We arrived at my office, where Malik was sitting by the desk. Abbas and the others were there too. They looked sternly at Maria when she entered behind me.

"You should be resting Altaïr…" Malik said with clenched teeth as he saw us.

"I have no time to rest Malik…" I said. "I have an obligation with this order and I need to go after them… and Maria is here because I want her to be here… any problems?"

I looked at all of the Assassins, daring them to disobey me. Maria sat on a wooden chair.

"Good…" I said. "Any ideas?"

"No, but you will be happy to know I send notes to our brothers alerting them about Simas and his group." Malik said. "Besides that, nothing…"

I nodded.

"Altaïr?" Maria called me.

I looked at her.

"May I suggest something?" She asked.

"You can't talk, unfaithful…" Abbas said.

However, Maria just ignored him.

"Since we have no ideas for a plan, why don't we follow the same plan we did in Safita?" She asked.

"Insolent…" Abbas said, as he approached her, to hit her but I noticed and put my hidden blade on his neck. He stopped.

"Get back!" I snarled to him, feeling my body ache as I moved to quickly. "I already told you, she's my guest and will be treated as well…"

He didn't said anything and got back to his place.

I turned back to Maria.

"And how it will help us?" I asked.

She got up from the chair and approached.

"We are hurt and now we would be an easy prey for Simas or even the Templars…" She explained. "If we pose as a married couple, we can use disguises and be normal citizens. This give us time to heal and plan an attack…"

I was considering it as I look at Malik.

"This is crazy…" Abbas said.

However, Malik said, surprising almost everyone in the room.

I, on the other had smiled a little.

"This may work…" he said. "But they know you… what do you have in mind?"

"We will proceed like this…" She explained again.

X ~ X ~ X

After a few hours sleep, I felt fresh. Slowly, I got up, carefully to not hurt my broken ribs any further and with some difficult, put my clothes and mantle…

With my hood in place, I exited my dorms and went again to my office.

On the way, I passed by one the fortress living rooms and saw the women teaching Maria a few things of our culture… for our plan to work out, we have to do everything right and she can't make mistakes…

I smiled and stood there a few moments.

"Novice…" Malik said.

I cursed and looked at him.

"What Malik?" I asked, while walking to him.

"I send some of my men to build a big cart and to by some new horses…" He said. "Now, I'm waiting some news about Simas this afternoon…"

I nodded as we made our way to the office.

"About this plan…." He said. "I have to say… the plan is…"

"I know…" I said, making a grimace. "But it's our best chance to deal with Simas and recuperate the apple…"

"What concerns me is that you two aren't safe… He said. "Because of this I will send some of my men…"

"No…" I said. "I have everything in my mind, Malik… don't worry…"

"But the roads aren't safe…" He said.

"I know… that's why I will choose Raouf, Abbas and more two men to go with us…" I said.

"Are you certain?" He asked. "Abbas will be trouble around Maria…"

"I will talk to him…" I said. "I need him to go… he's is one of the best, even if I don't like him…"

Malik nodded as we entered my office. He knew what I'm talking about.

"You, on the other hand…. Maybe you and Maria will be friends after all…" I said as I sat by my desk.

"On the day of the final judgment…" He said and I smiled. "What on earth made you to start a friendship with the enemy?"

"After Cyprus I saw her for what she is…" I said. "I can see she's telling the truth about being an ex – Templar…"

Malik knew about my power of eagle vision…

"If you say so…" He said, turning to go as started to make some new rules for the creed.

X ~ X ~ X