Chapter 4 - Promise of a new Day.

Talia walked into the basement, straining her eyes to see around the room, looking for a door, or a person, a note, anything to show her that this was the right house, that this was where she was supposed to be. She walked further into the room when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder,
"Welcome Talia, ward of Jaddah, welcome to the truth". Talia swung around to see who she was talking to, but seeing the speaker did not help. The figure before her was clothed from head to toe.
"Who are you?, What.." Talia stammered to a stop, hoping that she would get some answers soon enough.
"Do not be worried Talia, you have come to the right place. We will show you what you have always wanted. We will teach you the truth, just as we did your parents."
"My parents?" Talia blurted, immediately wishing she hadn't.
"Yes. They too once came looking for us. We taught them as best we could, then sent them out to enlighten the rest of the world. What happened to them was a tragedy, that should never have happened, I blame myself for not watching over them close enough"
"What do you mean?" Talia interrupted, "My parents were killed in a robbery, my father would not hand over his silks and some thieves killed him".
"I know that is what you were told child, but it is not the truth, it is a cover designed to protect you from the truth. I always wanted to tell you the truth, but your grandmother would never allow it, she did not want you to worry"
"This doesn't make sense" Talia said, with a cloud of confusion creeping into her mind, "she may have been protecting me at one point but why would she never tell me the truth?"
"Because she knew, just as I do, that when you find out the truth, you will be want to seek justice, and that will lead to vengeance. What I am offering to you is so much more, it is the knowledge of what happened to your parents, but more than that it is the training, resources and direction to truly avenge their death, I can give you the same lessons I gave your parents, although now the lessons are refined. Experience, particularly with your parents brought to light how inadequate my training was. I have spent years going over all that I knew, so that one day I might pass it on to those who could use it, so that they might accomplish that which I only ever dreamed of."
"I don't...How can I trust you, all I know of you is from a note in a park and the stories you're telling me now. Why should I believe you? Why should I trust you?" Talia said, slowly realising that she was in the basement of a house owned by someone she didn't know, talking to a person she met only minutes ago who claims that her parents were murdered.
"Talia, when your mother died she left behind a gold bracelet. I gave it to her on her wedding day, I gave one similar to your father, he wore his everyday, your mother only on occasions that called for it. Your fathers was stolen from him the day he was murdered, to make it look like he was robbed. The bracelet your wearing now has the initials: R.A.G on one line, C.A.G on another and on the inside is From J.O. The first two, I'm sure you know are your parents initials. The J.O. is me Jioseph Orfarre". Talia reached down and felt her bracelet, she knew the letters were there, she just needed to feel them once more.
"Oh Allah" Talia said, faintly.
"You must tell me all about them, there are so many questions I have, so much I need to know...", Jioseph cut off her babbling mid sentence.
"Do not rush young Talia. Yes you have much to learn, for there is much to know, but you do not need to learn it all tonight. The light of day will help you see things better, so please, follow me to your bed and try and get some sleep, for the sun is almost upon us and you will need your rest".

Ak'ash was almost home when the earliest of merchants made their way onto the streets to begin to set up shop, just as they had done their entire lives. Ak'ash gave polite nods of recognition to those merchants he had seen before, although none were willing to start a conversation, at least notuntil their store was up, this suited Ak'ash perfectly as he was tired, and still pondering the nights events. He reached his house, and as always went to the rear door to make his entrance. He did this out of paranoia, constantly afraid that someone would be waiting for him if he ever used the front door. Ak'ash unlocked the backdoor and opened just a sliver, peering in to make sure that no one was waiting, when hisparanoia was satisfied he pushed the door further open and stepped inside. No sooner had he taken three steps inside, he heard a footstep behind him. He turned to look but found himself restrained with a blade to his throat.
"Jeez 'kash, getting sloppy" said the voice into his ear,
"Hardly" came his reply as he knelt down and kicked backwards, sending both back out the open door.
"For the love of Allah, Hes" Aka'ash said as he helped the other man up,
"Could you at least pretend that what we do is a secret?"
"Calm down Kash, just play it off", and with that he stumbled inside, looking for all the world like any other drunk that has been thrown out into the morning sun.
"So what brings you to my neck of the woods" Ak'ash asks, as he follows suit into his house.
"Rumblings my friend. You weren't the only one with a busy night, our entire thing has been going flat out for the last day and a half. I came hear to bring you up to speed and collect your report, we need all information as soon as possible. Yours is not my only stop this morning"Hesta said gravely.
"Why, what the hells happening? How does she fit into all of it?" Ak'ash asked, letting his mind race, trying to figure out what could be wrong.
"Someone was waiting for me" Ak'ash said, as his mind retraced the action of the night. Ak'ash then told his entire story to Hesta, who listened intently to every word.
"This... This does not bode well." Hesta said, carefully choosing his words.
"That's all you're going to say? I want to know whats going on? I was almost injured tonight, I want to know why." Ak'ash said, forcefully, but not once raising his voice, or his temper.
"I can't tell you much right now my friend, and for that I am sorry. I can tell you that it looks like one of our numbers has betrayed us. However, we do not know who it was, or who our mysterious enemy is. One of ours was lost last night, and word comes in that another has been compromised. We haven't ever had something like this happen, however we are not unprepared, and that is why I am here. A plan is in motion, wait for your orders, they will come as normal, however, and I tell you this as a friend Ak'ash, as a close and dear friend. Be careful." Hesta said as he placed his hand on Ak'ashs shoulder.
"What about the girl? Does she fit in with these dark times?" Ak'ash asked, himself considering if there was a link between the girl he followed and the trap left for him.
"I do not think so. She may be of no great importance, we know who she is, and who she met. Do not spend any more time worrying about herKash , there are matters at hand which require your full concentration. Now I must go. I have to consult with others and bring your story back. For now relax and wait but do not let any fear or anger guide your hand."
"Don't worry about me Hesta, I know how to survive" Ak'ash said trying to lighten the mood.
"So did our fallen brother" Hesta replied, further trying to reinforce the importance of his words.
"Peace be Upon you, Ak'ash my brother" Hesta said as he stumbled out the door.
"And on you be peace, Hesta" replied Ak'ash, still stunned by the information he had been delivered.

Talia had just closed the door to her room, and had only begun to try and process all she had been told when from the street she heard a low, booming growl. She swung her door open andJioseph was already moving slowly towards the window at the end of the hall. Talia followed his gaze, out the window and across the courtyard, where flames were erupting from the windows and leaking down the walls of the house. She watched mesmerised by the flames when someone ran past her up toJioseph
"We do not know how it started,. but we will have an answer soon enough" said the stranger to Jiospeh, then without waiting for a reply he turned and ran back down the hallway, turning to head downstairs and out of sight. Talia began to walk closer toJioseph , who turned and held out his left hand, signalling her to stop, while keeping his right hand on his side clasped around something hidden within his robe.
"We do not know what is happening down there, please for your own sake stay away from the window" Jiospeh said, sounding just like the father she had constructed in her memories.
"But there might be someone in there, and that man who was he?" Talia said, pressing for answers she knew she would not get.
"He works for me, he assists me in many ways, you will meet him tomorrow, now please I implore you. Get some rest". Jioseph then took her hand and for the second time that night guided her to her room.
Once the door was closed, Talia waited a moment then edged it open again, ever so slightly. She watched Jiospeh return to the window and look out at the fire. After a minute of watching she realised that there was nothing she could possibly do right now, and decided that sleep would do her well.
Jioseph knew that he was being watched, but he also knew that the young lady had not slept, and would have been running on excitement all night, which would take a large toll on her, so he only had to wait a moment before he heard her fall down onto her bed. He then looked out at the crowd until he saw someone staring back at him. However as soon as there gaze met, hedisappeared, turning away and being swept up in the gathering crowd of people. Jioseph turned back to his room realising that although this was a most unwelcome addition to the night, it had been an immensely profitable one, none the less.