"Five times every day," Faheem tells his young son. "Five times is all that Allah asks of you, to prove that you are faithful and obedient." They sit on the ramparts of the Masyaf's fortress, watching the sun rise, warm and golden. Assassins are, by training, early risers, but the castle walls are still quiet at this time of day.
"Yes, aba," Malik says obediently, then asks after a moment, "but what if I am in the middle of a mission?"
"Then you must perform it later in the day."
"Ah." Malik attempts to ask another question before his voice cracks slightly, making him blush as his father gives him a rare smile. "And when must I start?"
"You are becoming a man, Malik," Faheem responds with a note of melancholy. "You will start reciting salah today, and I will help you remember each rak'ah until you are able to say them all correctly."
"What happens if I forget to say it once?"
His father raises an eyebrow. "Already contemplating disobedience?"
Malik quails a little under that stern look, but continues, "I only want to know in case Kadar asks me."
"Some say those who miss a prayer are infidels," Faheem says after a moment. "Others say they are capable of being redeemed." He looks sternly at Malik. "But salah – performing it and believing it – is the difference between the devoted and the damned."
Malik is nothing if not detail-oriented, and Faheem is reminded of this when his son pipes up once more, "So, between the Creed and Allah… who is my final master?"
Faheem does not answer immediately, drawing Malik towards him. "You will have to decide for yourself, ibn," he says quietly, "I am only providing you with the tools to make that decision." Faheem regards his son's owl-eyed expression with approval. "Now let us begin."
Malik remembers the feel of his father's arm around his shoulders, like the weight of his own soul, the first time he foregoes salah after an exhausting day of training and another frustrating exchange with that attractive idiot Altair. Just this once, he thinks to himself as his eyes shut of their own accord.
That is the night before his mission to Solomon's Temple, and it will be a long time before another ra'kah passes his lips.