the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

42
Altaïr did indeed see for himself. Kantara Castle was guarded by
Crusader soldiers and Moloch’s fanatics. Scaling the walls, then making
his way across the ramparts, he stopped occasionally to hear them
talking, gleaning the odd bit of information about the man they called
the Bull. He learned that he was a religious zealot who attracted likeminded
followers, fanatics who either worked as his personal bodyguard,
his servants, or who trod the streets of Kyrenia, spreading the word. He
was attached to the Templars. His devotion to their leader, Bouchart,
was almost as devout as his religious faith, and Kantara Castle was his
personal citadel, given to him, presumably, by the Templars. He was
known to spend most of his time worshipping at the castle chapel.
Which was where Altaïr hoped to find him.
Moving through the fortress he saw fanatics as well as guards. The
fanatics looked … well, exactly as he would have expected fanatics to
look: jumpy, wide-eyed and zealous. They were held in open contempt
by the Christian guards who patrolled in twos and clearly thought it
beneath them to be stationed at the castle. As Altaïr pressed himself into
a recess two wandered past, one complaining to the other. ‘Why do the
Templars tolerate this madman? The Bull and his fanatics are more
dangerous than the citizens of Cyprus.’
‘The Templars have their reasons,’ replied the other. ‘It’s much easier