Venezia was her dream city although she dare not admit it to her companion. The colorful houses built alongside the canals, the artfully constructed bridges and the palazzo's and churches, all took her breath away.

Ezio was walking quickly and she was having a hard time keeping up with his stride and looking all around her at the same time. They came across the Mercato where several stalls were selling ribbons and masks even though Carnivale was quite a few months away. Further ahead, a vendor was selling exotic spices and behind him she spotted the tailors selling expensive silk.

Lucia hurried along with Ezio, hoping he would stop so that she could take in the sights. But to her dismay, he was quickly making his way past the markets and she found herself near the canals again. The shimmering water in the moonlight, took her breath away. "Che bello!" she said without even realizing it.

"Che schifoso." Ezio muttered. "They should do something about the smells."

Lucia frowned and wished she had spent time in Venezia when she had first come here, although at that time she was desperately seeking Ezio and wasted no time in learning from a citizen that the Borgias were in Rome and that was probably where he was too.

Lucia scowled at Ezio as he continued to walk, obviously unaware that she was lagging behind. He seemed angry about something and annoyed with her, and she could understand why, but she was certain that she could change his mind about her.

They came across a painter and she walked around the easel so that she could get a peek at his artwork.

"It's so wonderful." She exclaimed.

"Grazie!" the artist said happily.

"Lucia!" Ezio called and she immediately ran back to him. "We're not here for sightseeing. You have work to do."

"I was just..." Lucia looked at the anger flashing in his eyes and remained quiet.

As they walked, Lucia kept her eyes down so that she wouldn't be tempted by the wonders of Venezia. A gondola passed by her, and she peeked at the happy couple sitting in it. The man was giving the woman flowers and she in return, leaned over to kiss him.

"We're here." Ezio announced and Lucia bumped into him.

"Mi dispiace." she said rubbing her nose.

Ezio turned to look at the gondola, turned back to her and said nothing.

"The Palazzo Ducale." he told her.

Lucia gazed up and gasped. She started to remark about the architecture, and then closed her mouth.

"The official can be found here. He's a sycophant of the Doge and has been seen visiting him ever so often. Even now, I believe he's inside."

Lucia looked at Palazzo and noted marble and engravings on the sides. She couldn't even imagine what the inside looked like.

"I hope you've read the specifications of the mission that was originally intended for Stefano."

Lucia squirmed uneasily. She still couldn't believe what had come over her to act this way. One minute she was celebrating her promotion to Assistente with her friends, the next minute she was stomping into the office and exchanging her mission with Stefano's. She deserved Ezio's anger and she owed him an apology, but perhaps he shouldn't have been flirting with Caterina in front of all who cared to see. What did he see in her anyway?

"Si. The official has been making up lies and planting false evidence against the assassins here. This could cause in the guards being more vigilant to their activities which would inevitably cause a hindrance in our operations. He must be eliminated."

Ezio started to walk again and she followed him towards a small stall selling ribbons.

"So how are you going to get in?" he asked firmly.

Lucia turned to look back at the Palazzo and then at the guards. She closed her eyes and remembered what Machiavelli had taught her- to look with the eyes an Assassin.

"Tell me what you're thinking."

"There are about ten guards on the front; some positioned at posts, others at the gate." Lucia replied quickly; opening her eyes. Without looking back and causing suspicion, she tried to remember what else she had seen. "There are seven guards on the roof on this side, and I gather they have the same arrangement on the other side too."

Ezio folded his hands behind him. "Your conclusion then?"

Lucia shook her head ruefully. "The only way in is if I were a bird." She then remembered hearing his stories from Machiavelli and grinned. "I don't suppose Leonardo would fashion us another flying machine?"

Ezio smiled back. "I'm afraid not. So how would you get in?"

Lucia walked to the side, so that she could study the Palazzo subtly. She looked at some guards chasing thieves on the building rooftops across from where she was and remembered La Volpe's wisdom. He had told her that an Assassin sometimes looked at things and registered them without even realizing it.

Lucia started to walk slowly, her mind running over everything she had seen since she arrived. Paintings, canals, gondolas and buildings. She snapped her head up and rushed back to Ezio excitedly.

"A party is being held in honor of the Doge's birthday!"

"So?"

"It's at the piazza! If we can't get in, let the official come out! He's sure to attend."

"I don't..."

"At first, I had this idea about dressing up as a courtesan again." she was babbling and she knew it, but as the plan started to form, she pushed away her reservations. "But the guards barely blink as a courtesan passes by. This could work! We could go in disguise as party-goers and then I could find a way to eliminate the official."

"Bene." Ezio replied and Lucia couldn't read his expressions. Did he agree with her or did he just want to see how it would play out?

"There is one slight problem." she said.

"What is it?"

"We don't have nice clothes to wear to the party." she said hesitatingly. "All I have apart from this dress are my Assassin robes."

Ezio gave her a small smile and started to walk. "That can be arranged."