Disclaimer: Some of these wonderful characters are owned by Ubisoft and others are, of course, owned by history. One fight scene borrows elements from Oliver Bowden's book adaptation.


"We're here, signora," announced the driver as he unlatched the door.

"Grazie (Thanks)," replied Chiara, stepping down from the carriage.

The sun beat down on her face ten times brighter than it had in Milan. She couldn't remember the last time she had travelled so far out from her hometown. Milan at this time of the year was cold but Monteriggioni's sun was smiling brightly. Even with nightfall approaching soon, it was too hot. She didn't have to be here but there was no way she could refuse her dying mother's insistence.

Carrying nothing but a tattered book in her hand, she walked through the grand stone fortress. One narrow path led to another and the more people she approached about her sister's whereabouts, the less they seemed to know. It didn't strike her as odd because almost every town she had been to said that her sister had passed some time ago. Now the subject of this town was the assassin, Ezio Auditore.

After what seemed like hours of asking people, she noticed a magnificent building standing gracefully in the distance. The villa outdid every other in the small town in terms of size. Chiara noticed a symbol of some kind centred beneath the two stairwells leading upwards but thought nothing of it except a pretty design.

Soft footsteps on the rooftop warned her that somebody was watching. Just as she had registered this thought, a loud swoosh came from the haystack behind, and a few strands of hay hit her face.
Chiara turned around to be greeted by a pair of curious eyes.

"Buongiorno, messer (Hello, sir). Would you kindly tell me where Caterina Sforza is residing?"

"What's your business with her?" answered the man in a tired tone. The bags under his eyes were evident on his bearded face.

There were beads of sweat bordering between his hairline and forehead under the hood. The scorching weather made it no surprise at all. He wore armour which shaped his body perfectly and Chiara's eyes shifted to the all the weapons on his body which on closer inspection, seemed to be plenty - throwing knives, a sword, and even a crossbow. He looked like a man who should've been approached with using caution, despite his good looks.

"I have a message to deliver to her from her mother,"

The man gave her a quick look up and down before asking, "Is it important?"

She despised the sudden interrogation from a stranger, but proceeded to answer as vaguely as possible.

"Yes. I have to deliver it in person."

He held out his hand. "You don't have any weapons on you, do you?"

Chiara impulsively looked down, even though she didn't have anything.

"None. Unless you count this old book. Though the cover is pretty hard when you think of it..."

A quizzical expression from the man made Chiara stop babbling and she simply shook her head.

"Bene (Good). She is staying at my uncle's villa. Follow me."

The man led the way through the crowds of civilians who had now gathered around him. They all greeted him like he was their saviour and then his name rang a bell when someone shouted a greeting to him.

"You're..you're Ezio Auditore? The assassin?" asked Chiara, curiosity alight in her eyes. She had heard so much about him. His desire for revenge on the men who murdered his father and brothers. Her father, the Duke of Milan was murdered by the same people. Apparently, his father Giovanni Auditore had tried his best to save him. That technically made them mutual friends. Chiara had never expected to meet him in person and Caterina had never mentioned knowing him in her short letters.

He nodded and smiled slightly. "Si, the talk of the town. What is your name?"

"I'm Chiara. Chiara Sforza," she announced boldly. Though, there was nothing to be bold about. She hated being a noble. One thing she had learnt was never to act reckless. Recklessness made people gossip. Her father had started this legacy with his ruthlessness and after he died, Caterina seemed to have taken his manners to heart and done the same.

"You're related to Caterina?" asked Ezio, surprised.

"Si, I'm her younger sister."

"She never mentioned a sister. Our affairs have always been-"

"Physical?" interrupted Chiara, regretting it instantly. She wasn't surprised because of her sister's seductive ways.

Instead of a glare or a few harsh words like she had expected, Ezio let out a good-humoured chuckle. Chiara was right - they had always been intimate but Ezio didn't know Caterina for who she really was. He only knew her from the words he had heard from others.

"That is one way of putting it."

"I should have known. My sister is practically a whore. But one who has integrity."

"That is brave of you, given she has higher status and owns all of Forli," retorted Ezio, proceeding to walk up the second smaller flight of steps of the Villa.

"None of that really matters to me. She was trained in the art of warfare so she needs aggression by her side."

Ezio nodded, agreeing with Chiara was saying. Caterina's brash ways were what attracted him to her in the first place.

"And what about you? What do you need by your side?"

Chiara didn't really know. She was self-taught in politics and the arts, but there was nothing too special about her.

"I can't give too much away, can I?"

"An air of mystery. I like you already," replied Ezio, taking off his hood as they both entered through the double doors of the house.

It was magnificent. The lustre of the beautiful marble floor bounced off the white walls and the ruby red carpet running along the floor like stripes added to the sense of elegance.

She stepped around the nearest pillar and ran her hands over a watercolour painting of what looked like Venice, admiring it's texture when Caterina Sforza walked down the spiral staircase wearing a deep plum velvet gown, laced with white across the cuffs and neck, fit for any Contessa.

"Caterina, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence here?" asked Ezio, a hint of infatuation in his bright brown eyes.

She approached him slowly and he kissed her hand in an orderly manner. Caterina knew that Ezio was the man with the resources to make her plans work. She also knew the perfect way to make sure everything went to plan.

"I desire... an allegiance. The papal armies have resumed their march on Forli. Your mercenaries would be a great asset to my cause."

"This is something I will have to discuss with Mario."

"He will not refuse me."

"And nor will I. But first-"

"What are you doing here?!" exclaimed Caterina, her eyes growing wide.

"-your sister is here to talk to you," finished Ezio, lowering his voice.

Chiara replied dryly, "Hello to you too, sister."

The rivalry which existed between them became clear again in a matter of seconds. It had erupted the day Caterina was to be betrothed to Pietro, a poet. He broke off the marriage by announcing his love for Chiara instead, who was barely a woman at that age. She never returned the feelings for him out of pure love for her sister but Caterina failed to see it. That was the day their relationship had ended.

"I wouldn't be here if I had a choice, so a little appreciation of my tiring search for you would not hurt..."

Caterina simply rolled her eyes. Frankly, she didn't have time for her sister's snarky comments and time-consuming games.

"...Mother is severely ill. She had an accident whilst in the market. Some say it was a deliberate attempt to end her life however, she managed to pull through with God's prayers a few weeks ago. We have no more luck, sister. She is on the verge of death."

Anger flashed in Caterina's eyes.

"And why didn't anyone tell me this weeks ago when it happened?"

Not one to sneer usually as it was Caterina's forte, Chiara felt it was right to do so in this situation.

"Maybe if you hadn't been travelling from bed to bed, marrying men, killing them, and marrying more, you would received the letters we sent and have the decency to reply."

Knowing that would make Caterina rage inside, Chiara folded her arms and waited for a reaction.

"I..but..how did you know?"

"That's not important. She said she wants both of her daughters with her during this time. As much as you hate the sight of me, it's the least we can both do."

With a look of sympathy, Ezio chose to speak up. "Contessa (Countess), I think it would be best if-"

But Caterina wasn't having any of it. Her presence here was necessary. "No, I can't! The Brotherhood needs me."

Ezio placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "It's your mother. We have enough men for the time being. We'll be fine."

"But-"

"I insist," he finalised, smiling. He couldn't understand why she was so stuck on the idea that she was needed here. If Ezio had to choose between getting a chance to finally kill Cesare Borgia or be with his dying mother, he would choose the latter. No matter what. He kept this thought in mind as Caterina strutted towards her sister, grabbed her by the arm and went outside to talk.

"You shouldn't have come here!"

"Like I said before, I didn't have a choice!"

"I have plans, bambina. They're important!"

Chiara's face filled with disgust. "More important than your mother? Wow, sister. You become more like father every single day."

"Father was known to be a madman. I am not."

Chiara bit her lip and looked down. Their father began to lose his mind as he reached his old age but he was always caring.

"Mi dispiace. I should not have said that."

"But you did say it. You can never admit you have flaws!"

"Guarda, bambina (Watch it, child) . Let's not be so serious. We will go as soon as you get yourself cleaned up. Long journeys are not kind to you."

"Grazie," replied Chiara sourly.

They both stepped back inside and by this time, Ezio had called his sister Claudia.

"Salve (Hello)!" she greeted Chiara. Chiara smiled and returned the warm greeting. She could clearly see the resemblance between brother and sister as they stood next to each other. Claudia, on the other hand was small and petite.

"Claudia, would you mind asking the maid to bring some water to my bedroom? It's for my sister," asked Caterina sweetly.

The false tone in her voice was obvious to nobody but Chiara.

"Of course," said Claudia, and left.

Ezio looked between Caterina and Chiara awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Nothing should have changed now that he knew Caterina had a sister, but for some reason he felt out of place. Why would she keep such a big secret like this from? After spending so much time with each other, he still didn't know what her deal was.

"I need to talk to one of my men. Chiara, you can take one of my dresses. You'll need it. I'll call you down soon, so hurry. It will be nightfall soon."

"Again, grazie." mumbled Chiara. For years she had to endure patronising comments. Caterina would never lose that 'charm'.

Satisfied, Caterina left the villa and Ezio pointed the way for Caterina's guest room.

Chiara muttered a quick thank you before hurrying upstairs. The quicker she got herself cleaned up, the quicker they could go back home. She felt knots in her stomach at the thought of her dying mother. It had been hours since she heard any news from the Sforza messenger.

Once she was inside the room, she felt a chilling breeze drift through the window. The curtains were open and the sky was beginning to darken. Time was running out. There was a four-poster bed directly in the centre and the room was themed maroon and beige. A dressing table stood opposite the bed next to a fairly small dresser. Chiara closed the curtains and took a deep breath. Caterina's trunk was at the foot of the bed, opposite the bathtub stood diagonally in the middle of the room. Already open, Chiara rooted inside for a dress. The last time she wore her sister's clothes were as children, when they played together. When she unfolded the dress she picked, a piece of paper fell out.

A poem was written inside: "On a January morning, a beauty was born, her mind was strong but her heart was torn, our love burns brighter every morn, it shall crusade the skies, from dusk 'til dawn."

It seemed rather intimate and personal. Not wanting to feel any more intrusive, Chiara folded it and placed it back in the same dress. Then she proceeded to choose another.

By this time, the maid had knocked on the door. Chiara let her fill the bath with lukewarm water and leave before untieing her unruly brown hair. She sank deeper into the tub, letting her worries drown away. A mere thirty minutes had passed, yet the sky filled with darkness so quickly that Chiara's thought snapped back to her mother. Shouldn't Caterina be calling her down by now?

Looking at herself in the mirror shortly afterwards, Chiara knew that her beauty could not compare with her sister's. Caterina had the beauty of a seductive female warrior; a pale face with fiery hair to accompany it. Chiara on the other hand, had a more olived-skinned and delicate complexion, bright eyes and dark curly hair. Caterina would always tease her about being courted.

"Your hair is like a jungle, Chiara! Men won't be able to kiss you without getting their faces tangled in it."

Chiara thought it was a pathetic little joke, but it made her smile. She dried her hair until the wet locks became messy curls and began to pin them up when two stern voices found their way up through her window.

"I got your note, Paganino."

"Signor Borgia said he hopes you fully understood the codes."

"Could they have been any less obvious? January, crusade, dawn. I understood it."

"He said your role in all of this is-"

"To make sure I take away as many of Mario's men as I can."

"Yes, and make sure Cesare has enough time to capture Mario and kill him."

"Is that part really necessary?"

"Si, Contessa. Something about a cleansing from both families."

Breath-held and in total silence, Chiara moved the curtains and peeked through. Caterina, a mere silhouette, slowly crept along the path until she reached the bald thief sat casually against the statue of Minerva.

"That will not be an issue. I know of a way to make sure he gives me as many mercenaries as I want."

"Va bene (Okay), it's settled."

Chiara, who was now intently sat on the window-sill, disguised by the moon's shade in her direction, shifted her position slightly, knocking over the flower vase next to her. Luckily, it fell inside the room and not into the garden, which would've given herself away in seconds.

She froze.

"What was that?" said Caterina.

Paganino was already on his feet, looking around fearfully. "I'd better go," he said hastily. "I shall inform Messer Borgia that you know what to do. May the Father of Understanding guide us."

With a slight nod from Caterina, Paganino slipped away across the garden and vanished down a set of stairs on the east wall of the villa.

Caterina rushed towards a door and disappeared from sight.

Chiara moved away from the window and stumbled over to her bed, heart thudding from what she had just heard. Caterina was the enemy here. Caterina, her sister, one of her closest friends at one time. Was the love everybody gave her not enough? Their parents considered Caterina as the favourite, everyone knew that. It hurt Chiara's confidence a little, but she admired her sister; loved her more than anyone. But this betrayal...siding with the Borgia's..the Borgia's of all people. The most ruthless family Italy had seen. They carried with them death and destruction, wherever they went.

"My sister is a Templar..." muttered Chiara. She had only read about them, but her father made it crystal clear that they were the enemies. They claimed they fought for the good of humanity, but that was not true. The "Father of Understanding" motto gave it all away.

Her train of thought was broken by yet another knock on the door.

"Come in," she ordered.

It was Caterina; acting like nothing had happened. She peeked her head through the door, "Are you done yet?"

"Yes. But where have you been?"

"Just talking to my men about getting a carriage ready...why do you look like you have seen something dreadful?"


Edit (30/10/12): I've now added in English translations for the Italian phrases/words I use. If I've translated a word once, I won't do it again and repeat myself. Enjoy learning some Italian on the way! :)