Adventure Time With Altaïr

by Mystic Blade

Vivian's life takes a turn for the odd when she wakes in 12th century Jerusalem with no logic to explain it all. When she's unwillingly dragged along for Altaïr's new adventure for the pieces of Eden with Malik, she'll travel the world to find her own scientific answers. What mayhem awaits Altaïr's Crusade? Facing deadly enemies and wildlife, the adventure never ends. Post-AC1 AU

62. There and Back Again

Music Inspiration: Lorne Balfe- "Assassin's Creed Revelations Theme"

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There and Back Again

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Fleeing the island of Tenerife was easy once money and trade were involved, allowing the small team to charter a ferry across before nightfall. Altaїr was not eager to travel nautically under the cover of darkness but he could also not risk any lingering enemies capturing them during the night if they camped out. Vivian wanted to return to the temple to question Diana for more information about their future but Altaїr decided it was too risky with the potential of Templars still wandering the island. They had fought their battle and they could leave with the Sword and the other items, content with that success. He would not ask for more and risk the lives of his team.

"We're going home?" Bashir dared to ask with an eager smile at the prospect of sleeping in his own bed once more. He missed the calm silent nights of Masyaf, finding the crashing waves disconcerting during his travels north up the coast.

"Yes" Altaїr answered with pride swelling in his chest at finally finishing the long journey he set out from years ago. He did not expect it to be so turbulent but he had traveled into unknown lands with no knowledge on its lands, people, wildlife, or resources. His team had stuck by his side, even when he had been less than amiable, and he was relieved that they all made it through. Still, they had another journey east to return to Masyaf.

The group of six stood at the top deck of the ship, nestled by the right side as the ship rocked gently against the waves. Altaїr stuck to the windiest side to prevent hurling his meals over the banister while everyone else steered clear of him. Maria had offered to tie him up to one of the deck beams but he didn't want to miss socializing with his friends. Years ago, he would've cast all of them aside but now, they were welcome faces.

He had informed the others about Vivian's new predicament along the way to the coastline. The historian was permanently stuck in the Middle Ages with the pendant officially gone and out of their lives. Now, she simply had to pick up Arabic and any other major language of the era rather quickly. Easier said than done. Conversations stalled dramatically since only Malik and Altaïr could speak fluent English while Bashir and Amon were breaching the intermediate stage while Maria was at the same stage for Arabic. Altaïr realized quickly that he would have made a terrible language instructor when his wife failed to follow his pacing.

"We're traveling by boat or land?" Amon asked curiously on their next journey home, which would hopefully be uneventful. After hearing that Altaïr's team had their boat sink in the middle of the night, he did not want that shoddy luck following them.

"Boat," everyone else but Altaïr blurted unanimously to choose the fastest option back home.

Altaïr tried one last time to change their method of travel by suggesting with an eerily wide smile, "Land?"

"Altaїr" his wife corrected because it would be faster to reach Masyaf that way and his attempts at benign smiling were still a work in progress. Honestly, his only normal smiles were those aimed at the downfall of his enemies.

"Fine!" he agreed with great reluctance, crossing his arms dramatically to show his discontent. He could not compete in an argument where the majority vote was against him. Who dared introduce democracy to his team?

"You'll survive" Maria stated flatly at his attempt to revolt when they were already on the first boat of their journey. What was he going to do? Leave them at the port to walk home for the remainder of the trip?

"There is another issue to address" he spoke up to tackle the newest problem in their team but it could lead to better linguistics understanding. That, or a lot of hilarious situations. He would keep that opinion to himself though. He motioned towards his wife, who tried not to blush at having everyone's attention on her and explained, "Since Vivian has lost the ability to translate, we will be teaching her Arabic along the way. Do not take it easy on her simply because she is my wife. Treat her as you would any novice."

Vivian glared at her husband for his militaristic manner in training her, being briefly reminded of their pushup sessions. While she lay on the ground half-dead in exhaustion, he had her sit on his back for more of a challenge. Crossing her arms, she told him bluntly, "You're a terrible spouse."

"Yet we both live," he remarked offhandedly with a faintly amused smile at being able to hide within his own language. Malik shook his head and hoped his friend would not be sleeping alone on the upper deck tonight for pressing his luck.

"What did he say about me?" Vivian demanded with narrowed eyes that darted over each of her team members. Altaïr, on the other hand, gave them a silent warning glare not to blow his small moment of freedom out of the water. Nobody in the group wanted to meddle in their marriage and let the problem diffuse itself when Vivian wagged a finger at him to say, "I know that crazy gleam in your eye."

Altaïr was quick to flash an innocent smile that she didn't buy for a second as he claimed, "Nothing, habibi."

"Sweet talking me isn't going to work either" she shot back playfully to warn him on playing both sides of the language field. Now he could successfully complain without her being none the wiser while she had no such option. She had lost her advantage against him! Unless, she could worm her way under the radar with Spanish and tried it out, "Coconut head."

"Do not trifle with other languages when one is already enough" he warned her immediately at failing to interpret her foreign words and forgot about her maternal tongue. Briefly, he wondered if his parents went through the same thing. She agreed with a dainty wave of the hand to let him carry on and he continued, albeit with a keen eye on her for shenanigans, "Anyway, we also need to concoct an origin story for her now that she will be permanently living here."

"Are you sure there's no risk with any of the POEs?" Malik asked uncertainly about her security in their world because their technology could still affect her. It was best to keep her away from all of them to prevent an accidental trigger that would separate them.

Altaïr shook his head since the pendant was the greatest threat to his wife and answered, "No, the entity back there said the pendant was her anchor to her timeline and it is gone now."

"This not knowing Arabic thing is sucking big time" Vivian sighed under her breath, shoulders slumping with disappointment. She had been terrified at being able to understand people in the Middle Ages but the pendant was responsible the whole time. Now, she was truly immersed in ancient times and would have to work to succeed yet again. She looked to Maria, the only other person who came close to her in the strange land, and asked her, "It gets better, right?"

She shrugged halfheartedly since she was still learning herself just as Malik explained gently, "We are discussing your fake origin."

"Oh, carry on" Vivian smiled warmly to let them figure out a believable story for her to follow. They knew their time and culture far better than she did. Her new life would have to be as boring and listless as possible to keep a target off her back. Still, she couldn't help but ask hopefully, "Is chicken farmer still up for grabs?"

"You know nothing about chickens" her husband pointed out because it was different to pretend a specific lifestyle versus living it. This would be her life for the foreseeable future because his own was already risky for her. She had to live a life that she would enjoy for its simplicity.

"I can learn" she insisted because she was thirsty for knowledge and keeping track of chickens would occupy her time. No Templar would take another glance at a simple chicken farmer unless they wanted eggs. She was pretty sure Altaïr would keep her at Masyaf until she capable of understanding everyone for her safety.

Altaïr refrained from sighing at her innocence and tried to convince her otherwise, "Not for an origin story!"

"Make her a librarian" Malik suggested easily to play into her strengths and familiarities to blend her into their world.

Vivian found that quite boring and it brought her into self-reflection from how she started to her current progress. She was stuck to books and facts on her first day and now, she focused on dissecting the POE technology. While Bashir sought to return to his tower, she sought to be out in the open exploring beside her friends.

"She was a historian of her time, simply change it to books to fit our time" the dai continued to the most suitable job for a woman of her time, given that most women were homemakers or market sellers. Maria was the only exception so far but the woman was a warrior with any weapon. Vivian, on the other hand, had different talents. He gazed down at his petite friend with an apologetic gaze and told her, "Women are not exactly able to pick positions of power."

"I still think chicken farmer is cooler" Vivian murmured under her breath at failing to convince the team about raising a gang of chickens. Her husband would likely blow his top when she handed orders to her feathered minions though. Her modern-age viewpoints no longer existed but at least she had a new acquaintance in Maria to vent to.

Maria tried not to laugh at her dejected pout, trying to figure out why she was fighting for such a menial position, and comforted, "Yet your knowledge lays elsewhere."

"I could've had an army of chickens, Maria" she sighed dismally at losing the battle, shaking her head, and Maria laughed aloud this time. The time traveler was strange with her rambles but she was far from boring, which Maria needed right about now for the long trek. Imagining the short woman with a small ensemble of fluffy chickens at her feet was an entertaining concept.

Altaïr ignored her fretting over chicken handling and continued to spin her faux tale, "She was born in the Spanish empire and made her way here to study our history."

"We met her in my bureau when she was running from a thief and she offered her librarian services" Malik continued for a plausible tale that would have little to no holes for believability. After all, she had been unceremoniously dumped in his bureau by Altaïr after he kidnapped her for believing her an Assassin impostor. Obviously, the last bit would be omitted but their origins were half-true. Vivian frowned slightly at being deemed a librarian and he finished, "We decided to take her with us on our journey."

"She suffered head trauma from a disgruntled camel that has affected her ability with languages" Altaïr added in to explain in case anyone back at Masyaf inquired about her sudden language impediment. He was quite skeptical, as he took great care to ensure that only his most trusted associates had the opportunity to meet her, and this was only after pursuing her extensively throughout Masyaf.

Vivian shrugged nonchalantly on their claim, given that it would be months before they saw Masyaf, and reminded the team, "I mean, I did suffer head trauma under you for the first months."

"You did what?!" Maria exclaimed with alarm at his behavior and raised her right hand to smack him across the shoulder. Altaïr raised his hands to prevent being beaten needlessly by the ex-Templar for his past transgressions. He feared her strikes more than Vivian's when the woman held a more muscular physique and strength behind it. Amon and Bashir tried to intervene at the sudden tension after catching only bits and pieces in translation while Malik decided to see this play out.

"And I apologized profusely for it!" he pointed out indignantly at his less-than-stellar behavior when he was suspicious of her. Vivian's face deadpanned when he moved behind her to avoid being struck and she waved her hands to break the tension. Everyone returned to their respective spots and Altaïr motioned for Maria to calm down. The Englishwoman shot him a firm glare that warned him against such behavior but he would never do such a thing to anyone again. He turned to his wife, who found all of this entertaining, and stated, "You can keep the origins of your family but communication is nonexistent after you left the Spanish domain."

She would have to live a lie for the rest of her life but it only added some spice to it. If she could stay with her new family, it was all worth it. Shrugging listlessly, she pointed out flatly, "It's not entirely untrue."

"The closer we tread to the truth, the easier it will be to lie through it" Altaïr reasoned because an intricately woven lie would be worse to maintain. Simplicity was key and he would be there to safeguard any nosy individuals looking for the truth. His wife was already eccentric but the head trauma excuse coupled with being a transplant to his land would be overlooked. The less questions they had aimed at her, the better.

"Is it hard to adapt to life there?" she asked Maria about life in the fortress since she was only there for a few days. Their gender did not exactly have the best times or rights till the 21st century and they still must fight for them. Meanwhile, she and Maria were stuck a thousand years before that time.

Maria shifted her weight against the banister since Masyaf was not the worst place but not the most hospitable. Mainly, it was due to her past but she had met great people there like Bashir and Ilias. She could not say her experience would match Vivian's, given their different backgrounds, and admitted, "Not the hardest but not the easiest either but then again, I was a Templar."

Altaïr decided to press his luck once more and tried to convince them, "Do we really have to travel by-"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison to dismiss his alternative.

He sighed with aggravation at finally conceding the battle and his wife rubbed his back in circles before stating matter-of-factly, "You've been on numerous boats by now to not complain as much."

His brown eyes narrowed at her chide and he crossed his arms to resist her logic by snapping back, "The fear of the endless treacherous depths never leaves you!"

"I am not traveling on the next adventure" Malik declared dryly to avoid more embarrassing shenanigans from his friend. As exciting as it was to witness and explore new lands, Altaïr had a magnetism for the worst luck and obstacles. He would gladly stay in his boring bureau if it meant avoiding another explosion, sinking, or starvation.

Altaïr had managed to pull all of them out alive on every mission so he was proud of that. His team could handle themselves, even if one was a civilian. His friend deserved his rest after they managed to mend their friendship and Altaïr would grant him that peace. That wasn't to say he was not shy in rebutting his protest by stating snippily, "Fine, more food for me."

Malik chuckled softly at his friend's flippant attitude and gazed out at the dark ocean to sigh softly, "And we're back to normal."

"This is normal?" Amon questioned with bafflement at their endless scoldings, which was far different than his time in Maria's crew. From their first meeting, he assumed the difficult predicament of Giza's thieves aiding the Templars brought out their tenacity. Clearly, he was wrong.

"It is after the year we've had" Bashir told him with a simple shrug after experiencing danger countless times. A little fibbing between friends was nothing after the threat of death every day. They were still not in the clear until they reached Masyaf but he was glad to be beside his friends.

Vivian understood nothing of what the men were discussing, unable to draw anything from their quick pace of speaking. She would bask in the peace of ignorance and enjoy the ride back to the mainland. There was still beauty in the dead of night with the sparkling water and starry sky so she would enjoy the little wins in life. She tapped her fingers against the wooden banister and sighed blissfully under her breath, "Maybe it's a good thing I can't understand you."

---

Masyaf, Syria

Altaïr had never been happier to see the exterior walls of Masyaf as his team finally arrived back home. They had all returned to their original attire after leaving the African continent to blend in once more in their homeland. The only ones who didn't change were Vivian, Maria, and Amon since they were the other half of the non-Assassin team. The long months of travel made the group weary and eager to bathe and take a nap, a prospect that was finally within reach. He reached back to grasp his wife's hand to usher her forward in their trek up the hill to Masyaf.

Vivian let out a miserable groan that stirred laughter among the group, shifting her weight backward with every step to hinder Altaïr. Although the months' worth of travel had been tolerable and uneventful, she had not returned emptyhanded. Along the way, she became pregnant and was more than halfway through her second pregnancy. She could not hide her swollen belly under her robes anymore and their child held a keen knack for kicking in her bladder every two hours. She was over the moon to carry another child, but it made her that much more cautious to keep her unborn baby safe.

Altaïr relinquished his hold when his wife wasn't budging on picking up her pace and she shooed him away. He would heed her every desire to keep their baby safe, trusting her. She needed to pace herself before her feet decided to swell early, choosing to walk beside Malik. The dai shook his head at his friend's giddiness but he could not blame him after such a long time away. Maria was also eager to return but it was to see her son and husband – her family.

She gazed at the gargantuan walls of the fortress, shielding her eyes from the sun peering over the edges, and sighed aloud, "I have never been more relieved to be back."

"We're home!" Bashir smiled giddily and picked up his pace to the main gate, practically passing by Altaïr. Not eager to be outdone by his subordinate, the older Assassin hastened his gait to outrun the shorter inventor. Malik pretended his best to appear separate from the two by sticking with the others and let the two run up to the gate like children picking up a dust trail.

Altaïr chuckled softly at Bashir's joy to be home, empathizing with that longing, and rested against the cold metal. Bashir grabbed onto the gray metal bars, pressing his face between the spaces as he peered through it. He expected to see his brethren on the opposite side, ready to inquire about them before lifting the gate. Instead, he found it empty.

He wondered if they had wandered further into the courtyard and announced his presence, "Hello?"

No response.

Altaïr found the lack of alertness rather odd, given their affinity to be attacked by thieves, and glanced through the gaps in the gate. Like Bashir, he saw nobody within sight. Even the courtyard should have a few novices training. Where were his Assassins? He narrowed his eyes at the shoddy vigilance, wondering who was responsible for today's assignments, and asked aloud, "Why isn't anybody opening the gate?"

Malik and the others approached the duo by the gate, their curiosity stirred by the silence. Vivian was glad for the shade so she could cool down after that long walk uphill. Boy, did she miss the Moroccan coastline. Altaïr did not like the situation at all, wondering why he had not seen a single person, and told them tightly, "This doesn't bode well."

Bashir's shoulders slumped as he peered through the gates once more, seeing nothing, and sighed miserably, "We just got home, can't I have one good moment?"

"We are forever cursed with bad luck" Malik muttered blandly at being locked outside of their home and glanced around the walls for anything suspicious. The village had yet to say anything was amiss when they were traveling through the markets to purchase snacks. Everything was completely normal outside but within the front of the fortress, a disappearance act took place.

"And to think my luck was good before all this" Bashir sighed morosely but then again, life for an Assassin was not a fairy tale or a flower garden. This is why he liked staying in his tower. He controlled the environment and people came to find him, not the other way around. He had enough excitement for the next five years and yearned to return to his laboratory, grasping the metal bars to jiggle them in vain. Curse the door guards, he just wanted to be home.

Maria took note of their boyish despair of being locked out of their home and commented dryly to Vivian, "Is it just me or did they become melodramatic on the way home?"

"It's them" Vivian agreed flatly with a firm nod at seeing her husband reduced to a frowning boy. It reminded her of his time in Egypt with his petulant complaints until she found him pastries or enemies to fight. Still, she was happy to see him back home. It was his shield against danger and she always caught a fond note in his voice when he spoke of it. This would also be her home now, as well as their child's.

"I endured boat rides for you people" Altaїr chastised the women for their henpecking but Maria held the most valid reason in returning to their son. The rest simply wanted to get home into the shade as quickly as possible. The excitement to sightsee after all the chaos they endured had been zapped out of their hearts after the first month and they sought the comforts of home. Even as the youngest member of the team, Bashir didn't want to wander and see new places when they docked.

Amon brought them all to attention when he pointed to the top of the walls and called out, "There's someone up there!"

The bright sun overhead obstructed their view, but Altaїr observed a dark figure moving on the top of the right wall. He promptly responded to the movement behind the wall by waving his arms to get their attention. Positioned in the shadows, his team was able to remain concealed in the corners, and he announced loudly, "Hello, it is Altaїr. We have returned -"

"Watch out!" Amon interjected sharply and reached out to yank the Assassin from the collar of his white robes to yank him back. His abrupt action disarmed Altaїr but not as severely when an arrow whizzed by to lodge itself into the earth where he previously stood. Malik and the others were alarmed by the sudden action, given that he was their leader. What in the world was going on?

Altaїr wrenched himself out of Amon's grip, trying to spot the shooter behind the wall, and blurted with annoyance, "Did that man try to shoot me?"

"Either that or you have terrible welcome parties" Vivian replied tightly at the cold welcome they received and wondered why they were hostile. Did they not believe Altaїr was back? Had something happened behind the walls of the fortress while they were gone? Maria told her everything was under control when she left, leaving Ilias to run Masyaf and raise Darim. Her eyes were glued to the top of the walls around her to detect sudden movement.

"You there! Come back and face me!" Altaїr demanded stubbornly to egg on the petty attacker to show his face. How dare they cowardly hide behind a wall after trying to assassinate the leader of the Order? Actually, why were they trying to kill him?

Amon regarded him with a disapproving look for exposing their spot and cautioned, "It is unwise to threaten an individual armed with a bow when they hold the advantage of higher ground."

Altaїr feared nothing from his brethren after facing non-human beings in the last year, amongst regular human scum. His crossbow was already in his hands, along with Amon and Bashir, as they scanned the walls for the man in question. Where had they gone? Were they gathering reinforcements? A harsh sound of grinding metal startled them from up ahead and Maria informed them, "The gate's rising."

Were they coming to shoot them full of arrows? Slowly, the dark gate rose above their heads with a creaking grind and Altaїr strode forward with his bow drawn. Amon and Bashir followed to cover his back with their bows while the others lingered behind in a safer position. They expected archers lurking behind them when they entered but they found the wall defenses clear. Well, apart from the dead corpses along the floor.

A figure loomed out from the gate's controls and the trio turned instantly in their direction, bows raised in threat. Ilias stepped out from the shadows of the small nook with raised hands, his white robes tarnished with several dirt patches. He appeared more weary and older with an unshaved face and dark eye circles as he approached them. Maria darted forward to reunite with her husband, pushing him into their circle for safety after squeezing his hand. She couldn't draw him into a hug in an unsafe place and watched his back as he told the others with a tired smile, "You came exactly on time."

Altaїr could not fathom what was occurring, expecting a different type of welcome home, and questioned, "How so?"

Ilias brushed his hand through his shaggy dark hair to shake off some of the mental fatigue. After little sleep for days, he was happy to see his friends and regretful they were walking into another dangerous situation. He was hoping to have it resolved by the time they returned and sighed with disappointment to tell his leader, "Your old friend Abbas decided that he didn't like my leadership or yours so he staged a coup. The dead above are his followers."

"What?!" everyone exclaimed with dismay at the needless rebellion that was already stacking up lives. Altaїr did not believe his ranks would break into warfare over his absence. He would have been gone much longer if he didn't accidentally trigger the staff years prior. What would they do if he left for ten years instead of five? Tear each other apart until only one man was left?

He refrained from shaking his head at this new annoyance and wondered about the length of this uprising. If it had been weeks, Ilias was holding the other side steady if he was able to dispatch the enemy to raise the gate. Then again, he did not choose weak individuals to run his Order. Still, having the enemy overseeing the village for incoming Assassins loyal to the cause was foreboding. Malik disrupted him from his thoughts when he muttered, "Now the shot makes sense."

Ilias motioned to the eastern tower where most of the fighting was occurring and informed them, "Rauf is currently fending them off with our loyal numbers, but I couldn't risk Abbas' followers from striking you down from above. We can't lose more of our numbers from this needless transgression."

"When did this happen?" Altaїr questioned at the chaos surging within the fortress while the village below remained unaware. It was a very good thing since they never wanted to involve outsiders in their matters or have innocent casualties in the crossfire. Why did Abbas believe he had a chance in rebelling against their entire Order? He had not been gone for over a decade for him to attempt brainwashing other minds.

It was embarrassing to report not only the betrayal of one of their own but that Abbas managed to create his own uprising. While he had been running the Order to keep everything afloat for Altaїr, Abbas had enough free time to plan a mutiny. If he could risk it without being shot full of arrows, Ilias would have beat Abbas to a pulp for his defiance. His main focus, however, was retaining the majority of Masyaf and their loyal people safe. Tired from the fighting, he informed his friend, "About a week ago. I tried maintaining peace but it seems Abbas became restless with your leave and wanted us to assume you were dead. He believes he can lead the Assassins better."

Altaїr refrained from rolling his eyes after witnessing the man's weak attempts at harnessing the Apple. Like Ilias, he did not expect much from him until now. Had he underestimated the man? His left eyebrow quirked in question before he inquired coolly, "Can he?"

"He won't even fight without minions around" Ilias stated flatly at his inability to fight alone in a challenge to spare both sides further deaths. Instead, Abbas decided to hunker down in the eastern tower while his archers prowled the walls against his own mean on the opposite side. Those still loyal to the creed were in the western towers where most of their business was conducted and he told them, "I have to return to the others."

Maria darted forward with her own priority of concern, grabbing him by the arm, to demand, "Where is Darim?"

Ilias was not leaving the son of their leader, not to mention his own stepson, just about anywhere. His home was out of the question since Abbas had likely trashed it by now. Thus, he decided to keep Darim in one of the small rooms where he could eat to his heart's content without knocking down large objects. His stepson was more than happy to play with his toys and nap while he was off fighting the deserters. Maria's worry was valid after being gone for months and he reassured her with a faint smile, "He is safe in one of the underground food storerooms, I will evacuate him in a second if I lose ground."

"I leave on this mission and come back to this chaos" she chastised him for giving the mission in the first place but he couldn't leave the fortress. She was the only person, other than Rauf, that he trusted within Masyaf and she knew how to outsmart Templars. Her strengths made her the best candidate but it was not an easy choice to let her go. Darim had been inconsolable for the first few days but his presence was the only calming factor. He would be happy when he saw his mother again and he couldn't wait to reunite with his wife under peaceful settings. Given they were out in the open, he smiled warmly to her safe return, "I've never been happier to see you."

Maria blushed faintly at the fond remark while Vivian clasped her hands over her chest with joy at their reunion. Altaїr stared at his wife with a dry edge in his eye and earned a smack to the belt for trying to downplay her fan admiration. Malik motioned for them to move against the wall within the shadows to get them moving. Otherwise, they would be stationary and easy targets. The dai had lacked a decent fight since they all left the Canary Islands and smiled at his friend, "We will help you turn the tide."

"I need as many hands to push them out of the tower" Ilias accepted with a grateful smile because the stalemate was tiresome. While his team had food and the armory, the other team had their bedchambers to rest. It was why Rauf was able to fend them off but while one team grew hungry, the other was weary.

Maria grinned at her husband as she raised the blade of her sword to rest on her left shoulder and said, "We'll do more than push them."

---

Ilias was thankful his one-man backup for Rauf had now transformed into seven-man team. Well, six, because Altaїr refused to risk his wife. While Rauf and his resistant force were running on tendrils of energy, Altaїr's team was more rested. After relinquishing command back to his friend, Altaїr didn't waste time in shaking off the dust of leadership to plunge into madness yet again. Wherever he went, danger was always near. With that in mind, he kept Vivian and Maria at the rear to keep them safe. Vivian understood that her pregnancy did not make her any kind of fighter at all but Ilias allowed her to raid through the armory like everyone else. While Malik was amused, Altaїr was dismayed to have her attach herself to a spear after her training with the halberd back in Egypt. Maria assured Altaїr that the historian would be fine and would stick by her with her own sword to cut down the traitors. She found it ironic that despite enduring numerous insults from Abbas about betraying the Order one day, he ultimately became the traitor.

Rauf was happy with the friendly faces as he tried to keep their barrier of benches and crates intact to continue barricading the enemy in the tower. They had nowhere to go and had to cut through his team to manage escaping. It was why a few wiggled through the windows to attempt a last ditch effort to gain control of the walls with their archers but Ilias cut them all down. The older instructor raised his arms with welcome at the inbound team and smiled at Altaїr, "My friend! You are most welcome at this time."

"Couldn't leave me out of the action, could you?" Altaїr chuckled softly at helping his friends retake their childhood home. It was good to see them safe but he knew not everyone had made it out in time.

"Where are they holed up?" Malik asked carefully to gain a better understanding of the tactical layout. While Altaїr was great at running into a frenzied mob and surviving, he would need some extra help in strategy.

Rauf pointed at the makeshift barricade to the closed wooden door behind it and explained, "Spread throughout the sleeping quarters- little hiding space. Expect a group of sixteen at most – we managed to snag a few that tried to follow Ilias."

"Bring down part of the barricade to allow a small team and keep another behind the barricade to shoot down the stragglers" Altaїr ordered swiftly to bring an end to the ridiculous coup and wondered why Abbas' group took over the sleeping tower. Of all the places to seize, why this one? He hoped it was a sudden decision rather than a strategic one because their quarters held nothing. Had he been trying to find his son to kill him? Is that why he chose the tower housing their non-combatants and families?

That thought only urged him further and he ordered his team to rally behind him. His right hand rose immediately when his wife joined him with her new spear and he made a silent motion for her to stay with Rauf. Vivian sighed under her breath at keeping their baby safe, clutching her new spear against her chest, and she promised, "Fine, I'll stay behind and stab someone's butt with this."

"That's all I ask" he told her with an amused smile as she scuttled behind the other assassins to wait dutifully for him. She would not disobey him during this tense situation but if it went sideways, she'd find her way to him to lend a hand. Rauf was lost entirely to their interaction, wondering about the newcomer, and Altaїr recapped their years by stating simply, "We're married. Don't let the pregnancy fool you, she will charge like a mad foal."

He didn't allow Rauf to shoot off any questions as he approached the barricade to begin flipping over benches to create a passage. There was no more leniency for betrayal after Al Mualim and he loaded his crossbow before squeezing through the gap. Vivian waved farewell to her friends, hoping she would see them safe and sound upon return. Here she thought they were all finally safe and they stepped into another mess to fix.

On the other side, Maria closed the heavy wooden door to keep the other side safe in case any defectors tried to sneak through. The main room at the base level held numerous upturned tables and broken chairs for hiding spots with no rafters above for surprise attacks. The sleeping tower was the worst place to make a last stand so Altaїr wanted to bring a quick end to this.

Nobody in the group interfered in Altaїr's attack when he began kicking over the upturned tables to flush out the enemy. Their eyes widened with shock at his brazen attack since a hidden enemy could have stood up and stabbed him. Before they could open their mouths, he reasoned with a dismissive wave of his bow, "I would've shot them first."

"You must be action starved" Ilias remarked awkwardly at his zest to hunt down his first enemy, wondering if he grew bored from the trip home. Maria shot her husband a wry expression for having to deal with him the whole ride home, settling his answer.

"Was the cocked bow not enough?" Amon joked at the man's tenacity at leading the charge rather than ordering others to do so. It was a respectable action for a leader – otherwise, he would have declined aiding them when they met.

Altaїr shook his head at the light banter but it helped to settle the pre-battle jitters for his team. With the main room empty of any combatants, he assumed they were retreating to the higher levels to gather their forces for closer combat. There were no means of escape unless they sought to escape from the windows but only ravines lay underneath that area. There was an evacuation tunnel that ran underneath the main tower of the west but only the Mentor was aware of it for dire evacuations. No Mentor had yet to use it and he hoped today was not that day.

He became alert when Amon released an arrow to strike someone who peeked over the corner of the ascending stairway to the second level. There was a resounding thump from the poor recipient and no further scuffles were heard from behind. That is, except for the thundering footsteps that were now heading towards them. Altaїr motioned for his team to approach the base of the staircase as he led the charge, keeping his crossbow trained ahead to shoot anything that moved.

Malik was not happy on having the lower ground but allowed Altaїr, Amon, and Bashir to handle that problem with their bows. He, Maria, and Ilias would be the hard hitters with their swords as they ascended the stairs cautiously behind the others. Altaїr was not in the mood to negotiate after watching his loyal brethren attempting to contain the traitors from escaping Masyaf. This was all wrong and he vowed to stay for a period of time within the fortress, leaving it again like this would be problematic in the future. He was not the type to prefer staying behind the cover of fire but if it meant keeping his entire Order safe, he would make the sacrifice.

"When we reach the top, one team clears a room while the others watch their back" he instructed the team to flush out each area efficiently rather than heading in different direction. He had no idea what kind of leadership style Abbas held since he could never utter a polite sentence in one breath and hoped for terrible.

Bashir yelped slightly when someone jumped out from the left side but he didn't hesitate to shoot his bow. When it came to survival, he would not be on the losing end. He could gratefully say that about Altaїr for teaching him to stay sharp and always have a weapon on hand, even if it was one's own teeth. Amon shot off another arrow when another man rounded the same side when the first one dropped to the ground clutching their chest. Altaїr finished Bashir's job while Amon's headshot ended another life. It was such needless waste in Altaїr's view.

The three spread out around the top of their staircase to cover all passageways since the tower was five levels high. He motioned for Ilias to begin flushing out the closed rooms and the older man didn't hesitate to kick in the door swiftly. Maria shot him a warning glance for the flashy entrance but he simply waved his sword because he was not about to dislocate his shoulder on the first level. He'd already jumped out of a window once today and wanted to keep it that way. Plus, Darim liked being carried for fun and he couldn't deny him anything.

The couple backed away when the door burst open under his kick and they waited for any arrows or objects to fling their way. Instead, they faced an empty room but Ilias didn't buy it as he went inside to kick over anything usable for hiding. When nothing escaped his foraging, he nodded to Maria to exit the room behind him as they shut the door. Altaїr motioned for Malik to open the next door as he strode forward to aid him, ordering the other archers, "Cover us. Malik and I will empty one room while Maria and Ilias take on the other."

Together, the two teams meticulously broke down the doors and swiftly eliminated anyone in their way. Bashir and Amon were very glad they were not part of that offense team when some of the rooms broke out in frantic yelling and metallic clanging when both sides clashed. Between that and the sound of flesh being stabbed, they were glad to spare their vision. At some point during the raiding, Amon couldn't help but call out, "Sure you're all right in-"

"We're fine!" Altaїr called back heatedly because they were handling the problem to keep their scouts vigilant. If he pulled either of them aside, they could be overwhelmed at the stairway and they would be pinned between both floors.

Bashir decided to block the bloodcurdling screaming since Altaїr was not someone you wanted to fight against. Mainly because you would not live and if you did, not for very long. He assumed their wayward brethren were now having a reality check at seeing their lost leader return in all his furious glory. The alarmed yelling from their floor alerted the enemies on the top level and Amon shot kneecaps first to immobilize incoming forces. The ex-thief briefly glanced at Bashir to get the young man moving with the kill shots and Bashir begrudgingly obeyed. After all, all enemies of the Order were his enemies- even their own kind.

"It's you or them" Amon advised him quietly on the cold logic of survival when you were backed against a wall. Nobody asked the enemy to join the dissenting ranks of Abbas and those that allowed themselves to be deceived were only going to be potential enemies down the line. Everyone had a choice and they made theirs.

Bashir kept his eyes on the staircase when silence echoed behind him and he called out, "Everyone's alive, right?"

He flinched when Altaїr spoke directly behind him, failing to detect his steps, "Everyone's fine. Let's push forward."

Malik patted his young friend on the back to hearten his resolve since it was not easy cutting down their own people. He did not expect this to happen outside of the Apple's control but everyone he faced was staunchly fighting for their lives. There was no begging or hesitation, just cold calculation to kill them. Whatever Abbas had been spouting, it was working.

Altaїr sheathed his sword again to return to the crossbow and trudged up the stairs to continue the extermination. It was hard to disassociate himself from it, having one hell of a time after killing Al Mualim to the point that Vivian and Malik guided him to release that lingering guilt. This would be yet another regretful memory in his life and he called out in one last vain attempt, "Abbas, surrender your weapons and we will spare your lives."

Maria was flabbergasted at the resistance thrown their way when Altaїr and the others began to fight the fragment of dissenters. When did Abbas become a great orator to beat both Ilias and Altaїr? Had he promised them a loose set of rules? Money? Prestige? She swung her sword to stab a young man through the chest, trying her hardest not to wince at his last breaths when she reared back to remove it. Her friends knew these ex-Assassins and this was a terrible thing – one that she knew neither Assassin would forgive.

Ilias echoed his leader's attempts to sway any that were second-guessing themselves and approached the next stairwell to call out, "You have no way out and all your exits are blocked."

He motioned for his wife to assist him with opening the closed doors to begin another sweep of the level. Altaїr and Malik proceeded to do the same on the opposite side, leaving Amon and Bashir to remain vigilant of their backs. They were a small team but they were efficient, which couldn't be said of Abbas as most they encountered were working independently. There was no form of attack or strategy to keep them from advancing. Was starvation finally kicking in? Eventually, they cornered the remaining forces on the fourth floor with only the fifth level left – unless they wished to jump to their deaths.

Altaїr stepped forward, unafraid to face his new enemy without an ounce of fear, as he kept his crossbow aimed at chest level. There were six men gathered at the end of the level, lingering by the last stairwell as their last means of escape. Abbas stood behind the men, worn and weary as Ilias, but without the aid of his friends as isolation and resentment became his compatriots. Ilias stepped in front of his leader to keep him safe and called over coldly, "Rauf and the others are shortly behind me. We will be assuming control of the tower again."

The dissenters observed the new individuals behind Ilias and concluded that reinforcements had arrived. As their numbers decreased rapidly, the situation appeared unfavorable for their side. Without food, ammunition, or backup, their chance of success dwindled quickly. Abbas refused to lose his hold on his remaining loyalists and shook his head to snap tightly, "You have no right to issue orders, Ilias."

"Not me, our Mentor" he agreed with a faint smile at besting him by returning their rightful leader. The difference between them and Abbas was that they did not seek power or boast that they were better than one another. Altaїr had his moment of hubris ended but he learned to never repeat it and guide others away from that treacherous path. Ilias knew his friend held some childhood guilt over Abbas' tragedy but all of them carried some sort of trauma in their upbringing. However, they did not allow that trauma to become them. He did not step aside but he angled himself in a manner for the other side to view his friend and emphasized, "Altaїr."

Altaїr raised his head so the hood revealed his face, causing the other side to stiffen and gawk with surprise. Did they think he perished somewhere in Africa? He was not going to let the Order rip apart under Abbas, putting aside any sympathy for the man to protect his people. Aiming the bow straight at the other man, his gaze hardened as he stated coldly, "Surrender and I will be lenient. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to honor those you killed needlessly."

Instead of heeding the olive branch stretched out to him, Abbas glared at the other man and demanded furiously, "How dare you come back after abandoning the Order?"

Altaїr refused to cater to such a lie, which would only feed his dissenters, and corrected tightly, "I never said as such. I was quite clear on my mission when I left to keep our Order safe from the Templars. Instead of protecting our people, you divided and hurt them."

Unlike Abbas who spouted impulsively, Altaїr was calmer and calculating in his choice of words. His time away from Masyaf brought him a new outlook and it was that assertive air in communication that kept the majority of Assassins loyal to him. Even now, Altaїr could see question marks lighting up in their eyes as he managed to break through Abbas' rants with the truth. Disinformation and feeding the fire of uncertainty could only sustain one for so long before they crashed and burned. It appeared Abbas was quickly approaching that end of the line when he remarked bitterly, "Leaving us behind without a look back to go rake for glory as always."

Altaїr would not fall for that bait, like he did many years ago, and shook his head to state simply, "Leadership is all about choices. I left to improve our Order – something you fail to accomplish."

"Don't throw your lives away for someone's revenge" Malik advised the men to appeal to any remaining honor as Assassins to end further bloodshed. The dai had been one of Altaїr's critics after the Temple of Solomon, similarly echoing Abbas. However, Malik saw the gradual changes in Altaїr after that fateful mission and continued seeing his improvement during their long voyage. He would not be vouching for anyone but Altaїr to be their leader.

With so many different individuals standing behind him, Altaїr appreciated their loyalty. From an ex-Templar, an ex-thief, to the oldest and youngest generations of Assassins, he had managed to corral a sturdy team. While his wife was currently indisposed, he had no doubt she'd bring her pocket sand and spear into the fray.

The remaining rebels lowered their weapons at facing the small but powerful team to concede to their demands. Their weapons clattered to the ground and Altaїr kept the bow raised until they removed their hidden blades. Abbas shook his head vehemently at being abandoned to his one-man crusade and implored them to change their minds by exclaiming, "Wait, no!"

Altaїr angled his bow toward Abbas to keep him pinned in place from behaving foolishly. One never knew with a snake. Ilias motioned for the men to huddle in the corner for a closer watch while ordering Maria to fetch Rauf's team for extraction. His wife nodded quietly and disappeared down the stairs, sword drawn in case they missed any stragglers but Ilias highly doubted it. They absolutely demolished each room so their carpenters would be hard at work soon. The defeated rebels would be placed in cells for whatever judgment Altaїr deemed was fair.

Malik understood redemption was not an easy road but Altaїr had done it, telling them with a quiet tone, "You chose wisely."

He wished Abbas would not have sent his followers to die in his stead, wasting more lives than necessary. His strategy of holing up in the tower was terrible and his position to stay behind his troops was even worse. For all of Altaїr's tenacity to be in the midst of battle, he chose to fight with his team by leading them rather than ordering them. It was those small differences that gave Abbas his shortcomings in leadership. He was accustomed to being alone and when he could no longer manipulate his masses, he hid behind them. Altaїr narrowed his gaze at the last piece of their problem and spoke aloud, "Now, we will discuss the punishment for your treachery."

"He has created too much chaos within the ranks over the years, we can no longer excuse it" Ilias reasoned with his friend to finally put an end to the Abbas debacle once and for all. He had tolerated the man after Altaїr left on his mission but his continued smear campaign against Maria was baseless. Once he turned his sights on Altaїr's long absence, Ilias knew he had a brewing problem on his hands to plan for. Between himself, Maria, and Rauf, they put an emergency plan into motion which did help to save their numbers when the man did inevitably revolt. With Maria on a mission, it removed one of his heavy hitters but he managed to hold the fort down.

They had all grown up alongside one another, but Malik was closest in age to Altaїr, allowing him to glimpse into his life. His friend could no longer worry about those who refused help or they would drown him as well. It was time to sever those binds and let the weak sink or swim, telling him, "It would be best to remove a thorn in our side."

Altaїr had never removed someone from the Order and glanced at his other team members. Amon was quick to shake his head to remind him he was just an ally, much like Vivian always did, and told him bluntly, "Don't look at me. I'm new to this game but every time I hear about this man, I keep thinking huge liability."

With that said, he turned his attention to nocking an arrow at the cowering rebels under Ilias' watch. Altaїr met Bashir's inquisitive gaze and the scientist nodded to him before stating firmly, "I trust you to do what's best for us, Mentor."

He had to be the wise example for future generations and tough choices would be part of that. He could not risk the lives of his friends and family, which meant eradicating any seeds that could threaten that stable core. Altaїr had done his best to make peace with Abbas but the man decided to hold onto his hate, forcing him to declare, "You are henceforth banished from the Assassin's Order. You will leave Masyaf immediately and never return."

Abbas released a cry of fury at losing both his status and home to Altaїr but Bashir raised his bow to protect his leader. Although young and still learning his way, he knew who would walk into hell with him and bring him back home. Malik shook his head to dissuade Abbas from doing something stupid and advised him coldly, "If we see you anywhere near our lands or bureaus, we will execute you."

Abbas was not through getting the last word in and attempted to sow seeds of distrust again by demanding, "Is this how you treat loyal Assassins?"

Altaїr displayed no reaction to the accusation after numerous failed attempts to gain Abbas' trust. The darkness in his heart could not be pierced by goodwill anymore and he gave up that fight. Two fights were lost that day: Abbas with his coup and Altaїr with earning his loyalty. He forgave the man's attitude towards him but Abbas broke one of their foundations by stating, "Your loyalty ended when you raised your hand against your brothers."

"Like you did to Al Mualim" he accused acidly to the moment that propelled Altaїr to leadership but in his eyes, it was a successful coup.

He was tired of explaining their ex-Mentor's deceit after everything they witnessed and reminded matter-of-factly, "Al Mualim seized control of our men when I discovered his treachery- much like you right now. Both of you crave self-serving power while I simply want peace."

Unwilling to hear the harsh truth, Abbas sputtered red-faced, "How dare you-"

"How dare you go against our teachings, our people, and claim to be the victim" Altaїr interjected to unleash decades of internalized emotions as he tried to maintain peace. He was no longer going to play nice when it cost the lives of his people and would excise the tumor plaguing his fortress. There was no pity in his eyes for the man that threatened to topple what they built and told him coldly, "Allowing you to stay will only serve to fester your hate further and threaten my people. I will not risk their lives for your self-gratification. Now, kindly get out."

He had heard the flurry of footsteps ascending the tower to time it to his words and nodded at Rauf when he appeared at the top of the stairs. The instructor was followed by a small team of four with Maria in tow to ensure her friends and husband were safe. Altaїr motioned to the grim-faced Abbas before gazing at Malik, Maria, and Ilias to entrust them with the last task, "I leave this to you. Make sure he leaves our borders."

They were his most trusted individuals in Masyaf so he would let them deal with the Abbas debacle. Ilias hid a smirk when his wife strode forward to jerk Abbas by the cowl of his neck before restraining him with his arms behind his back. Amon assisted her with tying rope around the man's wrists to bind him and Maria shoved him forward to begin the trek outside Masyaf. She was going to enjoy this after all the misery he put her and her family through the past years. Ilias followed his wife with Malik in tow to get rid of him and any resistance outside the fortress would be met with an arrow or sword through the heart. They would not tolerate traitors.

Altaїr watched the trio lead Abbas down the stairway to carry out his sentence and he sighed softly at the weight of that decision. He looked wearily at Rauf, who nodded with a warm smile for his success, and told him, "Place the others in the dungeons. We will determine if they deserve a second chance or will join their leader in the desert."

He would not be cruel but he could not let transgressions go kindly or risk worse losses. Rauf obeyed his orders by rallying their loyal Assassins to seize and carry away the rebels for their pending judgment. There was nothing but crushed defeat on their faces and shame as they were apprehended by their own brothers and led downstairs. Rauf chuckled softly at seeing his leader pick up the reins easily once more and told him, "Glad you're back."

Before he could reply, he caught a black blur entering his peripheral vision before pressure struck his left side. Looking down, he spotted his wife wrapping her arms tightly around his waist with a relieved smile. Rauf met his astonished gaze and the instructor shrugged nonchalantly since he couldn't stop the stubborn pregnant woman from finding her husband. Altaїr wasn't going to bother asking to save his sanity, wrapping an arm around Vivian in return.

They were finally home safe.

---

With the coup dealt with and Abbas exiled, Altaïr and the others were finally able to sit down and take a breath. He would eventually have to deal with the prisoners but he would take the input of the others to avoid biases. He wanted a fair society within the Order, not one where he was a dictator. They had all gathered in the dining hall on the first floor where numerous benches were overturned for makeshift barriers during the fight. Altaïr made easy work of the heavy wood by flipping one over for his team to sit on. Vivian did not hold back by sighing with contentment at finally resting her poor swollen feet, unable to view them over the swell of her baby bump. After climbing five levels to reach her husband, she was done for the day.

"It's good to be back home" Bashir smiled blissfully, collapsing onto the bench and throwing his upper body onto the table. Despite being almost shot full of arrows an hour ago, he was happy to be home – even if the dining hall was a travesty. He would help clean it up since Altaïr would undoubtedly want the fortress tidy by nightfall.

"Not how I expected our first day back to go" Amon agreed dryly because life in the Assassin's Order was not a walk in the park. It seemed every day brought some form of chaos with varying severity. This was not how he wanted to live his life but he would help them to add a little zest to his life.

"It's abnormal when we go a month without some kind of attack" Malik remarked offhandedly about an Assassin's daily life in Masyaf. He tried not to snort with amusement when the man's brown eyes widened before they darted off to evade asking further questions.

Ilias and Maria entered the hall since they left to retrieve Darim from his hiding spot after removing the wooden barricade against his room. Maria was relieved that he was none the wiser about the fight and occupied himself with the full trunk of toys her husband left behind for him. Last time Altaïr had seen him, Darim had been an infant walking unsteadily. Now, he was a child walking steadily and asking his parents endless questions about their whereabouts. Ilias gave him a vague answer while Maria squeezed his hand tightly, glad to see her son safe and well after the months away from home. Altaïr noted that he resembled Maria strongly with his bright blue eyes and dark hair with only his nose being Darim's inheritance. Well, it was something.

Maria led her young son to reunite him with Altaïr since it had been too long for him to remember their first meeting. Now that he was back, she would take advantage of that to have the two rebuild their bond and determine whether Altaïr was serious. Given that Vivian was now heavily pregnant, she hoped he wouldn't dart off into the unknown for another random mission. Darim blinked unsurely when Ilias and Maria ushered him towards Altaïr, his blue eyes narrowing suspiciously at their game.

"Darim" Altaïr greeted with a faint smile, careful not to intimidate the little boy as he watched him. Darim decided to clutch his toy horse tighter across his chest at the unknown man but he did not fear him. There was something familiar about the man in white but he couldn't figure out why. Darim's earth-tone attire made his modest features more prominent and he held out his hand to beckon gently, "Are you all right? I've missed you."

Maria rubbed his shoulders to encourage him forward before she and Ilias sat down with the others. Darim realized that he had no choice but to join his parents' group and slowly approached the stranger. Altaïr was disappointed at being forgotten by his son but he had been gone for most of his life. They had only met once and it was only for about two weeks, there was no time to form permanent memories. Maria continued to bridge the bond between the two by smiling at Darim, "Say hello to your father."

Although Darim considered Ilias his fatherly figure, he was aware that he had an actual father roaming somewhere. When he came close to forgetting, his parents would remind him. Curious about the newcomer, his gaze swept over the man and he repeated, "Father?"

Altaïr smiled solemnly at his son's uncertainty, wishing he could have been in two places at once, but sacrifices were part of life. The only solace in this was having both Maria and Ilias at Darim's side so he was raised in a stable home. He would not push his presence into his life to avoid frightening or frustrating him and spoke gently, "You've grown up so much since I last saw you."

Darim was a sharp child despite his young age and he questioned bluntly, "Are you leaving again?"

The group broke into a myriad of amused laughter and awe at the dark-haired boy standing up to an Assassin. Darim released his tight hold on the toy at breaking the silence and the relaxed faces of his parents told him everything was fine. He didn't know a thing about his father, other than his secret work, but Maria would read him old letters he left behind for him. Altaïr was impressed by his gumption, smiling at his son, and replied truthfully, "No, not a for a good while. You and I will have plenty of time to catch up."

"What's a good while?" Maria questioned flatly, aware of his tendency to run off into the night. She was not going to explain to Darim why he left again, pinning him with a firm glance to dare him to say anything less than a year.

"Same, I'm not carrying a newborn across the sand dunes" Vivian agreed firmly because Darim needed his father to make up the last four years. Nobody was going to allow him to run off into the night for another adventure. Mainly because they would smack him over the head hard enough to give him amnesia.

The underlying threat from the women was enough for him to forfeit the fight. After putting down a coup, he was not eager to get into another battle. He would be at a heavy disadvantage since the allies would go to both mothers. He waved a hand dismissively to grant them the request and admitted his defeat, "Fine, you will have me here for five years! Better?"

Maria ushered Darim back to her side now that the reunion was over with to avoid confusing her poor son any further. He was happy to hop onto the bench and latched his arms around her waist with a content smile for having her back. Home wasn't the same without her and Maria returned the affectionate squeeze, shooting her husband a mock glare when Ilias chuckled at their affection. He was also glad to have her back safe and even more glad to return leadership to his friend again.

"You won't last two years" Malik laughed at Altaïr's tendency to grow bored easily within Masyaf and wander outside the walls. Four months was the longest the man lasted before setting off on a mission to stay occupied. Now that he had one son and another child on the way, maybe things would change. Otherwise, both Maria and Vivian would pummel him into paste.

"Well, I am returning to my tower and staying there" Bashir told everyone about his plans to stay rooted in his beloved laboratory. He would not budge unless he was desperately required by his boss. He had enough of sleeping on the dirt in the open outdoors, almost drowning, being shot by arrows or stabbed, and escaping a random mangy dog for a decade.

"You did a good job out there, Bashir" Altaïr encouraged him to divert from his introverted nature. Not all Assassins were required to be field agents but it helped during emergency situations. If they ever needed to defend Masyaf again, Bashir would be coming out of that tower. The young man had undergone a lengthy mission and he commended him for volunteering. As a leader, he would play to his strengths but advised him, "But I would recommend further survival training before I assign a solo mission."

Bashir shook his head at further training after everything he witnessed and told him politely, "I prefer to stay in research, the eager Assassins can have their field missions."

"I'll help out with any patch jobs before heading south again in a week" Amon informed Ilias to offer his hand to keep the place stable. Their aid in his land were keeping his enemies away and the civilians safe from harm. He had been gone from his home for months and like Altaïr, suffered from homesickness when there was no communication. It was time for him to return and oversee any changes, hoping that nothing went wrong during his absence.

"Thank you for your aid" Ilias said with a warm smile for the added help to their troops. Amon had maintained his position as an ally, refusing any inductions into their brotherhood, but Ilias would continue to offer. Like Vivian, he decided to stick to his civilian status despite is ability to kill people and rob them blind. He turned to look towards the courtyard where Rauf was shouting cleaning orders to novices and told him, "I will send the team that will build the bureau to keep an eye on trouble."

Before Altaïr could inquire about it, Maria informed him with a faint smile, "We've expanded during your time away."

"I see" Altaïr remarked and wondered how many changes occurred while he was away. Given that Abbas and his little group of dissenters tried to overtake his position, there would be a lot to catch up on. This would mean hours upon hours of meetings he was not keen on. Ilias met his wearisome gaze and grinned at his friend's attempt to mentally leave his body. He would not throw everything at once but only the important bits. Altaïr shook his head at that boring prospect before turning to his oldest friend, "Malik?"

"I will return to the bureau in Jerusalem" he answered to recover and return to a sense of normalcy. The ancient city was chaotic but he knew every nook and cranny of it. He grew to enjoy his time there and aiding his brethren during their trips, even if one led to an extensive journey. Maybe he would shut the ceiling window to thwart future visits by Altaïr.

"Brother, no" Vivian sniffled immediately at losing her most trusted companion. He had been the first to believe her crazy story and kept her safe from Altaïr's initial rage. She was able to maneuver through the ancient world with his help and now, she would have to bid him farewell. The pregnancy hormones were not making it easy and she wiped her watery eyes before she blubbered everywhere.

Altaïr patted her back in circles to comfort her before shooting the dai a blood-freezing glare to snap, "How dare you make my wife cry."

She was quick to shake her hands as she blinked her red-rimmed eyes quickly, trying to calm her husband before said something worse. They were there for a reunion, not a squabble. She managed to clear her tight throat and dismissed her reaction, "No, no, I know he has a life to return to but . . . I'll miss you, is all."

Malik had tried to protect the little lamb from the stubborn eagle but he was happy for the two. They were more united than when they first met and he had no doubt they would keep each other safe. He sympathized with his friend's disappointment and assured her, "I won't leave until after your child is born. I cannot leave Altaїr unattended when he has zero parenting experience."

The entire table chuckled at the very true statement and Altaïr was ready to fire back matter-of-factly, "In my defense, I was already on our trip when Darim was born."

Maria was not letting him slide out of his responsibilities, not that he was trying such a heinous thing, and joked, "Then you should be picking up fatherhood tips from Ilias."

"It's not as bad as you think" Ilias chuckled softly since he stepped in only when Maria asked for his help. He did not want to overstep himself in Darim's life when Altaïr desired to be a present father when he returned. Unfortunately, Darim clung to him as a father figure, especially once he married Maria. It was hard not to love the little boy as his own and even now, he kept a keen eye on him while he played beside her. His first tip was the easiest that even a dunce could succeed and he told his younger friend, "Just don't hold the baby like a hen."

"Or a sword" Maria added dryly at his affinity for weapons and smiled at Darim when he showed her his toy. Aware that it was his cue to escape to play, she stood up to follow her son – unwilling to drop her guard after what happened. She was already planning to barricade her door and making sure her exits were clear for any prompt escapes. Darim, however, was ready to go back out into the world without care rather than shying away.

"Let me rear my child in peace" Altaїr nagged with a dismissive wave of the hand to get all that figurative henpecking away.

"Your child?" Vivian quickly corrected since she was the one bearing the weight gain, sore knees, swollen feet, and emotional flux. Meanwhile, her husband was unchanged and just fought off a small militia. Leaning back against the bench, she shook her head to sigh with lament, "I'm the one that's going to be doing the hard labor."

Altaïr flashed her a charming smile before he was locked out of their room for the first night and complimented, "And I treasure you for it."

---

Altaïr closed his journal to finish yet another entry after the ink dried, patting the small fat journal with approval. His last journal warped after the sinking off the Atlantic coast but the smeared ink gave it character. Now that he was at home, he started a new one to catalog important events or mental blurbs. One day, he would give them to his children so they gained insight to his life.

"Done?" Vivian asked from behind when she saw him lean back in his chair and stretch his arms. She was currently battling with a wooden comb to brush it through her curly hair as she leaned against the open doorway to their balcony.

She had discovered the sleeping lair of the great Assassin now that they were permanently home. There was relief in not having to worry whether their tent would collapse, they would be attacked at night, be at the mercy of the elements, or have wild animals prowl their campsite. Having a big bed to share made her ecstatic rather than the bare floor of the boats or the thin bedroll in their tent. Their child's kicking of her insides also made that worse.

After the day's events, she was eager to scrub off the grime of her travels and rejoiced in being clean. Altaïr found her a nightgown from the women's communal storage since her old one was wearing terribly at the hem. The calm night felt surreal to the couple and he decided to journal about the day's events. He wished he did not have to resort to exiling one of their own but Abbas had been given numerous chances. The last thing he wanted was to leave him as a potential risk to his family's safety and his inner circle.

With Abbas now out of the picture, he focused the rest of the day on setting up his underground vault for the pieces of Eden. His friends tried to dissuade him after all the problems earlier that day, but Altaïr wanted everything completed. Leaving them out in the open was too risky and he wanted them far away from his wife, not in their bedroom. He decided to utilize an old library below the fortress that held a heavy stone door and a locking mechanism with a master key. It was a vault in the making and he had enlisted the help of Malik and Ilias to hide the pieces of Eden in hidden compartments behind the bookcases full of books. Nobody would be none the wiser on their storage and only he would have a key. As promised, he quietly sneaked Vivian's name onto one of the bookshelves.

"They are all situated in their new home" Altaїr agreed with a satisfied nod because he would not allow her to enter until all the items were stored. He was not willing to risk her safety for a helping hand. Now that he was home, he had his entire team at his disposal. It was comforting to be out of looming danger in the middle of nowhere and he could lower his guard – just a bit – that night.

Vivian gave up on her stubborn hair for the time being, dropping the comb on the bed, and smiled, "All of our adventures are down there."

"Adventures are meant to be fun, not torturous" he pointed out on the mayhem he endured during the first months. He lost count of how many animals dared to take a bite out of him. Those were adventures he did not want to repeat. His wife, on the other hand, found his frowning amusing and he stood up from the chair to question slyly, "Are you saying our adventures have ended?"

She emphasized her bloated belly because her feet were not tolerating long walks anymore and told him bluntly, "I'm about to have our child so for the time being, yes."

"Five years?" he offered helpfully on a suitable timeline to depart for the next journey. After all, there were still POEs scattered to the lands of the east.

Her brow furrowed at his prompt deadline at leaving the safety of Masyaf and she shot back, "Don't blame me for resentful children."

"You drive a hard bargain" Altaïr chuckled softly, unwilling to abandon their child to run off for a taste of adventure. He was no longer in the zest of his youth with no responsibilities. Darim was growing up quickly and his new child deserved his attention rather than a pat on the head before he left again. Not to mention, he needed to stabilize the Order after the coup. He had to figure out what to do with the prisoners but he was leaning towards rehabilitation but if they failed, exile would promptly follow.

His hands touched the top of her belly with a fond smile and he whispered, "I'm not leaving our little bean anytime soon."

"Peanut," she corrected impishly at staying on trend with her babies.

His right eyebrow rose in curiosity at her keeping the same nickname and he questioned, "There's a difference?"

"Yes, I didn't get to have our first peanut so the next one's a bean" she agreed confidently because the journey hadn't been easy for their first pregnancy. It was why she was extremely cautious during the trip to Masyaf to avoid losing their second chance and having her heart crushed again. Altaïr said nothing about her optimism, amused that she was already dwelling on another child before this one was born. She placed her hands over his with a fond smile to his dedication and spoke softly, "I am glad about having a bed to sleep on, food, and regular baths. I hope I've eaten enough nutritious food to keep our baby healthy. You went beyond any father by bringing me the food I briefly mentioned."

"I promised I would provide whatever our child needed" he agreed to keep them safe and kissed her forehead to show his commitment. After every sacrifice they made, their child was the single most important gift he aimed to protect. He would not let her suffer another loss, brushing her damp hair back with a fond smile, and vowed, "I will make sure he or she is born a healthy baby and I will be by your side through it all. We can rest assured that Masyaf is now our home."

"Fate is fickle but I will birth this child into the world" she promised him with a firm but confident nod because she wouldn't lose another child. He couldn't help but laugh at her determined pout but it was small silly moments like this that he treasured. There was no doubt in his mind that she would keep their little one safe, even if she taught them a few odd traits. He couldn't wait to greet her in the morning to begin their new life. Her eyebrows wagged humorously at him and she whispered sneakily, "A little Altaïr would make the world a safer place and you a happier man."

He didn't care whether they had a son or daughter, but he would be an overprotective eagle for the latter. If they took after their mother, the same would be said. He smiled faintly at having two children to raise since Darim was also a work-in-progress after missing his milestones. The boy was more happy to run off into the wind than listen to his fatherly heckling though. He still had a few things to work on himself and sighed dismally, "I will have to be a little more expressive, won't I?"

"You'd win father of the year" she chuckled with a charming wink and leaned against him. He was her hero without a doubt after all the crazy hijinks they endured for the POEs. She also did not make it easy for him at the start but he kept her safe through it all. Her fingers grasped the front of his robes as she kissed his lower cheek and smiled, "Thank you. . .for always taking care of me."

"I did it because you humanized me and I do it now because you matter most to me" he replied softly to relish her love and held her close by the waist. The way her round belly poked his own endeared him with the passing weeks. They started off as a pair of rams headbutting each other and ended up as a loyal team. She never left his side after he accepted her presence in his world and he would never let her escape now. He brushed his nose against hers before kissing her lips and doting, "My little mother badger."

She relished in his affection as the night shrouded them, enjoying the silence of the canyon behind the fortress, and smiled, "I didn't expect life to turn out this wonderful for me-"

"Wonderful? Even with my lack of money and the danger?" he blurted disdainfully because she always held optimism greater than his. It was expected of him to marry within the Order or any affiliate allies since civilians weren't privy to their inner workings. Instead, he ensnared a civilian historian with a knack for stealing and infiltration. He did not expect to draw her attention and he didn't shy away either when it was reciprocated. His confidence took a hit when he admitted quietly, "Any other man could've offered-"

"My life isn't the same without you" she interjected with a loving smile before brushing her fingers over his temples. She loved every bit of him, even when he frustrated her or did something stupid. When she did the same, he would complain too but they never stopped loving one another. Nobody came close to matching his significance in her life. Meeting his soft gaze, she sighed contently before telling him, "Plus, this little peanut of ours is my most precious gift from you. I'm not a complainer so I'll leave that job to you."

His heart swelled to her words, finding new meaning in his life with his family, and released her. Gently, he ushered her to their bed to bring an end to their first day back. It already felt like a week. The redecorating waiting for them would take just as long since Abbas trashed his room but he managed to find an unstabbed mattress down the hall for their bed. He did not want her to be exhausted after everything that occurred and told her, "Time to rest those feet and sleep."

"No-o-o" she drawled out humorously and puckered her bottom lip to have some pity. Altaïr wasn't falling prey for her crafty expressions but smiled at her comical gaze, trying not to smile. He missed these moments. Her eyes glimmered with disillusion when he grasped her shoulders to guide her to their bed and she pleaded, "Five more minutes?"

He shook his head, chuckling when she took deliberate small steps to avoid having to sleep so soon, and Vivian tried again, "One more minute?"

She was an eccentric little woman when she tried to sway his mind but he was a concerned father now. Life wasn't just about them anymore but their baby. His primary concern for the moment was his family, especially given Vivian's past miscarriage. He led her to the cozy bed that would be theirs for years to come, hoping that she didn't kick him out of it in the next decade, and she mumbled despondently, "I should nag but you take such good care of us."

She rubbed her stomach with a fond smile, ignoring her child's nighttime kicks to the bladder. Honestly, it was like they were hitting the gym specifically at night. Her eyebrows wagged slyly before she mused aloud, "I'm waddling now, you know."

"I'm not complaining, it gives me a better view of your hips and backside" he replied smartly to the sight and squeezed said hips affectionately. She blushed like an old schoolgirl who just received her first valentine dance as his compliment boosted her confidence. There was no question she was becoming larger by the weeks and wondered what gender their baby was. If only ultrasound machines existed.

"Badgers don't waddle though, ducks do" she pouted disappointedly because she was fond of her animal motif. She had been his frustrating but loyal badger for many years and didn't want to be anything else. Plus, they carried a natural feistiness that ducks didn't. Their child would likely question their odd dynamics when they were old enough and saw Darim's normal family.

"You're not a duck, you're a badger" he laughed at the image of a fluffy innocent duck compared to a cantankerous badger. His wife was not the former. Probably Bashir. She sat down to rest her achy legs, matching his amused laughter, but tried not to laugh hard enough that it sent her scrambling for the bathroom. He sat down beside her to relax momentarily before he began closing the doors and windows of their home. For the first time, he was happy to live in it and call it that rather than a base of operations. It was indeed the largest with a main room, washroom, and bedroom but it was only now that he appreciated the space for his growing family. One that he didn't think he would ever have.

"Do you think we'll make a difference?" she asked quietly, hoping their work made a dent in turning the tide for Desmond's side. They had more pieces of Eden than what her timeline was shown but again, her world was an alternate universe.

Altaïr thinned his lips because he had no true answer for that and admitted solemnly, "Only time will tell and we won't be around to see it. All we can do is hope for the best."

Her hand grazed over his with affection before intertwining their fingers, her gaze catching his thoughtful one. He would never lose sight of what he fought for and hoped his children understood that one day. All they could do was continue to fight for a better tomorrow. His wife had been with him through enough for five years, earning her rest, and he whispered fondly, "Now, off to bed with you."

Vivian pretended to be rapt at attention with twinkling eyes and nodded firmly to reply, "Sir, yes, sir."

---

"Welcome home, Sef" Altaïr smiled proudly as he placed the wicker basket down on his bed to find his little son shifting in his brown blankets. His hazel eyes were closed as he slumbered unaware of the long trip his parents had taken back home. Altaïr had warned his wife against traveling during her last month of the pregnancy but she insisted on helping Malik move his belongings to Jerusalem. Instead of having Sef born in Masyaf, their firstborn decided to arrive early during one of the hottest nights in the city. Vivian had not been happy to labor like she was living in a sauna but her son arrived healthy and thriving.

The couple spent two weeks with their favorite dai to help Vivian recover for the trip home. Heartbroken to finally leave her old friend behind, she made him promise to visit his unofficial nephew before hitching a wagon back to Masyaf. Of course, Altaїr could never catch a break with his wife and a sandstorm hit them before entering the village. Vivian had kept their son safe against it by placing a blanket over the basket and draping it over one shoulder to keep his round face clear. They had been vigilant the whole way home as Altaïr tried to make each bump in the road easy for them. He'd been more than ready to carry Sef himself and drive the wagon to bear some of the burden.

Vivian sighed in relief at the lumpy but familiar bedding she shared with her spouse. She blinked with surprise when he kneeled to remove the slippers from her dusty feet and smiled dotingly. Wasn't he the sweetest man? She grasped his face to pull him into a soft kiss for his concern because she never wanted another child for as long as she lived. Her nose pressed against his as she sighed, "Never let me do this again."

"Well, I can't say no to physical intimacy forever but I will try my best" he assured her with a tired chuckle and laid down her shoes under the bed. He didn't want to wake one day without his wife and grasped her small hands between his own calloused ones. Her pregnancy had been a blessing for them after their first loss and he promised, "No more pregnancies for you."

He sat next to the basket to smile at their newborn, wishing he could have seen Darim at this age. His son was wandering down the halls of Masyaf and would be introduced to his little brother later. Growing up as an only child, he hoped Darim was excited for the company. His fingers stroked the top of Sef's head, smoothing down his black hair, and he spoke gently, "And you, my little one, will leave Masyaf until you're thirty."

"Oh, Altaïr, you must be joking" she chuckled at his protectiveness over their son and pressed a hand against her belly to stop the inbound laughter. Honestly, he was becoming a father eagle faster than she could blink. For a newborn, Sef tended to shake his little hands everywhere but she loved seeing those tiny fingers wiggle. He was a living, breathing reality for her now rather than simply kicking her insides.

"Why do you think I don't let Darim wander outside?" he pointed out sharply since he took care of his children. He didn't want any danger to lurk until they were ready to defend themselves. He and Maria were already teaching him how to hide and evade people since he could run without tripping now.

She shook her head with disbelief as she picked up Sef to feed him and cuddled his little form when he whimpered in protest. His round little face wrinkled in displeasure and she smiled to his wispy dark hair sticking out once more. It just reminded her of cotton candy rolling around in the machine. His pudgy limbs wriggled at being pulled away from his cozy basket and she caressed his hands to soothe, "Oh, there, there. It's time for lunch, my darling- okay, he's going nowhere until he's forty. Look at how cute he is."

Altaïr smiled at her agreement while Vivian rocked their son before balancing him in one arm. His small legs curled towards his belly and Altaïr touched one of his tiny feet to muse, "Darim prefers bows already so what will you like one day?"

"I think he wants his milk" Vivian joked as she allowed her wriggling newborn to feed on his lunch since the trip made it impossible to do so. His appetite was insatiable but one day, he would develop a mental appetite for developing poisons. For now, however, he would merely keep suckling and soiling his diaper.

She tickled Sef's cheek as he drank his fill and smiled mischievously, "Mother's breasts thank you, child."

"Vivian" Altaïr frowned since he didn't want to particularly know about that. His pretty little wife had shifted to being a mother with her milk status and Altaïr did not need any more mental pictures. She shot him a small glare since anything related to a woman's anatomy or physiology frightened him. He'd seen enough for one lifetime with Sef's birth, terrified by the blood loss, and stated, "I bore through your delivery so please, grant me peace from knowing this."

"Not until you endure childbirth yourself" she snapped back at his sudden squeamishness on childrearing but smiled at their newborn as he suckled for his precious milk. Did he think it would disappear forever if he let go? She could feel his short quick exhales on her skin and caressed his fluffy dark hair. Oh, how she loved every inch of him and wished her family could see him. Her father would've been happy to have a grandson to play games with and her sisters would've spoiled him. . .but it would only be wishes. Her choices in life had always severed one pivotal bond in her life and Vivian could only keep walking forward.

She ran a hand through Sef's hair because she would never let him out of her sight and whispered, "My precious darling."

Altaïr watched his son eat as his little limbs stilled with content, practically lounging on his mother's arm, and commented, "He worked quite an appetite coming home and all he did was sleep."

Vivian chuckled softly to prevent disrupting his feeding and leaned against Altaïr. Their baby was now in the safest place in the world. He protected her fiercely during their travels and it became double where Sef was concerned. She looked at her partner in crime with fondness and mused, "It's moments like this now that I wonder how you were. Were you tended to whenever you cried? Did the nurse maids or whoever was there cared for you? Was your father able to hold you without being in trouble? Questions like that make me realize just how lonely life was for your order before you changed that rule. I wouldn't want you out of Sef's life for a single moment and couldn't imagine having you do the same."

"Not even death will keep me from our son" he vowed softly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders to kiss her right temple. He had pondered a different path once Darim was born and seeing Sef confirmed the fact that no parent would ever be separated from their child, unless they posed a danger. His sons would have better memories growing up and he told her, "My childhood was not good and I've done my best to forget it. I can only hope our son will have one similar to yours because you are the kindest person in my life and one I am lucky to call my wife."

She chuckled to his doting compliment with a warm smile and reminded, "But I wouldn't be here without your protection so I want him to learn all of those survival skills. He's only two weeks old but I'm already imagining how he'll look like his handsome daddy one day."

"I've never really seen myself as handsome but I think we made a good-looking boy" he chuckled modestly since he avoided looking into the mirror until he met Vivian. She was the first woman to compliment his eyes and cheekbones, prompting him to question his attractiveness to the opposite gender. Frankly, his days of just washing his face in a basin were enough but she had caused him to start noticing his features. He held Sef's tiny left hand, proud to have him as a blessing in his new life with her, and he smiled, "You have such a good mother, Sef. She will love and make you question your sanity many times."

Vivian mimicked a small hiss before nuzzling his neck affectionately, murmuring, "I learned from the best."

---

In the not-so-distant future . . .

Altaїr ran over the rooftops of Damascus, his breath heavy as he jumped over a bale of hay to jump and grab a wooden beam overhead. Using his strength, he pulled himself up and heard the soft patter of feet trailing behind him. Lifting himself onto the beam, he pinpointed the adjacent building and launched himself into the air to land on top with a perfectly executed roll.

His joints, however, gave a twinge of pain in his wrists since he wasn't his twenty-year old self anymore whom would've lacked that random lock. He took off towards the left as safety would be within the next four buildings as the bureau was located there. Using the board planks that connected the buildings, he bypassed any annoying guards by jumping behind bales of hay or the wooden hiding spot to conceal himself. He never tired of seeing guards but they were only defending the city and as an assassin, he worked like a shadow.

He could see the familiar buildings near the bureau and smirked at beating his pursuers. He pulled himself onto a taller building, his arms pulling his body upwards while his legs added the momentum to supply it. Landing on the rooftop, he crouched neatly before bolting into a run to find his next roof of refuge. Careful with the tiles underneath his booted feet, he was ready to descend onto the next building that lay at a shorter height but he tripped.

Correction: He had been caught.

A bola had wrapped successfully around his feet to prevent his hasty escape since all assassins were agile and Altaїr fell hard onto the tiled roof with a pained grunt. He sat up quickly to remove the contraption, using his hidden blade to cut through the rope as the two round weights rolled away. He already knew whom this specific weapon belonged to.

A young male Assassin novice landed in front of him and from the left, he heard another male voice, "You have been caught. Move and I pierce your heart with my bow."

Altaїr grunted distastefully with defeat and the young man before him smiled confidently as he crossed his arms to gloat, "It seems we finally caught the master . . . seriously, dad, you're a maniac at free running."

"And you got me good with your weapon, your mother's research always astounds me" he admitted with a stiff nod as he played both the role of teacher and father over the rooftop. If his sons expected him to go easy on them, they were painfully mistaken. While Darim grew used to it over the years, Sef was still flabbeghasted at his father's insane ability to freerun at his age. Standing up, he dusted himself off before beckoning his sons forward as his eldest put away his crossbow.

His youngest picked up the remnants of the broken bola to put it away in his belt pocket. Even under the gray hood, his black curly hair and hazel eyes were reminiscent of his mother. His apprentice robes were dusty from his frantic running but Altaїr smiled as he said, "You make me proud, Sef."

"What about me? I would've made the killing shot" his oldest protested playfully, bright blue eyes shining through the dark hood, but his wide smile was clear. His little brother punched him in the arm for the jab at his assassination skills. True, he was nowhere at Darim's level since his brother had years on him but Sef was gradually getting there.

"You are almost ready for the initiation since your last target was executed flawlessly and I'm almost tempted to put you two as partners" Altaїr mused over his two children and although the half-siblings feigned distaste for each other, they were more than happy to travel together. Being a few years older than Sef, Darim had already set out on missions with other experienced Assassins to stay safe. His youngest, however, was ready to set out on that same journey since both decided to enter the Order. Their mothers weren't particularly happy with their choice but they would not sway the boys' minds. Altaїr motioned for the teenagers to follow him and told them, "Sef, tell your mother to send Bashir an order for new bolas. Darim, return to Ilias for your next mission."

They bowed respectfully before departing to the next building and Altaїr watched them leave with pride, If anything happens to me, they will carry on my work.

---

Darim ran behind his target and jumped over objects rather than sidestepping them to save time. If he could lead the target to his father, he would succeed in his task. He had lost track of Sef after his brother began to lag in their chase and wondered whether he'd taken an alternate route on foot instead. Hopefully, that was the setback rather than having him captured or worse.

Sef had indeed taken the road but shed his upper body robes for the underlayers beneath. The gray tone blended into the crowds and he found it far easier to maneuver after memorizing the alleys without dead ends. It was a risk to shed his light armor but risks were part of the job. His mother and Malik helped him to memorize every inch of the cities that he traveled to, and his sharp memory retained everything. Rather than running through bustling crowds to reveal himself, he would use his best skills to finish the mission.

He was certain Darim was covering the man from above so all he concerned himself with was determining where the target would surface from. It didn't take long for Sef to do the math and guess how long it would take the man to reach the last corner before his father would finish the mission if they failed. As he ran, he wrapped a brown cloth around his head to resemble a turban to hide his identity further. His mother had given him ridiculously bright ideas about masquerade, and he wondered why she didn't become an assassin. She was practically one of Rauf's infiltration teachers at this point!

He ran until he reached his destination at the heart of the bazaar and blended into the crowds gathered around the little shops in the area. It wasn't a long wait when the target appeared and Sef smiled at being correct with his equations. Slipping on a copper metal ring on his right middle finger, he lurked along the bustling crowds eager to buy their goods. He breathed deeply to remain calm because the situation became a now-or-never scenario. When the Templar informant brushed by him unaware, Sef knocked into him and managed to push a few more people against the man to fluster them further.

The unexpected momentum surprised the man and the civilians, allowing Sef to grab the informant by the arm and a civilian by the hand. Playing the good Samaritan card, he apologized and stated someone pushed him in their haste to buy fabric. The target didn't care and walked off without a care before he finished talking. Sef merely helped the other people stand to be polite and let the target go without another glance.

From above, Darim watched the whole scenario and recognized his brother's face. He was surprised to see that he stayed rather than chased after the informant- what was he thinking? Why was he still standing there? Had he prioritized the civilians over their objective? They weren't in danger at all! Darim shook his head at his brother's terrible decision-making skills and kept hot on the man's trail.

Within a minute of trailing the informant, the target halted suddenly and Darim quickly crouched behind one of the ledges above to prevent being seen. Had he been spotted? Impossible, he had taken every precaution and kept a decent distance! Peeking over the ledge, his brow furrowed when he saw the informant take one step before collapsing on his face in the middle of the bazaar. People immediately took notice of the fallen man and a few scattered once a bystander called out that he was dead.

Darim couldn't believe his ears but people fell into disarray to leave and the informant lay on the ground in the same position. Had the man truly died? But he had just been walking a second ago! He remained on top of the ledge to await any changes but when several civilians picked his prone form up and carried him away, he intended to follow. A firm hand on his shoulder prevented him and he turned to fight off an enemy-

"Calm yourself, Darim" his father stated firmly and pulled his son away from the ledge to the center of the rooftop. Altaїr had watched the events unfold from his own vantage point and the man was very much dead. He did not want Darim to descend and poke the man for confirmation without blowing his cover. There were times when they risked exposure but there had to be really good odds of success. Quietly, he informed him, "The informant is dead."

"How can we be sure those people aren't a part of the fake death?" Darim questioned matter-of-factly since the Templars were master deceivers. His mother cautioned him to never take them at face value and to dig deeper to find out the truth.

"I was on the ground when he began to fidget and I can assure you he's quite dead" he stated simply to pull rank on his son. Darim was very much like he had been in his youth while Sef was cautious, pouncing only when he was certain. He had to make sure both boys would stay safe as they grew older to avoid any tragedies. He didn't want his son disappointed and told him, "You still accomplished the mission of extinguishing him- where's Sef?"

Darim forgot Sef stayed behind and tried to find a good reason to protect his brother's slip. Altaїr was accustomed to seeing both together and his brown eyes scanned the rooftop fervently. Maybe Darim could reason he was still young in his teachings to save him the lecture. He pointed towards the market behind them to stay nonchalant and stated, "He was helping civilians the last time I saw him-"

"Helping civilians is not our priority" Altaïr sighed to his youngest son's tendency to help everyone. He was so much like his mother that it hurt Altaïr to lecture him about being neutral when their ultimate goal was the main focus. The Templars would kill plenty more people and stopping to help the injured would only delay their plans. He shook his head, formulating advice for his youngest, and stated firmly, "This mission is over. Let's go find Sef."

The two Assassins returned to the rendezvous point to find Sef in his full attire again while he tended to their horses. His fondness for equines was inherited from his father and he took care of their family's horses for every trip. Darim was ready to greet his brother, glad for his safety, but Altaïr intervened to ask firmly, "What happened out there?"

Sef simply unhitched his black mare as he ran his hand down her mane and answered easily, "I made a strategic decision."

"Sef, you were supposed to follow the informant" Altaїr lectured firmly as he grabbed his own golden mare to leave the area before incoming visitors overheard them. They might be in the outskirts but he didn't trust the area at all. Too many years of experience in his bones. Darim hopped onto his own brown horse for the trip back to Masyaf and hoped it wouldn't be one full of lectures again. Altaїr took the lead to let the boys follow at a safe distance in case danger lurked and he told Sef, "It isn't a very hard task."

Normally, Altaïr would expect his son to fall in line or apologize but he found a different face on him that day. It reminded him too much of Vivian when she hugged onto a topic and refused to let her position go. Sef was calm and collected as he continued riding, stating confidently, "I did follow him and I decided that if I had the chance to eliminate him, I would. . .and I did."

Darim had seen the whole thing and couldn't fathom how he could have assassinated the man. Had he used his hidden blade? No, there had been no blood spatter or rivulets at all. How could you kill someone without a weapon? He shook his head uncertainly and tried to answer his question aloud, "Unless you used a long-range weapon, it's impossible. I was there-"

"I didn't need a weapon" Sef replied with a faint smile because for the first time, he felt proud in his skills. He was not gifted with wielding weapons like his elder brother but a different branch called out to him. While his brother spent time with Rauf on the base floor outside the courtyard, he had another mentor at the top of the tallest tower. He respected his brother but he could not compete in his arena, telling him, "I've come to realize that my expertise isn't in long range weaponry like you, Darim, but a different field altogether."

"It's not that pocket sand, is it? Because you have horrible aim and blinded me last time" Darim asked skeptically because his little brother had bad aim and proved it in their spars. When he saw their mothers' training (more like his training Sef's), it was clear who the superior fighter was. He also remembered Vivian telling his brother that blinding his opponents was never wrong as long as he won the fight.

"It's not pocket sand!" Sef objected defiantly because they also lost an informant that way and he abandoned the tactic. It was probably for the best because he also blinded himself in blowback that day. It had been quite embarrassing to have his mother rinse out his eyes while his little sister laughed in the background.

"Unless you used magic, I don't-" Darim argued as he failed to comprehend just what he used but his father raised his hand to silence them.

Altaïr looked to Sef since Darim had recounted his entire mission, including what he'd seen Sef do. Apart from killing the man, his son had known where to find him and he questioned, "Your brother told me you stayed behind yet you were able to beat him to where the informant would show. How?"

"It's basic math, really" Sef replied earnestly with a nonchalant shrug since he loved working with numbers. Darim fell asleep numerous times during arithmetic and sciences, waking up only for physically challenging classes. His left hand drew equations in the air as he began to explain, "It was simply tracking his rate by dividing his distance with his speed and adding my own into an equation with two variables. I've memorized every street here so it was simply cutting the shortest triangle afterward to get to him while Darim took the longer path with different twists and turns."

Darim was ready to ask his brother teach him that particular subject but their father intervened again. The blue-eyed Assassin threw up his hands in frustration and Sef held back an amused smile. Altaïr was able to put the pieces together at knowing Sef arrived first on the scene and stated knowingly, "You poisoned him."

"But a poison takes time and he had to have drunk or felt the stabbing wound" Darim pointed out to the idea and turned to his brother for agreement. Sef, however, had turned quiet at the accusation. Darim refrained from reaching over to shake his brother silly, staying in his spot, and clarified, "You couldn't have, right?"

"Never underestimate a Mentor" Sef smiled warmly to confirm his father's suspicions and held out his hand to show Altaїr the copper ring. It lay inside a brown leather cloth to prevent accidental activation and Altaïr took the napkin by its corners to observe it. When had he designed it? How long had he been using it? Before he could ask, his son explained, "Bashir and I constructed this based on the mechanisms used for the hidden blade. A tiny needle is pre-doused in poison before injection and is activated to be released when blunt pressure is added. Hiding in the crowd and falling into him was enough to draw the needle and directing it into the veins above his elbows was easier than I thought. Mother told me they were the fastest rate for absorbing substances and with the poison being potent, I didn't have very long to wait so I stayed behind to help others."

Altair couldn't believe his son's strategy to carry out an assassination and asked, "What kind of poison?"

"Arsenic powder mixed with nitric acid for faster corrosiveness to the body" Sef replied easily on its lethality and Altaïr had to admit he was stunned to the ingenious concoction. Most of what came from Bashir's labs were traps and explosives. Frankly, the only reason he allowed his son to go in there was because he cried bloody murder when he couldn't as a child and he earned a lecture from Vivian. How he didn't have gray hair by now was a mystery. Sef was excited to unveil his method of attack and told him, "It's an untraceable poison and the oldest to be used in the Brotherhood before it was banned by Al Mualim."

"I told you not to assassinate him" his father pointed out firmly at his given orders for the mission. If an Assassin could not obey them, it was a red flag to monitor. He would not have a repeat of himself among his children.

"You would have done so and it was my chance to test whether the weapon works" Sef reasoned calmly while Altaïr frowned at his son's boldness. Well, he hadn't exactly jumped at the man to stab him directly and placed the brotherhood at risk but. . .

It was normal fatherly worry for his youngest. He resembled his mother greatly, much like Darim, until he forgot that she was a sharp little badger and their son carried his own strength as well. He didn't say anything more and Darim used this time to pull his brother into a conversation about the small but deadly knickknack. They would continue the conversation at home to prevent any insubordination or secrets.

---

"How did it go?" Bashir asked excitedly from behind one of his islands packed with glass experiments and practically hopped in place. He had not aged much in personality in the last decade but the babyface was gone to replace a mature Assassin. Well, as much as one could be with handy explosives. Patches of dust and oil covered his Assassin robes and he ditched the iconic hood for magnifying glass goggles. He ran a hand through his dark locks to smooth them out to no avail and asked, "The mission didn't fail, did it?"

"No, the time from administration to death was under two minutes" Sef explained with approval to the success of the poison and its applicability. The man had ignored him so time was not a factor but in combat, one had to survive those two minutes.

"Hmm, we need more potency to decrease the effect time" Bashir reasoned to begin making modifications to their calculations for faster effect. He never imagined finding a protégé and no less with one of the Mentor's sons. Sef was bright like both his parents and he took him under his wing to teach him all he knew. He raised his hand to remind him of their number one rule, "Were you detected?"

Sef shook his head because that was the beauty of their weapon and answered, "No, mother's tip about the veins worked best but if time isn't critical, the lower arm or hand will do. Direct skin contact works best."

"Marvelous, I will. . ." Bashir smiled with triumph at their scientific progress and he motioned to have the ring returned. Sef sighed at having it confiscated by his father and the older man caught his crestfallen expression.

Before he could ask, Altaïr appeared impassively in the doorway and held up the napkin to state frankly, "I assume you're looking for this."

"Before you lecture Sef and me, I should say it's for the good of our Order and that you have a brilliant scientist in the making" Bashir pointed out like a good uncle and patted Sef on the back, making the young man blush for the compliment. His amicable character was more like his mother, which made it easier for the two to work together. There was no competitive edge there. He tried to make his leader lenient on the boy by adding in, "He hasn't made anything explode more than I have."

"Out, Bashir" Altaïr ordered with a restrained sigh at the end for the frustratingly peppy man. He couldn't stay mad at him for more than thirty minutes! Still, he and Sef had hidden this from him which could have posed a risk.

Bashir moved around the table to obey but he waved his hands to remind him, "Remember, he wouldn't exist if I hadn't saved you-"

"Out" Altaїr interjected quickly and physically shooed him out the door to clear the room. He did not need a reminder of his old adventures which could potentially strike a match of wanderlust in his son. Vivian was firm in not having Sef travel until he was ready and he agreed with his wife. Still, the apple had not fallen far from the tree so he would be cautious.

The inventor sighed with melancholy at the mistreatment and shook his head dramatically, "Thrown out of my own laboratory."

Sef watched his friend leave for the time being, losing some support, and moved to his adjacent lab space. Altaїr shut the door behind him for good measure, earning an amused snort from his son. Sef closed his journals to avoid having his father snoop around more and closed his hazel eyes to sigh, "Father, I can't justify my actions anymore so please stop beating a dead horse."

The older man sighed at hearing one of Vivian's sayings stick in Arabic and Sef reasoned, "A few are quite humorously catchy and verbally disarming. Aside from that, I don't want another lecture about how I went wrong and this is how things are done or the ever-dreaded 'back in my day'."

"I'm not mad at you" Altaïr confessed as he placed the napkin on the worktable to store the ring safely and crossed his arms. Sef blinked awkwardly because there was always something awry with what he did. Sometimes, he wondered if his mother's quirks passed on but then he realized that he didn't care if they did. Altaїr leaned against the tablet, carefully peering over his shoulder to make sure nothing fell, and admitted, "Frankly, I never expected either of you to delve into poisons since they were only recently allowed."

"Pesticides are great poisons but then again, any poison will eventually kill you- it's only a matter of time" he pointed out with a witty grin that no matter the poison, you would eventually be crippled or die. Altaїr couldn't help but sigh morosely at his peppy optimism but his son did come from two hardheaded individuals. Sef found the silence of the lab and its bubbling liquids more interesting than the grating metal of swordfights and told him, "Mother has found me quite a few books and Bashir helps in refining my concoctions."

"And you didn't come to me?" his father questioned at being left in the dark while everyone knew about his dabbling. He would be having a chat with his wife later on as well.

"I didn't want to fail and have you lecture me" Sef explained solemnly at failing to live up to his expectations. His father never demanded it of him but being the son of the Mentor came with expectations of ingenuity. Darim was already a gifted fighter and he was still searching for his craft. His little sister was still kicking in kneecaps to find a hobby. He shrugged simply before muttering under his breath, "I'd rather have you disappointed that I failed at something else."

Altaïr did not want to be a prime nagger because if so, no wonder his son was trying to squeeze away. He glanced at the different glass bottles, both dark and clear, aligned neatly around his work desk on the other side. His station was far neater and cleaner than Bashir's without spills and books piled neatly on one side to prevent tarnishing them. Honesty never steered him wrong and he decided on a heart-to-heart talk with him, "I don't set out to see you fail. On the contrary, all I want is your safety and if lecturing you to stay alive does it, I will. Your mother and I have protected you from the moment you dwelled inside her. That's how dear you are to us and I won't lose you in this war."

"Which is why I'm mastering the skills I do have and you have to let me" Sef insisted to live to his potential as he held out his hands to show the same callouses Altaïr's had. They would not be from wielding weapons all day but a mix of that and the flames, acids, bases, and other chemicals that touched his skin. He was no longer the child running after him but one carving his own road, reminding him gently, "I'm not a little boy anymore and each day, I walk further down your path. I'm not great with weapons but I am in this. . .and in it, lies my own strength."

Altaïr nodded quietly because both his sons were levelheaded young adults rather than the reckless one he'd been. He could not restrain them from their talents or risk having them killed for his own folly. It was not easy to let go of one's children but he managed to nod with agreement, "All right, but I want you to keep all of this in a more concealing area that only you and Bashir know about. I don't want these poisons to fall into the wrong or inexperienced hands."

Sef agreed with that reasonable request and Altaïr made a decision he hadn't expected to that day, "You're ready to take your first mission."

This time, Sef dropped a vial in his hand at his father's words and it shattered on the ground. Great. Altaïr stared at the wet blotch immediately and Sef sighed at his shoddy luck, "We should leave. That liquid gives off a nasty gas that rivals rotten eggs and dead fish."

Altaïr remembered his only job as a civilian in Quelimane so many years ago and bolted for the door.

---

Altaїr managed to sneak a private conversation with his wife after dinner. Sef expected him to blurt everything out at the family table during their community meal but he said nothing. He was relieved to escape to his new private quarters while his parents left for theirs, ushering his preteen sister up the main stairwell. Adana Ibn-La'Ahad was exactly like her father in his youth, gumptious and adventurous, with hazel eyes and brown hair to match him. Sef made sure to ruffle her long hair for good measure and the two siblings hugged before parting ways.

The married couple stood on their outdoor balcony to let fresh air enter their home. Their daughter was already in bed, but Altaїr left her bedroom door open in case she tried to sneak in a book to read by candlelight. He was not about to put out a fire twice in a year. They were discussing their son's work while begrudgingly accepting their eldest was his own boss now. It was hard to imagine a seventeen-year-old as an adult but the Middle Ages carried different rules than her old world – that and no child labor laws.

Vivian had grown out her short locks years ago, adapting to the current times by keeping dark tresses long and braided. Few strands of gray filtered between her mess of curls to show the age of time – mainly because hair dye was nonexistent. Still, her green eyes still gleamed merrily at her husband. She counted herself lucky for being able to see almost twenty years of marriage with him and their two beautiful children. Her little peanut and his little bean – who were growing rather quickly. She smiled as her hands smoothed over his chest, erasing any lines in his sleeping tunic, and stated, "We made quite the smart boy, didn't we?"

"He's too much like you" he feigned a frown because Sef was her genetic copy except with his height. The soft pats became a warning smack because out of their two children, Adana was the little spitfire. Destiny had taken his intense focus and energy with her witty mouth to create Altaїr's biggest headache. Still, he believed the best in all his children and admitted, "But I have very high hopes for him, especially at knowing he doesn't need me to guide his hand. He surprised me today and that takes a lot."

"He is my boy, after all, and I surprised you into a few premature white hairs" she chuckled as her fingers grazed the flickers of light gray around his temples. His face, however, failed to betray his energetic youth and she loved waking up to it every day. Altaїr pretended to fuss at her grooming but she simply smiled and advised him, "Keep him on a wise path but don't push him. Sef is my hope for all that is good in this world. I want Adana to live a safe life away from this world, but Sef is the one meant to be by your side. Protect my baby but give him room to grow and keep those pleasant surprises coming."

"I will do my best, mother badger" he smiled softly and kissed her forehead before embracing her by the shoulders. He would not allow anything to harm their children after she dedicated her life to raising them. While missions whisked him away temporarily over the years, she stayed behind to care for their family. Vivian melted into his hug with a content smile but it faded instantly when he revealed nonchalantly, "By the way, he will be going on his first mission as a new Assassin. Now, I was thinking about breakfast-"

"You're not slipping through, mister" she cut him off sharply as he tried to fast talk his way out of a problem and flicked his chin for attention. He batted her nimble fingers away before she inadvertently poked his nose, leading her to grasp the front of his tunic. She wanted his honest opinion on their son and asked carefully, "Is he ready for this?"

"Yes" he assured with a small nod because time didn't slow down and neither was their son. He was willing to take calculated risks but he wasn't a hothead that would blow his cover. The fact that he masqueraded to approach the target told him he was learning more about infiltration than direct combat. There were still a few things he needed to address and he admitted, "He is a close-range fighter and I will keep sharpening those skills to ensure he has a steady hand. His best asset to our order lies in the art of poison and infiltration."

"Can he handle the responsibility? Can we?" she asked softly as motherly worry gnawed at her heart and squeezed his midsection. Her children were her core now that she lived in Masyaf and though her days were full of cataloguing the library, dusting off old relics, or teaching novices her tips and tricks of survival – her family was her fortress. Losing any of them would shatter her and she closed her eyes to sigh softly, "He might be ready but I'm not- that little hand is one I've held onto for years. I have done the best I can to teach him but what if it isn't enough? What if-"

"Vivian, he won't be going on solo missions anytime soon" he soothed gently since he wouldn't be throwing out their son into cold water without instructions to swim. He went through that twice and it was terrible. Then again, he had no parental figures to tell his elders to knock it off. He would not push his son until he was ready to handle certain situations and promised, "Everything will be gradual. We've done a good job but if there's any books you'd like to buy or send for, feel free to do so."

"If it's about the poison books, I thought he was interested in it – not actually making them" Vivian muttered flatly on being tricked by her son to feed his hobby and crossed her arms to add in proudly, "Such a smart boy."

Altaїr chuckled softly at his knack for sneaking, not to mention spinning tales, and agreed wholeheartedly, "A little too smart."

"He's such a little bookworm, isn't he?" she chuckled nervously at passing on her quirks onto Sef and breathed deeply to the thought of her son undertaking missions. Her husband had done all those dangerous jumps, battles, and viewpoints alone so their son would be fine. That's what she would tell herself to stop her heart from somersaulting. Altaїr squeezed her shoulders again to calm her fretting, understand her concern, and she sighed weakly, "I guess . . . I just see so much of myself in him. I remember feeling so awkward around you and thinking I'd never earn your respect or do something meaningful to wow you. I often forget he has your awesome genes floating around in there and that . . . it tells me he'll be okay."

She hugged him tightly while brushing back tears at releasing her son to his destiny and he reassured her, "I will protect him but remember that you grew to survive hardships here as well. He's a fighter and I've no doubt he will keep impressing us . . . although the lab will be unoccupied for a few days."

She blinked with confusion at the unexpected news, wondering what happened, and he informed dryly, "Stinky gas."

---

Sef and Darim had taken it upon themselves to keep the village safe from any evildoers that week. Their father had insisted that such aid was unnecessary when their non-combatant Assassin members could easily step in to quell any problems. Eager to help and full of youthful vigor, the two brothers decided to investigate a nearby produce shop after hearing about missing supplies. It wasn't that the shopkeeper had a pretty daughter or two but simply a matter of justice. At least, that's what the two Assassins told themselves.

The young woman in charge of the produce stall that day was alarmed when she turned around from fixing the display to find the two young men behind them. Her brown eyes widened in surprise at their silent approach and her soft voice quivered, "May I help you?"

Darim flashed a smile that brightened his blue eyes instantly and he leaned against one of the wooden stall beams to introduce himself, "Yes, my name is Muhammad Sahid and this is my associate Bartholomew Incognito."

Sef bowed politely with dramatic flair but restrained himself from laughing at the horrible name. Everywhere they went, they created fake personas to boggle the mind. At first, his brother fought him on the idea but eventually, Darim found it fun and couldn't stop from creating alter egos.

The two young men jumped in surprise of their own when a preteen girl and teenage boy popped up behind them. Darim's smile deflated instantly at spotting his little brother, Hisham, as the dark-haired teen grinned impishly at him with matching blue eyes. When had he escaped the fortress to follow him down? His smaller companion, Adana, simply stepped in front of the older boy to introduce herself with the same charm, "I'm Rosa Risotto and my friend here, Adonis McButterfly are assisting."

Sef found it hard to keep a straight face and wrapped an arm around both of the younger children to bring them into the fray. Darim ignored the impish smile of his little brother and half-sister before clearing his throat to ask, "We're here to ask if you've seen strange activities here for lost produce? Missing inventory?"

The young woman blinked awkwardly at the question and Sef reassured her they were friendly by informing her, "We are looking into missing shipments of food for Masyaf and wanted to investigate the source."

"We double-check our cargo before placing it into the wagons and I've never seen anything suspicious" the dark-haired seller insisted to avoid being blamed for any wrongdoing with the supplies purchased by the large fortress. If someone was committing such an act, it was not her family's shop.

Darim leaned against the counter to sway the produce seller and smiled warmly to point out, "We have children in Masyaf and they need adequate nutrients. I can't go back to tell their mothers that I can't find an answer to this. Surely, you must have seen a tiny, random, odd occurrence."

The woman was ready to speak until she heard Adana chewing on an apple and the girl stated without apology, "This makes up for my lost apple. I'm still missing three."

Sef was quick to tuck his brash sister behind him before he was forced to pay for said apple. He was not about to explain to their parents that their daughter stole fruit in comeuppance for intel. Darim tried to nudge his little brother away when Hashim tried to sneak up to the counter. He frowned immediately when Darim laid his palm flat against his face to halt his movement. Ignoring the boy, he turned his attention back to the woman when she spoke quietly, "It's not my stall but I've heard rumors that some supplies are withheld for price gouging for a better trade deal. I'd rather have my coin than rotted produce."

They had a new lead.

Darim nodded respectfully to follow the new trail and flashed her a friendly smile, "Thank you for your cooperation. We will continue to purchase our goods directly from you."

The young woman blushed at his confident tone, turning around before he saw her, and Darim left the stall to join his rabble of siblings. Adana was halfway through her apple while Hashim massaged his face, leading him to stick out his tongue at Darim. The young Assassin ignored his antics while Sef grinned brightly at their success to say, "We do make a good team, don't we?"

He held out his hand with warm regard for their partnership on the field and Darim shook it gladly. Despite being five years younger, Sef was everything he wanted in a little brother- even when he didn't want him tagging along as a toddler. Now that they were older with a better view of the world, he didn't want anyone else to watch his back. He matched his brother's grin by agreeing wholeheartedly, "Yes, we do."

His warm smile deflated when he glanced down at their remaining siblings to lecture them sharply, "Except you two, stop butting into our investigations."

"Make us" Adana shot back defiantly with a glare to match her father's, taking yet another bite from her apple. Sef ruffled her wavy hair to distract her from another argument with Darim, earning a gentle bat from his little sister.

"We're supposed to be the Masyaf Four!" Hashim insisted with wide eyes gleaming as he raised his arms excitedly. Darim was too old for team nicknames since his novice days were long gone. The only reason he agreed to team up with Sef was that his brother was younger with much to learn and they strengthened each other's weaknesses. His two younger siblings had yet to know the harshness of the world so he would keep them safe like their parents wanted.

Sef's brow furrowed since they were missing one other team member and asked bluntly, "What about Tazim?"

"He only comes when Uncle Malik brings him!" Adana reasoned with a dismissive hand wave to make the name scarce. How dare he bring up their intermittent companion of mayhem? Sef shook his head with disbelief because his little sister fawned over the dai's son whenever he visited them since he was considered more worldly in her eyes than either he or Darim. He was not about to correct a young girl's crush or risk a lecture from his father.

Darim sighed with aggravation at failing to win against the two and ushered them to the main path back home with a frown, "I give up, let's go home."

The blended family of four walked together with Sef wrapping an arm around his little sister while Darim playfully smacked the back of Hashim's head before drawing him into a similar hug.

---

The End

---

A/N: And that brings the end to Adventure Time with Altair as he returns to Masyaf to kick out Abbas before he becomes a threat to his new family. The team is done with their search and interacting with the Isu, letting time run its course and leaving everything to the future. I love Darim and Sef as a comedic duo taking down Templars though so that's where I'll end this story with the quirky family. A huge thank you to those who followed and left reviews for this tale, especially after the hiatuses over the years, so I can finally deem this adventure complete.