As I pass the threshold to the tomb of my ancestor I feel his presence, which seemed to fill the room, rolling over my skin. When I close my eyes I can see his face as clear as day. Here his voice like thunder rolling in the distance, whispering from the heavens. Saw what he saw, felt what he felt. Love, happiness, anger, grief, vengeance, all of it. As I come to the altar where he lays, I run my fingers lightly over the statue carved into the stone slab. Looking up I see a mighty statue of what he had looked like in his younger years, hands out to his sides, hidden blades thrusted out one stone leg in front of the other, stone Assassin robes billowing in a non existent wind. His hooded head slightly to the side overlooking his resting place. I let out a shaky breath as I looked down at the brilliantly carved stone coffin, as I lean to push the stone slab over to reveal his lifeless body, long since dead wearing the Assassin robes, I feel a lump rise in my throat, as tears roll down my cheeks to fall on his robes as the memories of his life pasted before my minds eye. A life that once was a worry free life, turned to darkness and grief.
This man, I thought, suffered so much.
I reached down and placed my hand gently on his leathery skin and gave it a squeeze that was feather light. As tears continued to fall in steady streams, my lips began to move, saying a prayer and reciting the Creed that has long been etched in my brain. With a heavy heart I replaced the stone slab and closed my eyes, letting the silence of the tomb stretch, for what felt like an eternity. Opening my eyes I knelt down at an engraving, which was written in Italian, that caught my attention.
It read: "Here lies Ezio Auditore da Firenze. (1459-1524)
Beloved friend, brother, father, Assassin. May he find the peace he sought in life, in death. May his memory live on in the hearts and minds of those who fought and stood by his side, and those who follow in his footsteps. Those whom are worthy be praised by his presence."
A smile touched my lips. As I stood to my full height, turning around to exit the tomb, I stopped in my tracks as I came across an ivory carved bust, so detailed it seemed to have a life of its own, of the man in stone coffin. As I looked upon it, it seemed to be smiling gently, from under the carved hood, as if to say, "Do not weep for me in sorrow, but weep for me in honor. So that one day when we meet you, too, will smile on the one who enters your tomb. An ivory image of you that will last through the years."
I smiled brightly; the grief that overwhelmed me seemed to lift that those words that went unspoken in the thick musty air. As I finally exited the tomb, I took one last look back I could see his ghost standing, smiling, then with the Assassin's bow vanished in a fine mist.
"Good bye, I said, "Rest in peace." And never looked back again.