Stopping to look around as he exited the dining hall the assassin's face creased with the first real signs of worry but to an outsider it may well have looked like anger; the expression they were far more accustomed to seeing on his face. The sun was beginning to set and the boy was nowhere to be seen. Limping across the stone floors he continued his search.

Malik passed him on the first floor of the fortress watching him ask questions of the sentries who stood closest to the door, "Is something wrong Abbas?"

"I have been looking for Tazim to offer him some training time in the ring after dinner but I can't find him."

"He was with some friends in the village earlier perhaps they went to the river to cool off and lost track of time."

"Friends..." the brother sneered as he hissed the word, "Do you truly know so little about your own order?"

Already in the process of climbing the stairs Malik stopped dead and turned to face Abbas. "Apparently I don't know as much as I thought why don't you enlighten me?"

"I overheard some of his classmates talking; he is being given a hard time by the older novices who seem convinced his part in your encounter with the bandits is being exaggerated."

Malik remembered the age difference of the other boys in the market as well as Altaïr's predication and chewed his lip considering what to do. "It is likely they will show up as soon as their greedy stomachs remind them they have missed a meal but if there is no sign of them by the ninth bell I will summon the novices I saw with him earlier for questioning."

Abbas' grin reminded Malik of a wolf feasting on a kill, "Ah but that is the thing brother the other boys are in there now eating and none of the other novices are unaccounted for."

Turning to one of the sentries Malik ordered him to bring three boys to his study before returning his attention to Abbas, "He has taken his task of caring for that dog very seriously it is probable he is away feeding his dinner to the animal. As yet I can see no real reason to worry but I will talk to the boys and find out what they were doing with him, we are competitive by nature but that doesn't mean we will tolerate petty jealousy."

Leaving Abbas in the lobby Malik continued his journey up the stairs.

The second in command found the study empty but after a short search he located Altaïr on the battlements looking out to the east of the castle, shaking his head Malik didn't have to ask what was on his mind. "Do you think standing here looking in their direction will somehow alter the course of events?"

Turning his head abruptly Malik was astonished to see he had caught him unawares. "I find myself becoming more and more distracted as the day goes on. I should have gone with her."

"Part of me agrees but what choice did you have?"

"If something goes wrong..."

His jaw clenched shut refusing to allow his mouth to complete the sentence but the look on his face showed the thoughts had run their course, this was killing him. "If something goes wrong hopefully Tahir will be by her side and Rauf close enough to assist them."

"It should be me with her Malik! I am responsible for her being there."

"Robert is the man responsible for her being there both him and that man, the knight Abbas killed; you were merely the path to the truth. What that truth happened to be wasn't your doing."

His hands which had been resting on the wall moved slightly, then stilled again; his body as torn as his mind it seemed, "I don't want her to be another of my regrets."

Malik rubbed his cheek and considered how best to say what needed to be said. This was as close as Altaïr came to opening his heart and he didn't want to force it shut again. "This woman, the Templar... she has come to mean much to you but what will you do when you find her?"

Groaning he turned to his brother, "Templar Malik, is that all she can ever be?"

Holding his hand up he responded, "Everything is permitted brother but she might be one of the hardest changes you impose on our brothers." Seeing his shoulders stiffen Malik continued. "I called her Templar for a reason, I'm not blind to what she did for us nor am I blinded to what she did to us. If she comes here with you it will not be easy for her or the men and you need to be aware of that before you decide to bring her into our lives."

"Right now I would settle for her knowing she is safe. Any speculation about what may or may not happen is futile until then."

There was no attempt to pass off his concern as duty, he hadn't confirmed having feelings for her but he hadn't denied it either. Malik began to feel the weight of the day pressing heavily against his chest. "Altaïr if you leave now it will be dark before you reach the look out so I suggest for now at least you try to focus your attention on other matters. If you still feel the same way tomorrow by all means go after her, you will likely only incur her fury for interfering but on your own head be it because distracted as you are you are of little use to me."

"There is wisdom in what you say but my mind is made up I will leave at dawn on the swiftest of our horses." Turning his head behind him he said, "Why is that damn dog still barking, does Tazim know it is his job to see to the animal?"

Malik looked in the direction of the sound, "Tazim is not among the other novices. It seems you were right in your assessment and his success has earned him the envious attention of the higher level novices."

"Is there any reason to worry?"

Malik shrugged, "Abbas is searching for the boy to train and brought his absence to my attention, I have summoned the others we saw him with so we'll know the answer to that soon enough."

Moving to other side of the tower he narrowed his eyes at the dog, "I'll leave it in your hands Malik."

Tahir opened his heavy eyes surprised to see it was already dusk and hearing a heavy whooshing sound he sat up faster than he should have leaving him a little light headed. Maria was standing with her back to them swinging one of the huge Templar swords through the air. Unaccustomed as he was to the sound of their weapons he listened for a few seconds, their own Syrian swords were far lighter and sliced the air, this brute she was brandishing was more likely to cleave than slice. Then she began supporting the blade with both hands before letting the point of the sword drop to the ground.

Standing beside her he held out a hopeful hand for the weapon and smirking she passed it to him. His shoulder dropped immediately upon feeling the weight of the great sword and looking at her wide eyed he smiled, "I give you credit for being able to swing this at all."

As he spoke he began swinging the blade through the air; it felt alien in his hands and he had no liking for it, "I prefer out lighter, faster swords this thing would be a burden in a battle."

"Only the knights and kings use such as these Tahir and they train with them for many hours a day, trust me when I tell you this thing in the right hands is a formidable weapon; I've seen it break a Saracen sword in two and then continue on to the man who bore it dealing him the same fate as his sword."

Taking the weapon from him she gazed almost lovingly at the hilt of the blade unlike many gilded ones she had seen this one was plain black handle with a small silver circle on top, the Templar cross embedded into the silver proudly gleaming back at her. "What I would have given to be worthy to wield this..."

Realising she had spoken aloud she snorted and grinned at the boy, "Best put this back before he wakes up and catches me with it."

"Shall we continue on to Crac de L'Ospital?"

Moving to grip the ropes they were using to drag her friend she began attaching it to the horse, "To do my duty no matter what."

Stephen grunted as the head end of his cot was lifted and his eyes opened, "Where are we?"

"In the same place we were before; we all fell asleep." The assassin knelt beside him offering him some water from the skin as he spoke, "Do you feel like you could manage to eat yet?"

A narrow rivulet of water ran from the corner of his mouth but when Tahir went to wipe it for him the knight flinched and lifting his own hand he drew it across his mouth. Smiling awkwardly at the novice from the order he knew to be his mortal enemy. "Thank you Tahir the water was most welcome but I best wait to see if I can keep that down before I dare my gut further with food."

"Probably a wise course of action but the return of your appetite would be a welcome sign."

Maria had finished tying his ropes to her saddle and smirked at the men tripping over themselves trying to be "nice". "All right then ladies shall we get a move on before night falls, we can be there in no time at all."

Her predication turned out to be a little too optimistic and an hour later they found themselves cautiously navigating the rough terrain which had been worn down to a road of sorts by the traffic from the Hospitalier fortress. The lights from the fortress were now close enough to ease their passage along the rocky road and Maria began to wish for another day to prepare for what lay ahead.

The fortress was bigger than anything he had seen in his life and Tahir began to feel the first tingle of fear as they began to ascend the hill which supported this gigantic construction. Against the night sky it was a huge dark shadow, he wondered if it would have been less intimidating to see in daylight but doubted it.

Stephen was awake in the cot but the maggots she had secretly stuffed inside the light fabric of his dressing would be close to full and looking for a path away from the wound but the doctors at the fortress could handle that. Glancing over at the assassin she had come to admire in unexpected ways she tried to imagine what he was feeling. This was a crusader fortress and he was perfectly willing to try to bluff his way in as a scholar to stand by her side; he might not be the best with a sword but nobody could ever question his nerve.

"Halt! Who goes there?" The words were heavily coloured by the thick French accent of the lower classes normally heard in the fields or vineyards.

"Stephen Marshal a Knight of the Templars and lieutenant of the King, Maria Thorpe a soldier and Fernando a scholar from Andalucía."

She saw the novice's grin from the side of her eye but kept her face fully forward, "We have dire need of rest and shelter and Marshal requires the care of your most skilled healers; we were ambushed by an assassin."

Moving to them the heavy set man in the dark gambeson of the Hospitaliers looked at the knight on the strange travelling apparatus, "Let them through."

Tahir tried to swallow to lubricate his throat but his mouth was as dry as his throat, she had given him the perfect cover allowing for both his accent and his dark skin but his heart skipped a beat every time he felt the eyes of one of the guards fall upon his face. Forcing himself to keep his head erect and his hands steady on the reins he followed Maria to the stables on the far side of the vast courtyard. Their mounts shod feet clattered against the stones sending a resounding echo around the entire circumference of the building drawing even more eyes to the windows overhead.

There was a group of soldiers crouching around something on the ground, the assassin could only guess they were playing some sort of game and placing wagers on the outcome but he was certainly glad that none of them bothered to shift their attention to him as he dismounted his horse and led her to a stable boy who had a hair full of straw and was rubbing sleep from his eye. "She has worked hard make sure you care well for her please."

Nodding the boy took the mare and began rubbing her down and she helped herself to the food in the through. Tahir felt a small tug on his sleeve and turned to see Maria behind him, "They are taking Stephen into the hospital now and I need to go seek an audience with Donjon. Come; let me see you settled before I leave you."

The heat of the day as always had faded leaving the harsher night air chilled with a nip which had surprised every Crusader who had arrived on these shores and although accustomed to the sudden dip in temperature the novice was not immune to its effect. Pulling his robes tighter around his body he followed Maria into an innocuous looking side door and found himself deep in the bowels of the fortress. He could hear voices speaking behind the heavy oak doors and looked to Maria to see if she had any knowledge of their tongue.

"I think they speak in the language of the Gaels but it was too muffled to be sure."

The priest leading them along the dimly lit lower corridors of the fortress confirmed they had indeed been speaking Gael but that meant nothing to Tahir other than a slight worry that there were more men looking to Crusade in his homeland. They were led past their dining hall and Tahir had chanced a look inside to see how it compared to their own at Masyaf. Other than it being about five times bigger there were not too many differences rows and rows of tables and benches running along the side. A narrow flight of stairs brought to them to a wider passage with more torches on the walls and judging but the increase in temperature more fires burning in the rooms.

"These rooms are basic but comfortable I hope they are satisfactory." Opening one door and the door of the adjoining room he stood back to let them enter.

Maria stuck her head inside and saw a small bed with a chamber pot and wash basin on the low table. "Perfect thank you but I must ask to speak with your master it is an urgent matter and the reason for our trip here."

"I'm afraid the Master has suffered an episode of ill health and it is quite impossible for him to receive guests but I will instruct one of his staff to attend to you."

'Why do the French always choose old men to run their order, do have no concept of longevity?'

"Fine that would be acceptable thank you father." Following Tahir into his cell Maria sat on his bed and bobbed up and down to check its condition. "Not too bad Tahir we should be comfortable here for tonight."

Closing the door he moved toward her but stopped short of sitting on the bed, "Maria you intend to pursue your questions tonight?"

"I see no reason to dilly dally Tahir we are here to find out who is giving the orders amongst the Templars and I intend to do that." His face showed what he thought of her intention to expedite her mission, "Don't worry nothing will happen tonight if Stephen is the leader then he is hardly in a position to do anything and if not it will mean we leave tomorrow to track him down."

"He could order our deaths from his bed Maria he doesn't need physical strength to do that." Tracking his agitated footsteps across the floor of the small room Maria stifled a laugh at the boy who now very much resembled and old man with his shoulders hunched over and his face creased with worry.

"If the wind changes your face will stay like that novice then what will your girl in Acre think?"

Stiffening his shoulders he stopped pacing and turned to her his face illuminated by a rare wide smile "I can't help it Maria I feel like a rabbit amongst a pack of wolves."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Because you mentioned Gwen and didn't refer to her as a beggar."

Getting off his bed she looked at his filthy clothes and dirty hair, "Some advice for you my friend – when you do see her again make sure you are wearing that smile because she will follow you to the ends of the earth."

She watched in horror as the novice raised his arms to her and took a step back from him.

"I was only going to embrace you Maria." His voice was not nearly as amused as his face but still it had the older woman cursing herself for flinching.

"Yes you were, weren't you?" Taking a small, cautious step toward him she patted his shoulder, "There now enough is as good as a feast."

"I'll bid you good night then Maria but please come for me whenever you need me I am here to support you."

Almost regretting not permitting him to embrace her she stood a moment in his doorway, "Tahir I think you are one of the bravest men I know. How many assassins would try to enter a Crusader fortress to help an enemy no less?"

Tugging his hood back over his messy hair to hide the blush he felt staining his cheeks he could only offer a weak smile and mumble another good night.

She closed the door leaving him alone with his thoughts, keeping on his clothes he lay atop the bed clothes and folded his arms across his chest waiting for thoughts of Gwen to consume him and banish this feeling of loneliness. He lay there listening to unfamiliar sounds feeling like a fish out of water, becoming more convinced every foot step in the hall was going to stop at his door to drag the assassin outside and behead him. Not since his first few nights at Masyaf had he felt such an utter feeling of not belonging and this time there would be no Kadar to come and make friends with him to help him banish the nightmares of his family being killed and his fears of the old man with one blind eye. Shifting on the bed he wished Maria would return and take him with her; anything had to be better than lying here waiting to be discovered. Finally sleep crept over his worried mind and for the first time since he had lain with her Gwen was not the person he dreamed of...

Running as fast as his feet would carry him he could see the other novice ahead of him flying effortlessly across the rooftops never once stumbling on a loose tile or a nasty pile of bird shit. That seemed to be Tahir's specialty... Skidding to the edge of the roof his legs dangled precariously over the side and his panic stricken eyes had just informed his brain how far he was about to fall when he felt a hand pulling him back up. "The guards will be on us Tahir we have to keep moving."

Scampering to his feet he pushed his body as hard as it would go calling out to the boy again in front of him. "This is your fault you just had to see her and now we are going to die. Was it worth it Kadar?"

The only response from Kadar was a loud laugh as he dropped from sight into the bureau below. Tahir practically landed on top of him and both boys shoved at each other until the leader came out to tell them off. "Don't make me send a bad report back to Al Mualim about you both it would set your progress back years." Grinning as he spoke he knew the boys were aware his words carried no threat and turning back into his main room he muttered, "Some men have complete control in their bureau but not I, no I must suffer the misbehaviour of children as a punishment for my soft heart."

Kadar followed him inside still panting hard from the run, "There is no reason to be unhappy Zishan we have completed the task you set us."

"Tell me what you have learned Altaïr will be here today and it won't do to keep the youngest ever master assassin waiting around."

Kadar began relaying what they had managed to learn about Al Mualim's latest target, "He is never at home in the afternoon and we found out he spends time at a house of ill repute at the end of Long Street. There is one guard with him who stays at the front of the house."

Zishan nodded, it should prove an easy kill for the skilled young assassin. "You have both done well but tell me why you were so out of breath when you got here?"

Kadar's guilty expression was more of a clue than the wise leader needed but Tahir uncharacteristically decided to speak up. "One of the merchant guild members has a daughter whose beauty is apparently unequalled outside paradise. Kadar talked me into going onto a nearby roof so he could see her but some of her Father's private guards caught us and chased us for miles."

"That was most unwise Kadar, to risk your neck for nothing more than a glimpse of what you can never have. Some men would say it was stupid but not I; I understand the impetuous nature of a young heart."

Tahir grinned knowing Zishan's hatred of conflict had forced him to develop this most ingenious way of delivering a rebuke. "Go on into the front room and have some food, keep the noise down though Altaïr will be here soon and I will not have him thinking I run an unruly bureau."

The boys did as told and helped themselves to the mountains of fresh fruit they found on the plates, lounging on some cushions in front of the low table Kadar looked back to the main room before whispering, "Does he think we really believe he is speaking for other men?"

"Some of the novices dislike how he does things but not I. I can understand why he would seek to avoid conflict." He kept his face entirely serious as he delivered the line which he knew always made Kadar laugh more. "Keep it down brother if Altaïr hears you he might think someone is happy..."

Reaching to the desk above him he took a quill and drew a line across his lips then getting to his feet he pulled his shoulders back and tugged his hood over his head moving around the small room disapproving of the disorder. "Look at this place it is no better than a menagerie how can I be expected to be magnificent with such poor support. Luckily for you I am accustomed to being far superior to all around me and can rise above your mediocrity."

He had Altaïr down perfectly and Kadar loved it when he did his impression, the boy lay on the ground laughing more at his physical antics than what he was saying...

"You find something amusing novice? We both know you worship the water I walk on!"

Kadar suddenly stopped laughing and Tahir knew in his gut before he even saw the hooded shadow fall in front of him, Altaïr was standing right behind him. Wiping his lips with his hand before he faced him he turned to see not only him but Malik too and only Malik looked to have enjoyed the performance. "I'm sorry I meant no harm we are, that is I was –"

"It would do you no harm to spend more time trying to be more like me your teachers might find more reason to promote you!" Brushing past him the novice merited no more of his attention.

Malik clapped his shoulder on the way past still grinning. "Don't worry he is only upset because you make a better job of being him than he does."

Kadar resumed his laughing but far quieter than it had been. "At least I almost got us killed for a beautiful woman you need to learn what is worth risking your neck for Tahir!"

Kadar popped a grape in his mouth and split it between his teeth spitting the seed into the dish already half full of previously discarded seeds. "You almost got us killed so you could look at her Kadar now had it been something more substantial..."

"Next time it will be she will be mine."

Tahir looked at the young man sitting across from him spitting seeds out of mouth and wished with all his heart that his friend's prediction came true, he deserved a beautiful wife.

Altaïr left Malik to deal with the novices while he moved outside into the cool night air. There were a few guards around mostly hovering as close to the fires as they could get without abandoning their posts but it was the guards at the bottom of the highest tower he directed his step. Kaderi was still barking although it had become a quieter hoarser sound and the men had grown tired of trying to shoo her away.

When he arrived the dog crept towards him her bark now a soft low whine, stroking her ears he spoke to the guards. "Have you seen any novices milling around the tower?"

Both men shook their heads with one offering what he could, "We came on duty after dinner and this dog was already here but there have been no other visitors tonight."

Looking from the dog to the top of the tower he ran his tongue along his bottom lip considering whether or not it was worth the effort. "I think I'll go up and make sure the older boys haven't left him tied up on the top level anyway."

With no idea what he was talking about the men bowed and stepped aside giving him space to step onto the ladder. Looking back at the dog the assassin could almost swear he saw relief in her face just before the darkness took him from her sight. The first level was empty and he continued up to the top feeling the air from above grow colder as he ascended. The men guarding the upper level said almost the same thing as the men below, there had been no one in the tower since dinner at least. He had no qualms about following the dog's whines, animals had long been known to be useful in a hunt and still unconvinced he stepped out onto the platform he had once leapt from to begin his path to redemption.

Predictably it was too dark to see if there was anything below but he called out, "Tazim are you here?"

There was no response to his query and he turned to the men behind him. "Go find a long rope it is too dark to make my way across the beams I will need someone to haul me back up but wait to throw me down a torch before you go."

"Master you do not think..."

Altaïr stepped to the edge of the platform knowing this was foolhardy but his gut had been telling him to come here since he noticed the dog barking...

Lifting his arms he made an elegant leap into the darkness below with no fear, if he missed the edge it would be water he would fall into at least he wouldn't be crushed on the ground. He landed as he had a thousand times before; smack bang in the centre of the soft hay. Getting out he watched the flame of the torch flutter wildly in the wind before it landed a few feet away from him. He had only just held it out in front of him when he saw a bandaged hand protruding from the hay next to the bale he jumped into. "Be quick with that rope!"

Kneeling beside the hay he placed his fingers on the exposed wrist and felt a pulse. Working quickly he stabbed the torch into the earth and began digging the boy out of the hay. He sat alone with the boy for a few minutes before he heard voices above telling him they were sending down on end of the rope and the Mentor wondered how the hell he was going to get this twisted body up without causing the boy any more pain.

It turned out to be impossible but it was at least over having lowered him down to the courtyard of the fortress Altaïr took him in his arms and carried him close to his body feeling the bones protruding from his back against his hands. Inside the clearer light of the fortress offered no hope for the boy, his injuries were horrific and the master not for the first time thought it would have been kinder if he had died in the hay. He called above to Malik to follow him to the hospital that he had found the boy and knew the Dai would be close behind him as he kicked open the door and held the child out for the healers to take.

Placing him on the bed he heard footsteps behind then a sharp intake of breath as Malik got his first glimpse of the broken 12 year old body laying on the bed. "Bring me some opium water we must ease his pain."

The healer spoke as she removed his clothes with shears exposing his shattered pelvis and hips to her eyes she looked up at the men watching events and whispered, "The boy is ruined what happened to him?"

She removed his shirt and held his body forward to tug it out from beneath him revealing the bones in his back Altaïr had felt against his hands, closing his eyes against the devastation the Mentor croaked, "He made a leap of faith."

Not sure if there will be another chapter this side of Christmas I have to spend time fixing my other fic so I'll just say Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings or whatever floats your boat, hope you all have fun. Thanks for sticking with this I appreciate it :)