Chapter Eight
The night was its usual coldness as Jubair's giant warrior tiptoed from his tent to another. He continuously looked over his shoulder, making sure none of the guards saw him. He entered; the glow of a candle barely illuminated the tent. He could make out that Jubair was sitting center with the rest of his men surrounding him.
"No one saw you, right?"
"Of course not." He grabbed his hand, looking at the wound Ara had given him.
"Stop being such a baby, it's only a scratch." One of the other soldiers teased causing a small rumble of laughter amongst the men.
"Quiet, let's get down to business." Jubair started. "That young female might be a problem to our plans."
"Rumor has it, she was found in the river and de Sable took her in."
"I heard she was the daughter of a Templar and that his dying wish was to have her become a soldier-."
"I heard she's blind!"
"Enough of these rumors!" Jubair raised his voice. Everyone looked toward the entrance to see if they attracted any attention. They continued.
"Well, I've got a Templar friend that says she's an Assassin." The room grew quiet looking at the soldier that made the comment. He continued, "And he says that Robert even knows about it."
"So he's allowing the enemy to sleep in his own camp? Interesting, we could use this to our advantage."
"What are you planning, Master?"
"We, along with the rest of our new alliance, might be able to discredit Robert de Sable and go along with our plan quicker than expected." He gave an evil laugh as his men exchanged looks. He brought them in close and explained his master plan.
The day grew long as the marched toward Masyaf. The sun beat down on them and the heat was almost unbearable. They stopped midway at an Oasis, the men rested allowing the horse to drink from the lake. Jubair sat next to Ara by the lake's edge,
"Do you need something?" she asked.
"I wanted to apologize for the other day. I should have treated you with more respect. After all, you are one of Robert's soldiers and a wonderful knight…from what I've heard."
"Think nothing of it." She responded.
"Robert spoke with me about your little agreement about your father." He paused, "I wanted to let you that I'm in full compliance and will assist you as needed."
"Thank you, that's very considerate."
"Not a problem, I only hope there will be no thing that prevents us from working together efficiently."
She nodded to him in respect.
From this point they separated into their teams, Ara fell behind Jubair in the formation. Their team crested over the hill with Masyaf in view. Their team was leading the distraction to allow Robert the opportunity to take Al Mualim.
Jubair awaited Robert's sign to start the invasion. The horses were as eager as the men, trotting back and forth ready to lead the charge. Robert reached his point and raised his hand giving the signal. Jubair and his team charged into the city.
That moment before the army breached the city's boarders, the people where doing their daily business in the market place, there were children at play, and the Assassin men were at ease. War cries broke the peace as women tried to shield their children and others hid for cover. Their swords cut through the skin splattering blood upon the ground.
Ara stood amongst the chaos, she could hear the people scream and beg for their lives. The Templars' horses smashed through stands and set buildings on fire. She calming trotted her horse pass the people and wreckage and stood front her father's door. Opening the door she entered unnoticed while those inside were running to gather the important documents. An ominous shadow stood behind her, one of the men stopped. He cautiously grabbed a sword from the table, everyone else stood still. Ara removed her hood,
"Such as young man, de Sable must be desperate, how foolish."
"I don't think it's foolish at all…father."
"What it can't be?" He took a closer look, he heard her voice, "My only daughter, still alive." He lowered his hand as men came from behind Ara as she walked towards him. They carried torches in their hands.
"I'm so happy to know that you're alive, child…" He stopped mid-sentence, coughing warm blood onto her face.
"Father!" She attempted to grab him, but his weight alone dragged her to the ground. He touched her face, smearing his blood.
"Father!" Jubair snickered, "Haha, father, father!" He continued to mock holding the sword that killed her father.
"What did you do? We had a deal!" She shouted.
"I don't care about your little deal." He gave the order to burn the place down then walked out with his men. Ara sat there, holding her father's corpse. She could feel the heat of the flames as they spread. She buried her head in his chest, her cape caught fire and then she knew she had to leave.
She left the only memory that she held close lay there in the burning house.
Ara was able to put out the flame that attempted to consume her. The screams of war were never as loud as they were this day…at this moment. People ran passed her, they were Templars. They tried to push her along, Robert had given the order to retreat.
Ara was at a lost, she didn't know how to react. The whole invasion was a failure, no one got what they wanted this day. Was it true that God was on the Assassin's side? Were the Templars forsaken by Him? In the distance, a voice raised up, one that created an eternal flame of hatred.
"Altaїr?" She questioned.
"Come on, Ara, we have to go!" A Templar grabbed Ara around the arm and drug her along.
Jubair's team met back at the rendezvous, along with some others who were separated from the other teams. The men were grateful for their lives and prayed for the ones who died, one Templar lead the prayer. They all bowed their head as he spoke Latin.
"Jubair!" The shout disrupted the prayer.
"Quiet, can't you see we're in prayer? You can be quite rude."
"You betrayed us, didn't you?" Ara reached for her sword, "You're the reason we failed!" She launched forward drawling her sword.
"Such accusations…" He said calmly. Jubair blocked her attack with his sword, not even drawling it fully from his sheath. The blades slid pass one another causing a slight ringing sound, he drew his blade fully.
"After all, Ara, you are the one who was born an Assassin!"
"What?" Ara let down her guard, the blade's tip grazed her cheek. The others looked on in curiosity. He kicked her sword to the ground,
"I say it's your fault that we met failure today. I say you tipped off the Assassins and planned against us."
"What proof do you have!" She snapped.
"God sides with the victor, don't you agree?"
"Yes…"
"Well, it seems to me…" Jubair raised his arms to either side and glared down at her, "that I'm winning." His men restrained her.
She attempted to fight back, but was unable to break free.
Chapter Nine
By the time Jubair returned with Ara, the rumor had already spread back to the main forces. Robert remained calm as if nothing had happened. He dismissed the soldier attaining to him and gazed upon Ara's ragged look.
"Explain yourself." Robert demanded.
Jubair told a story of how he found Ara conspiring with her father and how he attempted to stop her. Ara heard the accusations against her and tried to speak out in her defense but was quickly silenced by the ogre's fist.
"Don't worry, you'll have a chance to respond." Robert stated as he continued to listen to Jubair. Ara was out raged by what Jubair was saying about her, she would never betray the Templars.
"Okay, Ara, you may speak now."
"Robert de Sable, I have followed you since I was a child, I would never betray you!"
"Sir," Jubair interrupted, "She was born an Assassin, there is no way that you can trust the words she speaks. I mean, I saw her speaking with her father, you cannot deny that."
"We had a deal! You murderer!" She cried.
"I'm sorry, Ara." Robert turned away, "But in war, one cannot be called a murderer."
Ara stood silent as tears fell from her face, Robert refused to meet her eyes. He turned his back on her and waved his hand for them to take her away. Maria was about to speak out, but held her tongue. Ara was taken to a tent and tied to a post, everyone left but Jubair.
"It's a shame, really it is." He stroked her face, "Such a beautiful young lady, you would've made a good wife, I'm sure."
"You bastard!" She spat in his face.
"Now, now, didn't you dear old father teach you any manners?" He grabbed her tightly by the jaw. His other hand reached lower and lower down her thigh then back up again just tipping up the edge of her tunic. "Be glad you're alive…for now. You should've ran when you had the chance." He took his leave.
Such an offence would call for death on the spot, but thanks to Robert's influences King Richard would travel to their location to hear the case. Ara's life would be spared for at least a few more days. In the mean time, Ara would be kept in her 'prison' and given small rations each day. On the fourth night, while Ara slept, Maria slipped under the tent cover and nudged her awake.
"Ara, Ara, wake up. You need to wake up now." Maria pleaded.
"Who's there?" Ara startled awake.
"It's me, Maria." Maria took out her dagger and cut the ropes that bound Ara, "Hurry, you need to come with me."
"I refuse to get you in trouble on my behalf."
"Oh, stop being such a lone wolf." Maria grabbed Ara by the hand and took her behind the tent and led her to the edge of camp.
There waiting for them was Robert and a small group of his most trusted soldiers. Maria brought Ara to Robert and they both knelt in front of him. Robert lifted Ara's chin with his index finger and raised her head to meet his eyes. Though Ara couldn't see them she could feel the sorrow that he carried.
"Stand up Ara…" He grabbed her on either shoulder and brought her in close to him, "One of the other soldier came to me later and told me what happened. Things are against us right now, Jubair has made strong allies and he's coming after me. I have a new mission to complete, and that's to take out all those against us. Though, I'm afraid I need your help, and this will not be an easy task for you if you accept it."
"Just let me know and it will be done." A strong voice of anger rose in her.
"I need you to become an Assassin once more. Learn from them and take out our enemies…both yours and mine. Are you willing and able to do so, for the Templars?"
"I…" Ara took a moment to think, "Yes, I will. I am not afraid to be alone, and may God guide my blade."
"I see…" Robert gave a faint smile, "Though I have no intention of leaving you alone. Mine you, God is a very powerful being, but I would like to look after you as well."
"How can you do that? I'll be with the Assassins, they all know your face!"
Robert whistled softly into the night sky, a squawk was heard and lovely Hawk flew by then landed on Robert's forearm. The hawk was pure white excepted for black on the tips of his wings.
"This is Omair, he'll be your personal hawk. I'll use that writing technique you showed me and write information to you." The bird flew from Robert to Ara.
"Omair, eh?"
"He'll always be around when you need him, no matter what." Omair flew back into the evening sky. "I'll always look after you." He again placed his arm around her. Ara cried harder than she ever had in her life, not since Altaїr betrayed her. She, in turned, placed her arms around his massive torso. She buried her face, as if she was ashamed of her tears. Maria had a small smile on her face, hiding the sorrow she felt when Ara came to her.
"You're a young lady now, and no matter what happens…you will always be one of us, a Templar."
"Don't worry, Maria, I'll kill all of those that tore us apart. I will make them all pay for it, for going against us."
Robert brought over a horse for Ara, the reins clenched tightly in his hands. Another soldier gave Ara a change of clothes and a bag of rations.
"This should hold you over for about a week, God Speed, Ara."
Ara Changed and headed on her way, she only rode a few yards off before she stopped and looked back. Another chapter of her life had close, she had to leave behind her loved ones, and again she felt as if she had died once more. Robert told her that they found one of the Assassin's Bureaus in Acre and that Omair would guide her there. Ara pulled the reins and raced down the road, Robert and Maria could only hope that all would go well.
"You know the path you're leading her on, right?" Asked Maria.
"Unfortunately yes, I do."
"She could come to be our worst enemy, even if she's loyal to us."
"Fate had dealt the cards and we can only watch from here."
Chapter Ten
Do to the high security in place by Richard the Loin-Heart's army; it took Ara almost two weeks to get to Acre. She was ragged, her clothes were tattered, and her hair was tangled. The guards at the main gate wouldn't allow her in thinking she was diseased. Ara would follow Omair's voice and eventually found a way in and also found the build Omair marked as the Assassin's Bureau. Upon further inspection, Ara finds the building to be deserted.
The next few months Ara stood in Acre, trying to find the Assassin's Bureau. She did some light work to get food and sometimes even shelter. She was still ragged looking, but not as bad as her first day in the city. She hasn't eaten in ten days and she could barely stand. Ara headed down an alley way, tripped over a rock and fell into some trash. Omair flew down and tried to nudge her, it was no use. The streets were crowded, but not a single person paid any mind to her.
Gently, Ara was allowing her eyes to close. She didn't know if she'd wake up. The hustle and bustle of the market place started to fade; she could hear the passing echoes of their footsteps. Right as every sound was about to fade, a familiar voice resonated. Ara managed to get to her feet and moved from the alley by holding the wall.
Out on the street she bummed into a group of people and fell on the ground, causing a small commotion. Ara again got to her feet and followed the voice, she could hear him laughing and talking. It sounded so familiar, but she just couldn't place it. Ara was about to fall again, but a hand caught her, stabilized her, and pushed her back on her path.
Again when she fell, she was closer to the person she was following and grabbed his tunic on her way down. When Ara awoke, she was in bed room with food on the table for her. She shoved the food into her mouth, as an afterthought she wiped her chin, cleaning off anything that missed.
Ara figured out the layout of the house, the place was dirty with dishes piled in the tub. Since she wanted to repay these people from saving her, Ara decided to clean it for them…it was obvious that there were no females at this house. She finished the dishes and did the clothes, and then she started to dust. As she moved across the wall, she felt an unusual stone. She pressed it and it opened a stairway.
The stair went down then back up again, leading to an adjacent room. When she studied the room here, she realized that she found the Bureau. She sat at the table recalling the Bureau back in Masyaf, the one her father ran. Ara closed her eyes, and for some reason she didn't fell any hatred for the Assassins.
Two shadows came behind Ara as she sat at the table, she quickly jumped from the chair, fear showed heavily on her face.
"It was nice of you to clean the house, however, this place here isn't for you."
She recognized the voice now, it was Abbas! Abbas was always a dedicated leader to the new comers of the Creed. Ara didn't know where to focus her eyes, she scanned the area from where his voice came then settle on the ground.
"You need to go, come with us." Said another voice.
That voice was Kudar's, it was hard to believe that she finally found them. Kudar went to grab her wrist and lead her out. She quickly jerked away,
"No, this is where I need to be!" She shouted in fear she wouldn't find them again.
"What do you mean?" Asked Abbas, confused on what she meant.
"I want to be an Assassin."
Abbas and Kudar exchanged glances.
"I'm sorry, young miss. But we don't know what you're talking about."
For the next hour Ara tried to have them accepted her into the clan, well back into the clan. She talked about Masyaf, and named off high ranking Assassins, and even about Al Mualim. Again, the two men exchanged glances, but this time they had coldness in their eyes. Kudar walked behind Ara and forced her to stay still. Abbas walked up in front of her, she could hear the smooth blade leave its sheath.
"I'm sorry child."
"Please give me a chance, if I fail that chance I'll gladly give you my life. Please!" She cried.
Abbas grabbed her by the throat, raising the dagger. He looked into her eyes as he started to thrust the blade forward when he stopped. He noticed slight burn marks around her eyes and lowered his hand. Kudar was wondering why he stopped, but knew better than to question his superiors. Abbas ordered him to tie her up.
Abbas went to talk to the Bureau Leader while Kudar stood guard. The Bureau Leader thought it absurd to even consider the thought and told Abbas to return and kill the women. But before the Bureau Leader had the chance to dismiss him fully he proposed a deal: If this women passed some test that they would allow her to join, and if not, they would kill her. This Bureau Leader was known for being sadistic, and he could never refuse to toy with his victims.
The trail began the day after their arrangement; they figured that she wouldn't last all three days of the test, especially in the condition she was in. They started with the basics, challenges dealing with tracking, fighting, and interrogating. Ara remembered them well, even now, and passed the test with excellent precision. The Bureau Leader couldn't deny her ability nor could he go back on his word,
"I would more than be happy to accept you into the Creed, but unfortunately I do not have that power. Only our leader does, Al Mualim."
"Then ask him on my behalf, please."
"Why do you want to be an Assassin?" He asked.
"Because…I'm tired of all these infidels1 in the Holy Land." She answered.
"Very well, I will ask, in fact I'm heading to Masyaf soon."
"Are you really? Can I come as well?"
"I'm afraid not, stay here and I'll send word of my progress."
The Bureau Leader did indeed leave for Masyaf and did ask; however Al Mualim refused to hear a word of it. The Bureau Leader pleaded with him, just to come and see the young woman's skill. Once Al Mualim was tired of hearing him, he finally agreed to go and see this woman. Once back in Acre, Al Mualim 'inspected' her. He shook his head no, saying she was too scrawny.
"Hold her," Al Mualim commanded, "I wish there were another way, but I cannot let you go."
"Please allow me to prove myself to you, all I wish to do is to do is serve. I'll go through any test you'll have me to."
"Sigh, very well." Al Mualim commanded the guards let her go, "You were well spoken of, I can at least do that much."
"Thank you….Master."
The tests were grueling: they took strength, courage, and stamina. She would go days without eating just to complete her missions on time. When she was fully done with the test, she walked up to Al Mualim to seek his answer on her status. Two men grabbed her on either arm and made her kneel before their Master.
Ara just looked Al Mualim in the face, staring at him blankly. Al Mualim raised his sword and came down hard towards her, the sword barely missed and landed in the ground in front of her. She didn't react one bit. He was testing her on whether or not she would trust him, even if she couldn't understand what was before her. She passed.
Months later, on her sixteenth birthday, Al Mualim would hand her the hidden blade and she accepted. Ara now went by the name Aamir, and Omair was her guardian angel. She would forever wear the white robes and forever revered as an Assassin.
1 Referring to all those that are unjust.