(Revised Chapter)Hey Everybody! I'm back with chapter 3! Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long! This one is going to be a tad bit short but I'll have the fourth chapter up in no time! To DoomStone and deathadda 22, thank you guys so much for the reviews! You have boosted my confidence in this thing so much! I hope you guys like this chapter, because this is when Altaïr comes in! And thank you to the people who have favorited my story and are keeping up with it! Ok, enough of my ramblings! On to the story!
-A very happy and confident Aena Firestar
Chapter 2
The Funeral and The Initiation
"Alera..." I heard a soft call and felt someone move me. I groaned and opened my eyes.
"Mmm?"
"It's alright. It's me, Kalin. It is time to get up, young one." he said softly. I nodded and rose up, rubbing my eyes and stretching. I blinked away the blurriness to see the sun shining in through the windows of his room.
"We retrieved your father's body and have prepared him...After the funeral, the Master wants us to do the initiation right away. So get dressed and meet me outside." he motioned to the new clothes on the foot of the bed then bowed his head slightly and left, closing the door. I stretched one more time and shook my now dry hair out. My bangs fell to my nose and I easily just brushed them to the side. My hair fell down to the middle of my back and the bottom of my breasts.
I got up and put the white cotton shirt on along with the black pants and boots. My eagle necklace dangled from the leather cord, and I tucked it in my shirt. The last thing I saw sitting on the bed was a grey piece of clothing. I held it up and it looked like it had a hood on it. I pulled it on over my other shirt and pulled the hood up. That's when I realized I was wearing the initiate robes. I had seen the grey short robes and the hoods before whenever I'd visited up here with father. I bit my lip as I thought about him and swallowed the lump back, shaking my head and making my way out of the room to see Kalin patently in the hall.
"Everything is ready." He said softly. I nodded in return. He led me through the hall and back down the stairs. The fortress was quite beautiful with the morning sun shining through the great windows. Kalin pushed the wooden doors open and he led me down a path that led to a small crowd. I followed him as he weaved through. I could hear hushed talking and whispers. The crowd was made up of guards, Assassins, and a few commoners and caretakers. Kalin got a place up front and motioned for me to stand beside him. Even though I stood by his side, I felt so alone. All the boys and Assassins looked at me. Some faces were full of surprise, curiosity, and a little contempt. "Do not pay attention to them. As long as you pass the initiation, you will not have to deal with them treating you differently." He whispered to me. I bit my lip and sighed, looking up at him.
"I'm pretty sure they're going treat me differently either way." I turned my attention back to the group. All of the soldiers and Assassins were dressed in their full armor and weapons. Four soldiers carried my father's body into the tomb and I watched them every step of the way until they were swallowed up by darkness. I closed my eyes and bowed my head.
"So passes Kali Al Nasr, The Black Eagle." Al Mualim announced. "He was one of the finest assassin's that I ever had the pleasure of teaching. Even more so, he was a man with a noble heart, a kind and loving soul, and wise beyond his years. We are all in mourning...but none more so than his daughter and only heir, Alera Aya Nasr." I looked up then, and met the Master's gaze. I felt Kalin place a hand on my shoulder. "The Black Eagle had no sons to carry on his legacy. Only a daughter, a rose among thorns...which in turn, leads us to the initiation of the daughter of Kali Al Nasr. She will follow in the footsteps of her father and her fathers before her."
"It's time." Kalin whispered to me. I felt my heart race and I stood up straight. Al Mualim waved a hand to me.
"Step forward Alera Aya Nasr." I swallowed the lump in my throat and held my head as high as I could. I strode forward right up to the Master. Whispers erupted from the crowd of men and boys. "Hold up your right hand Alera Aya Nasr." He said and I did as I was told without hesitation. "Do you swear on your life, to honor the Assassin's Creed?" he asked. He looked me in the eye and I kept his gaze, taking a deep breath.
"I swear to honor the First Tenant of the Creed: I will stay my blade from the flesh of an innocent. I swear to honor the Second Tenant of the Creed: I will always be discreet. I swear to honor the Third and Final Tenant of the Creed: I will never compromise The Brotherhood. And finally I swear to honor the main guideline of the Creed: Nothing is true, everything is permitted." I let out my breath and felt thankful that I didn't stutter or lose my voice. I remained hold my hand up and watched Al Mualim's expression. He looked both a bit shocked and very pleased. I believe everyone was shocked that a girl knew the Creed by heart.
"Very well. Give me your left hand, Alera Aya Nasr." I dropped my right hand and slowly out stretched my left to him, with my palm up and my wrist up. I saw one of the guards step forward and hand over a metal brand. Al Mualim took it and held it by the handle, the symbol of the Assassins was glowing orange and red. It was just the right size for my wrist and I knew what was coming. More whispers and gasps came from the crowd.
"Since you have a different type of hidden blade, we will not have to cut your finger off, but we will give you the same amount of damage, pain, and scar, just as the other Assassins, initiates and apprentices have. This brand on your wrist will represent the painful path ahead of you, the trials and tribulations of becoming an Assassin. This is the sacrifice you give to the brotherhood. Since you are fifteen, you will be placed with the other fifteen and sixteen year old's. If you successfully make it through this initiation without so much as a scream or whimper, you will be challenged and your skills will be put to the test to see what all your father has taught you. If you pass the test or Kalin see's you fit enough, you'll be placed in with the Initiates under his command. Do you believe you can handle it?" I opened my mouth to confirm that I could handle it, but I was cut off by mocking laughter that sprang up from the group of initiates. I shut my mouth and looked over at them.
"Shut up!" said Kalin. The group all looked at him and quieted down slightly. I was a little surprised but was glad Kalin stood up for me. "Did you not all start out as she has?" he said. They kept quiet but one up in front laughed and shook his head. He had short black hair and green eyes.
"We did not all start out as sniveling, whimpering girls." He said with a smirk. I clenched my fists and narrowed my eyes.
"We will see who the sniveling, whimpering girl is in the practice ring." I growled, feeling a bit more confident then. The boy snorted and the one beside him laughed as well, giving an amused look. He had short black hair and brown eyes.
"Indeed we shall princess." He grinned at me. I felt myself blush with anger and embarrassment, then turned back to Al Mualim.
"Just do it." I said softly. "I want to get this over with so I can begin my training." Al Mualim smiled a bit, then nodded.
"Bring her something to bite on." he said. Kalin stepped up and put a piece of tough leather in my mouth. Al Mualim looked at me, and I nodded and shut my eyes, trying to prepare myself. I felt the heat of the brand against my skin as it got closer and closer...then finally I felt it touch me. I shut my eyes and gritted my teeth, falling to my knees, but Al Mualim held my wrist up to him to keep the brand on me. I heard my skin sizzle and hiss as the brand seared through my flesh. Every muscle in my body tensed and the pain was indescribable. It felt like hours on end but it really only took a few minutes to scar my arm with the perfect symbol.
Al Mualim finally removed the brand from my skin and two guards helped me up. Kalin poured water on my burning flesh which didn't really help. Sure, it cooled down, but throbbed and stung... but not once did I let a sound escape my lips. Kalin pulled the leather out of my mouth and I took a deep breath, trying to gain myself back from the excruciating pain. I had almost passed out but I managed to pulled through it. I stood up and looked at the scar. The symbol of the Assassins was right side up to me, but if someone looked at it from in front of me, then it was upside down to them. It was raw and wasn't even bleeding...just the flesh was singed and tinder.
"Here. Let me wrap it up. Don't want you getting infected." Kalin said as he gently took my wrist. I gritted my teeth and he tried to be as gentle as possible as he bandaged my wrists up. "There." he finally said when he was done. We then both looked at Al Mualim.
"Welcome, Alera Aya Nasr, to the Order." He put his hand over his heart and bowed. I did the same to him. "Kalin is head over the initiates. He will give you a minute to prepare yourself, then, you begin."
"Thank you Master." I said.
Yeah! Sorry, it was short. But what did ya think? I welcome reviews and I don't own assassin's creed. I only own the people and things you've never heard of. Chapter three will be up soon! See ya then!