A.N.: The title of this chapter is indeed "All the same" after the song written by Sick Puppies. As the story progresses some of you might end up liking Shiva even more whilst some will probably judge her and come close to hating her. But people are never perfect, and there are no humans without flaws and some times, if you truly want to be with somebody you come to accept them as they are. I just hope that you will enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoy writing it. ;))
Capitolo Quattordici
The next day Ezio had in plan to check the security points they were going to lay out outside the eastern wall. When he came back he was already exhausted, sweating and covered in dust from the physical effort he and the hired mercenaries put into raising the structures of wood and rock. Before preparing for a bath he wanted to go and check on his mother; since yesterday she had refused to eat anything. Jumping the stairs two at a time he fastened his steps towards her room only to stop in his tracks. At the end of the long corridor, next to the room, was Shiva, back on the wall, arms behind her and looking down in deep thoughts. Quietly he approached her.
'What are you doing here?'
He didn't know why but the tone in his voice betrayed anger.
She looked up, not very surprised by his presence. Glancing into his eyes, it was as if she was debating with herself if to tell him or not.
'I was just curious.'
Her voice was low and almost warm but something in him burned up.
'Curious? Curious over what?'
He knew that his tone had been harsh and mean but nevertheless she continued with the same composure.
'I wanted to know what your mother looked like.'
'Is that all?'
Suddenly her eyes returned to the same coldness he was used with.
'Yes.'
For a moment he didn't know what more to say and his body relaxed.
'Then, I'd like you not to bother her if it's unnecessary.'
She kept staring into his eyes and her lack of reaction was making him want to look away.
With just that she pushed herself from the wall and walked away.
Kneading his forehead he took a moment to try and understand why he had reacted so violently. What had gotten into him? Only then he realized what he had felt at seeing her in the corridor. He had been afraid. He had actually been afraid of her meeting his mother. What would have he said? That she's a thief? That she knew father? That she might have been Federico's lover?
'Ezio, what happened?'
Looking up he saw a worried Claudia in the room's doorway.
'Nothing, I just came back.' He went inside. 'How's mother?'
The woman was sitting on the edge of the bed and next to her a tray with food, barely touched.
'Did Shiva cause you any trouble? She doesn't do it on purpose but her curiosity tends to put others in awkward positions.'
'What are you talking about? We didn't even know she was here until you two started to talk in the corridor.'
The man frowned at his sister.
'Ezio, she didn't come here.'
Instinctively he looked at the door. At times he found it so hard to keep up with the way this woman acted.
He smiled and bent down to kiss his mother on the forehead.
'Please, eat something mother.'
Before leaving the room he patted his sister on the shoulder and winked at her.
If the morning had started with a powerful sun, now the sky was beginning to be filled with heavy clouds while the wind was blowing warmly.
Shiva was looking outside the window, not really focusing on something in particular. She wished to leave this place and Ezio was starting to notice.
She heard quiet, gentle steps stopping behind her, in the doorway. Looking over her shoulder she hid her surprise at seeing the elegant brunette woman, standing there and eyeing her. She frowned; Ezio was not around and he had been more than clear that he didn't wish for her to approach his mother.
'Good afternoon.'
The woman nodded and kept looking at her with her warm hazel eyes. Finally she slowly approached the same window and gazed outside.
'It's a nice weather.' Her voice was soft and lacking power. 'I would very much like to take a walk outside. Would you mind accompanying me? I haven't done much lately and my legs might betray me at some point.'
At saying that, the well-dressed woman turned to Shiva and smiled weakly.
'Sure.'
She let the woman walk ahead to the curtilage and when she stepped outside the door she turned and helplessly looked behind, cursing Ezio. He wasn't anywhere to see and she knew she was horrible when it came to facing mothers. And this elegant skinny woman was making her feel gawky.
They started their slow walk in perfect silence and it went so for long. At times Shiva would fall far behind, glancing at the woman just to make sure she was alright. It was strange and unexpected, but this walk, this atmosphere and the company had actually managed to calm her down.
At times the woman would stop, they'd walk for a period side by side then Shiva would step ahead lost in her own thoughts.
A bevy of craws clouded the sky and Shiva stopped, staring at them for as longs as their croak echoed, long after they had become just a black stain above the tops of the lower mountains.
When she looked back she saw the woman staring at the distant horizon as well and then at her feet. She was in front of the stairs of the lower part of the stone walls. Shiva went to her and when the woman was about to step she took her hand and supported her up the small set.
The brown haired woman nodded her gratitude and continued her calm pace. Shiva looked down at the base of the wall and chasing her deep thoughts away, continued closely to the woman.
At one point she felt the woman in front of her stop and sigh. In a second she was on alert and by her side, the only sight of worry barely visible in her eyes.
The woman smiled.
'I guess exhaustion comes unexpectedly when you have forgotten how to face fresh air for long time. It is but an unimportant sensation of dizziness.'
Shiva took her hand in hers and placed the other one on the woman's back.
'Would you like to sit down?'
When she received a fade acceptance, she guided the woman to a space between two stone pylons and helped her down, staying one knee on the ground in front of her, still holding her hand.
The Auditore donna looked down at her and smiled warmly.
'Dressed like a man, you hold yourself like a young one too. You are as attentive as a boy head over heels for a signorina.'
Huffing relieved the kneeled woman allowed herself a joke.
'I actually call that a man trying to get laid.'
The woman laughed. It was a faint laugh but still a hearted one.
'And your vocabulary is not as delicate as you look.' Her amused smile slowly let melancholy show in the silence that continued. 'My husband always appreciated a clever mind.'
By now the woman was absentmindedly staring at their hands. Gently she brought her other hand and covered Shiva's with both of them. If she would have looked at the girl, she was to see her trying to avert her eyes. But maybe she didn't need to.
The woman brought one hand to Shiva's face making her look up, and hid some hair behind the ear.
Looking down in her eyes she smiled softly.
'Federico was drunk with those eyes; and I can see why now.'
The quartz like eyes grew wide but she asked no question.
The other's smile was still there but sadder.
'It must be really hard for you to be here. There is sadness in your voice….and I can see him in your eyes. He rarely spoke about you but his eyes were telling me everything.'
Shiva let her eyes down again, hiding her face from the heart-rending gaze.
The hand underneath hers clenched.
'I am sorry.'
The woman looked at Shiva's face to meet her eyes but they were hidden under the lashes.
'I wish - … I should have met you properly.'
She stopped but the seated woman waited patiently.
'There was a time when I -… Meeting you now, I am almost ashamed. It feels like it is too late.'
The wind blew some of her tresses and the crinkle of the woman's ochre dress.
'I am always late.'
Her whispers were continued just by the sound of the wind.
The older woman looked up.
'It should rain soon. I would like to feel the water drops on my skin but my children insist that staying outside is imprudent.'
The silence installed yet again but it was a mutual enjoyed silence.
'Ezio is a good boy.'
That brought the woman's gaze back up. 'But he also torments himself with nightmares and burdens that I can't lift from his shoulders.' She was talking slowly and pausing after every sentence to admire the clouded sky, over the top of the house. 'He follows in his father's footsteps. I am proud of him even if I wish I could stop him and keep him here, safe, with me. But I can't. My heart doesn't allow me.'
Shiva looked at the beautiful long hair of the woman. Between those rich brown locks white hair was the only thing to give away her age.
'When Giovanni was away I had faith in him and I knew that I had to trust him; that he will come back each time. But once I lost him…I can't have the same power and believe in promises as I did before. So all I can do is pray; pray that Ezio will turn back safe.'
Whilst the look on the woman's face was lost and distant, her voice was full of emotions.
'My husband… My husband hoped that if it were to come to this you and Federico would forgive him.' She knew that those golden eyes were now intensely looking at her. 'I didn't understand him that night, months before those horrible things had the chance to happen - what was he talking about or why he had said that to me. Only after I have heard Mario some years ago that Ezio had been asking him of a thief that my husband used to know, only then I was able to understand him. Giovanni feared that he might be betrayed and he wished to keep Ezio away from all of it as his last chance. Unfortunately his most dark fears have become reality too soon.'
Her palms were sweaty and she was gently and repeatedly squeezing Shiva's hand.
'I… I don't have the power to ask from you the same thing that Giovanni wanted to. Because I know that promises are hard to keep and... also because it looks like his wish had partially come true.'
The woman looked into Shiva's eyes and smiled. Her lips were slowly trembling.
'Seeing you here with Ezio I knew it happened so. My husband wanted you to meet Ezio and if he was to die…' She continued to smile 'to keep an eye over him.'
That's how Ezio found the two women when he stepped out of the house. With his hair still wet from the bath he approached them panicked and unsure about what was happening. Getting closer in an instant he fastened his steps at the sight of his mother's trembling hands.
He was about to voice his emotions when suddenly Shiva got up and passed him like a shot, her head down.
'It's getting cold. Take your mother inside.'
He narrowed his eyes in anger and confusion. What had she done? He wanted to run after her, grab her by the shoulder and demand answers but he wouldn't have dared to let his mother alone.
When he looked back at the woman she smiled the same blank smile and lifted his hand for him to help her up.
'I feel like eating a little.'
The rain didn't last for long and it had been just a drizzle. It was evening and Ezio wanted to chase away the numbness that the chilly atmosphere of the rainy day had installed in his bones. He was about to go to the Armory to pick a weapon when he saw Shiva storming inside the house, her hair and clothes covered in a glimmeringly veil of raindrops and a bowl in her hands. She stopped and looked at him with the eyes of a cat caught stealing something.
He narrowed his eyes.
'What…are you up to?'
She looked down at the bowl and then at him.
'Nothing.'
Staring at her with the most calculating eyes he finally decided to let go.
'Whatever.' Turning back to enter the room he stopped himself with the hand in the doorway.
'Wait.'
'Mmm?'
'I was about to go to the training grounds. Want to have a round?'
He watched her eyes lighten with life. Then, realizing her reaction she decided to play smart again.
'I thought you'd never ask.'
She was about to go to him when she remembered the bowl in her hands.
'Oh. Wait for me there.'
Saying that, she turned around and jumped up the stairs, focusing on the bowl.
Ezio laughed and shouted after her.
'What is in the bowl anyway?'
'Water.'
With that she went on and he stepped inside the room shaking his head amused.
Minutes later, leaning on the wooden fence he watched her coming down the stairs and stopping in front of him.
'Anything in mind?'
'What are you good at?'
She arched an amused eyebrow.
'Besides running away from your opponent.'
'Ha. Ha. How about a hand to hand combat?'
He whistled. 'Now that's an unfair match. Are you sure?'
'Oh yes, very unfair.'
She smirked and left him, hopping over the fence.
'Don't regret after.'
The woman, already in the middle of the ground rolled her eyes.
'Less talking and more action. Aren't these your words?'
He was now facing her.
'Well then. Come for me.'
In the mid-dark of the evening they continued to stare one at another for the longest time. As her eyes were becoming more hateful and acid, his eyes widening in understanding.
'No! No.' He laughed 'What I meant was that since you are a woman and I am the man – '
He suddenly stepped back and realized he needed to rephrase this as soon as possible.
'I should be a gentleman and let you attack first!' He let his head down and ran one hand through his hair. The next thing he felt was the sharp pain in his left foot under the weight of a well-placed boot. He bent over in pain and instantly regretted doing so, because his head was thrown backwards with a smarting elbow in his jaw.
Cupping his chin he silently cursed as he heard her circling him.
'Why do you always have to think with your dick?'
Great: now she was angry again.
'I told you it was a mistake. You are the one misinterpreting things.'
And he was smart to sidestep as an arrow-like punch went past his ear. She spun around but he blocked it this time.
'Nice try!'
And contrarily to what he was expecting she grinned into his face.
'You were the one to say ladies first.'
He wanted to get her off her feet but she pushed back and circled to his left.
'You intended at least.'
Their game of dodging and striking went on as theirs breaths begun to come out more heavily. She was giving him a hard time, moving all too fast, disappearing and reappearing in and out of his hitting range and exhausting him easily. On the other hand he wasn't giving her any opening. knowing very well that if she was to win this she needed to reach a weak point; using force against him was meaningless.
She blocked a hit and dodged the next one.
'So, what have you been talking to my mother?'
He sidestepped away from her low kick and went for an attack.
'Nothing.'
Both of them stepped backwards and carefully circled one another. Suddenly she launched ahead.
'She wanted to go for a walk and she felt dizzy at some point.'
He punched her grip away and went for her stomach. Ezio knew that more than this he wasn't going to receive as an answer.
'We're leaving in the morning.'
'Hm.
And after her silent answer their conversation stopped, leaving their bodies to interact. He let go to a rapid succession of punches only to have her dodge them and block them. He needed to block her; to corner her or this game of exhaustion of hers was going to end when he'll drop to the ground. She wasn't attacking; just randomly and always stopping when reaching a vital point. He understood that this was her training. She didn't need to learn how to attack; all she needed was to learn how to resist to the attacker. And now she was learning him. He stepped forward and aimed for her neck. He knew she was to jump backwards and when she engaged in her action he spun once again towards her, passing by her left and behind her, crushing her arms in her chest with his.
Caught off guard she struggled and he had to blow amused her hair from his face. To stop her from struggling he lifted her from the ground. With her legs now in the air she started to throw them frenetically to outbalance him.
Once she felt the ground under her feet she calmed down. Out of reflex and curiosity he let his body relax and by the time he realized his mistake she had pinned her feet to the ground and furiously bent over, taking him over her shoulders and like a clog, down. To his advantage he managed to summersault over her and stop himself in a crouching position, with his hands behind for support.
Ezio was about to make a smart remark when his arms were swept by a quick leg and his back hit the ground.
'You know you are lucky because of the wet ground? And to think that I took a bath.'
'That's not luck. That's premeditation.'
Ezio picked himself up.
'I bet it was your ardent desire to see me all coved in dirt….and mud.'
His eyes narrowed as he heard a set of steps running his way. Before he had the time to react he felt the air leaving his lungs under a suffocating hit in his back, and once bent, she flipped over him, pushing him forcefully with her hands.
He managed to sustain his body but his back was burning from the hurting pressure.
'What the hell was that?'
Something had changed; drastically. He couldn't see her face as she was not facing him but he could see it in the way she was holding herself. He just didn't know what.
'You were thinking that all this time I was playing; not taking it seriously.'
He frowned. Even her tone had changed – back to the cold, offensive voice.
'So let's start taking this seriously.'
As soon as the words left her mouth she rapidly spun and ran at him. Before the impact she let herself down and cut one hand to the back of his left knee. He was prepared for the hit and instead of trying to block it he took in the pain and once down grabbed her arm and did the same thing she had done with him not long ago.
When touching the ground she rolled and in an instant jumped at him again. This time her pace was even faster and her pirouettes were more furious. This time he had no chance to read her expression, just to block her predatory attempts. Never again had he seen her fighting against someone with such speed and determination.
'Stop.'
But when she showed no sign of doing so he stopped from fooling around. He stopped her punch but this time his grip was like a steel claw.
'I said stop!'
She looked up and her eyes were filled with hatred and anger. In the last moment he caught her other hand and pulled forcefully, throwing her away, past him.
Because of the force she had to stop herself with both hands on the fence to absorb from the impact at the stomach level.
'If you have something to tell me just do it. You've been acting strangely since yesterday evening.'
But he watched her putting a leg on the fence and lowering her hand to the boot.
The second he saw the glimmer of the knife blade she swirled at him, the blade almost cutting through his shirt. Through the tempest of attacks he had to think of a way to take the blade away from her and not hurting her too hard in the process. Their violent dance continued and Ezio's only chance was to trap and immobilise her. He searched for her eyes, confused and frustrated and then he caught a glimpse of her face that made his heart small. He saw the blade coming and he did the only thing that came into his mind.
In a matter of seconds she froze her attacks.
Her left wrist was in his hand and she kept staring down, refusing to look up to his face or at the blade in his closed palm.
The sharp blade was now blocked in his fist and strings of red were leaking down to the handle.
He felt her body relax. His injured hand fell down her hand and to her wrist.
'Let go.'
She wasn't holding the knife with a good grip anymore but she still refused to abide his words. Slowly and gentle he twisted her wrist enough to let the knife fall. It was as if the sound of metal hitting the ground awoke her because she started to struggle out of his grip.
He didn't let go.
'Stop - Stop it! That's enough! If I am to have my head cut off my neck I'd appreciate knowing why.'
The woman in his grip stopped seeking freedom, still not looking up. But then he felt her hands trembling and looking at her arms they were furiously shaking. If she was going to yell and have another angry explosion –
'Why didn't you do anything?'
He tensed, trying to catch her whispers.
'You act so mighty and help every miserable soul now' Her words even if whispered were spiting venom. 'Why couldn't you do it then…' with that she turned back to the silent, toneless voice.
'Why couldn't you be like this back then? Why couldn't you do anything for them back then!'
With that she spoke no more and Ezio felt wretchedness burking him. Already out of control, his grip tightened and jerked her violently.
'Do you think I needed you to point that in my face? Were you worried that my life was not miserable and that my nightmares not woeful enough? If I'll ever feel happy I'll let you know so you can come and destroy it.'
Hissing that, he pushed her out of his grip. It seemed to him that an eternity had passed until she decided to move. Then, she picked up her knife and staring at it she let out a whispered 'Fool' before turning and leaving him alone.
At dinner she didn't come down from her room. He knew she was there because she had refused Claudia's invitation. It was already dark and late when he got up from the table, leaving the rest in an awkward silence.
He found himself walking up in the attic and thinking about getting out on the roof. Had he been too rough with her? Maybe it was his own fault for letting her getting under his skin. In the end, she had every reason to be angry with him. His brother was dead and he was alive. He, himself, had reasons to be angry with his own person; he guessed that she had her own hard time facing a loss of a loved one – that was the only explanation to her unusual reaction.
He pushed the trap open and hopped outside. When he was about to get up he heard movement from the training ground. Stepping to the edge his eyes lingered on the slim dark form of the woman inside the training circle, handling an épée, probably from his Armory.
He watched her training with one hand behind and her back straight. Ezio tried to remember her face as he had seen it the last time. Had he imaginer everything? He wondered how her face looked like when she had walked away from him. He wondered if she had the same face in the afternoon when she had passed by him. He contemplated as her movements were becoming hastier, rushed and mistakes kept appearing. He watched her hop an entire row of steps and heard the épée violently whipping through the air. She stomped; her arm cut the air upwards and froze at its highest stand; and from there her body relaxed and her arm fell by her side.
He frowned. From the heights of the roof he saw the arm back up and the sward sent flying through the air, hitting the fence.
The woman fell in a crouched position and let her head in her knees, covered by her arms.
For a moment of daze he stepped back then he ran to the opened trap and down the stairs. He needed to make sure that the she was alright.
When he reached the outside stairs he was left breathless. He surveyed the ground. She was nowhere to see.
Slowly, he stepped down the stairs to the training ground, catching his breath. He went to the fence and picked the sword. When his lungs were once again filled with air and his body was fully relaxed he looked around. He had no idea of where she was. After all she was an expert on slipping away from his sight. With those thoughts in mind he made his way back inside the house.
We went to the Armory to drop the épée and before going to his room his feet were taking him towards the office. Starting tomorrow he'll have to go back in the race. The small amount of time he spent at the villa was quiet and he wouldn't mind that one day, after things will settle down, to come back and grow old here. Reaching the doorway he stopped and looked at the door behind the bookshelfs; it was wide open. The man smiled. It looked like she was on her toes. Maybe he worried too much. In silence he stepped down towards the Sanctuary.
There he found her. With her back at him she was staring at the enormous statue and the armour behind the iron bars.
He leaned on the wall. Maybe this once he should let her get away with it. It wasn't like him lecturing or threatening her out of her raiding would prevent this woman from doing things her way. And maybe forbidding her to act her way and stay put was exactly what had got her out of her system. He was about to leave when she spoke.
'I wonder how this Altair looked like. I believe he is you ancestor.'
He stopped and spun. Of course she had sensed him: she was a thief.
Ezio walked to the woman and stopped by her side, watching the statue.
'Well, I imagine he was good looking. After all we share the same blood.'
He glanced at her to see if his words provoked any reaction. But her face was hard to read and her eyes were on the statue. After a moment of silence she nodded towards the armour.
'Then I fear that whatever it is that is running in your blood it's getting lesser with each generation.'
He was about to smirk at the fact that he had managed to get her out of that awkward state when he realized the implications of her words.
'Did you just… insinuate something about my looks?'
She let her head tilt to the right so that she could lock eyes with him.
'I was talking about the brain.'
He stared at her and then at the dark armour searching for answers.
'At least he knew that white and fancy red don't actually make you the most unnoticeable presence around.'
Shiva stepped away from him and paced around the Sanctuary, studying the statues.
Still eyeing the black hood, Ezio narrowed his eyes in meditation then turned towards her.
'That was still an insult.'
'So this is what you need the seals for. Impressive…' Slowly she made her way back in front of the statue and getting closer she put both of her hands on the bars.
'Each time I come across the Assassins they never cease to amaze me.'
With that she had fallen into the same distant silence in which he had found her, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
'Do you want to go for a drink?'
He came back to reality at the sound of her low voice.
'What?'
'A drink.' The woman looked over her shoulder. 'Do you want to come?'
'Where to?'
He watched her getting away from the bars and heading towards the exit.
'I believe this city has an inn or two. What son of a banker would you be not knowing that these kind of things bring real sums to the town?'
'You didn't get my point. You drink?'
Continuing her walk she sighed.
'Don't make me regret throwing the invitation.'
He shook his head and followed.
'It's just… to tell you the truth you are the first woman to invite me to... a tavern…to 'go for a drink.''
She turned while grabbing her cape from the stone handrail, unnoticed to him until then.
'I know – really romantic.' And she made a face to point out a fake enthusiasm.
Throwing the cape over her shoulders she went on. 'I am also the first woman you've paid for mental abilities. How about that?'
'Just so you know you are the first women I ever paid for something.'
'Oh, do shut up.'
The darkness of the staircase swallowed the two figures.
Once again two voices echoed in the large hall of the Sanctuary.
'Are you serious about the drink? Not long ago I was under the impression that you weren't exactly appreciating my presence.'
'I did ask you, didn't I? Stop acting like a signorina at her fist serata.'
The two of them walked down the shady streets of the city. He analysed how well Shiva knew the road to the inn. Her hood was back on and he realized that it was probably better this way. A woman in a tavern would have attracted too much attention.
'I see you know where to go.'
'I took the city tour with you, remember? And you don't have to know where to find the place. When the rest of the streets are quiet you can hear from a long distance where to find a tavern.'
'Impressive.' Of course she was. Ezio knew better than to question her sense of observation and precision even when she looked distracted.
It didn't take them long to reach the noisy construction. By each sides of the entrance there were happy dizzy men enjoying the presence and from time to time the support of the eye-catching courtesans.
At that sight and hearing the thundering laughers from inside Ezio started to have second thoughts.
'Are you really sure you want –'
Pushing the door open the thief slipped inside.
'Craven.'
'That's not what I meant.'
Once inside Ezio looked around only to have one of the tables explode in acclamations and whistles. They were some of his uncle's men.
He waved at their animated table and when he turned back the cape wasn't next to him anymore. Before he had the chance to swear he saw her taking a seat at the wooden bar.
He made his way through the mass of vociferous people and took the tall chair next to her.
'I don't believe this is a place for a woman.'
He eyed a nearby table and its obtrusive occupants. She stared at him.
'I mean the only women here are, well…'
They both looked over their shoulders at the flashing courtesans dancing on various laps and in one corner of the inn the only one woman yelling words at her drunken husband and hitting him out of the place.
After a moment of silence both of them turned to the bar and laughed.
'If you were worrying about me – don't bother; I've been in places far worse. If you were worrying about yourself, again - don't: I am not going to pull either of the two options on you no matter how much I'll drink.'
By the time she ended her statement the owner had threw in front of them two clay mugs and a large tankard. Ezio eyed the steamy vessel of mulled wine then without intending it he started to laugh.
'You drink mulled wine?'
'What? Everyone does on rainy cold days. And sorry to disappoint you but Monteriggioni's weather is not helping either.'
She filled both of their mugs.
He shook his head and covered his face with his hand in amusement. He had never seen such a delicate looking woman drink alongside men. She was a real mislead for whoever wanted to read her by her covers.
'I would have bet my hand on the fact that you would hate places like these.'
She smiled in her mug.
'Hmm, as a thief you learn to mix in places like these. And that means that you would have lost your hand. Right or left? Do I get to choose?'
The man snorted. 'If I were to play this game with you I'd have to carry you back to the villa in less than ten minutes.'
'Is that a challenge?'
She brought her hand up and lowered the hood. Even if he wasn't content with it he went on.
'Do you take everyone's words as challenges?'
'You're evading the subject.'
'You can't stand that much alcohol.'
With the hood down he could see her intense cetrine eyes staring into his own.
'Until the tankard is empty.'
He looked at her amused and incredulously.
'Fine. We'll have it your way.' Nevertheless he was a little bit curious about how much alcohol she could handle.
She looked away pensively. Since his turn had passed she had the role of coming up with a bet.
'I bet you never thought twice before picking a fight back in Florence.'
'Hey, what kind of presumption is that?'
She arched her eyebrows mockingly and waited for his answer.
With an indignant snigger he brought the mug to his mouth to drink his mouthful of wine as a sign of her victory.
'I was a boy, ok? You have no idea how you are seen among the boys your age if you back off.'
She smiled and nodded in ironic understanding.
'Horrible.'
'Laugh while you still can, foxy.'
He eyed her closely.
'I bet you never wore dresses.'
She laughed.
He looked ahead. 'Oh wait...you did.'
She watched him amused. 'You still have to drink. And how do you know that I wore dresses.'
'Leonardo told me…sort of.' He took another drink. 'Oh, but I have a good one – I bet you never wore dressed since childhood.'
She huffed her amusement. 'One at a time. And you might reconsider your next bet. I do wear dresses occasionally; when the situation requires it.'
He hit the mug to the counter and arched an ironic eyebrow.
'When situation requires it? So what - you can act like a real woman when situation requires it?'
She rolled her eyes at his jokes.
'I bet you never played in mud or slop when you were a child.'
He looked at her with big horrified eyes.
'Why? Did you?'
And at the sight of her big smile and excited look he grimaced.
'What kind of monster were you as a kid? And I thought little girls were supposed to stay in house and play with dolls.'
Again he drank his defeat whilst she nodded comically. 'Yeah… so I head as well.'
He analysed her from the corner of his eyes and almost laughed at his thought.
'I bet you would be able to even rob someone of their clothes.'
At those words she laughed for the first time full heartedly and brought the mug to her lips.
'It even happened once. I was being chased by some not so friendly individuals in an inn. To get rid of them I took the clothes of one of the travelers who was at that time taking a bath and got out through the main door. As simple as that.'
'Poor man.'
As an answer her smile got wider.
'Hmmm…' She focused on the shivering light of one of the nearby candles.
'I bet there had always been a competition between you and your brother on who had a quicker hand at women.'
At her bet he stopped and tried to search back in the past.
'Umm...nooo…No, I don't think so. Unlike me, Federico was pretty quiet about his conquest.'
She narrowed her eyes disappointed and took one large swig. 'Hmm, I was almost sure that pretty boys had that in the blood.'
He smirked at her comment.
'Even our tastes differed. When it came to women… Federico was picky.' He rolled his eyes. 'Actually, to tell you the truth he was a veritable twit when it came to women. He used to treat them with attention only if he founded them worthy. Unlike me, who values every woman after her own beauty.'
Suddenly she threw a hand in the air.
'Stop there. I got it – heard that story enough times.'
His smirk reappeared.
'You are the only exception.'
'Excuse me?'
'It's not my fault at times I keep forgetting you are a woman. With the chest all tied up under the shirt and the way you act – not to mention your current image towering over that mug of wine.'
She narrowed her eyes at him but had a hard time to keep her smile away from her face.
'Asshole.'
Their little game went on, the mugs had been refilled for enough times to lose count and Ezio realized than sooner than expected the tankard had emptied. He filled their mugs one last time.
He let go of a boisterous laughter.
'I bet you never passed the morning in a woman's bed after sleeping with her.'
She pinned her elbow on the counter and her chin on her palm, smirking knowingly at him.
The warmth of the wine had him animated and he smiled sincerely, stealing glances from time to time to the mole imprisoned between two slender long fingers.
'No, I never did.' He swallowed another mouth of wine. 'But also for more than half of the times I had to take my leave before sunrise if I wanted to reach home without giving Firenze another subject to talk about for another two or three days.'
Without moving she gripped his eyes with hers.
'And what is your excuse for the other half of the times?'
For a second his smile disappeared and he felt lost into those glimmering eyes. True…what was his excuse?
He inhaled and looked at the busy hands of the owner's wife cleaning mugs on the other side of the counter.
'It… didn't work.'
At his not so inventive answer she smiled mysteriously.
'Oh… right.'
He looked back at her with amusement.
'I bet you have never slept with more than one man; if that ever happened.'
Her previous beam turned into a shadowed enigmatic smile and for the first time Ezio found himself wanting with ardency to know everything about the woman in front of her.
Then she chortled and pushed her mug towards him.
'You may want to use mine since yours is empty.'
He threw a quick glance at the wine and then focused his attention on her.
'You are not pulling my leg, are you? How many?'
The woman continued to laugh.
'What kind of question is that?'
Ezio lifted the cup. He was really curious. At some point he wanted to ask if his brother had been one of them but he realized it wouldn't have been the most joyful question.
'Strange. I would have taken you for the 'hard to get type''
She continued to smile and look at him with the eyes of a feline, her hand now supporting the weight of her temple and her fingers tangled in her wavy hair.
'And what makes you believe otherwise? Contrary to what you believe, I am a woman. Maybe I am the romantic type who gives only after she receives something.'
He looked at her disbelievingly but still with a grin on his face.
After quite some time he couldn't resist.
'Are you?'
The woman burst out laughing again.
'Maybe I am, maybe I am not. It will remain a mystery.'
The brown eyed man looked absentmindedly at the neglected cracked ceiling. He snickered softly considering that at least in what concerned women his brother had been a lucky bastard. To have someone trustworthy near you; someone to go to. Oh well… they did have different standards.
'I bet on the bottom up.'
That brought his attention back on her.
'I bet….' She fell into deep thinking and with a devilish winning grin she watched him in the eyes.
'I bet that you never felt attracted to a person of same sex.'
With his hand on the mug he sceptically held her gaze. But that face was sincere and curious, reminding him of the soft cold rain drops. He narrowed his eyes and smirked gauchely. He would have acted even more tactless if it weren't for that bright smile of hers.
'You mean hypothetically?'
She grimaced comically and craned her head forward, interested in his reaction. 'What do you mean hypothetically?'
'I mean,' he leaned closer suddenly fearing that someone might hear their current conversation. 'If I liked a person of the same sex… knowing that he is …a person of same sex.'
She stared at him puzzled then chuckled in his face. 'I sincerely don't know what you mean but….I guess. You can't say you feel attracted to a man without having the knowledge that he is one.' She looked to her right. 'Did that make sense?'
He glanced at her and then at the wine mug. Then, with a twisted smile showing both uneasiness and smugness he pushed the said mug on the counter until it made contact with her hand.
With the corner of his eyes he watched her eyes grow in stupor and soon her lips turn into a disbelieving large smile.
'You're lying!'
He grinned. Never had he thought that one day he would feel amused by that absurd misunderstanding but now, in this atmosphere, looking at her ingenuous face, he found it a little bit laughable as well.
'Drink.'
She took the mug and slowly emptied the liquid in one go but she didn't take her eyes off him for one second.
He couldn't restrain not to laugh. She was currently eyeing him like he had grown another head.
The mug was set down.
'Who?'
'Who what?'
'Who was that special guy to send you off your tracks?'
He looked into her eyes and roared another row of laughs.
Shaking his head he looked down.
'Arrogant wit.'
'I am sorry?'
She didn't get his mutters which was good. With his hand supporting his jaw he looked back at her. Should he tell, her she would go mad again taking it as another insult. He gazed into her eyes and smiled contemplatively, knowing that she was eagerly waiting for an answer. The way she laughed tonight was refreshing. It indeed reminded him of summer rain falling warm and cooling where it fell. It was the first time he had seen her laughing from all her heart, no hidden meaning, no ironic pun. His brother had been without a doubt a lucky bastard. His eyes lingered longer on her pale lips and the daring mole from under their left corner. He went closer and caught her eyes before grinning in her face.
'He was indeed an unusual individual, I give him that. But I am going to keep this secret.'
With that he strengthened in the chair and laugher at her anticlimactic reaction.
That's when the men he had saluted at entering shouted joyously at him to come and join.
He looked at the woman and after searching one of his pouched he plunked some money on the table nodding at the owner.
'Come on. We should go back.'
'I thought I was paying ... since it was my invitation.'
'Sure, with my money. I fail to see the difference.'
She got up and smiled at him over her shoulder.
'And here I thought you were going to act like a gentleman.'
He chuckled.
'When you'll act like a lady, yes.'
He guided her with a hand on her lower back towards the elated table.
There he shook hands with the men and exchanged some words.
Three of them, still capable to stay on their feet without having the world spinning around them got up and bowed jovially at Shiva.
'Our fine lady! Where are our manners?'
She chortled, nodded at the men and watched Ezio with a clever smile.
'See, there are men who, unlike you, know how to act in front of a lady.'
'When you see one please let me know.'
She rolled her eyes but her humoured smile remained.
'This is a guest at our villa.'
'Oh but we know. Messer Mario told us about her presence at Monteriggioni. And yesterday the kids in town have been enthusiastically gibbering about her all day.'
He watched her laugh with pleasure at the words thinking it had something to do with that little scene from their walk.
'Prego!(Please) Messer Ezio, we are today celebrating our amico's birthday' and to point out one of them slapped the said man on the back and cupped his shoulders. 'Have a drink with us.'
Before Ezio could respond a mug was filled with wine and carried along the table in front of him.
He laughed but shook his head.
'Mi dispiace,(I am sorry) but I have to refuse. I've enough for one night.' He had started to realize that the moment he had with much difficulties oppressed his out of the blue wish to fling the remaining space between his and Shiva's lips whilst at the bar.
'Ah, and here we thought that a drink with you, messere, would have convinced him that at least one bottoms up won't get him in troubles with his wife at home.'
'Oh, come on, dearest, what kind of hefty example are you giving to these men!'
'Shiva, I would appreciate if you would keep your misleading comments to yourself this time.'
She grinned.
'Fine. Then I'll drink for you.' She turned with intense eyes at the man at cause. 'If you don't mind drinking alongside a woman, that is.'
The table exploded into a loud guffaw and clapped in anticipation.
'I guess if the lady is challenging me it would be improper to refuse, no?'
'Pff…lady; I highly doubt it.' he muttered to himself but watched incredulously how she grinned charmingly and actually went for the handle.
When she brought the mug up he put one hand over its mouth and stopped her.
'Don't you think this is a little bit too much? And trying to act more like a lady won't do any harm.'
The woman looked at him smilingly.
'Ezio. You are starting to sound more and more like Leonardo… which is not entirely a good thing.'
A little bit discouraged about the idea he took his hand away only to be jolted by the slim arm that encircled itself around his upper arm. He had to crane his neck backwards away from the closure of her face as she watched him pryingly through her eyelashes and spoke into his chin.
'And someone has to wash your shame in front of these people.'
With that she looked back at the men and saluted them with the mug up in the air.
"'May you have a good life and a lovable wife by your side!'
'Alla salute!' (Cheers!)
And with that both Shiva and the man pushed the mugs to their mouth. Ezio watched resigned how the woman didn't stop from gulping down until the wine was over and the mug hit the table not long after the one from the man's grip.
The table let out another round of whistles claps.
'I have never seen a woman drinking like man.'
Ezio rolled his eyes not really finding anything to be proud of in that.
'Well, now that the show is over we must go our way.'
He waved her with one hand and pushed from behind with the other, wishing them a good time for the rest of the night.
Once outside the chill of the late hour of the night hit his skin. He would have bet it was even colder that he actually felt, given the mulled wine still running in his body.
'Heh, you are a freak show.'
She snorted at his joke and took a deep breath of fresh air.
'And I would have never expected you be so uptight.'
'I am sorry for not knowing how much you can handle your alcohol. Where did you learn to drink like that?'
She just laughed and continued her walk.
Their road back to the villa rolled in silence with Shiva walking ahead from time to time.
She was steps ahead of him when Ezio decided to stop glaring at her back and ask her what had been bugging him from the beginning.
'Did something happen in Monteriggioni? Ever since you came here you acted out of character.'
She stopped and spun, looking at him well disposed.
'Out of character?'
'You haven't caused troubles, you didn't treat me like you always do – like a toddler, a bambino, you didn't questioned my words and you didn't disappear like you always do.'
He stopped in front of her on the lower steps leading to the villa.
'Am I that terrible?'
But from her tone and face he knew she was mocking him.
'Well, if you wanted me to make a fool out you in front of your family you should have said that from the beginning. You have no idea how hard abstinence is.'
At her witty remarks and humoured expression his face darkened.
'Can you be serious for a second? Tonight you had me really worried.'
Suddenly her amusement vanished and was replaced by an unreadable expression.
'Worried? Funny; no one asked you to.'
She treaded down one step, her face shadowed by an awful aura.
'You wanted me to be serious. What are you going to do now?'
He looked up in her eyes and recognised the same tone she had used during her violent outburst. How could she swift moods so easily and which were her real feelings?
'Do you have something to ask or it was just your pleasure to piss me off?'
Saying that she leaned forward in intimidation but this time he caught her shoulders roughly to keep her away. She wasn't expecting that reaction and it was shown by her face. He, on the other hand, averted his eyes and turned his face to one side. He cursed the wine for his tipsy sensation and wished he could yell at her to stop doing that because the only effect it had on him in that right moment was of arousal. This woman was damn stubborn and careless around men. She was overconfident and joking about it was one thing but no matter how you would look at her she was still a woman. Did she really not understand the barrier between a man and a woman? – a man, no matter if interested or not, would always react to a woman's body, and he seriously didn't deserve this punishment.
'You should take better care of your wound.' At her calm voice he turned his head to see her eyeing his poorly dressed palm. When he was about to respond she spoke again, a hint of amusement back into her voice.
'I use the same blade for poison.'
She wanted to straighten but his grip tightened. He wasn't amused.
'Look, maybe it's unknown to you but I can't stay serious when my head is spinning.'
It occurred to him that she was feeling the effect of the wine too. Unfortunately, it didn't make her personality more pleasant.
'So you are fine?'
She let her face drain of any emotion and looked at him. Then, as if she was about to give up she sighed.
'Can't you just please let go?' She closed her eyes waiting for him to do as asked. 'I am drunk. I didn't intend to get drunk, or at least not in someone's' presence. I don't know if you realize it but I am dizzy and emotionally unstable; and I really don't feel like taking it out on you.' Like that she let some time pass before continuing on a lower voice. 'You're an imbecile if you worry about me.'
He frowned.
'Why?'
'Why!' She snapped her eye open giving him access to a mountain of emotions. 'The only reason why I am here is because of business! The only thing that links us is on professional ground. Once you'll give me the money it's the end of it. That is your problem: you trust people too much! You put your trust in them and you expect them to remain loyal without anything in exchange. Stop trusting them so carelessly and they'll stop fooling with you. I bet you never thought for a second that you can make mistakes; you never doubt that what you do is wrong. You have this…this stupid arrogance that makes you believe that everything you do is right. Have you ever felt a hint of regret or doubt? Have you ever looked behind and feared that what you have or haven't done was wrong? How can you live like that; so freely and so carelessly?'
By the time her voice faded his hands had unconsciously fallen down to her forearms and he simply stood there, not knowing how to react; with which of his own storm of emotions to respond first?
She looked at her wrists guilty.
'Let go. This is the last time I am asking you nicely: let go.'
Ezio pulled her wrists forcefully and growled. If she thought she will leave without having a piece of his mind she was terribly wrong.
'Listen here -'
But by the time he was searching for his words from his powerful tug she almost lost balance and took the opportunity to grip with her teeth the skin at the base of his neck and bite angrily.
Because of the shock and the immediate pain he let go and Shiva took the chance to run up the stairs and inside the villa.
With his mouth opened he brought one hand to the smarting wound. He narrowed his eyes viciously he let out a shouted "you devil!" before sprinting after her.
The marble hall and stairs carried the echo of a double row of running steps into the cold rooms of the house to be followed by the furious tramples stiffed only by the massive wooden stairs of the attic. Ezio reached the corner of the corridor and was about to launch himself at the door when the cape vanished in the room and the door slammed shut. With his hands pinned on the door and his head soon to follow he choked trying to catch his breath, chest rising at a fast speed. When the black dots started to disappear from his eyes he brought one fist in the air ready to hit the door but controlled himself in the last moment. He was slowly convincing himself to step away and leave since he had always found the act of trying to put some sense into her not very different from fighting against walls. With one forearm on the doorframe he pushed up when the lock was heard and the door cracked open to let show the form of the woman. She stepped out until he was towering over her and shyly, she chewed on her lower lip before speaking.
If he had been waiting for an excuse he was in for a second shock because he thought his ears were failing him.
'I'm hungry.'
He looked at her in disbelief.
'You are one delusional woman if you think that would put an end to what you've started.'
He looked down at her and more than the tempestuous shift of moods he was impressed by her acting skills. He couldn't believe she was pulling the weak damsel act on him.
'But I haven't eaten in the evening. And the wine is doing funny things to my head and stomach.'
…..and get away with it.
Angrily he grabbed the doorknob and slammed it, blocking her inside the room.
Ten minutes later he found himself in front of the same room with a piece of bread and an apple. He knocked at the door but when he heard no movement he let himself in. Since it was a small room in the attic the ceiling was following the line of the roof, with a window on the narrowed wall. There she was, seated on the wooden floor to fit the height, looking outside. In the light that the window was letting in, he realized that indeed she wasn't in her best form.
'Here. There wasn't much left and this is all that I could bring you without causing any more damages to your stomach. It's your own fault for not coming down to dinner.'
He put down the napkin and unfolded it to reveal the content.
Bored and after a long time in which she simply stared down she grabbed the bread.
'And have you constantly glaring at me while eating? No, thank you.'
He took a seat not far from her.
'What makes you believe I would have done that?'
The woman dragged her eyes on him and then at the gash on his left hand.
She took a piece from the bread and put it in her mouth.
'I would have.'
From that moment on the room was swallowed by silence. While she was peacefully eating and looking outside the window, with her head on the wall, he let his eyes roam around the room. It looked untouched. The only thing that would make you think it was inhabited was the leather traveler bag she had come with, thrown at the legs of the bed. It was as if she was ready to leave at any moment without a single trace behind. He turned his eyes to her. In that silence she had finished the bread and was now playing the apple in her hands; her gloveless hands. Thinking back at it she wasn't wearing them at the training ground; it was as if she had never intended to fight in first place. She hadn't been wearing them at the inn either. His eyes looked up at her face. He knew she had lied to him; she hadn't been hungry but she wanted him away, to give her time to calm down. And now she was back into that miserable state he kept seeing her for the past few days. He had no idea of what was affecting her like that but he was content that at least he was learning how to read her.
He watched the apple touch the lips once and later twice and listened to the cracking sound of the fruit in her mouth. Her words kept playing into his mind, taking him away from her problems and overwhelm him with his.
'Maybe you were right back then. I never think twice before doing something. Killing people would be a lot harder if you were to have second thoughts. And maybe I am hot tempered enough not to admit my mistakes…'
'Don't.'
He looked up at her curtly word.
'Don't look back, don't regret, don't have second thoughts… You didn't do any of these and you still have a great family to look after. If you believe you can do anything, do it and don't for a second hesitate about it.'
Her face was shadowed in the white light of the moon. Her arms tensed around her knees and she let her head fall a little on the wall to hide her expression under the ashen tresses and shoulder.
'I was… just…' her voice was terrible low and languishing but fluent. 'a little bit...envious.'
He couldn't see her. She had once again protected herself from his eyes like she had done in the curtilage and on the training ground. He had no idea what to do and to be honest he was even afraid to do something. He was afraid that she might explode again, that she would try to protect herself or run away again; he had no idea of how she would react and that thought scared him. He had never asked her openly about her life; about who she was or where she came from; but he wasn't regretting it because doing that would have only pushed her further away.
Sitting there in a corner she didn't look scared or weak. She just looked lost. So he did the only thing that he felt the need to do, betting all on it. From there on it depended only on the choice she would make: accept it or push him away.
Slowly, without getting up he stretched towards her and gently pushed some of her locks away. He let his hand carefully tangle in her hair and taking her lack of reaction as a good sign he gently pulled her towards him, dragging his body also to meet midway. Her head fell on his chest and with his arm around her shoulders it didn't took long for him to feel her relax in his semi embrace. He let his back on the wall to support both of them and leaned his head backwards.
She was breathing peacefully in his chest and he respected her wish not to be seen. He didn't need to look down at her face to know that her expression was now the same as the one she hadn't let him see when she had called him a fool or the same watery eyes she had when she had left him alone with his mother.
That night, sleep came easily and Ezio was slowly drifting from reality. She hadn't been making a single move from the moment he had led her into his chest. Anyone would have thought she was long asleep but he knew better. He knew she was awake but now resting calmly against him. He didn't mind it. Thinking about it, for once he didn't mind to be the first to fall asleep next to someone. As his eyelids fell heavily he listened to the quiet room, the rhythm of another beating heart and the song of the cicadas in the grass outside. This… he'd like to turn back to all of this one day…
The horses neighed as the two travelers were leaving the walls of Monteriggioni behind.
About the last day, they had silently agreed not to speak a word.
Ezio patted the horse on his head and let his mind go back to the goodbye he had shared with his mother in her room. His eyes had fallen on the cupboard under the window where he saw the same bowl Shiva had carried inside during the rain. Curious, at his question about what had been in that bowl his mother had kissed him goodbye on both his cheeks and whispered a soft 'rain water'.
The horseman looked at his companion but dared not to ask the same question again.
Then he remembered something and cleared his throat.
'I forgot to ask you the first day we came here; when I asked you about Monteriggioni you said I hadn't let you finish. What was it that you wanted to say?'
The hood looked towards him and her shoulders rose once with the soft chuckle.
'That it looks like a safe place; especially for someone who wants to stay unknown. Disappearing from the prying eyes into a quiet place like this from time to time doesn't sound like such a bad idea.'
The white hood hid a smirk.
'It's settled then.'
"What is settled?"
Confused, the cape turned her head towards him.
'You can come and stay here whenever you want for how long you want. Consider it your 'den', or whatever it is that foxes have.'
She waited and listened to the sound of the horses' hoofs then she laughed bitterly.
'Fool.'
When he puzzled and asked her whatever had he done now she hit the reins and sent the horse into gallop.
End of 14th chapter.