the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

‘Purchasing what you already controlled …’ prompted Altaïr. He
understood now. The Templars had purchased Cyprus from King Richard
to stop their archive being discovered. Little wonder that they had been
aggressive in their pursuit of him when he arrived on the island.
Bouchart confirmed that he was correct. ‘And look where that has got
us. Ever since you arrived and stuck your nose into too many dark
corners, the archive hasn’t been safe.’
‘I wish I could say I’m sorry. But I tend to get what I want,’ replied
Altaïr, sounding confident but knowing something wasn’t quite right.
Sure enough, Bouchart was grinning. ‘Oh, not this time, Assassin. Not
now. Our little detour to Kyrenia gave us just enough time to dismantle
the archive and move it.’
Of course. It wasn’t a meagre archive he’d been seeing on his way
down. It was the unwanted remnants of one. They’d distracted him with
the business in Kyrenia and used the opportunity to move it.
‘You weren’t shipping artefacts to Cyprus, you were shipping them
out,’ said Altaïr, as it all became clear.
‘Exactly,’ said Bouchart, with a complimentary nod. ‘But not
everything has to go … I think we’ll leave you here.’
Bouchart leaped forward, jabbing with his sword, and Altair
deflected. Bouchart was ready and parried, sustaining his attack, and
Altaïr was forced on to the back foot, defending a series of thrusts and
slashes. Bouchart was skilled, that was certain. He was fast as well,
relying more on grace and footwork than the brute strength most
Crusaders brought to a swordfight. But he came forward expecting to
win and to win quickly. His desperation to vanquish the Assassin
rendered him oblivious to the physical demands of the fight, so that