the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

little challenge.’
Malik curled his lip. ‘ “Little challenge”? Listen to you. Such
arrogance.’
Silently Altaïr rebuked himself. Malik was right. He thought of the
orator in Damascus whom he had misjudged and who had almost bested
him.
‘Are we finished?’ he asked, showing none of his thoughts to Malik.
‘Are you satisfied with what I’ve learned?’
‘No,’ said Malik, handing Altaïr the feather, ‘but it will have to do.’
Altaïr nodded. He looked at where Malik’s sleeve hung loose and was
about to say something before he realized that no words would atone for
his failures. He had cost Malik too much ever to hope for forgiveness
from him.
Instead, he turned and left the Bureau. Another target was to feel the
kiss of his blade.