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Chapter Text

Andalucia 1487

The summer sun glared down on the Andalucian countryside its harsh rays a scourge to any who had the audacity to travel through its domain. 

While most were trying to avoid the heat of the day outside the city of Granada a lone figure on horseback was braving the elements. 

Sweat dripped down Aguilar de Nerha's face. His throat felt as dry and cracked as the landscape he rode across. The empty water skin flapped mockingly in the wind. But he pressed on. He was almost at his destination the city looming on the horizon.

 "Not much further." He whispered hoarsely unsure if the words were directed at his exhausted horse or himself. "Can't stop now. "

Even from this distance Granada looked just as majestic as it had on Aguilar's last visit.

'I was with Father then.'

Recalling that once happy memory was a mistake.

Grief, rage, and guilt festered inside him a raw open wound that refused to heal. 

Aguilar had been a fool. And it had been not him but his beloved mother and father who had paid the price for it.

I told you before I want no part of your Brotherhood!" Aguilar spat as he loaded up his family's cart with the last of the goods that needed selling. 

"You foolish boy! Can't you see beyond your own interests?" His father scolded as though Aguilar were a child and not a man of 32 years. 

The disapproval in his father's voice only fanned the flames of Aguilar's ire. "I'll not waste my life on some fruitless endeavor!" he snapped. 

"Mijo..." His mother began her gentle voice grave. "Your father and I don't just want you to train to carry on our fight. If the Templars ever found us you wouldn't be spared. They consider anyone with an affiliation with the Brotherhood a threat. We want to be sure you'll be protected."

"Your mother's right. You can't run from this Aguilar. The Creed runs in our blood going back generations passed from father to son..."

"Then I wish I wasn't your son!" The words echoed through the barn. Hurt blossomed across his mother's expression. Even his father looked shaken. The shocked silence was unbearable. 

Aguilar snapped the reins spurring the horse and cart into motion. Guilt nagged at him but his anger and pride shoved it aside. 

'I'll apologize when I get back. I just need a few days to myself.'

Without looking back Aguilar drove off leaving behind his village, his parents and the family legacy he wanted nothing to do with. 

Days later Aguilar stared in horrified disbelief at the scene he'd returned to. The house, that Aguilar had grown up in was now a charred blackened ruin. Littered around the wreckage were rust colored stains that Aguilar knew to be dried blood. 

"I'm sorry." 

At his side was Maximo Aguilar's lifelong friend and brother in all but blood. 

"Who did this?" Aguilar demanded fists clenching. When he got his hands on the bastard responsible...

"It was the Inquisition. Soldiers attacked only hours after you left. They were lead by a large knight in black armor. I tried to stop them but got this for my trouble." With a bitter laugh Maximo gestured at his healing but still visible black eye. "The knight said I was lucky they didn't do worse." 

"Maximo. My parents where are they? Are they hurt?" Aguilar knew that both his mother and father were skilled fighters but so were the Inquisition. Aguilar had to see them. Make sure they were all right.

At the look on his friend's face cold dread settled in the pit of Aguilar's stomach. 

No.

"They were both taken. By the Black Knight."

No.

 Tears were brimming in Maximo's eyes as he continued. "Then just yesterday we got the news. Your mother and father were found guilty of heresy and...and were burned at the stake."

Burned at the stake. The words echoed strangely in Aguilar's ears not What Maximo said didn't make sense and Aguilar refused to let it. To understand would mean that his parents were...his parents were...

"I'm so sorry Aguilar." 

"No!" He shouted his denial even as the reality came crashing down forcing Aguilar to face the impossible.

His parents were dead.

"I wish I wasn't your son!" The hateful words had echoed ceaselessly in Aguilar's mind each time twisting the knife deeper and deeper. He wished he could turn back time so he could take it back or apologize, have his parting words be something anything other than that childish outburst.

Aguilar's guilt was only outdone by his newfound hatred of the Inquisition the Black Knight in particular. He wanted nothing more than to seek out his mother and father's murderer and run his sword through that monster 's heart assuming he even had one.

But he knew he couldn't. Not in his own at least.

So now here Aguilar was thirsty, weary, but determined to find the only ones who could help him atone for his failure and avenge his slain family. The Assassin's Brotherhood.

Madre. Padre. I swear to you. Your legacy will not die with you. I will join your Brotherhood. I will become an assassin.'

From high above an eagle cried.

Chapter Text

An hour later Aguilar had hitched his horse to a post looking on enviously as it drank from a nearby trough. 

Now that he was within the city walls the real challenge would begin. 

Aguilar certainly hadn't deluded himself into thinking that finding the Assassins would be easy. But now watching the crowds of people milling through the streets the near impossibility of his mission now loomed over him.

Trying to shove aside the fresh waves of grief Aguilar wracked his memory for anything his mother and father had told him about their brotherhood that might help him with his search. 

'It's ironic.' Aguilar thought bitterly massaging his temples. 'A week ago I wanted nothing to do with the Assassins but now I'd give just about anything for even a hint on how to find them.'

He wiped another sheen of sweat from his face. 

'I should find a place to stay. Inns are also a good place to gain information. I remember Mother telling me that once. I might hear something useful.'

It wasn't much of a plan but it was all Aguilar had. 

He hadn't gone ten steps when someone rammed into his side. He whipped around to confront the culprit but the angry protest died in his throat once he saw her. 

Bright blue-green eyes accented by kohl gazed into his. Henna tattoos decorated her face. Her proximity seemed to thrum like the air before lightning struck. 

Her features were shrouded by the dark blue material of her hood. On the hem gold stitching formed what looked like a capital 'A' with curved ends. 

Aguilar's breath hitched. 

Could she be...?

"Are you an assassin?" Too late it occurred to Aguilar that that might not have been the best way to start this conversation. 

The woman's eyes narrowed with suspicion and she brushed past him seemingly melting into the throng of people.

Heart pounding with trepidation Aguilar pushed his way through the crowd after her. 

"Wait." he called after the retreating figure his voice little more than a croak. 

She paused hooded face glancing back at him a small smirk appearing. 

The message was clear... 'Catch me if you can.'

With the gauntlet officially thrown the woman sprang up the wall of the nearest building onto the rooftop and out of sight. Aguilar swore under his breath before taking off after her. 

He didn't notice the two unfriendly faces watching from the shadows. 

Aguilar didn't know how long the pursuit lasted. The city had been reduced to a maze of rooftops and streets his focus was tunneled on his quarry. 

He hoisted himself up onto another rooftop just in time to see a flash of a blue cape vanishing between two buildings. 

Aguilar's lungs were burning and his limbs were beginning to tremble from the exertion. But despite his body's protests Aguilar pushed onwards knowing that if he stopped for even a moment he could lose his only lead. 

Putting on another burst of speed Aguilar covered the distance dropping without hesitation into the back alley the woman had just disappeared into. 

He landed hard stumbling slightly but managed to catch himself. 

The alleyway was deserted with no one in sight.

With a frustrated growl Aguilar slammed his fist against the stone. 
 
Out the corner of his eye movement flickered. Before he could react Aguilar found himself surrounded. Other figures all hooded. Among them was a familiar dark blue cloak.

 "Looking for me?" the Assassin asked.