October 14th, 1191:
Today was one more day of travelling and stopping to rest, in the way to Hamah, where Simas and his companions are hiding waiting to deliver the apple to the Templars…
These past few days, after Masyaf attack gave me time to think and plan our next step… I had to recuperate the apple from Simas and the others…
The Masyaf attack was… let me go back to afterwards all that happened…
X ~ X ~ X
After the attack on Masyaf, the women and the others unharmed Assassins took care of our wounds… we were at my rooms, where Aisha, Malik and Raouf were attending Maria and I…
I had besides my leg wound, a cut on the back of my left shoulder, and a bruise on my ribs… I could fell it was broken…
I looked at Maria… she had a deep cut on her right hand and was unconscious, result of a knee… Raouf, even with his arm wounded was taking care of her…
Malik was unharmed and looked to the rest of us…
"Now what?" He asked.
"I have to go after them…" I said.
"Are you crazy, Altaïr?" He said. "You are in no condition to fight!"
"What do you suggest I do, then?" I asked. "I can't let the apple in wrong hands…"
"You won't, but this way you are going to kill yourself…" He said.
I knew he was right. Like this, I would be an easy prey…
"Rest now and I will think about a plan…" He said, turning to go.
I didn't say anything… I knew I could count on Malik in times of necessity…
Aisha finished putting the last stich in my shoulder.
"All done…" she said.
I nodded and saw she walk to Raouf and help him.
"How is she?" I asked worried. I got up slowly, carefully to not hurt my ribs and walked slowly to them.
"I think she is fine… her breathing is strong and steady…" Raouf said.
"But she still need to wake up…" I completed. He nodded.
I walked slowly to her and looked at her, still unconscious and remembered the moment I saw her falling on the ground after that Simas bastard hit her with his knee… I shouted and when I was running to her, someone hit my shoulder…
Raouf had excused himself to take care of his wound, letting just Aisha and me with Maria.
"It's my fault she is like this…" I said.
"How come?" Aisha asked.
"She came to me after we discovered the plan to attack Masyaf and insisted to come with me…." I explained.
"Altaïr, this isn't your fault…" Aisha said. "If not for her, we would be dead…"
I didn't say anything. Aisha put her on my right shoulder, then left. I stayed there for a few seconds, then walked to Maria and sat beside her. Still looking at her, I leaned and kissed her lips slowly…
When I stopped, I saw her looking at me and lifted an eyebrow.
"Sorry…"She said. "I asked Raouf not to tell you I was awake…"
"Are you ok, Maria?" I asked.
"What happened?" She asked.
"We were attacked by some traitor and they stole the apple…." I said.
"And the Templars?" She asked.
"They weren't here… unless Simas and his group were working for them…" I explained.
She tried to get up. I helped her.
Once again, we were face to face and we looked each other.
"Altaïr…" She said. "I…"
I shook head negatively.
"Maria, I'm sorry, but I need to go behind them to protect the creed…" I said. "There's nothing more important to me right now than this…"
She nodded and I could see a point of delusion there.
"I know…" She said finally. "I accept that and I want to help…"
"No… I can't let you…" I said.
"I will help you on this, Altaïr…" She said stubbornly, pointing a finger to me. "Even if this is the last thing I do… do you understand?"
I sighed exasperated.
"Ok…" I said. "Let's go then…"
I helped her up and she saw my grimace, we fought a little and went to meet Malik and the others…
X ~ X ~ X