"You are not the first or last to think that, either." But he shrugged again. "Our Brotherhood saw much. We were surrounded by a religious war, Christian against Saracen. Each side either courted our allegiance or threatened us if we did not give it. We had to fight to maintain our independence. And once I was named mentor..."

He exhaled. He had never had that sort of ambition, but he had inherited the title all the same. Because he had killed Rashid - but if Rashid hadn't betrayed them...

He'd had no wish to lead. He'd just had to.

"I understood the contradiction. We wished for peace, and yet had to fight to gain it. We wished for all to have the freedom of choice, and yet demanded perfect obedience. It was a great irony that we had to embody such opposing ideals - and yet, that is mankind in so many ways."