Hawks and Eagles

The Hawk of al-Rahman

You gave a long sigh, eyes slipped closed as Eagle Vision was released. Two days you had told Nassar. And in that time not once did he attempt to relinquish his wealth. He doubled the guards around him, thinking that you couldn't possibly take them all on. He thought himself safe so long as his bodyguards were around. It made the whole notion of sneaking inside a waste of time. They were all aware of your upcoming arrival.

You'd hoped to avoid more death but each step you tried to make towards your goal seemed riddled with it. You couldn't merely blackmail Nassar. The whole city was already aware of the slavery. The nobles and the merchants endorsed it. A way to clean up the poor district, they said. And the increase in their coffers certainly was an added bonus.

You marched to the palace gates and halted when one of the guards raised his hand. You lifted your chin, peering past the rim of your hood. "I am here to see the lord of this place, the ruler of al-Rahman."

The guard stepped forward, grip tightening around the hilt of his spear. "And you are?"

You weren't sure how to reply to such a question. You were no one special, not a landowner or a merchant. You weren't even a peasant. You were a ghost, a shadow that flitted about the streets and enacted justice when necessary. "I am the voice of the people. I speak for al-Rahman."

The other guard snorted. "Off with you. We've no time for your kind."

They underestimated you. They thought you a half-crazed beggar than the vigilante that you were. So when you struck forward, your hand reaching out past his languid spear, he didn't even have the time to think about the blade sinking into his throat. Even the other guard was surprised. His brain couldn't even consider defending him as you stole the spear from his partner and thrusted it into his gut.

Your eyes watched them both slump to the ground. "I suppose I'll let myself in." You stepped past them and pushed open the metal gates. The courtyard was a flourishing garden, filled with both flowers and birds of the brightest colors. It was also filled with a few meager guards. The first didn't process your presence until it was too late, blade to skin sliding together all too easily.

The other guards were immediately put on alert. You cut them down, each one that rushed forward with spear or sword. You debilitated most of them, uneager to take the lives of men who were only following the corrupt orders of their leaders. But you were also highly aware that any guard that lived would later join in the hunt to stop you. You would be a criminal in their eyes, a crazed vigilante and nothing more.

Altaïr's words had left you uncertain. He had been right when he stated that you were once better than this. Saif had taught you better. Even the Order had its rules about taking innocent lives although their definition was narrow. You gave them a choice, had you not? You told Nassar to choose between his wealth or his life. He had made his choice.

You worked your way through the palace halls, through lavender painted walls and glistening marble floors. You passed the extravagant fountain carved in the center of the room and ascended the stairs towards the upper floors. The guards thought it better to attack you in the narrow space but you used this to your advantage as well.

Archers that let loose their arrows and fired unintentionally into their own comrades as you used them like a shield. You knocked down each guard, wasted energy to keep some alive, and grabbed their weapons. You speared it into largest and better armored knights, a never ending arsenal of supplies. Eventually they saw clearly their defeat, dropping to their knees and raising their palms in surrender.

You tossed aside the swords in hand and marched towards the double doors they were guarding. Your vision rippled outwards, peering past the doors where Nassar kneeled hopelessly. His head was bowed and words muttered past his lips in a string of prayers and pleas. Before him stood a guard, heavily armored and determined, loyal to the end.