When Altair returned the next morning, Adira was gone. She was not with Malik and nowhere in the bureau. "Where did she go?" Malik demanded. "I thought you were watching her?"
"I did not realise she was so slippery that she had to be watched." Altair growled back. Then a thud reached them and they both spun around, reaching for weapons. Adira froze, eyes widening in fear as she slowly rose to her feet.
"Good morning?" She offered weakly, brushing down her new dress. Altair stared at her. How did she get in and out with neither of them knowing? Sure, he hadn't been there in the night but Malik should have heard her trying to leave. "I thought it better if I went searching for a dress, seeing as it would look odd for a man trying to buy one." She explained. "So I left before it was light and…borrowed one."
"You stole it." Adira blushed.
"The woman had more than enough for her not to miss it. I chose the plainest I could find." The deep fern green looked rather good on her, against her tanned skin and cerulean blue eyes. "I hope you're not angry."
"No, Adira, just worried. You should have told us you were going to go."
"I did not want to wake you and I didn't want to use up some of your parchment and ink writing a note." She replied gently, taking a step forwards. "I thought I would be back before you awoke."
"We're early risers. How do you feel?" Adira nodded her head.
"Better than yesterday, definitely, though I think it will be a while before the bruises and cuts go away." Malik walked up to her and placed a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Come and eat something." Adira allowed him to lead her forwards and he brought her a platter of different fruits to eat from. Adira was so hungry that she ignored the knife and fork and dove right in. "Are you sure nothing is broken?"
"I am sure."
"How do you know?"
"I can still use everything without internal pain." She replied, sucking on her fingers to retrieve the mango juice. "I had a governess who also used to be a healer for soldiers. She taught me the basics of everything."
"Well, I'm glad you're safe." Malik threw a pointed look to Altair who arched an eyebrow.
"What?" Rolling his eyes Malik shook his head then returned inside to get on with his work. There was still much to do before he was ready to leave and return to Masyf. Altair frowned after his friend then turned to the woman, who was ignoring him. He watched her tongue slide from her lips and lick her thumb, groaning softly at the sweetness. It almost drove him insane.
He walked towards a wall then sat down, focussing on his blades which he began to polish and sharpen. The two ignored each other from that point on. Altair listened to his surroundings, keeping his hood low over his face and did not look up when another shadow dropped in from above, climbing down. "Hello again, my sweet." Abbas said to Adira who yelped and scuttled backwards, pressing herself into the wall.
Altair frowned at the reaction and was instantly on his feet, switching grips on the knife in his hand before stepping slowly forwards, moving around Abbas to stand directly in front of him, stopping him from approaching Adira. "Altair." He nodded his head. "I did not expect you here."
"I was called for." Altair answered stonily, drawing himself up further. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing. I haven't touched her." Abbas gave a twisted smile that instantly made Altair's blood boil. Had he befouled her? With a movement faster than a snake's, Altair fisted his fingers into Abbas's robes then pulled him closer.
"Are you sure?" His voice was low and menacing, making Adira shudder as it sent jolts of fear running up her spine.
"I'm sure." Abbas's voice darkened also but was nowhere near as petrifying as Altair's. In fact, he sounded more like an annoyed pig than anything. "Nothing."
"Shall we ask her?"
"If you must." Altair turned to Adira expectantly, where she stiffened. She glanced between the two men then to the knife in Altair's hand. He wouldn't, wouldn't he? He wouldn't kill Abbas. It was forbidden, assassins were not allowed to kill one another. Deciding to play it safe, Adira simply looked away. She couldn't lie but she wouldn't tell the truth either. It was better to just say nothing.
The Master Assassin looked back to Abbas, who was smirking. "Looks like she favours me." With an angry shove Altair pushed Abbas back, shifting a foot back to angle his body in a defensive stance.
"You are forbidden to touch her. Am I understood?" Abbas snorted but nodded his head submissively.
"Yes, master." He sneered before rising and going in to see Malik. Adira watched him leave, following his movements until he was away from sight. When she sensed Altair lowering himself down beside her, she flinched from him.
"Easy." He murmured gently. "He's not going to hurt you again. You have my word. Now tell me true, did he force you?" The woman shook her head honestly, not taking her eyes away from Altair's. In this light she could almost see them, a slight shadow of a shape forming and all of a sudden, she felt the powerful urge to pull back his hood. "But he tried to." Altair guessed and this time, she nodded. "Alright." He sighed. "Finish eating. I will discuss with Malik your options."
"I want to leave the city." Adira told him quietly, her voice barely above a soft whisper. "I can't stay here."
"That much is obvious." He replied sarcastically but with a small smirk on his lips, which pulled Adira's attention down to the movement. Altair remained still but reached forwards, sliding one hand around to lift her up by her elbows then guided her back to the table. "Eat. It will help you to feel better." He moved to leave but Adira reached out and grabbed his booted leg, making him stop and look down at her.
"Thank you." She told him sincerely. "I'm sorry for being…difficult, last night." Altair nodded his head and she let him go, turning back to the food before her but did not eat, not until she was alone. Tired from her morning's excursion and the slight panic from Abbas's appearance, Adira settled back down and slept for a while.
When she awoke Adira was conscious of someone rather close to her. Naturally she pulled away from them with a small intake of fear before relaxing as Altair's hand touched her arm. "You've been sleeping for nearly two days." He informed her. "It's time you ate and drank something." Nodding her head Adira sat up, rubbing her head before guzzling down all the water she could take. "Malik and I have decided. We're going to smuggle you out of the city."
"And take me where?"
"That's up to you. We can take you to Acre, Damascus or, if you like, you can return with me to Masyf. You'll be well protected there and no one will come searching for you. You'll be safe to continue your life in peace." Adira thought for a moment, contemplating her options.
"I will go with you. To Masyf." Nodding his head Altair stood. Adira finished her meal then stood, stretching her legs. Malik came and handed her a cloak, which she swung around her shoulders, smiling at the white folds before drawing up the hood. She could still see but she knew that the shape obscured half of her face.
"You look like one of us celibate monks now." Malik chuckled, pulling the cloak to sit better on her shoulders. It was a little big but it would keep her warm and help her to blend in with Altair. For her belt he handed her a knife, which she pulled out then admired carefully, turning the blade up to the light to watch the reflective gleam on the wall. It was short and fitted her palm perfectly.
"Thank you." She smiled at Malik, sliding the knife back into its sheath before attaching it to her waist, concealing it under her robes. "I'm completely in your debt now. I don't think there's anything I could ever do to repay you." Malik shrugged simply but smiled all the same.
"I'll settle for a promise that you'll stay safe." He shot a look to Altair. "And that your guardian won't do anything stupid." Altair took the hint but rolled his eyes. As Malik turned back he blinked in surprise as Adira threw her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly.
"You're a great friend, Malik." She told him then drew back the hood to kiss his cheek before lifting it back up again. "When you get to Masyf, don't be a stranger." Malik nodded his head.
"You'd best go. It'll be light soon. You'll want to leave with the dawn when the guards are at their weariest." Altair was already climbing out of the bureau. Adira tossed one last smile over her shoulder before climbing up also, adjusting with the new cloak. It was light, which made it easy to climb. It was the dress that gave her the problems. It tangled around her legs and Adira scowled in irritation, lifting herself up then grabbed for the ledge, only to grip onto someone's boot.
She looked up at Altair. He smirked then knelt down, resting his arms on his knees whilst letting her dangle on the side. "Are you going to move or would you rather I climbed into your lap?" Her eyes narrowed at him as she spoke.
"I'd prefer the latter." He told her humorously then held out a hand, offering to pull her up. Adira peered at it suspiciously before taking it. Altair lifted her up to her feet then turned away, leading her over the rooftops. He rarely glanced back to her, content to know she was still following by the occasional slip she would make over her feet.
"Where is your horse?"
"Close."
"How close?"
"Close." Adira rolled her eyes at his back, turning her head towards the horizon where the inky blackness was beginning to blur with the reddened dawn. Adira stopped at the edge of a roof, looking down into the alley. Biting her lower lip she hoisted up her skirts, glad that she had thought to "borrow" some breeches also.
She climbed up onto the ledge then tried to reach by just stretching out a leg, though the distance was greater than she had first anticipated. Her boot slipped and she yelped, her legs sliding apart into a perfect split, her torso facing forwards as she struggled to maintain her balance. "Altair!" She hissed, staring down below her. The assassin turned back with a frown and sigh. What now? He stared at the woman's rather…odd…predicament. "Help?" Her hands were lifted, trying to help balance herself as she teetered slightly.
"Well." Altair mused thoughtfully as he approached. "You're rather flexible, aren't you?" She glared at him.
"It's beginning to hurt. Are you going to help or would you rather I just drop?" With a smirk Altair turned his eyes to her legs, following their toned curve as Adira bristled. "Stop looking at me!"
"I can't help it, you're making it rather hard to not notice." His smirk grew wider. "No need to hide behind false modesty."
"There is nothing false about it! I do not appreciate you…looking at me."
"Would you rather I turned around?"
"You know what I mean!" Her voice, though sharp and angry, remained quiet in case someone heard her. "Now, please help me get up?"
"How did you manage this anyway? All you had to do was jump."
"Does it matter?" Truly irritated, Adira placed her hands on her hips to give him a stern look but then looked down, hearing the sound of guards approaching. Altair darted forwards and grabbed her under the arms and pulled her forwards, clapping his hand to her mouth as he pulled her easily to him but then pulled her to the ground, rolling with an arm about her waist as he continued to keep her mouth closed, only stopping when his back hit the stone edge of the roof.
Adira tried to protest but he looked at her and placed a finger to her lips, making her blink at the contact. "Ssh." He whispered then inclined his head behind him. Adira looked at him then slowly lifted her head, spotting the single guard on the roof before lowering her head again and going perfectly still.
Altair looked over to Adira, slightly annoyed that the hood of her cloak obscured her eyes from his line of sight, though her shapely lips were accented by the soft definition of her jaw. His hand was warm against her waist and neither moved, both for the reason of not wanting to alert the guard and because they did not want to pull away.
The first to move was Altair, who let go of Adira and sat up, jumping up on the ledge and crouching like a bird ready to take flight. After looking around he nodded at Adira then hurried along the ledge, springing to the next roof. This time, Adira did the sensible thing and jumped.
Once they were over the roofs and onto the streets, Adira copied Altair when he lowered his head and pressed his palms together, moving into a group of monks. Adira peered out through her hood, watching Altair to give her the cue that they should split off.
When he moved away, so did she. There were guards still patrolling but they had not yet changed, making them tired from their night round and slightly less attentive than usual. Adira heard the click of their boots around the corner so she grabbed Altair and stepped into the doorway of a house, pulling down her hood. "Wait." She whispered. "Pretend to be courting me."
"What?" Shooting him a glare she tucked her head into his, sliding her hands up over his shoulders.
"Guards are put off when couples show extensive displays of affection in public and will look away." She explained. "So do something you men usually do to a woman, but make it conspicuous and don't you dare think about touching me anywhere you shouldn't." Altair heard the guards literally about to walk next to them so he turned his head into Adira's neck and gently nuzzled her skin, his hands going to her waist.
As Adira felt Altair's lips begin to tease at the soft grove of her neck, an involuntary moan escaped her. She kept her head lowered, her chin resting against his back as he continued to pay her neck his undivided attention. As Altair moved closer, Adira gasped, feeling his solid chest against her. The guards didn't even glance their way and Adira watched them out of the corner of her eye, waiting until they were gone before tensing against Altair. "They're gone." He pulled away and looked to where the guards had disappeared before taking a step back.
His face remained expressionless as he looked down at Adira, who drew up her hood. It had taken everything in him not to push further, to not lock his fingers in her hair and pull back her head to kiss those seductive lips of hers. "Come, we must hurry." Without another word he slipped away, heading to where his horse waited outside the walls of Jerusalem. Both he and Adira lowered their heads whilst pretending to pray.
They moved with a cart of apples which was moving slowly towards the gate. The guards were all yawning, groaning as they watched with anticipation the sunrise, knowing that in only a few moments, their guard would change. They didn't even bother checking anyone on their way in or out. When the horn sounded, signalling shift change, the guards all moved off, leaving the front gate exposed just as Altair and Adira slipped through.
The moment they were through Altair grabbed Adira by the shoulder and steered her to where Naim stood patiently, dozing but when he sensed his master approaching, he lifted his head. "Where's my horse?" Altair glanced to her.
"You can ride?"
"Yes. I can avoid falling off as well, if you can believe it." She replied sarcastically. "You really expect me to ride behind you?"
"I do not have time to purchase another horse."
"We could always just take one." Altair was surprised but also amused by her suggestion. He looked to her as he mounted up.
"Quite the little thief, aren't you?" She shrugged in reply, offering up her hand for him to swing her up behind him.
"My father got me stealing from the richer people who came visiting his shop. He would dress me as a boy and whilst he would be boasting proudly about his so called son and his business, I would pick their pockets." Adira explained as the horse began to walk down the road in the direction of Masyf. "What's his name?"
"Naim." Adira asked no further questions. She shifted in her seat, unused to riding behind someone. At first it was uncomfortable, especially with her annoying skirts bunching up the more the horse walked, calmly carrying them away from the city.
"So can we?"
"What?"
"Steal a horse." She sighed impatiently. "I do not like riding behind you."
"Why? Uncomfortable being so close to me?" He asked, turning his head back to her. "You seemed perfectly at ease back in the city, with your neck hardly complaining of my attentions." She scoffed at him.
"If that was the best you could do to pleasure a woman, then they must have very low expectations when you go womanising. Either that or they put on an act for you." Partially insulted, Altair pushed Naim into a sudden canter, causing Adira to yelp and cling onto the man tighter.
"And exactly what would you know of pleasure? Malik tells me you did not get on well with your late husband." Instantly Adira tensed and her mouth set in a hard line. "Hardly much of a lover."
"We were married for business, not pleasure. He was good and kind to me, which is more than I ever deserved." She spat at him, loosening her grip entirely. For a moment Altair's hand darted around to grip her back, keeping her situated but slowly he let go, turning his head to frown at her. She was remaining seated. So she really was a horsewoman. Very well, if that's how she wants to play, then Altair would play along.
Clucking his tongue, Naim lengthened his stride and sped up into a gallop. Adira smirked at the back of Altair's head, knowing exactly what he was trying to do but she found it even easier to grip on with her legs when in gallop, it was far smoother and this horse's gait was flawless. The canter, although perfectly even and well placed, had been a little more rounded, meaning that she would rise out of the saddle with each stride.
Eventually Altair had to rein Naim in to give him a rest. When he did so, he glanced back to the woman who continued to smirk. "I'm impressed."
"As it appears, it doesn't take much to impress you." Tonelessly she replied, wriggling slightly as her dress rode up a little higher. She hated riding in dresses, it was completely a nuisance. Deciding to ignore her comment, Altair varied the paces, walking whenever they passed through a small town or by a watchtower to not draw attention to themselves.
After a few hours of riding, Adira began to hear a gentle voice, singing on the wind. Her head snapped around and she tried to find the source of the sound, for it was deeply melodic and made her spine tingle. Then her eyes fell on Altair. She leaned forwards slightly and sure enough, it was him.
"It's you!" Her eyes widened in deep shock. "You're the one singing!"
"It took you that long to realise that? We're in the middle of nowhere with no one else around for miles. Who else did you expect to be? Unless you considered Naim a potential suspect." Altair said to her with his usual smirk. "Really, and I thought you were intelligent."
"You are the last person in the world I expected to hear singing from." She returned smartly. "So of course I explored all other possibilities." Silence ensued for a few minutes where Adira waited. "Well? Why aren't you singing now?"
"Because you are paying attention." He answered simply.
"How did you know I wasn't paying attention before?"
"Because I could feel your body going lax." Adira chewed on her bottom lip, taking in a deep breath before blurting out her request.
"Will you sing again?" Altair shifted slightly to cast his shadowed eyes down to her.
"What's in it for me?" She scowled at him, lifting her chin against his smirk.
"You're insufferable."
"I'm known for it. I repeat my question. What's in it for me?" Adira thought quickly. She had nothing of value to give him, seeing as she actually had nothing at all.
"I have nothing."
"How about you give me a kiss? Then I may consider singing to you."
"No!"
"Then accept the silence. It is how I prefer it." Altair turned his head around again. Her frown deepened at his back. Why did he have to be so difficult? She tried to think of another way to get him to sing, as she desperately wanted to listen to him properly. His voice had sounded like the beautiful chant of the priests during the sacrament, only more enchanting and more emotive.
"Please. I won't speak again for the entire journey." Adira asked softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Just one song, I really wish to hear you." Exhaling with a roll of his eyes Altair grabbed Adira, making her yelp as he swung her around then settled her before him. "What are you doing?"
"You want to listen, don't you? You may as well sit where you can hear." Though she protested inwardly about practically sitting in Altair's lap, she closed her mouth and opened her ears to listen. Altair lowered his head to hers, tilting to touch his lips to her ear then began to sing.
Instantly Adira's eyes slid shut of their own accord and she found herself transported to a world of her own, where nothing but clear open skies, brilliant burning sunsets and wide expanses of grass filled her view, with the heavenly voice singing to her in a different tongue that sounded smooth and seductive in her mind.
Her weariness only came into effect when Altair began to sing, pulling her deeper into a relaxed state until she slumped against him, head resting against his shoulders as he pulled her closer then wrapped his cloak around the both of them to protect their bodies from the wind that was threatening to ram them over.
Aw, I enjoy their bickering :)