The journey had been long and he and his men were weary, but the familiar sight of the foothills that led to the mountains of Masyaf did much to lift Altaïr's heart, and by the time they reached the road that led directly home—its entrance guarded by two alert Assassins who couldn't hide their smile when they recognized the Mentor and his party—he was energized anew, only common sense and his mount's contrary opinion keeping him from galloping the rest of the way.
He nearly missed the pair of youngsters standing around a large tree that grew a few meters away from a bend in the road, but they ran for Nasib, who had taken point, and the rest of them halted as the young man bent down to listen to the children's chatter. After a minute, Nasib sat up again and drew his horse around to come alongside Altaïr's, looking almost embarrassed for some reason.
"My apologies, Mentor," he said. "It seems we've arrived in good time—one of their playmates has climbed the tree and is unable to come back down." He glanced at the tree, then back at Altaïr. "Your son, in fact."
He'd been ready to ask one of the others to rescue the child as they continued on their way, but that caught Altaïr's attention, and he stared at the tree, squinting to look for—Darim? Sef? Probably Sef, he was smaller—though he could only make up a small form a few meters up.
"I see," he said. "Give me a moment and I'll fetch him."
He quickly dismounted and strode over to the tree. This close, he could see Sef through the leaves, clinging with all his strength to a branch. He wouldn't have to climb very high to reach him, but of course it was much farther to a seven-year-old boy.
"Sef? I'm coming." The decision made, Altaïr found the lowest branch and lifted himself into the tree. A few seconds later, and he reached his youngest son, and carefully lifted him by the waist into his arms.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-04-18 02:48 pm (UTC)He nearly missed the pair of youngsters standing around a large tree that grew a few meters away from a bend in the road, but they ran for Nasib, who had taken point, and the rest of them halted as the young man bent down to listen to the children's chatter. After a minute, Nasib sat up again and drew his horse around to come alongside Altaïr's, looking almost embarrassed for some reason.
"My apologies, Mentor," he said. "It seems we've arrived in good time—one of their playmates has climbed the tree and is unable to come back down." He glanced at the tree, then back at Altaïr. "Your son, in fact."
He'd been ready to ask one of the others to rescue the child as they continued on their way, but that caught Altaïr's attention, and he stared at the tree, squinting to look for—Darim? Sef? Probably Sef, he was smaller—though he could only make up a small form a few meters up.
"I see," he said. "Give me a moment and I'll fetch him."
He quickly dismounted and strode over to the tree. This close, he could see Sef through the leaves, clinging with all his strength to a branch. He wouldn't have to climb very high to reach him, but of course it was much farther to a seven-year-old boy.
"Sef? I'm coming." The decision made, Altaïr found the lowest branch and lifted himself into the tree. A few seconds later, and he reached his youngest son, and carefully lifted him by the waist into his arms.