Ginevra raced along the rooftops, keeping the horse and its rider in sight. She knew she was loosing distance, so used the buildings to her advantage, swinging across, running in a straight line towards the mansion as Dante had to turn corners or change his route if the horse couldn't go the way he wanted. Behind her, L'Aquila kept in hot pursuit, making sure she reached the destination before Dante.

As the mansion came into sight, Ginevra pushed herself faster, feeling the strain on her legs. However, Dante was already at the door, dismounting the horse as the two still ran on, two or three buildings away.

"I won't make it!" Ginevra cried, her legs burning as she ran.

"You will, don't worry." He promised.

L'Aquila jumped down, running along the streets below, her shadow, cast by the bright moon, seemed to run beside him.

Dante reached the front door but turned as someone called out 'hey!'. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke exploded in front of him and he doubled over, coughing, struggling .

"Go!" L'Aquila called as he raced away from the scene.

Ginevra nodded, thanking him as she took the final jump, clambering up to her window and climbing in. She snatched up her night dress but already heard footsteps heading towards her room. Tucking it under her pillow, she dived into bed, still fully clothed, throwing a blanket over her.

"Ginevra?" Dante softly called as he opened the door.

"Sì? What happened outside? I heard noises." Ginevra asked innocently as she pretended to rub eyes sleepily.

"It was nothing, probably just some idioti playing with smoke bombs."

"Oh, okay." Ginevra yawned.

"I'll let you sleep. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

As Dante closed the door, she breathed a sigh of relief. That was close, way too close. She stood and tugged the dress out from under her pillow as she pulled her shirt and trousers off.

"Well, this seems to be a bad time."

Ginevra muffled her scream as she fumbled with the dress, covering herself as L'Aquila awkwardly perched on the window.

"What are you doing?" She hissed through gritted teeth.

"I thought I'd come back to see if you made it, and help you out if you didn't."

"Well I have, so thank you and goodbye." She said, urging him to leave.

He laughed.

"Okay, okay, I know when I'm not wanted." He grinned and winked at the girl. "Arrivederci, Ginevra."

"Arrivederci." She sighed and L'Aquila dropped from sight.

Once all the documents had been copied and returned, L'Aquila found another use for the spy.

"If you're to be an Assassin-" L'Aquila started, rummaging through a box of weapons as they stood in the dimly lit room.

"I never said that." Ginevra corrected.

"Alright, if you're to defend yourself against the Templars, you need to learn how to fight." He said, tossing her a sword.

"Er, I don't think my views on violence really agree with this." She caught the sword clumsily, awkwardly waving it about.

"It may happen, you never know."

He stood in a defensive stance and signalled for her to attack. She struck out, near his neck but he blocked, almost casually.

"Okay, bene. The neck is a good place to go for." He said, changing his stance. "Now I'll attack and you defend."

He lunged for her stomach but she deflected the blade, nervously gripping the hilt.

"Bene." He grinned.

"I don't know if I can do this." She sighed, lowering the sword.

"Sure you can, you gave me a good hit to the stomach when I tried to kidnap you."

"You did kidnap me."

"But you gave a good chase first." A mischievous smile played on his face as he stood back in a defensive stance. "Come on, hit me again."

The two practised sword fighting, their movements becoming more fluid. As they broke into a sweat, parrying until one of them received a hit, they took a break, exiting the dark, hidden room and stepped out into the streets of Rome.

"You're doing well, you know. Very well." L'Aquila said, leaning against the wall beside her.

"Grazie." She smiled.

"Still want to stick to your pacifist views?"

"What's the point?" She sighed. After considering her morals, she had resigned her anti-violent belief. "The world isn't a peaceful place. And although the Templars aim for a peaceful world, it's impossible to achieve, especially through their tactics."

"So you're finally seeing sense."

She shrugged.

"I'm not a Templar anymore, so why should I follow their beliefs?"

Suddenly, L'Aquila pushed Ginevra to the side, throwing her to floor as a smoke bomb erupted at his feet, the noxious gases climbing up him, poisoning his lungs. He fell to his knees, choking as his form disappeared in the smoke.

Ginevra scrambled away from the smoke, holding her sleeve over her mouth and nose. As the cloud cleared, L'Aquila lay still on the floor.

"L'Aquila!" She cried out, rushing to him. She shook his body but he didn't respond. Frightened, she checked his chest for a heart beat, careful not to mistake it with the thumping heart of her own.

Once relieved that he was still breathing, she sat back and turned to see the man that threw the bomb. A Templar soldier stood before her, sword raised.

"Stand up." He growled.

Fear struck her, but her anger was stronger. She drew the sword from her belt and stood, awaiting his attack. The soldier lunged and she pushed the blade away, returning the attack by striking his legs. He jumped back as she struck again and he sliced the air at her head, just missing as she ducked out of the way. She countered and blocked, kicking him in the crotch to break his defence. As the soldier doubled over she punched him in the face, making him stumble, crashing to the floor. Taking heavy breaths, she pointed the blade at his neck, watching him squirm in fear.

"Ginevra, leave him." L'Aquila said behind her.

She spun, surprised that he recovered so quickly.

"Good work, Fabio." He said, pulling the soldier to his feet.

"Grazie, L'Aquila. If I'm honest, I didn't expect such a strong fight from her. I think she split my lip." He remarked, touching his bleeding lip.

"Wha..." Ginevra looked between the two.

"You've passed the test." L'Aquila smiled. "It seems you still have Assassin blood in your veins."

"You sent him to attack me? You faked passing out?"

"Um, sì..."

"Bastardo! I thought you were in serious danger! You scared the life out of me!" She cursed, punching his shoulder.

"The lady seems to care for your safety." Fabio grinned.

"Shut up." Ginevra growled. "Don't even get me started on you!"

Fabio took a breath through gritted teeth and held up his hands in defence, stepping away.

"I think that's my cue to leave." He said and waved, jogging away.

"I hate you so much." Ginevra grumbled as she frowned, arms folded.

L'Aquila laughed and tapped her chin.

"Ah, chin up, Bella." He grinned.

At the word 'Bella', she blushed. No one had called her beautiful before. Before he could see her sudden change in colour, she turned away and maintained a stony expression.

With that, Ginevra called it a day and made her leave to head back to the Templar mansion.

"Before you go, take this." L'Aquila said, passing her a copper blade with a small glass button on the hilt. "And point that down before you press that." He warned.

She tapped the button, blade facing the ground, and grinned as it sprang out, lengthening into a long sword.

"Where did you get this?" She asked.

"My sister recovered it. It belonged to your father."

"Really?" Her eyes widened as she examined the blade, imagining her father fighting with it.

He nodded, smiling at her enchanted face. She was beautiful at the best of times but when she smiled, she almost seemed to glow.

"Grazie, L'Aquila." She grinned.

"Now don't go causing trouble now that you've revoked your pacifist views."

She laughed.

"I won't. Arrivederci!" She called, hiding the blade in her pocket as she ran back to the mansion.

"Arrivederci!" He called, watching her go.