Ana Maria had always known what her father did, or at least, to some degree. Unlike the rest of the men in the village, he spent most of the days hours cooped up in his study, working to solve questions most people didn't even know could be asked. He often traveled, and would be gone for months on end, and just when Ana Maria started to get worried; he would return with plenty of gifts, and everything would start all over again. Though she was never content with the secrecy her father insisted upon, she knew that he did it for a reason, and that he was working on something bigger than of what she knew. This was also the reason she weren't at all worried when her father started to act restless again. At least not at first.

Living in the outskirts of the small commune of Corniglio, Ana Maria – or Ana, as she preferred to be called - would spend most of her days outside. Walking among the fields and the forest, or taking rides under the pleasant Italian sun. Her father had insisted on a secluded living, which meant that Ana spent most of her days alone. It taught her to entertain herself, but as an only child her teenage years mostly consisted of dreaming of the cities she never got to see and the people she never got to meet. She had a friend in their housekeeper Marietta, but that wasn't enough. Marietta was more like a mother figure, and when Ana had been younger, she had secretly hoped that Marietta and her father would marry. Her own mother had died of child birth, and Ana had never known her. It made her sad that her father was alone, and once she had asked him why he never remarried. He had just laughed and told her that he was an eagle, and the only ones who could fly with eagles were other eagles. He could never ask of a woman to fly. "Was mother an eagle?" Ana had asked. "The most fearless eagle of them all" he answered. She had never asked about it again.

Today was just as any other day, and Ana had just gotten home from a walk through the forest. A forest she knew as well as the back of her own hand. As she approached the house, she could hear her father inside it. He sounded frantic as he gave Marietta instructions on what to pack and what to do. "He must be going away again" Ana thought. She already knew it, since she had felt his restless energy around the house for over a week. He had just waited for the right time, and apparently, this was it.

"Father?" she called out as she opened the door. Her father didn't stop though; he just paced worrisomly between the rooms of the house. She entered.

"Father, is everything okay? Are you leaving?" she asked.

Her father finally stopped. He watched her with the same loving gaze as always, though this time his eyes were filled with worry and sadness too. She bit her lip. Something felt different today, and she didn't like it. It felt like change in the air, and though she was growing tired of her monotone life, she was afraid of the alternatives.

"Ana, my darling" he exclaimed with relief. "I'm so glad you're back!" He smiled, but the worry in his eyes didn't leave.

"I was just out for a walk as usual" Ana answered. "Father," she continued, "are you leaving again?"

"Ana" he began, "I have discovered something with my work, something important. I've tried to postpone it, but I can no longer. I will need to leave as soon as possible to continue my work where it is needed the most. We must leave soon. I fear this is no longer a safe refuge for either of us."

Suddenly it hit her. This time they would leave together. Excitement started to rush through her veins, and she could barely hold it in. She could feel the blood flush to her cheeks. She wondered where they would go. Maybe to Roma? Her father had been there before, so it wasn't impossible. Maybe they weren't even going to stay in Italy, but travel even farther. In any case, there was a new life waiting for her, and if it included her father and Marietta, she was certain she would manage it. Finally she would see what the world had to offer. Though, what did her father mean with no longer safe? Why wouldn't their home be safe?

"Father, I don't understand. Are we leaving together? Where are we going?" she asked.

"Oh Ana, my dearest daughter", he answered, his voice tired. "You do not understand. I'm going alone. My work is dangerous and you are far too dear to me. I would never put you even close to the line of fire."

"But, where are you going? Will I stay here? Why isn't it safe?"

"I cannot tell you where I'm going. I know you, and I am certain you would try to find me. My enemies have finally realized what it is I'm working on, and they would probably hurt you to get to me. That, I cannot have. You will go to an old friend of mine, who has promised to keep you safe for the years to come. When all this has settled down, I will come for you again. Don't worry my daughter, this is all for the best. You will be safe."

Ana stared at her father, unable to speak. Her father would leave her, and wouldn't return for years? They had enemies? This was too much to take in, it couldn't be happening.

"Father!" she yelled out, surprised to hear her own voice. "I am seventeen years old. I can take care of myself. Tell me what is going on! Who are our enemies?"

"Ana, please. Trust me. There are so many things I haven't told you, so many things I probably should have. But it has all been to keep you safe, and I'm not going to stop now. Marietta has packed your things for you. Please look over your room to see if there is something else you need to bring. I've already called for a son of a family friend to escort you, and he'll be here any minute now." As he saw the anger in her eyes, he added: "Please Ana. For me."

Angrily Ana ran to her room, and let the door close with a bang. Her room looked just like it had before, except her closet was nearly empty and her toilet requisites were gone. Not knowing what else to do, she sat down on the chair opposite her mirror, and watched herself as the anger left her body. She could barely recognize herself. She looked like a stubborn child, angry because she wouldn't get her way. Her cheeks were red and her dark eyes seemed like they could swallow someone whole. Though as she felt her anger fading away, it was only to be replaced with fear, and she wished for it all to go away. She knew there was nothing left for her than to go, to travel to her father's friend and to leave the only home she had ever known. "Be careful what you wish for" she thought to herself. She might not see her father for years. "I don't want to be alone" she whispered to her reflection, but it didn't answer her.

Suddenly she heard ruckus and loud screams outside her door. She ran outside her room, to find her dad surrounded by two guards, the third lying dead on the floor.

At least she assumed he was dead, considering the amount of blood that had pooled around him. Her father was standing with his back against her, and stabbing a knife to the chest of another guard. Behind him was the third, ready to strike her father with his sword. Panicking, Ana took the closest thing to her, which happened to be a vase, and struck it hard to the head of the guard. Though it momentarily stopped him from slicing her father in two, he didn't faint, which she had hoped. Instead he turned around and pointed the sword towards her. Frightened, Ana took a step backwards. The guard raised his sword. But before anything could happen, blood started to pour out of his chest. Her father had struck his knife into him, and he was dying before eyes. His clear eyes grew dim as life left his body. He sank to the floor, the sword clashing to the ground. Ana stared at her father, as if she was seeing a different man before her.

"Father! Are you hurt?" she asked.

"I'm alright. But we must hurry, there's no time, they've found me."

"I cannot leave you like this!" Ana proclaimed. "Why did you kill those guards?"

"Ana, there is no time. The guards are not our friends. This will have slowed them down though, and spared us a few minutes. There is a man here to escort you; he's saddled your horse."

Her father walked outside and Ana followed, only to see her beloved gray horse, Cirillo, standing outside, all ready to go. Beside it was a young man on a chestnut horse, looking stern, though he smiled when their eyes met. He bowed.

"My lady" he said.

Ana turned to her father.

"Where's Marietta?" she wondered. She couldn't possibly leave without saying goodbye to the woman who had been the closest thing to a mother she'd ever had.

"I saw the guards coming and I figured it would be better the less she knew of what was going to happen, in case they ever found out where she was. Don't worry, I made her hide in the cellar before they arrived, and I'll make sure she'll be safe before I leave. She's going to stay with her sister, but that's all I can tell you right now. Don't go looking for her – you would only be risking her safety if you did. I've gone through great lengths to keep both of you safe, and I couldn't live with myself if I failed."

Her father could tell how devastated Ana felt by this news, and he sighed deeply.

"I'm so sorry" he said. "But this is for the best."

Ana knew there was nothing to be done. They didn't have time to argue and she could tell by the look in her father's face that this was just as heartbreaking for him as it was for her. He helped her up on her horse, and then turned to the young man next to her.

"Aresio" he said and handed him a letter. "Please give this to him, it will explain any questions that he might have."

Aresio, as the brown-haired young man apparently was called, nodded. "I will."

Then her father turned to Ana again, and took her hand.

"Ana. Remember that I love you. We will meet again, trust me when I say this."

Ana nodded.

"I know. I love you too, father."

And with that, they left. The horses quickly moved to a full gallop, and soon, Ana could barely even recognize her surroundings anymore. The land around her was strange and unknown, and she could feel the quick turn her life took, away from what was safe, to another world. Another life. Another Ana. Though her sight was impaired because of the tears that would not stop coming, her beloved horse followed Aresio like it's life depended on it. "And," Ana bitterly thought to herself, "it probably did". She did not however worry about her father, and the sight of the dead guards on the floor of their home. She knew he would make it in time, and even though she had no proof, she was certain that this wasn't the first time he had killed. Somehow that felt comforting, like she could trust that he would be alright.

They rode in silence for a few hours. Ana couldn't stop crying and Aresio was wise enough to understand when not to talk. Eventually the horses had grown tired and just trotted slowly beside each other. And eventually her eyes dried, and she started to feel too worn out to be as passionately sad anymore. She looked up at Aresio.

"Where are we going?" she asked him.

"To Firenze, my lady. You are to be staying with Giovanni Auditore."