So this chapter will reveal all! Hope you enjoy it, tell me what you think after!
They had been riding for hours since the break of dawn and Altair was struggling to keep his eyes open. Adira rode in front of him, leaning into his chest comfortably but when she felt him slump forwards and his head dropped a little, she turned to see him half asleep. "Why don't you rest? I'll keep an eye on the road."
"When we're out of the pass, I'll sleep. I need to remain alert until I'm sure we're out of danger."
"Danger? What danger? We're just walking through some rocks." She paused. "Right?"
"We're vulnerable. Anyone could be hiding up in the dunes and rocks, if I don't see them coming then we could be taken by surprise."
"Oh. Please stay awake, then. I don't want to be made into a desert wife." Altair chuckled, touching her stomach with his hand, which instantly set it alight inside. Adira swallowed nervously, glancing down at the contact. "Shall I keep talking?"
"Yes." He answered, his head jerking back up before slowly sinking again. "Please do."
"Well, I'll tell you about my little thieving adventures, shall I? I have a few good ones you might like." Her voice began but Altair soon began to find it did not help. She was speaking in such a soft, expressive tone that he soon found his lids had closed completely and had finally fallen asleep to the sound of her apparent enchanting tone.
When Naim reared, Altair's eyes flew open and he grabbed onto the reins but he was already falling backwards. He rolled to his feet, turning to see what had startled Naim and what had caused Adira to scream. Something blunt and heavy hit him on the back of the head, causing Altair to jerk forwards and fall to the ground on his front.
He strove to stay awake, fighting to try and get up. His hands pushed against the ground to try and get to his feet. Adira was still screaming. He needed to save her, needed to get her away. "Altiar!" Her voice penetrated his mind but before Altair could fully rise, another blow hit him and his world blackened of all sensations until he felt nothing at all.
Light streamed in from above, helping Altair's mind find its way back to life. His vision blurred, throbbing with the pain at the back of his head. A low groan left his throat as he shook his head then looked up once he could see straight. All confusion left him, leaving behind only utter astonishment.
Adira stood there, a face of stone, wearing a black garb with the rich cloth cut around her hips and left a centrepiece to dangle between her legs on both sides, with leather armour the colour of pitch strapped to her torso. She still wore her breeches, though she now wore newer boots which came up to below her knee. She wore a black hood over her head which folded inwards to reveal her full features though clasping the cloak together at her neck, was a red cross. A Templar. She was a Templar.
"Don't look at me like that." She said to him in a dead tone. "Don't you dare look at me as if I have betrayed you." All at once Altair rushed forwards, preparing to kill her where she stood as absolute rage burned within him like wildfire. Adira never blinked or twitched, merely allowed him to run at her.
When his wrists were yanked back by the chain that trapped him to the stone wall, he stood barely and inch from her face. "You do not understand."
"You betrayed me. You betrayed Malik." Altair spat at her with unbridled fury. "This was a setup. From the moment Malik rescued you, to your capture and now this." He yanked on the chains, trying to get closer but it relented nothing.
"I had no choice."
"Templar scum." This time she flinched, closing her eyes as pain flit across her face.
"I'm sorry. Truly I am." When the sound of a door opening echoed down to them, Adira shifted then took several steps back, unable to meet Altair's hate filled glare. Still she could not see his eyes but now, she did not want to. To see the rage and loathing would destroy her. She could not handle that much pain.
A powerful man walked inside the cell, glancing to the woman before settling his eyes on Altair. "So, this is the infamous assassin who ruined all of my plans for the Piece of Eden." Altair snarled, tearing at the chains but they held firm. The man had a greying beard which was sharply pointed at the chin. He wore fine robes which concealed his fragile figure, though he seemed strong enough to be able to life the numerous adornments on his fingers.
The older man balled a fist then swung weakly at Altair. The blow did not hurt but a jewelled ring cut his cheek, causing it to bleed. "Father." Adira cut in sharply. "That is not necessary." The old man glared at Altair further.
Adira took a step forwards, one hand resting on the hilt of her curved blade. "I've upheld my end of the deal, now it is time you did the same. Where is he? I want him back now." Altair felt his heart hammer a little faster. Was there already a man in her life? Had she led him on in that aspect to? Everything he knew about her had been a lie, why should he be surprised if there was?
Sadir Abazar nodded his head to one of his many guards, who turned and walked back up the stairs. Adira lifted her head, watching him go before looking back to Altair and her father carefully. "It seems my age has caught up with me." Sadir mused then turned to his men and snapped his fingers. They all strode forwards, gripping their wooden clubs and blunted weapons.
They began to beat Altair with every ounce of strength they had. "No! Stop that, that's enough!" Adira roared, a volume Altair had never heard from her before. As he was felled to his knees, he looked up to her through his hood. She looked panic-stricken, the sly vixen.
"Father please, I beg of you. Don't hurt him. He's had enough." Sadir regarded his daughter a moment before snapping his jewelled fingers once more. The beatings stopped and Altair breathed deeply, still on his knees as the guards stepped away.
"You have grown soft, daughter, I did not raise you to care for others." Her eyes narrowed at him.
"I am not like you, father. I cannot stand the sight of blood." She snarled, hand still resting on her sword. "Not since you spilled my mother's before my eyes."
"You know why I had to. Come, now is not the time to discuss such private matters, we have a guest." When he waved a hand to Altair, the torn woman followed. Hurt stung at her conscience at her betrayal. She wished she were never born, she wished none of this had ever happened. She wished she were dead.
However when the sound of the returning guard reached her, she tore her eyes from Altair and looked up hopefully. The guard brought down a small boy, barely older than six, with a dark mop of hair, naturally tanned skin and bright blue eyes, electrifyingly blue. Altair stared at the boy as a sob left Adira's body.
"Kahil!" She released her grip on her sword hilt and ran forwards to the child, who instantly smiled and tried to run forwards with open arms.
"Mama!" Two guards grabbed Adira, who screamed and fought against them, turning to slam her brow against one's head then kick the other off but more fell against her, trapping her with their swords as her son was held back by the guard who had retrieved him, scowling as the boy kicked and bellowed and pummelled his tiny fists into the guard.
Now Altair understood. All of this because her son had been used as a weapon against her. If she hadn't had cooperated, the boy would have been killed. Though he understood her motives, it didn't mean he forgave her.
"You promised! You promised I could have him back if I brought you Altair!"
"Altair? You call him by name?" Sadir questioned as he approached his daughter, who had to be pinned against the wall in order to keep her moderately tamed. "Is that how close you are?"
"You gave me your word. My son and I would walk away free from you and your sick order forever!" She summoned all the saliva in her mouth and spat at her father, glowering hot flames at him as he grimaced then wiped the spit from his face. He nodded to one of his guards as he turned away.
Adira's eyes widened in fear as the guard approached menacingly. When the fist connected with her gut, Altair could not help but pull forwards in natural instinct to protect her. When she fell to her knees, head lowered, he could only stare at her.
"No! I want my mama! Let me go!" The boy was continuing to fight though he had been hoisted up and tucked under the guard's arm to restrain him. Sadir walked over to the boy, who stopped to stare up at him with wide blue eyes.
"Quite a strong little boy. It's a shame, if he had been mine, he would have made a fine Templar. Better than you." He shot a dark look to his daughter, who was relieved of her weapons and chained to the wall in a similar position to Altair's, though she collapsed to the floor the moment she was released, weakened by struggling against those stronger than her. "I think I'll keep him. Who knows? Maybe he'll lead this order one day. He has the makings of a fine warrior."
Adira shifted, whimpering as she uncurled herself then lifted her head. Her lips curled into a hideous snarl. "He will never be a Templar. Not whilst I still live and breathe!"
"Unfortunately for you, that will not be for very long." Sadir answered blandly as he climbed back up the steps. "Don't worry, my grandson will make a far better child than you ever were." A powerful scream of motherly rage left Adira as she lunged forwards, the chains rattling as she struggled and fought against them.
"I'll kill you! You hear me? I'll kill you for this! You shall not have my son! He is mine!"
"Mama! Don't let them take me! I want you mama! Mama!" The boy's pitiful cries screamed through the door as it was swung shut then locked from the other side. Another bellow was flung from Adira as she continued to fight, yanking and pulling on her chains before finally collapsing to her knees, sobbing. "I failed. I'm a failure. I've failed everyone." She cursed herself between loud sobs, her shoulders shaking with every wave of tears.
Altair simply stood there, watching her with scorn. There was no use for crying, he needed silence to think his way out of here and she was not helping. "Enough with that ridiculous noise!" A guard shouted from the other side. Adira only howled louder. "Stupid woman. Wonder how Sadir put up with her wailing all those years." He muttered then Adira listened through her sobs as he strode away to find somewhere quieter.
Then she stopped. Her lips hardening into a thin line she rolled back over her head, sliding her body between the chains then moved so that they were before her, turning under them before lowering her head and searching through her hair for a pin. Altair continued to watch, a small frown creasing his brow as the now perfectly calm woman worked the pin into her shackles, twisting and turning until finally, the lock clicked.
One wrist free Adira worked on the other before she pulled away from the wall, completely liberated. She raced up the steps to look outside the door, listening before slowly turning. Her eyes fixated on Altair. "I had to." She informed him, taking a step down towards him. "He said he was going to kill Kahil if I did not bring you to him." Another step closer. "I know you won't forgive me and…you'll probably kill me, but I'm going to let you go too." Cautiously she walked around Altair, whose eyes followed but he did not turn his head. "Just do something for me. Kill Sadir and take my son away somewhere safe."
He listened, hearing one click after the other before spinning around with blinding speed. Both hands clamped down on her throat as he pressed her into the stone floor, her eyes widening as she began to choke. Her face reddened and her mouth popped open uselessly, her hands curled around his wrists but did not attempt to pull them away.
Slowly she let go, fingers trembling as she gripped his hood. If she really was going to die, then she would at least see his face before she went. Though her eyes were beginning to water and her lungs burned for air, she slid Altair's hood back from his head.
All she could do was stare. He had deep green eyes barely a shade lighter than green ink. Adira was transfixed by their almond shape, though they looked at her with betrayal, hate and anger. She had guessed right, he was fine featured. His prominent nose drew out his broad brow and the sharp definition of his jaw, perfectly straight and aquiline. Seeing his face helped Adira relax, all tension falling from her body as she touched one hand to Altair's face, brushing her fingers against his scar before pressing against his cheek.
Slowly, the pressure eased off her throat just as dark spots had begun to appear before her eyes. Altair stood, glaring down at her before moving away. Adira sucked in deep breaths, arching her back as she then rolled over, coughing as her vision began to return. Then she looked with confusion to the assassin. "Why?"
"I want nothing to do with your son." He growled at her. "You're going to show me the way out, then you can save yourself." Nodding her head Adira rose, tenderly rubbing her neck from the bruises that were beginning to rise in the shape of Altair's hand.
Sucking in a deep breath, she knocked on the door. Altair frowned at her as he drew up his hood. What was she thinking? The door unlocked and the guard frowned. "You're not supposed to-" A quick fist to the face knocked him out and Adira stepped over him.
"Guards are so stupid." She muttered, walking over to where her weapons lay cluttering the table. She took her sword, knives then slung a quiver and bow over her back as Altair adorned himself with his weapons also. "This way. Stay half a step behind me and we should make it through undetected." Altair suddenly saw a completely different side to Adira. She was stronger, more confident. She had been hiding her true self all this time. Every time she had screamed, yelped or jumped in surprise had all been for show. His eyes narrowed at her.
They climbed the stairs carefully then stopped as they stood at the doorway, the bridge leading to the main section of the fort. "Naim will be in the stables. I'll give you some time to get him saddled and escape out the gates before someone notices." She murmured, waiting still at the door. "Just…wait there." Altair scowled at her.
"Not a chance."
"Fine. Get shot by an arrow. See if I care." She spat back then drew her bow and an arrow. She pulled the string taut then stepped out, running across the bridge. She stopped around halfway, pointing the arrow upwards to shoot the guard at the tower then another to take down his partner.
Arrows whizzed through the air and Adira rolled to avoid them, springing back up on her knees and quick fired several arrows in the space of mere seconds along the twin bridge, taking down the guards positioned there as they began to call out. They were quickly silenced.
"Now." She jerked her head towards the main fort and Altair followed, running smoothly as Adira kicked open the door with a powerful strike of her boot. He couldn't help but follow the length of her shapely legs for a moment.
They ran down a hall but Adira quickly pushed Altair into a doorway, slowing to a walk as she placed one hand on her sword. Two guards walked around the corner, glancing her way as they continued without breaking pace. Once she was passed, she heard them stop. "Wait! Stop!" She turned, pulling two throwing knives from her belt but Altair appeared behind them, blades sliding from his bracers which he stabbed through their necks, killing them instantly. Adira blinked in surprise, lowering her knives. Neither said a word.
Leading Altair through the fort, she hurried to get him to the stables before the alarm was raised. The warning bell tolled, signalling their escape. "Damn!" She hissed, drawing her blade as the door ahead of them opened, around six guards pouring out to face them.
"There they are!" Adira stood to fight as Altair turned to run.
"Adira!" He shouted to her.
"Go!" She called back calmly, focusing her blade as the guards ran at her. "I'll distract them." Altair turned to go but stopped when he heard the clash of a blade against another. He looked back, watching Adira as she moved. She was beautifully lethal, trained to the point with grace and skill as she rolled over a guard's back, swinging her blade to knock back another before turning, slashing through a neck with a gush of blood spilling free.
Her elbow ripped back and slammed into another guard's face, her leg whipping out and circling around a spear to redirect it into another's belly, making them cry out in pain before he dropped down. Utterly transfixed, Altair stayed rooted to the spot.
She kicked out at someone so powerfully that the decorative table collapsed as her foot fell on top of it with a clean sweep. Her eye caught Altair still standing there. "Well?" She demanded, spinning around to grip a guard in a headlock then snapped his neck with a sharp twist. "Are you going or staying?" A spear stabbed at her from behind so she rotated her body whilst leaning dangerously backwards, grabbing the spear then snapped it in half, spinning several times at an angle to then bury the spearhead into the guard's chest. With three final slashes, the remaining guards fell to their deaths.
"Not very bright, are you? I suppose you had better follow me, seeing as you can't find your way around here without a personal guide giving you the grand tour." She spat sourly, turning to see four more guards running at her. "Oh come on!" Four blades shot passed her, making her glance towards one as it spun passed her eye, catching their electricity briefly before burying themselves into the victims. She shot a look back to Altair, who smirked smugly. "Show off."
"Mere talent, actually." He replied sardonically, walking forwards. He grabbed his blades as they passed before racing through the corridors. More guards continued to fall in from all possible angles, limiting their escape.
"Get ready to jump." Adira called to Altair, pointing ahead. "Trust me."
"What's down there?"
"Probably nothing." She replied simply then clenched her eyes tightly shut. They leaped off the balcony together, cloaks flying upwards, white against black as they descended through the air. They landed on a wagon full of hay. "Well that was fortunate." Adira mused, already on her feet as Altair was rolling off his back and down to the ground. "The stables are just around there. I'll…I'll…" Her face filled with pain. "I'll pray for you." She murmured before turning away. Altair grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to face him. He looked at her with stony silence, he face passive of all expression, which made her grow nervous from what might happen next. She couldn't take his silence, she'd rather have him raging and beating her than this silent emptiness.
Altair saw the fear in her eyes as he looked blankly down at her. She had betrayed him, was prepared to leave him to die yet still…he couldn't shift the feeling in his chest. He could still look at her and feel the desire and insane lust for that mouth and body of hers. Slowly he slackened his grip on her wrist and dropped it altogether. "Let's go find your son." Her eyes brightened and her mouth fell open before quickly closing again.
Like a hurricane, she strode back into the fort. Never had Altair seen anything as terrifying as this mother searching for her child. Her blades were bolts of lightning, her arrows whistling wind as she followed her instincts that led her to her only child. "Mama!" He cried from the balcony above. "I'm here!"
"Jump Kahil!" Adira shouted up to him, turning tight circles and taking down a guard with every rotation. "I will catch you." Kahil nodded his head bravely and climbed up, preparing to jump though he trembled like a leaf. Suddenly he was afraid. "Jump!"
"I can't! It's too high, mama. I'm frightened!" Altair scowled, they did not have time for this.
"You have my word, I will catch you." Adira stopped having cleared all guards from around her, the rest focussing their attention on Altair. "Now jump!" Her eyes shot to the doors where guards were running to try and reach her son. "Now Kahil! Jump now!" Closing his eyes, the boy spread his arms like wings and jumped, crying out in fear as the guards lunged for him but missed him by inches.
Adira kicked up a fallen spear, throwing it into one of Altair's attackers before sheathing her sword and opening both arms. Her son fell into them and she cradled him to her chest, dropping slightly under his weigh but leaped back up again. "Altair!" She shouted, racing for the exit. "Hurry! Get out of here!" Not waiting to be told again, Altair slipped away as the guards decided to chase after Adira instead.
With her son's curly head tucked into her shoulder, Adira ran through the fort, breathing heavily. She had her son. Her precious life was back in her arms and she refused to let him go. Racing around a corner Adira yelled in anger as a spear was stabbed at her, jolting her son out of the way and grabbed the shaft with her hand.
She felt it pierce her flesh and she gasped from the pain, hot blood seeping into her clothes and dripping down her leg as she slowly pulled it free. A foot kicked into the shaft, breaking it and Adira spun the head around in her arms, hiding Kahil's face as she killed the guard then continued to run, though with her quickly bleeding wound, her pace slackened.
Nearing a window Adira looked down, seeing the barrack courtyard with a pile of sandbags piled just underneath them when not being used to train. Cradling her son close to her, Adira slid her legs out the window then dropped, pushing a finger into Kahil's mouth so that the shock that ran through them bit into her finger and not his tongue. It hardly dented the skin.
Gasping for breath Adira staggered out of the courtyard, struggling to keep her son in her arms whilst continuing to bleed. Her vision began to blur and her steps became clumsy and off track. "Mama? Are you hurt?" Unable to keep going, Adira fell to the ground, Kahil still in her arms so she twisted, landing on her side to keep him protected. "Mama?" His innocent eyes locked with hers like twin beads of glass, not understanding why she had fallen. Suddenly he smiled at her. "I knew you'd come back for me."
"Yes." She breathed, beads of sweat rolling down her face as she struggled to keep pressure on her wound. "Of course I came back for you, my son. I love you."
"I love you too, mama." He said then gripped her arm, standing and trying to lift her up too. "But we must leave! I don't like this place. That old man was mean and scary." Adira tried to get up but all strength had gone from her legs.
"I can't, Kahil, I'm not as strong as I thought I was." She lifted a hand to touch his rounded cheeks, confusion fluttering in his eyes. "Try and be strong for me. Be strong and good. Kindness is the only way in this world. If no one shows it to you then you must show even more to others." Adira whispered, pulling the necklace from around her neck. "I kept it safe for you."
"Papa's present!" Kahil gasped. "I thought I'd lost it."
"Remember, do unto others you would have them do unto you. Never forget the teachings of love and respect." Her vision began to fade into blackness. "There's so much more…I wanted to teach you. To tell you…"
"Mama? Mama! Don't go to sleep!" The boy shook her shoulder as her head slowly dropped onto her arm, her other hand beginning to fall from her wound, stained as if with the darkest wine.
"Mama loves you, Kahil….mama…always loves you."
"Help! Someone help! Please! Mama's sick! Help me someone!" Adira wanted to tell him to run, to get away from this cursed place but no words formed on her stilling lips. Her breath became shallow as her world faded to darkness, the drumming off hooves and the loud thud of a man's boots hitting the ground. No! They couldn't take her son again. She wouldn't let them…she'd fight…fight to…the bitter…end…