The trip went by slowly, but at least it went by. After a few days, Ana had resigned to her fate and her feelings of anger and fear had dimmed, at least a bit. Riding for so long made Ana's whole body start to ache, and soon she realized that she couldn't be more eager to arrive. It was what it was, and she couldn't change anything, at least not yet. When she arrived to Firenze she would talk to signor Auditore and maybe he would understand, and tell her where her father was. Somehow she doubted that things would go as smoothly as that, but it was at least worth a shot. As long as he was safe, she would be pleased. Well, for a while. In one way or another she would find him and help him. There was no justice in being separated from ones parents for years without contact, and she refused to accept it. Though for the time being she wouldn't have any other choice, so there wasn't much to do about that. Actually, she had started to get a bit excited to see Firenze. It was by far bigger than Corniglio, and perhaps it would take her mind off of things. Like the image of the dead guards on their floor.
"Ana Maria!" Aresio held his horse. Ana followed his example. "Look, Ana Maria. Firenze."
With those words, Ana woke up from her daydreaming and looked out over the view that lay before her. Firenze. So many rooftops, so many buildings. Compared to Corniglio, this was huge. She could barely imagine how many people there had to be walking in the streets.
The insides of her stomach started to turn into a nervous knot. This was it. During the days of traveling she had felt restless, knowing she no longer had a home to return to. Now she was supposed to start over somewhere else, knowing that this place would be the closest thing to a home she would have in years. And that Giovanni Auditore and his family was supposed substitute for her own. Like that would even be possible. Maybe they were horrible people, or straight up cruel? Maybe signor Auditore wasn't even married, and she would live alone with him just like she had with her father?
"Well, let's go then" she mumbled nervously and the pair started to make way for Firenze.
In no time they arrived to a stable just outside the town, where they left their horses. Ana stroked her beautiful gray horse - her beloved Cirillo – one last time before they headed into town. At least she had Cirillo, someone that could follow her to the new world that she was entering. Not exactly beside her, but at least as a companion. And she sure needed one right now.
While walking through the city, Ana could feel how it got tighter and tighter for every step. The walls seemed so narrow, holding her inside as a prisoner. The people rushing around her, so many and so close. She didn't know if she should run away or if she should embrace it. It was so long ago since she had been in a real city like this, and it actually freaked her out a bit. It might have been more enjoyable if she hadn't just been separated from her father and traveled with a man whom she did not know, but still. All she wanted was for them to reach their goal, so she could hide inside a room somewhere alone for a while.
That was when Aresio stopped. "Here we are" he said, as a matter of factly. He knocked on the door to Palazzo Auditore, and Ana held her breath.
A young woman opened. Ana guessed she was a maid or something like it.
"Welcome" she greeted. "You must be Ana Maria Gravago" she continued facing Ana. "We've been expecting you."
Ana awkwardly made a curtsey as the maid told them to enter and follow her, since she would take them to Giovanni Auditore. Aresio walked before her, and she nervously glanced around the house as they walked towards the study in which signor Auditore resided. It was beautiful, to say the least. And it was full of space, Ana thought, much bigger than her own house back in Corniglio.
The maid stopped in front of a door and lightly knocked on it before opening it.
"Signor Auditore, Ana Maria Gravago is here" she announced.
"Ah, please let her in" a man's voice answered.
The maid moved out of the way, and bowed slightly at them before leaving. Aresio wasted no time and quickly entered the room, as Ana followed. Both she and Aresio made a small bow in front of the man who must be Giovanni Auditore, and he repaid them with the same curtsy. He was a handsome man for his age, Ana noticed. He was tall and stood firmly on the ground. His hair was brown, and he had a pair of intelligent brown eyes. This was not a man easily fooled, she thought to herself. But as he smiled his face lit up, and she could see the sort of kindness of a person that could not be forged.
"I was escorting Ana Maria on her father's request" Aresio quickly explained. "He wanted you to have this" he added and gave signor Auditore the same letter that Ana's father had given him a few days earlier.
Signor Auditore accepted it and thanked him. After that Aresio made a quick bow and after a quick squeeze of Ana's hand, he left the room. Probably to return back home, Ana thought, feeling her knotty stomach turn.
"My dear Ana Maria, you are welcome in my house" signor Auditore said. "I made a promise to your father that I would care for you as I do my own children, and I am not one to break promises".
Ana smiled in return. "Please signor, call me Ana. I am very thankful for your hospitality, but..." she closed her mouth. Would she dare ask if he could take her to her father? Even though she hadn't met him before, she could feel that this was a well-respected man, and that he wouldn't be stupid enough to ignore her father's wishes. But still, maybe it was worth a try.
"I would really like to know where my father was headed, signor" she pleaded. "I fear for him".
To her surprise, signor Auditore let out a small laughter.
"My dear girl, please call me Giovanni. And regarding your father, trust me that you should not be worried for him. I've known him a long time, and I can guarantee you that he is able to take care of himself. Even I do not know his location, though I haven't yet read his letter, so maybe that will change. Your father did give me instructions to take care of you, and I will follow those. Even if it means keeping his location from you." His face turned serious. "I'm very sorry that you are separated from your father Ana, I know it hurts to be without your family. I hope that you'll find a home here with mine during this time."
Ana simply nodded. She didn't dare to tell him what had happened at her house before she left, but since her father seemed to trust him, she figured he already knew to some extent. Giovanni reminded her of her own father in some ways. The way his presence immediately demanded respect, but not in a frightful way. It was just a feeling that set in the room when he was there, like someone important had just entered. And yet, he seemed like nothing but kind and generous. She could tell that he was a fair man, just like her father was. Or maybe she was just trying to make him into some kind of father-figure, to remind her of home. She shrugged.
"You've been traveling for days, maybe you would like to wash up and get some rest? During dinner I'll introduce you to my family, and hopefully you'll feel better when you're rested and full".
Giovanni called for the maid and Ana followed her, thankful of his offer.
After her warm bath, Ana tucked herself between the sheets in the guestroom she would be staying in from now on. Her room was on the second floor, just like the rest of the bedrooms, the maid – Annetta – had explained. It was simple and impersonal, with dark wooden furniture and light fabrics. Still, she could tell by the quality of the sheets that the simplicity of the room had more to do with it being meant for guests than lack of funds. Which made sense, since Giovanni apparently was a banker, according to Annetta. The maid had told her a little about the family, so she wouldn't come unprepared for dinner. The lady of the house was Maria Auditore, Giovanni's wife. They had three sons, Federico, Ezio and Petruccio, and a daughter, Claudia. The middle son, Ezio, was apparently a bit of a heart breaker, Annetta had warned her. It had made her laugh. Like anyone would be able to get to her heart now.
The fact that the Auditores' had three children made Ana a bit nervous, since it meant that she would probably be forced to spent time with them. That would make her new plan, to steal the letter her father wrote to Giovanni, a bit harder. She had come up with it during the bath. Even though her father didn't want her to come, she figured there was no point in being safe if they weren't together. Especially if they weren't together. That would just mean she would have to spend all her time worried and lonely, and she wasn't having that. And she was pretty much an adult by now, she could probably take pretty good care of herself. Maybe she could learn how to use a knife, in case it came any more angry guards trying to kill them. And with that thought in her head, she fell asleep.
