I own nothing but my OC's

EEEP! Altaïr is a sexy beast. I hope he comes off as cold as I see him while still being mysteriously beautiful. TEEHEE I love him. :D R&R PLEASE.

Chapter 1

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had been training for years, starting as a child. It had been easy to hide her sex, but now? Not so much. Being as active as she was and has been her whole life, puberty came late for her. No chest or monthly bleedings that she had to worry about.

But now at seventeen, everything had come to her with an act of brutal vengeance for being put off for so long. She felt awkward thinking about it, but she had to daily to make sure she stayed safe. It was illegal for women to be soldiers, they simply were not allowed. She looked down at her small chest. If she were to stay active, a large chest would never be a problem, but she had a feminine build. The wide shoulders, narrow waist that curved out gently into her hips, she wasn't flat looking from the side like a man. She was rounded just like any other woman. But she was tall for a woman, averaging out to the men in height. Luckily, in armor, with her dark hair cut short like a boys, she fit in just nicely.

Right now she was wrapping her chest, making herself more flat than she naturally already was, just in case; then slipped into the many layers of her robes before she applied her simple leather armor, going from the bottom up, and placed her hidden blade on her left arm applying the vambrace over that.

Today she would prove herself in front of an assassin with the other young trainees.

She made her way slowly to the mess hall, having gotten up early, she was in no rush. When she entered, already she saw a few assassins eating but there were no novices up yet. A few looked up at her others ignored her. She meandered over to get her breakfast, and about to sit an assassin waved her over. Protocol would have demanded she give him a proper greeting but that he would mean he would have to as well, so he waved his hand for her to just sit.

"Good morning Sa'eed"

"Good morning to you, young novice." She grimaced and he laughed, "After today, I will not be able to call you that. I take what I can get for as long as I can."

"It would not be proper, but that would hardly stop your habits of calling me Novice." Sa'eed looked her over, seeing a young man. A warm, lightly tanned face, flat planed cheeks with sharp angled cheekbones, the soft skin of youth, bright white teeth, soft brown hair the color of cocoa and pale brown eyes that had color to them unlike most whose eyes were so dark they looked black, just like his own. "You are tired, why didn't you sleep longer?" She raised an eyebrow at him. He was a master assassin and such an action would be seen as insubordinate, but he liked her. She knew she would get away with it without even so much as him thinking about it as bad manners. He just chuckled at her and scratched his silvering beard.

"You're telling me you actually slept the night before your initiation?"

"No." he laughed, "Not a wink until the sun came up, and by then, it was time to get up."

"Isn't that how it always works? Are you going to be one of the sponsors?"

Sa'eed eyed her, "Yes, I am. I was asked a couple months ago."

"Do you know who you're sponsoring" she asked hope in her eyes.

"I am sorry, I do not. We usually find out from the sponsoree."

"How does that work?"

"They look at ya'." He said grinning, "I say no more on the subject. Eat, you will need the strength." She looked down at her food with distaste. She did not want to eat, she was not hungry, but it was for the best. She grabbed her orange and let her hands fall in her lap as she peeled it. After having a slice of the sweet tangy juice, her stomach decided it was very much hungry. Her orange was gone quickly followed by the quarter of pomegranate, grapes and soft, warm bread with its crispy shell.

"You'd think we never feed you." He said looking at her with surprise at the swiftness her meal disappeared. He was still working on his and he started before her.

"You don't" she seriously and got up with her plate, "I'm getting coffee."

He lifted his empty mug, "please and thank you." She smiled and took it.

Once she had gotten coffee for the both of them, more of the novices trickled in, coming in one after another. Sab raised a hand in greeting at her as she sat. She nodded and handed Sa'eed his coffee. He thanked her again and she told him so.

"It is because I am doubly grateful." She smiled and looked over at the warn light, wooden door as it opened, emitting Altaïr, cloaked and hooded in white. He stalked across the hall and disappeared into the kitchens as the novices came out, startled by his appearance. Quickly overcoming the shock they made their way over.

"Morning, Adel." Sab said sitting beside her, "Ready?"

"As ready as it gets." Adel looked back up to see Altaïr stalk back out of the kitchen and glanced over at their now crowded table. Realizing that he was being watched he glared icily at her. Dread whispered up her spine, making her shiver. Sa'eed noticed and turned to see why and understood immediately. "Is he one too?" she directed at him.

"Unfortunately, I feel sorry for the lad who gets him. But I think the master does it more Altaïr's benefit than the novice's. He has no patience and a short fuse."

"I don't think he likes you." Sab added, peeling his orange, trying to do it in one long curl.

"I think so too, watch me get him now. I've jinxed myself." Her group of friends chuckled with their mouths full as she shivered again at the thought.

"Well children, I must take my leave." Sa'eed said standing with his dishes. Everyone said their good byes and he left winking at her. The table fell to a hush without him to keep their conversations going. They were nervous and he had been trying to calm them down, it had worked for the most part until he had left.

Not much time had passed when Adel had found herself in line facing the Grand Master with the master assassins in line behind him looking impressive in their uniformity in their white robes, hooded, heads held high and hand behind their backs. The Grand Master looked his young pupils over.

"Children, it is time that you become men and reach the full rank of assassin." He paused to let his words sink in, "I have a mission for each of you. You will be assigned a master and you will go out, complete the contract while being evaluated and guided by your master. When you come back, your master will tell me how the assassination went and from there, we will decide if you are truly ready to become an assassin. Are you ready?" He sat on the edge of his desk and grabbed a scroll looking at the name.

"Basil" Basil stepped forward to retrieve his scroll closed in red ribbon and wax. He took it with a bow and backed up into his place.

"Sab" he did the same as Basil, receiving his first contract with a gracious bow, his right fist over his heart.

"Hadi"

"Adel" she stepped forward gracefully, heart pounding wildly, and bowed taking her scroll. The Grand Master smiled ever so slightly, but she noticed and smiled in return, taking her place back in line the epitome of calmness.

"Imad"

"Lu'ay"

The last contract handed out and together they broke them open. She took a deep breath and unrolled it.

She read the whole thing over twice. She was to get rid of the leader of a faction. She looked up at her Grand Master.

"Excuse me, sir." Everyone looked at her.

"Was yours unclear?"

"No, I was just wondering what faction the contract describes." The Grand Master was silent for a second.

"You'll have to figure that out through your resources."

"You don't count as a resource?" She asked disappointed. Sa'eed snorted while the Grand Master laughed.

"Smart of you to think of using me, but you must go out and figure it out yourself."\

She bowed, "Thank you, sir." She read her letter a third time. She was to be to assassinate the leader of a faction in the city of Jerusalem, a ride nearly a week long with Altaïr. She looked up to meet his eyes. His honey gold eyes were already staring coldly at her.

What do you think? Review please! :D