Mmm, plot. It is most delicious.

Expect slightly less frequency in updates - though they've been really high, so no great amount of worry there - since I wicked need to study for finals. I need to learn Italian by Wednesday, and somehow retain a proficiency in Economics while doing it. D:

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Chapter 5
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Three weeks.

Three murders.

All with a Templar knife in their back.

Altair gritted his teeth, looking over the notes from the various instances. They were getting closer to catching the culprit, he knew that much – the last time, they'd been only minutes behind him. But he could not figure out why.

There were no particularly strong ties between the three murders, and their patrol routes weren't such that it would be helpful for mounting an assault. Not only that, but the time between the murders meant there was more than enough time for them to strengthen their defenses for every man lost. Were they simply trying to lessen the assassin's numbers?

"Still looking over those notes?" Malik called from the doorway.

"Yes… Nothing seems to tie them together; I cannot imagine why the Templar's would do such a thing." Altair sighed.

"Indeed… this seems more needlessly complicated than usual, even for the Templars." Malik replied with a grin, "Come on now, you and I have patrol duty, remember."

"I do." Altair said, strapping on his short sword as he joined the other.

They walked in silence for a time, towards their assigned place on the southern wall, before Malik finally broke the silence, "Altair, have you thought… this might be because of Maria?"

"The possibility occurred to me." Altair replied, "But the same problem arises as with all the others: why would they choose this way to go about it? It doesn't make any sense."

"Neither did their simply following you out of Acre. The location of Masyaf is no secret." Malik replied, shortly.

Altair sighed. He knew Malik didn't approve of his relationship with Maria, but didn't he see he had to protect her? She was carrying his child, after all. And…

Altair shook his head. Now was not the time to be thinking about his feelings for Maria. He needed a clear head to keep a proper watch.

It had been years since Altair had been put on watch, and the hours passed in a monotonous haze.

"Feels like you're a novice again, eh Brother? Or a third time, I suppose, for you." Malik quipped with a grin.

Altair simply glared at the other, gulping down water from his canteen. He should've thought further ahead and given himself the evening watch, rather than midday…

A whistling, so familiar to the assassins, echoed through the air, and only instinct saved Malik as he dove to the side to avoid a fatal blow from the knife, aimed for his throat.

"Shit!" He cursed, falling to the ground, a dagger imbedded in his right shoulder and with no left arm to catch him as he fell.

"Malik!" Altair exclaimed, whipping around for a sign of the attacker – there!

"Go, Altair!" Malik snarled, "I'll be fine. I'll be damned if I lose my other arm!"

"You'd better not. Then you'd be totally useless." Altair said with a grin. He could hear the other assassin's on watch already on their way; he knew Malik would be fine. The important thing now was catching this murderer.

In a blur, Altair was after the murderer, leaping lightly from rooftop to rooftop, but he always managed to stay just out of sight. However, he was heading deeper into the town – effectively giving Altair the home advantage.

Seeing the murderer duck left, Altair let loose one of his own throwing knives, trying to wound the attacker – he wanted him alive, after all. The culprit spun right, and the dagger bounced harmlessly off the wall.

Altair smirked – he'd pulled his throw to the left for a reason.

The murdered slid to a stop, barely avoiding falling to his death as he reached the edge of the buildings.

Altair drew his sword, slowly making his way forward.

"That's as far as you go, murderer. Surrender yourself and your death with be quick." He growled.

The murderer turned.

Altair sucked in a breath. "You're-!"

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Maria sat in Altair's office, like she seemed to be doing more and more often these days. It wasn't that she wanted to see him – he just happened to have the best books in here. And she was bored out of her skull.

She idly flipped a page in his journal – it just happened to be the most interesting of the lot, that's all – and smiled as a passage caught her eye.

"Some day I will have a child. Such is the way of our Order. And I will not make the same mistake. Nor any who call themselves an Assassin. We shall be allowed to love our children – and, in turn, to be loved."

She rubbed her belly thoughtfully – her pregnancy was finally starting to show in earnest, though not enough that it impeded her life overmuch – and couldn't help thinking that the assassin would make a wonderful father. Not that she'd ever tell him that.

A door slammed, and she heard his voice rise in anger. That was strange – she didn't think she'd ever heard him raise his voice. Had there been another murder?

The door to his office was flung open, and he stormed in, slamming the door behind him.

"Altair, what's wrong?" She asked, brow furrowed.

"How dare you ask me that." He ground out, "How could you do this, Maria? After everything – ah, damnit." He snarled, and started pacing, something he rarely did. Maria simply stared at him in open bafflement.

"What are you talking about, Altair?" She demanded.

"I suppose you have more loyalty to your husband than I originally thought." He spat out, glaring at her, his eyes cold.

"What the devil are you talking about?! You know I hate that damned-"

"That's enough, Maria. I know." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I know you're the murderer."