La Volpe's Race

I sit on the roof of the thieves quarters on a windy day in Rome. My cape flaps as the wind blows around me. I just found out that Ezio Auditore is back in Rome, and I look forward to seeing my friend again. He still has yet to beat me in a race, though I don't know if he can. No one has ever beaten me in a race through the city. Smiling, I jump over to the next roof and begin to make my way to the assassins hideout. I always show up unexpectedly, and I can tell that it impresses people. While running, I notice a group of my thieves laying around and drinking. These young thieves still have much to learn. I jump to where they are and take them by surprise. They all straighten up immediately, looking wide eyed. "All right young men," I say, "have any of you looted anything at all today?" They all look at each other with guilty expressions, then the oldest one of them says, "Just a few coins Volpe. We seem to be having bad luck today."

"Just be persistent, gentlemen," I tell them. "You can't give up so early."

"Sorry Volpe," they all say together. Then they each make their way back to the ground to search for more people to pickpocket. I watch my thieves part ways through the streets, then continue to find Ezio. Soon enough, I see him sitting on the roof of the assassins hideout, polishing his gleaming throwing knives. I climb to the top of the tower and he looks up when he hears me approach. "Volpe! Arriving out of thin air as always. How are you, my friend?"

"Doing well, Ezio. I got word that you were here, so I had to catch up with you," I tell him.

"Of course. I had to see how well Rome is doing now since Cesare and the Borgia are gone. And since you're here, it's time to beat you in a race!"

I chuckle. "Always so confident. Well, let's go then."

After setting a course to run, we take our places in front of the building, count to three, then take off running. I climb some stacked crates to get to a pole on the side of the wall, then climb to the roof from there. Running is what I do best, and there's nothing like it. It feels so free and powerful, the way I'm above the city. I know that few other people can move like I can up here. The sun is shining brightly in the clear blue sky, and I know my eyes are now violet. It's the reason I keep my hood up, otherwise the thieves would know I'm not quite mortal. They only get violet in the sun though. I keep running, knowing that Ezio is still behind me. I know he wonders why I can move so much faster than him, because I am older than he is. I'm just the master thief, that's all I've ever known is being swift and sneaky. Looking behind me quickly, I see Ezio make a jump to another rooftop and miss. He crashes to the ground, and I turn back to help him. "I'm okay," Ezio says. "It's not the first time I've ever fallen from a roof."

"Shall we continue?" I ask.

"Of course."

We start running again and Ezio is actually faster. I realize that he wants me to know falling won't slow him down. A few feet from the finish point, he zooms past me and wins the race. I am stunned. Me, La Volpe, master of thieves, beaten by an assassin! But then I remember that Ezio is a master assassin, so I feel slightly better about it. "Well Ezio, it appears you have beaten me," I say nonchalantly. Ezio smiles, then pats my shoulder. "Yes, I've been focusing on my speed," he explains.

"Nicely done," I reply.

Then I realize I haven't been racing much because I've been busy training the new thieves. I'm still the fastest, I think to myself. I congratulate Ezio and we chat for a while. Then we say goodbye and I take to the rooftops back to the thieves quarters...