Falling from the Sky (Assassin's Creed) 15

Altair breathed out and dusted himself down his eyes watching the man cautiously, “Thankyou Maness, I’ll take her from here.” He said reaching a hand up to take Leah, whose eyes burned with curse words as her hands tried to pull free the one on her neck,

“Oh...you didn’t think I’d hand her to you just like that?” Maness crooned slyly tilting his head slightly,

“What do you want then? I don’t see you for a few months and your still the same.”

“As are you, excluding this chasing women shinanigan.”

{Shinanny what!?} Leah thought glaring at the man who ignorned her, his attention fixed on Altair,

“I heard about your little mission, which one is Kadar now? The third or fourth? Oh my mistake I forgot about the others, this is your-”

“Enough Maness drop her already.”

“Why should I, you were chasing her like you’d chase a theif, a murderer, a target...is this what she is? Doesn’t seem to be, foreign clothes...” Maness commented as he looked at her t-shirt, feeling the fabric on the edge of her sleeve.

“Stop that, my reasons for chasing are my own now give me her.” Altair demanded standing firmly as Maness chuckled darkly,

“You seem to want this peasant back with you, is she important?” Maness quieried slyly,

“No.” Altair retorted, watching Maness’ every movement,

“Then it’s okay if I snap her spine, she is after all trespassing.” And he tightened his hold on Leah’s neck,

“You wouldn’t dare, it’d be breaking a tenant of the brother hood.” Altair said calmly,

“Your right but what would I care? You broke three and you face death, I could break one and live.”

“Not after I’m done.” Altair threated darkly,

“Oh threats, do my brothers hear this?” Maness chortled with the crowd and spread his other chain mail encased arm, “The great head Assassin would kill one of the brother hood to save a trespassing wench!”

“She isn’t trespassing.” Altair declared loudly, “She came with me.”

“Oh – wife to be is it?”

“No.”

“So it is! When is the wedding dear Altair?” Maness crowed, Altair narrowed his eyes as the crowd laughed and jeered,

“Are you deaf or losing hearing from old age? She is not my bride to be.”

“Old age and deafness should apply to you Altair, I can hear and see you unlatching a knife already.” Maness said boldly,

“And what if you can?”

“I suggest you make no wild moves,”

“I suggest you don’t either and I won’t aim for your throat.” Altair threatened darkly, “Put her down this is my last warning.”

“Your concern for this peasant is...enlightening. What is she to you Altair? Tell me, tell the brother hood, we are all brothers we serve the same purpose and we should share thoughts and feelings.” Maness said accompanied with murmurs of the crowd, that fell silent as Altair gave them all a glance.

“I share thoughts and feelings with Al Mualim and those I choose.”

“Such as Malik. Tell me is it true to left him and Kadar in the ruins to die?”

“No.”

“Funny... it seems like an action you’d do.”

“No I would never sink so low-“

“I was under the impression you already were – you just displayed an action merely minutes ago!” Maness crowed, “Chasing a young girl, the great head Assassin chased a girl and failed to capture her-“

“Enough!” Altair declared and sent a throwing knife straight into the top of Maness’ chainmail on his left wrist where it stabbed in the handle protuding out, causing him to drop Leah who crashed onto the floor gasping for air.

“You could have done that earlier!” Leah muttered out as she rubbed her sore neck, she looked up and saw Maness snarl at Altair as he wrenched the knife from his wrist.

“Altair!” he shouted throwing the knife back to it’s owner, who dodged nimbly aside, “You show great insult by your actions!”

“What do I care? I’m a dead man already according to you.” Altair snapped back,

“You will die faster now!” Maness snarled pulling out his sword, as he closed the distance the unmistakable voice called out to the pair,

“STOP THIS AT ONCE.”

“Al Mualim...” Altair whispered out, his brow creasing in thought,

“Let’s see who’s the dead man after you’ve gone to see him.” Maness hissed acidly, sheathing his sword.

“Weapons are confined to the training ground, do not compromise-“

“the brotherhood...” Altair muttered finishing off Al Mualim’s sentence.

“Altair, join me in the study if you please.” The elderly man retreated back into the castle. Altair sighed and retrieved his knife which had embedded into a wooden bar behind him,

“Altair have a happy death, I won’t be going to see you any time soon.” Maness growled holding his wrist to stem the bleeding,

“I wouldn’t count on it, at the rate your blood leaks out you’ll be more likely to die than me.” Altair sneered as he put his hood back up.

“It’s fine I’ll still have air to spit on your grave.” Maness snapped back before going in the direction of the medic room.

“Slink away you rat!”