Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade

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Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade is the third novel based on the Assassin's Creed series, written by Oliver Bowden and published by Penguin Books.

The novel tells the story of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and is based on his actions during the Third Crusade, and is narrated by Niccolò Polo; the father of Marco Polo.

Plot

Prologue

The prologue consists of two pages, telling us who the reader is - keeping him or her unknown - and where the reader is.

Part One

1 - Niccolò and Maffeo Polo are staying in Masyaf, where the old Grand Master of the Assassins had his quarters, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. At the end of his being in Masyaf, Altaïr had chosen Niccolò to tell his stories to. For weeks and countless hours, Niccolò sat with Altaïr, hearing the stories of the Grand Master's life. Niccolò takes Maffeo to the top of the defensive tower where a lookout first saw the invading force of Salah Al'din's army, "80 years ago (from when Niccolò tells his story to Maffeo), on a day in August."

2 - The beginning of Salah Al'din's attack. The intention of the attack was to conquer Masyaf, and eventually claim the head of the Assassin leader, Al Mualim. The Masyaf people flee to safety as the army comes closer, the Assassins fortifying the castle. However, instead of attacking, the Sultan's army came to a halt in the village, paying little regard to the castle. The next morning the battle begins, the army trying to fight their way in as they are under constant fire of the Assassins archers, villagers joining the battle. Later, with many dead on both sides, the army retreats back to prepare for their next attack. Salah Al'din leaves the army, and his uncle, Shihab Al'din comes up the mountain village to adress the Master of the Assassins.

3 - Herein is told Shihab had come to Al Mualim "to enter into talks". The story then flashbacks into Al Mualim's mind, where he had been talking to a Master Assassin, Umar Ibn-La'Ahad, discussing his mission, which nearly failed and cost the life of one of Salah's most trusted generals. Shihab wanted payment for the death of this general; the head of the culprit. Al Mualim dissaproved of this, and Shihab showed him the Assassin spy he had found, beaten up, and about to be executed.

4 - The next morning Maffeo awakes Niccolò, asking him what had happened to the spy and what happened to Altaïr. However, keeping to Altaïr's narrative, he skips fifteen years, telling Maffeo about Altaïr's failure at Solomon's Temple.

5 - Altaïr arriver at Masyaf after his failure, contemplating his failure. He meets Rauf first, who was still not notified of the failure. Secondly, he meets Abbas, who did seem to know about his failure, and rubbed it into Altaïr mockingly. He then finally arrives at Al Mualim's quarters and is interrogated.

6 - Malik steps in, furiously telling of his loss, and proudly showing his victory. Seconds later, a messenger runs in, telling the three that Robert de Sable is laying siege on Masyaf. Altaïr goes out to help fight the army, before Rauf tells him to come with him to a tower, to "surprise" the enemy. Later, on top of the tower, three Assassins take a Leap of Faith to show the obidience to their Master, while De Sable watches. Altaïr later, and alone, arrives at the trap, about to unleash death upon his enemy.

7 - The Assassins assembled at the courtyard, still savouring their triumph. As Altaïr came in, silence replaced the congratulations; everyone now knew about his failure at Solomon's Temple. Al Mualim starts speaking to Altaïr about his victory and failure. Eventually, Al Mualim punishes Altaïr for his failure, stabbing the Master Assassin in the stomach.

8 - Altaïr still lives, and wakes up to see Al Mualim, who tells him why he's still alive and under what conditions; the Master Assassin now Novice, being stripped of his ranks, to learn the way of the Assassins once more.

9 - For the first time we see Altaïr in Damascus, about to begin his Hunt for the Nine. After he slips through the gate, he begins to see what changes he'll go through now, being ranked a Novice instead of a Master. He then visits the Damascus Rafiq, who has already been informed of Altaïr's "difficulties". The Rafiq sends the Novice to search the city for information. After going through the city for some time, Altaïr spots an orator, whom he then follows into a quiet alleyway, to begin his investigation.

10 - Altaïr returns to the Damascus bureau and tells the Rafiq what he knows, before being given the Feather marker and permission to assassinate Tamir, his first target. The Assassin then leaves the bureau to go to his target at the market place, whom he sees interrogating an agonized client. After Tamir is done with the client, Altaïr assassinates him, at which the target tells his reasons to the Assassin in his final moments.

11 - It is mentioned how pleased Al Mualim was when he heard of Altaïr's success. Altaïr then narrates about Acre, his next target's location. The Assassin goes by the Acre bureau, which is owned by Jabal, whom he shares knowledge with before going out to investigate some more. After pickpocketing a scroll, Altaïr returns to the bureau and obtains his Feather marker.

12 - Next, the Assassin slips into the Hospitiers fortress with the help of some scholars. Inside the building, Altaïr witnesses the cruel treatment to a patient who had almost escaped. De Naplouse - Altaïr's target - tries to reason with his patient, but the madman only wants to escape, and thus De Naplouse lets the guards break both of the patient's legs. Some time after, Altaïr sees De Naplouse check up with his patients, at which the Assassin sees that even some of the patients are thankful of their doctor. As the guards are still busy, Altaïr assassinates his target, and again lets the target spend his final moments with him. The Assassin then escapes, confused still by his target's last words.

13 - Altaïr speaks with Al Mualim, telling him of his target's assassination and questioning him about the confusing words he had spoken. Al Mualim also told Altaïr his next target was in Jerusalem, at which the Grand Master smiled. As Altaïr comes into the Jerusalem bureau, he notices why his Master had smiled, seeing that Malik is the bureau leader. After a small conversation, Altaïr receives the feather and goes out to assassinate his next target, Talal.

14 - The Assassin walks into where Talal keeps his slaves, having gone straight into a trap, but walking on deeper into it as he hears his target. Altaïr and Talal converse before Talal shows himself, having the Assassin exactly where he wants him; in the light, where the archers can easily hit him. The target tries to kill the Assassin with guards, then fleeing himself, but after a few moments being chased already and his guards killed, Talal ends up assassinated and speaking his last words to his killer.

15 - Altaïr sets up camp by a well and falls asleep, dreaming of when he was younger. A little boy Altaïr whose father had just been killed and who puts the blame on Ahmad, the one that should've been killed in his place. The boy spends his nexts days in the room of his father. He tells about Ahmad committing suicide, and how Al Mualim tells the frightened Altaïr never to speak of it, not even to Abbas. The next day, he is put with Abbas to begin his apprenticeship, being hunted by nightmares if he tries to sleep. The story ends as the Assassin Altaïr wakes up sweating from his nightmare, hoping to sleep again at least until light.

Part Two

16 - Al Mualim congratulates Altaïr with his success, telling him of his next targets, then letting the Assassin leave for Acre to his next target, William de Montferrat. Here he meets Jabal again and gathers information before going out on investigation again.

17 - The Assassin goes through the market place, eventually ending up pickpocketing a scroll. He then spots a man pleeing against De Montferrat, causing commotion within the crowds of people. Altaïr, satisfied about his discoveries, goes back to Jabal and receives the Feather.