Hey guys. What? No reviews? WHY? :O I crave reviews pwease! Maybe this one will be good enough to review hmm? Well anyways, here we go and I hope you enjoy! And by the way, I hope you like Alera's nickname! Ooops… Giving away too much info. I'll shut up now. Read, Review, be merry!

-Aena Firestar

Chapter 12

Promised Punishment

Altaïr was on Antar and he was leading the way. I was right behind him on Àlkimos, and he had his ears back. He didn't like the idea of following another stallion. I didn't blame him. But, we had no choice but to follow him. It was too late to turn back now. The watchers had seen us enter the fortress gates, so I couldn't leave without them shooting a warning arrow or sounding the bell. We got off our horses and led them into the stables. Alario flew into the stables. I smiled at him.

"You should stay here and keep Àlkimos company. No doubt we will be back on the road soon." I said to my eagle. He chirped at me and flew up and landed on a rafter in the roof. I un-tacked Àlkimos and kissed his forehead. He nuzzled me. *Altaïr watched Alera and her horse. He realized they had a strong bond, just as him and Antar have. The rays coming through the windows in the stables made Alera's blonde hair look golden. He could see her eyes as the sun was on them. They turned a light blue.* I turned towards Altaïr. I could have sworn he was staring at me.

"Come." He said. He led the way up the hill to the fortress. "Leading me as if I didn't know where I was going! Pfft! Lets see him try to find his way in the pouring ran and darkness! I was fifteen years old and had only been to the Fortress once and I still knew how to get there. Here I am twenty-four and he is leading me around like a child!" I shook my head and just let it happen. "Whatever."

"Alera?" said an astonished and familiar voice. I looked up and around.

"Kalin!" I yelled. I ran to him and threw my arms around him. Altaïr followed up behind me.

"What happened? I thought you were looking for the Murderer." Kalin whispered.

"It's ok. Altaïr already knows so you don't have to whisper. And to answer your question, I was, but someone saw me in Damascus and told Al Mualim. He sent Altaïr to get me." I said with an agitated tone. Kalin shot me a suspicious look.

"Just to let go and give yourself over does not sound like you." He said. I felt a flicker of anger.

"Hey! I fought-"

"She fought back. Trust me." finished Altaïr. I was a bit surprised he would say that. "She didn't win, but she fought back. When I told her the agreement Al Mualim offered her, she accepted." Kalin raised an eyebrow at us.

"And what was this agreement?" he said.

"That the list of Assassinations Altaïr has to do is in every city I was going to look for the murderer in. He will allow me to search, as long as I help Altaïr gather information and hunt and kill these people. I just hope he keeps to his agreement." I said. Kalin nodded.

"Lets hope so. I understand your eagerness to kill this man, whoever he is." Said Kalin.

"Well, we better get to him. No doubt he will want to hear of the success, and see me. I will come see you before we leave out again, Kalin." I said. He smiled and gave me one last hug, and then Altaïr and I were off again. We walked into the fortress. For every step I took, my heart raced even faster. I was very nervous about what was going to happen. I was just hoping Al Mualim would keep his promise. We turned left and walked up some stairs and then came to it. Al Mualim was staring out of the great window. There were bookshelves on either side and his desk in the middle. He must have heard us walk up, because he stirred.

I put my head down, but then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Altaïr. We looked at each other and he stepped up a little in front of me, like he was saying, "Let me go first." I just stepped behind him. It shocked me a bit but I didn't care. At this point of my nervousness I wanted any kind of distraction. Hell, if I knew it would buy me time, I would have taken Altaïr to my room when we first got there.

"Oh the things that would have gone down in that room." I thought. I stole a quick glance at Altaïr. "Muscles. Oh my god those muscles. And that tan skin and those lips and eyes…" I couldn't help but bite my bottom lip. "Mmm… If that had happened, everyone in Masyaf would know his name. God give me the strength not to attack him now." I thought. That would have been a hell of a time killer.

*Altaïr could practically feel her heart pulsing violently. He put his hand on her shoulder and she flinched. She was scared. He felt sorry for her and let her get behind him. He stepped forward and waited. He glanced back at Alera. She looked lost in thought, but the odd thing was that she was staring at him.

He knew she couldn't see his eyes because of his hood but this made him curious, and it made him laugh to himself. "She's thinking about me." he thought. His eyes darted to her lips and he saw her do that signature seductive lip bite. "Oh yeah. She is definitely thinking about me." His eyes stayed looking at her lips. They looked smooth and… teasing. She gave them a small lick and that added to his torture. Her lips were teasing him. He bit his bottom lip too. "God give me the strength not to pounce on her right now." He thought. He heard Al Mualim shuffle and that brought Altaïr back. They were both hoping Al Mualim would notice Alera last.* Al Mualim turned around and looked at us.

"So there she is. You have brought back our runaway." He said. I flinched and I thought I saw Altaïr flinch too. "Come now Alera. Do not hide in the shadows. I only wish to talk, and do no harm to either of you." He said calmly. I looked up and met his gaze. I wasn't at liberty to say anything, for I had nothing to say and I also wanted to keep my mouth shut. I had a bad habit of being a smart-ass and I knew I would be rewarded with a backhand slap to the mouth, so I kept it shut and listened. "Well Alera, there is not much I can say. I am keeping my promise. You will go with Altaïr on his missions and hunt for your murderer also. You have my permission." He said. "But what puzzles me is that you did not come and ask." He said. "Damn, fuck, shit, damn it all! I knew this question was coming." I thought, as the stream of curses still buzzed around in my head.

"Well, master, I am going to be completely honest with you. I thought you would keep me here, and not let me go." I said.

"Oh Alera. You are right. I would have. But I only do what is best for you child. The reason why I would have kept you here would be so that you would not become obsessed and be consumed by vengeance." He walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. He smiled a warm smile, which kind of surprised me but I didn't complain. "But, now that I see you can control it, I will give you leave to go and I will give you all the time that both of you need." He said calmly. I smiled and gave a slight bow.

"Thank you master. You know me just as well as my father did. Thank you." I said. Al Mualim nodded. Then, he turned his attention to Altaïr.

"You've done well, Altaïr, and I'm confident this is but the first of many successes the both of you will have." Said Al Mualim.

"Tamir spoke as if he knew you well. He implied my work had a larger meaning." Said Altaïr.

"Significance comes not from a single act, but the context in which it is performed. The consequences borne of it."

"Then there is more I need to know." Said Altaïr.

"Altaïr, your greatest failure was knowing too much. If I choose to withhold information, it is only to ensure you do not make the same mistake a second time." I had to bite my lip to hold my tongue. I wanted so badly to ask what had happened while I was gone, but it wasn't the right time. I could feel the thick tension in the room between the two. I was going to keep my mouth shut, because it was about to blow up.

"I see." Said Altaïr. His tone was smooth and unwavering. He sounded very confident. "Wrong answer." I thought. "Not to mention wrong tone."

"No you don't!" yelled Al Mualim. That one made me jump, for I was deep in thought trying to piece all this crap together. "And it will remain this way until you have learned your lesson! Still, you have performed competently, and as such I restore a rank, and will return a piece of your equipment. Go now, both of you, either to Acre or Jerusalem." His voice softened. He released two birds.

"So that was how he found out! I forgot about the damn birds!" I scolded myself. How could I have been so careless! "There are men in both cities who require both your attentions. The Bureau leaders can tell you more of what needs to be done." He did the cross arm bow to us and we returned it. I saw Altaïr head for the desk and pick up his short sword. It was only then when I realized it was gone. "Holy shit. He must have done something really bad to get his weapons stripped." I thought. Of course, that was also when I realized, my sights weren't focused all on him at every waking moment, so yeah, I was gonna miss something. He twirled it around in his hands a couple of times and then sheathed it. I walked back down the stairs.

*Altaïr watched after Alera as she walked away. He sighed. Al Mualim caught him. He walked up to Altaïr.

"The Desert Rose has many thorns, child. You must first master the thorns to pick the beautiful rose and claim her as yours." He said. Altaïr looked at Al Mualim and nodded.

"Is that why she has the rose petals for markers?" he asked.

"Yes. I gave her the nick name Desert Rose on her first mission. She has kept that nickname among the assassins ever since. After all, she is a flower among us all, and the only girl who will ever join the assassins. Desert Rose is a perfect metaphor and name for her don't you think?" asked Al Mualim. Altaïr nodded.

"Beautiful yet deadly. Guarded, yet gentle. If I want her, I must first pick through the thorns." Altaïr turned to Al Mualim. He patted Altaïr on the shoulder and sent him off.* Since we were back, I desperately needed to practice. As I walked down the stairs, I heard Altaïr follow me.

"Where are you going?" he said.

"To practice and have some alone time." I said. "Of course, the alone time depends on whether you follow me or not." I said. I looked back at him and gave him a smirk. I turned back around and, bump.

"Hey! Watch were you're going you… Oh, well, well, well, if it isn't Alera the runaway." Came a smooth voice. I looked up and it was Abbas. "Great. Jerk-ass alert." I thought. I heard Altaïr come up behind me. "Where are you two off to?" said Abbas.

"None of your damn business." I said harshly. He looked at me and shook his head.

"Tisk tisk. That's no way to treat someone who is welcoming you back. After all, I haven't seen you since you disserted us." He said with that asinine tone of his.

"Shut your mouth Abbas, before I shut it for you. She did no such thing." Said Altaïr. And yet again another shock from him! Wow. Well, I was happy he was taking up for me.

"Then why exactly did she leave Altaïr? You are the one who has spent the most time with her. Maybe you have extracted information?" he said.

"It is none of your business what we have done. You should leave before my blade finds your throat." Said Altaïr. "Wow, nice come back!" I thought. "Us: 1 Jerk-ass: 0" I liked that. Abbas stood there and laughed.

"What do you want?" I said. He smiled a smile that made me cringe and regret I had asked that. He took a step closer.

"You know what I want Alera." He said. I smiled at him. I stepped closer. *Altaïr was shocked as he saw Alera take a closer step. "She can't be doing this. No, she has something up her sleeve." He thought.* I looked at Abbas.

"That's right." He said. I smiled and then shoved him hard up against the wall. I unsheathed my hidden blade and pressed it up against his throat.

"That's right." I said. His face turned to scared to death. I smiled a wicked smile. "Not as tough as you seem huh?" I said. I looked back at Altaïr and all I could see was his signature smirk. I winked at him, and then turned back to Abbas. "I am going to say this once, because next time will not be a warning. If you ever harass me or Altaïr again, I will waste no time in cutting off your manhood. Got it?"

"You wouldn't do it." He said.

"Wanna bet?" I said. I shoved my arm up against his throat and slid my knife down. Once I got there. I slowly pressed harder and harder until,

"All right! All right! I'll leave you alone! I swear!" he said. Sweat was pouring down his head.

"And Altaïr?" I said.

"Yes, yes!" he pleaded. I sheathed my hidden knife and pushed him away. He ran up the stairs and disappeared behind a door. I turned around to face Altaïr. He looked at me.

"Who says I can't take care of myself?" I said. He laughed a little.

"Well, I don't blame him for running. Getting their manhood threatened is a nightmare to any man." He said. I walked up to him and got close. I slashed my hidden blade out again. I put it in front of me. That was the only thing in between us.

"Good. Now I know what to use against you." I said. He smiled at me.

"You've threatened me like that once already. It didn't come to that and I saw right through you. I know your weakness too Alera." He said. He slashed his hidden blade out and traced the scar on my cheek. The old familiar chills crept up my spine. I felt a flicker of anger. "How could I let this happen? At least he doesn't know the whole story… Yet." I slashed the blade back down and turned around and went out into the courtyard. *Altaïr had struck yet another nerve in Alera. This time, it was personal. She was upset.* No one was in the courtyard.

"Alera wait." I heard Altaïr call. I kept walking. "Alera!" I turned around and drew my sword. I aimed for his throat. He stepped back and put his hands up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"I have no weaknesses. What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. The more I hold it in, the more it powers my rage and my fight." I said as my voice cracked. Altaïr stepped up closer to me. The tip of my sword was on his throat now and my heart dropped. Why did he do that? "I don't want to hurt him. I would never be able to live with myself if I hurt him." I thought.

"I know you don't believe that Alera. You know you don't." he said. I couldn't say anything. I didn't have anything to say. I sheathed my sword.

"Don't follow me." I said quietly. I ran back into the fortress and into my room, which used to be my father's room when he was an assassin. The afternoon sun shown through the two great windows. I sat down on my bed with a lump in my throat. I pulled my necklace out from behind my robe and clothes. My fingers ran over the soft feathers and thumbed the Assassin charm. I couldn't help it. I had to cry, I just didn't want any of them to see. "They respect me now; I don't want my feelings to tarnish that." I felt the tears strolling down my cheeks. I laid down and cried into my pillow, and soon fell asleep.

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