My ears are open, Dai, but you, have you spent too much time in the sun? [ This was all growing stranger, and stranger. ]

The Master forbids it. If you were truly from Masyaf, you would know this. [ The younger Malik's left hand twitched just slightly- while the right made a far more obvious motion, hand settling upon the weathered hilt of a sword...

A familiar sword; one Malik would surely have recognized-

for it had once been his own. ]

Now tell me again, stranger. And this time, tell me truthfully. Where are you from?

[ His words were still light, but there was the edge of threat in his gaze, eyes just slightly narrowed as he regarded the other. It was a look that was familiar, too. One Tazim had inherited. ]