Fork in the Road (Altair/Assassins Creed)

Chapter 41

As Altair and Hana packed up, tacked up, and left the camp it was early morning. The female stretched her muscles, feeling a lot better than she had the day before. Perhaps it was the presence of the Master Assassin that perked her up? She was certainly glad to be riding back to Masyaf in his company.

In fact, she was happy to just be riding back to Masyaf.

"Apple?" She offered him half, to which he shook his head politely.

"You need it more than I." Came the response.

She blushed and rolled her eyes, "Are you calling me a pig?" She asked.

"I must apologise, Hana," The beginnings of a smile teased the corners of his mouth, "But I do not speak 'oink'."

He may have been a Master Assassin, but he was certainly not honed in the skills of dodging apple cores. The copper haired female's aim was impeccable, and she watched in satisfaction as the remains of her fruit bounced off the top of his white hood.

He turned to shoot her a glare, and brought up his hand to wipe at the back of his hood but said nothing on her actions. They would have to stop for one more night before they would reach Masyaf, and even though the female assumed it was going to be in that creepy small town that she loved oh-so-much, she felt like she could handle whatever was going to come her way. Not only was she rejoined with the Master Assassin, but eighteen hours of sleep had certainly helped.

Up ahead they noticed a larger gaggle of guards than the usual patrol, and Altair held up a hand for her to halt her horse.

"There are Templars at the front and back." He said, "We cannot pass them undetected."

He motioned with his hands, something that she thought she was supposed to understand so she just nodded her head in response. He then took off at a gallop, and she followed in pursuit.

"Assassins!"

Altair, in front of her, leapt from his mare and onto the ground. Hana, utterly confused, just watched him as she sped past. Is that was his hand signals were for? Glancing over her shoulder, she could see that he was not drawing his sword, but running for a steep incline.

Hana bailed out. Slipping her feet out of the stirrups and swinging her right leg over the back of the gelding, jumping to the ground and curling into a ball so that her ankles wouldn't break on her fall. She rolled a few feet in the foetal position, her head dizzy with the motion. She heard the hooves disappearing off into the distance, and armoured boots getting louder and louder the closer they came.

The copper haired female lunged to her feet (and decided that it was high time she learned hand signals,) as she took off after the Master Assassin.

Most of the guards were too stupid to realise that the horses were no longer carrying riders, and gave up the chase once the animals were out of their line of sight. Other guards had seen the white blurs dismount, and followed the bodies up the hill.

Again, Hana and Altair found themselves lunging for cover in the same spot, and the female blushed because, again, she found herself beneath the Master Assassin.

Hana looked up, her blush deepening when she found his face looming above her own, his eyes already examining her features and a small smirk creeping onto his lips, she heard voices just as the Master Assassin opened his mouth to comment – but because both of her hands were stuck between their abdomens – she had to silence him by covering his mouth with her own.

It was over quickly, and Hana turned to look to the side to peer through the straw just in time to see the guards disappearing around the corner. "They're gone." She cleared her throat nervously, blushing. "I'm sorry, but you were about to give away our position."

"There's no need to apologise," He said, pushing himself off of the female and out of the hay. "You looked like you've wanted to do that for a while."

She ignored him as she pulled herself out of the cart, turning to face the road where they had just run up. Hana wanted to find her horse. "Shall we continue?"

"Kissing?"

"Walking." She flushed almost scarlet, pulling her hood further over her face.

He chuckled, starting the journey down the hill and towards the town, "If that's really what you meant."

They climbed to the top of the hill, and down the other side where their horses were waiting for them. The two mounted before continuing on their journey, Hana sighing with relief when rooftops came into view.

Then it happened.

Hana saw him the same time that Altair did. The bald man in the red cape. Robert De Sable. He was currently walking the streets in the small village they were riding into.

And because he was no longer in the midst of carrying out an assignment, nothing was holding Altair back. The Master Assassin glanced at the female from over his shoulder, before he kicked his mare into full gallop – leaving Hana no choice but to follow after him.