the-secret-crusade-oliver-bowden

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His eyes widened as they went to the blade in the Master’s hand – thehand that had guided him since him childhood. ‘I am not a traitor,’ hemanaged.‘Your actions indicate otherwise. And so you leave me no choice.’ AlMualim drew back his dagger. ‘Peace be upon you, Altaïr,’ he said, andplunged it into Altaïr’s stomach.
8And it was. For a few precious moments when he was dead, Altaïr was atpeace.Then … then he was coming round, gradually recovering a sense ofhimself and of where he was.He was on his feet. How could he be on his feet? Was this death, theafterlife? Was he in Paradise? If so, it looked very much like Al Mualim’squarters. Not only that, but Al Mualim was present. Standing over him,in fact, watching him with an unreadable gaze.‘I’m alive?’ Altaïr’s hands went to where the knife had been driveninto his stomach. He expected to find a ragged hole and feel wet bloodbut there was nothing. No wound, no blood. Even though he’d seen it.Felt it. He’d felt the pain …Hadn’t he?‘But I saw you stab me,’ he managed, ‘felt death’s embrace.’Al Mualim was inscrutable in return. ‘You saw what I wanted you tosee. And then you slept the sleep of the dead. The womb. That you mightawake and be reborn.’Altaïr shook a fog away from his mind. ‘To what end?’‘Do you remember, Altaïr, what it is the Assassins fight for?’Still trying to readjust, he replied, ‘Peace, in all things.’‘Yes. In all things. It is not enough to end the violence one man
Page 2 and 3:
Also in the Assassin’s Creed seri
Page 4 and 5: PENGUIN BOOKSPublished by the Pengu
Page 6 and 7: PrologueThe majestic ship creaked a
Page 8 and 9: Part One119 June 1257Maffeo and I r
Page 10 and 11: ‘That all depends. Your pitch mak
Page 12 and 13: ‘The invading force?’‘Yes. Sa
Page 14 and 15: he was as angered by the Assassins
Page 16 and 17: ‘He is half the leader Salah Al
Page 18 and 19: himself, feeling the early-morning
Page 20 and 21: Mualim.‘As long as interests allo
Page 22 and 23: ‘Your last chance, Assassin,’ c
Page 24 and 25: 420 June 1257This morning I awoke w
Page 26 and 27: leader, the Master Assassin; his sk
Page 28 and 29: ‘I would not have drawn attention
Page 30 and 31: reaching with his right hand to smo
Page 32 and 33: climbing quickly down the first lad
Page 34 and 35: arrogant: it was himself. All of a
Page 36 and 37: 5Altaïr arrived at Masyaf after an
Page 38 and 39: wrong with him. ‘Buried in his bo
Page 40 and 41: littered the floor beneath it. He r
Page 42 and 43: 6Malik stood at the entrance to the
Page 44 and 45: Now he turned his attention to Alta
Page 46 and 47: appearing, villagers and Assassins
Page 48 and 49: on the platform.Then, without cerem
Page 50 and 51: trap rigged and ready to be sprung:
Page 52 and 53: ‘His force is broken,’ continue
Page 56 and 57: commits upon another. It refers to
Page 58 and 59: ‘It’s the price you pay for the
Page 60 and 61: Inside, he kept his head down, movi
Page 62 and 63: smile. Either that or use his blade
Page 64 and 65: patchwork of carts, stands and merc
Page 66 and 67: turned on him. It could be that we
Page 68 and 69: he’s planning.’‘I know only t
Page 70 and 71: He reached below his desk and retri
Page 72 and 73: A frightened sound escaped the merc
Page 74 and 75: opportunity? With the entire market
Page 76 and 77: 11Tamir, the first of the nine: Al
Page 78 and 79: visit …’He smiled at his own jo
Page 80 and 81: conducting tests - tests for some u
Page 82 and 83: guards to be allowed inside. Others
Page 84 and 85: reaction to him. ‘Cast out this f
Page 86 and 87: De Naplouse smiled indulgently. ‘
Page 88 and 89: ‘In body, perhaps. But not in min
Page 90 and 91: 13‘Garnier de Naplouse is dead,
Page 92 and 93: little challenge.’Malik curled hi
Page 94 and 95: Then, from behind, Altaïr heard an
Page 96 and 97: ‘You know nothing. It was folly t
Page 98 and 99: facing multiple opponents.Altaïr v
Page 100 and 101: Altaïr was gaining on Talal now, t
Page 102 and 103: crowds, Talal’s corpse staining t
Page 104 and 105:
with the shame of having succumbed
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which his father had died and left
Page 108 and 109:
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.
Page 114 and 115:
The soldier pursed his lips. ‘His
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‘Your words will see you hanged,
Page 118 and 119:
18Altaïr returned to the citadel,
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The Lionheart roared. ‘Oh, yes. A
Page 122 and 123:
Altaïr pulled himself up to the ro
Page 124 and 125:
Altaïr had reached his position wi
Page 126 and 127:
de Montferrat, as though such thing
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men do not bother to make the disti
Page 130 and 131:
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
Page 152 and 153:
dawn on Addin that death was near.
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himself up on to the canopy, feelin
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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?
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rising and the setting of the sun.
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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
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the living, the screams of the dyin
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make a long dash, coming ever close
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standing at his side, who wore a fu
Page 204 and 205:
suffered the cuts and blows that Al
Page 206 and 207:
that he was pure - pure Assassin. T
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
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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
Page 256 and 257:
We repaired to his family seat, Hal
Page 258 and 259:
‘But is chaos something to be cel
Page 260 and 261:
Assassin scaled the ladder and then
Page 262 and 263:
country of these Crusaders.’Excel
Page 264 and 265:
Jonas was pinned by his blade, bloo
Page 266 and 267:
one hand Barnabas was an ally. On t
Page 268 and 269:
Barnabas, who was nowhere to be see
Page 270 and 271:
42Altaïr did indeed see for himsel
Page 272 and 273:
the heat of the flames, oblivious t
Page 274 and 275:
it had a flaw. It would be fatal if
Page 276 and 277:
43Maria was gone. Taken by Crusader
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So it was that Altaïr found himsel
Page 280 and 281:
‘Let her play,’ smiled Bouchart
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people? Did she still have enough r
Page 284 and 285:
She resisted. ‘Shalim, no. Please
Page 286 and 287:
he stepped inside a wicket door, di
Page 288 and 289:
45On a wide, baking-hot balcony, Ma
Page 290 and 291:
He screamed and crumpled just as sh
Page 292 and 293:
I remember my moment of weakness, m
Page 294 and 295:
material fell away to reveal a deca
Page 296 and 297:
Alexander, the angry mob having bee
Page 298 and 299:
Protruding from his chest was a bla
Page 300 and 301:
ran along the wall of a cavernous s
Page 302 and 303:
‘Purchasing what you already cont
Page 304 and 305:
murder, you might understand this.
Page 306 and 307:
Part Four4815 July 1257Maffeo has t
Page 308 and 309:
‘Marriage?’ said Maffeo. ‘She
Page 310 and 311:
promote the way of the Assassin stu
Page 312 and 313:
49From a distance all looked well w
Page 314 and 315:
‘I expected to be met by Rauf,’
Page 316 and 317:
‘I’m not at liberty to say, Mas
Page 318 and 319:
resentment. He saw a rival. And for
Page 320 and 321:
‘Perhaps not,’ said Altaïr, ev
Page 322 and 323:
51Later, Altaïr and Maria sat in t
Page 324 and 325:
‘Perhaps Malik has nurtured a hat
Page 326 and 327:
He crept forward until he could see
Page 328 and 329:
52They laid Malik on a pallet and M
Page 330 and 331:
foundations you lay will be even st
Page 332 and 333:
Abbas dropped the head back into th
Page 334 and 335:
Abbas looked concerned. He pulled M
Page 336 and 337:
because Maria was dead at his hands
Page 338 and 339:
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
Page 344 and 345:
around Mukhlis’s legs.‘Masyaf,
Page 346 and 347:
54The bowman reached for his bow bu
Page 348 and 349:
three offensives, picking up new wo
Page 350 and 351:
blade and stared narrow-eyed at Lon
Page 352 and 353:
‘It seems the Master has given Fa
Page 354 and 355:
his hood over his head, liking the
Page 356 and 357:
Abbas was forced to quell an uprisi
Page 358 and 359:
had moved with him like a shadow, s
Page 360 and 361:
Altaïr sensed his world lurch a li
Page 362 and 363:
57The next morning, as day broke, M
Page 364 and 365:
was in there somewhere. It had need
Page 366 and 367:
crowds were becoming restless. He f
Page 368 and 369:
He darted forward with his sword sw
Page 370 and 371:
swiping at his legs. When his oppon
Page 372 and 373:
honour than you will ever know, and
Page 374 and 375:
They pulled up at the edge of the m
Page 376 and 377:
Fahad nodded. ‘You have a wiser h
Page 378 and 379:
force in the rebuilding of the Orde
Page 380 and 381:
‘A last favour, Niccolò. Take th
Page 382 and 383:
1 January 1258The first day of a ne
Page 384 and 385:
EpilogueFrom above him on deck the
Page 386 and 387:
Shihab Al’din, his sonAltaïr’s
Page 388:
Maria LoretoAlex ClarkeAlice Shephe
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