I awoke the next day by the sound of hushed male voices.

"We will not forget what you have done here."

"Ah, I wish you would. Doesn't do well with the guards to have friends in strange places."

The first voice laughed in a low, measured tone. "You have nothing to fear from them, friend."

"Hah! That's what you say, Assassin. That's what you say."

I rubbed my eyes crookedly and attempted to sit up, though my bedding did everything in its power to stop me.

"Ah, good morning," a female voice called as I blinked away sleep.

I gazed across the room before me, which was bathed in a chilled yellow light from the window above my head. The Assassin on the table was awake and had his hand outstretched to rest in Laleh's, who was smiling confidently at me. On the other side of the table stood Altair and Zafar, who were also staring at me.

I rubbed the back of my neck uncomfortably. "Umm…Good morning?"

"Ah yes, good morning habiti," Zafar greeted. "Say hello to our guest."

I opened my mouth to speak but Altair broke in suddenly, "I am already acquainted with your stowaway, Zafar. In fact, I need to take her back to Masyaf with me as well."

"Oh, you two know each other?" Laleh asked, her smile never faltering.

"Why do you need to take her back to Masyaf?" Zafar questioned. "Is she an Assassin as well?"

Altair almost laughed at that, "No, she is-"

Now it was my turn to cut him off, "It's a long story."

I held my breath. There was no way my England cover would mix well with whatever lie Altair was brewing up in his head. I had to bail us both out with the old 'don't really want to talk about it' line. Hopefully, Zafar would let it slide.

"Come now, Zafar," Laleh nearly sang. "It's really none of your business."

"I suppose you're right," Zafar echoed. "But you are still welcome to stay here in my home until your Brother is well, Altair."

"You have done enough, friend," Altair said calmly. "I will be taking my Brother and your stowaway back to the bureau."

I started at this. The Assassins' Bureau was no scummy shack, if the game had been accurate. Part of me felt guilty for wanting to abandon Zafar, but my back called incessantly for a real cushion to lay against.

"Ah yes, you're bureau. You know, nobody here even thinks that place exists."

"It doesn't," Altair smiled, letting his hood fall over his eyes.

Zafar grinned wryly. "You Assassins…"

Laleh pulled her hand from the injured Assassin's and waved me over, "You should at least get a decent bath before you leave us, helwa."

I looked up at her, confused. "I…Umm…In the river?"

"Hah! What do you take me for? I mean a real bath, not a public washing."

Her tone excited me. She sounded sincere about giving me an actual bath with hot water and soap and bubbles and…privacy.

Zafar scowled at her, "Nonsense! You don't have the means."

"You insult me, Zafar!" Laleh chuckled. "I'll wager you were the one who told our friend here that everybody bathes in the river!"

"That's because it's the truth!"

Laleh stuck her blunted nose in the air and smiled proudly. "Not the whole truth, taheeb. Some of us prefer our privacy."

Altair cleared his throat, "Well, feel free to clean her up. I have some things to take care of."

"Fair enough," Laleh agreed. "How about we meet you at the Eastern Bazaar in two hours?"

Altair nodded and bowed cordially to Zafar. "This is farewell, taheeb. Thank you for your help."

"Shall we go?" Laleh beckoned from the doorway.

I slid from my rugs in a sort of sleepy daze and followed her out the door. Just before we were out of earshot, I heard Zafar's voice ring from the small house.

"Goodbye, habiti! It has been a pleasure!"

I smiled and shook my head, silently grateful for all that he had done for me, and I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever see him again. Most likely not.

"So," Laleh began in a suspicious tone. "What's that long story you mentioned earlier?"

Women. Even in another reality they were obsessed with gossip.

I tried to wriggle my way out of the topic as casually as possible. "It really doesn't matter…"

"Oh, come now. You may be able to fool Zafar, but don't think you can outsmart me, habiti."

"Really, it's nothing," I insisted.

Why couldn't she just drop it already? I did not want to lie anymore than I had to. It was already bad enough that she believed I was from England. I had no desire to formulate an entirely new identity for myself.

"It's alright, you know."

"Huh? What's alright?"

"To be in love with an Assassin."

I stopped in my tracks, laughing uncontrollably. "What?"

So that's what she thought my 'long story' entailed? I couldn't keep myself from my laughter as I thought about Altair and I eloping and having a plethora of Assassin children together.

She straightened and turned to look at me through an innocent veneer, "You've backed yourself into a corner. It's the only explanation that makes sense. He wants to take you back with him because you two are in love." She frowned dramatically. "It must have been terrible to be separated from each other like you were."

I glared at her as menacingly as I could, but I decided not to argue. Her assumptions were safe enough and they spared me the pain of having to create my own excuses, so I saw no reason to fight. Altair, on the other hand…

"Listen, just don't talk about it in front of him."

Laleh grinned proudly and straightened her bodice. "Like I said, it's alright to love an Assassin."

"You know from experience?"

Her tone grew dark, casting a small shadow on the brightening dawn. "I do…and I almost lost him last night."

Suddenly, it all made sense. She had acted so dramatic the night before while Zafar was patching up Altair's Brother. And then she had been holding his hand...

"You and that man-"

"His name is Faruq. It's…hard to love someone who's always risking his own life for the safety of others…But in the end, I know it's worth it."

I stared at the dusty ground uncomfortably. "What about your umm…job?"

She laughed good-naturedly, "He hates it, but I plan on leaving the city and my profession behind when I have enough money saved up. Soon this place will be nothing but a distant memory."

We walked in silence for maybe half an hour through a labyrinth of people and buildings shining brilliantly in the golden morning sun. There were merchants setting up their stalls and children running along the edges of blue-tiled fountains. The heartbeat of the city was so beautiful that I nearly forgot about the blazing heat that lingered all around us as we walked.

Nevertheless, by the time we reached our destination there were thick streams of sweat all along my skin. Laleh led me to the door of an average-looking home. At least, it was normal on the oustide.

She pushed the door open to reveal a two-story bordello infested with cushions and drapery. There were streams of people flowing in and out of the halls, all gay with excitement and who knows what else. The whole place was bursting with color and I was afraid that if I went in, my skin would change hues. Needless to say, I hesitated at the doorway.

"Come on in!" Laleh invited, greeting her coworkers warmly as they passed by.

"Umm…You sure?"

"Just follow me to the bath. It'll be fine!"

I peered around the doorway one last time before entering and following her to the very back, where a velvety tapestry concealed another room. Sitting all alone in this small confine sat a wooden tub large enough to fit half of me.

"Is that it?" I asked, barely able to believe my eyes.

So what if it was small? It was a bathtub, which meant I was going to smell human again.

"Mhmm. I'll get some of the girls to help us fill it." She smiled assuringly. "This is infinitely better than bathing in the river."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"So she has been found, then?"

"Yes," Altair half-grunted, unbuckling his boot to fiddle with the bandage that lay beneath. "Have one of the lesser Assassins deliver a letter to Masyaf. Malik must know why I have not returned."

"Of course, Altair."

"The girl will be staying here with us until Faruq is well enough to make the journey back to Masyaf."

"Altair…"

"Yes, Rafiq?"

"One of our scouts informed me that the Templars who invaded our home are heading for Damascus as we speak. They will only be here temporarily, but I thought is wise to inform you just the same."

Altair stared at his bandage, his mind roaming to the night at the Templar camp. "Do you know when they will reach the city?"

"I cannot say for sure, Master. But if I were to guess I would say a day or two."

"Faruq will not be well before then…"

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Master. They shouldn't stay in Damascus for more than a week."

"Why not?"

"Because they are ultimately heading back to Acre. Our scout believes they are only coming here to trade for arms."

"Arms, eh?"

"Do you think they could be planning another attack on Masyaf?"

"They are always planning, Rafiq…"

Altair glanced out the filigreed windows of the bureau and frowned. It was already noon.

"Something the matter, Altair?" the aging Assassin asked from behind his desk.

"Don't forget about that letter," he replied absently. "I have to attend to some business in the city."

The rafiq nodded. "Of course. Safety and peace, Brother."

"Same to you, Rafiq."