Part 14

The ride back to Monterigoni was a silent one. Ezio didn't try to start a conversation or make thing less awkward between us.

I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Once we returned to the Villa Auditore, we were greeted by Mario, Claudia, and Maria. They welcomed us with hugs and handshakes but they, clearly, favored Ezio over me. It was making me upset; I mean, he pulled the amateur mistake and started dissension in our ranks and he gets all the credit?

I marched past the family reunion and started going to my room when Capitano started yelling at me, "Assassina! A letter came for you a few days ago! It's on your desk!"

I waved, letting him know I heard him, but I didn't stop or look at him.

The moment I got up to my room, I locked my door and window, took off all my weapons and stripped down to nakedness. I flopped down on my bed, exhausted.

8 years of hard work seemed to be disappearing from everyone's memories because of the son of one great man.

I remembered the letter and, walked over to my desk, grabbed the new piece of paper and flopped back onto my bed.

Augustina Mignonga

I instantly recognized the handwriting and it made me smile.

I opened the letter and started reading.

Dearest Augustina,

Every letter that you have sent me for the past two years have been over flowing with complaints of this Ezio. You haven't complained this much since you first met Alonzo (may that bastardo rest in peace).

I'm starting to wonder if your complaints are simply words to cover up how you really feel about this boy.

Even if I'm wrong, it's my turn to be the complainer.

Venetia is, as I've said, a beautiful city, but she is, currently, being defiled. The Doge is an idiota. The army men are sadist. Trouble lurks around every corner. Even our own patrons are turning against us.

The thieves and the mercenaries do make things easier but, I feel that it may not be enough for much longer.

Also, I have interesting news.

One of the girls, Silvia, was entertaining a patron not to long ago who works for a man by named Emilio Barbardigo. He's a noble and merchant here in Venetia. But he is also tyrant; he's part of the reason why it is like the Inferno here. The merchant district is starting to fall under turmoil all because of him. But, I digress. The point is that this man who works for Emilio does not have a high tolerance to wine. He got drunk and he said more than he should have. I didn't really pay attention, thinking that it was just drunken nonsense. Then, I heard him say a familiar name; Rodrigo Borgia.

I bolted up to a sitting position and read the letter with great speed.

The employee said that he was being worked so hard and that Emilio needed to get his work done due to his fear of this Borgia. I have no idea what this work may entail but I will keep my eyes and ears open and tell you everything I hear.

Your blood sister,

Fiora Cavazza

My adrenaline nearly burst.

'I have to tell Capitano.'

A leapt off the bed and threw my wardrobe open, grabbing a random dress and throwing it on.

I was about to open my door and fly out of the room, I froze.

'If I tell Capitano… he will send Ezio to do the job… and Ezio will get all the credit again… but if I tell… no one… and do this on my own…'

I, slowly, let go of the door knob.

I, slowly, walked over to the window, unlocked it and opened it.

The pink sunset illuminated my dark room.

'The sunsets… yet a new day begins… I'll leave tonight…'

…

Finally,

After a, seemingly, endless journey of stowing away on boats and stealing horses, I was in Venice.

Now, to find Fiora.

'She said that she and the other girls were friends with thieves and mercenaries. Should be easy to get information for a coin or two.'

Instantly, I found a group of Mercenaries. I snuck up to one, who seemed to be the leader, and drop a hand full of coins.

"Who do you want dead, Madonna?"

"You can kill whoever you want as long as you point me towards Las Rosa Della Virtu."

He looked at me, surprised for a moment, but my glared told him to give his thoughts no tongue.

He gave me the directions and, as I walked away, I heard the mercenaries break out into a fight with the Venetian guards.

Finally, I found what I was looking for. Las Rosa Della Virtu. The Rose of Virtue. An interesting name for a hide out for courtesans.

But, then again, from what Fiora's letters had told me, the women of this hide out were rather interesting themselves.

I stepped into the bordello and, immediately, felt out of place. Not only was I the only virgin in the whole building but this was actually my first time ever getting involved with courtesans. Yes, the assassin's had agreements with the courtesans back in Monterigioni, but I always tried to do things on my own. And when I couldn't, I looked to the mercenaries or the thieves. The men were the ones who went to the courtesans.

My awkwardness was clear to everyone, as all the courtesans were giggling at me.

Then, a woman in a blue low cut dress and a nun habit came up to me.

"May I help you, my child?"

I brought my hood down, out of politeness. "Sister Teadora?"

"Si."

"I'm looking for Fiora Cavazza."

She looked me up and down for a moment before smiling. "You must be Augustina."

I looked at her shock and confused.

"Fiora has told me much about you… and you are not the only person I've seen wearing such interesting robes."

Right when I was about to question her further, I heard and excited squeal and immediately recognized it.

I looked up the stairs to see and excited Fiora running towards me with an excited smile.

And, for the first time in many years, I gave a genuine smile. Even I noticed it.

Fiora leapt into my arms, yelling, "Augustina!" I spun us in a circle, hugging my childhood friend tightly to me.

It was ages before we let go.

And, when we did let go, we just looked each other up and down, taking in everything that had ever changed.

I was still a head taller than her. Her brunette hair had grown long and she wore it differently from the other courtesans. In fact, she was like me; she seemed out of place. Instead of wearing a skimpy dress like the other girls, she wore a white shirt that was revealing but also kept her covered. Her Venetian scarlet vest closed at her abdomen but opened back up for her legs. She wore some lacy shorts underneath and leg guards that came all the way up to her mid-thigh. Her shoes were delicate but her bracers looked deadly. A green sash was tied around her waste along with three belts; one belt held her pouch for her money. Another had a holster which held, what looked like, a fan.

"What re you doing here?"

"You said something about Rodrigo Borgia in your last letter."

"Si. I also said I'd tell you everything I heard. Why'd you come here?"

"Because this is my chance to take down the Borgia and get an advantage over who-know-who."

Fiora shook her head at me and said, "You were always over competitive."

I scowled at her and playfully pushed her while she giggled.

"Fine. But if you want to get information, you're going to have to blend in and this won't do." She gestured to my Assassin robes. "Sister, do we have something for a new recruit?"

"Yes, I do believe we have something to fit her." Sister walked off to grab the clothes.

"Wait. New recruit?"

Fiora popped her eyebrows. And I realized what she had planned.

"No!"

"You said you wanted information, right? Well, how else are you going to get it?"

"The same way I've been getting information for 8 years!"

"He has to know that you and your people are after him! Plus, I highly doubt you got into Venetia with legal ways. They'll be on the look out for you and your people. You have to do this."

"Fiora is correct, bambino. This is the only way." Sister Teodora presented a pile of courtesan clothes.

I tried to give her an apologetic smile. "With all due respect, Sister, I don't think I'll be able to blend in here very well. You see, I'm a virgin and I promised myself I would stay that way for a very long time."

"And we will respect that decision. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Fiora herself is still a virgin."

I looked at Fiora in shock.

"Che cosa? We made that promise together, didn't we?"

"Well, yes, but when you told me you were working here, I thought…"

Sister Teodora and Fiora both laughed at me, which I did not appreciate.

"Trust us."

'Oh, dio.'

Bambino – child

Oh, dio – Oh, god

Fauna f F