A/N: Spot the hint.

Faustina smiled, an expression that was only half faked. This was either a very good turn of events, or a terrible one.

"So you want to help me- can you stall La Volpe?" she asked, her tone practically a purr. She was not good at the art Fiora and Garnette practiced to get close to their targets, but she didn't need to be for this man. He seemed already infatuated with something far more intoxicating than her meager assets. "I have another assignment I need to finish first. I was just gathering a bit of information in advance."

None of that was true, of course. What she really was intending to do was to investigate this man, to see if he truly was who he said. If he wasn't… she would have made a serious mistake.

So she needed to keep him away from La Volpe while she investigated. While at the same time getting him to keep La Volpe from getting suspicious.

"Of course," he nodded, a gleam in his eyes.

"You have an advantage over me," she said, shooting another glance at the corpse. And then there is the matter of whether I should accept La Volpe's offer and spy on him like that, or pretend to die and then join him some other way. "You know my name, but I don't know yours."

Both options had their good points. The first would be easier, and take less time, but she would run the risk of the thief assassin hearing of her Templar connections. If she joined his Guild, she could use a different identity, but it would take far longer to work her way up to a position where she would hear anything of use. Besides, the Thieves' Guild was comprised mostly of men. IT wasn't plausible to hide her femininity for that long, and as a woman thief she would stand out. If she joined it as an already established power, her gender would get far less comment. The Templars and Assassins both had little qualms with women doing what would generally be considered men's jobs, if they were useful.

"Paganino," he said. "I can tell Volpe I couldn't find you yet, but that I was narrowing down the trail."

"No," she considered. "Leave a message for La Volpe, saying that your query, Faustina Collari, had business in another city and left early this morning, and that you are following. You will confront her on the road, on her way back, far from the city. It is a stroke of luck that she is leaving Roma for a few days- it will allow you to talk to her where you won't be interrupted, and where neither of you has the high ground. Then leave the city, as if you are following me. Travel for about two days, and then come back. Wait outside the city for me in three days. I will be waiting, and we can ride into the city together. As if you have convinced me, and I am ready to ally with the Assassins."

He nodded. "An apt plan."

Yes. It would give her enough time to evaluate things. If worse came to worse, if she discovered he was an assassin spy, she could ambush him before he returned to Roma.

There was still the matter of the corpse. For a moment she wondered who the girl had been. From her scanty outfit and well-brushed hair Faustina would guess a courtesan. That hair looked like it had been her pride and joy. The thief ran a hand through her own tangled mop, and surpressed a shiver. A courtesan's death hardly mattered- they were allied with the assassins, after all.

A death in vain was a pity, however.

(((((((((((((())))))))))))))

Paganino disposed of the body, dumping her unceremoniously in an alley, and they headed off to send the message to La Volpe. Faustina watched him like a hawk when he penned the note, making sure he didn't slip any additional information in it. He didn't, as far as she could see. Of course you could never rule out the possibility of code. But her abilities only extended so far, and this was the best solution she could think of.

The other thief procured a horse and supplies, and left the city. She climbed the walls and watched him until he disappeared from sight, to make sure he was going the way she had told him to. Luckily, he did.

She returned to her main hideout, taking a randabout route around the rooftops. She wouldn't return to the hideout where she met Paganino until she could verify he was who he said he was- even then, she would abandon it as soon as her dealings with him ended. The fewer people who knew the locations of her homes the better.

There was another surprise waiting for her in this hideout, but it was a far better one. A small piece of paper was resting on the table in the center of the room. Drawn on it in red ink was a crane resting on a short sword.

The Thief laughed. She knew what it meant- it was an invitation. The Dama Rossa often used a crane to represent herself, and no doubt Rocco had sent her to leave the message for Faustina. His mercenaries would have a hard time tracking the Thief down.

It was a tradition that had happened almost by accident, a year or so before.

((((((((((())))))))))))

Faustina slipped into the room. The Dama Rossa was seated at the table, her elegant fingers curled around the base of a wine glass. A smile was curling the edges of her mouth, and her cheeks held the hint of a flush from the alcohol. But the Thief could spot the wariness hidden in her posture, and in the way her right hand played with her hair.

Garnette met her gaze, and blinked slyly, making the slightest of gestures towards the man seated opposite from her. He had his back to Faustina. Faustina crept forward, and tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around, and hand going for the short sword at his belt.

"Don't," the Dama Rossa's voice carried just a hint of a threat. "She is one of those I brought for you."

Faustina stepped into the light, and slipped her scissor blade back into her sleeve. She wasn't sure what sort of game Garnette was playing here, only that she was to play a part.

The man was tall and broad shouldered. His face and hands were scarred from countless fights. His expertise with weapons was obvious in the way he held himself. He rose and took a step towards her. "You are the information broker." He shot a glance at Garnette. "I had heard you were neutral."

Faustina tensed, but replied smoothly "Things are not always as they seem."

"So I know," he returned to his seat. "Do tell me more."

((((()))))

Faustina, and the other Templar the Dama Rossa had brought the mercenary leader had both refused recruitment. Garnette had declined as well, stating that she preferred the relative stability and morality of a cause. But he had invited them to his base again, a few months later, and soon it had become a tradition. It was a rare opportunity for the Templar agents to trade information without fear of eavesdropping.

The Mercenary, Rocco Tiepolo, guffawed when he saw her. Faustina had stolen a costume from the Hellequin. Being seen in her Thief rig paying a visit to the Templar-allied mercenaries would be counterproductive.

"So this is one of the illustrious killers you promised to bring to my table, my dear Dama," he scrutinized Faustina. "I have heard tale of a hellequin who forwards the Templar agenda. Are you she, signora?"

Faustina laughed. "Sorry to disappoint, Rocco." With a flourish, she took off her borrowed mask.

He didn't look disappointed. "Ah, Faustina. Take a seat," he gestured at the two empty seats at the table.

The Thief smiled, and slid into her seat. They played this game each time. Rocco invited them to his home to try to recruit them to his mercenaries. He collected mercenaries like some men collected fine weapons or jewels. Each time, they would refuse. It was becoming a mere formality, and excuse to get together for drinks.

Cesare did not appreciate it if too many of his Templars formed an alliance.

It wasn't long before the fourth member of their little congregation joined them. Unlike Faustina, she allowed herself to be escorted in by one of Rocco's mercenaries.

Lia de Russo, the Smuggler, drew back her head after she sat down. Without waiting for an invitation, she poured herself a glass of wine. "Garnette, Faustina, Rocco. Surprised none of you have gotten yourself killed," she said gruffly, and took a swallow of the wine.

An unusual assembly. But Rocco was keen on the Templar tradition of ignoring gender to serve their purposes, and wanted to expand his ranks of female fighters. He had made Garnette's acquaintance, and Garnette had brought him Lia and Faustina.

After their group had been established, Faustina had never thought to invite any of the other Templars. She didn't trust any of the others. These three… she could stand to be in the same room with without her scissor blade. As long as they were unequipped with weapons, of course. Hypothetically. You would be hard pressed to find a Templar agent who would be parted with his or her signature weapon.

The Dama Rossa she trusted enough to let the other woman hold a blade to her throat. The other two… Rocco was business minded, and Lia was more than a bit insane. They weren't involved in the Borgia politics, however. For Rocco, masters came and went. There was no need to get involved in their affairs. For Lia… As far s she could tell, Lia cared only for her treasure hunting and her ship. And killing.

They all enjoyed killing.

"Indeed," Garnette sipped her wine, her wealthy background showing through in every gesture. "It would be rather dull if one of use were missing. Especially if it were permanent."

"Today was not profitable," Rocco gloomily refilled his cup. "Cesare commissioned thirty more of my mercenaries. The last fifty he sent out never returned."

"Cesare views all flesh and blood as immaterial," Lia ran a finger over the rim of her cup. "You should hardly be surprised." She grimaced. "He neglected to pay me for the last artifacts I delivered."

"Paid me alright," Garnette said. "Perhaps you didn't complete your job to satisfaction?"

The question was arched, but Lia only laughed.

"The Borgia seem to be losing their hold on the city, slowly," Rocco observed. "If I were you three, I would be worried."

Faustina glanced around. Cesare has ears everywhere, as she knew as one of his spies. It was dangerous to speak against him so openly. No doubt Rocco assumed he was safe, in his own base surrounded by his mercenaries… perhaps he was. But she wouldn't stake her life on it.

Garnette waved a hand dismissively. "The Assassins won't succeed. They can only get so far if their only tactic is killing their political enemies."

Lia nodded. "They will never gain enough support."

Rocco snorted. "Are you blind? Look at how the Assassins are hailed on the streets as saviors."

"The Assassins," Faustina spoke up. "Will eventually be forced to kill someone that the public likes, if they are to continue their campaign. Besides, support of the common people means little. They can't kill all the aristocracy. And Rodrigo is the pope. With a Templar in that position, it would be difficult to get anywhere." She paused. "All the same, they are making an enormous effort to get this city under their control." She thought of her recent loss of customers and contacts.

Rocco shrugged. "My offer of employment still stands, signoras. If the Assassins do take over, I am sure that they will have work for my men."

"They have mercenaries of their own," Faustina pointed out.

"Mercenaries are one of those things you can never have enough of," Rocco chuckled. His confidence was unshakeable, it seemed. "Even if they get nowhere, they seem determined to eliminate Templars like you three. I have heard at least one of your Order has already been dealt with."

Garnette and Faustina exchanged a wary glance, just a second's eyes contact.

"Il Carnefice was an idiot," Lia scoffed. "You can't do your killing out in the open like that without presenting your enemies with an easy target."

The Dama Rossa nodded. "He was merely to make the common people afraid. A rather worthless brute."

Faustina agree absently, but her mind was elsewhere. If worse came to worse, she supposed she might be pressed to accept Rocco's offer. However, she wouldn't make a good mercenary. She felt no qualms killing, but preferred spying and stealing to outright murder.

Besides, she wouldn't abandon the Templar cause. The Assassins might present themselves as vigilantes championing the downtrodden, but she would never forget the atrocities she had seen them commit. They had killed her brother without any provocation, and continued to do it to many others. Their targets weren't always Templars. Too often she heard of targets they just killed out of pettiness, or cruelty.

Garnette as well would be reluctant to leave the Order. Though she hadn't ever been affected so directly by the assassins, she had seen their bloody work often enough. The Templars were far from perfect, but what would the country come to if men whose only method of problem solving was killing the problem took over?

Rocco seemed to have given up on recruiting them for now. "Anyway, how have you been?"

Lia refilled her glass. "My new crew is comprised of incompetent idiots and boys who have never been to sea in their life. In the last run, I had one who nearly outright told the cargo inspector that we had contraband. Had to give him a friendly poke to shut him up." She laughed.

Faustina fiddled with the buttons on her overcoat, and wondered how many of her crew Lia had killed in the past.

"Did that seal I gave your come in any use?" Garnette asked.

The smuggler nodded. "It did. You must have killed a well-connected man." She took a small signet ring from her pocket, and put it down on the tablet. The signet beaten into the metal was a crane in mid flight.

The Dama Rossa snatched the ring. "It wouldn't have worked if he was dead. But I did a favor for him once." For a moment she seemed unusually flustered, but settled back to her normal expression quickly. "How about you Faustina? Was that disguise just for amusement, or have you already succeeded in sneaking into the fox's den?"

The thief laughed. "Actually, I have question about that. Have you ever run across a man called Paganino?"

Garnette shook her head, but Lia spoke up "I have. He procured the blueprints for this for me," she gestured at her weapon. Like the assassins' weapons, it was a blade that extended from the wrist. Unlike the hidden blades they used, this one was far too bulky to be hidden under a bracer. "Stole them from that inventors' workshop."

That was a start. "He works as a spy on the assassins, correct?"

The smuggler nodded. "Yeah. He's easy enough to use, if he knows you are a Templar. But I wouldn't be too surprised if he has an agenda of his own."

Faustina would have to agree there. Such people were unpredictable, and often had hidden depths. However this meant he could probably be trusted as far as helping her infiltrate the Thieves' Guild. After that, she might have to get rid of him.