"It did it right away," he says with undisguised wonder. "Is there no messenger needed, then? It is just what the glowing tile does? Like a machine?"

He is tempted to pass his hand between the two devices, to see if they can truly communicate through the air despite barriers. But he doesn't. He remembers himself. He's vaguely aware that this is commonplace for the other man. Altaïr doesn't want to appear stupid.