Chapter Seven

Damascus, 1183.

Malik's triumph spoiled like milk when he returned to the Damascus Assassin's bureau and found Altaïr waiting there. The other Assassin said nothing as Malik made his report to the rafiq.

The rafiq, a cheery soul, received Malik's news with good humour. "Well done!" he said. "You have my thanks and my respect. A ( Read more... )

Chapter Six

Damascus, 1183.

"A man will come out of the east!" cried Abu Firas as he stalked the room. The scholar's face was purple with passion. His boots struck stone with cold force and sent dust flying into the faces of those students who had been stupid enough to sit in the front row. "He will preach in the name of the family of ( Read more... )

Chapter Five

Masyaf, 1183.

The tower room was round; with one side open to the sun. A few hooded Assassins leaned against the walls with their arms folded. Malik stood uneasily in the centre of the room while Al Mualim paced around him. The old man moved as silently as the shadow of a hawk. His long beard and black robe trailed like banners ( Read more... )

Chapter Four,

Masyaf, 1183.

Ten years later...

"How many do you see?" Rauf asked.

Malik leaned out from the great dome of hammered bronze that topped the keep of Masyaf. "Nineteen-no, twenty. Twenty-one....twenty-two......twenty-three. That's all. Three missing."

They studied the small line of white-robed Assassins and Assassin novices ( Read more... )

Chapter Three,

Masyaf, 1174.

"Today," said dai Ismail, "you will learn how to kill."

Malik stood in line with the other Assassin novices. The sun-bleached stone of the fortress walls was pleasantly warm against his spine. The heat eased the muscles of his back and shoulders, which still ached after a morning of wall climbing and heavy weapons ( Read more... )

Chapter Two,

Syria, 1174.

The Assassins soon left the paths that Malik knew and headed north on trails far less familiar. Kadar did not speak a word to anyone until after the sun had reached its zenith, and then he only said "I have to piss."

The closest Assassin nodded and let Kadar go behind a rock. Malik waited. When Kadar did not return quickly ( Read more... )

"Let those who shall come after this age and era know the extent of the mischief they wrought and the confusion they cast into the heart of men... It was a cup that had been filled to overflowing; it seemed as if a wind had died. This is a warning to those who reflect; may God do likewise to all tyrants."

-Ata-Malik al-Juvaini, History of the ( Read more... )