Piero sat in the tall grass counting off the seconds in his head. When he reached two hundred and fifty he slowly moved toward the camp as his brother had done earlier. He determined that walking up from far away would goad the thieves into shooting him and not wanting to get cut down by a few crossbow bolts he decided to sneak in from the side. It might still get him shot, but it also work and let him live long enough to speak to the head thief.

Creeping through the grass wasn't difficult thanks to the good weather over the past few months. It had grown thick and tall, making hiding easy. Since he did not have to worry about hiding Piero focused on moving through them stealthily. This required more patience than skill, something Piero had a great deal of. Just a few steps at a time, then wait. Few more steps, then wait again. If a breeze were blowing then Piero could have moved with it and closed in on the ruins much quicker.

As he neared the ruins the grass began to thin. Either the thieves kept the grass around them short or his luck had started to run out but he could no longer use it for cover. Piero sat at the edge, still safe in the foliage, and looked for a way to get across.

From where he was standing it was a twenty-foot gap to where the thieves kept their stolen goods in the shadow of the church. Off to his left there was a man standing guard along the side of the church. The rest of the group was slightly further away from him in front of the church. The light from the fire gave the guard a muted orange tinge.

The guard wasn't focused on his duties and his attention would constantly shift from the partying going on near him to his current duties. Piero thanked God for the guards incompetence.

If he sprinted for the shadows ahead he would reach them in seconds, but also potentially draw the guards attention. His other option was to keep low and move across stealthily, but this would take time. With nothing out there to cover him he would be spotted instantly if the guard chance a look in Piero's direction.

After weighing his options Piero decided to try to sneak across. The guard was looking out over the field and doing his job, but Piero was confident that he would turn around to see what his friends were doing soon enough.

Piero watched and waited, hoping that Alessio would be able to handle himself and not grow too impatient. At last the guard began turning and Piero made his move.

Keeping his legs crouched and his back hunched over, he crept forward at a steady pace. Never taking his eyes off the guard, Piero closed in on the darkness. The safe and protecting darkness.

As he reached the last five feet the guard began turning back around. Piero was still in the guard's line of sight and was not moving fast enough to beat his gaze.

With no time to argue with himself Piero dove forward the last few feet and rolled into the darkness up to one of the carts. He quickly slipped under the cart, drew his blade, and watched where he had dived from. Piero feared that the guard heard his landing and was preparing for the worst. He sat for several seconds expecting the guard to appear from around the corner, but he never showed.

Piero stopped holding his breath and extracted himself from under the carriage. He walked up to the church's wall and peeked past the corner. Standing close by was the uninterested guard. Being closer now Piero could see more clearly that the man was younger than Piero.

He was leaning on his spear and had no secondary weapon on him. His stance was sloppy and he seemed to have almost no awareness of his surroundings. Piero thought to himself how Ezio would reprimand him for being so unaware.

With the guard as his only obstacle to the main group, and not willing to risk checking the other side, Piero decided to eliminate the guard.

Piero waited once more for the man to lose interest and look towards the partying thieves. Just like before it didn't take long for his attention to wane and his head turned away from Piero. Piero kept low again and moved forward, blade still in hand.

He closed the gap between them quickly and quietly. He was less than a foot from the guard when he made his moved. His back still turned Piero rose up and struck the back of the man's head with the hilt of his dagger.

Had the man been wearing a helm the blow would have been painful, but not capable of rendering him unconscious. As it was he had no protection and the blade hit his skull with a mild crack.

The guards body went immediately limp and he fell to the ground. Piero stood over and, unable to let old habits die, quickly picked his pockets.

With the guard's gold in Piero's pocket he walked to the edge of the wall that hid the rest of the group. Taking a look he could see that they were still milling around the fire. With food already eaten they had gotten out casks of wine and ale. One or two of the men seemed pleasantly drunk.

The leader had a cup in hand but was as reserved as ever. Piero was glad to see that the man kept his wits about him. That would mean he would be less likely to do something rash. Steeling himself for what was about to come Piero stepped into the light and loudly proclaimed, "Why this looks like fun. Got room for one more?"

The group acted immediately with swords and knives being drawn. Piero even noticed a crossbow or two in the bunch. There were five people around the fire including the boss, who was the only person that didn't draw a weapon. Piero didn't see any more men hiding around, which he hoped meant his brother had finished his job.

"I see we're a little touchy about whose invited to the party. I'll just have a quick word with your boss here and then I'll be gone before you know it. How about that?" Piero asked amicably to the group.

One of the closer guards, with a sword pointed directly at Piero, stood between him and their boss."You aint talking to anyone mate. So you better walk right back out of here."

Having expected some resistance from the group Piero continued speaking unperturbed.

"Oh, an Englishman. I haven't seen one of you in quite a while. Tell me, are you the boss of this fine group of thieves?"

The rude thief took a step closer to him, sword sweeping close to Piero's throat , and asked. "And what if I was?"

Piero moved quickly. He grabbed the hilt of the man's sword with his left hand then pulled him in close, shoving the sword towards the ground. Piero palmed his dagger into his right hand and slammed the pommel on to the bridge of the Englishman's nose. An audible crack could be heard as the bones met steel.

The Englishman let go of his sword to put his hands towards his now broken nose. Blood gushing between his fingers, he looked as angry as one could with blood flowing all over his face.

"Then I would say that your group should get a better leader." Piero said with a smile directed toward the Englishman. While he sounded confident Piero's heart beat rapidly and he hoped his gambit would pay off.

Piero looked at the group of armed thugs and they looked back menacingly. They stood still for the moment, but Piero knew at a mention they would charge him. Sheathing his knife Piero looked directly at the man still sitting. "I'm not here to fight any of you. I'm here with a proposition, and a request. Will you listen to me, or am I going to have to fight everyone here first?"

Holding the thieves leader's gaze Piero noticed that he had long black hair that came down in wavy strands to his shoulders. His eyes were extremely hard and his hawk nose only added to his piercing gaze.

"Why would I listen to someone I've never met that just attacked one of my men? Let alone be willing to fulfill his request?" The man's voice was deep and commanding. With how he looked and spoke it was easy to tell he was in charge.

"You should listen to me because I can promise you riches." Piero said.

"We are doing fine without your help."

"Yes, I saw your carts in the back. An impressive amount for working out in the backwoods like you are. If you wanted though, you could double, maybe even triple, that amount."

At the prospect of making more money the thieves began to whisper among themselves. The boss only raised an eyebrow and looked skeptically at Piero, his hands woven together in front of his mouth as he thought over Piero's claim.

"That is a great deal of money," he said at last. "How could you promise that?"

"I'd love to talk it over, but I'd feel better if I was sitting a little closer. I would also appreciate if all your friends here weren't pointing their blades at me."

"Fine," the man growled. "Drop your weapons men." He waved his hand in the air and the thieves complied. Piero heard grumbling coming from the still bleeding Englishman, but he couldn't feel a knife in his back as he walked past so he didn't start to worry yet.

The boss nodded to a box off to his right where Piero could sit. He sat down while the thieves got back into their groups and held their own conversations. Their eyes never left Piero, and he knew if he tried something he would be dead.

"That's a pretty well-trained bunch you've got here. They must really like you." Piero said loud enough for the other groups to hear him.

"We're not here to talk about my leadership. You said you had a way to make us rich. How?" The man said gruffly.

Piero was not surprised at the attitude he was getting, but had hoped that the boss would have been less angry. Hitting the Englishman might have been a bad idea.

"Alright, but first I'd like to know your name. I'm called Piero."

Several seconds passed before the head thief decided to speak, "I'm called Cal."

"Is that your real name?"

Piero met with another round of silence. "Never mind."

"Your group seems to be doing well for itself." Piero started off with, "I've seen some of the stuff you've got in the back, it's impressive. I even heard from some locals that you've been able to steal from their farms. To steal from unsuspecting travelers is one thing, but to steal from the people who live here? Now that is a feat."

"We're the best around. No one can catch us."

"Too true it seems, but what if you were to focus your attention on a specific group instead of everyone around? I'm sure you'd get even richer for your work than before."

"If we focused on one group they would rally against us. It's a fools game to take from the same man twice."

"Ah, you say that. What if it wasn't a man, but a group of men?"

The lead thief held Piero's gaze. He attempted to discern what lies were behind his words, but his smiling visage was well-built. Nothing could be gleaned so he continued speaking.

"Then they would crush us when it was convenient."

"That would be true for most cases, but if they were being harried by another group they would have to split their forces, or otherwise ignore one pain over the other. I can almost promise you that you would not be their first choice."

"How could you promise something like that?"

"I belong to the group that would be drawing the attention away from you. That's how." Piero said the last comment with such a level of arrogance that it was difficult to deny him through his confidence alone.

"For the sake of argument, let's say that I believe you. Who is the group you would ask us to rob?"

Piero could feel Cal's attention being drawn in. "They call themselves the Templars, though that is a term they try to keep out of the public's reach. They are rich bankers, traders, merchants, and more. We know who they are and would supply you with the information you would need to rob them."

"If they are so rich they would have hired guards."

"Of course, and you would know exactly what kind of guards and how many. We are a very talented group and little information slips past us."

Cal sat on his stool and thought the idea over. They were doing well for themselves, but it would not last long. They could only push the locals so far before they retaliated. If they knew exactly when good shipments were passing through, they wouldn't be forced to rob every caravan that came by. They could pick, randomly attacking with no obvious pattern. It would not only keep the money flowing through, but protect them.

"You also wanted to ask me a favor," Cal said. "What is it you need?"

Piero was most worried about this part of the conversation. He knew he could entice the man by his greed and desire for money, but now he had to ask him to give up some of the goods he'd stolen.

"You've got a cart back among your goods with a couple of bags, do you know the one I'm talking about?"

"I do." Cal responded.

"That happens to belong to me, and I am in the middle of a very important mission. I would like the cart, horses, and my bags returned to me so that I can be on my way."

"How do I know that you will return to fulfill your end of the bargain if I return your things? You could easily ride off into the distance and we might never seen you again."

"It's obvious why you're the leader of this group Cal. I cannot do more than give you my solemn promise that I will return within a week, with the first list of names and dates for you to rob. It may not seem like much, and you do not know me, but this mission is far too important for me to fail now."

Cal's head bobbed up and down as he worked through what Piero said. He believed that the man was not lying to him about making good on his end of the deal, but Cal never took a chance if he could avoid it.

"I appreciate that you have given me your word, but your desperation is proof to me that you would have reason to lie. It is nothing personal. I will give you several seconds to leave before I send my men after you."

Cal stared at Piero expecting him to leave, but Piero sat there. He sighed sadly then whistled a series of notes. To Cal it seemed nothing more than a sign of defeat, but to Piero's brother it was a call to strike.

Alessio sped out of the darkened church behind Cal. He ran past the lone guard sitting on the steps and slashed him across the throat as he passed. The man was dead before he knew what hit him. With their focus on Piero the other guards didn't expect an attack from within, and were not able to react fast enough.

Alessio charged forward until he reached the thieves' leader. Alessio grabbed him below his arm, with his own crossing the man's chest and locking his other arm down, and hauled him up to his feet. Alessio held a knife directly over Cal's eye with his free arm.

It took Alessio less than a couple of seconds to complete the maneuver, and thanks to that speed the guards were too shocked to move. Even Cal was stunned, with his mouth hanging open at the sudden change of events. Piero remained sitting and lamented that talks had devolved into violence like they did.

"Cal, I would like you to meet my little brother Alessio."

"Ciao carne morta." Alessio said into Cal's ear.

By this time the guards had surrounded Piero and Alessio with their weapons drawn and pointed at the two brothers. They would wait for their bosses orders, until then they would make sure the two could not escape.

"My brother there isn't as friendly as I am. In fact, is downright cruel at times, wouldn't you say so brother?"

"I just like to know how far a man can be pushed until he reaches the edge, is that so wrong?"

"Yes it is, but I'll let it slide for now." Piero said.

Cal spoke with a grim determination. "What do you two want?"

"You know exactly what we want. We want our cart back and to leave without having to worry about retaliation."

"If you kill me, you won't survive the others."

Piero stood and walked over to head thief, "That might be true. Or we could slash your throat, slice through every person here. Take our belongings, and move on like nothing ever happened."

Piero tried to look everyone in the eye as he made his statement, trying to drive home the lack of fear he and his brother had for them. Alessio gave off a menacing grin that would have chilled the devil's soul. Their scare tactics worked as some of the men began to shuffle nervously, their blades shaking slightly in their hands.

"But," Piero said cheerfully as he turned back to Cal. "We don't want to kill anyone. We just want to leave here and get on with our mission. I'm even still willing to offer you the deal from earlier, if you do not bother us again."

Cal didn't wait long to make his decision. He snapped his fingers. "Gregor, get their cart."

"Calen, are you sure?" Gregor the Englishman asked.

"Yes, now move!"

Gregor ran off towards the back to get the horses.

"How many of my men did you kill tonight?" Cal asked Alessio as they waited.

"Only the one behind you. I knocked out a few others that were working the outside."

"A small blessing."

Gregor came back with the horses in tow. Piero walked over and checked to make sure all their belongs were still accounted for. As he did that Alessio, keeping hold of Cal, moved towards the cart.

"Everything is in order. If you would be so kind as to follow us out to the edge of your camp Cal. I would also suggest that you leave your men behind."

Cal gave the order for everyone to stay where they were until they heard him call for them. Piero held the reins and walked the horses as Alessio walked beside him, bringing Cal along.

"We have our mission to complete, but when it is over I will be sending you a list of caravans to rob. If you choose to help us we will leave you alone and let you keep anything you find among them. In return we ask that you do not bother our order's members or anyone else on the road that is not a Templar."

"I not in a position to refuse."

"Of course you are, we all have choices. If you choose not to use the list we will not come out and hunt you down. If you keep up these attacks on civilians you will anger the wrong person, and they may call for your life. By helping us you are protecting yourself."

"I will think about what you said."

"Thank you, Calen. Alessio, we're far enough away now, release the man."

Alessio pulled his knife away and pushed Cal back towards his camp. Piero stuck his hand out towards Calen, "You are an intelligent man, I hope you will make the right decision."

Calen looked at the hand then took it. "Me too."

As Piero and Alessio got into the front seat and urged the horses forward, Calen began walking back towards camp. Alessio watched as Calen's men rushed forward to meet him. They watched Alessio and Piero as they left.

"Get ready," Alessio said. "I think we're in for a fight."

Piero did not look back. "We're fine brother. He won't attack us, not after your display at the end there. He has seen us both in action now, I doubt he will do something as foolish as trying to fight us."

"You're too trusting Piero."

"It's not that, I can just understand people sometimes. Get some sleep, I don't want to stop until we've reached Florence."

As the two rode towards Florence they did not notice the two men standing in the distance watching them through a telescope.

"I told you they could handle the problem on their own, all they needed was a little kick from a wiser generation."

"You were right vecchio amico. I feared that after farming for so long you would not know how to handle young assassins anymore."

"Bah, a true assassin never forgets his training. Now come, you've seen those two as far as you can. The rest is up to them. Let's go back to my home, I recently bought a very nice wine that I would enjoy sharing."

The old farmer clapped Ezio on the back as the two rode away to the man's home.