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.

Book summary

"Niccolò Polo, father of Marco, will finally reveal the story he has kept secret all his life - the story of Altaïr, one of the Brotherhood's most extraordinary assassins.

Altaïr embarks on a formidable mission - one that takes him throughout the Holy Land and shows him the true meaning of the Assassin's Creed. To demonstrate his commitment, Altaïr must defeat nine deadly enemies, including the Templar leader, Robert de Sable.

Altaïr's life story is told here for the first time: a journey that changes the course of history; his ongoing battle with the Templar conspiracy; a family life that is as tragic as it is shocking; and the ultimate betrayal of an old friend."

Plot summary

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 address 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 arrives 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 obedience 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 savoring 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 abdomen.

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 Hospitalier's 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 next 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 pleading against De Montferrat, causing commotion within the crowds of people. Altaïr, satisfied about his discoveries, goes back to Jabal and receives the Feather.

18 - Returning to the citadel, Altaïr witnesses a conversation between Richard the Lionheart and William de Montferrat. The two men went into the fortress with Altaïr following them from the rooftops, taking out every archer in his way. De Montferrat stops to speak to his guards, telling them off for their recent laziness, and as he was done and sends the guards away - thus being unprotected - Altaïr strikes and assassinates him. There, Lord Montferrat tells the Assassin his motives before dying.

19 - Again Altaïr speaks to Al Mualim, noticing his Master demands so much detail on his victories, but holds so much information back. Tasked with the assassination of Abu'l Nuquod, he travels back to Damascus, where he meets the 'impertinent' Rafiq again. They argue some and tell each other what they know about the target. Altaïr visits the places Abu'l was hated, hearing some scholars talk about what the Assassin thinks is 'the new world', although he still knows nothing about it. He then goes to find more information about the target, leaving for a party after he hears Abu'l Nuquod is giving one.

20 - Being at the party, seeing all the richness of wine fountains and people clothed in silk and gold, Altaïr searches for his target. A few moments later he sees him on a balcony, and so Abu'l Nuquod adresses his public, going from friendly to hostile in his speech, also mentioning The New World. Archers take their positions, and at the end of the speech - when all the people who drank from the poisoned wine fountain are now dying - they are signaled to kill everyone that hasn't died yet and try to escape. Abu'l, distracted and amused by the massacre, is soon enough assassinated by Altaïr, sharing his last thoughts with him.

21 - Altaïr visits Al Mualim again and questions him about his findings, trying to become less confused about his targets' words.

22 - As Altaïr comes into Jerusalem, he has some trouble with guards, but eventually arrives at the bureau where he meets Malik again, where he tells him that his next target is Majd Addin. After some arguing, Altaïr leaves to visit the Wailing Wall, where his target would be at the execution plaza.

23 - The Assassin approaches the execution plaza and sees the show is about to start, Majd Addin speaking to his public. He introduces the people he is about to slaughter; the harlot, the thief, the gambler and the heretic. The last one being an Assassin. In Addin's show, he kills the first three of his victims, a commotion starting to grow as the Assassin is about to be executed, proving fatal for the executioner, as Altaïr uses this commotion to get close enough to assassinate him. Altaïr listens to what the dying Templar tells him, then as he escapes, Malik's men free the Assassin.

24 - Altaïr speaks with Al Mualim, and again questions him about the words of his targets. The Master shows him the Apple of Eden, then tells him about his next targets; Sibrand and Jubair.

25 - Here the story tells us about young Altaïr and Abbas becoming friends and, together, learning the ways of the Assassins. Altaïr pities Abbas for not knowing about his father, so he tells him, expecting tears, anger, disbelief, but never silence.

26 - Altaïr stands on top of a building, looking down at a fire where books are being burned, by scholars and Jubair, his target. There Jubair speaks to the scholars about how books poison mankind's minds. As one of the scholars protests, Jubair's mood darkens, and he throws the scholar into the fire, to join the books he didn't want to burn. As the rest of the sholars leave to get more books, Jubair is alone, and Altaïr takes this moment to assassinate him, listening to his words, leaving before getting caught by guards. Altaïr speaks with Al Mualim, his Master giving him his full rank again. Al Mualim then questions him about the Assassins' ways, to see if Altaïr has changed, then tasking him to his final target before De Sable, Sibrand.

27 - Again, and for the last time, Altaïr visits Acre. There he talks to Jabal, who apologizes for his mistrust in Altaïr's dedication to the Assassins' cause. Altaïr then heads for the docks, where he sees a frightened Sibrand bullying a priest for looking like an Assassin, whom he then kills. Sibrand then goes to his own boat, with which he would try to escape, but soon enough, as the guards have dispersed at Sibrand's own command, Altaïr assassinates him. Again, Altaïr listens to what his target says, and again Altaïr becomes more and more confused as to what they say. Then, meeting with Al Mualim again, Altaïr questions him about De Sable's cause. After having spoken to him and leaving Masyaf, he sees Abbas, remembering an old wound his former friend had caused.

28 - A flashback to young Abbas and Altaïr, after Altaïr had told his friend about his father. The days after that, Abbas became more and more quiet, and one day, as they sparred, his rage would unleash on young Altaïr.

29 - Master Assassin Altaïr arrives at the Jerusalem bureau, slightly more pleased to meet Malik, who greets him more friendly. Altaïr tells Malik that he should try find out more about what Altaïr didn't see, and he apologizes for his arm and brother. Altaïr has then gone to the cemetery, feeling that there is something wrong about it. However, before the Assassin could leave, the trap had already sprung, leaving him in a frenzy of arrows and swords. He had seen that De Sable, who was also at the cemetery, didn't look like he remembered, but now even De Sable sounded like a woman as he spoke. A few moments later, and all of the guards killed, he stabbed 'De Sable' in the shoulder and took her under cover, to hear her out, pulling off the helmet to see that it was indeed a woman. Then after having escaped to the Bureau, he tells Malik it was a trap. After his conversation with Malik, Altaïr heads for Arsuf, where he shall find the real Robert de Sable.

30 - Altaïr sees the armies that meet in Arsuf, that of Salah Al'din and Richard the Lionheart. Battle, as for as the eye could see. The Assassin tries to make his way to the rear of the Crusader army, where Richard would be. There he tries to convince the King that he comes with the intention to negotiate, not fight, telling him that De Sable is a traitor. However, as Richard couldn't decide, he lets the Templar and Assassin battle, and whoever wins is right.

31 - Altaïr having killed Robert de Sable in battle, interrogates the dying Templar of what he knows, finally opens the Assassin's eyes to his Master, that he is indeed betraying him. Then, when Robert dies, Altaïr travels back to Masyaf.

32 - Here the Assassin finds Masyaf totally deserted. As he walks through the village, he is attacked by a group of other Assassins, whom he kills. After that, he sees Malik with a group of his Assassins, and Altaïr tells them to be careful; what has happened could happen to the Rafiq too. Altaïr and Malik part ways, and when the Assassin arrives at the courtyard, he sees all the villagers of Masyaf crowded up there, brainwashed. Now Altaïr knew Al Mualim was certainly a Templar, an enemy.

33 - Now the Apprentice battles his Master, whom first uses the Apple to create duplicates of Altaïr's nine victims, then to make copies of himself and lastly he directly battles Altaïr, which proves the old traitor fatal. As Al Mualim dies, he lets go of the Apple, which is then picked up by the Assassin, who activates it, seeing things of the future in it and letting it display a map of the world. Malik then comes running in, saying the spell that had been cast over Masyaf is broken. Altaïr, still having the artefact, is fighting to destroy it, but is physically unable to. Altaïr was now the Master. Template:Spoiler End