Hey everyone! Sorry for what seems like a long delay, but you would not believe the amount of work that went into this chapter. Hopefully all the hard work paid off and I hope this chapter is not a disappointment. Alright on with the story, enjoy!

Chapter 8:

Malik held his sword up at mid guard and locked his gaze on the first Templar guard who approached him, matching his guard.

I only have two options. Malik thought strategically as the first Templar approached him slowly. Either I meet him blow for blow first or…

"I'll make your death a quick one." Said Malik's first opponent.

Malik took advantage of the man's misgivings about him and bolted quickly in to attack. The steel from the two swords barely clanked against each other as Malik used his blade to swiftly push his enemies blade out of his way, then using a thrust ran his sword straight through the over confident man's chest.

He barely took notice of the nameless Templar's look of disbelief as he withdrew his sword from the man and watched him sink to the ground.

Too slow.

"Son of a whore!" Another Templar yelled; this one came charging at Malik with his sword held up at high guard.

Shit! Malik quickly side stepped the man's brutal attack, narrowly escaping being chopped in half.

Acting on years of practice and survival instinct Malik brought his own sword above his head and like his second opponent swung downward in a chopping motion, the only difference was that Malik hit his mark and the second Templar's hands were severed from his arms.

The stunned man barely had enough time to scream out in agony before Malik silenced him by plunging his hidden blade directly into the side of the man's neck, allowing for a somewhat quick and painless death.

"Agh!"

The sound of Kadar's cry made Malik's heart stop beating for a second. He feared the worst when he looked over in the direction to which he heard Kadar cry out and relief flooded through him, bringing his heart back to life, to see his brother still alive and standing.

Where as Malik's opponents were of average height and build Kadar's opponent was much taller and heavier set. Instead of using trained moves the giant of a man used his strength alone to swing his sword at Kadar, who had managed to block the giant's every strike, but he was still being driven back from the force of each blow.

"Is that all you got, little boy?" The giant Templar sneered as he swung his massive sword once more at Kadar.

Kadar managed to block the attack, but the force from the strike had knocked his sword from his hand, sending it several feet away from him and leaving Kadar open and defenseless.

"Pathetic." The man said bringing his sword up high above his head to deliver the killing blow.

Malik was ready to rush in and give aid to his brother but Kadar had surprised both Malik and the third Templar when he quickly threw one of his throwing knives directly at the man, lodging the blade of the knife into the man's left eye.

The unexpected attack caused the Templar to drop his sword; he clutched at his head and screamed out in pain.

"You little rat!" he screamed at Kadar.

Kadar did not waste time; he threw another knife at the man, this one embedding itself deep into the upper left thigh muscle. Another cry of pain spewed from the man's mouth as he dropped down to one knee; that is when Kadar decided to take advantage of his opponent's weakening state. He rushed at the man and threw a third knife at him this time he was able to make a mark out of the Templar's right hand, and Kadar was rewarded with another scream of pain before he leapt at the man and tackled him down to the ground.

"No! No! No!" The third Templar cried out as Kadar brought out his fourth throwing knife. "Mercy!" he screamed as Kadar plunged the knife deep into the man's meaty throat.

He pulled the knife out of the man's throat immediately, ending their fight with a quick death.

Malik didn't get the chance to fully admire his young brother's resourcefulness and skills as an Assassin. A cry bellowed through out the entire room catching those who were still alive attention.

"You little bitch!" Malik and Kadar looked over and found the fourth and final Templar guard standing in shocked pain while clutching his bloody nose with both hands. It appeared as though the young girl had managed to hit the guard and did quite some damage to him.

"Fucking whore!" he screamed after her as she ran swiftly away from her captors, nearly knocking Malik over in the process of her impromptu escape.

"You idiot!" Robert yelled at his last man, "Don't let her escape!"

Distracted by the fleeing girl Malik didn't even notice the Templar heading his direction until the man had knocked Malik out of his way, throwing him off balance and sending him to the ground.

"Malik!" he heard Kadar's voice ring out with worry.

Idiot! Malik berated himself for the foolish mistake he had made as he got back on his feet.

Kadar, who's anger towards that particular guard had increased after bringing harm to his brother, gave chase after the guard with the intent of ending his life and rescuing the girl while he was at it.

Malik was ready to go after them and assist his brother, but a malicious voice kept him in place.

"I'll deal with you myself, Assassin!"

Malik looked over his shoulder and saw Robert quickly approaching him; with a sword in his right hand and a vicious snarl on his face.

Shit!

Quickly, Malik brought his sword up and pivoted on the balls of his feet. He had hoped he could end Robert's life here and now with a quick stab to the chest, but just as Malik twisted his whole body around to face Robert he saw a look in the man's eyes that Malik knew too well.

Robert had predicted his movements.

Just as Malik thrusted his sword forward and out Robert had easily side stepped to his right avoiding his attack.

Shit! Malik thought as Robert brought his sword up and swung it in an arching motion

Malik tried to pull back in order to avoid the downward slash of Robert's sword, but he wasn't quick enough.

Malik screamed out in intense pain as the blade from Robert's sword tore through his skin and muscle, leaving him a deep and gruesome cut on his left arm.

Fuck! Malik gnashed his teeth together; the stinging pain from Robert's strike made his entire left arm feel as though it were on fire.

He did his best to hold onto his sword with both hands, but the appendage dropped to his side making it all but useless.

Malik staggered slightly as he backed away from Robert to recalculate his strategy, but the Templar leader only advanced forward. Robert brought his sword back up for another downward strike, but Malik had managed to bring his sword up with one hand and was able to block the attack. He could feel his right arm muscles strain as he tried to push Robert back off of him. A sudden pain blossomed through Malik's abdomen, and he was sent flying back. He had assumed Robert had kicked him and had not only managed to knock the wind from Malik's lungs, but the sword from his hand as well.

"I grow tired of this game, Assassin!" Robert said as he began advancing towards Malik.

Malik tried to push himself up on to his feet, but the pain in his arm prevented him from doing so. He had managed to make it on to his knees when a bolt of heated pain shot through his left arm and he instinctively held on to his wounded arm.

"Your life ends. Now!"

From seemingly out of nowhere a throwing knife flew by Robert's face, grazing his left cheek.

Robert growled in annoyance as he looked up to see who had thrown the knife, and Malik's heart sank in his chest when he looked over to see Kadar standing a few feet away.

He stood with his fifth and final throwing knife in one hand while taking a defensive stance. His eyes full of fire as he set his sights on Robert.

Malik had no doubt that Kadar had managed to kill the last Templar guard on his own, as for the whereabouts of where the girl had gone Malik did not care at that moment. He didn't even care about the treasure, the reason they were in the temple to begin with, all Malik cared about at that moment was getting his brother out of temple alive. Even if that meant he wouldn't be.

"Kadar!" Malik called out, gripping his injured arm tightly, "Leave! Now!"

"Not without you, brother." Said Kadar.

Malik loved his little brother and was touched both as a brother of blood and a brother in arms that Kadar refused to leave him behind.

Kadar was a skilled Assassin, Malik saw that, but if both Altair and himself, two high ranking and skilled Assassin's, could not defeat Robert on their own then young Kadar did not have a sliver of a chance.

Malik would rather have his brother leave him for dead than watch him get torn apart by Robert.

"Kadar!" Malik warned him.

"If you think you can defeat me with just that knife alone, boy." Robert challenged as he stepped around Malik to face Kadar, "Then have at it."

With fire in his eyes and anger fueling his senses Kadar charged straight for Robert, ready to kill him, but his furry had blinded him from seeing past Robert's relaxed stance, but Malik had noticed what Robert was doing.

Robert did not hold a relaxed stance he was holding his sword at low guard, luring Kadar in with falsehood, and Kadar had taken the bait.

Malik called out desperately to Kadar hoping that he would hear his warning, "No! Wait! Kadar, he is deceiving you!"

Kadar did not hear his brother's warning as he brought his right arm up, ready to strike Robert.

What happened next flashed by within seconds, but for Malik it felt as if the scene had slowed down in order to engrave it perfectly into his memory.

As soon as Kadar closed the gap between him and Robert, Robert quickly raised his sword up and thrusted it through Kadar's exposed chest. The blade exiting out his back. Malik could see the pain from Robert's attack wrap itself around Kadar, he even saw the light begin to fade away from his young eyes as Robert withdrew his blade from Kadar's body.

"Fool." Robert muttered as Kadar sank down to his knees.

Malik watched helplessly as his brother began to fall over; both brother's eyes sought out each other and silently called out to one another. Malik swore that he could hear his name being whispered in the still air right before Kadar's body hit the ground, the blood pouring from his wound stained the ground a deep and sorrowful crimson.

"Kadar!"

And end scene! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I hope it was not terrible since this was the first fight scene I have written in years, and I always thought I was terrible at writing them. Fun fact though; my boyfriend actually helped me with the sword play in this chapter and even helped choreographed some of the moves that were used in this chapter my favorite being the spin that Malik used (which failed for him). Alright I hope you guys liked it and I will see you in the next chapter!