Malik watched Altair’s back as the other retreated from the bureau with a frown so deep it seemed to be etched on his maw. He felt his eyes shift around the room as he went over the conversation in his mind before heaving a frustrated sigh. It would always be the same with that idiot, his arrogance and perhaps more than just a little ignorance blinding him from the truth as well as the creed. The same could be said for Malik’s current anger, however. So it was with growing trepidation that he stepped out from behind his counter, out the door and under that open lattice roof.

Shielding his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun he glanced up and above the fountain not knowing what he was searching for. He knew Altair would be long gone, his dislike of Malik’s current mood giving him the boost of flight to his heels. Yet Malik looked on with a secret hope that he’d at least see the other’s robes trailing over the edge. It was for naught and, with an anger simmering under his skin, Malik turned to head to the makeshift clinic that had become the front of the bureau. The rafik slammed the door shut before moving with dangerous grace to open for the day.

If anyone came in they would find Malik’s bedside manner to be far more horrible than usual as he did nothing to hide his growing aggravation with the whole situation. Hinder his progress? False clues?! He growled as the words echoed in his mind like a mantra. He would hinder that fool’s progress and send him right back to Masyaf to train with the other Novices like the idiot deserved. Maybe he’d do the whole order a favor and find himself dead before the day was out. The very idea made Malik snort. Altair was surely too foolish to just roll over and die even when mortally wounded.

It wasn’t until well into the night that Malik’s thoughts finally released him and grumbling he moved back into the bureau. If any Assassin’s had dropped in they should have been found resting or waiting patiently for the rafik to return. Much to his chagrin he found that, indeed, an Assassin had come to visit but it was the one he wished not to deal with. Granted he had expected the idiot novice to return eventually.

“Come to waste more of my time?” Malik asked, his voice gruff.