Three

Sweat trickled down her temple, but Esma could not care less about it at the moment. With her heart beating viciously in her chest, she put a hand at the doorway of Maghrub's Saloon and used the other hand to hold her side. Gasping for breath she slightly bent forward and dropped her head. The strong scent of freshly baked bread and meat reminded her that she had reached the safe haven called home; it welcomed her inside.

After a few moments she finally caught her breath and looked up into the saloon; there were a few customers present, all of them oblivious to the fact that their substitute leader Majd Addin had been assassinated. Her father was behind the counter as usual. When he took notice of her presence at the door, he grinned.

"Peace upon you, Esma! Come inside!"

Esma quietly stepped inside, her heartbeat was still racing and her head pounded painfully. How was she going to tell them this terrifying news? Also, she didn't know where Maher was or whether he was unharmed. How would she explain that? She made her way to the kitchen numbly.

Then, without any thought she blurted out "Majd Addin is dead".

Maghrub's knife dropped to the counter with a sharp thud, the sound drawing the attention of the customers in the saloon; heads turned in curiosity. The older man's mouth stood agape and he shook his head as if to pull himself to reality. "What?" he sharply voiced. "Majd Addin is dead? How can this be? When did this happen?"

The murmuring in the saloon suddenly subsided: a rare silence overcame the room.

Esma's gaze nervously flicked around, painfully aware of the focus that had fallen upon her. "Someone assassinated him during the execution just now," she said, every syllable a hard task to push out.

As if on cue, the city bells suddenly began to ring urgently, confirming that the girl's words were no lie. Someone in the saloon roughly pushed his stool back and got up from his seat. Esma turned her head to look at the man and was taken by surprise when she saw the blissful expression on his face.

With his fist pumped into the air, the man grinned to Maghrub and Esma, "What a relief! Finally someone took care of that useless bastard!"

"The little bells ringing again," Maghrub muttered to himself, but when Esma's turned to look at him, he flinched as if he was caught on something. The man quickly cleared his throat and frowned. "Was it a rebel from the crowd?"

Esma cast her eyes down in thought. In a way Assassins were probably rebels, but certainly this was not what her father meant. "I don't know," Esma found herself answering, "when I arrived, the crowd suddenly erupted into chaos."

The murderer has dined in our saloon, the thought raced through her mind, but she was determined not to voice it as it would be certainly bad for business. Then there was also the fact that this particular Assassin seemed to have aided her to get rid of Maher's unwanted behaviour.

Maher!

"Father, I lost Maher in the crowd!" Esma exclaimed in worry.

"Oh dear Lord," Maghrub muttered while frowning heavily and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I never should have sent you two today."

Esma bit her lip at the thought of anything happening to her cousin. "The...the Lord has willed things to go like this, Father. I am sure Maher is unscathed." Suddenly she remembered the sheep that she was supposed to take to the butcher. She looked up at Maghrub in embarrassment and mumbled in a low voice, "I also lost the sheep".

"Never mind the sheep! That is of no importance at all." Maghrub rubbed his hands clean on a cloth and pulled the apron over his head. "I need to go find Maher."

"You are going out, Father?" Esma gasped. "But it is dangerous outside! The bells are still chiming loudly. The Ass—" she refrained herself just in time to say Assassin, "culprit must still be out there somewhere!"

"It can't be helped. It was I who sent him out today. How will I face your uncle Hasan if I cannot even make sure his son is safe?" Her father was right and she knew it, but the thought of anything happening to him was too unbearable: he was all she had.

"You would know best, Father," she finally said with a nod, though it was a reluctant one.

Maghrub stalked towards the saloon, his confidence apparent in his actions. "Brothers, I am sad to inform you that we are closing the saloon momentarily to go out and find our missing family member. I pray to the Lord that today's occurrence will bring more good than bad."

The man who had cheered so gladly before seemed to feel bad about his excitement now. "Oh, please forgive my inconsiderate behaviour, Maghrub. I will pray for you to quickly find your relative!"

"May the Lord reward you," Maghrub replied, but the usual bright grin was missing.

He saw the remaining customers out and barricaded the main entrance.

"Esma, I want you to stay here and wait. If Maher comes before me, wait at the saloon together for my return."

Esma clenched her fists. "Please, please be careful, Father. The atmosphere outside is terrible at the moment; especially at the Execution Plaza!"

"It would seem so," Maghrub replied, "but it can't be helped."

"Praise the Lord," Esma muttered as she watched her father go from the window. "Let them both be safe."

After a while Maher suddenly showed up at the window. He had to reach his arm inside and thump the wall to draw his cousin's attention. "Esma! Are you alright? What happened here? Where is Uncle?"

The girl immediately spun around, her messy braid swinging over her shoulder by the whirl, and hurried towards the window. "Maher! Peace be upon you, cousin! Praise the Lord that you are unscathed! My father went outside to look for you!" Without waiting for his reply she ran towards the side door and called, "I'll open the door for you, please wait!"

Esma met Maher's handsome face behind the opening door and realized that she had forgotten and forgiven her cousin's rude behaviour before the assassination already. She felt sincerely relieved to see him unharmed and well.

He quickly pushed inside past her. "What did Uncle say before he left? Do we have to wait here for him?"

Esma nodded and pushed her hands together in a worried gesture. When Maher closed the door behind them, the realization struck her that they were all alone in the deserted saloon. She swallowed dryly and looked up to the young man to gauge his state of mind; he seemed to be distracted by all the fuss over the assassination of Majd Addin. Who wouldn't be?

"What a day," Maher muttered to himself and ran a hand through his brown locks a few times, then his eyes snapped up to Esma. "Did Uncle say which way he went?"

"He did not, but I would guess he must have gone towards the Execution Plaza, seeing as you were sighted there last by me. But you should stay here and wait, Maher. It's no use to go out and search for Father. It would only become more complicated if you two kept missing each other's presence."

"That is true," Maher spoke and nodded in agreement. He seemed to relax a little. "Can you believe we witnessed the death of Majd Addin?"

"I couldn't quite make out what had happened," Esma said. "The people were all over the place." She looked down on her hands to see them trembling and defiantly clenched her fingers to stop from shaking.

"But still! It was so close! I don't know where you were at that time, but I was amidst the crowd when I suddenly heard screams of the people and the guards!" He threw his arms in the air to appear more convincing. "Unbelievable!"

"Yes, I agree," Esma nodded and averted her eyes.

Had that man in the white robe been the killer of Majd Addin? The Lord had willed this to happen, she told herself to soothe her fleeting thoughts. It was of no use to think about it now. But he pushed Maher away from me when he became too comfortable with me. Though there was no way in knowing whether the killer and the hooded Assassin were actually the same man.

Who was she kidding?

"Esma!" Maghrub's voice suddenly sounded at the window. "Has Maher returned—Maher!" The man's face folded in strange ways and then utter relief appeared on his visage. "Praise the Lord for your return, Maher!" he bellowed.

"Father!" Esma shot up from her seat. "Peace upon you, Father!"

"I am here, Uncle. Peace upon you!" Maher answered while he waved to attract his uncle's attention.

The older man left no room for hesitation and immediately shot towards the door, which was still unlocked after Maher had entered –Esma saw no reason to lock the doors when Maher was with her. If anything, she would feel more at a disadvantage being locked inside a room alone with him. She was glad to know that her father had returned to guarantee her safety with Maher around.

الله أكبر

Nights and days passed and the assassination on Majd Addin stayed the main topic in Jerusalem. Gossip had never been something Esma was font of, thus she made sure to stay in the back when others would chat about the administration and Majd Addin's widows. The most important political matters her father would make sure to enlighten her with. Esma felt no need to deliberately meddle herself into their affairs.

She was squatted in the herb garden as she tended to the plants. The sun was already setting and fell warmly against her face, causing her forehead to perspire. After a while, she let her arms rest against her knees and dropped her head into her lap, wiping the beads of sweat against her skirt. It was hot like any other day in Jerusalem. Just like on the day of Majd Addin's assassination. A knot of discomfort stirred in her belly and she closed her eyes, trying to get away from ghastly memories.

Another realization made her break away from her thoughts: Maher hadn't showed his face in a while. Thank the Lord for that. She appreciated a break from his pushy behaviour as his unwelcomed advances often had her on edge and she was perfectly content without them.

Her thoughts quickly trailed off to the Assassin again. She had expected his face to be engraved into her mind after all the suspicions she had had about the man, but she was surprised to note that she only could vaguely recall what he looked like after several days. The only thing that really stuck to her was the scar that ran across his lips and the dangerous weapons strapped to his distinctive, white robe. Those traits were more than enough to still recognize him from a tight crowd: she was certain of that.

With a weary sigh Esma got back to her feet and patted the dust from her long skirt. She knew better than to speak up about her suspicions. If word got out that Majd Addin's killer actually was part of the Assassins' Brotherhood, the entire Creed would probably plot revenge against her and her family. She shivered at the possibility and quickly made her way back to the door.

Half-way through the garden a shadow suddenly pulled over her, making Esma raise her brows at the strange occurrence. She whirled around to look for the source of the shadow, but instantly froze on spot when she noticed the tall silhouette standing on the wall of their back garden. His strong body was turned towards her, blocking the rays of light that should have fallen on her if he were not there. This man... it is Majd Addin's killer.

It was as if the realization slapped the girl in her face, knocking the breath out of her and making her blood run cold. Her eyes widened in scare and she staggered back.

He is going to kill you! Run, Esma! Even though his intentions seemed apparent to her, her body would not move an inch. She could only stand paralyzed, looking up to him in utter fear. He knew that she had recognized him during the execution and now he was here to finish her so word would not spread. What about Maher? Had he killed him as well? Was that why she hadn't heard of him these past days? Nausea worked its way to her throat and her head suddenly felt incredibly light, making the girl blindly reached behind her to find some sort of support to keep herself standing.

Then his body moved; in a graceful motion the man leaped off the wall, the cloth of his robe stocking upwards by the impact. With a muted thud, the Assassin landed on his feet in a crouching position, just for a second, before he rose to his feet reaching an intimidating full height. He approached her in such a serene manner that Esma felt momentarily confused by the situation. Should she run? Yes, she should, but she could not. She didn't dare moving as she knew for certain that turning her back to an Assassin would end up in an ugly course. She doubted she could get away either way. Then she felt the wall against her back as she had subconsciously shifted backwards while he advanced on her.

"Y-you—" Esma stuttered, 'killed Majd Addin', the words lay on the tip of her tongue, but she refrained herself from speaking them, "—were at our saloon the other day." With large, restless eyes she watched the silent man before her. She did not know why she talked and what she hoped to achieve with it. Her nerves made her form words that were beyond her control. "T-The entrance is the other way around," she uttered.

He stopped before her, there was enough distance between them to let her have her privacy, but it was definitely not far enough for her to try to escape in any way possible. From this distance the Assassin could easily dart forward to slit her throat in one simple, exerted motion. Esma swallowed harshly, her throat dry and painful by the simple action.

"Do not play dumb with me," he unexpectedly answered; his voice thick with impatience. "Have you told anyone?" He did not sound particularly angry, but it was of little comfort as the rest of his form seemed to emit hostility all over.

"What?"

While she had planned to keep her words to herself, her lips moved on their own and spoke her mind like an open book. Her heart painfully raced in her chest and the girl spread her hands against the cold stone in her back, her nails screeching over the grainy material. Have you told anyone? Was he talking about the assassination of Majd Addin at the plaza? Esma swallowed again, barely being able to look at him. The more she would remember his face, the more of threat she would be, right? She took a deep breath, cast her eyes down and shook her head. Would this answer satisfy him? Was he going to spare her life? Esma could not withhold herself anymore and snapped her eyes up to look at the hooded man, hoping to find some sort of form of sympathy on his face.

He stepped forward, trapping Esma between his powerful form and the wall. "Are you planning to tell anyone?" The impatience in his voice had disappeared. Somehow he sounded calmer and more sincere this time. It reminded her of the time that he ordered a glass of juice from her.

She shook her head. Her legs felt numb and weak. The pounding of her heart was so loud that she could hardly focus on the man's words, and then there was her heavy breathing, overruling even the beating of her heart.

"What reason do I have to trust you?" He breathed slowly, composed in deadly elegance.

Was there suspicion in his voice? Esma could not tell. She only knew that he was far too close if she would be able to hear him breathe. She pressed herself even further back against the wall behind her. He did not have any reason to trust her, a simple woman. Oh my Lord,she thought in exasperation and could almost feel her eyes roll into the back of her head. Fainting was not going to solve anything.It would all come down to this answer and she had to answer it well.

Her bottom lip quivered as she began to speak, "What... what drove you to assassinate the man?" This was it. Now it was confirmed that the man was Majd Addin's killer. In no way was he going to let her live after confessing this confidential information to her.

"Jerusalem has no needs for the likes of him," the man unexpectedly answered in a calm voice and he backed up a little, giving Esma room to breathe. "You must know what I am referring to."

The likes of Majd Addin... Corrupted politicians? "I think I do," Esma carefully said. "He would often convict innocents." Her green eyes looked up to the man before him, as if searching for an approval on her elaboration. "Despite that, you are from The Brotherhood. Weren't you ordered to kill him?" Oh Lord, why had reason abandoned her at such a crucial time? Anyone with brains knew not to confess to have knowledge of The Brotherhood, especially not when conversing with an Assassin.

There was a moment of silence which was so uncomfortable that it did not even occur to Esma that the man could stab her right here and now. He seemed too much in thought to perform any kind of attack.

The Assassin looked around the herb garden for a brief moment, before he answered, "Yes, but we do not kill in vain. Remember that. You'd do well to keep quiet about the matter. It will aid us in achieving our goal." His amber-coloured eyes lingered on her face, but Esma barely noticed his gaze as his words seemed to have struck a sensitive nerve within her.

"Aid you in your goal?" she asked in disbelief, fear seemed to have left her body momentarily. "Which goal do you plan to achieve through murder? That is not the straight path!" Oh my Lord, Esma, stop it!But she would not stop. "How can you speak so certainly of not killing in vain? Only the Lord knows such a thing! It is arrogance that drives The Brotherhood—" Her words stalked in her throat as the man stepped forward ominously.

Scream? Fight? Drop to the ground? Esma squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She was going to die; there was no doubt about that. The chance for a correct answer the Assassin had given her had been wasted by her. Oh Lord, please guide me... she prayed while she pressed her ice-cold hands together in a desperate gesture.

Slowly, she sunk to the ground by her weakened knees. There was rustling, indicating that the Assassin had come even closer. Her body froze at the sound. Then there was his warm breath against her cheek, "You must keep silent about the matter". His voice was gentle, but the sudden closeness made Esma jerk away and accidentally knock her head against the stone wall beside her. Her eyes sprang open with tears. Violation even before my death, she thought in indignation.

The man stepped back, he seemed to be taken aback by the situation for a moment, but then quickly composed himself. His next question came as a complete surprise to Esma, "Are you alright?"

Esma stared at him with her mouth agape. What?

"You seem alright," the man answered his own question. He then turned around and jumped on the wall with such ease that Esma felt some strange kind of admiration for a moment. He turned once more to look at her, his gaze sending chills down her back.

The next moment he was gone.

Esma slowly reached for her head and rubbed over the part where she had smacked against the wall. Her eyes shifted to the wall which the Assassin had just climbed over as if he had never visited. She touched her cheek; he had been so close that she had even felt his breath against her skin. Disgusting? That did not seem to be the right word. Perhaps she was still too perplexed to feel the right emotions since she had not expected to come out of this alive. Esma sighed and closed her eyes. Praise the Lord.

Beta reader: Novoux

Author notes: I need to finish the game when my tests are over (yes, yes, I am evading my necessary responsibilities), because I am really curious how Altaïr's personality unfolds throughout the games. Anyway! Hope you guys liked it. I enjoyed writing it anyhow –even though I should not be at the moment.

UPDATE: Completely revised the chapter, added a good 2000+ words to the chapter. Hope it to be betaed as well in the future.