A/N: TW: gore and mentions of rape, but I guess you didn't come here to read about flowers

Chapter 3: Solomon's Temple

The daily life began early in Masyaf. Not long after Ilyas and Soraya had said goodbye to Ranya he could spot the first women carrying clay pots. Except for all the white robed Assassins, Masyaf could look like any other village. And if there wasn't a giant fortress overshadowing the whole town.

Ranya would be back in less than a month, Ilyas guessed, if everything went smoothly. He trusted his sister would avoid any conflict so maybe their mission would take a bit longer if she decided to wait the trouble out. And if the Assassins would follow her advice.

The thief and the cheetah began their way upwards back into the castle and he was surprised to see Rauf who was sitting in front of a house with a small child in front of him.

"Ilyas! Good morning! May I introduce Amala to you", he said. The little girl who was probably not older than five years turned around and looked at him curiously.

She had big brown eyes and a few freckles adorning her cheeks and nose. She wore a dress that probably used to be a lighter shade of beige, but it had dirt all over it. After having examined the thief for a few moments, Amala noticed the big cat next Ilyas. She stared with wide eyes at the dangerous animal and whispered something into the Assassin's ear.

"Do you think that your friend would allow Amala to pet her?", Rauf asked finally. The thief smiled and nodded at the little girl. He approached them with Soraya in tow and bowed down to show Amala how to touch the cheetah.

"Soraya likes it when you caress her head." Ilyas demonstrated what he said and Soraya purred in reply. The little girl raised her hand and petted the cheetah's head together with the thief. Soraya's purrs grew in volume and she leaned in to the girl's touches which made Amala giggle loudly. "She likes you", Ilyas said and stood up.

Rauf watched them with a smile but they were interrupted by a female voice from inside the house that called for the girl.

"Go inside and help your mother, Amala", Rauf said as she wouldn't make a move to follow the woman's command.

The girl pouted but left them after petting the animal one last time. Before she entered the house she halted however. "Goodbye, Lias!"

Ilyas smiled at her. "Your daughter?", he asked Rauf.

"Oh no, she is my sister's daughter. She, her husband, little Amala, my younger brother and l all live in this house with my parents."

"Aren't you married?", Ilyas asked curiously. The Assassin laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm not. I don't think that poor excuse of a house could harbor any more people. Has your sister already left for Jerusalem?", he asked after a short pause. The thief nodded. "I was just on my way back to the fortress."

Rauf grinned. "Perfect. I just wanted to go as well."

Ranya became more relaxed as they neared the holy city. It wasn't that she didn't feel safe with the Assassins - in the last twelve days she had come to like them. The brothers at least. Altaïr wouldn't engage in any conversation and as they would make camp for the night he had usually been the first to lie down. And since it had never been her who had to wake him for his night watch she hardly had any interaction with him at all.

Seeing the strong walls of Jerusalem again eased her mind. She knew that all calmness was just feigned and that there was no peace to be found in any city if you weren't a citizen with a meaningful name who supported whoever was in control of said city. From the mountain path that the thief and the Assassin were now slowly descending on their horses, Ranya could see some merchants that were trying to sell their goods on either side of the way. There were also some traders right in front of the city gates. Her uncle had explained to her why they would linger out there instead of trading behind the protecting walls. A permission just to get into the city was quite expensive these days due to the crusades that must cost the saracens a fortune. An allowance for trading goods if you weren't a citizen of the city was even more expensive - the salesmen either paid it or gave more or less two-thirds of their goods to the saracen regime. It wasn't surprising that the traders instead made camp in front of the cities where they didn't have to give as much. However, the guards would do nothing if the merchants are to be robbed or mistreated in any other way.

The guild has agreed on not stealing from those less fortunate merchants. Even some of those that could afford a way into the city were sometimes undoubtedly desperate - some of them would give whatever they had gladly to get behind the city walls.

Ranya wondered how they might get into the city. She would of course always use the secret tunnels but that was not an option with her companions. They brought their horses to the stables and then gathered in front of the gates.

"Al Mualim told me there was an informant that would bring us into the city. So far I have not seen him and I suggest we wait here for him", Altaïr spoke and they agreed to spend their wait in the shadows of the grand walls of the holy city. They didn't need to linger there long, however, as a white robed figure neared them and quietly spoke to Altaïr. Ranya couldn't understand their conversation but the master Assassin soon told them to give the stranger their weapons. Ranya did so without asking any questions, but she made sure to give the man some distrustful glances. She didn't know where he brought their weapons as he disappeared in the crowd that had gathered around the spartan market place. Not much later the man came back and motioned for them to follow him. He lead them to the gates and spoke with one of the guards. It took him a few minutes to explain whatever lie it needed to convince the guard of them not being a threat to the peace of the city. Ranya wondered whether this was the first time she had entered through the gates. If it wasn't she couldn't remember.

It didn't take long for them to get back their weapons but in the time they had to wait, Kadar told Ranya that this was actually the first time he was in Jerusalem. He added that this was also his first mission. "They wait so long for you to finish your education?", Ranya asked disbelievingly. Kadar couldn't be much younger than she was, and she was an expert on thievery as a result of many years of practice.

"I am feeling quite honored that my first mission is such an important one. Not many get to go with two other Assassins let alone a master", he replied and glanced at said Assassin for a brief moment.

"And will you get some sort of rank after this mission?", she asked. He nodded in approval. "I will be granted the rank of an Assassin which I have been trained for since I was five."

"Five!", Ranya exclaimed but she didn't get the chance of inquiring further as the informant came back with a carriage and a salesman. The salesman had stored their weapons in a secret storage underneath his carriage for which he could have been hanged, Ranya supposed. She wondered whether the brotherhood paid him well enough to risk his life or whether they intimidated him enough. Either way, he didn't look very joyful as the informant pulled out their weapons and handed them back to them. The informant shared another whispered conversation with Altaïr and then wished all of them good luck before he disappeared in the crowds and contorted alleys of Jerusalem.

Quietly the group headed for Solomon's temple.

The group of four made slow progress underneath the temple in its tunnels. Even though Ranya could remember every tunnel that she had once walked through they sometimes had to revert and start anew from a certain point. There were many tunnels that lead to the remaining heart of the temple, but as it seemed quakes or erosions had changed the tunnel system that Ranya had memorised.

"I do not know how big our time frame is, but I suggest we move faster or else the artefact will be lost to us", Altaïr spoke up from beside her. They had walked alongside each other since they had entered the tunnels because even though she was their guide through the tunnels, he was still their mission leader and thus took his right at their front. She deemed it unnecessary as the paths were quite narrow at some parts and because none of them would give up their front position - he was too arrogant to leave his position for her and she was too stubborn to give him directions from behind him - they sometimes had to walk very close to each other. He annoyed her to no end as he wouldn't even move a muscle to give her some space and to avoid touching his arm all the time as they were walking, she more or less became one with the wall.

It wasn't long after that that Ranya felt they have gotten quite close to their destination. Soon they would find a supposed dead end, but she knew that above their heads was the part of the temple that they needed to break into. They were just walking around a corner as she was suddenly pulled back by the arm and almost crashed into the wall if she hadn't found her footing again. She realized it had been Altaïr who had grabbed her arm and who was now charging around the corner with fast and quiet steps.

Questioningly she looked back at her other companions but she found no answer in their faces. Malik was the first to follow the master Assassin and he let out a shocked gasp that almost covered the thud of a body falling to the ground. Almost.

She went around the corner to see an old man who wore civilian clothes. She wondered what business a citizen might have down here but she strongly agreed with Malik who was infuriated with the ‛master' Assassin.

"There should have been another way!", he said angrily.

"An excellent kill. Fortune favors your blade." Next to her, Kadar had caught up with them and complimented Altaïr. Ranya saw Malik frowning at his little brother who seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere.

"Not fortune, skill. Watch a while longer and you might learn something." Ranya knew it wasn't her place to criticize the Assassin's actions no matter how much she disapproved. Her uncle would be utterly disappointed if the relation to the brotherhood would shatter because she didn't agree with their methods. They were Assassins after all. However, the shocked face of the old man made a cold shiver run down her spine. He could have been someone's father or grandfather even. Maybe a family will wait in vain this night for his return.

"Indeed. He'll teach you how to disregard everything the master's taught us", Malik spit out.

"And how would you have done it?", Altaïr asked more calmly.

"I would not have drawn attention to us. I would not have taken the life of an innocent." Malik gestured wildly with his arms. "What I would have done is follow the creed!"

"‛Nothing is true, everything is permitted.' Understand these words."

Ranya was curious about their creed. What did these cryptic words mean? How were the Assassins supposed to act?

"It doesn't matter how we complete our task. Only that it is done", Altaïr said. His voice didn't leave any room for discussion.

"But this is not the way -" Malik was rudely interrupted.

"My way is better." Malik fell silent. Even though Altaïr was clearly at fault there was no way to have a proper discussion. Ranya felt somewhat embarrassed that she had to witness this scene as a stranger to the brotherhood. Altaïr had rudely exposed Malik in front of her and she really wanted to speak up, to give Malik backup, but she decided that would only make matters worse. Malik admitted his defeat and so they quietly decided to drop the topic. "Search him. He might have something useful on him." Altaïr looked at her as he finished his sentence, but she didn't have the heart to dishonor this old man further. Kadar kneeled down and sifted through his pockets but found nothing. They moved on and after some minutes they found the dead end that Ranya had remembered.

Against the high wall rested a ladder. "Someone must be near", Ranya whispered. Altaïr climbed up first. They waited for him to signal them that it was safe to follow. It took him some moments so Ranya guessed that someone must have stood guard nearby and the master Assassin must have taken care of him. She saw the corpse immediately after she had climbed up the ladder.

"A red cross? What would a Templar in full gear do here? This city is governed by saracens", Ranya questioned.

"We shall see", Altaïr murmured and lead them on. They stepped through what looked like a portal and found themselves in a smaller hall that was hold upright by wooden frameworks. From their platform the group had an overlooking view over the whole room. Opposite them they saw a rather big casket made out of gold. Ranya couldn't exactly tell how big it was as it was too far away but she supposed it must be as big as herself.

"Is this the Ark of the Covenant?", Kadar asked in awe.

"Don't be silly. There's no such thing. It's just a story", Altaïr answered. Underneath the casket was a door that was suddenly pushed open. A few men entered. They were all wearing the red cross of the Templar order. The tallest one of them, a bald man with a cape seemed to be their leader. He spoke to them in French and sadly Ranya couldn't understand what they were talking about. However, she thought she had heard ‛Masyaf' in their conversation. The Templars were gathering around a table on which scrolls and maps were spread out.

"Robert de Sable! His life is mine!", Altaïr announced.

"No! We can't attack them!", Ranya exclaimed. She didn't have any combat weapons on her and even if she had they would be of no use for her. She was no fighter. "We wait until they leave", she suggested.

"And risk our only chance of retrieving the artefact?"

"Altaïr, we were not tasked with an Assassination, we should only deal with Robert if necessary", Malik tried to persuade him.

"He stands between us and it, I'd say its necessary." Altaïr's voice was calm and determined which frightened Ranya. Malik would again fail to appease Altaïr.

"Discretion, Altaïr!"

"You mean cowardice. That man is our enemy and here we have a chance to be rid of him."

Malik wouldn't surrender so easily. "You have already broken two tenets of our creed. Now you would break the third. Do not compromise the brotherhood!"

This exclamation clearly angered the master Assassin. "I am your superior, in both title and ability. You should know better than to question me." With that, he turned around and almost crashed into Ranya. Remembering that she didn't have any combat weapon he grabbed the short sword from his back and handed it to her without a word. He began climbing down a ladder that lead right into the lion's den.

"This is madness", Ranya whispered as she eyed the weapon in her hand. She attached it to her belt and followed after Malik and Kadar.

Ranya's heart pounded in her ears and she wished she could make herself invisible. She stood behind Malik in an attempt to hide herself. Altaïr addressed the Templars in French and then in a matter of seconds he lunged forward and attacked Robert with the blade that the Assassins carry on their underarm. Robert easily countered the blow and grabbed the master Assassin by his arms. Altaïr tried to stab him repeatedly, but Robert only laughed at his attempts. In a taunting voice he spoke to Altaïr and then, just like that, as if the Assassin weighed nothing, he threw him through one of the frameworks that crashed down behind Altaïr and cut him off from the rest of them.

Ranya and the brothers drew their swords as some more Templars came rushing in, alarmed by the loud crash.

"And what have we here", Robert said so that Ranya could understand him. His french accent was heavy. "Since when do the Assassins train women? Kill the men and before you kill her, you may have some fun with her."

Ranya's heart sank into the ground underneath her. That would be it. There was no way the three - or rather two of them - would defeat six Templars. She could try to escape through the way they had come, but right now she couldn't even move. And even though she was a criminal, she couldn't live with herself if she would abandon Malik and Kadar. To be honest, the Templars' arrows would have pierced her before she would have had the chance to climb up the ladders.

Kadar and Malik wasted no time fighting the Templars off after Robert had left the scene. Ranya slowly retreated but that didn't go unnoticed by their enemies. Two of them approached her and the thief lifted her sword in an attempt to look threatening. She might have laughed if she would have seen herself. She was no challenge for the Templars as they wrestled her to the ground. One of them was thrown back by either Malik or Kadar and she heard a deafening cry but she didn't have time to register what had happened as the remaining Templar was pushing her down with his whole weight. He had taken the sword from her and so she tried to grab one of her daggers. To her misfortune the Templar noticed what she was doing and with his foot he pinned her wrist to the ground. With his hand he choked her and she tried to loosen his grip on her throat with her free hand. All her attempts were in vain and so she bit his arm with all her power. The Templar cried out and slapped her with his unharmed hand. Ranya tried to push him off her, but empowered by his rage he pushed her down harder and even though she had managed to grab the short sword he quickly directed her weapon against her. He would cut her throat, she was sure. She wasn't weak but in this position she had no chance of overpowering him. She felt the blade slowly cutting into the soft flesh of her throat as he was yanked away from her. Desperately she gasped for air and touched her hurting throat. On her hands was some blood, but the blade hadn't cut deep and it hadn't been nowhere near anything vital. Her left wrist hurt but she managed to get up to help the Assassins.

What she saw was a massacre. The Templars were wearing white robes, which were now stained with blood and gaping wounds. Malik was fighting against her attacker and she could see that he was badly hurt. His whole left arm was a crimson mess and she wasted no more time and grabbed the short sword that had fallen to the ground as the Templar had been pulled from her. With all remaining power in her she stabbed out into the back of the Templar. To increase the blood loss she yanked the sword out of him and after one final blow from Malik he fell to the ground.

"Where is Kadar?", Ranya asked. They would tend to Malik's wounds as soon as they were safe. She had no idea whether there were more Templars coming their way as they were standing there and she wasn't particular keen on finding out. They began to search the fallen bodies for Malik's brother. It didn't take them long to find him. "No", Malik whispered almost inaudibly. "No! NO!"

Kadar's throat was a gaping mess, his death must have been instant. He was staring up to the ceiling with a surprised, almost innocent look. Malik fell to his knees and wept for his brother. Ranya felt vomit coming at the back of her throat and she quickly turned around to empty the contents of her stomach.

While she was hunched over, Malik closed his brother's eyes and pulled himself together. He was wounded and couldn't carry the corpse of his dear baby brother. He wanted to kneel beside Ranya and join in to her vomiting as he thought about leaving Kadar's body with the Templars who would probably defile his body in unspeakable ways to humiliate the brotherhood.

He shook himself out of his thoughts. He could weep when they were safe. He stood up with a quiet whimper. His left arm seemed to be more severely injured than he had thought. Anyway, he had to get Ranya and himself out of there.

He laid his uninjured hand on her shoulder. The sour smell of vomit bit its way into his nose. "We have to go, Ranya. Now", he said more calmly than he would have thought himself capable. She looked up into his eyes. Her eyes were red and swollen. She looked miserable but she wiped off her tears with her sleeve and stood up.

"I know a way out of this hell."