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Shadow Riders	By : Imoshen Category: +A through F > Assassin's Creed Views: 2206 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Assassin's Creed nor do I make money by publishing this story.

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They reached a small farm near the mountains and the moon was rising still. It was a cold night too cold as if Malik could spent it outside and his breath gathered as a white cloud in front of his face. Chickens were running around free and cackled loudly when he approached, his eagle flying circles above his head. Malik's aim was the small stable as he was sure he could find shelter there sleeping in the hay and stay warm.

He crossed the small courtyard quickly. There was still light behind the farmer's house windows and smoke was rising from the chimney. An icy wind was blowing, now that they were so near the mountains and the weather could turn quickly. Malik pressed himself deep into the shadows moving without noise over the ground and stopping in front of the stable's door. Luck was on his side as the door wasn't locked and he entered. He was greeted by the smell of shit and goats. There were three of them locked behind a small fence, their manger full with hay which they were eating happily. There was another small corral, empty, and he moved towards it making his camp there. Above his head was a small window and he opened the shutters the moon's silver light spilling inside the dark stable and he waited.

He could hear the cry of an eagle and soon the flapping of wings as the animal flew through the window and settled on a high beam above Malik. He could see that Altair had already found his meal for the night a dead mouse clinging between his talons and he picked at it, his beak soon turning red. Malik watched him for a few seconds before he leaned back into the hay.

He wasn't hungry since he'd already eaten at the end of the day and he could still taste the rabbit's flesh on his tongue. Rabbit wasn't his favorite but it did the trick and kept him sated and at strength. Just as Altair had said he didn't eat those cows – he would never go near any human village during the day when he was imprisoned in a wolf's body. During the day he was nothing but a beast, a wild creature with no soul. At least when it came to the humans and what they thought about him. Malik didn't consider himself human anymore. Not since that fateful day on which his life changed forever from what he knew, a shadow which had crawled over his soul almost drowning him in madness. It had taken a long time for him to adjust – his body changed into the one of a wolf during daylight. Malik had fought hard for his mind to stay human. It hasn't been an easy battle and once there'd been a time where he'd almost killed Altair as he was at the brink of getting swallowed by the beast's mind.

Altair...

His one true soul-mate, his lover, his heart and life.

He was always at Malik's side just as Malik was at his. They were two companions walking among earth trying to find a way to be with each other again. As it was now, they only had a few minutes in which they could stand in front of each other with being both in their human form. When the sun was vanishing behind the horizon the moon not yet risen and when the moon was dying at the brink of a new dawn. Only a few minutes – it was all they had and it wasn't enough.

Malik leaned back curling on his side and burying himself underneath a thick layer of hay looking up and out of the window watching the clouds moving quickly through the dark sky. He could hear Altair above him picking at his feathers in order to clean himself. When it was night he as well would change. He would be at Malik's side flying high above his head in the body of an eagle. Malik almost smirked bitterly. How fitting for him to be cursed like that. It was easier for Altair though. The humans saw no threat in an eagle. He could mind his own business and still be among them, flying over their villages and cities or sitting among them on a roof's top.

Malik couldn't. He was the lone wolf.

He would wait for Altair at the borders of villages or cities when he needed to fill their supplies. He would hide in the shadows or behind high grass watching his surroundings as he always had to fear of getting attacked by humans. Altair preferred walking offside the roads as it was safer for Malik and still they would meet men and woman, farmers and hikers and they started to call Altair the man with his wolf. It wasn't true though what the farmer had said – they didn't kill whole villages. They never killed when it wasn't necessary but people were easy to lull into lies and Malik had no doubt about who it was telling these lies making it more difficult for them to find him.

The high priest the one and only who was currently wearing the crone.

Malik gritted his teeth his jaw hurting from the amount of pressure. His hate for the man was boiling hot underneath his skin and it was a hard battle to not get drown by it to hold onto love and life and to not get swallowed by the darkness of cruelty. Malik had to remind himself every so often for what he was fighting for – he would never stoop as low as him.

The goats were bleating loudly and Malik craned his neck his eyes moving towards the beam above his head and he saw that Altair had heard it as well. There were footsteps walking towards the stable through the snow and Malik sat up his hand already on the hilt of his dagger ready to draw it if needed. His eyes were set on the door face turned into a grim mask and ready to fight.

The door opened and a soft hue of orange light spread through the darkness eating the shadows. A petite hand was holding a lamp so the owner would now where to step and a small form followed the arm walking through the door and closing it behind them a bucket in their other hand. They wore an old wool blanket around their shoulders and head hiding their face in shadows but Malik could see brown hair peeping out from underneath it. The figure turned around and stopped in their tracks as they saw Malik and he could hear a sharp inhale of air.

“I do not mean any harm”, he said slowly his fingers pulling his dagger free and holding the weapon in front of him as he stood up. “All I need is a place to sleep for the night”, he added in a small voice trying to sound as calm and harmless as possible. He watched them putting down the bucket and holding the lamp into his direction long shadows crawling over the stable's walls.

“This is a difficult time for somebody to trust a stranger easily”, the woman's voice cut through the silence and she pulled the blanket off her head the wool falling around her shoulders in small waves. “If your word is all you can offer then I suggest for you to seek another place to stay”, she said to him her voice distant as she held her chin higher and Malik immediately knew that this woman's pride was probably all she had left after the war had rolled over the country tearing everything apart and leaving nothing behind.

“I won't be staying long... I'm gone before dawn, I assure you”, he said slowly, carefully the knife still pointing at her.

“Are you asking me for my hospitality or are you demanding it?”, she pondered.

“I'm asking you”, Malik said swallowing heavily and he could hear Altair shifting above his head.

“Then put that knife down. If you mean no harm and if I'm not your hostage then there's no need for it”, she said and after he gave it some thought his eyes roaming over her body to search for weapons hidden underneath her clothes, Malik did and put his knife back down onto his belt.

“So?”, she asked him arching one elegant eyebrow and she hung the lamp onto a small hook on the wall.

“So what?”

“You want something from me, stranger. Why should I give it for free?”, she smirked at him and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“This country has seen so much cruelty over the last few years. Was it too much for me to hope for some kindness?”

She didn't even flinch when she answered him, “Yes.”

Malik blinked at her as he wouldn't have expected such honesty and he cleared his throat. Altair gave a soft cry above his head and he almost thought it sounded like a laugh – damn that bird!

He straightened his shoulders as she took a few steps forwards trying to look taller than he actual was since she was almost the same height as he was – he needed to get back the upper hand.

“Do you live by yourself?”, and she gave him a small nod as an answer. “It's not safe for a woman all by herself living so far away from the next village and near the mountains.”

She laughed at him and it was short like the bark of a dog. “Who do you think I am? A poor damsel in distress?”, she grinned at him though her eyes seemed cold and distant and she leaned against the wall only a few meters separating them. “Hardly. I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much.”

“Didn't you hear what they say about the mountains?”, he pondered and it sounded like as if he was challenging her as if trying to scare a small girl with a bad bedtime story.

“Which would be...?” She looked at him unimpressed her foot kicking against a small pebble and sending it across the stable. Malik followed it with his eyes and that was his mistake.

She pushed herself off the wall grabbing for a pitchfork leaning against it nearby and holding it up as she stepped quickly forwards, the sharp jags pointing at Malik's throat. If she wanted to all she had to do was push forwards and piercing through his throat sending him into the netherworld. He held perfectly still to not provoke any actions. His eyes flickered upwards for a split second and Altair had moved to the edge of the beam head cocked to one side and watching them.

“Well...” Malik offered her a charming smile as he slowly lifted his hands showing his palms. “It would be more comfortable to talk if you wouldn't point that fork-”

“Pitchfork.”

“-pitchfork at me.”

“No. If it's that dangerous near the mountains then what are you doing here far away from the next village hiding in a lone woman's stable?” She smiled bitterly sweet at him blinking her eyes as if she was all helpless and not pointing that pitchfork at him ready to stab his throat if it was needed.

The muscles in Malik's jaw twitched his eyes narrowed at her and he curled the fingers of one hand into a tight fist.

“I'm chasing a Shadow”, he told her his voice stern and hoarse.

A shadow indeed, at least if it was true what the villagers had told them the Shadow living alone in the stone desert spreading death and misery where he touched the ground.

“I see”, the woman murmured. “You're one of them aren't you? One of the Brotherhood.” And if anything he thought the shadow growing in her eyes got only darker.

“I am”, he nodded because there was no point in lying to her, but then he shook his head. “I mean... I was. It's a long time ago”, he said and his voice grew so much softer Altair taking flight above his head and landing not far away on the nearby fence holding the goats back. Malik lifted one eyebrow in surprise as the pitchfork slowly sunk down and almost left her fingers as if she wasn't strong enough to hold it up anymore. She didn't pay the eagle any attention as he sat behind her and she hadn't seen the movement, her eyes narrowing and when she looked up at him he thought he saw... mercy whirling within them like a small flickering flame, its light spreading over her iris. “You can stay for the night.”

“Why?”, Malik pondered not trusting her peace offer and eying her suspiciously.

“A long time ago the Brotherhood saved my life – before... you know, the war and the changeover of power”, she told him in a soft voice bowing her head. “You're not with the Brotherhood anymore – I assume you're a man who believes in the old creed. Aren't you?”, she asked him and for a split second her gaze grew dark again but Malik nodded.

“I do”, he told her and his voice sounded throaty as her words brought him back into the memories of a life he tried so hard to forget.

“Then stay. The Brotherhood once showed me some kindness so I'm repaying the favor”, she tilted her head to one side. “You won't get any food, you won't get into my house. I hardly have enough to survive. You can stay in the stable and when I come back in the morning to feed my goats you'll be gone or I assure you this-” She held up the pitchfork for him to see, “-will meet your throat.”

“Of course”, Malik nodded and for the first time since her arrival the tension in his muscles slowly eased.

“Go and hunt your shadow if you must, assassin.” With her last words she turned around heading back to the small door and Malik caught himself taking a step forwards.

“Wait – do I get a name at least?”, and she turned around smiling at him though it seemed faked.

“Maybe in another life”, she said and slipped through the door winking at him and as he thought she would close the door her head appeared again and her eyes fell on the small bucket. “And give them their water before it freezes. They won't stop bleating for the entire night if you won't”, and with that she was gone, the door closing behind her and Malik could hear her walking through the snow the sound of her footsteps slowly fading in the night's silence.

He looked at the bucket and from there at Altair. The eagle laid his head to one side making a small series of sounds.

Malik gritted his teeth and he looked up at him – he was not amused.

“Stop laughing Altair.”
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Shadow Riders