2. Masyaf

I travelled back without any problems. My mind twisted in thoughts… Malik and Kadar were dead. Nothing I could do about it. Right before the gate of Masyaf I dismounted and walked inside. ‘Altair! You’ve returned!’ It’s the voice of Rauf. I walk towards him and salute him.
‘It’s good to see you unharmed. I trust your mission was a success,’ he goes on.
‘Is the master in his tower?’
‘Yes, yes, buried in his books as always. No doubt he expects you.’
Rauf is a good friend. He talks a lot, but when you really need him, he can be very serious. ‘My thanks, Brother.’
‘Safety and peace Altair.’
I turn around: ‘On you as well, Rauf.’
Walking up the slopes, I started realizing I maybe shouldn’t have broken the tenets. None of them…
I arrived at the fortress, where Abbas was waiting for me, leaning to a wall: ‘Well, he returns at last.’
‘Abbas.’
‘Where are the others? Did you ride ahead, hoping to be the first one back?’ He said sarcastically. I don’t like Abbas, and he doesn’t like me.
‘Silence is just another form of assent.’ He was challenging me.
‘Have you nothing better to do?’ I asked. I was trying to keep myself calm, but Abbas seemed liking the fact I was getting frustrated. He finally got to his point. ‘I bring word from the master. He waits for you in the library.' He whispered: 'You better hurry. No doubt you’re eager to put your tongue to his boot.’
‘Another word and I will put my blade to your throat.’
He shaked his head and started leaning to the wall like when I arrived. ‘There will be plenty of time for that later, “Brother”.’
I didn’t waste another word and walked inside the fortress. In the main building Al Mualim was waiting for me.
‘Altair,’ he said. I heard in his voice that he was expecting I had completed my mission successfully.
‘Master.’
He laid down the book he was reading and walked till he stood next to his desk. ‘Come forward. Tell me of your mission. I trust you have recovered the Templar's treasure,’ he said with a cheerful voice. I didn’t want to disappoint the master. According to him, this was the most important quest of all… And I’ve failed it.
‘There were some trouble, master. Robert de Sable was not alone.’ You could see the good mood vanish.
‘When does our work ever go as expected? It's our ability to adapt that makes us who we are,’ he said to me. His infinite amount of wise words. He always knows what to say.
‘This time it was not enough,’ I said.
‘What do you mean?’ Al Mualim asked careful.
‘I have failed you…’ I saw the masters eyes getting full of disbelief.
‘The Treasure?’
‘Lost to us.’
‘And Robert?’
‘Escaped.’
I took a deep breath. I’ve said it. This all could mean my death. I turned my back to Al Mualim and looked outside. I saw some students training in the ring.
‘I sent you, my best man, to complete a mission, more important than any that has come before…’ he said, almost whispered. ‘And you return to me with nothing but apologies and excuses!’
‘I did--,’ I wanted to say something, but he interrupted me: ‘Do not speak! Not another word! This is not what I expected. We'll need to mount another force.’
I wanted this straight, so I tried again. ‘I swear to you I'll find him. I'll go and—’
‘No! No! You'll do nothing! You've done enough! Where are Malik and Kadar?’
I wish he didn’t ask that. The last thing I had to confess… ‘Dead.’ The masters eyes were killing now.
Then I heard footsteps right behind me. ‘No! Not dead!’
That… The voice of Malik. I turned around. His left arm was all covered in blood. He held the upperpart of his arm. His eyes were full of pain and hate…
‘Malik!’ said Al Mualim. He wanted to say something, but Malik was faster: ‘I still live at least!’ it sounded like he was crying, but he wasn’t. If you look at him you only see pain and hate.
It was a sad story… He went on a mission, with his brother and a good friend. His brother dies there and he might lose his arm… That all, thanks to his friend who wasn’t listening.
‘And your brother?’ Al Mualim asked.
‘Gone,’ Malik answered. He slowly turned to my direction and pointed at me with his good arm. ‘Because of you!’
‘Robert threw me from the room, There was no way back, nothing I could do!’ I defended myself.
‘Because you would not have heed my warning! All of this could have been avoided… And my brother… He would still be alive!’ his voice was loud and full of fury, but he continued with a softer voice: ‘You’re arrogance nearly cost us victory today.’
At the word nearly the masters eyes lighted up. “Nearly?” Al Mualim was already a man on age. His back was crooked and his left eye was blind.
‘I brought what your favourite failed to find. Here, take it.’ While Malik pointed at me again, another assassin of a lower rank brought the treasure to the master.
‘Though it seems I have returned with more than just the treasure—’ Malik continued, but he got interrupted by yet another assassin.
‘Master! We are under attack! Robert de Sable lays siege to Masyaf's village!’
‘So he seeks a battle! Very well, I'll not deny him. Go, inform the others. The fortress must be prepared. As for you, Altair, our discussion will have to wait. You must make for the village. Destroy these invaders. Drive them from our home!’
‘It will be done. I said and ran towards the village.