Chapter 11

Giovanni arrived home to find that that Francesco had already been arrested and was awaiting trial. The other surprise was that Maria had found the letter he acquired in Venice and giving it to Leonardo Da Vinci. Giovanni trusted her judgment and thought that it might not be a hard code to break; Father Maffei just hadn't reported what was actually in it.

Fredrico was waiting too. As soon as they were alone together, he demanded answers. "As you may have guessed Fredrico, banking is not my only profession. I am an Assassin, as were my father before me, and his father before him. I began training you for this on your 13th birthday, as well as Ezio on his, in the hopes that you would follow in my footsteps. Any questions you wish to ask I will answer truthfully." "Why" was the first question Fredrico asked. . "We have plenty of money and you have plenty of influence with di Medici." "I do not fight for money of power" Giovanni answered. "The men I kill are tyrants, men who wish to control the world, to control men's minds. I fight for freedom, the freedom for men to make their own choices. We work in the dark to serve the light." "That sounds like a speech that has been handed down through the years" Fredrico observed. "Father, why do you fight?" Giovanni sat and thought a while before answering. "I fight for my family, for honor, and for Florence." It was Fredrico's turn to sit in silence, mulling things over. Finally he looked up and said "I wish to fight with you, Father."

Four days later, on May 15th, the decrypted letter came from Leonardo Da Vinci. I read, "Francesco is to be arrested so that his trial is set to begin on the 29th of June, ensuring that Giovanni is in Florence on the 28th. Every Auditore male is to be arrested on that night and hanged on the 28th. Any evidence that Giovanni gives to Uberto that proves he was not behind the Milano assassination, Uberto will misplace. On July 12th, Veri will lead an attack on Monteriggoni, destroying the Assassins once and for all.

May the Father of Understanding Guide You,

Rodrigo Borgia

Giovanni was scared, More so than at any time in his life. Not only did the Templar's know his name, they knew his entire family and were going to hang them. Giovanni had one hope, a desperate hope, that he could convince Uberto to betray the Templar. He had a plan. If he could make Uberto see sense, then he could take the Templar's own cleverness and stuff it down their throats.

First he took the scroll he had retrieved from Milan to Leonardo. The painter had the thing decoded in hours, but he said it would take him two weeks to repair the blade. He also told Leonardo to make two, because Fredrico needed one. The delay was fine; he didn't plan on confronting Uberto for three weeks. Uberto wasn't the only Templar in the city, and if Giovanni showed his hand too early, they would have time to adapt their own plans.

Fredrico wanted to move immediately. "If we wait, and they move early we will be sitting ducks." "I know my son, I know", was all Giovanni could say. He had the same fears.

The days passed and the heat was stifling. There was a feel of lethargies in the air. There was also a sense of a turning point, either that the Assassin's would be destroyed, or they would reverse the Templar's momentum once and for all.

June 9th came, the day that Giovanni, had chosen to confront Uberto. Fredrico desperately wanted to help but Giovanni was sure the boy would let emotions take control and he couldn't have that. But to Fredrico he said "Your hidden blade isn't finished yet. You would be defenseless if this goes badly." That was how Giovanni ended up alone in Uberto's office.

Uberto certainly wasn't expecting the blow to the stomach, much less the blow to the face. Giovanni reined four more punches down on Uberto for good measure. "Why Uberto? Why would you betray my family? Betray everything we fought for? You Templar Dog!" Giovanni added another punch to the blows Uberto had already taken. Uberto was in no shape to back but Giovanni watched him warily anyway. "They offered me protection for my family, wealth to bring up my son, and title to guarantee his position in life. As close as you are to me Giovanni, my dear friend, my son comes first. I assume you mean to take my life." "What if I could offer your son, safety and wealth, if not title? Would you still wish to see me hang? Because if so, I can tell you right now, your son would much rather have you alive, than all the gold and titles in the world. I can get you and your family to safety. Just listen to my plan." "I'm listening" Uberto said.

"First, we arrest Veri di Pazzi tomorrow." "What for" Uberto interrupted. "It doesn't matter." Giovanni replied, "The trial will start on August 18th, so Veri can't leave the city until then. That will at least temporally halt the attack on Monterriggoni. The trial itself is of no importance so it doesn't matter whether Veri actually committed the crime in question or not. Secondly, di Medici must be out of the city. It can't look like he organized the escape. Thirdly, my imprisonment will go as the Templar's planned. However, you must bring me a hidden blade. You are allowed into the cells and it will seem to the Templar's that you are trying to gather any remaining evidence that supports my family. I will then take you hostage, to get the guards into the cell, lock you in a different cell, and take your family with me to Monteriggoni and spread rumors that they have died. The Templars will see this as an attempt to wrestle your allegiance away from them. It will keep you in their circle of trust because as far as they are concerned, you hate us for the murder of your family.

This only leaves one thing to chance. Will you help us? I would hate to have to kill you Uberto, but you have already jumped ship once. I need your solemn oath that you will not betray my family to the Templar." Uberto, who had been knocked to the floor for the whole speech, rose to his knees and said, "Giovanni, I swear on the life of my son, that I will not betray you to the Templar."