Definitions:

Alhamdullilah = praise the Lord

Four

The sun was hot, the air dry. Esma squinted her eyes as she walked down the streets, accompanied by the delightful Naveen, an old Qur'an classmate of hers. Both carried a water pot on their heads. It required the most precise balancing skill, but it had become like second nature to both women. They made their way to their homes chatting and laughing.

"So I told him there and then that I was not interested," Naveen said happily.

"Just like that? Such a blunt woman you are, Naveen!"

The person they were discussing was a young man who had proposed to Naveen. Even though he had approached her father prior, Naveen was keen enough to catch up with the news and turn him down with the reason being he was only twenty years old and still lived with his parents and siblings. The biggest reason was she just didn't like him.

"No, no, no," Naveen countered, "it's not blunt to stand up for yourself. I call it honest. You have to treat yourself with respect because if you won't, others sure won't either."

Esma pulled a face, not quite agreeing with her friend. "Of course you treat yourself with respect, but the key to being treated with respect is treating others with respect."

Naveen was quiet for a moment, obviously thinking over the statement. "Yes, I agree with that," she finally said. She would have nodded if not for the pot on her head. Then she grinned and looked at Esma cheekily, "What's your cousin Maher like?"

"Maher?" Esma repeated in surprise. He would not be her first choice to introduce to other people, but since Naveen asked, she obliged and began to describe the man, "He is quite the helping hand," she said, pondering over further good traits of him. She made a mental note to name his bad traits as well to give an accurate description. "He is the loud type, not shy to express himself. I also think he is stubborn, perhaps a little arrogant."

"What about women? How does he treat them?" Naveen seemed eager to hear about him.

How did Maher treat women? "He's alright around women, I suppose. Though sometimes I feel he might need a bit more self-control."

"Oh," Naveen said in disappointment, "and he was such a looker too… Do you think he'll change once he finds the woman of his life?"

"If the Lord wills it," Esma answered.

"There's nothing going on between you two, right?" Naveen asked carefully.

"Nothing at all. If you want, I could ask my father to arrange a meeting with Maher for you."

Naveen's face instantly lit up. "Really? You'd do that? That'd be great!" She slowed her tracks, forcing Esma follow her example in order to keep up with her, "I have go this way, but is it okay if I come to your house after I deliver the water?"

Esma smiled. "Yes, of course, you are always welcome! Don't ask for permission, just come by when you feel like it. Our doors are always open for you, unless we are out of course," she laughed.

"Praise to the Lord, you are beautiful inside and out, Esma!"

"Alhamdulillah. So are you, Naveen."

الله أكبر

"Peace upon you, Father," Esma greeted as she walked inside their house. The saloon was empty as she put down the pot and wiped the sweat of her forehead with the back of her hand.

Maghrub sat on a chair, poking a siwaak between his teeth, but when he saw Esma he cracked a grin. "Peace upon you as well, dear!" He got up from his chair to pick up the water pot his daughter had brought, "It is too warm today, don't like this kind of weather."

"People will come later on the day, if the Lord wills it," Esma replied. "It's cooler inside than outside anyway. Also, Naveen said she wanted to come by today."

"Ghalid's daughter? Sure. She's welcome anytime."

"Yes, that's her." Esma leaned on the counter as she watched her father go to the washing room. "She said she was interested in getting to know Maher. Do you think you could arrange something for her?"

"Really?" Maghrub was surprised by his daughter's odd request. "How nice! I'll let your uncle know about it. Perhaps we could have dinner sometime."

"I think she'd like that very much."

Esma rolled her sleeves up and started gathering ingredients for sweets. She had craved for almond basbousa for days and today she finally had some time to make them. She started grounding the almond to fine pieces.

"What are you going to bake?" Maghrub enquired upon entering the room.

"Some varied sweets. Should I bake a lot for sale?"

"No, that's alright, but you might want to bake some extra we could hand out to others."

Esma nodded as she took in what her father had to say, "Good idea."

The sweets were already in the oven when Naveen arrived. "Peace upon you!" she called to Maghrub and Esma. She breathed the odour in extravagantly and pulled a satisfied face. "Smells delicious. Almonds?"

"Varied sweets. You can be the taster," Esma winked.

"Praise the Lord! I'm honoured," Naveen grinned. She looked around her and said, "There's no one here yet today".

"Yes, yes," Maghrub answered with a hint of impatience, he waved with his siwaak. "If the Lord wills it, there will be costumers today."

Naveen looked at her friend with a wide smile. "Is Maher coming by today?" Esma could tell that she was doing little to hide her enthusiasm.

"Not that I know of," Maghrub offered. "He comes by every Thursday to help me carry the goods. Other days he comes by unannounced."

Naveen leaned towards Esma. "Are the unannounced times often?"

"Usually Fridays with his father and Mondays alone."

"How fun!" Naveen squeaked in delight.

Not quite, Esma mentally noted. Maher was hard to deal with, but fortunately he wasn't obnoxious all the time. She stood up from her stool to remove the sweets from the oven. "You'll have to wait till they are cooled down," she said to Naveen.

"Well of course. Who do you take me for? That's common knowledge!"

A sudden sound at the door made them all look up, especially Maghrub, as he had been waiting for customers the entire day. He slapped a towel over his shoulder and quickly made his way to the door. "Peace upon you, brother!" he called to the man that had entered the saloon.

Esma's breath faltered at the sight. She watched as her father led him to a table with a wide smile. She clenched her fists and bit down on her lower lip. Do not act out of the ordinary, Esma…She stared at the broad back of the man. With each second that passed she could feel her heartbeat become louder. Without a doubt it was him.

Sounds were blurred together in a muted noise. She vaguely heard Naveen's voice in the back of her mind. Suddenly a hand was on her leg. Esma looked up to see Naveen eyeing her in worry. "Are you alright?" her friend asked in concern.

Esma opened her mouth, but no words would come out as her mind was still focused on Majd Addin's killerin their restaurant. Her eyes shot towards her father, who was having a friendly chat with the man, unaware of the knowledge she possessed.Oh Lord. She abruptly stood up as she took two steps towards the saloon before she stopped again, unable to make the additional distance between them. Her father needed to get away from the man. Esma leaned on the counter and watched the two men like a hawk.

"Esma!" Naveen called. "You are acting weird. What's going on?"

"You should lower your gaze, Naveen," Esma said on edge.

"What?" Naveen voiced in confusion. "What are you talking about? You're the one who's watching your father and the man like you're going to jump them. Shouldn't you be lowering your gaze?"

Why was he taking so long? He needed get away from that dangerous person! She made her way to the two men, but paused halfway, standing in hesitation, but then her father turned around, wearing a smile on his face. When he noticed his daughter, he raised his eyebrows in question as he made his way to her.

"What is the matter, Esma?"

Esma cringed at the pronunciation of her name in hearing distance of their so-called customer. She grabbed her father's wrist and pulled him back to the kitchen. "Father, I…" What was she doing? She couldn't possibly tell him about her suspicions. She'd endanger them all if she did. Finally, she lost her nerve and made up an excuse to cover for her strange actions, "I really feel like stretching my legs today. Please let me serve the man."

Naveen and Maghrub looked at each other before turning to her sceptically. The older man rubbed his beard. "Is there something going on between you two?" he asked in suspicion.

Naveen gave her friend the 'what have you done?' look.

"What?" Esma said offended, but she could feel her cheeks colour to the accusation. "I don't even know who that man is. I was honest in my words! Why would you suspect me of something like that?"

Naveen decided not to mingle into their affairs any further and retreated to check up on the sweets.

Maghrub hesitated for a moment. "I thought you were interested in another man, seeing as Maher told me you've been very distant with him."

"Are you kidding me, Father?" Esma asked incredulously. What did Maher have to do with this? Of all times! There was a murderer in their restaurant and here they stood discussing about Maher? "I really do not feel like talking about Maher right now," she immediately stated. She glanced at the broad back of the Assassin. "What has he ordered?"

Maghrub cleared his throat. "You are right. This is not the time to be discussing such matter." He walked to his counter and pulled out a piece of meat from the cooled pot. Lamb again. "He wanted amrood juice. Can you cut the fruit?"

"Yes, of course," Esma answered. She looked to Naveen who stood by the sweets, but her eyes were obviously focused somewhere else. More precise: she was ogling the Assassin. An uncomfortable feeling took hold of Esma. She quickly pulled out the knife for the amrood to distract herself, but found her gaze worriedly linger on the Assassin's back shortly after again. Why was he here? Was his presence a warning aimed towards her?

Suddenly she felt a sharp sting in her fingers. One look at the cutting plank and she knew she had cut herself. She mentally berated herself for not putting her mind to her work and allowing her mind to wander. The amrood was now coloured red by her blood. She pulled a face and reached for a towel.

"Oh Esma! You cut yourself!" Naveen exclaimed when she noticed the blood. She rushed to her side.

"It's alright. Please keep your voice down." Her eyes nervously flicked towards the Assassin, but to her utmost surprise he had –apparently and soundlessly- left his seat and stood right in front of them. Esma cried out in shock, darted backwards and tripped over a stool. Oh Lord, he was going to kill them!

The noise and clattering of wood made Maghrub jump in panic, "What's going on?!" He saw the hooded man at their counter, following his line of sight he ended at his own daughter, who had fallen over a chair, looking frightened and had blood smeared over her hand. "Esma!" he exclaimed and rushed to help her up.

Please do not become violent, Assassin, Esma pleaded to the Lord. She was shaking as her father pulled her up.

"Wash your hand," the Assassin suddenly spoke. His voice, however calm it sounded, startled everyone. It was no request, but a flat out command. He untied a pouch from under his robe and pulled out a small bottle containing clear liquid, a fresh green leaf and bandage.

"What are these?" Maghrub inquired.

"It's extract from myrrh resin. They speed up the healing process."

"Myrrh is a plant?" Naveen asked the Assassin with both worry and admiration in her eyes.

Esma watched in horror as her father and friend struck a conversation with the very same person whom had threatened her a few days back. With shaking hands she took a small bowl and scooped some clean water into it to wash the blood of her hand. She had heard of myrrh, a herb related to the balsam of Mecca. She looked at the hooded figure in front of her in disbelief. Was he honestly giving her his aid? Just as that thought entered her mind, another one soon followed and this one was much, much darker.

It could be poison.

How easy it was for him to take care of her now and stop her from speaking ever again.

Esma pressed her hand to her chest protectively. "I thank you very much, brother, but it is just a scratch. T-There is no need for myrrh or bandage." She hated how she stuttered. Her fear was growing with each moment passing, her legs unsteady and her skin cold. She looked to her father in hesitation.

The man followed her line of sight and also looked to Maghrub, who fortunately had picked up the unwillingness of his daughter, but also made sure to express his gratitude: "We appreciate your generosity greatly, brother! May the Lord reward you for your kindness. Please, I ask you not to burden yourself with a small cut of my daughter, rather sit down and enjoy your visit."

The Assassin's gaze lingered on Esma's hand until he then put his herbs back into the pouch. "Be careful," he said to Esma, the words slow and clear. Dumbfounded, Esma gave a nod without thought. She watched the Assassin return to his table as her breathing remained heavy. She jumped as someone grabbed her wrist.

"Hey, it's only me," Naveen said, she looked to the drop of blood that whelmed up from the cut and lowered her voice to a whisper, "why did you decline the herbs? The man looked like he knew what he was talking about."

Esma uncomfortably flicked her gaze around. "I... dislike accepting from strangers."

"That's fine," Maghrub said. He pressed a clean cloth against Esma's hand. "Caution is an admirable trait."

Esma nodded and looked to the floor. Her head was pounding.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Naveen offered, looking at Maghrub.

"No, no!" he yelled. "You just sit down and relax. Esma, are your sweets ready yet? Give Naveen some."

"Ha!" Naveen exclaimed. "I'm no ordinary visitor that you should treat so formally. I'll help myself, don't you worry about that, uncle Maghrub!"

Esma rubbed her temples. Why was the man here again? She looked to him, his back straight as he was still waiting for juice and a meal that had just been delayed by her little accident. Had he genuinely offered his help with the myrrh extract? She heaved a sigh. He probably had no intention to kill them today. She clenched her fists and stared to his white hood. What if he'd come to them during the night? No, he couldn't get inside. They had their doors barricaded at night. That would be a sufficient obstacle, right? ...Right? Oh Lord. She bit down on her lower lip and reminded herself that there was nothing she could do about the situation. Whatever happened, it would be what the Lord had willed.

Slightly relieved about the matter with that thought, she looked around her. Her father had cut up new amroods for the juice and was now busy with the main course which was lamb with vegetables once again, knowing it was her favourite and it probably would be the Assassin's favourite as well, seeing as it was his second time ordering it. Naveen pressed the juice out of the fruit into a cup as Esma got up from her seat.

"Let me do it, Naveen," she said as she picked up a piece of amrood. The sap stung her cut, but she ignored it. "You're a guest here, you shouldn't be working."

"What does it matter?" her friend countered, but she backed up anyway.

When the cup had been filled to the brim Esma stared at it doubtfully. Why had she taken over from Naveen again? Now she had to bring the drink to the Assassin. Esma breathed in deeply. She should not worry. Both her father and Naveen were here. If the Assassin wanted to kill her, he wouldn't do it under their watch. Hopefully.

"Peace upon you, brother," Esma said in a low voice as she put the cup down in front of the Assassin. She stared at his face or at least the parts that were visible to her. Are you planning to kill us?She couldn't quiet the thoughts in her head.

"You are frightened by my presence," the Assassin stated. He turned his head to her.

Even if she couldn't see his eyes, the impact of his piercing gaze wasn't any less. She looked the other way in discomfort.

"We don't kill innocents," he said and leaned one arm on the surface of the table to turn towards her. "I am here simply because the chef cooks deliciously."

Esma blinked and stared at him. "Never? You," she dropped her voice to a barely audible whisper, "of the brotherhood never kill innocent people?"

"That is correct."

Esma's gaze lingered on the cup. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. "How are you so sure you never kill innocent people? If you are ordered to assassinate, it would mean there's someone out there deciding who are innocent and who aren't."

"If this person is a threat to the community, it means he has not repented and will not either. How can such a person be innocent?"

Her stomach churned as the thought of Majd Addin's assassination crossed her mind, but she had to agree that she did not expect a figure as Majd Addin to change without drastic measurements, but did he deserve to die? "Don't you think that person should have had the chance to repent?" she carefully asked the Assassin.

"You are forgetting how many innocents have died by the hands of such a person. It's naive of you to think these kind of people will repent."

Esma flushed in embarrassment and averted her eyes. "Perhaps you are right, brother," she said.

Maghrub came their way with the food.

When Esma noticed her father, she smoothed her skirt out with her hand and gave the Assassin a nod. "Please enjoy your food and stay." She then left, giving her father a smile as they passed each other.

As soon as she was back in the kitchen her smile dropped and was replaced with a frown. A noble assassination. Was that possible?

"Do you think it's alright if I come by next Monday?" sounded a sudden voice.

"Huh?" Esma looked up. Oh right; Naveen. She was so lost in thought that she had forgotten about her friend's presence. "Monday? Sure, you know you are always welcome."

Naveen grabbed her wrist and pulled a serious face, "No, no, you misunderstand me. You know what I'm talking about. Mondays and Maher."

"Ooh, that's right." Was it okay for Naveen to pursue Maher in such a manner? "Actually I am doubtful whether it's decent for you to try to meet him by adapting your visit times. Wouldn't it be better to wait for my father to tell my uncle about it?"

Naveen looked disappointed.

"You want my consent in this?" Esma answered to her friend's disappointment. "You know I only consent in matters that will not cause you harm. Trying to meet Maher in this fashion feels a bit sneaky to me."

"It's not sneaky! I'll just stick around you. What's the harm in that?"

Esma pondered on this for a moment before replying: "I suppose there's indeed no harm in that. You shouldn't try anything funny, though."

"As if I'd do that," retorted Naveen, slightly offended. She then looked into the saloon and smiled. "That man there, what kind of work does he do? He looks really muscled."

"You should lower your gaze, my dear Naveen," Esma answered. If only she knew.

Beta reader: Simply Laura.

Author notes: This chapter was beta read by Simply Laura, which I am very grateful for :-) Hope you guys enjoyed reading this story so far. I want to thank those that reviewed and followed the story; it's really nice to see people like my efforts! If you have any remarks or constructive criticism, please don't be shy to post them! Till the next chapter (which is already done and follows Altaïr) :-)!