The presence of that sort of ability in Alain's land was interesting, but first Altaïr had to survive. His first instinct was to refuse, to protect a tool he had claimed as his. But that would be equal to starting a fight he already knew he couldn't win. Alain could take his climbing hook and winter cloak if he really wanted, but instead he asked for the energy-sapping mask. That counted for something.

"I will say that I will lend it to you, though there is nothing stopping you from taking it by force. However, putting it on this moment will leave both of us defenseless in the middle of the forest. Ask yourself, who do you trust to not kill you, me or whatever might have heard all your noise?"

This should go without saying for anyone experienced in traveling in the outdoors, but Altaïr still wanted to pin the noise on Alain. He hadn't crashed through the bushes with a shield.