Altaïr had been raised to think that emotional attachments made him weak. Now of course, he saw that these were what kept him human. And anyway, loving people meant he would fight all the harder for them.

He was all business, weaving through the people. He could hear Gren behind him, and he fell in close enough to converse without anyone hearing.

"We are going to pass a few guards." There were none in sight just yet, but he had memorized their posts. "Let us say, for the purpose of this lesson, that the Castle has bewitched them, and they will kill you on sight. Stay close to the crowd. Do not even let them look at you. Or rather, let them see you without seeing you. I will go ahead."