The fight was Assassins against Assassins, but Altaïr's men soon overpowered Simas and his men, since they were in a larger number. Then, they run to free their leader and Maria…
When Altaïr emerged from the cart, he looked to where Simas was with deadly eyes. Maria exited it too.
"Where's the Apple?" He asked as he approached Simas.
Rashid walked towards him and gave him the Apple. Altaïr picked it up and looked at Simas.
"Why did you it?" He asked the other man.
"The Templars offered me more than you can possibly think…" Simas said.
"And because of that you betray us, you brothers…" Altaïr asked raising his voice.
Simas swelled, but remained quiet. Abbas then threatened him with his hidden blade.
"They offered money… and if I could bring you as well, I…" Simas said.
Altaïr was tempted to use the Apple on him, but knew it would be useless as Simas had also strength against it. He looked at Maria, trying to decide what to do.
"You will pay for this…" Altaïr said instead. "We're going to make you suffer badly first, then I kill you…"
Simas looked at him as he smiled.
"What? Did you expect me to let you live after this?" Altaïr asked. "Take him…"
The Assassins took Simas and his men away, as Altaïr still looked at him.
"Altaïr?" Maria asked, calling him.
"What?" He asked, looking at her.
"Are you ok?" She asked.
He nodded.
"What are you going to do with him?" She asked again.
Altaïr sighed, tiredly.
"Please, Maria... don't interfer with our business..." He said.
"But..."She tried to say.
"Stay out of it..." He said, finally.
Maria knew he was right, but it hurt her hear he say this words... even more since they adimted their feeling for each other.
She felt her eyes moisten.
Aisha then approached her and put her arm around the other woman , taking her to the cart. They sat on the opening and it didn't take long for them to hear the screams of pain and terror from Simas...
X ~ X ~ X
After a long time, Altaïr and the men returned. Aisha and Maria were slepping and woken up when the men arrived.
"Aisha.. Maria.." Altaïr said.
Maria sat inside the cart and she cringed as she saw stains of blood on Altaïr's mantle.
"It's done..." Altaïr said.
Aisha nodded.
He glanced at Maria, then siged and said:
"Now, we will do like this... Simas said the meeting will happen two weeks from now, so we will go and wait in Ar Raqqah and you..."
Altaïr turned to the rafiq men. "... will go back to put our things together and then you will bring them for us..."
They nodded and went away.
"Let's go then..."
Altaïr, Maria and Aisha returned to their original position on the cart and the others Assassins were by horse.
X ~ X ~ X
It was almost down when they arrived at the village of Ar Raqqah. Altaïr decided they should rest in the house of a acquaintance of his, Khalil.
"Where did you meet him, Raed?" Maria asked.
"When I saved his son..." Altaïr said, whithout look at her.
She saw he was still mad at her. Maria looked down.
They made to khalil's home in silence and stopped, getting down the horses.
When Altaïr stopped the cart, Maria almost jumped to get down. Altaïr and Aisha looked at her.
"I think you should talk to her..." Aisha said.
"After..." He said.
"No, now..." Aisha said, looking at him. "If you want her to stay with us..."
Altaïr looked at her... Aisha was one of the persons he always listen to, being raised with her...
"Fine..." He said, before getting down the horse.
X ~ X ~ X
Altaïr found Maria sitting in a wood bench.
"Maria..." He said.
She didn't said anything, just lowered . He sighed tiredly and sat beside her.
"I'm sorry if I were angry at you..." He said, looking straight in front of him.
"It's ok..." She said. "I'm sorry too if I intervened in you decision... it wasn't my intention..."
"I know.." He said.
Their eyes met each other and he asked:
"We're ok, then?"
She nodded, but he could see she was still sad.
"Maria, what is it?"
She sighed and looked in front of her.
"It just hurt the way you said it to me..." She said.
He breathed hard and getting up, knelt in front of her. He put his hand under her chin and made her look at him.
"Maria... I was angry with Simas and I had the right... he betraid and robbed us... he hurt you and my brothers..." He said. " Of course he was going to pay..."
She could see he was being truthfull.
"I know that my words hurt you too, but I wanted to protect you... our business is to assassinate and revenge and sometimes it..." He continued."And this was one of those times..."
She nodded.
Altaïr then kissed her. Slowly at first, then it become more passionate. When they stopped to breath, she smiled.
"Get up, Altaïr..." Maria said.
When he got up, she pickied his hand and started to walk.
"Where are we going?" He asked.
"You'll see..." She said.