the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

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‘Your words will see you hanged,’ whispered another, who slunkaway.Altaïr watched as the rebel cast a wary glance, then stepped into thecrowd and joined another man there. ‘How many have you called to ourcause?’ he asked.‘I fear they are all too afraid,’ answered his companion. ‘None wouldheed the call.’‘We must keep trying. Find another market. Another square. We mustnot be silenced.’With a final backwards glance at the soldiers, they moved off. Altaïrwatched them go, satisfied he had discovered all that he needed to knowabout William de Montferrat.He took a final look at the citadel, towering over the marketplace, theblack beating heart of Acre. In there, somewhere, was his target, hethought, and with William dead, the people of Acre would know lesstyranny, less fear. The sooner that happened, the better. It was time torevisit Jabal.The Bureau leader was, as ever, in a jovial mood. His eyes twinkled ashe greeted Altaïr.‘I’ve done as I was asked,’ said Altaïr. ‘I’ve armed myself withknowledge. I know what I must do to reach Montferrat.’‘Speak, then, and I will judge.’‘William’s host is large and many men call him master. But he is notwithout enemies. He and King Richard do not see eye to eye.’Jabal raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s true. They’ve never been close.’‘This works to my advantage. Richard’s visit has upset him. Once theKing has left, William will retreat into his fortress to brood. He’ll be
distracted. That is when I will strike.’‘You’re sure of this?’‘As sure as I can be. And if things change, I’ll adapt.’‘Then I give you leave to go. End the life of de Montferrat that wemay call this city free.’ Jabal handed him the feather.‘I’ll return when the deed’s been done,’ answered Altaïr.
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Also in the Assassin’s Creed seri
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PENGUIN BOOKSPublished by the Pengu
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PrologueThe majestic ship creaked a
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Part One119 June 1257Maffeo and I r
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‘That all depends. Your pitch mak
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‘The invading force?’‘Yes. Sa
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he was as angered by the Assassins
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‘He is half the leader Salah Al
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himself, feeling the early-morning
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Mualim.‘As long as interests allo
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‘Your last chance, Assassin,’ c
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420 June 1257This morning I awoke w
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leader, the Master Assassin; his sk
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‘I would not have drawn attention
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reaching with his right hand to smo
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climbing quickly down the first lad
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arrogant: it was himself. All of a
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5Altaïr arrived at Masyaf after an
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wrong with him. ‘Buried in his bo
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littered the floor beneath it. He r
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6Malik stood at the entrance to the
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Now he turned his attention to Alta
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appearing, villagers and Assassins
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on the platform.Then, without cerem
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trap rigged and ready to be sprung:
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‘His force is broken,’ continue
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His eyes widened as they went to th
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commits upon another. It refers to
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‘It’s the price you pay for the
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Inside, he kept his head down, movi
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smile. Either that or use his blade
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patchwork of carts, stands and merc
Page 66 and 67: turned on him. It could be that we
Page 68 and 69: he’s planning.’‘I know only t
Page 70 and 71: He reached below his desk and retri
Page 72 and 73: A frightened sound escaped the merc
Page 74 and 75: opportunity? With the entire market
Page 76 and 77: 11Tamir, the first of the nine: Al
Page 78 and 79: visit …’He smiled at his own jo
Page 80 and 81: conducting tests - tests for some u
Page 82 and 83: guards to be allowed inside. Others
Page 84 and 85: reaction to him. ‘Cast out this f
Page 86 and 87: De Naplouse smiled indulgently. ‘
Page 88 and 89: ‘In body, perhaps. But not in min
Page 90 and 91: 13‘Garnier de Naplouse is dead,
Page 92 and 93: little challenge.’Malik curled hi
Page 94 and 95: Then, from behind, Altaïr heard an
Page 96 and 97: ‘You know nothing. It was folly t
Page 98 and 99: facing multiple opponents.Altaïr v
Page 100 and 101: Altaïr was gaining on Talal now, t
Page 102 and 103: crowds, Talal’s corpse staining t
Page 104 and 105: with the shame of having succumbed
Page 106 and 107: which his father had died and left
Page 108 and 109: blade across his own throat, grinni
Page 110 and 111: before it begins in earnest?’‘N
Page 112 and 113: at least, he envied him.
Page 114 and 115: The soldier pursed his lips. ‘His
Page 118 and 119: 18Altaïr returned to the citadel,
Page 120 and 121: The Lionheart roared. ‘Oh, yes. A
Page 122 and 123: Altaïr pulled himself up to the ro
Page 124 and 125: Altaïr had reached his position wi
Page 126 and 127: de Montferrat, as though such thing
Page 128 and 129: men do not bother to make the disti
Page 130 and 131: Although he’d been about to move
Page 132 and 133: Altaïr had overheard lurid descrip
Page 134 and 135: I wish to speak more of this war -
Page 136 and 137: service to the same God that calls
Page 138 and 139: ‘I think if you had another, you
Page 140 and 141: ‘Altaïr - before you go?’‘Ye
Page 142 and 143: down and saw his chance, coming for
Page 144 and 145: 23As he had approached the Wailing
Page 146 and 147: Could he better them all in that ti
Page 148 and 149: ‘Here are four filled with sin,
Page 150 and 151: ‘It was a single dinar,’ the ac
Page 152 and 153: dawn on Addin that death was near.
Page 154 and 155: himself up on to the canopy, feelin
Page 156 and 157: beyond. But they cannot succeed in
Page 158 and 159: ‘Which is what I’ve had you doi
Page 160 and 161: they weren’t paying attention. Th
Page 162 and 163: standing at the window, watching ov
Page 164 and 165: documents? In the name of some ‘n
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Collect any remaining writings and
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show mercy had been the right one.
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Jabal considered. ‘This will make
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The holy man was desperate now. ‘
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out there, Assassin,’ he screeche
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through a thick shaft of light shin
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however, his hand went to his side.
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skill.’‘Cunning,’ said Abbas.
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There was a moment of shocked silen
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pair of guards, who came hurrying u
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Again, Malik somehow understood.
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this? What are you talking about?
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rising and the setting of the sun.
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be quite so fortunate next time.The
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Altaïr bridled. ‘Speak sense,’
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slew. Learn what you can. You call
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the living, the screams of the dyin
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make a long dash, coming ever close
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standing at his side, who wore a fu
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suffered the cuts and blows that Al
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that he was pure - pure Assassin. T
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Knights Templar had formed and made
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‘He threatened my brothers and wh
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32Masyaf was not as he had left it:
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more of his attackers to make a gap
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him. Just the same sense of thick,
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victor’s assurance.‘I’ve neve
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him. Tamir died screaming at one, t
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Templars had to die.’ He sighed.
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way then the other, hoping to catch
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glowing on the marble. Waiting.‘Y
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Part Three3423 June 1257Sitting in
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beside him, and when he gazed at it
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35Night was falling over Acre port,
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His fears were realized. He’d wai
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and he had to move fast to defend.
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‘Send him a message,’ said Alta
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she was his slave. This situation,
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Maria piped up from behind them:
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Castle. A real brute.’Altaïr nod
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a duel between two of his men. The
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His heart was hammering as he drew
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his formidable appearance as much a
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‘How dare you?’ she retorted an
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39They travelled as a monk and his
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We repaired to his family seat, Hal
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‘But is chaos something to be cel
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Assassin scaled the ladder and then
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country of these Crusaders.’Excel
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Jonas was pinned by his blade, bloo
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one hand Barnabas was an ally. On t
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Barnabas, who was nowhere to be see
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42Altaïr did indeed see for himsel
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the heat of the flames, oblivious t
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it had a flaw. It would be fatal if
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43Maria was gone. Taken by Crusader
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So it was that Altaïr found himsel
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‘Let her play,’ smiled Bouchart
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people? Did she still have enough r
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She resisted. ‘Shalim, no. Please
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he stepped inside a wicket door, di
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45On a wide, baking-hot balcony, Ma
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He screamed and crumpled just as sh
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I remember my moment of weakness, m
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material fell away to reveal a deca
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Alexander, the angry mob having bee
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Protruding from his chest was a bla
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ran along the wall of a cavernous s
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‘Purchasing what you already cont
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murder, you might understand this.
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Part Four4815 July 1257Maffeo has t
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‘Marriage?’ said Maffeo. ‘She
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promote the way of the Assassin stu
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49From a distance all looked well w
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‘I expected to be met by Rauf,’
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‘I’m not at liberty to say, Mas
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resentment. He saw a rival. And for
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‘Perhaps not,’ said Altaïr, ev
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51Later, Altaïr and Maria sat in t
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‘Perhaps Malik has nurtured a hat
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He crept forward until he could see
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52They laid Malik on a pallet and M
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foundations you lay will be even st
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Abbas dropped the head back into th
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Abbas looked concerned. He pulled M
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because Maria was dead at his hands
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5310 August 1257Altaïr means us to
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and lying down with his thawb pulle
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too. He sipped then gulped, wetting
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around Mukhlis’s legs.‘Masyaf,
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54The bowman reached for his bow bu
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three offensives, picking up new wo
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blade and stared narrow-eyed at Lon
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‘It seems the Master has given Fa
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his hood over his head, liking the
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Abbas was forced to quell an uprisi
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had moved with him like a shadow, s
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Altaïr sensed his world lurch a li
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57The next morning, as day broke, M
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was in there somewhere. It had need
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crowds were becoming restless. He f
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He darted forward with his sword sw
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swiping at his legs. When his oppon
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honour than you will ever know, and
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They pulled up at the edge of the m
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Fahad nodded. ‘You have a wiser h
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force in the rebuilding of the Orde
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‘A last favour, Niccolò. Take th
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1 January 1258The first day of a ne
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EpilogueFrom above him on deck the
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Shihab Al’din, his sonAltaïr’s
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Maria LoretoAlex ClarkeAlice Shephe
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