the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

50
The following day, Altaïr and Maria were about to make their way from
their residence to the main tower when they were intercepted by Swami,
who insisted on leading them through the barbican himself. As they
skirted the wall Altaïr wondered why he couldn’t hear the usual noise of
swordplay and training from the other side. As they came into the
courtyard he got his answer.
It was because there was no swordplay or training. Where once the
inner areas of the citadel had hummed with activity and life, echoing to
the metallic chime of sword strikes, the shouts and curses of the
instructors, now it lay almost deserted. He looked around him, at the
towers overlooking them, seeing black windows. Guards on the ramparts
stared dispassionately down at them. The place of enlightenment and
training – the crucible of Assassin knowledge he had left – had all but
disappeared. Altair’s mood darkened further as he was about to make his
way to the main tower but Swami directed him instead to the steps that
led up to the defence room, then into the main hall.
There, the council was gathered. Ten men were seated on opposite
sides of a table with Abbas at their head, a pair of empty chairs for Altaïr
and Maria: wooden, high-backed chairs. They took their seats and, for
the first time since entering the room, Altaïr looked at Abbas, his old
antagonist. He saw something in him other than weakness and