Chapter Three
"This is marvellous."
Evie watched Ezio investigate the train. It was moving and he found it fascinating. For a while he had been speaking Italian as Claudia had taken a deep slumber. But occasionally it would seem he was slipping back into English. Jacob made the most of these moments as Evie could feel her way around the strange language at the other times.
"You get kind of used to it." Jacob grinned, watching the 'master assassin' (according to Evie), stare at the window in childlike wonder.
"So long as you don't tell Leonardo Da Vinci." Evie hastily put in.
"Ah, he would love this." Ezio said, moving over to investigate the lights. He switched it on and off. Jacob shot Evie a look, pretending to be amazed. She glared at him. He should be respectful considering that this technology was a few hundred years advance of him.
"The length of time he could work at night. And no risk of fire." Ezio lightly touched the bulb with his fingers, skirting the heat.
"You should have a look at these," Jacob said, moving to show off the grappling gun.
"No! Jacob!" Evie protested but Ezio was already investigating.
"You worry too much." Jacob said. "Maybe you should check in with our sleeping guest?"
"Don't disturb her. She didn't sleep well," Ezio said. He was itching to test out the new weapon.
"How are you not tired if it was night time?" Evie queried.
"I take three three hour naps a day." Ezio said with a shrug. "Means I'm awake for almost any time for work."
"Is that enough?" Jacob asked.
"Of course." Ezio replied matter of factly.
"Maybe we should try it?" Evie said, enjoying the look of horror on Jacob's face.
"But I need my sleep. What could we be doing at night?"
"Assassinating?"
"We can do that in the daylight."
"It's more effective at night."
"But my sleep! Also, I couldn't use the Rooks. They're normal and sleep at night."
"Jacob, it's not something we should neglect."
"I think this life is working fine for us. Just because some interesting guy does it doesn't mean we should too. You jump too easily at ideas." Jacob crossed his arms. Evie looked flustered.
"I don't! It's just a good idea"
Ezio looked between the two. They reminded him of himself at that age. Brash. Determined. Believing that they could take on the world.
"You have many years ahead of you. And more stability than I had at your age. Do not throw yourselves into my shoes. But do not neglect to put your duty to the Creed before your own desires."
Revenge had driven him but he had learnt after decades that a love for life and peace was a better way to live. He felt old, thinking about who he had been at their age. It was nearly enough to make the Italian assassin feel tired. He watched the twins exchange glances. He had weighed down on neither side of the argument. Hopefully that would keep the peace for a bit.
"I believe that while my sister rests in deep slumber, we cannot communicate as the apple rests with her. I do not know if our ability to speak with one another will last if we move away from the source of our translation, but I wish to get my bearings of this city."
"I'm not sure if that's the best idea…" Evie squirmed in her seat, looking at Ezio who raised his eyebrows.
"I mean, you'll be seeing a city from your future. What if it changes things?"
"What if things that happen in your past happen because I have been here?" Ezio asked. "And have I not already seen numerous wonders and your world is still here?"
"Someone would need to stay behind with your sister for when she wakes up. We don't want her accidentally unleashing the Apple of Eden." Evie pointed out.
"Yeah, she seems a bit reactive." Jacob muttered.
Jacob immediately regretted his words as the glare from Ezio was terrifying.
"Tread carefully. She is my sister and a great woman. Claudia has gone through a lot to get where she stands now. Lesser men would have long past through the pearly gates if they had walked in her shoes." Ezio said, voice low.
"Perhaps Ezio and I should go out. You can remain and keep an eye on Claudia. Make sure she gets something to eat if she wakes." Evie suggested.
"I'm not staying with her while you get to run about having fun!" Jacob exclaimed. "Besides, won't Greenie get jealous?"
"No!"
"While Jacob has spoken crassly of my sister, he has proven to be able to be sensitive if he must. And if the apple's translation fails, I believe it would be best for whoever is my travelling companion to have a grasp of Italian." Ezio said. "Unless you speak French?"
Jacob looked mortified.
"I'll take that as a no." Ezio commented, unaware of the cultural semi hostilities between France and England.
"Fine. I'll look after your sister." Jacob grumbled.
"Thank you." Ezio said. "I am in your debt."
"You can bet you are," He muttered.
The two made quick going across London. Ezio had a fast pace that Evie had to work to keep up with but to him it seemed to be simple going. She reminded herself that his life had been in much more chaos and often he worked alone. So he had to be quick. And at his present time, he was leader of the assassins. It was not a fault of hers to be unable to keep pace with him.
To Ezio, this world was a wonder. The streets were so wide! The strange garb that they wore and their penchant for black. He tried not to let his eyes flicker back to Evie who was following behind him, after pointing towards the next view point. She was a very beautiful woman with a swing to her hips when she walked. Her face was rounded and strong. Her waist thinner than any woman he had ever seen. The curves, he had to admit, where most attractive.
Ah, but Caterina…
His days of courting innocent, unsuspecting women had ended when she revealed he had slept with him for nothing more than political game. Long had he had a boyish crush on her and it had shaken him to be on the receiving end. And yes, at this age, the thought of settling down had come to mind. Caterina would have been a good wife. His match in mind and a woman who knew and understood his work.
"I imagine Claudia will be the key to returning you to your world." Evie said, slightly out of breath. Ezio slowed his pace as he climbed the tower.
"Likely," Ezio said with a frown, finding a hand hold.
"What exactly happened before you ended up here?"
"It was midnight. I had just woken up from a nap. I saw the golden glow from the apple. Claudia was staring intently at it. I tried to convince her to put it down but it started to unleash its power."
"So it's whatever she was thinking? She was in control?"
"I haven't asked her. But she's been through a lot. Don't burden her with expectations."
"You plan to stay here for a while." It wasn't a question.
Ezio remained silent as they finished scaling the building before moving to give Evie a hand. He then took a seat and stared out across the city.
"Claudia needs a break from Rome while she heals. This isn't truly a bad thing to happen to her. Her she won't have the memories. Or deal with friends who can see what an ordeal she went through."
"And your desire to explore the city?"
"Your Brotherhood is in need of help." Ezio stated.
"But what of changing the past?"
"I know how to keep a secret. Besides, I do not know how your strange candles turn on and off, how will I bring this knowledge back to my time. And surely if the past were to change, then this world would change and it's too late and we will never know of what was to be."
"But the present is still at risk."
"If we do return, we shall return to the past. It is already ordained. So what is there to fear?"
"So you think that there is nothing to worry about?"
"I see no reason to live in fear. What happens happens. And so long as we work with good intent, the intent will see us through."
Evie stared across the city. Her city. She felt possessive of it. She'd even participated in a gang fight one or two times. That had driven things home. Had Ezio felt such possession when fighting for Venice or Rome? What had it felt like to defend Florence from the clutches of the Templars?
"Follow me." Ezio said, breaking her from her silent musings.
Evie waited until Ezio had stepped out hay bale before following his leap of faith. The assassin was moving through the crowds, keeping close enough that he might be part of the group but far enough they didn't question him. She noticed that he kept to groups that were slightly out of the ordinary. His white showed up more than her dark colours as they moved. He was on the hunt. They moved for about half an hour through enemy territory before he slowed down.
Ezio slipped onto a chair and she joined him. He gestured to a man investigating some scarves on a stall.
"Templar." Ezio said. Evie slipped into Eagle vision.
"How did you see him this far away?"
"I spotted the trail."
"The trail?"
"Volpe was teaching me how one can improve one's vision by working on it. Just like any other muscle."
"So you can see trails?"
"You do have the sight?"
"Eagle vision. Yes."
"It's like the colours get left behind."
"So if I focus, I can learn to do that?"
"We all see differently. Volpe can't. But he can see all living creatures, even through walls." Ezio said. The Templar was deliberating on which scarf to buy.
"I think I've read about this man. He uses the money he steals from the workers and child labourers to fund his wife's expensive passions."
"It is a shame to see that the Templars are unchanged in their habits" Ezio commented as the man finally payed for a silken scarf with gold threads running through it.
Ezio rose and started to follow the man, silent as a wraith. Evie marvelled at his ability to blend. She nearly lost track of him several times, despite his white clothing. Then with a burst of speed, he switched groups several times, caught up, before dragging the man into an alley. Ezio emerged and walked away as if nothing had happened.
The Master Assassin at work, Evie thought as Ezio approached her.
"One Templar down."
A/N: Thank you everyone who's reviews, favourited or alerted this story. xSnvwyy, I can promise you that Claudia's situation with the apple will be explored more in the next chapter. And more Jacob is also coming up! Until next time!