the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

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that he was pure – pure Assassin. That he was to defeat Robert de Sablewith thought as much as might. And as de Sable pressed forward oncemore, his attack more ragged this time, more desperate, Altaïr easilyfended him off.‘I do not know where your strength comes from …’ gasped de Sable.‘Some trick. Or is it drugs?’‘It is as your king said. Righteousness will always triumph overgreed.’‘My cause is righteous!’ cried de Sable, grunting now as he lifted hissword, almost painfully slowly. Altaïr saw the faces of his men. Couldsee them waiting for him to deliver the killing blow.Which he did. Driving his sword straight through the centre of the redcross de Sable wore, parting the knight’s mail and piercing his chest.
31De Sable gasped. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, handsgoing to the blade that impaled him, even as Altaïr withdrew it. A redstain spread across his tunic, and he staggered, then sank to his knees.His sword dropped and his arms dangled.Straight away Altaïr’s eyes went to the men forming a ring aroundthem. He was half expecting them to attack at the sight of the TemplarGrand Master dying. But they remained still. Past them Altaïr saw KingRichard, his chin tilted as though the turn of events had done little morethan pique his curiosity.Now Altaïr bent to de Sable, cradling him with one arm and layinghim on the ground. ‘It’s done, then,’ he told him. ‘Your schemes – likeyou – are put to rest.’In response, de Sable chortled drily. ‘You know nothing of schemes,’he said. ‘You’re but a puppet. He betrayed you, boy. Just as he betrayedme.’‘Speak sense, Templar,’ hissed Altaïr, ‘or not at all.’ He stole a look atthe men of the ring. They remained impassive.‘Nine men he sent you to kill, yes?’ said de Sable. ‘The nine whoguarded the Treasure’s secret.’It was always nine who had that task, the responsibility handed downthrough generations of Templars. Almost a hundred years ago, the
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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
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turned on him. It could be that we
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he’s planning.’‘I know only t
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He reached below his desk and retri
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A frightened sound escaped the merc
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opportunity? With the entire market
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11Tamir, the first of the nine: Al
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visit …’He smiled at his own jo
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conducting tests - tests for some u
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guards to be allowed inside. Others
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reaction to him. ‘Cast out this f
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De Naplouse smiled indulgently. ‘
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‘In body, perhaps. But not in min
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13‘Garnier de Naplouse is dead,
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little challenge.’Malik curled hi
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Then, from behind, Altaïr heard an
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‘You know nothing. It was folly t
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facing multiple opponents.Altaïr v
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Altaïr was gaining on Talal now, t
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crowds, Talal’s corpse staining t
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with the shame of having succumbed
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which his father had died and left
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blade across his own throat, grinni
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before it begins in earnest?’‘N
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at least, he envied him.
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The soldier pursed his lips. ‘His
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‘Your words will see you hanged,
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18Altaïr returned to the citadel,
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The Lionheart roared. ‘Oh, yes. A
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Altaïr pulled himself up to the ro
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Altaïr had reached his position wi
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de Montferrat, as though such thing
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men do not bother to make the disti
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Although he’d been about to move
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Altaïr had overheard lurid descrip
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I wish to speak more of this war -
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service to the same God that calls
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‘I think if you had another, you
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‘Altaïr - before you go?’‘Ye
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down and saw his chance, coming for
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23As he had approached the Wailing
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Could he better them all in that ti
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‘Here are four filled with sin,
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‘It was a single dinar,’ the ac
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dawn on Addin that death was near.
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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
Page 166 and 167: Collect any remaining writings and
Page 168 and 169: show mercy had been the right one.
Page 170 and 171: Jabal considered. ‘This will make
Page 172 and 173: The holy man was desperate now. ‘
Page 174 and 175: out there, Assassin,’ he screeche
Page 176 and 177: through a thick shaft of light shin
Page 178 and 179: however, his hand went to his side.
Page 180 and 181: skill.’‘Cunning,’ said Abbas.
Page 182 and 183: There was a moment of shocked silen
Page 184 and 185: pair of guards, who came hurrying u
Page 186 and 187: Again, Malik somehow understood.
Page 188 and 189: this? What are you talking about?
Page 190 and 191: rising and the setting of the sun.
Page 192 and 193: be quite so fortunate next time.The
Page 194 and 195: Altaïr bridled. ‘Speak sense,’
Page 196 and 197: slew. Learn what you can. You call
Page 198 and 199: the living, the screams of the dyin
Page 200 and 201: make a long dash, coming ever close
Page 202 and 203: standing at his side, who wore a fu
Page 204 and 205: suffered the cuts and blows that Al
Page 208 and 209: Knights Templar had formed and made
Page 210 and 211: ‘He threatened my brothers and wh
Page 212 and 213: 32Masyaf was not as he had left it:
Page 214 and 215: more of his attackers to make a gap
Page 216 and 217: him. Just the same sense of thick,
Page 218 and 219: victor’s assurance.‘I’ve neve
Page 220 and 221: him. Tamir died screaming at one, t
Page 222 and 223: Templars had to die.’ He sighed.
Page 224 and 225: way then the other, hoping to catch
Page 226 and 227: glowing on the marble. Waiting.‘Y
Page 228 and 229: Part Three3423 June 1257Sitting in
Page 230 and 231: beside him, and when he gazed at it
Page 232 and 233: 35Night was falling over Acre port,
Page 234 and 235: His fears were realized. He’d wai
Page 236 and 237: and he had to move fast to defend.
Page 238 and 239: ‘Send him a message,’ said Alta
Page 240 and 241: she was his slave. This situation,
Page 242 and 243: Maria piped up from behind them:
Page 244 and 245: Castle. A real brute.’Altaïr nod
Page 246 and 247: a duel between two of his men. The
Page 248 and 249: His heart was hammering as he drew
Page 250 and 251: his formidable appearance as much a
Page 252 and 253: ‘How dare you?’ she retorted an
Page 254 and 255: 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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