the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

‘Perhaps not,’ said Altaïr, evenly. ‘For in the event it was I who was
responsible for almost alerting the Mongolians to our presence.’
‘Ah,’ said Abbas. ‘He is not infallible.’
‘Nobody is, Abbas,’ replied Altaïr, ‘least of all me, and I allowed an
enemy soldier to come up on me. He wounded me before Qulan Gal was
able to kill him.’
‘Getting old, Altaïr?’ jeered Abbas.
‘Everybody is, Abbas,’ replied Altaïr. ‘And I would have been dead if
Qulan Gal had not managed to take me from the camp and bring me to
safety. His actions saved my life.’ He looked carefully at Abbas. ‘Qulan
Gal returned to the camp. First he formulated a plan with Darim to flush
Khan from his tent. Realizing the danger, Khan tried to escape on
horseback, but he was brought down by Qulan Gal. Khan was finished
with a shot from Darim.’
‘His skills as a bowman are beyond doubt,’ smiled Abbas. ‘I gather
you have sent him away, perhaps to Alamut?’
Altaïr blinked. Abbas knew everything, it seemed. ‘He has indeed left
the citadel on my orders. Whether to Alamut or not, I will not say.’
‘To see Sef at Alamut, perhaps?’ pressed Abbas. He addressed Swami.
‘You told them Sef was there, I trust?’
‘As instructed, Master,’ replied Swami.
Altaïr felt something worse than worry in his gut now. Something
that might have been fear. He felt it from Maria, too: her face was drawn
and anxious. ‘Say what you have to say, Abbas,’ he said.
‘Or what, Altaïr?’
‘Or my first task when I resume leadership will be to have you thrown
in the dungeon.’