PURSUIT IS ON

"You cannot know anything. Only suspect. You must expect to be wrong, to have overlooked something."

―Malik Al-Sayf

Rashid Abubaker smiled to himself and whistled his favorite melody while ordering for more tea to be brought over. The emissary from the Assassins Order had excused himself once he conveyed the message from elder Saddam and emptied his second cup of tea.

It had been long since he was last assigned such an important mission.

And such important missions were normally reserved for the favorite disciples of elders.

The fact that Rashid Abubaker, an operative without the backing of any elder in Syria was now getting the favor of elder Saddam at this particular time. It meant a lot to him.

Elder Saddam was now on the rise. Like the sun rising in the morning, he was unstoppable. He was occupying two vital positions in the Brotherhood. Being in control of the financing and external operations department, meant that he was the second most powerful man in the Brotherhood after the 'Old Man of The Mountain': Rashid al-Din Sinan. The de facto ruler of the Ismaili branch of the Brotherhood since 1162.

None of the elders were now his equal in power, influence, and prestige.

The fact that he had found favor with this elder when handing out this mission. It meant that he stood a chance of being recruited into his ranks later on.

The other elder who could have rivaled elder Saddam was elder Yakub, formerly of the financing department. Their bitter rivalry and enmity were well known to everyone in the Brotherhood with some knowledge of their bitter history. It was said that even the Old Man of The Mountain feared promoting one over the other to balance their power and influence.

But Yakub's untimely demise at the hands of the Knights Templars had shifted the balance of power.

It was not surprising, that this mission had been picked from Abu Bin Zayyid and given to him. Abu Bin Zayyid is one of the many disciples of the late elder Yakub who were placed in lucrative field locations. It seems like elder Saddam was transferring his grudge to the disciples of the departed elder or indirectly uprooting them to create room for his disciples or future disciples.

'Maybe even the charges against Abu Bin Zayyid were not so serious. But the elder Saddam was taking advantage of them to get rid of his rival's disciples while tarnishing his name. Yakub must be garnishing his teeth in the grave.' He concluded in his mind.

Knowing this. It did not annoy Rashid Abu Baker but instead made him thrilled to be on the rising and winning team. His days of being a nobody operative, to one who belonged to a certain elder were quickly approaching.

This was a new dawn.

'Probably, my remuneration will also change once I complete this mission. After all, elder Yakub who was stingy on finances is no more. For elder Saddam to curry favor with all of us, will have to increase our salaries either now or in the future.' Rashid Abubaker thought.

With more money. He could be able to buy more fashionable robes, eat better food, join the most exclusive parties in Jerusalem, and if he wanted, also marry a third wife. There's also buying a house back home.

If he was an animal person, he could buy a camel or Arabian horse, but he hated animals more especially their habit of defecating anywhere and at any time. This behavior annoyed and disgusted him, he could not understand how anyone could put up with such.

And the most pressing issue, getting medicine to make his wives conceive with him.

Rashid Abubaker resolved to pay a visit to the Mercenary Guild later in the evening. Not on the previous objective of finding a lucrative mission, however, to commission a mission for discovering the whereabouts of the Knight Templar Yosef and his group of Commander Gallo Francis.

Once he obtained this information. The other tasks of information gathering were going to be simplified.

**

In Bayt Dajan or what the European Crusaders renamed Casal Maen. The compound of 72 Janna Promise

Abu Bin Zayyid had fully recovered from his injuries sustained at the hands of the highway bandits. By a stroke of luck, some longtime business friends had heard of his ordeal in Bayt Dajan, how he nearly lost his life. They grouped and sent him money for treatment, lodging, and feeding. This money was more than enough that he was left with enough silver and a few gold deniers to hire a mercenary group.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing case, he had with the Brotherhood. He was not entitled to any salary. The thought of this case, caused him to despair, silently curse elder Saddam, and wish his mentor Yakub was still alive.

"Adam, I can not thank you and your sweet physician Kulusumu for taking such good care of me. Your family saved my life, and am forever indebted." Abu Bin Zayyid relayed his appreciation as he cleared the last payment to Adam. Proprietor of 72 Janna Promise.

Counting the money he had been given, Adam said. "It is nothing great, you are our good friend. We could not let you die while in Casal Maen."

Adam put away the coins in his wallet, he looked at him and said. "Even the prophet instructed us who believe in Allah and the Last Day to treat our guests generously."

"You can not imagine our worry when we received you; all bloody, cold, and in a coma. Prayed to Allah that he could keep you alive, the world still needs such young and virtuous men like you." Adam added.

"By the way, where is Kulusumu Anifa?

Have not seen her in the last two days, as my physician, I wanted to thank her personally but also ask her to give me some extra medicine for future use in case the pain from the injuries, comes back." He asked Adam.

Abu Bin Zayyid had been putting off his departure for three days. Because he had not been able to see Kulusumu Anifa and propose to her his feelings. Regrettably, when he finally mustered the courage to say something, she was not around.

He wanted to wait for her but he kept on having dreams of elder Saddam smiling wickedly while telling him to return to Jaffa to wait for his fate. This had put pressure on him, to prove himself and take his destiny into his hands.

He resolved with all his heart. Not to go back to Jaffa and wait for his judgment in Masyaf, like a sheep walking into the slaughterhouse obediently. Based on the way, elder Saddam had responded and rejected his requests in the letter and the dreams he kept on having. Abu Bin Zayyid believed, that this elder wanted him out of the Brotherhood with his life exterminated ruthlessly.

He realized that, the only way to save himself. Is by performing a great deed that could bring so much honor and benefits to the Brotherhood. That way, his name could be automatically elevated and the charges dropped by the majority of the elders or even the Old Man of The Mountain himself.

"O you mean Kulusumu, your physician. I sent her to go and take care of our sick mother. She has not been doing well for the past two months. It was decided that she was the best person to attend to her since she is a physician." Responded Adam.

"What about me? I also needed a physician." Abu Bin Zayyid voiced his complaint. If he had known she was to be away for long. He may have thought of something.

"She told me you were recovering nicely, and her presence was not needed since your wounds had dried up nicely," Adam replied to him.

"I did not know you needed her presence so much. Otherwise, I should have told you that she will be away for a while. Sorry about this omission." Adam apologized.

Hearing this from Adam.

'I did not just need her presence, I needed her warm smiles, sweet voice, and the touch of her body on mine. I was about to make her my woman.' Abu Bin Zayyid thought.

"When do you think she can come back?" He asked

Before Adam could respond, he added. "I feel bad going minus personally thanking her, for her efforts towards saving my life. I owe her my life."

"Based on the critical state of our mother. She will stay there for a while, she may not come back until after a month." Adam answered him.

"Oh no…sorry about the sickness of your mother. Let's pray for Allah to heal her completely." Abu Bin Zayyid changed his statement when he realized it was selfish to emphasize her being with him when her mother was critically sick.

'One month is too long for me to wait. It is enough to have elder Saddam convincing the other elders that am not fit to live. No, I won't wait. Not today.' Abu Bin Zayyid told himself.

"Are you returning to Jaffa?" Adam asked him.

Now that he was completely healed, had paid up all the monies demanded from him. He did not expect him to stay around.

"Not exactly, am planning to meet up with some business associates from this town. Want them to join me, to perform a task in Jerusalem." Abu Bin Zayyid decided to tell him a bit about what he planned to do.

By business associates, he meant hiring mercenaries. If Adam did not understand it, it was ok. If he misunderstood, the better. Misdirection is a famous trick taught to him by his teachers.

"I see. We shall miss you. Pass by whenever you are in this small town of ours." Adam expressed his desire to see him return.

He had benefited a lot financially from hosting, treating, and feeding Abu Bin Zayyid for the time he was recovering. Most lodgers were staying at most three days, but from Abu Bin Zayyid he got three weeks' worth of lodging with the associated charges.

"You are my people. I can not go anywhere but here when am in this town." Abu Bin Zayyid said.

He also wanted to say, 'I also want to see your sister and make her my woman. If it had not been for your mother falling sick. You will see much of me going forward.' But stopped himself.

"Bye Adam, see you when I come back." Abu Bin Zayyid bid Adam goodbye as he moved out of 72 Janna Promise with his stuff.

He proceeded to find willing ex-soldiers turned mercenaries to take with him to Jerusalem in pursuit of the Knight Templars.

The pursuit of Knight Yosef & Commander Gallo Francis's squad was now on, and Abu Bin Zayyid did not plan to lose out this time.