Assassin's Creed II: Aid From The Assassin
Chapter I
Ezio looked around. He stood atop a church's steeple in Venice, a light breeze flowing lazily past him. His white robes flapped quietly in the light wind, while his hood shielded his face from others' vision, so that he was harder to recognize. He looked down to the market, which would soon be a bustling center of people. It was early morning, so there was barely any noise to disturb the temporary quiet. Temporary, Ezio thought, for soon my blade shall fall upon this city. The Venetian sunrise was more beautiful than he could've ever imagined. He remembered his younger sister Claudia saying one day when she was only 8 years old that she wanted to go to Venice someday and ride in a gondola. The thought made him smile for a moment. He remembered the innocent days of his youth, before it was stained by the blood of conspiracy. Before he knew about the Templars and Assassins. Before his father and brothers were murdered. But he had no time to dwell on the past. He was here for much more important business. As the crimson sun rose slowly over the horizon, he was becoming more visible. An easier target for a city guard to fell with a well-placed arrow. He had to act swiftly.
Quickly looking about himself, he checked to make sure none of his blades would fall out from his belt at the staggering height of the steeple. He then strained his eyes to see a bail of hay far beneath him, next to a blacksmith's shop. I hate jumping into those things from high up like this, Ezio thought. If I were to miss, there's no doubt I would meet a swift death, and even when I do make it, they're uncomfortable to be in. Lifting his eyes from his landing pad, he saw his target: an average sized man with brown hair walked sleepily onto his 3rd story balcony. He looked no more sinister than any man you would find on the street; but looks can be deceiving. Ezio had been stalking this man for the past four days, observing him, and figuring out his daily schedule. The man was a herald (a person who would announce the town's news to a crowd in a public place) who had been accusing Ezio of crimes he hadn't committed. Such a thing was unheard of. Unheard of, that is, amongst honest heralds above bribes. Bribes were nothing new to Ezio. After an assassination, the town it had taken place in would always be on high alert, so he would regularly bribe all of the local heralds so that they wouldn't say anything about his murders.
But Ezio hadn't been the one bribing this herald. He had seen Templars paying this herald every day to talk about him, which had made blending into the crowds difficult. With everyone hearing of the assassin's crimes, people were always on the lookout for him, ready to alert a town guard upon sight of him. He couldn't hope to match the Templars' bribes, and much less outdo them. Beating the herald up hadn't quieted the accusations, so bloodying his throwing knives was the only other option. Ezio reached down to his knife belt and produced a thin, curved blade attached to a comfortably gripped handle, no longer than his hand. He judged the distance from the top of the steeple to the balcony across the street, and began to draw his arm back.
The man rested his arms on the balcony's railing, and peacefully looked to the streets below. Yes, thought Ezio, enjoy your last moments of life in peace. For that is how you shall rest for all of eternity: peacefully. He focused his aim on the man's throat, then threw the knife swiftly through the air. The knife flew across the gap, but fell just a bit short. It embedded itself into the middle of the herald's chest, catching him off guard. Merda! Ezio thought to himself as he quickly drew another blade, The hit wasn't lethal. I'd best silence him with another knife, otherwise I might draw attention from the guards. The man stumbled backwards into a wall as he clutched his chest, eyes wide with shock and pain. His entire chest was now wet with blood, as it flowed from the wound.
He choked out a yell. "G-guards! I've b-been attacked!" An archer atop a nearby roof looked down to the sound of the commotion, then quickly began scanning all of the roofs in sight for an attacker. The herald weezed in a breath of air, then used all the strength he could muster to pull the knife out. It came out on the first try, but he screamed in agony nonetheless. Blood gushed from the wound, pouring all down the man's torso. Ezio swiftly let another blade fly, but he was hasty in this throw. It went to the left of the man's head and collided with the wall. It was loud as it hit the stone, which caused the herald to look up. Tracing the path of flight the weapon had taken, he looked to the church steeple and saw Ezio.
"Assassin! Assassin! Up t-there, on top of the s-steeple!" The archer looked where the man had specified, and saw the attacker atop the steeple. He took aim, and fired an arrow. Ezio saw the arrow coming, and ducked out of the way just as it flew by. Figlio di una cagna! Ezio thought, the damned archer saw me! Well I guess there's no point in trying to be stealthy anymore, I just need that herald dead. Ezio put his throwing knife back in its belt, and raised his arm. There was a small pistol built into the vambrace he wore on his wrist, which he aimed at the herald.
The man had turned around, and was stumbling towards the doorway. Before he could reach it, Ezio fired his weapon. The bullet went right through the man's head, and he crumpled to the ground dead. The shot let out a loud bang, but it didn't matter, since Ezio had already been located. He dodged another incoming arrow, and fanned the smoke from the gunfire away from his face so that he could see the bail of hay he'd located earlier.
May luck be with me. Ezio thought to himself as he got ready to hurl himself to the streets below. He took one last moment to judge his jump again, then leaped off the steeple, to meet either death or refuge.
