The streets were dark and quiet, and even eerily empty. But he had things too serious on his mind to save room for "the spooks."

Taking his first victims had left a toll on Ezio's psyche. He could not sleep. So he had decided to walk the premises.

He did not feel mournful, but it was a heavy thought that decades of life had been cancelled by his blade. It had been their blood he had cleaned off his blade. And those men probably thought his father was a traitor. They did not know they fought for liars.

Gone was the light, whimsical existence of yester-year, where the hardest decision he had to make was what to get for lunch. Now he carried things far bigger, things that left his soul raw and worn. Today was the first time he had tasted them in full.

It had been over a year since he lost his father and brothers. Mother had never been the same, though Ezio probably had not either. Annetta and he were closer, but that felt more out of necessity for comfort than newly discovered amity.

He showed the skills necessary for his new life, at least, defeating two swordsmen. But what darkness that killing was now the backbone of his existence. Gone were the days of drinking, laughing, and sleeping around. Gone was an existence based on fun and love. Now he was a life ender, an "Assassin," hunted and hunter.

He was going to head outside the city walls, to meditate among the crickets.

He saw the arch and the rolling hills of Monteriggioni. He had arrived here about a year ago through that same structure after trekking the countryside ahead. Now he was a much different person, but he would never lose his childhood, even if it was now a melancholy ghost.

He walked under the stone arch, passed under the walls and out into the opened.

Be he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. He turned to the stables.

There was Uncle Mario, with a crowd of perhaps ten mercenaries. What could they be doing?

"Uncle, what is this?"

"Ezio, you are awake," he remarked, surprised.

"So are you. What is this about?" Mario was still keeping secrets? Ezio was annoyed.

"Ah, yes, nipote," the man seemed embarassed. "One of my associates believes he has ascertained Vieri's location. He's found refuge in the town of San Gimignano, about fifteen miles from here."

"You look like you plan to storm the town." Ezio said flatly. That seemed like a clumsy move.

"Well, yes, nipote. Perhaps. We are considering it."

"With that many men? Are you sure you would succeed?" Grim and frightening pictures came to Ezio's mind.

"They are all I have left," Uncle Mario said emptily. He had not invited Ezio's council? Had he not he proved himself enough already!?

"And you feel safe with them leaving the manor. What if our enemies attack again?" Maybe Ezio did not see the whole picture, but this seemed a very foolish plan. And unnecessarily crude for Assassins.

Mario looked down and sighed heavily, brushing the dirt with his boot.

"I suppose...that is a risk I must take." He looked back at Ezio with a softer expression.

"You need an army to get inside the town, to find Vieri? Could it not be the work of one man?"

"What kind of man?" Mario inquired, though he must have known where this was going.

"A man like me," Ezio said with conviction.

Mario let out a reluctant chuckle and sort of shook his head "No, Nipote. I've put you through enough."

Ezio's blood simmered. He tried another angle.

"Then why not you? We are Assassins, Uncle Mario. Surely we do not need an approach so crude to strike our enemies."

"Infiltration would be difficult, Ezio. It is a small, walled town with little traffic, and I fear I would be recognized there. I am not an easy man to mistake, even at night. And my men would be without a commander."

"Then I should go," Ezio said with no reluctance. He would head back into the killing fields before he had even digested his last, but this time it would be a victim that might not keep him up at night.

Mario sighed loudly again and began pacing. "A tempting proposition, nipote. But once already I have let you risk life and limb too early..."

"And I surpassed your expectations!" Ezio countered. Uncle Mario was more protective than his late father.

Mario exhaled, and began to digest some weighty thoughts.