Masun knelt at the center of the library.His wrists were bound, his posture rigid, his gaze lifted not in fear but defiance. Altaïr stood a short distance away, silent, watching. The room felt unchanged—stone, shelves, shadows—but something in it was final now.Al Mualim stood near the window, his back to them.
"Masun," he said calmly, his voice carrying without effort. "You are accused of betraying the Brotherhood and joining hands with our enemy." He did not turn. "Do you plead guilty to these crimes?"
Masun did not hesitate."I am not guilty," he said. "Yes, I worked with the Templars—but I am not wrong. I did what my mind told me was right."
Al Mualim turned at last."I offer you a chance to repent," he said. "Cast the evil from your heart and return to us."
Masun smiled faintly."It is not evil," he replied. "It is truth. I am proud of what I did. I will not repent."
Al Mualim stepped forward."Then you die."The blade passed cleanly through Masun's throat. His body fell without ceremony. No one spoke.Altaïr broke the silence."And the other traitor," he asked. "Jamal?"
Al Mualim withdrew the blade and regarded it briefly before answering.
"That remains to be seen," he said. "Some men fall out of ignorance or fear. These can be cured. Others suffer from corrupted wills." He looked to Altaïr. "These men must be destroyed. Soon, we will know what kind of man Jamal is."
Altaïr nodded once."I have passed your test," he said. "What now?"Al Mualim reached for a parchment resting on the table."
Oh, my child," he said softly. "We have only begun."
He unrolled it."Nine names are written here," he continued. "Nine men who must die. Plague-bringers. Warmakers. Men whose power poisons the land and ensures the Crusades never end."Altaïr listened, unmoving."You will find them," Al Mualim said. "You will kill them. And in doing so, you will learn who you truly are. Only then will you attain inner peace. Only then will you redeem yourself."
"Nine lives," Altaïr said quietly, "in exchange for mine."
Al Mualim inclined his head.
"Only the most generous of offers," he said. "Do you have questions?"
"Only one," Altaïr replied. "Where do I begin?"
"Leave for Damas," Al Mualim said. "Seek out the black market merchant named Tamir. Let him be the first to fall. When you arrive, visit the city's Assassin bureau. I will inform the Rafi of your coming. Speak with him—you will find he has much to offer."
"If you believe it best," Altaïr said.
"I do," Al Mualim replied. "Besides, you cannot begin without his consent."
Altaïr frowned.
"What nonsense is this?" he said. "I need no one's permission. It is a waste of time."
"That," Al Mualim said calmly, "is the price you pay for your mistakes. You now answer not only to me—but to the Brotherhood."Altaïr held his gaze for a moment longer.
"So be it," he said.
And he left.