Enrico had followed Alejo to the stables. You must listen to me, amigo. If you follow Gucciardo and his men right now, death will fall upon your bloodline again. He said keeping toe with Alejo. When the Italian refused to stop, Enrico grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. I know you want to go after her. The mission would be easy if he wasn't a Count. Enrico looked at Alejo in the eye. He was trying to get the man to understand rationally.

You would rather Gucciardo take her prisoner and let her die after decoding the apple, then. The man spoke. He had one hand on the door to the stables.

No. I am asking you to come with me. You and I can get Elena Maria back. He said.

An young woman ran up to the two men. Enrico, Yavor es un traidor! The girl spoke.

Enrico let go of Alejo to look at the novice. Why do you say this, novato?

The girl untied a pouch from her waist, holding it out to Enrico. An Italian soldier handed me this, telling me to leave my post. I hid behind a wall when Guccarido entered the church. Later I saw him leave, handing off the trunk to one of his men. That was when he made his way to the barracks. She said.

That doesn't mean... Enrico looked from the sack to the girl. Was his mentor a Templar? Did he learn from the enemy all of these years?

Alejo looked at Enrico, shaking his shoulder. Aside from you and I, Yavor was the only other person to know where Elena Maria kept the apple when she was away from the study. He could have given Gucciardo the directions to enter Barcelona undetected. He told him.

Enrico shoved Alejo's hand off of his shoulder, taking a step away from him. Do not accuse my mentor of such actions. He said, pointing his hidden blade at him.

The young novice stood before Alejo, holding her hands out in front of her. Master, la familia Auditore have become our friends. Not our enemies. The girl watched Enrico as his gaze shifted between the two. I did not think it was possible, but seeing is believing. Who else could have had the time or means to send the best assassin in Barcelona to follow two Italians as they traveled from England to Italy? Who had the time to correspond with two known enemies to the order?

Enrico shook his head, lowering his arms. He did not want to accept their facts. He needed proof. He turned away, walking towards the church. He ignored their pleas. Enrico was supposed to make sure the Auditore's were safe within the city. He was to aid Elena Maria in her research and help her and Alejo form a plan of attack on the Count of Volterra. He failed Elena Maria once. He will not fail her again.

Enrico slid into the church from an old side entrance. It lead to a corridor behind the sanctuary. The entrance was sealed up years ago. Enrico had to push and pull away bricks to gain access. The man lifted his hood up before walking towards the end of the corridor. He blinked, activating his eagle vison. As he searched the walls, he saw a brick that looked out of place. Blinking again, he pressed on the brick. The ground shifted several feet away from him, revealing a hidden staircase. Enrico wasted no time in hurrying down the staircase. The only thing on his mind, finding the truth. Truth was, he found a part of himself becoming attached to Elena Maria. He was always told by Yavor that emotions and attachments would corrupt the assassins. All of his life, he listened to his father and Yavor, believing that his teachings would guide him through his life and pass on his lessons to the next generation of assassins. What if he was being led on by the mans lies? Being taught by a Templar. What could have been considered the impossible was becoming surreal.

Once at the bottom of the staircase, Enrico looked down the hallway that was lined with candelabras, simultaneously illuminating the old brick corridor. Enrico knew better than to just follow the lights. Ancient crypts like these were littered with traps awaiting their next victim. The man skulked down the corridor, aiming to remain undetected by his mentor. If what the novice had to say was the truth, what would become of the brotherhood? Who would take his place as mentor. Enrico was one of the older assassins in the order in Barcelona, having turned twenty-eight within the last few months. He was at the age where students were becoming teachers. He had spent most of his life helping the others in his order, helping them to hone their sparring skills, assisting them with missions and being their friend when their duties became difficult. But nobody was there for him as he was heading off to face their teacher one on or, nobody offered aid to the Auditore's when Elena Maria was taken from the fiesta. It was Enrico, alone facing his worst nightmares while his new found friends were having to deal with their crisis situations in different ways.

As the man reached the end of the hall, the floor below him shifted, opening up. Enrico hit the floor, sliding down the flat surface, tumbling onto his first puzzle. The floor was missing most of the way through, and it seemed in order to get out of chamber, he would have to climb up. From what he could see, there was another corridor at the top of the statue on the opposite side of the chamber. Enrico sprinted towards a crumbling column, running up the side before kicking off of it and jumping to a landing behind him. He took in a deep breath, running off the landing towards the wall, his hands gripping onto hand holds lining the wall. Using his feet against the wall to balance him, Enrico carefully climbed sideways where the hand holds stopped, looking behind him, there was a broken column that was big enough for him to land on. Jumping backwards again, Enrico landed on his feet, turning to face the statue. All he had to was cross the chasm by using the bars that were put in place. Enrico jumped out, gripping the first bar, swinging his legs back and forth before releasing from the first bar to grab the second, repeating the process. After Enrico let go of the second bar, he grabbed onto the statue's hands. It appeared to be the figure of The Virgin Mary. Giving a silent prayer, Enrico climbed to the top of the statue, pulling himself onto the landing.

Standing up, the man saw a door made of wood. With no other ways out of the hallway, Enrico believed it lead into Yavor's chambers. He tilted his neck to the side, cracking his neck before walking toward the door. He approached it, his hand reaching out to open it up. Was he making a mistake by not further investigating this claim? Or were Alejo's words true? Yavor was known around her as the Poor Man's King. He gave everything he had to those in need. What reason did he have to betray the community? He needed answers, Enrico deserved them. He opened the door, a hidden blade brandished.

His assumption was true, this was the man's private chambers. Enrico quietly shut the door as he stood an what appeared to be an office. He looked around not seeing much beyond old books and parchments cluttering two desks. He went to go and investigate before he felt the wind behind him pick up. Turning around sharply, Enrico was met by the elder man.

Yavor was unpleased by Enrico being in his chambers. Did you find what you were looking for? Yavor asked him, appearing calm and curious. Enrico knew better. He could see past the façade of the man. Enrico took a few steps back from him as Yavor began to walk in a circle. You seem tense, what is on your mind?

Enrico stayed his distance from Yavor, making eye contact as they spoke. We were ambushed on our land, yet you remain in your cell-like chambers, oblivious to what happened tonight. Except you knew what was going to happen tonight. You knew that Gucciardo and his men were going to storm in on our fiesta and take the apple and Elena Maria back to Italy. You aided him, giving him the routes that were not monitored by the assassins, distracting her with the party and clothes, betraying her trust- OUR trust in you when you took the apple and her parchments and handing them over to him, like a naughty child handing over their favorite toy to their parents. He yelled, enraged by how he allowed himself to be brainwashed by Yavor. How could he not realize that Yavor was the enemy this whole time, see the deception in his actions.

The men walked in the circle, each moment passing the calm and serene nature of the elder dissipated reveling his infuriation with the accusations being thrown his way. He shook his head before pointing a finger at Enrico. No, you have it all wrong. The Italians are scheming. Who is to say they are not working for or with Gucciardo and his masters? Has it ever occurred to you that our brotherhood was doing well without incident until they came along? They run around here telling stories of deception and filling our novices minds full of propaganda and lies. The Auditores are our enemies, they must leave Barcelona before they can cause more harm within our walls.

Enrico stopped walking, Yavor following suite. I ask for the truth, and you dance around the questions, spinning your own tales. You plant your seeds of treachery on our guests, our new found friends and allies. This plan of yours has been set in motion for what I can only assume as months. Here I stand as an unwilling accomplice. Enrico watched the man as he seemed to have followed his every foot falls. No longer will we be lead blindly by the Poor Man's King. Your reign of treason ends tonight.

Yavor had his hands hidden behind his back the entire time. He wanted to allow Enrico to find a calming moment, let him become vulnerable. Though as the man's speech seemed to have no end, Yavor decided it was finally time. Time to attack. His hands moved away from behind his back. In his left hand, the elder man held a silver dagger, the blade jagged, his right hand was free. Enrico triggered the mechanism of his hidden blades, taking his stance. He had to protect the Brotherhood. He needed to save them from this snake.

Yavor lunged at Enrico. The assassin, stepping back into a desk as the Templar took another step forward, attempting to slice at the younger mans throat. Enrico placed his back on the surface of the table, using his legs to push the man away. After being successful, Enrico's left arm reached over his right shoulder blade, his fingers wrapping around a throwing knife. In one swift motion the man threw the knife down at the man's foot, the blade stabbing him. Yavor let out a grunt before reaching to remove the weapon. Enrico started walking towards the man that was on the floor, but Yavor surprised him by throwing ash into Enrico's eyes. The man took a few steps back, trying to wipe his eyes. He wasn't as successful. Yavor lifted a chair up, striking Enrico. The assassin fell to the floor, eyes clinched as he tried to figure out where Yavor was.

The elder man stood over top of him before kicking him down on his back, placing his hands on Enrico's shoulders holding him down. They'll know the stories of your betrayal. How you attacked me, attempted to kill me for your personal gain. Then I will inform them how you were in on the plot with the Italians, to make us seem vulnerable. Nobody would question the Mentor.

While Yavor monologue, Enrico was able to shift his leg to wrap behind one of Yavor's, sweeping the elder off of his feet. Enrico wasted no time in plunging his hidden blade into the chest of the elder man. Enrico wiped his eyes once more, clearing away from of the ash with his shirt. He kneeled beside Yavor as the man was dying. What did you have to gain from working with Gucciardo? Why did you conspire with him? Why did you pick the Auditore's?

The man shook his head. Knowing he was dying, there was peace in death. Barcelona would be led by the Italians. Gucciardo's master has plans for this wretched city. You assassins have no clue how the world runs. The Templars only wish to educate the minds of those who are arrogant and opposed to the truth.

Enrico stood up, still looking down on the man. En su época de la muerte, puede usted encontrar la paz y el orden que usted buscaba. Enrico had a little tradition when it came to his kills. Some swabbed the blood of their deceased enemies, some prayed for them. Enrico took a piece of jewelry they were wearing. Before wrapping the mans body up in a blanket, Enrico took the ring off of the man's finger. It was engraved with an assassin insignia. The man was a disgrace to the order. Tucking the ring into a pocket in his pants, Enrico slung the corpse over his shoulder, finding his way out of the chambers and into the church. There was so much to tell the others. How would they take the news? Who would step up and lead the Spanish assassins?

It was an hour after Elena Maria was taken. Enrico had to kill his mentor, and was now gathering his assassin brothers and sisters. With the help of Alejo, Enrico was able to gather everyone into the church. It wasn't just the assassins, but the thieves and their leader, the whores and their Madame and the children who aspired to become assassins one day. After being reassured by Alejo, Enrico stood before everyone. Brothers, sisters, citizens of Barcelona. Tonight, we were attacked on our homeland. One of our own was taken from us. She is important, not just because she is a human being, or that she is one of us. She is smart. She holds knowledge. She is more intelligent than I, and I say that without a doubt. He looked down as he stood at the pulpit, his hands gripping the stand. Yavor betrayed us all. An audible gasp could be heard throughout the church. People looked at others, murmuring started up. A couple of them stood up beginning to yell.

That was until the novice girl stood up on the pew facing the crowd. It's true! she called. The Italian guards handed me money to run away from my post. I knew I could not take them on my own, so i tracked down Enrico. He saved us all from further terror.

A thief stood up, the man holding a small child. What happens now, amigo? These men know how to get into the city undetected. How do we know they wont return for the rest of them, for the rest of us?

Enrico slammed his fist down on the pulpit as people started to get up and yell. We have two options. Either live in fear and look over our shoulders for the rest of our days allowing the threat to remain longer than it needs to, or we regroup as assassins, form a plan, and march onto Volterra, Italy and bring upon a permanent end to Davino Gucciardo.

The novice girl looked at the others. But with Yavor dead, who will lead us?

Alejo stood up, walking towards the pulpit. I can not speak for you, because i do not know anyone here. However, I have had the pleasure of knowing this man for the last two months. He tended to my cousins wounds, saved my family, and then went on to take down a traitor within your walls. I can not think of anybody else better to nominate as your next Mentor than Enrico. Think about it, he single handedly battled Yavor after talking myself out of a situation that would have resulted in my death. He made us feel comfortable here. He has shown to my family and I his character. I believe he is worthy enough to become Barcelona's next Mentor Assassin.

The crowd was silent for a few moments, pondering the idea. Enrico was going to purpose a second idea until his train of thought was interrupted by the cheering crowd. They wanted him to lead them, guide them in the ways of the assassins. Enrico turned to Alejo, clasping a hand onto the man's shoulder. We have much work ahead of us, he spoke.