to be back in your beautiful city again. How have you been in these past few months?"
"I have been well." Haran told her, as they began walking to the Assassin headquarters. "Only thing I have been doing with my brother is plot the downfall of the Sultan. How about yourself?"
"I have been well myself." Elise replied to his question. "I gave birth to a daughter in March, have been waiting for your letter, and Arno and myself have been discussing in training our son in our ways."
"Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, Elise." Haran said, with a smile on his face, as he opened the door to the headquarters. "Come on in, Elise. I will let you know about our plans."
Elise nodded her head, and followed Haran into the Assassin headquarters. Dashan welcomed her with a smile.
"Welcome back, Elise!" He greeted her, with the smile still on his face. "Long time no see!"
"Same to you, Dashan." Elise replied, returning a smile. Haran beckoned Elise to have a seat at the table. Elise nodded and sat down.
"Welcome back, Elise." Haran said to her, placing a letter on the table. "Here is our plan to take back the city from Mustafa."
Elise picked up the letter.
"Who wrote this letter?" Elise asked Haran.
"Mustafa Bayrakdar, Governor of Ruscuk." Haran replied sternly. "Read the letter, Elise."
Elise nodded her head, and began to read the letter.
Dear Haran and Dashan Alona,
I have grown disillusioned with Mustafa's rule, and it is time to bring him to justice. I have marched my army from the Danube all the way to the city walls, and plan to storm Topkapi. Whilst my army storms the palace, according to plan, Mustafa will retreat to the second courtyard. Both of you will be disguised as riflemen. My army and the rebels will distract him. Take out his two guards, and then arrest him. Acquire help for this mission, for you two can't do it alone. I aim to see a new sun rise over the Ottoman Empire, and without Mustafa on the throne, a new sun will surely rise.
Sincerely,
Mustafa Bayrakdar
Elise folded the letter and returned it to Haran.
"It seems that I am the help for this mission?" Elise asked the brothers.
"Yes, you are." Dashan replied. "Once Mustafa tries to shelter himself in Topkapi's second courtyard, we will take out his guards with rifles, while his army and the rebels break through. Your job will be to apprehend the corrupt Sultan, and bring him to justice."
"I also spoke with Bayrakdar himself yesterday, before you arrived, and he has told me that he plans to strike tomorrow afternoon." Haran added. "Be ready, Elise."
Elise lifted up her left arm, and extended her hidden blade.
"I'm always ready." Elise told the brothers. "I can't wait to meet Bayrakdar."
"Good to hear, Elise," Haran told her. "Rest up, for we go meet Bayrakdar himself outside the city walls tomorrow morning. He will lay down the plans and our part in his assault."
Elise nodded her head, and made her way over to the couch in the living area. She sat down, got herself comfortable, stretched her legs, and laid down to fall asleep.
Elise awoke early in the morning, to Haran and Dashan eating their breakfast. Dashan looked up at Elise from the table, who was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Ah, there you are, sleepyhead." Dashan said, with a smile. "We thought you weren't waking up for quite some time. Would you like some food before we go?"
Elise approached the table, and placed her hands on the table.
"No thank you, Dashan. I'm good." Elise replied. "If Bayrakdar is waiting for us outside the city walls, then we should head out. Best not to keep him waiting."
Haran got up out of his chair, and placed his hand on Elise's shoulder.
"That has always been a thing I have liked about you, Elise." Haran told her. "You always have a strong desire to do the right thing. Dashan, we must head out to meet Bayrakdar."
Dashan nodded his head, as he finished his breakfast as Elise and Haran waited for him to finish. Dashan got up from the table, and joined his brother and Elise. Haran opened the door and the three Assassins began their walk, south of the Hagia Sophia. While they were walking through the city, Elise noticed how quiet the streets of southern Constantinople were, due to unrest among the people. Elise assumed they were near the Golden Horn, until she was proven wrong by observing a large group of rebels at the gate of Topkapi in the east. The three Assassins quickly climbed over the wall. Once they got to the top, Elise spied a very large group of men, some with weapons, and some had none. Elise assumed they were Bayrakdar's men. The Assassins approached a tall man, with a black moustache and black hair. He turned around to greet them, with a smile on his face.
"You two must Haran and Dashan Alona. The men who will help us remove Mustafa from the throne." Bayrakdar said. He spied Elise standing beside Haran.
"Who is this red haired woman standing beside you?" He asked.
"This is Elise de la Serre." Haran introduced Elise to Bayrakdar. Elise bowed her head towards him.
"She is our help from France." He added.
Bayrakdar flashed a smile of approval.
"Very good, boys. I'm glad you have acquired help." He turned to Elise and smiled. Elise returned a smile back at him. "Now, onto the plan. While my men and the rebels storm Topkapi, Mustafa is probably going to retreat into the second courtyard. You two will take these rifles, and take to the rooftop of the second courtyard. Elise will infiltrate the palace away from the crowds as well and meet you up on the rooftops at the back of the courtyard. By now, the crowds will have stormed the second courtyard. I will be in the crowd. Watch for my gestures, and that's when you two will fire your rifles at his guard. When I raise my hand, Elise will leap down, and restrain the Sultan. Are we clear here? Any questions before we go?"
"All clear on my end." Haran replied, as he grabbed a rifle, and beckoned Dashan to grab one as well. He placed it on a holster on his back. Dashan did the same.
"All clear to me." Elise replied, a tinge of eagerness in her voice.
"Very good. My men are eager to enter." Bayrakdar said, holding up his sword. "Men! Forward!" The men marched into Constantinople on his command. Elise, Haran, and Dashan blended in with the army up until they got to the gates of the first courtyard. Joining in with the rebels, they began to break the door of the first courtyard open. Elise, Haran, and Dashan climbed up the wall on the outside. Once all three Assassins reached the rooftops, the army and the rebels smashed the door down, and flooded into Topkapi's first courtyard. Elise, Haran, and Dashan free ran across the southern rooftop of the first courtyard, staying low to stay out of sight. They began to free run into the second courtyard as the mob began to break down the gate to the second courtyard. The three Assassins hustled to their positions, and as they were getting into their positions, Elise spied a man, starting to panic beside his two guards.
"Is that him? Mustafa?" Elise whispered to Haran.
"Yes, that bastard is Mustafa, the Sultan." Haran replied, in a hushed tone. "It won't be long before we strike."
Haran pointed over to the gate, which was on the verge of collapsing. The crowd broke the gate down and charged at the Sultan, who warned them to stand back.
"Stand down at once!" Mustafa bellowed, waving his arms in an attempt to calm the crowd.
"Never! Never! Never!" The crowd roared back.
"How dare you defy the only surviving member of the mighty House of Osman!" He yelled. "Guards. Show them the body!"
His two guards disappeared out of sight, and a few moments later brought out the dead body of Selim III. Elise covered her mouth and gasped, as looks of horror came across the faces of Haran and Dashan. The rebels took the body and tossed it aside like a commoner. Elise spied Bayrakdar in among the courtyard crowd.
"There's Bayrakdar." Elise whispered, pointing him out in the crowd. "Watch for his signals."
Haran and Dashan nodded their heads, crouched down, and watched for his signs. The crowd was getting angrier and angrier by the second.
"We demand you yield this palace to a worthier!" The crowd yelled. Mustafa scoffed at the crowd. Elise spied another man walking up to Bayrakdar in the crowd. This man was dressed in royal Ottoman clothing, colored black and gold.
"Is that Prince Mahmud?" Dashan whispered to his brother.
"It is. I wonder what he is doing here." Haran replied to his brother with a hushed tone.
"Keep watching for his signals!" Elise whispered to the brothers., as she returned her eyes to the crowd.
Bayrakdar, in the crowd, held up two fingers at the guards.
Realizing it was their cue, Haran and Dashan quickly fired their rifles, with the bullets hitting his two guards in the back of the head. The guards slumped to the ground, dead. Elise spied Bayrakdar whispering something into Prince Mahmud's ear. Mahmud walked up to the front of crowd, held up one finger, and pointed at Elise. Mustafa began to wonder what his half-brother was pointing at. Elise knew it was her cue. She leaped down from the rooftop onto the cornered Sultan, and wrestled him to the ground. Mustafa tried to resist Elise's hold.
"Don't move, cretin." Elise muttered, as she kept him pinned down by extending out her hidden blade. Haran and Dashan descended from the rooftops, and stood beside Elise. Bayrakdar walked up to the three Assassins, and behind him came Prince Mahmud. Elise picked up Mustafa, and handed him to Haran and Dashan, who restrained him with chains. Bayrakdar and Mahmud turned around.
"I proclaim you, Prince Mahmud, the new Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. You will now be known as Mahmud II, your highness." Bayrakdar said proudly, with a bow. Elise flashed a smile for the newly crowned Sultan. Mahmud pointed at his half-brother, Mustafa.
"Take him away at once!" Mahmud ordered. The crowd roared with delight as their new Sultan ordered Haran and Dashan to drag Mustafa away. Haran and Dashan smiled, and obeying the new Sultan's command, dragged Mustafa out of Topkapi Palace.
Mahmud looked up at Elise.
"Boy, did that feel good." He began, smiling. "You are a fine warrior, madame. Meet me in my apartment in the Harem as soon as you are able. Bring your friends as well, for I have some information to share."
"For sure, Your Imperial Majesty." Elise replied, bowing before the Sultan. Mahmud and Bayrakdar smiled, and walked away to the apartments. Elise smiled back, and walked off to find Haran and Dashan.
A few hours later, Elise, Haran, and Dashan arrived at Mahmud's apartments. Mahmud invited them to sit on the lavish couch in his apartment in the Palace. Sitting across from them was Mahmud II himself. Walking into the room was Bayrakdar, who lit an incense lamp beside the couch. He then took a seat himself.
"Thank you for removing my wretched half-brother Mustafa from the throne." Mahmud said, with a smile. "Whereabouts is he?"
"He is currently placed in the prison, Your Imperial Majesty." Haran replied.
"Very good." Mahmud replied. "My Grand Vizer here will keep tabs on him." Mahmud extended his hand to Bayrakdar, and they shook hands. Elise looked up at Mahmud.
"If I may ask, why did you ask us here, Your Imperial Majesty?" Elise asked.
Mahmud placed several documents on the table.
Haran picked them up, and began to read over them. A look of shock came across his face.
"These documents are research on the Piece of Eden." Haran stated. "Where did you find these, your highness?"
"I found them in his study, just as the crowds breached Topkapi." Mahmud replied. "I figured these documents will be safe in your hands. Store them someplace safe."
Haran nodded his head reassuringly.
"Your word is our command, Your Imperial Majesty." Dashan replied. Bayrakdar moved the table out of the way, and Mahmud disappeared for a few moments, only to return with a golden plated sword.
"Kneel, if you would be so kind." Mahmud ordered. Elise, Haran, and Dashan knelt before Mahmud.
"By the Sword of Osman, I declare you three brave warriors, Haran Alona, Dashan Alona, and you, madam?"
"Elise de la Serre." Elise replied.
"Thank you, madam." Mahmud said, clearing his throat. "By the Sword of Osman, I declare you three brave warriors Haran Alona, Dashan Alona, and Elise de la Serre recipients of the Order of the Crescent!" Mahmud touched the Sword of Osman on the shoulders of the three Assassins, and beckoned them to rise to their feet. After rising to their feet, Mahmud presented Elise, Haran, and Dashan with a ribbon with a Crescent on it. Elise looked down at her ribbon and smiled.
"For your services to the Empire." Mahmud said with a smile. As the three Assassins were walking out, Mahmud placed his hand on Elise's shoulder.
"Elise, if that is how you say it." Mahmud began. "There is a man here waiting in the courtyard for you. He is from your home country of France, and is outside with two children."
"Thank you, your highness." Elise replied, with a smile. Elise and Mahmud walked out into the second courtyard, to see Arno, holding their daughter, Juliette, while standing with Haran and Dashan. To his right, their son Francois, was chasing a butterfly around the courtyard.
Oh Francois, you little goofball.
"Francois! Come here young man!" Arno yelled at his son. Upon hearing his father, Francois ran up to his father's side, just as his mother and Mahmud joined them.
"Hello, Arno!" Elise greeted Arno, and gave him a hug. Elise kneeled down to match her son's height.
"How is my young man doing today?" Elise asked Francois.
"I'm really good momma!" Francois replied to his mother. "Did you see me chase that butterfly?"
"I did indeed, little man. You almost caught it too!"
Francois smiled as his mother rustled his red hair.
"He's been eager to see you, Elise." Arno stated, handing her Juliette. "He's been waiting to see you all trip."
Elise cradled Juliette, and Haran showed Arno the documents. Arno whistled as he read through them.
"Where did you find these, Haran?" Arno asked Haran.
"I didn't find them. Our Sultan, Mahmud II, found them during the riots a few hours ago. These documents are valuable research for the Ring of Eden." Haran replied. "We plan to store them in the Yeteraban Cistern, with the ring itself."
Arno smiled. Elise turned to face Haran, Dashan, and Mahmud.
"If you ever need a hand from France, please write to us." Elise stated, with a smile. "I'm sure they will send us, if not our two children here, when they are old enough."
Haran smiled.
"Thank you, Elise." Haran replied. "Dashan and myself, along with Bayrakdar, plan to help our Sultan establish his reforms throughout the Empire."
Elise looked down to her son, and then back up to the brothers and the Sultan.
"I wish you well in establishing your reforms, your Imperial Majesty." Elise said, with a bow. "But now, I must take my leave, to return to France with my family."
"Very well." Mahmud replied. "I can request a ship to take you back to France. Which port, if I may ask?"
Elise was about to say Marseille, before Arno cut her off.
"Baniyas." Arno replied to Mahmud. Elise glared at her husband.
"Why do you want to go to Baniyas, Arno?" Elise asked, while she was cradling Juliette.
"It's the closest port to Masyaf, my love." Arno replied.
"What's in Masyaf that you want to see, Arno?" Elise asked her husband, again.
"I want to show you Masyaf, Elise." Arno told her. "So you can see it with your own two eyes."
"Very well." Elise said, looking back up at Mahmud. "We wish to go to Baniyas, Your Imperial Majesty."
Mahmud returned Elise's look with a smile.
"I can arrange for a ship to leave tomorrow morning." Mahmud said, with a promising smile.
"Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty." Elise replied, bowing her head. Mahmud walked back into his quarters. She turned to Haran and Dashan. "Thank you both for everything you have done."
"No. Thank you, Elise." Haran replied. "If it weren't for you, we would have no Ring of Eden, and we wouldn't' have a new Sultan. So thank you for everything you have done, Elise."
Elise shifted Juliette into her left arm, extended her right hand, and shook each of the brother's hands.
"I hope to see you in the future." Elise told the brothers. The brothers returned a smile and waved as Elise and her family walked out of the courtyards and out of Topkapi. Francois looked up at his mother.
"Are we going home, mother? Francois asked her.
"No we aren't, Francois." Elise replied to her son. "We are going to Baniyas."
"What's Baniyas?" Francois asked, looking up at his father. Arno looked down at his son.
"Baniyas is a town in Syria, Francois." Arno told his son. "We are going there."
"Yay!" Francois exclaimed, with glee. Elise smiled down at her son, who was at her left side. After a little bit of a sight-seeing tour through Constantinople, Elise, Arno, and their two children arrived at the hotel not too far away from the docks. They went up into their room, and got themselves ready for bed.
"Oof what a day!" Elise exclaimed. She took off her hidden blade bracer, unbuttoned her shirt, and began to breastfeed Juliette. Arno began to get Francois ready for bed.
"Francois, you'll be sleeping with your father tonight." Elise told her son, while still breastfeeding Juliette.
"Alright, momma." Francois said, with a little bit of a frown on his face. Arno sarcastically smiled at his son, and got him into bed. Elise finished breastfeeding Juliette, and buttoned up her shirt. She then pulled the bed sheet back, and placed Juliette on the right side of the bed. Elise crawled into bed beside her daughter. Arno got Francois into bed, and crawled into bed beside him. Elise smiled and blew a kiss to Arno. Arno smiled at his wife, returned the favour with a kiss, and fell asleep. Elise rolled over to look at her daughter. She gently pushed aside her daughter's brown hair from her forehead, and fell asleep.
Elise awoke early in the morning to Juliette crying. Elise picked her young daughter up, unbuttoned her shirt, and began to breastfeed her. Juliette became quiet when she began sucking. Arno and Francois were awoken by her crying. Arno rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and beckoned Francois over to him, to get him dressed. Francois obliged, and walked over to his father. Elise finished feeding Juliette, and got Juliette into her little pink onesie.
"Are you boys ready?" Elise asked Arno and Francois, as she was buttoning up her shirt. Arno looked back at his wife.
"I'll let you decide that, Elise." Arno replied, with a sound of wit in his voice as he slipped Francois's shirt on.
"Yes we are, momma!" Francois exclaimed. Elise smiled at her son, as she picked up Juliette, and cradled her in her arms. Arno grabbed Francois's hand, and opened the door to the room. They walked out of their room, down the stairs of the hotel, and out onto the streets. While they were walking down the street, Elise saw the entrance to the mine shaft underneath Topkapi.
"That's where the mine entrance was." Elise told Arno. Arno glanced over to see the entrance, embedded into the walls of Topkapi.
"That's where you found the ring, correct?" Arno asked her.
"Yes it is, Arno. Underneath Topkapi is a temple, which is where it was located." Elise replied to her husband. Francois looked back up at his mother as they arrived at the docks.
"What ring?" Francois asked, as they were about to board the ship. "What ring momma?" Elise looked back down at her son.
"You will find out in the future, Francois." Elise told her son, as they boarded the ship. Francois smiled, as the crew prepared for the ship to sail through the Golden Horn. Elise and Arno smiled at their son as the ship began to start sailing. Arno beckoned Francois to his side, placed his hand on his shoulder, and watched the sunset as the ship left Constantinople.
"It won't be long now, Elise." He said to his wife, with a smile. "Masyaf awaits."
Elise looked back up at her husband, as he planted a kiss on her lips as the sun set into the Mediterranean.
Elise, Arno, and their children arrived in Baniyas late in the evening of the next day. Francois looked around, bewildered by the sight of the new city. He spied a large castle in the distance as they were getting off the ship.
"Momma momma! Look! A castle!" Francois exclaimed, pointing at the large castle made of black rock. Elise observed the castle in the distance. "Did knights fight there?"
"From the looks of it, son, it looks like a Crusader fortress." Elise told her son, his face growing into a smile. "So yes, knights and Crusaders did fight there."
"Wow! Knights and Crusaders!" Francois exclaimed, a large smile growing on his face. Arno looked back at his wife with a confused look on his face.
"How did you know that, Elise?" Arno asked.
"My tutors, Arno. Along with my father's tomes on the crusades." Elise replied, with a smile on her face. Arno returned a smile to her.
"Momma's smart, father!" Francois said, looking back up at his father. Arno looked back at Elise.
"I married a smart, beautiful woman." Arno said, kissing her on the cheek, as they walked into the city square. The town of Baniyas was rather quiet from Elise's observations. Francois still had his eyes fixed on the castle on the horizon. Juliette was fast asleep in Elise's arms. Realizing her arms were getting heavy, Elise handed Juliette to Arno. Arno extended his arms, and cradled Juliette in his arms. Francois ran to his mother, and held her hand. The family approached a man who was standing beside a carriage.
"Excuse me, Monsieur." Elise asked. "You own this carriage, correct?"
"Sure do, kardeshim." The carriage owner replied. "Need to go somewhere?"
"We are looking to get to Masyaf. Could you get us there?" Elise asked again.
"I sure can. Can take you straight to the village. It will be about a 7 hour carriage ride from here." He replied, looking at his pocket watch. Elise looked back at Arno, and then back to the carriage driver.
"Excellent." Elise said back to the driver, who opened the door for them. Elise got into the carriage, and beckoned Arno to hand her Juliette. Arno obliged, and handed her Juliette, who was still sound asleep. Francois got into the carriage and sat beside his mother. Arno was the last to enter. Arno slammed on the side of the carriage. The driver nodded his head, snapped on the reins, and the carriage carrying the Dorian family trotted in the direction of Masyaf.
The carriage pulled into Masyaf village town square late the next morning, with the sun high in the sky. Elise put her hood up as she got out of the carriage, using her hands to cover Juliette's head. Elise looked up in the distance to see the castle of Masyaf, the former headquarters of the Assassin Brotherhood, looming over the small village.
"Thank you, Monsieur." Arno said to the carriage driver. The carriage driver nodded his head, and walked back to his carriage. Elise looked at the road to the castle.
"Looks like were walking uphill, my love." Elise told Arno, motioning her head towards the road. Arno beckoned Francois to him, and crouched down.
"How about a piggyback ride, my man?" Arno asked Francois. Francois looked back up at his father.
"Yeah!" Francois exclaimed, as he climbed onto his father's back. Arno smiled, and stood up with Francois on his shoulders. Elise, Arno, and their children began the trek up to the castle.
"Ahh Masyaf." Arno began. "The home of the Assassin Brotherhood, where it became reborn by Altair Ibn La'Ahad. Shortly after the Third Crusade."
"The Third crusade, you say?" Elise asked her husband. "My father told me tales of the Templar attack on Masyaf in the year 1191."
"See that tower there?" Arno pointed to Elise's right. Elise turned to see a large tower, which looked very weather beaten.
"Altair trampled a lot of Templars with some large logs from the top of the tower. The Templars stood right where we are standing now."
Elise smiled at her husband.
"I'm almost certain the ancestors of Marie Levesque were involved. I'm glad Altair set them straight." Elise replied, as they walked up the stone steps that led up to the former gate of the castle. Elise could still see some Assassin Insignias etched into the walls. Elise, Arno, and their children walked into the open courtyard.
"It seems the Ottomans made some expansions to the castle." Elise told Arno, as she looked around the castle courtyard. Arno looked back at her.
"Hopefully they left Altair's library intact." Arno replied, as they approached the castle entrance. As they walked in, Elise looked around the interior. Empty bookshelves littered the top floor of the castle while sunlight shined through where the windows once were. Elise looked back to her husband.
"Altair's library?" Elise inquired.
"Correct." Arno replied. "It was last visited by Ezio Auditore in 1512. Some say Altair himself is sealed within the library." Arno pointed to a large opening in the wall. Elise approached the opening in the wall with her husband, and descended down into the library. Elise looked down the corridor, and at the end, saw a large metal door with keyholes in it. Elise noticed the keyholes lined up with well-known constellations. Elise and Arno approached the door. Elise ran her hand across the door, which was adorned with a golden Assassin Insigna, along with golden Arabic text inlaid in the door.
"What does that say, momma?" Francois asked, looking up at the door.
Elise tried to read the text, but nodded her head.
"I'm not sure, my young man." Elise told her son. Arno approached her, and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Come, Elise. We must pay our respects to Altair." Arno told Elise. Elise nodded her head, and turned back to her son.
"Francois, would you be able to sit here and look after your sister?" Elise asked of her son, handing him Juliette in the process. Francois nodded his head, and sat down, with Juliette in hand.
"Be gentle with her, Francois." Elise instructed. Francois smiled at his mother, and then looked down at his sister. She then went back to her husband, who was kneeling before the door, with his left hand on the door and his head bowed. Elise kneeled down beside him, and placed her left hand on the door.
"We must recite the maxim of our Creed." Arno told Elise. Elise nodded her head in response.
"Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine." Elise and Arno said, as they paid their respects to Altair.
"Through you, the Assassins were reborn. We shall continue your work, to ensure free will among all peoples of the world." Arno continued. He then placed his hand on his lips, and then placed his hand on the door. Elise did the same, along with her husband. Arno then looked back at Elise.
"Should we tell Francois?" Arno asked.
"About what, Arno?" Elise asked in return.
"About his training. To become an Assassin. He will be old enough soon." Arno replied.
"Very well. I will ask him." Elise told Arno. She then approached Francois, who was looking down at Juliette. He looked up at his mother.
"Francois. When we return to France, we will begin your training. To be just like us. Are you alright with this?" Elise asked her son. Francois got up to his feet, with Juliette in hand.
"You mean I will get to become an Assassin like you and father?" Francois inquired, handing Juliette to Elise. Elise smiled at her son.
"Yes you will, Francois." Arno added. "But it will take years of mental and physical training."
"I can't wait to be like you and momma, father!" Francois exclaimed, as he ran into his father, giving him a hug. He then ran behind Arno and leapt on his back, and began to poke his shoulder, mimicking a hidden blade. Elise flashed a smile at her son.
"You got me, Francois. You got me. How about a piggyback ride?" Arno asked, as he scooped up Francois' legs. He grabbed onto his neck, as Elise and Arno began walking out of the library.
"He's going to make a fine Assassin, Arno." Elise told her husband. Arno returned a reassuring smile as they began to walk back down to Masyaf village. Arno found the same carriage driver who took them to the village.
"Excuse me, Monsieur." Arno began. "We are seeking to get back to Baniyas. Would you be able to get us back there?"
The carriage driver looked up.
"I sure can." He replied, gesturing to the carriage. "Hop in, and we can get going." Arno and Francois got into the carriage, and Arno beckoned Elise to hand Juliette to him. Elise obliged, handed Juliette to Arno, and got into the carriage herself. Elise banged on the side of the carriage. The driver nodded his head, and the trek to Baniyas began. Just as the carriage began to move, Juliette began to cry. Elise looked down at her daughter, and looked back up at Arno, who was smiling.
"Must be hungry." Elise said, as she began to unbutton her shirt. Juliette began to suck on Elise's left breast. After Juliette was done sucking, Elise buttoned up her shirt, and fell asleep with her daughter. Arno and Francois smiled at Elise and Juliette as the carriage carried on to Baniyas.
Elise awoke when the carriage arrived at the Baynias docks early the next day, with Juliette still in her arms. She turned around to see Arno standing outside, with his hand shielding the sunlight from his face, and Francois was standing beside his father. Arno turned around to see Elise getting out of the carriage.
"Ship leaving for Marseille! Boarding begins now!" the Captain shouted.
"It seems our ship is here, Elise." Arno said, pointing at the ship. A large smile came across Francois' face.
"When did it come, Arno?" Elise asked Arno, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"It came a few minutes ago." Arno replied. "I got up early this morning in anticipation of its arrival. Francois joined me out here about an hour ago."
Elise looked at the line of people boarding the ship.
"Shall we board?" Elise used her head to gesture to the ship. Arno nodded, and quickly got in line with Francois. Elise smiled and joined her husband in line. Arno got his satchel of coins ready for the captain.
"Five hundred Francs." Arno told the captain, handing him the money. "For my family."
The captain looked at Arno, then Francois, and finally Elise with Juliette. After a brief pause, the captain extended his arm to the quarters below the deck. Elise and Arno smiled at the captain as they escorted their family down to their quarters below the deck. Elise sat down on her bed, cradling Juliette, and Arno sat beside her. Francois sat beside them, as the ship began to set sail for Marseille.
"I can't wait to be like you, momma and father!" Francois exclaimed. Elise looked back down at her son.
"You are very eager to learn, Francois." Elise said, with a smile. "Your time will come, where you will do great things for the Order. But for now, we must head home, to Paris, so your training can truly begin." Elise handed Juliette to Arno, and approached her son, who was looking out the window.
"We will be home soon, my man." Elise told her son. Francois looked back up at his mother, and then looked back out the window, eager to be taught by his parents in the ways of the Assassins.