Ya'll…I had some serious writers block going on with this one. I finally made it though. Setting up the end is not as easy as it looks.

The heat of July bore down on Ezio's bare back as he looked at the younger man in front of him. The two of them were circling each other like two lions ready to fight, but Ezio knew he had the advantage over Sandro. He was broader and had strength on his side while the younger man was leaner. Of course, the training was mostly for Sandro to learn grappling and there was no better teacher than the assassin himself. The Auditore man's eyes looked for potential weaknesses in the boy's stance to give himself an opportunity just as he would if facing an armed combatant. Sandro kept his eyes on Ezio's trying to determine what he was going to do next.

The first move was made by the younger man thinking he could grab Ezio around the waist to knock him off balance. Ezio had been expecting it, but he still let out a gasp when Sandro nearly knocked the wind out of him. However, the broader man was able to use his center of gravity to stay standing before putting his arm under Sandro's and flipping him to the ground. Once the younger man was on the ground, Ezio was able to put him in a headlock causing the men around the ring to cheer.

"I yield!" Sandro yelled after a few moments of being held in Ezio's grasp. He slammed the palm of his hand down to tap out and then the older man let him go. "Best four out of five?" Sandro said as Ezio stood up offering him a hand.

"A little more practice, then maybe we can go again." He said pulling the lean young man off the ground and then patting him on the back. "You focus to much on what you think I might do rather than reacting to what I actually do." Ezio said before going over to sit on the wall.

"So, I should pay attention to what exactly?" Sandro asked standing there in front of the man he had come to respect.

"Your opponent's weaknesses." Mario's voice interrupted as he came to stand by his nephew. "You need to work more on observation and not focus on predicting moves. I saw you try to beat Ezio by rushing in before even making a decision, which will get you killed in a real fight." Ezio watched as the younger man's face fell at the mention of his mistakes.

"Don't worry, Sandro. You will get it in time." The assassin said trying to encourage his friend who seemed to be trying everything he knew to succeed. "As they say, Rome was not built in a day and neither was Firenze."

"Although, I'm sure if the Medici had any say in it, it would have been!" One of the mercenary's said before laughter erupted from the rest of the men around them. Ezio scoffed knowing that they were probably right about the Medici and knowing his wife's family, it was not out of their line of thinking.

"Alright, that is enough. Get back to it." Mario said as he watched the others come in closer to the ring. "Rufino, get in there with Sandro and work on his stance." The Auditore said as Ezio stood up to grab his shirt from the railing before putting it on along with his boots. "Nipote, where are you going?" Mario asked as the young Auditore began to walk towards the square for some time by himself.

"I'll be back, Uncle." He gave the old man a wave as he ran down the steps and through the village out to the stables. Ezio needed some time to himself after spending most of the day training himself to be a better fighter or in his case, assassin. No doubt he still had much to learn, but he was quickly becoming more refined in his skill.

The young man found himself leaning on the fence of the paddock where the broodmares were kept with their offspring. Most of the crop were on the ground sleeping in the hottest part of the day with their ears twitching or tails slapping the grass every now and then while their mothers grazed nearby. However, there was one little colt that was not set on sleeping. Instead the little thing was trying to pick a fight with his dam. Ezio had to chuckle at the little black colt. He was barely a week or so old and he was a force to be reckoned with. Mario had been right, there was something special about the old grey's foal and it was showing. Still, there was something he saw in the colt too.

"I think he may grey out." Mario said coming to stand next to his nephew. "I also think he may be a little too much for me to handle, I'm getting too old for this sort of thing." Ezio looked at his uncle with curiosity.

"My father told me you were the best horseman he had ever known and to hear you say you cannot handle a week-old colt...it surprises me." Ezio teased with a smirk on his face before propping his foot up on the bottom rail of the fence. The colt was now running and bucking as if he were the biggest of them all. "What are you going to do with him?"

"He'd make a fine warhorse someday, but I am not as young as I was." Mario told him. "You are good with horses, perhaps you should train him." Ezio looked over to the colt and thought about it for a moment. Orgullo was getting old and while Ezio trusted the bay gelding with his life, the horse deserved to live out the rest of his days in peace. Of course, it took years to train a war horse and then there was his other duties.

"I will think about it, Uncle." Ezio said before moving away from the fence and towards the entrance to the village with his uncle following him. They were almost to the gate when the sound of hooves running up behind them caught their attention. It was one of Gambalto's mercenaries.

"We found him! We found Maffei!" He said pulling his horse to a stop and hopping off. "Ser Ezio, Antonio Maffei is in San Gimignano." He said running up to the young assassin and his uncle out of breath.

"Are you sure?" Ezio could feel the anticipation boiling in his veins as he heard the news. Another name to cross off the list and one less Templar in the world to deal with.

"Si, Gambalto is there now keeping an eye on him." The man said causing Ezio to look at Mario for approval to act and the older man nodded his head before the young man turned to walk into the village.

"Ready my horse!"

The sound of the birds was comforting to Contessina as she walked through the garden slowly with her mother at her side. Ginevra insisted on getting out of the chair she had been sitting in for the last month or so to breathe the fresh air. The blond woman was happy to oblige her mother by helping her balance as she walked. Of course, Ginevra was trying to support herself by a cane in her free hand while Contessina's arm was wrapped around the crook of her elbow.

It had not occurred to the young woman how weak her mother had become in the past few weeks of being in Pistoia. Ginevra was even lucky to stand on her own, much less walk, but somehow, she had found the strength to go outside. Despite the heat, there was a gentle breeze that blew in from the west and it did help to combat the sweat that had formed on Contessina's brow. Her mother seemed to be handling it quite well, but then again, Contessina was with child. It seemed like over the last few days she had to work extra hard to move and stay active while also combating the nausea that plagued her most of the day.

"I miss walking in the gardens of Ferrara." The old woman said as she slowly walked under one of the great oaks that covered the garden. "They were so beautiful and well taken care of." Ginevra said with a nostalgic smile on her worn face and Contessina wondered just what her mother was eluding to. "When Cosimo was alive, I used to bring him to play in the gardens every day." The words that her mother said almost hurt because she had never gotten to meet her brother. "I regret never bringing you there."

"Mama, I understand why you didn't bring me to the gardens." Contessina gave her a smile before putting her free hand on top of her mother's forearm. The reasoning behind her mother's regret was completely excusable because she had lost her only son. She had been told before that losing a child was the worst feeling a woman could ever experience emotionally and giving birth was just as powerful.

"Even still, I wish I did." She squeezed her daughter's hand. "When I die, I would like to be buried with my family in Ferrara." There was a smile on Ginevra's face that told Contessina that she had made peace with the thought of dying. In the pit of the blonde's stomach, she had not yet come to terms with losing her mother as well. "I loved your father, but I never considered myself a Medici after our marriage, so I will not do them the dishonor. Nor myself."

"I never felt like I was a Medici either." Contessina said honestly as the breeze picked up enough to play with her golden strands. She could hear thunder in the distance as storms were coming in from the sea and making their way inland. "I will not lie to you, Mama, but I was jealous of Cammillia." Ginevra stopped when the words were uttered.

"Why?" The old woman said looking at her daughter. "What could you possibly have to be jealous about?"

"You treated her differently, almost like she was your daughter instead." There was a sadness in Contessina's voice that Ginevra had picked up on, and then the older woman understood what her daughter was speaking of.

"Giulia, I will always be your mother." Ginevra said as her cane fell to the ground. Contessina watched as her mother's right arm went slack and it seemed as though she had not noticed the cane falling. "Theeere waaassss..." Something was wrong when the blond noticed her mother's face become strange looking. The old woman's right eye started to droop along with her mouth and to be honest, it started to scare Contessina when her speech became slurred. "Connn...Connnn." Her mother was trying to say her name but could not.

"Mother! What is happening?" The blond did not understand what was going and it struck fear into her heart more than anything else. She felt her mother start falling to the ground and did her best to support the woman's weight as she fell. "HELP! AIUTAMI!" Contessina cried out hoping someone would hear her. "HELP!" She called as her mother went silent but still staring out at nothing with drool starting to pool in the corner of her mouth. "HELP ME!" Contessina screamed at the top of her lungs before a man came running around the corner of the hedges.

"Signora!" The man said before kneeling down and seeing the blonde's tears trailing down her cheeks as she cradled her mother's head in her lap. "Stay here! I'll go get help!" She watched as he stood up and ran as fast as he could out of the garden.

Two hours later, Contessina was sitting in a chair next to her mother's bed with the woman in a sleep-like state while the dottore examined her. There was no denying that Ginevra's days were coming to an end and by the look on the doctor's face, he did not have good news for her. Contessina subconsciously put a hand on her abdomen where her child was safely deep within her, but the thought that one day she too would leave her child was all too real. It could be at its birth for all she knew and that scared her the most.

"Hmmm...it is as I thought." The doctor said interrupting Contessina's thoughts and her eyes snapped up to him as he stood up to his full height. He was dressed in normal clothing as he was a local from Pistoia. It was evident that he had come right away and had not dressed in the normal black of a dottore.

"What is it?" Contessina inquired. She did not know what had happened to her mother but when she relayed to him what had happened before, he seemed to have a guess.

"It is simply put, a stroke." He said with a serious look before pulling a jar of leeches out of his bag. "There is little that can be done to reverse it I'm afraid, but leeches should help." Contessina watched as he opened the jar and pulled out a pair of small tweezers before dipping them in to pull out one of the slimy blood sucking creatures. When she saw the creature squirm her stomach churned hard and she had to cover her mouth as the bile rose in her throat. "I suggest you leave, Signora. This can get quite messy."

Contessina did not have to think twice about it as she quickly stood up from her chair and exited her mother's room going through the villa. Once back out in the air, she went around the corner of the building as fast as she could before letting the contents of her stomach out. She retched until her muscles hurt and then she leaned against the side of the building gasping for breath. At that moment she wanted Ezio. She wanted his arms around her while she cried, and she wanted to hear his voice so much that her heart hurt. She hated not being able to write to him or being able to tell her what was happening in Pistoia. She missed him so much but at least she had part of him with her. She placed her hand on her belly again. It was getting rounder every day and soon there would be no hiding her condition.

"Contessina?" Lucrezia's voice came from around the corner of the villa and soon enough the woman was in sight. Contessina did not bother to move from where she stood or move her hand from where it rested. She looked at Lucrezia with tears rolling down her cheeks and the woman sighed before moving over to her. "Oh, my dear girl." There was so much love and warmth in the older woman's voice when she embraced Contessina that the blond could not help but to sob. "It's alright. I'm here." When Contessina's sobs quieted, Lucrezia pulled back to get a good look at her.

"You know, don't you?" She asked the Medici woman who still had her hands on the blonde's shoulders. She suspected Lucrezia would be the first to figure out that she was with child.

"It is hard to miss the signs when you have had four children of your own." The woman said with a comforting smile before pulling her away from the outside walls of the villa. "Clarice knows too, but we will not say anything to anyone." She said. "Ezio does not know does he?"

"No, and I don't want him to know yet. It would take all his focus off of his mission and I do not want him to let his guard down." Contessina was adamant about this and Lucrezia nodded in understanding. It was clear that the older Medici woman knew of the Auditore lineage and the role they played in everything.

"Nothing will be said." Lucrezia assured her as they walked back into the villa together. "In the meantime, we must make sure your mother is comfortable in her last days." The words hit Contessina like a ton of stone and she stopped with a sorrowful look on her face.

"I do not know if I can do this." She said looking down at her hands trying to find the strength to carry on, but all of her fears were rushing up at her. It was not until Lucrezia grabbed her hands and held them that she was able to calm down.

"It is normal to be afraid." Lucrezia said letting go of one hand and putting a finger under Contessina's chin to lift it. "Especially with your first child and with your mother in the state she is in, it will be even more difficult. Know that we are here with you and we will guide you through this." The older woman said before pulling her into an embrace once more. "All will be well."

Lorenzo,

It is with great success that I report Antonio Maffei's whereabouts have been discovered in San Gimignano. With this I also bring news that I have successfully assassinated one of the men involved in the plot against your family, along with Giuliano's murder. Maffei will no longer elude justice as he has met death.

The manner of his death was quick and as painless as I could provide, though not without a confession. In his last moments, Maffei told me of a meeting to take place between Borgia and Riario. I do not know anything other than that, but I do know it is a meeting I intend to be present for. I am sure my targets will have more answers for me as I find them, but until then, I will continue to hunt them down.

Ezio Auditore da Firenze

He signed his name before folding up the letter and sealing it with wax. One more name crossed off his list, but still no information of the other men. Two days ago, Ezio had climbed the towers of San Gimignano without killing a single guard in the process and had been called an 'unholy demon' by his target. If he believed in demons, Ezio was sure that he may have been one, but as far as he knew he was very much human. His blood was red like anyone else's and he was mortal like everyone else, the only difference was that he did not care what other's thought. On the other hand, if someone insulted his family then he cared. No one insulted his family.

He leaned back in his chair before looking around his study that was quickly filling up with books from his uncle's library. Some of them had been brought up there by Contessina when she wanted to read with him on occasion. However, since she had been in Pistoia the volumes sat there gathering dust. He had left her name out of the letter to Lorenzo on purpose knowing that there could be spies reading correspondence between them. The last thing Ezio wanted was for Lorenzo's wife and children to be found along with Contessina.

There was no doubt in his mind that as soon as Contessina was able to come home, he was not letting her leave his sight again. Waiting for her to come home was torture, but not hearing a word was agonizing. Ezio supposed no news was good news, yet at the same time he wanted to know how she was feeling. Focusing on a task helped him ease the loneliness most days, but it did not keep her from his thoughts.

"Ezio!" Claudia's voice interrupted the thoughts going through his mind and he sighed. "Ezio! Come quick!" The sound of urgency in her voice made him think there was a fire or something in the village, so he quickly moved out of his chair.

"What is it?" He asked meeting his sister at the bottom of the stairs. "What is the matter?" He was outwardly calm, but on the inside, he was worried there was some terrible disaster that happened somewhere.

"We have received news from Firenze." She said before leading him through the hallway and down the main stairs to Mario's study. The older man was pacing as a messenger stood near the desk with a passive look on his face.

"Are you sure?" Mario asked the man who seemed to be in an awkward situation. "Nipote! There you are."

The first thing Ezio noticed about the messenger was the number of letters he was carrying in his satchel. From what he could see, the letters were for the people of Firenze. Most of them were likely letters to loved ones or official letters from tradesmen all over Italia, but the fact remained that they were in the satchel. If he had to guess, communication to Firenze was blocked and this meant Riario was going to do exactly as Ezio thought.

"That cunning bastard is not letting anyone into Firenze." The older Auditore said throwing a crumpled-up piece of paper at the wall before clenching his fists in anger. "Every road into the city has been blocked and if anyone tries to break through, they are killed."

"We knew this was going to happen, Uncle." Ezio said standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. "It was only a matter of time." That was not all. If Firenze was not accessible, then it would force Lorenzo to fight and Ezio knew the Medici was not going to give up that easily. "What of Lorenzo?" Ezio turned his attention to the messenger.

"He has already led out a counterattack four days ago with casualties." The man said gravely. "Firenze does not have enough soldiers to combat the army from Naples." Ezio already knew this as well, but this was not his war to fight. He was doing his part by hunting down the men responsible for starting the war in the first place and in essence, Lorenzo was just as responsible.

"How many men can you spare?" Ezio looked at his Uncle. He was going to do something to help Firenze, not the Medici.

"To fight a war. None." Mario answered.

"No, to help get supplies into the city." Ezio was going back to Firenze again.