Altair immediately left for Damascus on his horse. Within a span of three days, he reached the city. The huge walls were visible from afar, tall and unbroken, stretching endlessly. Even after circling the entire city, Altair was unable to find a way to climb them.
To get in, he blended into a crowd of walking Arabs, their hands folded and heads bowed as they moved forward in silence. The guards barely glanced at them. Altair lowered his head, matched their pace, and entered Damascus unnoticed.The city felt different.Vibrant colors filled the streets. Merchants stood both outside the gates and within, calling out their trades. Mosques rose from every quarter, their presence constant. Guards patrolled every street, alert and disciplined. Damascus was not a battlefield, but it lived under the shadow of war. Damascus belonged to Saladin, ruler of the Ayyubid lands. Though Jerusalem had fallen and the Crusade raged across the coast, the city endured—watchful, fortified, prepared. War did not burn here, but it fed quietly at the edges, through rumor, trade, and men willing to profit from both.
Altair made his way through the winding streets until he reached the Assassin bureau hidden within the city. Inside, he found Rafiq waiting.
"Altaïr, it's good to see you in one piece," says Rafiq.
"A few of your brothers were here earlier. If you had heard the things they said, they wouldn't be breathing today," continued Rafiq.
"It's quite alright," said Altair.
"Ah yes—you've never been one for the Creed, have you?"
"Is that all?" said Altair, annoyed.
"Ah, sorry for that. Sometimes I just forget who I am," says Rafiq. "Anyways, what brings you here?"
"Tamir," said Altair. "I'm looking for a man named Tamir. Al Mualim demands his fall. What can you tell me of him?"
"Tamir makes his living as a black market merchant, so the Souk district should be your destination," said Rafiq. "I would suggest you seek out three places: a small souk northeast of here, the madrasa to our east, and the garden to the north of this bureau. Focus on these places and he should become known well to you."
"I assume you want me to return here when I'm done," asks Altair.
"Yes," said Rafiq. "Come to me when you have finished. Give us Tamir's life and I will give you Al Mualim's marker. And if you face any trouble, you can take shelter here—although remember not to bring our enemies here. Never compromise the Brotherhood."
Altair left the bureau and headed toward the Souk.There, he found a man standing on a wooden platform, surrounded by people, speaking loudly.
"Hear the tale of a merchant prince. If not for Tamir, Salahadin's men would've turned up against him. Could be we won the battle because of that man."He repeated the tale several times, each time telling the same thing in a different manner, like an artist shaping his words for the crowd. When the people finally dispersed, the man stepped down and walked away.Altair followed him.They moved through narrowing streets until the noise of the market faded. When the man turned into a narrow alley, Altair followed close behind and threw a hard punch, enough to knock the breath from his lungs and force him against the stone wall.
"What do you know of Tamir?" asks Altair.
"I do not know anything! Spare me," says the man.
"Then you are of no use to me."
"Wait—stop, stop. Tamir works in black market. He trades weapons an—" says the man, when he gets interrupted by Altair.
"Yes, and Salahadin's forces use them. I know this. This is nothing new. You are useless after all," and with this Altair takes out his blade.
"No please—listen. Not Salahadin, it's someone else. These days he is preoccupied with overseeing the production of weapons. Salahddin only takes a few. Rest are departed and only a few know of them. I am sure he trades weapons to someone else as well. The crests these arms bare are unfamiliar."
"Is that all?" asks Altair.
"Yes, yes. I have told you everything I know," says the man.
"Then it is time for you to rest."
Altair stabs him and leaves the man dead in the alley.And while going to the next location, he wonders.Who could it be? Where is Tamir sending the arms? I need to find out.