Chapter 26 Talal
"You never did tell me what information you gathered yesterday," I mused as Altair and I walked through the streets of Jerusalem, keeping an eye out for any potential sources of information.
Altair hummed noncommittally. "The idiot did not have much to say on Talal. I learned more from his propaganda speeches then from his forced words," he growled.
"And what were his forced words?" I encouraged softly.
"Talal is preparing 'them', those he keeps in his warehouse, for a journey to Acre."
"Acre?" I blurted in surprise. "What is in Acre?"
"He did not know."
"And who is 'them'?"
"He did not say."
"And the whereabouts of this warehouse?"
"He did not know."
I sighed and shook my head. "You are correct. This is helpful in the least." I glanced out of the corner of my eye when Altair huffed and saw his hands fisting. "But," I added gently. "It is better than nothing."
"It is almost nothing," the man shot back.
"'Almost', Altair. Almost." He huffed again.
We walked for a bit longer before I got nudged in the side. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I saw my friend subtly point to a pair of men talking just down the street. It was a bald man and a young man, both looked about middle-class. I shrugged just enough to get the message across. There was nothing promising about them, but it wouldn't hurt to listen.
Altair broke off from me and leaned against a stack of crates, not quite out of view of the men, as I casually strolled just past the two men before sitting between two women on a bench, ignoring their small noises of disgust and tuning into the conversation.
"If the guards won't do anything," the bald man hissed, "it falls to us."
The young man looked either exasperated or this-is-not-happening. "What you propose is madness!" he shouted but somehow managed to keep from attracting attention.
"But necessary," the bald man cut in. "How many more will we allow to go missing before the people take a stand?" I perked up a little bit. Another reference to the 'them' most likely. If these two men were actually talking about Talal that is.
"It does not affect us," his friend hissed, almost desperately pleading the bald man to let it go.
"Not yet. But if we continue to do nothing it will."
The young man sighed and rubbed his head, defeated. One could see the look of triumph on the bald man's face. "What do you propose?" the young man asked wearily.
"I have been watching them." I rolled my eyes at the statement. This bumbling idiot probably alerted every guard and Talal that he was watching. "Learned everything there is to know about his operation. It's all here on a map I made." I watched with interest as his hand went back to a pouch on his hip and I even saw Altair lean out a bit more to see the movement. "He inspects his stock every day at the same time. This is when I'll strike."
Oh, dear, I thought. If this guy got involved our job would be made that much more difficult.
"So you have a piece of paper," the young man mocked. "It won't save you from being discovered. Won't save you from their swords and arrows."
The light of fire and anger that had lit the bald man's eye dried up faster than a drop of water under the sun. He soberly nodded and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Let's hope it does not come to that." They both looked at each other with sad eyes. "Anyway, wish me luck, my friend." The two embraced each other before parting; the young man heading past me and the bald man passing Altair, hand checking the map in his pouch.
I watched in boredom as Altair mimicked a scholar to get close before seamlessly flipping the pouch open and extracting the map before turning and heading back to me, map out of sight. When the bald man realized he no longer had his map a little ways down the street I felt a little pity for him. At least now, hopefully, he wouldn't do anything foolish. Standing up, I moved into an alley and waited for Altair to catch up.
"This is actually useful," he said as soon as he was within my hearing range.
"If it's accurate," I pointed out. "He does not exactly seem like a man who knows much of our trade."
My friend nodded in agreement as he came to stand by my shoulder, holding the map for both of us to see. "On the other hand he did seem very determined about his cause. He might have gotten the right information out of sheer determination."
"This is true," I murmured as I looked at the map, memorizing it. "At least now we have a narrowed down area for the warehouse." There were five warehouse on the map, three in particular were surrounded by red X's and arrows that marked the position of guards and their patrol routes. "I know this area. It's in the North East corner of the city."
"Then we have a place and a possible route in."
"Better than nothing, right?" I asked wryly.
"Silence, woman," he growled as we reentered the flow of the city.
My heart thudded painfully for a minute and I quickly elbowed the man in the gut, though if he really felt it through his armor was up for debate. "Do not be so free with that information," I hissed.
"Like anyone would believe it," he drawled quietly, head down as he watched a guard pass us.
"This is my life, Altair. Do not be so flippant with it." The man was silent before nodding. I sighed before quickly bringing up my hands into prayer position and bowing my head as a group of guards marched past. "Perhaps we should try and listen to the conversations of the markets Malik mentioned," I offered.
"Will you be alright with that?" my friend asked as we dropped our appearance and sped up our walk.
I grunted and shrugged a little. "It is a compulsion. I will try my best."
"And I will keep an eye on you as well." Altair looked down the side roads briefly. "Now where is the nearest market? I do not know my way around this area." He shot me a look and I got the message.
"There is a market this way," I answered and veered to the right. "It is a middle-class market, but one roof. At least there will be no shining." Altair grunted as I took a slight lead, dodging the beggar women, pleading for money. "Here it is," I murmured, waving to stairs and the large doorway to the market. "This is it. There is a sort of courtyard towards the center that— Isn't that a Brother?"
Altair glanced at me before following my gaze to the fidgeting man in white with a red belt and an off-white head wrap hiding his face. "I believe that is," he sighed. "Joyous."
I didn't know why he was suddenly sulking but I bumped his shoulder in solidarity. "Let's see if he has anything for us. Free information, right?" Of course I never knew it was like that. These Novices always had something to bargain for despite normal Brotherhood protocols.
As we approached I could see the way that the Novice perked up at the sight of us and how he became excited, though I didn't think it was because of our rank. "Safety and Peace, Brothers," the Novice greeted hurriedly.
"Safety and Peace, Brother," I said back as Altair grunted.
"We live in harsh times, do we not?" the Novice said suddenly in a sort of pleading voice and I internally groaned. Here we go. The man fiddled with his belt. "I am in an ocean of trouble," he admitted.
"Of course," Altair whispered loud enough for my ears and I nodded in agreement.
"I had a mission to investigate some strange disappearances in the Rich District. But Talal's men discovered me and saw my face!"
"Are you kidding me?" I muttered only for Altair. It only took an idiot to get his face seen. God, this information might not even be true if this man was this stupid.
"My status has been compromised," the Novice bemoaned before looking up with pleading eyes. "Would the both of you be so kind to eliminate the men in exchange for the information I have?"
I sighed and resisted the urge to rub my forehead. "I will handle this, Shahin," Altair announced. "It is only a few guards. Am I right, Novice? How many are to be taken care of?"
"Two," the man rushed to say, seeing his chance at getting away with this mistake. "They are in the market right now. The only two guards here."
"Be careful, Altair," I murmured before leaning against the wall by the Novice. It was only two guards. Even a Novice should be able to do this. My eyes slid to the fidgeting Novice next to me, who kept glancing at me now that Altair had ghosted away. Well, at least any normally trained Novice. I'd have to find this one's mentor and speak with them.
I froze at that thought. Why would I want to talk to another Assassin? It was better if I just minded my own business and let the course of life do what it wanted. Of course if I did that Altair would be dead and I would just be the silent Master Assassin in the shadows. Dear God, when had I gone from watching everything happen to being involved in it?
I blinked and scowled. What folly was this? I was a creature of habit and routine. My ungodly training routine was evidence of that. What the hell had changed me so suddenly yet without drawing my attention? Was it another mysterious trait that went with my wings? Something that was useless to fight against? Because I would fight against it… And there I went again; going from watching events play out to interfering.
I resisted the urge to groan. What had changed? Not myself, but the catalyst that caused myself to change. It must be something—
"Altair!" I physically jumped a little when the Novice spoke up and sure enough Altair was back. He looked unscathed and I relaxed a bit. No trouble at all then. "You rid of the ones who knew me?" the Novice asked.
"Did you doubt my skills?" my friend demanded back hotly.
The Novice flinched back and shook his head rapidly. "Of course not. Anyway, I thank you for this favor you have done me."
"The information?" I prodded quietly, straightening and standing once more by Altair.
"Of course. Here's what I learned about Talal. He's a powerful slaver that occupies a part of town North of here. He pays a tribute to the city guards so he can operate in the shadows." I shared a look with Altair as this new information fitted in with what we already know as the Novice went on how Altair was sure to kill Talal.
"Thank you, Brother. Safety and Peace." With my farewell, my friend and I turned and left the market to wander once more.
"So the 'them' your friend from yesterday mentioned was slaves," I said was we walked. "As well as having the location verified."
"All we need is a point of entry now."
"Correct. We are almost done, my friend," I agreed, pushing my thoughts form earlier away to ponder another day.
"The St. Anne's Church?"
"It is as good a place as any."
It took us almost an entire hour to get that stupid piece of paper and hear that Talal was most likely to run when we confronted him. Altair had almost broken cover when the man we had been listening to kept checking his pouch with paranoia. Even I was getting impatient and finally when Altair and I took a break and read the map it was what we needed and more.
"Finally. Now we must speak to Malik," Altair said though I saw how his hands tightened on the paper he held.
"Relax, Altair," I soothed. "We have more than enough information to be granted a feather. All you need to do is be—"
"LET ME GO!"
Altair and I both turned to see four guards dragging a man with them. A man who was kicking and fighting with the ferocity of a feral cat. One guard glared at all the people looking thanks to the shout as another guard thumped the struggling man on the head to knock him out. "What are you looking at?" he demanded. "There is nothing here for you. Move along our you'll all be arrested."
It was more instinct than anything that made Altair and I assume our scholar appearance. The other citizens also scattered with speed and the guards went on their way. "Hmm," I hummed, watching the guards out of the corner of my eye. "Altair, do you think you can make it back to the Bureau on your own?"
"Do not insult me," my friend spat. "Of course I can. What do you intend to do? Shop?"
"To follow them," I answered nonchalantly.
"What? Why?"
"Look at the man's clothes, Altair. He is from the Rich District. Why is he being dragged all the way down here even if he did commit a crime?" I watched the guards disappear around the corner before blinking into my Eagle Vision and seeing the gold trail that I would follow.
"You think Talal is involved," Altair said, stating the phrase instead of asking.
"Yes. If he isn't then I'll find you before you go to Talal. If I'm right I'll already be there."
Altair grunted. "Be careful," he murmured so quietly I almost missed it.
Turning back, I saw a green Altair and smiled a bit, not that he could see it. "You as well, my friend. I will see you soon. Be civil with Malik." And with that I left before Altair could retort, following the winding trail of gold amongst a sea of grey with specks of red.
The trail led me right to the area we knew Talal was hiding. Kudos to me, I was right. "Now, how to get over?" I asked myself as I regarded the heavily guarded entrance to the walled off section of the city and the high walls. In particular I eyed the buildings pressed to the wall. They were just high enough that I might be able to climb over them. I just needed to be careful of the archers positioned up there. Calling up the mental image of the guards map, I made my way over to one building in particular and scaled it, knowing that most of the time the other archers couldn't see the one I was approaching.
I climbed over the edge with ease, ignoring the questionable murmuring from the citizens below me, and approached the oblivious archer while checking to make sure no one could see me. Once I knew I was in the clear, I loudly cleared my throat and the archer spun around like expected. In a flash my hidden blade was buried in his chest and I was lowered the body to the ground. With my only obstacle out of the way, I regarded the wall in front of me. It was only about ten feet fall now, but with little to now handholds. I would have to just throw myself up and hope I grabbed it.
But after to tries and two fails I huffed. If I spent much more time here then I would surely get spotted. Looking around briefly, I slowly maneuvered my wings out of my back and robes and fanned them out only slightly. Then, taking a running start, I placed a foot on the wall, jumped and flapped my wings only once, propelling me to just reach the edge. With a grunt of effort, I hauled myself up slowly while pulling my wings back in again.
Slipping down on to another roof, I quickly hid behind a roof top garden and used my Eagle Vision once more to take stock of the situation. The number of archers would seriously limit my movements on the roofs but as soon as I reached the ground I would be better posing as a scholar. After a minute of watching the archers, I jumped off the roof, turning as I did so to catch handholds and slow my decent until I had both feet on the ground and hands folded in prayer. It was moments like this that I felt this exhilarated without flying. Passing by without taking notice and blending in where in where I shouldn't; this is what I trained for.
With a smirk on my face I quickly located the golden trail once more and followed it to a warehouse in particular. The door was mysteriously left open, but it was most likely do to the idiot guards. They never were a bright bunch. Ignoring the slight sinking feeling in my stomach I entered the building and immediately sunk in with the shadows.
The place was filthy. With barely any torches in this place I was glad I didn't know what I was stepping in as I passed cages with people in them, watching me with dark sunken in eyes, but not saying anything. I was aiming for another door when a hand suddenly shot up from the floor near me. My hidden blade came out on instinct before I realized there was a metal grate in the floor and a man was down there. The same man I saw earlier.
"Help me!" he pleaded and I knelt down, waving a hand and gesturing for him to be silent. He did so immediately, watching as I tugged at the metal grate until I found the lock keeping it down.
"I'll be back soon," I promised before rising and moving on. The wooden door did not require a key and the second it started opening I stopped. This was not right. Not right at all. It was too easy.
There was a noise behind me and I spun just in time to catch a sword coming down on my head with my hidden blade. Gritting my teeth, I shoved the guard off before reaching for my throwing knives. I froze as I felt the kiss of metal on my throat.
"I would not do that, Assassin," the man behind me hissed and i growled at the thought that I had forgotten the door and had been snuck up on. I was dead. So dead. No. I just had to get out of this. I wouldn't be a Master Assassin if I went down from little tricks like this. When my robes were tugged backwards, I went with the man, eyeing the guard in front of me. We came to an open area with a wooden ring along the wall acting as a second floor.
I went with it as I was suddenly spun around and was face-to-face with Talal. This guy had to be him because who else would have such an authoritative air and such different dress. This was the guy in charge. Though It was curious how he had a long bow slung over his shoulder instead of a sword on his hip.
"Are you here to kill me, Assassin?" Talal asked coldly.
I snorted in amusement. "As if. I'm here to observe."
"Obviously not very well if you were caught," Talal pointed out calmly, adjusting the quiver over his shoulder, glancing at a nearby door.
"Obviously very well if this is my third time here," I lied. My lying rule only applied with allies in my mind. I could lie all I wanted to with this man.
"Third?" the archer demanded in shock before poorly hiding it. Finally he scowled and looked to the man holding me. "Put him in that cage over there. We'll take him to Acre."
"I'm not going any God damn—"
I was cut off as something hit my head. I grunted and dropped to one knee, struggling to fight off the urge to close my eyes. "You motherless toad," I growled, glaring up dizzily. "I'm going to—"
I was hit on the other side of my head and it was with a snap that everything went dark. I didn't even remember hitting the ground.
—Altair's POV—
Altair dropped into the Assassin's Bureau, took a deep breath, and then entered the inner room of the building. "Malik," he called just before stepping over the threshold, careful to keep his tone neutral and emotionless despite the tightness in his chest.
The former- Assassin looked up from the map he was scribbling on and instantly scowled. "Come to waste more of my time?" he demanded, dipping his quill with a steady hand.
Be civil, be civil, be civil, Altair mentally chanted. He needed to get back to Shahin as soon as possible. He had a bad feeling, one that persisted since the woman Assassin had left his side. It was like his forewarning when a storm was coming in. Choose your words carefully. Now that sounded a lot like his friend and effectively eliminated any thoughts of snapping at his former friend. "I've found Talal. I'm ready to begin my mission."
"That is for me to decide," Malik spat and Altair felt the invisible band around his chest tighten.
He looked down and to the side before he pride demanded that he straighten his back and look Malik in the eye even if the man was focused on his map. "Very well. Here's what I know. He traffics in human lives, kidnapping Jerusalem's citizens and selling them into slavery. His base is a warehouse in the Barbican North of here. As we speak he prepares a caravan for travel." And Shahin is investigating a hive of potential enemies. Altair shook off that thought and steeled himself to continue. "I'll strike when he's inspecting his stock. If I can avoid his men, Talal himself should prove little challenge." There, that didn't sound too bad. Not accusatory or venous in the least.
"'Little challenge'?" Malik repeated. But it sounded arrogant, that voice like Shahin's spoke up and he ruthlessly pushed the voice aside. There was nothing arrogant about it! It was a fact. The news that the man was a coward and was likely to run proved that. "Listen to you!" Malik continued, waving his arm. "Such arrogance."
"Are we finished?" Altair demanded, shifting his weight. He really did feel like he should be moving, flying away from this storm. After retrieving his companion bird that is. "Are you satisfied with what I've learned?"
Malik straightened from his paper and gave him such a vicious glare that he couldn't recognize he long-time friend. "No," he murmured. "But it will have to do." He pulled out the feather and set it on the counter. Altair stalked forward and was just about to swipe it and run for the Barbican area when Malik's only hand covered the feather, causing the former-Master Assassin to hesitate and look at the man in question. "Where is Al-Hira?" he asked, the first sentence that wasn't dripping in hate.
Altair blinked at the sudden change and blurted, "He went ahead, following a lead."
Suspicion lingered in those dark eyes before the hand moved and allowed the feather to be snatched. "Do not betray this man as you did me, Altair," he ordered, the only hate present in his eyes.
The feather crumbled in gloved hand before it was shoved into a pocket. For some reason the words to deny any betrayal couldn't leave his lips. His breath even froze in his throat. "I don't intend to," he whispered after a long pause. Malik nodded and went back to work.
Altair turned and fled the Bureau, heading North. As he got closer and closer to his destination, the weight in his stomach became more and more uncomfortable, easing only a small bit when he found the dead archer his companion had obviously killed before climbing over the wall, though how his smaller companion managed it when he needed his extra strength to climb the stone was beyond him.
Recalling the map, he made his way to a nondescript building with an open wooden door. Before he entered the building he scanned the street and roofs. Where was Shahin? She was obviously here, but why hasn't she met up with him yet? After debating it for a minute he crossed the street and entered the building. Shahin was around and would show up sooner or later.
His nose wrinkled at the obvious lack of care of the room he was in and his heart jumped when the wooden door behind him suddenly closed. He spun, ready to fight only to see a closed door. It had been closed from the outside. Someone knew he was here and wanted him here.
A trap.
Altair growled before switching to, as Shahin called it, Eagle Vision and glaring through the darkness. Empty eyes of kidnapped citizens stared back, but he stalked past them without a second glance, moving to the only other door.
"Wait!" a voice hissed, a hand waving from a metal grate in the floor. "Don't go in there!"
"And why shouldn't I?" Altair whispered, looking down at the filthy man. He looked vaguely familiar.
The hands gripped the metal grate and eyes desperately met his. "Your friend came through not long ago," he replied and Altair stiffened. Shahin had actually gone in here without him? "Two guards came in and got your white-robed friend, holding a knife to his throat. They went through that door and nothing has happened since."
Altair looked at the door silently, wishing he could see beyond it and if Shahin was there. How could Shahin get caught? It was a ridiculous thought. Forgetting the man, Altair took a deep breath before letting loose a long trill, hoping to call Shahin's attention if she was near. For an entire minute he got only silence in reply. Heart sinking, he trilled again.
The sudden shriek of alarm caused him to jump in his skin. The shrill shriek changed to a wobbly call of predators/many/flee before there was a crash of metal on metal and Shahin's voice broke through the wall. "Damn you all to hell! I'll kill you! You will wish you never dared to touch me when I get through with you! I swear it!" There was another clang of metal and Shahin's rant got cut off.
Heart beating fast, Altair threw caution to the wind and burst through the door. He took in the large open room quickly and zoomed in on the metal cage on the upper deck where Shahin was swaying, one hand holding her head. He followed her furious gaze to the man standing just out of her reach and saw Talal.
Despite looking pale and throwing many glances at the trapped Shahin and his guards, his voice was steady as he spoke. "You should not have come here, Assassin," he called.
Altair glanced at Shahin who was now fiddling with the door to her cage. He felt momentary confusion. Why had she not loosed her throwing knives at the man? Or the guards? Why did she just sit there? Focusing back on his target, Altair tried to only think about the mission. It was another step in his redemption after all. "What now, slaver?" he demanded, looking at the assembled guards on the same floor as he.
"Do not call me that!" the archer snapped before calming. "I only wish to help them." He looked at Shahin obviously and his friend actually hissed at the man like a cat, causing the man to flinch and steady once more. "As I myself was helped."
"You do no kindness imprisoning them like this," Altair retorted, eyeing how Shahin was watching him, waiting. What was she waiting for?
The archer looked honestly confused. "Imprisoning them? I keep them safe. Preparing them for the journey that lies ahead."
"Keeping me safe?" Shahin spat, glaring at the archer. "I do not need anyone to keep me safe! Let me out of this cage and I'll show you just how I would do so." The cage rattled dangerously with the strength of Shahin's efforts and Talal seemed to physically stop himself from taking a step back.
"Both of you were foolish to come here," he said, trying to continue. "To ignore the unbarred doors and unprotected halls. You two are truly without sense to not recognize a trap."
Altair stiffened and growled before pointing an accusing finger at the man. "Come down here and fight me with honor!" he ordered.
And he laughed. "Why must it always come to violence?" he asked in a condescending tone before sobering up. "It seems I cannot help you, for you do not wish to help yourself." As he said this he waved the two guards that we standing behind Shahin's cage forward. His friend turned and watched them warily, but didn't fight, eyes glued to Altair. "And I cannot allow my work to be threatened. You leave me no choice. You must die. The both of you must die."
Then the guards on the first floor drew their swords and charged Altair. Then the two guards by Shahin placed their hands on her cage and pushed. Altair only had time to see Shahin begin to free fall off the second floor before having to face his opponents.
It was with long time practice and precision that he dispatched his opponents as fast as he did before looking over to Shahin's cage, toppled over on to its side. It was empty. Before fear could take place—seriously, why was he afraid for Shahin? He shouldn't even care—a voice shouted for him. "Come on, Altair! He's getting away!"
Looking up he saw Shahin on the second floor, bent over with a hand extended towards him, waiting to help him up. Getting the message, he sheathed his sword and sprinted at Shahin. He leapt up and caught the hand, allowing Shahin to haul him up with her strength alone. "He went up the ladder," Shahin told him before sprinting ahead of him, taking the ladder two rungs at a time.
Altair followed close behind, looking around for his fleeing target. "There!" he shouted, seeing the red back drop down from a roof. His feet were moving before he could even think about it, knowing that Shahin was right behind him, though why she didn't pass him with her superior sped was only a passing question. He had his prey in his sights and he wasn't about to let him go.
And Talal, for all the coward he was, couldn't run forever.
Then he made his mistake. Everyone knew that if you had a choice, take the high ground. And yet his man dropped from the roofs of Jerusalem to the streets of the holy city, allowing Altair to tail him from above and, when he turned into a courtyard, leap from the roof with hidden blade out and land on top of his prey talons/feet first, slicing his neck open with his beak/blade.
Turning him over, time slowed down as those eyes met his. Talal knew he was done for. "You've nowhere to run," he murmured to the dying man. "Share your secrets with me." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Shahin drop to the ground, flinging throwing knives at nearby guards while drawing her knives. He could speak with Talal for a short time knowing that Shahin had his back.
"My part is played," Talal coughed. "The Brotherhood is not so weak that my death will stop its work."
Altair jolted. "What Brotherhood?" The only Brotherhood he knew about was the Assassin's Brotherhood. Was there another group at play in the holy land?
The dying man seemed not to hear him. "Al Mualim is not the only one with designs upon the holy land." The eyes flicked back to Altair and the Assassin knew the man was not just death-rambling, but clearly speaking to him with purpose. "And that's all you'll have from me."
The instinctive scowl found its way to his face. "Then we are finished. Beg forgiveness from our God."
There was a bitter bloody laugh form Talal. "He's long abandoned us. Long abandoned the men and women I took into my arms."
"What do you mean?"
"Beggars, whores, addicts, lepers. Do they strike you as proper slaves? Unfit for the most menial tasks? No. I took them not to sell, but to save. And yet you'd kill us all." Talal looked near tears as he explained and Altair resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably for some reason. "For no other reason than it was asked of you."
That didn't make sense! This man had been taking people from the Rich District to sell for the war between Saladin and Richard. "No, you profit from the war, from the lives lost and broken."
Talal smiled, and there was forgivenessthere. "Yes, you would think that, as ignorant as you are. You and your companion only follow the orders given to you by one you trust. War defined me. They it's what your kind do best. Do you see the irony in all this?" Altair did shift uncomfortably as those eyes searched his before darkening with disappointment and his took in a shaky breath. "No. Not yet it seems. But you will."
As the eyes of the man turned to glass Altair took the feather from his pouch and smeared the life blood of the man on it. Deeply troubled by the archer's last words, he stood up and turned to see his companion kicking off a guard before spinning to stab another who thought to grab her cape, though she got no chance to retaliate as Altair struck the man down first.
Golden eyes narrowed at him from under the hood. "I had him!" she exclaimed.
"And you will have many more if we do not move now," Altair snapped back, watching the new wave of guards coming at them. With an audible growl, Shahin pushed past him and climbed up the nearest wall, taking the high ground.
Altair followed and it was only a short time later that they hid in a bale of hay, still and barely breathing. As time passed as did thunder guard boots and shouts, Altair saw a trickle of blood down Shahin's cheek and the shakiness with which the woman held herself still with. Slowly, he reached out to ask where she was hurt when the golden eyes glared at him. Altair stopped, frozen by the sudden hostility, but it was forgotten as he saw the different sizes of his friend's pupils even in the shadiness of the hay. A concussion.
Backing off, but carefully watching his friend, they waited for the guards to pass and the city bell to stop ringing before exiting their hiding spot. When Shahin swayed he silently gripped her arm to support her, only to be shaken off. "I don't need help," she snapped.
"And yet you can barely stand straight," he replied coolly. He couldn't tell if she was shaking form rage or from the effort of standing.
"I'm fine."
"The blood on your face says otherwise."
"I'm fine!"
Altair sighed and eyed Shahin, thinking of the best way to approach this. He could try it the way he instinctively wanted to do or follow the advice of the still persistent voice that-sounded-like-Shahin-but-wasn't-Shahin. Finally he sighed again before sitting down. Shahin looked at him for a moment, neither saying anything, and then sat down as well.
For quite some time they sat in the fading sun, watching for any guards that may see them in the open. "You want to tell me what happened?" Altair asked a while later. Shahin huffed and said nothing, pulling her hood down lower. What Altair was supposed to do in face of this new side of Shahin, he didn't know. Honestly, he thought the woman never really got angry and least of all with her friends. Something must have set her off back with Talal. "Shahin," he tried again, consciously calling up his patience and thinking hard on every word. "Something's bothering you and I just want to help." When still he got no response he changed tactics. "Please, Shahin."
After a minute where Altair nearly gave up, Shahin turned ever so slightly. "Fine," the woman murmured. "I made a mistake, alright?" Altair frowned at the sudden quietness in his friend's tone. Was it normal for woman to swing from anger to…not anger so quickly? "I didn't notice it was a trap. I forgot the door was behind me while I was handling a guard and got snuck up on. I got put in a God damn cage as a result."
Thoughts spun furiously in Altair's head as Shahin went silent. "We all make mistakes," he blurted, feeling very awkward. Really, what was he supposed to say? "I mean, look at where I am and what I did. At least you didn't make a mistake that cost dozens of lives."
Shahin was quiet. "You don't care?"
Ah. There was the question. He knew he shouldn't care. That lesson was one Malik seemed to be enforcing more than ever right now, but did he really care? That was a question that took almost no thought. "Yes, I care," he answered. Surprisingly, there was no weight in his stomach at the admittance. He watched as Shahin seemed to shrink in on herself at his answer. "I was scared when I found out you'd been caught," he continued. "And when you called back in alarm it was almost as bad as when you fell out of the sky."
Shahin straightened and spun to look at him more fully. "I was asking if you cared that I made a mistake," she clarified.
Heat burst in Altair's cheeks. Oh, well. He had just admitted to something he could've ignored for a while yet longer. To hide, the former-Master Assassin turned his head so the shadows hid his face. "Everyone makes mistakes." Just saying the words brought up a memory and he looked back at the woman. "Didn't you once tell me that?"
Shahin's teeth clicked together before she chuckled. "I really have no reason to be upset, do I?"
Altair frowned before shrugging. "If I were you I wouldn't be upset about it. But then you're not me."
"Which is probably a good thing," Shahin shot back and Altair relaxed a bit in hearing the teasing in her voice. "God forbid there be two arrogant Assassins let loose on the Holy Land."
Altair smirked a bit and stood up, holding out a hand. "It's not arrogance when everything you say is true."
"Oh so you're always right?" Shahin swayed a little as she gained her feet but didn't shake Altair this time. "Because if you are I fear for everyone."
"Did you take a harder hit to the head than I thought?" Altair asked jokingly. "I don't believe you've ever been this teasing."
"I don't know about strength, that part is a little fuzzy, but I know I got two hits to the head. Not one."
"Two?" Altair watched closely as they jogged across the roof tops to the surprisingly near Assassin's Bureau. "Are you sure you're okay with running? How's your eyesight?"
"Eh. It's a little fuzzy."
"Then you're okay," he called in all seriousness.
Shahin's laughter drifted over the air as they reached the roof of the Bureau. "You know I didn't need your help," she called. "With that last guard I mean."
"I know."
"Good. Because I swear if you think you need to do things for me just because you know…well, you know then there will be problems."
"It never crossed my mind."
"The same way it never crossed your mind to blackmail me?"
"Shahin," Altair growled warningly and Shahin smirked a bit before leaping the last bit of distance to the Bureau roof.
"Whoa," Shahin murmured as she came to a stop at the lip of the roof entrance, wind milling her arms to keep balance before dropping into the Bureau with less than her usual grace. "I think I'm just going to sleep," she murmured, heading for her makeshift nest and clutching her head. "Keep your agreement with Malik down a little bit, okay?"
"No," Altair barked, jumping forward and grabbing Shahin's arm as all teasing and joking vanished. "No sleeping for you and that concussion."
"I'm fine," Shahin said as she slowly sat in her nest.
"What's going on?" Malik asked as he came out, glaring at Altair half-heartedly when most of his attention was focused on Shahin.
"He has a concussion," Altair answered while Shahin tugged her hood down further.
Malik strode forward and instantly pushed back Shahin's hood, ignoring the woman-in-hiding's protests. Altair was ready to snap at Malik if he made a comment about his friend's long hair, but relaxed minutely when he only brushed aside some of it gently, following the trail of blood to the original wound. "Hmm," he mused. "Altair, fetch me some water, cloth, and the small green clay pot." The orders were so off-hand that Altair didn't recognize them right away before jolting and walking away. He came back a minute later to find Malik softly talking to himself, a habit he couldn't seem to shake from childhood despite years of training to be silent.
"He was hit twice," Altair offered, watching as Shahin watched him and Malik with mostly alert eyes.
"I am aware, Son of None," Malik replied with a bite before kneeling down and dipping the cloth in the water and cleaning away the blood. "You need to be more careful, Al-Hira. We do not need a Brother who is getting hurt all the time."
"I appear to be on a losing streak, don't I?" Shahin mused, looking as thoughtful as a hazy person could. "My head has been getting hit a lot. Back in Damascus in the scaffolding. With those blasted bandits. And now. Twice now."
Malik snorted in something that wasn't quite amusement. "Try not to get hit from now on. It's my understanding that you are to go back to Masyaf before continuing to Acre. Rest then." He peered at a wound before asking, "Bandits?"
"Oh, dreadful bunch those men." Shahin wrinkled her nose in an almost cute display of disgust. "Then Altair and I scared them to death. Our poor horses." Malik looked over his shoulder at Altair as Shahin went on in tangent about her horse. Altair offered no response to the slightly amused glance.
Malik was only able to silence his companion by shoving a bit of grass he pulled from his clay jar into Shahin's mouth. He clamped the Master Assassin's jaw shut at the reflexive choke/spit action and glared at the Master Assassin until she meekly swallowed the herb. Shahin glared at Malik when her mouth was released. "I should slap you for that, Malik. Treating me like that. No respect whatsoever."
"Is there a reason he is so…strange?" Altair asked, finally getting over his amusement of his friend's behavior to be concerned.
Malik shrugged. "It was a hit to the head. Not even I know what it can do to a man. The herb I gave him will allow him to sleep with no danger and hopefully wake up as his usual self."
"'Hopefully'?"
Malik glared as he gathered up the supplies with surprising ease, heading back to the inner room. "I am not as arrogant as you are, Altair. I know my limits and do not promise what I cannot control." There was a disgusted snort that came from the dark man. "To think you used to be a Master Assassin. You woke up the entire city with your work. Does the word 'subtly' mean nothing to you?"
"I have no reason to explain myself to you," Altair growled, careful to keep his voice low, glancing back at where Shahin was laying down.
"Fine then," Malik spat, going around his counter. "Explain yourself to the Master as you seem to answer to no one but him." Altair couldn't help the little laugh that left him. And it instantly earned him another glare. "Is something amusing?"
Altair shook his head. "Nothing of importance. Just a thought."
Malik straightened and regarded the man he once called his closest friend before looking back in Shahin's direction. "Strange company you keep, Altair." He held up a hand when he saw Altair open his mouth to respond. "I am not questioning it. No doubt the Master assigned Al-Hira to you or else he would not be here. But perhaps you are getting more than the Master intended."
"Are you insinuating that Shahin is doing my missions for me?" Altair nearly shouted.
Malik snorted again. "I know your pride would not allow for such a thing. And Al-Hira is too good of a man to do such a thing. I am merely saying that… No." Malik shook his head and lit a candle to work in the fading day light. "If you do not see it yet then I will not show you."
Altair shifted, half because he was reminded of Talal's last words and half because something was so obviously being kept from him. "Malik—"
"I will say no more tonight, Altair. Leave me and rest then leave me in peace until the Master sends you back here for yet another shallow attempt at redemption."
Altair's teeth snapped shut before he nodded silently and left to join Shahin. At the sight of his companion he couldn't help but smile a little. The woman was curled in a ball in her nest, using a few spare pillows to cover her head and shoulders. Careful to not awaken the Master Assassin, he shifted two pillows to allow more free air to the sleeping assassin before laying down just a little ways off.
As he stared at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of the city, Shahin breathing, and Malik's quill scratching his thoughts wandered. Questions spun. Chief among them was why Malik hadn't ousted his secret. If he had done so Al Mualim probably would not have completed the illusion of killing his pupil and allowing him a chance at redemption. If Malik had given out his wings and abilities he probably would've been openly executed in a rather painful manner and his former-friend would have had some form of closure for the loss of Kadar. So why hadn't he?
After a moment he looked to his sleeping friend. Shahin had seen it. Almost right away Shahin had been able to see what was going on. What would it be like to see with Shahin's eyes? Altair wondered. Shahin only seemed to need one look to know everything and yet there was that sadness that came with seeing. Despite the tradeoff, Altair couldn't help but wonder how Shahin saw him, Malik, and this whole problem.
. . . You know I never really understood why certain others in their AN at the end of the chapter would do the little *star* thing and head for their nuclear fallout bunker. Until now that is. I deserve all punishment for not writing for 7 months. SEVEN EFFIN' MONTHS. Not cool. Not in my book. And I have no excuses. EaHoM just dropped on my priorities and I couldn't write it. And I did, guys, I really did, but I couldn't get the inspiration to put the words to another chapter. It didn't feel write. Until yesterday. It just hit me and I began writing and I know it's not as long as the Tamir chapter, but if you combine all the Jerusalem chapters you get about the same length.
Shahin was being all over the place. I originally had it planned that she would freak out over the thought that he didn't think that she couldn't handle herself in a fight but it changed from that and morphed two issues together. Making a mistake and being able to fight. And I know Shahin is acting more drunk than concussed here towards the end, but I was feeling amused and wanted to transfer the feeling. Whoops. Oh well. It is what it is.
Well, here's the chapter and I hope you liked it.
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Safety and Peace, Brothers and Sisters.
*Slams door on bunker, taking laptop with*