Anna was the childhood nurse to Emperor Leo VI the Wise in Constantinople in the 9th century.
Biography[]
In 867, Anna worked as the nurse and caregiver to a young Leo under his mother Empress Eudocia Ingerina's watch.[1] Loyal to the empress, Anna slowly realized Leo began to have near-death experiences and theorized that someone was out to kill him. As a result, she observed those closest to him were Leo's Varangian guard Justin and his tutor Theodore. Unable to become close with Justin, she began a romantic relationship with Theodore and began to follow him, learning of Theodore's meeting the fortune teller Ursina who was in contact with the people targeting Leo[2] While working, she soon noticed a change in Leo's security and met Hytham, a Hidden One working undercover as one of Leo's Varangian guards. From their brief conversation, Anna warned him of the consequences if Leo was ever harmed.[1]
Two weeks after vipers were set loose and killed in the children's wing of the emperor's palace,[3] Anna left the palace to visit Ursina at her work. Inside, Anna gave a jeweled comb as a means to bribe the man named Isaac. Ursina took it and cut the meeting short before Anna left. Before returning to the palace, she met a shocked Theodore and explained her absence by saying she simply wanted to meet Ursina herself. Theodore calmed her down about making their plans to leave before kissing her.[4]
The next day, Anna continued with her duty and played with Leo in one of the imperial gardens.[5] When the night came, the guards led by Thyra came under attack by the Order of the Ancients while one of the Order's assailants headed towards Anna's quarters and attacked her. A servant came to save her but was instantly killed while Anna was being strangled. Fortunately, she was saved by Hytham, who fought her attacker. Together, Hytham and Anna weakened the man, who was ultimately killed by Hytham. Injured, Anna was told by Hytham to find the other servants and hide with them while he searched for Leo. She listened and ran to find a hiding place.[6]
Fortunately, Leo was safe and the remaining Order members fled.[6] Within two days, Anna and the rest of the palace were informed of Theodore's betrayal and part in the recent attack on the palace. Anna and Empress Eudocia thanked Hytham and his mentor Basim Ibn Ishaq for saving her son but Anna was asked of her involvement with Theodore. Baffled, Anna admitted to her own mission of discovering Theodore's duplicity when he told her about his deal with Isaac and trying to secretly bribe Isaac to save Leo's life, only to become another target for the Order to kill. Although the empress was angered her servant put herself in harm's way and acted without royal assent, Anna was forgiven for her attempt to protect Leo.[2]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: The Golden City – Chapter 7
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: The Golden City – Chapter 22
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Golden City – Chapter 8
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Golden City – Chapter 12
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: The Golden City – Chapter 15
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: The Golden City – Chapter 16
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