Kaif buttoned up the grey servant’s tunic while the Teacher held up a torch so that he could see what he was doing. He fastened them with clumsy fingers, barely seeing in the dim light. To think that once he had servants to do up his buttons for him… “You are taking too long, al-Dimashqi,” his companion stated sternly.
“Just a moment,” Kaif muttered, as he finished struggling with the last of the troublesome fastenings. “All done, sir.”
“Good,” came the murmured reply, and the Teacher turned around, taking the torch with him. Kaif’s moved almost involuntarily after him, trying to keep up with the only source of light. “We will enter now. Saniyah knows her way around the castle, but we do not. We will need to locate the woman’s room on our own, and as you know well, al-Dimashqi, I hate to be rushed.”
“Indeed you don’t,” Kaif mumbled under his breath, his voice nearly edged with malice. He checked himself in time. It wouldn’t do at all to have the Teacher suspicious of his true loyalties. Whatever those are… thought Kaif. Lately he was having trouble understanding the intricacies of his complicated position. He reminded himself to be more careful, especially around the Teacher, who reported directly to Rashid ad-Din Sinan, who had the power of life and death over all of them.
Brushing away the dust gathering on his shoulders, Kaif followed the Teacher like an obedient dog. Silently, they walked through the dark vault, keeping within an arm’s distance of the wall. The torch flickered uneasily, once or twice, at the breath of a draft.
Its light remained strong enough, however, to illuminate a winding, narrow flight of steps which led to the upper levels of the castle. Within a moment, they were ascending the stair, the sleeves of their tunics catching on the stone as they climbed around the narrow corners. The narrow stairwell grew quite warm with the heat of the torch, and Kaif struggled for breath in the stifling air.
Kaif raised his eyes, trying to see past the Teacher’s silhouette. A faint light was present beyond him, which didn’t belong to the torch. It spilled upon the steps before the teacher, signifying the end of the stair.
“We have arrived.” The Teacher stopped, addressing his younger companion without turning to face him. “Be careful what you say once we’re up there. Not a word now about our mission, do you understand?”
“Of course.”
“In fact…better you don’t speak at all.”
Kaif nodded, almost thankful that there would be no need for small-talk. Personally, he thought it would arouse greater suspicion to have a pair of mute servants walking around the palace, but he spoke nothing of his concerns. Truthfully, he had begun to think that the mission’s success mattered not at all to him.
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