Chapter 3

Back in his room Cahin pondered the decision that had been forced upon him and his sister. To join the Templars was a life time commitment on the one hand if their brother became a Templar it meant that they could tell him the truth. On the other hand what would his reaction be knowing that his brother and his sister had indoctrinated him into a secret organisation without him having any say in the matter? Cahin ran his hand through his hair he decided to get some sleep and discuss it with Caha in the morning. He was just getting changed when there was a knock on the door. "Come in" Cahin called expecting it to be his sister was surprised when Fiora walked through the door. "I heard about what happened down at the port" Fiora said before Cahin could ask why she had come to see him she carried on speaking "Don't let your brother become a Templar" Fiora blurted "I've regretted the decision ever since I made it" she finished in a rush before looking down at the carpet. Cahin stood shocked for a minute before replying "I don't have any other choice" he said "either Paulo becomes a Templar or he is sent to Il Vaticano not knowing why" "I understand but a Templar's life is harsh and unforgiving he will have to sacrifice the freedom he previously enjoyed" Fiora begged "I know that" Cahin roared "You forget what forced my sister and I to become Templars" he continued advancing on the shocked Fiora. "I'm sorry" Fiora whispered "I didn't realise what I was saying" "Get out" Cahin replied turning to face the balcony so that Fiora couldn't see his tears. Fiora shook her head and left the room wandering how many other lives Cesare Borgia would destroy.

The morning saw Cahin and his sister walking towards Teodore's office their brother at their side. Knocking on the door the family entered to find Teodore sitting at his desk. Verullo stood behind him and next to Verullo another figure they didn't recognise. "Cahin, Caha" Teodore nodded "I don't believe you've met Rocco di Tiepolo" The figure next to Verullo leaned forward and shook Cahin's hand. "Cesare's mercenary" Cahin noted "It's an honour" "Oh no" Rocco laughed "the honour is all mine you and your sisters fighting skills are legendary among my men" "I wasn't aware that we were so popular" Caha smiled "Indeed mia signora" Rocco laughed again "If we get the chance I would love to see you fight one of my men" "I like a challenge" Caha smiled "Now that the introductions are out of the way to business" Teodore said motioning for the trio to sit "Paulo I trust that your siblings have told you about my proposal?" "Yes" Paulo said "No offence but I thought the Templar order was destroyed long ago" "That was just a story so that we could conduct our activities without people raising questions" Teodore replied "The important matter here is whether you are going to join us" Teodore asked looking Paulo dead in the eye. "I've been away from my family for too long" Paulo replied "of course I'm going to accept" "excellent" Teodore smiled "your training with Rocco and Verullo begins immediately head down to the courtyard and they'll meet you there.

3 Weeks later

Paulo strode into the training ring that had been set up in the courtyard. After three weeks of brutal training at the hands of Rocco and Verullo he was now an adept in his area of combat and could easily outmatch any knife fighter in Collioure aside from his brother and sister that is. Rocco was standing by the weapons rack polishing the war axes and hammers. Verullo was waiting in the middle of the ring. "We'll be trying something a little different today" he said to Paulo marching over to the weapons rack and pulling two great swords off. "Listen Verullo I don't think I've got the strength to use those" Paulo said backing away. "Nonsense " Verullo grunted throwing one of the swords at Paulo's feet "Now pick that up and I'll show you the basic strikes" Paulo gasped as he picked the sword up the weight was incredible and he could barely keep the sword level with his waist. "Now then" Verullo said approaching one of the dummies "copy my strikes as best you can" Verullo said before launching into a string of blows aimed at the dummy. He first slashed the dummy across the stomach sending hay flying across the floor. He followed up by smashing the dummy in the face with the hilt of his sword before plunging his sword into the dummies stomach. To finish Verullo spun around so that he was behind the dummy before slashing down with his Estoc driving it into the dummy's collar bone kicking the dummy in the back he withdrew his sword before turning to Paulo. "Those are used for basic low profile kills" Verullo said pointing his sword at Paulo "now you try" Paulo turned to his dummy before lifting the Estoc the weight strained on his arms to start he tried to repeat Verullo's second move He drove the hilt into the dummies face before pulling back and pushing his blade into the stomach of the dummy. The blade lodged halfway in and despite his best efforts Paulo couldn't remove it. "Sorry" he said as Verullo walked over "What have you got to be sorry for?" Verullo laughed clapping Paulo on the shoulder "you were using a weighted blade there "I'm surprised you could lift it let alone wield it" "Paulo looked at Verullo a frown deepening on his face "You gave me a weighted sword why?" Paulo asked "it was the same method used by the Roman legions they trained with heavier weapons, by the time you use the real thing you'll be able to use it with ease" "I see" Paulo nodded before turning back to the dummy and placing his foot on the dummies chest wrenching his sword free he hefted it again before swinging his sword at the dummy.

4 months later

After months of brutal training Paulo could now match most of Cesare's agents in combat. IL Lupo's interrogation at the church had proved successful and the team of agents were now ready to retrieve the artefact that had been named the Blade of Eden. The vault where the artefact was stored was located on an old hill fort about two miles out from Collioure. Under the main archway of the castle Teodore had finished giving the final instructions to the Papal Guards. "Anyone we meet up there is to be handled with lethal force" Teodore finished before turning and joining the other Templar agents. "No doubt the assassine have also discovered the location of the vault, we've sent the rouge thieves to delay them but that will only buy us so much time we need to move out now" "Then what are we waiting for?" Paulo said turning and beginning to walk out under the archway. The Papal guards moved in formation and rippled forward following the sinister jester through the streets. The other agents all except for Lia, Il Lupo, Cahin and Caha who had taken to the rooftops hurried after him. "You are turning into a natural leader" Verullo noted catching up with Paulo. "If this mission works Cesare is sure to bestow you with honours" "I don't really care is he does or doesn't" Paulo replied "I work for the Templars because it's what I believe in" he finished before looking up at the sky "It's days like these that I fight for a world free of the petty squabbles that infest our world" "Hopefully the Blade of Eden will help achieve that" Verullo noted before lapsing into a thoughtful silence.

One hour later the group arrived at the hill fort there was no sign of the assassins meaning that the thieves must have done their job well. "We should hurry and begin looking for the doorway" Cahin said "Agreed" Donato nodded "Verullo, Teodore and myself will begin investigating the eastern side of the fort, Cahin, Caha and Paulo will investigate the western side Lia, Il Lupo and Fiora can cover the north and the Papal guards will cover the south" "Si Capitano" the head of the Papal legion saluted before leading his men to the south of the castle. "We had better get a move on" Caha said to her two brothers who were having an arm wrestling contest on a nearby rock. "Of course sister" Cahin said springing up causing Paulo to sprawl across the rock. "Looks like I won that match" Cahin smiled looking down at his brother "Rubbish" Paulo snorted brushing himself off "I was about beat you, you only listened to Caha because you were afraid of losing" "Is that the only reason that you listen to me then?" Caha asked her hands on her hips "nonsense he only listens because he's worried you'll challenge him to a contest" "We'll do that when we get back" Caha smiled and Cahin groaned "I'll be sure to pay you back for that brother" Cahin growled looking at Paulo. "Always a pleasure brother" Paulo laughed bowing deeply. "Get a move on you three" Teodore shouted from the main entrance "We want to get the blade before the assassin's do" "Of course Teodore" Caha called before following her brothers up the hill. No one noticed the hooded figure standing in the watch tower of the castle. "Merde I didn't think Cesare would send so many agents" Ezio muttered under his breath before leaping off the tower in a perfect leap of faith.