The Eagle and Hawk Of Masyaf

by allseer15

Shahin has a few secrets she's hiding from her fellow Assassins. She's a woman, she can grow wings, fly, and possesses a few unknown abilities. She lives a cautious life unnoticed by mostly everyone until Al Mualim partners her with Altair after his failure in Solomon's Temple. But she's not the only one keeping secrets. AXOC

3. Chapter 3: See For Themselves

Okay, I went looking for pictures that look the most like Shahin on Google Images and I found pictures of a character from some video game looked the most of the image in my head. He attire aside she looks a lot like what I imagine and I was a little shocked to actually see the picture so closely match. It was like someone read my mind! No. Not really. Anyway if you go to Google Images and type in "Morrighan from game Mabinogi" you can find other pictures of the same girl in the picture I have up for this story. Look it up for you people who like having pictures of characters.

I do not own any of the pictures of Morrighan from Mabinogi or any of the Assassin Creed games or Characters. I just own Shahin for now.

Onward with the story!

Chapter Three: See For Themselves

"Why are you following me?" I asked pressing my hidden blade lightly to his neck. My mouth was right next to where his ear would be if he wasn't wearing his hood and I felt a little awkward with how I had to go up on my toes slightly to hold my blade to his neck and how my body was pressed to his. I had never been this physically close to anyone since my Novice years when we had to spar every day. Silently thanking my armor for giving me a flat chest, I focused on Altair's reaction.

He froze and didn't make any move, but I could feel the subtle tension building in his body. I smoothly dodged as he shoved my blade away from his neck; I let him, and kicked out towards my stomach. But he only struck air as I was already 6 feet away. I sheathed my blade and unconsciously turned my head so my face was in shadows. "Did you really come here to fight me?" He just stood there studying me. I resisted the urge of saying that he wouldn't be able to and taunting him for being slow. First of all, he didn't do the training I did so of course he was slow, and, second of all, I wasn't all that confident in my social skills. What if I said something wrong without realizing it? That would be embarrassing and I hated being embarrassed. "Well?" I prompted.

Altair shifted a bit out of his fighting stance. "I was curious," he finally answered.

I cocked my head at him in confusion, "Curious? About me? Why?"

There was a pause where he thought about his answer, "You are a mystery. Hardly anyone knows anything about you."

I raised an eyebrow that he couldn't see. "So you decided to insult me by skulking after me with the skill of a child?"

His shoulders stiffened in indignation. "I am far more skilled than a child." I could hear the warning in his voice.

I thought about hurting his pride and ego more to try and put him off snooping into me, but I was also curious about him. I so badly wanted to know why he was green to my vision. Even if it meant that he could possibly find out my secrets, but I could take even more precautions to keeping them in the dark. It's not like I was with him every minute of every day. Plus I was curious to see how it felt to have someone know at least something about me and seek out my company.

There were several moments of silence as I contemplated the possibilities. "No," I murmured, keeping my voice low to imitate a man's. "You aren't." I waited for him to relax slightly before crossing my arms and saying, "But you are overconfident and arrogant." There go his shoulders again. "You seem to think you'll do everything perfectly that you mess up on the little things. Like timing your looks around a corner while tailing your prey."

"You knew I was following you even then," he stated.

It was not a question, but I nodded anyway. "Yes. Like I said, you are overconfident and make many tiny mistakes." I left him to mull that over and take it whichever way he preferred and turned to ascend the two steps up the platform and looked over the table.

I plucked a random book up and opened it to refresh my memory of what it was about. It was a book about birds and I looked for my corresponding sheet of paper with my notes. On topics that interested me, like birds seeing how I was part bird myself, I would keep a running sheet of notes as I read so the facts were more impressed on my brain. I finally found the paper and held it up, tuning out Altair's presence. Each one of my notes had a page number next to it so I knew where to find it again in the book. I flipped through the pages until I found the diagram of a bird's wing and studied it. If Altair hadn't been here I would have released my wings and felt under the skin for my bones. I pulled out another sheet of paper but this one had a set of wings drawn to painstaking detail on it. They were my wings and I was in the process of mapping my bones on it. This was for academic purposes as well as medical. If I ever broke my wing I could set my bone in its proper place thanks to this sheet. I picked up my diagram of my wings and compared it to the books diagram of a normal bird's wing. From what I've already sketched down I could see my bone structure was similar to a bird's with a few exceptions. I picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and made a notation of this at the bottom of my diagram.

"Where did you get all these books?"

I looked up to see Altair coming up on to the platform. Sliding my diagram into the book casually, I set the book aside and answered, "I either bought them myself or borrowed them from the library."

Altair raised an eyebrow at me, "You mean you stole them." I saw a small smirk on his lips and felt an answering one on my own.

I flapped my hand at him, "Call it what it what you will. None of these books are damaged like they would be in the careless hands of other people. I take good care of them and when I'm done with the ones I borrowed I return them to the library."

"And this room, where is it?" he asked looking around at the walls as if the held the answer.

I rubbed my chin in thought and called up my mental map of Masyaf. "We're in the East side of the castle and surrounded by hallways."

He nodded and turned his attention to my books thumbing through them silently. I could see him cataloging each tiny bit of information. From my books I read, the notes I took, how I wrote my notes, to my behavior, how I acted, and my mannerisms. He was taking in as much information as he could, no matter how miniscule. Just as a Master Assassin should,I thought.

I shifted from one foot to another. I'd run out of things to say to him and I had no idea how to bring up another conversation. Maybe I should ask him questions, I thought and quite a few came to mind instantly, but, even as I opened my mouth, I couldn't utter a sound. Not only was I in close quarters with a man but this was the man I'd been wondering about for years. And now that you have an opportunity to ask questions you can't bring yourself to do so, I thought to myself scornfully. You're acting like a shy little girl. Just speak up and ask. It's simple. Just open your mouth and say his name.

But I still couldn't say a word. So, I just settled for reaching for another book, this one on weapons of past and present, and searched for my note sheet. I really need to keep my notes in their books. It'd make things so much easier. I made that mental note and finally found the paper.

Altair himself had found a book that had caught his interest and was leaning a hip against the table. We went on in silence for a good amount of time, me keeping one eye on the Assassin and the other on making my meticulous notes.

It was sometime later when Altair's voice startled me. "Do you have the notes for this book?"

I looked to see him pointing at the book in his arms. I went around the table to see which book it was and felt a thread of fear down my spine. It was the bird book. I noticed he was just starting in the book and my drawing was only a slightly bump in between the pages further on. I nodded and hoped he hadn't noticed my hesitation and pluck my paper form where I'd left. "Here it is." He took it and I bristled when he didn't say 'thank you'. How rude.

I turned back to my book and tried to focus back on my book, but the thought of that drawing kept gnawing at my thoughts. What would he think when he saw it? What excuse would I have for drawing it? I quickly scraped up a few and discarded the more see-through ones.

It seemed like an eternity later since I was counting each page Altair turned, but I stood and rubbed my back, which was sore from bending over and writing. "We've been down here for a while, Altair. It's almost afternoon." His head came up and I could see him calculating how much time had passed before nodding in agreement.

I felt relief for a moment when he closed that book, but it was quickly dashed when he held it up and asked, "May I borrow this?"

I instantly wanted to say 'no', but I knew that would raise his suspicion. As would saying yes but removing the drawing before he took it. I sighed a little before nodding, "Yes, you can. But do not damage it or lose it. It is not mine. If you do you'll never touch one of my books again. Do you understand?" He nodded and moved to the entrance to the tunnel as I restacked my books, shifted papers, and put out the torches. Altair was waiting for me as I put out the last torch.

I felt my muscles instantly tense at the darkness, but I forced myself to walk slowly and calmly. It was only a few seconds of silence before Altair asked, "Are there many places like this in the castle?"

I snorted at the stupid question. "Think before you speak, Altair. This is a castle built by Assassins and you ask if there are a lot of hidden places."

"So there are," he stated.

I sighed, "You are a Master Assassin. Surely you had to have some smarts in order to get this far, right?" I instantly felt uneasy after taunting him. Did I say something wrong? Did I say that correctly? Was it too cruel?

To my relief he ignored my question and asked, "How many hidden rooms are there?"

I touched a gloved hand to the wall so I did not run into it at the turn. Silently, I contemplated telling him this information, but I also wanted to give him a reason to come back to me. With that thought, I murmured quietly, "The areas of the castle that are visited every day are only about half of what the castle really has to offer. Now quiet. We're coming upon the exit." He was quiet.

I had my hands out in front of me so I could feel the ledge of the elevated platform and I stopped. I felt Altair bump into slightly before he pulled back. Not even an apology. I let it slide and hopped up to crouch on the platform, raising my hands to rest on the stone ceiling. I repeated my routine for exiting the secret tunnels. I listened, lifted with a bit of strain, looked with my Eagle Vision, pushed the false stone away, and climbed out. Impatiently waiting for Altair to pull himself out, I kept an ear out for anyone approaching, and then quickly set the bench back into its place.

I looked at Altair as he stood tall and proud, gently holding my book to his side. "Please do not go around telling everyone about what you have seen this morning. I'm trusting you with that book and the information. Do not betray that trust please."

Altair nodded and was about to turn away when he stopped and asked, "Would it be betraying your trust if I told Malik and Kadar?"

I shifted from one foot to another, my only sign of discomfort at the decision. It would make me feel better if he kept everything to himself, but I knew that wasn't fair. Weren't friends like those three supposed to tell each other everything? I wondered. I realized that he wanted to tell them, but was willing to hold back if I wanted him to do so. I felt a warmth in my chest and frowned at the feeling before pushing it aside. If he was willing to make a small sacrifice for me then so could I.

"Only tell them if you know they won't tell other people," I finally answered. He nodded again before opening his mouth and closing it, like he wanted to say something but though t better of it. "What is it?" I asked.

"Do you know where all of the other half of the castle is?"

I had a small smile as I realized he had taken to my bait of information perfectly. "Of course I do," I said simply. Then I turned around and headed for the courtyard. "Have a good afternoon, Altiar."

"And you too, Shahin."

I shivered a bit at my name, but I didn't look back.

In the courtyard I found that Novice training was in full swing. I found a bit of shade by a wall, sat, and watched the sparring happening in the ring. I watched the instructor teach the Novices and made metal notes about everyone I saw: which Novices had potential, which were lazy, what they lacked, what the instructor corrected, how he corrected it, what he missed, what the other Assassins in the courtyard were there wasting time and which ones were there to train on the targets and dummies.

An hour later, the Novices went inside and the Assassins entered the sparring ring to fight each other. Here I took serious notes on the strengths, weaknesses, and behaviors of each one, even if he didn't enter the ring. It was a game I played, for in a fight you have to spot your enemy's weakness and exploit it before he does it to you. I challenged myself to finding as many faults in an Assassins fighting style and, after that, thought up ways on how to teach those weaknesses out of the Assassin.

Dinner was being served soon after and I slowly walked towards the dining hall, letting any new or refreshed information soak into my mind. I unconsciously weaved my way through the other Assassins, filled my plate, and went to sit at my usual table. I stared out of a stone window at the setting sun and the cloudless never-ending sky.

The urge to release my wings and fly came over me and I closed my eyes and pushed it away. Despite having the ability and the want to fly I hardly did. I let myself have my nest already and I didn't want to be caught flying too low to the ground, for when I flew I relaxed and hardly paid attention to anything, let alone my altitude. It was chancy for me to fly at night as it was and to fly during the day like I wanted would be downright dangerous. So I indulged in flying rarely. Two or three times a month at the most. I still let my wings out and stretched and took care of them, but I just wanted them to strain as they moved up and down holding my light body in the air. That was another thing about having wings. I was so much lighter than I appeared, like birds. It was strange.

I turned and blinked into my Eagle Vision. Blue instantly swamped my vision. There was green where Altair was sitting with Malik and Kadar and that tendril of red on Al Mualim's person that bothered me. Those were the only colors until three Assassins stumbled into the huge room. They were obviously drunk by the way they acted so I wasn't surprised when I saw that they were blue mixed with red. Those who may not be a danger to other people sober or sane can become violent once they couldn't think properly.

I watched them closely as they came further into the room, laughing loudly at something. Then, they stopped when the person who was the leader of the trio eyes locked on to Altair's table, where the three were talking amongst themselves and oblivious to the world around them. The leader said something to the other two and they all grinned maliciously. They began stalking towards Altair's table.

I don't know what possessed me to but I blinked my eyes back to normal and stood up with my still full plate of food. They didn't notice that I was going to intercept them until I "accidentally" tripped over my own food and slammed my tray into the white Assassin robes covering the chest of the leader. I may have also rubbed the food and drink in as I stumbled to regain my balance.

I gasped and brought my tray away from the man. "P-please forgive me, Brother!" I exclaimed in my fake man voice and acted the part of a flustered and embarrassed Assassin pretty well if I do say so myself. "I was lost in my thoughts and didn't see you coming. My apologies!"

Only a few Assassins had glanced our way when I had run into the man and some laughed and some grinned at the predicament. But that was only a few. We had the attention of everyone in the room when the man suddenly bellowed, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Silence reigned in the room as every single eye turned towards us.

I felt embarrassed at being the center of attention but kept on acting. "I'm s-so sorry, B-Brother! It was just— Well, I've always been c-clumsy and I wasn't p-p-paying attention and—." I was cut off when he took a swing at me.

This was where I worked my magic. I moved so slightly and only just enough so that the fist flew past my head, making it seem as if it was the man who missed and not me who dodged. I then casually tugged the front of his food splattered robes so he lost his balance and stumbled forward. I caught him and slid one of his arms over my shoulder. "I think you've had too much to drink tonight, Brother. You cannot think clearly. Here, let me take you back to your rooms so you can sleep it off." He began to struggle, but I discreetly pressed a knife to his chest and murmured, "Don't fight or you'll find it suddenly hard to breathe with a hole in your lungs." He cooperated and leaned against me. I looked over my shoulder to see the two others following us like lost puppies. Disgusting.

I took them out of the dining hall and towards a secluded corner of the castle. Once there I threw my burden down and pointed for the other two to join him. They did so only after I had pulled two throwing knives out. I looked down at them as I replaced my knives and asked, "Now what were you planning to do back there?" Silence. I whipped out a knife and threw it into the toe of the leaders boot.

The puppies gasped in horror and I saw the leader draw in a breath to yell or scream, but I was suddenly there, clamping a hand over his mouth. I turned towards the puppies and they cowered and whimpered. I wondered briefly if this was how they would've reacted if they were sober before repeating my question, "What were you planning to do back there?"

The one on the left opened and closed his mouth, like he had forgotten how to speak, while the one on the right stumbled over his words. "H-Hadir wanted t-t-to give A-Altair a hard t-time. H-He th-thought-t it w-would be f-f-fun."

I huffed, reached down, and pulled out my bloodless knife from the man's boot. I waved the knife in front of his face, "I didn't even cut you, you little girl. Did you really think I would stain my blade with your pathetic blood?" I saw realization join terror and agony on his face. I let him go and told them all, "If I find you three even attempting to approach Altair without good reason I will draw blood next time. Do I make myself clear?" They nodded vigorously and I nodded before walking away.

I was wondering where my behavior had come from as I headed to my room. It was unusual for me to do so this early, but I was confused by my actions and wanted to think about what had happened and why I had done it. I stopped in the middle of the hallway when I sensed someone watching me. I turned and saw a figure standing in the shadows. I blinked into and out of Eagle Vision in an instant. The figure was green. "What is it, Altair?" I asked.

He stepped from the shadows a bit so only about seven feet were between us. He ignored me and asked a question of his own. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Do not play innocent. Those men were coming after me. You took care of them. Why? I could've taken care of them myself. They are no match for me." I heard his infamous pride in his voice. He's arrogant, I thought. But I can knock him down a few pegs. It'll do him some good.

"You did not even notice them when they began to approach you," I stated calmly and I saw him stiffen.

His voice told of the anger he held in check. "It would not have mattered if I did not notice them. I still would have beaten them."

I crossed my arms and shifted my weight to one foot, settling down for a long wait. "You know better than that, Altair. The person who strikes first and unexpected will always have an advantage. We Assassins are trained to attack first and unexpected. Don't try and lie to yourself or me, Altair. It does matter."

His amber eyes narrowed on me and he drew himself to his full height and raised his chin.

Oh, dear, I thought. I think I actually insulted him.

"One advantage cannot win a fight against superior skill and experience," he announced with all arrogance, looking down his nose at me.

I felt annoyance flash through me as I narrowed my eyes right back. Oooohhhh. So that's how it's gonna be.

I whipped out a throwing knife and send it flying through the air at his big head. As expected he raised his hidden blade bracer and blocked the knife before it could harm him. Although I did use less speed in the throw than I usually did. But in the time he was focused on blocking I'd covered the distance between the two of us in two big strides. As I heard the klink! and whistle of air as the knife was deflected I dropped down to sweep both of his legs out from underneath him. He landed hard on his back with a loud grunt as the air left his lungs. He tried to sit up and retaliate but I just shoved his shoulder so that he twisted painfully and was forced to go on to his stomach. I straddled his back, released my hidden blade from its sheathe, and held it to his neck.

I felt my face heat impossibly fast and hot as I realized I, a woman in disguise, was straddling a man's back. I pushed away my embarrassment and pressed one hand to his right shoulder as I leaned down to whisper in his ear. "This is twice now, Altair. I could've killed you now and back in the hidden room with the first unexpected strike. So tell—." I stopped mid-sentence when I felt something strange beneath my hand.

Through his robes I should've felt smooth mostly flat muscle, but instead I felt a slight rise and fall nestled right into the palm of my gloved hand. My fingertips could almost feel the edge of whatever was on his shoulder. I thought for a moment that perhaps he was wearing a strange weapon or piece of armor, but I could feel the skin covering the strange lump and normal muscle. I had no clue what it was until I felt the bump twitch under my hand.

I swear to the great Allah that my heart stopped for a moment before I began to pound in anticipation.

But I covered it up by swallowing and continuing to speak, "So tell me again. Can the advantage of the first and unexpected attack win against superior skill and experience? Because I'm quite sure you have more skill and experience than me." He glared up at me and I grinned, knowing he couldn't see my face. I'd put him in a tough spot for his pride. He had to either admit he was wrong or say I had the superior skill and experience. I waited and realized he wasn't going to answer. I sighed and got up. He picked himself up slowly as I fetched my knife and was dusting himself off as I walked away. "Good night, Altair." I didn't get a reply.

Strangely, a flicker of hurt went through my heart. It took me the entire walk to my room in order to push that feeling down. Once I had locked the door, I began the tedious process of putting away all of my equipment. I then stripped until I was only in my thin breeches and chest bandages. I untied the leather holding my hair hostage as I moved into my nest. Sitting down I brought my braid over one shoulder and slowly unwound it until it was free to brush the pillows and blankets I was sitting on.

I puffed out my cheeks and blew out a breath as I fisted my hair and began to pull firmly. I stopped pulling when I started to feel pain in that area of my scalp before moving and fisting more hair. Then I began to scratch my scalp firmly. I did these things to try and relieve my stress and tension.

When that didn't do much, I hunched my back to tighten the skin and flexed my back muscles. My muscles began to shift again and I felt my wings push against the skin in between my shoulder blades, just above my chest bandages. I gritted my teeth through the next few seconds of pain-bordering-on-agony where my skin fought to stay together and my wings pushed to come through my skin. But my skin only fought for a second before it suddenly relaxed and opened along the same path as they always did. My skin seemed to know where to open each time I released my wings and opened at the same spot every time. The pain faded quickly and I slipped my wings out of my back. I stretched them as much as my room would allow, which wasn't much, before wrapping my wings around my body as I hugged my knees to my chest. They were the same black they were the night before, but, after I focused briefly, a wave of color ran through my feathers and changed them from black to the mixed colors of brown, black, tan, and white.

The mess of colors reflected my mess of emotions.

I had no clue as to why I had acted and felt as I had tonight. I began where things began to get strange. I looked over my memory of getting up and moving to intercept that trio of drunks. It was so weird. It was as if my body and heart didn't need directions from the brain to move and stop a possible danger to Altair. Even if it meant having pretty much everyone in Masyaf looking at me and judging me. I guess it's a good thing I'm not well known.

And then I got violent and threatening towards the drunks. I'd threatened them away from Altair. That one worried me a bit. I didn't socialize much so I didn't know if it was natural for me to be threatening and violent. I really didn't want to be like that. I liked to think that I'm the person watching over everyone else and breaking up fights. I don't like thinking that I'm the one starting those fights. Maybe I was further protecting Altair like I had been in the dining hall.

And why was I protecting him? He'd said so; he could take care of himself. There was no need for me to step in and yet I jumped at the slightest hint of danger. I'd only spent a few hours with him after years of watching and wondering about him. There was no reason for me to be so protective of him.

And the last thing I did was not as confusing as the two before. I had attacked Altair to prove that he was wrong. If I had tried to prove he was wrong with words he wouldn't have ever truly understood. Altair was a man who understood action more than he did words. But what had my entire mind focused on was that strange bump under his skin.

I had only recognized it as a living part of him when it had twitched and it was muscle, just not back muscle. I knew what it was because I could feel the same thing on my back when I had my wings retracted and I pushed my fingertips in the right place. If I pressed my fingertips in the right place I could feel my wings under my skin.

And I'd felt the same thing under Altair's skin.

My mind went through any other possible thing that bump could've been and came up with no plausible answer. It could only be wings.

Altair's like me, I thought in shock. He has wings. I ran my fingers absently through my silky feathers before shaking my head. No. I won't believe it until I see it.

I have to see it for myself.

—Altair's POV—

Altair stood in the shadows and waited for Shahin to show up. He had a few questions for his fellow Master Assassin and he wanted them answered. He just didn't know if Shahin would go to his room or disappear into another hidden room.

Luck was with him tonight as he saw the man come around the corner. Before he could even open his mouth to call him to a stop, Shahin froze. Altair watched with curiosity as the man turned unerringly in his direction. "What is it, Altair?"

Altair blinked in surprise. He knew he was hidden in the shadows and that even the most trained Assassin would have trouble picking him out. But Shahin had done it. It's almost like he can sense things like I do, Altair thought before stepping into the torch light so there were only several feet between the two of them. He ignored the other man's question and demanded, "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

Altair wanted to growl at the man. Why did he not just answer his question? Why play games with him? "Do not play innocent. Those men were coming after me. You took care of them. Why? I could've taken care of them myself. They are no match for me." And they weren't. He was not worthy of wearing his robes if three drunk Assassins could take down him.

"You did not even notice them when they began to approach you," Shahin said, like it was a fact.

Altair gritted his teeth and felt his shoulders stiffen. He had a cutting remark on the tip of his tongue, but he held it back, barely. "It would not have mattered if I did not notice them. I still would have beaten them."

The Master Assassin crossed his arms and shifted his weight on to one foot, looking very much like an instructor about to give a Novice a long lecture. "You know better than that, Altair. The person who strikes first and unexpected will always have an advantage. We Assassins are trained to attack first and unexpected. Don't try and lie to yourself or me, Altair. It does matter."

Altair's irritation grew. I am not a Novice to be lectured! He thought furiously. He narrowed his eyes. If Shahin sought to belittle him then he could return the favor. He rose to his full height, towering over the shorter man, and tipped his chin up so he was looking down his nose at the other Master Assassin, "One advantage cannot win a fight against superior skill and experience." He said this with all confidence, pointing out to the other man that he'd been as Assassin longer and thought he had more skill. Altair felt smug. The other man couldn't possibly have a strong comeback. He had won this battle.

And then he saw Shahin's golden eyes for the second time. And they were narrowed at him, irritation flashing in their depths. That was the only warning he got.

Shahin moved so fast that his eyes could only track the throwing knife coming at his head. Out of instinct he raised his hidden blade bracer and deflected the knife. But no sooner had he done so then he had his legs swept out from under him and he was falling through the air. He only had time to wonder how Shahin had covered the space between them in such a short time before he hit the ground. He could not help the pained groan that escaped him as the air left his lungs. Then, he tried sitting up to fight back only to have the other man push his shoulder so he had to twist over on to his stomach. Shahin straddled his back, pressing his hidden blade into his neck and resting a hand on his shoulder as he leaned down. "This is twice now, Altair. I could've killed you now and back in the hidden room with the first unexpected strike. So tell—." Altair's anger turned into confusion when the other man suddenly stopped talking. He wondered what was wrong until he felt Shahin's hand flex faintly on his shoulder.

Altair felt fear for the first time in a long time. It didn't matter that it was a thread of fear, only that it was fear.

Can he feel it? Can he feel my wing? Oh, Allah, please do not let me be found out, Altair prayed.

And then he continued talking. "So tell me again. Can the advantage of the first and unexpected attack win against superior skill and experience? Because I'm quite sure you have more skill and experience than me."

Altair's small fear was replaced with his anger all over again. He turned his head so he could glare up at the Master Assassin with one eye, and although the man's face was hidden in shadows he got the sense he was grinning. It was a trap and he knew it. He could either admit he was wrong, say that Shahin had more experience and skill, or remain silent. He opted for option three.

Shahin waited for a few moments before sighing at his silence. Shahin's weight left him and he slowly got up. As he brushed off imaginary dust he watched as Shahin walked away, sheathing his throwing knife. "Good night, Altair," he called.

Altair's anger and hurt pride kept him silent. He wondered if it was his imagination, but he swore he saw Shahin tense a little before he disappeared around a corner on his way to his room.

Altair waited a couple of minutes before going to his own room so it didn't seem as if he was following the other Assassin. Once he was laying on his bed in only in breeches, he pulled out the book on birds Shahin had let him borrow. He knew that the Assassin had not wanted Altair to have the book or let him tell Malik and Kadar about his day, but had allowed him to do both anyway. He had trusted Altair.

Altair felt a little guilty for snubbing Shahin like that.

He knew he should get to sleep now so he could get up early and tail Shahin into the forest but he didn't feel sleepy. So he lit a candle and began to read where he left off. Since he had wings like a bird he'd always been curious about them. But when he'd finally gotten around to looking for a book on birds there hadn't been one. He now knew where it had gone.

His eyes were just beginning to droop when he turned a page and was surprised to see a separate sheet of paper sitting in the book. He held it up to the light and saw Shahin's neat handwriting. But he was shocked to see very detailed drawings of bird wings on the paper as well. The drawings were detailed down to each individual feather. One diagram was of a wing's bone structure. He saw a similar one on the opened page in the book and compared the two to see how accurate Shahin had been. He was impressed by the Assassins ability to draw and wanted to see how far it went.

But his eyes immediately picked out the differences between the two pictures. And then the note at the bottom caught his eye.

"It's obvious that my wing bone structure is different from that of a normal bird's wing bone structure."

The words "My Wing" flashed in his eyes several times before he blinked. Could it be true? Could Shahin truly have wings like me? I'm really not the only one?

These thoughts raced through his head until he growled and closed the book, setting it gently on his dresser. He turned over on his back and stared at the ceiling. I will find out. I'll do whatever possibly to see for myself if Shahin has wings.

I have to see it for myself.