Realising she was being followed, Adira stepped into the thickest pocket of people and lowered her head slightly, fading from sight before reappearing on the other side of the street further down, where she slipped into an alley. She had shaken her pursuer for now but she knew it would not be long before they returned.

Who was it? This puzzled her for a moment as she returned home. There was no reason for her to be followed, unless something had happened. Instantly fear gripped her heart. What if they had gone back on their agreement and had hurt him? No, they couldn't. She had already given them useful information as to what her employers were after, surely they couldn't…no. She couldn't afford to think about it. A life she loved was in danger and she had to play everything she could to get her plan to work.

Without warning a white shadow dropped down before her and Adira gasped, jerking violently in shock as Abbas stood slowly, smirking. "I apologise, I did not intend to scare you."

"I believe you are lying." She scowled back. "I think you had every intention of scaring me." Though she did not mention she had seen his shadow drop before he had come into view, alerting her to his presence. "Please step aside, I have work to do."

"Shall I escort you?" It was hardly a question, he intended to follow her, or keep her there. "Surely your work can wait? What would a simple woman do with her time working? You should be on the streets being shown around by a handsome man, proudly showing you off to the world." He stepped closer. "I would gladly be that man."

"I said, step aside." Her voice darkened and she remained perfectly still, though her body tensed, preparing to run. Abbas gave her a cruel smirk, one that warned her he was not going to change his mind.

"Come now, don't be like that. Every girl falls for my charm."

"I am no girl. I am a widowed, respectable woman." She replied tartly. "Therefore your charms are ineffective against me."

"All the same, I'm sure there is something you desire from me. A year with no man to warm your bed is a long time." Obviously he had squeezed all the information he could out of Malik. Her eyes darkened a little as they narrowed. "You must be so lonely…"

"No." A hand lifted and stopped Abbas in his tracks as he tried to take a step forwards. His face contorted, becoming ugly in its angered snarl.

"I tried to be nice, but you won't have any of it." Before Adira could blink, Abbas had grabbed her by the arms and thrown her to the ground, making her cry out in alarm. He gripped her knees as she tried to crawl backwards then dragged her to him. "You'll find that no woman is as proud when they're lower than the floor." He hissed, crawling on top of her. Completely enraged, Adira fisted her hand into the ground, gripping the sand then flung it into Abbas's eyes, making him scream aloud from the irritation as it blinded him.

Adira leaped up and kicked him aside, throwing him off his knees onto his back before racing for her home. She did not stop running until she had flung open her door and locked it behind her. When she stopped, panting for breath, the tears began to flow. She sobbed quietly, trembling as she turned, slamming her palm into the wood to relent some of her anger.

"What happened Adira?" A small yelp left Adira at the sudden voice but she relaxed when she noticed Malik sitting at her table, reading one of her books calmly. He closed it then placed it down as he stood, looking to her with concern. Not knowing what else to do, Adira stumbled over to him and placed her head against his chest, gripping onto his robes as she cried.

Malik's arm curled around her, not making a sound as he allowed her to release all her tears before she was once again calm. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push that on you." Adira said to him, pulling back and wiping her eyes. "It's just…Abbas caught me."

"He what? Did he harm you?" Adira's shoulders trembled.

"Almost. He threw me down on the ground."

"How did you escape?" Swallowing the woman hugged herself, looking at her feet.

"I'm not sure, it happened so fast. He was pulling me to him and I just reacted. I threw some sand in his eyes then I think I kicked him aside. Then I ran home." She frowned and looked up. "What are you doing here? How do you know where I live? In fact, how did you get in? I was sure I locked the door behind me when I left…"

"I'm a man of many talents." Malik summarised vaguely. "At Altair's request, I've been looking into your history. Not many people know of you."

"I do not tend to mix well with others. I prefer solitude."

"But still, no one can really tell me who you are, so I thought I would come and ask some more questions. Please, sit down." Nodding her head Adira brought up a chair and sat, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders to keep warm. "It is my understanding that you moved here with your husband not long ago."

"I have only lived here for two years. His business in Damascus was taking off and he intended to build up his trades. Though, I never asked him what he did." Adira shook her head with a sad look. "In fact, I did not really know him at all. We were more…companions than husband and wife." Her face crumbled and she rested her head on the table, beginning to cry again. "I miss him so much!"

"I'm sure he would not want you to still be grieving." Malik said calmly, touching her shoulder. "Dry those tears, you are making some very odd sounds." Adira laughed, smiling at Malik's dry humour before taking a part of her cloak and drying her eyes. "I hate to ask but…who is your other family? You parents and siblings."

"No siblings. As I've said, I was a great disappointment to my father since I was born a girl and not a son. My mother died a few months after my birth and although he remarried several times, he was by then too old to give any of his wives another child, preferably a son. I have lost contact with him since my marriage." Adira thought carefully for a moment. "I was born in Damascus, though I do not think he would still be there. He always talked of moving to either Spain or some other place in the world."

"What was his name?"

"Sadir Abazar. He was a trader of fine cloths. I used to help ladies who came looking for fabrics and made their dresses for them. We were quite wealthy, though I found the dress making difficult. I had very little patience just sitting there, stitching and cutting all day long." Malik glanced to the pottery and arched an eyebrow. Adira blushed, realising her slight mistake.

"Pottery is different. You do different things with your hands with the moulding, shaping and carving. It takes deeper concentration." She informed. "I've always enjoyed it."

"I see." Nodding his head slowly he sighed, reaching into his pocket where a handkerchief was tucked away, a lock of hair folded in its soft fabric. "And this?" He brought it out and set it on the table without so much as a change of expression. "Is this your husband's?"

"No, it is mine." She lied simply, smiling. "My mother kept it in a locket after she had cut it from my head. I was born with rather a thick head of hair." She looked up at him. "My father gave the locket to another of his wives but I managed to take the lock. I do not know why I keep it, it's just…a little piece of her. Partially. It's all I have." Satisfied, Malik pushed it back over to her and the woman carefully folded it away then held it to her chest. "All I was ever told was that I look a lot like her. Other than that, I have nothing."

"I understand. Thank you, for your time." Malik said as he stood. "I will speak with Abbas and make it known that you are not to be touched."

"I would be in your debt again, Malik, if you would." She stood also, going to the door to unlock it. "Shall I see you again soon?"

"If you wish." He answered, pausing at the door to gently rest his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about Abbas. You did well to escape, but I would wait a while before returning to the bureau. He will not stay longer than two days." Adira nodded her head, letting him through the door before gently closing it behind him. The moment it was shut, she locked it again.

Pulling herself together, Adira readied herself for bed. Before she did so, she tucked the lock of hair in a safe place then checked that nothing else had been rifled through during Malik's surprise visit. Her paper files had been disturbed but neatly replaced in her drawer. Several books had been flicked through and all the cupboard searched through. It had been a close one, had Adira not planned ahead for such things, her situation would have been compromised and Adira could have been killed, as well as the one she loved. She wanted him back, safe in her arms but she knew that there was no choice of negotiation. Though her actions would hurt a good many people, she could not sacrifice that which her heart loves most. Not now or ever.

Adira pulled up a board in her bedroom and checked everything was still there. The letters, money and personal items had not been touched. Sniffing quietly Adira lifted up a small wooden horse her husband had carved. It had been beautifully done, with perfect detail. She smiled sadly at the creature, wishing that she too were wooden and did not have to feel the emotions that she felt before carefully and lovingly tucking the model away, sliding the boards back into place.

She lay awake for hours, thinking about Altair, which surprised her. She couldn't get his face, or at least the part of his face she had seen, out of her mind. He had often touched her thoughts, returning at the most chance moments then would remain there for a good deal of the day.

Out of childish curiosity, she wanted to know what else lay under that hood he always wore up. Was he hiding something? Surely a mouth as sensuous looking had to have a face to match. She almost felt sorry for what she was intending to do.

Her eyes had only just drifted closed when her door burst open, causing Adira to leap out of bed and sidle up to the wall, breathing deeply but quietly as she listened to the heavy footsteps that entered. Guards. Why were they here? Surely it wasn't that time already, it was too soon!

The guards crashed into her bedroom and Adira screamed, struggling as they grabbed her. "Let me go! Let me go! I've done nothing wrong!" She yelled at the top of her voice, awakening the neighbours. "Please! Mercy, mercy!"

"Take her away!" One of the guards yelled. "Burn the house!" What? That wasn't part of the plan, they couldn't burn her home!

"No! You can't!" The horse, the lock of hair, the books! Adira could not allow them to burn. "Please, I beg of you don't burn my home!" Adira truly sobbed, pouring her heart into her pleas as she was dragged outside by her arms and hair. "Leave me alone!"

"All evidence has to be destroyed. Make sure the fire is hot."

"No!" Adira slammed her knee into one of the guard's groins, loosening his grip then yanked her other free, racing back inside with only her nightdress on to keep her warm from the chill. She ran for the bedroom and grabbed the board, tossing it aside then gripped onto the horse as she was dragged back outside again, this time with more force and one of the guards slapped her into silence.

They poured a dark substance onto her home in every room, letting it pour down the stairs before setting it aflame. In absolute horror Adira watched as the flame's claws leaped up and grasped at her house, pulling it down with a sickening stench of pitch filling her nose. It did not take long for the flames to tower above the palm trees. There was no wind so the fire did not spread, which Adira was slightly grateful for. At least no other homes were affected.

The head guard slowly approached her, the heat of the fire licking her skin until she could feel it burning. He looked down to the horse, still clutched in her hands. Without pausing he snatched it from her but when she tried to take it back, a guard forced her to her knees, trapping her in place. "No. No please, don't!" He tossed the horse into the flames. "No!" Adira sobbed, crying freely. "No…" Going completely limp, the guards lifted her up and dragged her away by the arms, her bare feet trailing behind and making little dunes in the sans as civilians gathered in horror at the fire, waiting until the guards had gone before trying to beat them down. There was little they could do, since the water shortage disallowed them from using water to fight the flames.

They tried to beat the fire back but in the end, gave up and watched the house burn. The flames grew and grew, eating away at the walls and everything inside. The wooden horse figure slowly charred to blackened ash, engulfed in the inferno as its face melted away into cinders.