Back from Firenze I am, dear readers! I must say that it was amazing, being a great fan of ACII (& Brotherhood) it was great to see the surroundings of the game with my own eyes.
Anyway, I hope you are all with me on the story, because it's been a while, hasn't it :)

For now, enjoy the new chapter, and leave me some awkward situations Ezio and Cecilia can get in!

Pandra out!

Chapter 6 Curse my inner voice

'Come on Ombra, hold on boy..' I muttered softly, as the stallion strained his muscles to keep moving. His usual smooth stride had become forced and irregular, and I feared our long trips from city to city were taking their toll on the male horse.

Ezio and I had traveled most of the day and through the night, which was longer than it would usually take to get from Monteriggioni to Firenze. We had taken a long detour, because the main road was being patrolled by Vieri's troops. He had continued to pester Monteriggioni with small groups of soldiers, which would be discovered hiding in the hills and checking the roads. Mario had handled them himself in the improvised prisons, which resulted in nights filled with screams, which hadn't helped in my need for sleep. That, combined with the long road we had already traveled, made me feel just like the horse working underneath me, even though he was doing all the work.

Luckily, the main gate of Firenze came into sight quickly, and we continued into the city while we both pulled our cowls further over our heads. Ezio eyed around nervously, and eyed how the city had changed during his absence. I found him wanting to greet several people we passed on the streets, but he refrained at the last moment, remembering he was still an outlaw

I snorted at him. 'You know you'll get used to it, right?' 'Get used to what?' He replied, eying me weirdly. 'To the solitude.. You'll make friends that are in the same position as you are. You'll get used to the guards chasing you, the people cowering in the streets as you pass by.' Ezio grunted softly, 'I'm not so sure I really want to get used to it.' He fell silent for a moment, but I just waited patiently. 'Federico and I used to pester some of the guards, and as soon as they would see us they would already give chase. We were young.. and gullible. Arrogant too. Thought that we could overtake everything that stood in our way. And we could.. until..' Another silence.

I gave Ezio some time to ponder on his thoughts while I lead the way through Firenze. Foam dripped from Ombra's mouth when we arrived near La Rosa Colta, where Ezio had said we should go for lodging. I felt a strange exhilaration upon meeting Paola again.

I dismounted and lead Ombra straight to a nearby well, and provided him with all the water he needed to quench his thirst. That resulted in me getting up about five buckets of water, before the stallion would snicker, satisfied. I left him near Ezio's mare, for whom Ombra had already gotten a strange admiration. They were nipping at each others manes when we walked into La Rosa Colta. Paola meeted us with a delighted smile on her face, and hugged both of us tightly.

She sat us down on one of the corner couches, stacked with fluffy cushions, and provided us with large glasses of red wine. I let it stand there, because I didn't quite enjoy alcoholic drinks, but Ezio gulped it down with ease. We informed her with everything that had happened: How we took back San Gimignano, and how Vieri escaped by only inches to gain. Paola's gaze darkened as we continued.

'I have the weird feeling that more is to come, and that this won't be the last we'll hear of Vieri. I am glad you two came, for it seems we need all the help we can get.' She started pacing about, fidgeting with her hands and clothes. 'That Pazzi abominato is up to something, of that we can be sure. We just need to find out what..'

'Where do you suggest we start?' Ezio said, leaning back comfortably on the couch.

'We know, thanks to La Volpe, that the Pazzi like to hang out at the Palazzo della Signoria and in the tunnels underneath the Santa Maria Novella, so I would say you might start there,' Paola answered, still pacing. 'But not now. Now, I suggest you rest and explore some of Florence before you start chasing Vieri around. I will have some rooms made ready for you.'

I rose from my seat, glanced towards Ezio and saw that he wasn't planning to get off the couch soon. His gaze was drifting towards a few girls that were showing off halfway up the stairs, who then burst into loud giggles. Hell no. I pulled Ezio up by his collar and dragged him to the front door. I turned, inclined my head at Paola for her help and lodging, then worked Ezio out the building. He could just yell his thanks to Paola before I had managed to drag him outside. I chuckled when we were under the blue sky, in which the sun now stood high.

'Focus, manwhore. We're not here for entertainment.'

'I know piccola, I'm just glad to be home again,' Ezio smirked, and I punched his shoulder to my best efforts. Piccola.. geez.

I started into Florence, and felt Ezio behind me. The city brought back many memories. When we walked past a vast road that lead to the Palazzo della Signoria, I felt Ezio freeze. The place held many painful memories, for the both of us. Ezio's family was wiped out there, and it was the place of my first kill. After I got Ezio to move again (by firmly implanting my finger into his side), we also got past my old patroness' house. I looked at the large building, which was of the usual white marble and stylish decorations. Fake vines climbed across the balcony and front porch. I remembered the conversation I overheard which had lead to my attempt to save Ezio and his family from the gallows. I had only managed to help Ezio, of course, but this house in front of me was the beginning of a new stage of my life. One filled with Ezio's smirks, blood and flashing weapons.

Ezio and I walked around some more, enjoying each others silent companionship. Of course, it didn't last.

'You go on ahead, I'll meet you back at La Rosa Colta..' Ezio uttered, nervously scratching the back of his head.

'Where you going?' I could ask him before he could turn around.

'I'm going to.. meet up with someone.' Ezio plucked at his cowl. He seemed.. unsure. Anxious to go somehow.

'Sure..' I nodded after a while, 'See you there.'

Relief flooded over Ezio's face, which soon made face for some cold determination. He nodded at me and then swiftly walked away.

I waited for a while, saw him round the corner, then started after him. I was fairly sure it was a bad idea, but curiosity didn't kill this cat yet. I scaled a nearby wall, using the protruding edges and windowsills to make my way up to the red-tiled roof. Ezio was alert. He checked around corners, evaded groups of patrolling guards and merged with the townspeople and the shadows as if he was no more than a simple ghost walking in the black night. Only now it was a bright afternoon and there was no real reason to be so on edge: The guards in Florence were out or inactive because of the heat of the day, and we had not seen any real sign of Vieri or any of his loyal friends.

But then why was Ezio on his guard like this, checking over his shoulder, his face grim and determined.

Ezio lead me towards the back of a small villa in the corner of a street, where the back entrance was located under a large balcony. Ezio threw himself casually into the corner, glancing at the two streets that ended in the corner, found himself alone and turned to the ground. I was now lying on top of the roof opposing the balcony, pressed against the red tiles as to limit the chance of Ezio seeing me. Ezio had now collected a handful of gravel and pebbles from the ground, which he threw carefully at the balcony, aiming for the doors beyond.

It took a while, but Ezio's (and my) patience was rewarded with a response. A attractive woman opened the balcony doors, eying around curiously. She had dark hair bundled in a loose bun in her neck. She was dressed in a noble way, her dress consisting of different hues of deep red, its patterns and cuttings exaggerating her slender hips and curves. Ezio eyed her from the ground with such adoration, I felt it sting my chest.

'Cristina!'

The woman whipped her head downwards, and eyed the man below her in shock. 'Ezio! What are you doing here?'

'I'll explain later! Can I come up?'

'Ofcourse!' The woman backed away into her room, and Ezio climbed the wall, putting his foot into the iron ring used to tether horses to. From there, he jumped up, got hold of the edge of the balcony and climbed up, using the balcony's decorations of vines and plants to scamper up. He went into the room, and I jumped up from my hiding place on the roof. I had to readjust my position to hear the conversation and sight into the room. I chose the balcony's balustrade, which was just wide enough to balance on. I placed myself on the part that was invisible from the room beyond, the part that connected to the outer wall. From that spot, I did not have a visual, but the sounds emanating from the room where both clear and surprisingly painful.

'Ezio, where have you been?' Cristina demanded as she had removed her lips from his, 'It's been two years!'

'And I've thought of nothing but you..' Ezio muttered, locking his arms around Cristina's waist, but I heard her remove herself from his embrace.

'What is it, tesora?'

I heard Cristina sigh, deep and trembling, and heard how her breath shocked.

'I'm engaged to be married, Ezio! My father kept asking me to finally decide.. And you were gone and I could just see how my parents started to take damage when I declined all offers.. but then I got an offer from Manfredo Soderini..' Her voice broke.

Ezio was speechless, but I could imagine the current state his heart was in now. I nervously shifted my position, and suddenly, the balustrade disappeared from under my right foot. I slipped off the balcony before I could re-establish my balance, and fell to the ground with a loud thud. I did manage to twist myself in the air so I wouldn't fall on my back or side. I scrambled up, fearful of Ezio seeing me here and sprinted off, until I was a good few blocks away.

I hid in a small alley until my breathing silenced. So there had been a reason more to Ezio's visit to Florence. He wasn't just after Vieri, but hoped to persuade his former girlfriend to come back with him. It felt somehow like a betrayal to our new formed companionship, a stab in the back which supported our easy friendship. He could have told me, I thought bitterly. But why would he, a tiny voice spoke in the corner of my mind, it's not like you mean anything to him.. You saw it with your own eyes.

'It's not like that!' I sneered out loud.

Then what do you want of him? The voice spoke again.

'His companionship, that's enough!'

Then why do you feel so betrayed? So pained? So... jealous?

'I'm not jealous!' I snapped.

You never wanted this life, never wanted to be part of the Order. You just got thrown into it. You could quit and leave it all behind. Leave him behind. Settle down.

I fell silent. I had considered that. 'But I'm not one to settle down.' My determination returned, my will stronger that the voice of doubt. 'I like action, excitement. I would get depressed being cooped up like a chicken! I would go mad.' The voice in my head had vanished, but I still felt its presence, and I shrugged. It would probably never leave me. Doubt probably never left anyone.

My flailing thoughts were interrupted by loud footsteps and shingling tiles coming into my direction. I turned and sprinted away, but I had to speed up from the start, which would give my pursuer an advantage. I raced through the streets, dodged market places and shoved people out of my path, but the shingling of tiles above me fell silent for a moment. Next, something heavy collided with me just as I was about to dash around the corner to a large piazza. I slammed into the ground heavily, thrown off my footing by the momentum of the thing now sitting on me.

'Cecilia, what the hell?' Ezio bellowed angrily.

'Get the fuck off me, cazzo!' I snapped, trying to wriggle my way out of this cramped position. I had hit the ground with my side, luckily, so my torso had been spared the scratches that now covered my shoulder and hip. Ezio wouldn't ease his weight on me, however.

'Why did you follow me?'

'Because I'm curious, that's why!'

'Why did you run?'

'Because I know you don't like being spied on!'

Ezio eyed me for a while, ignoring the small crowd that had gathered around us. He narrowed his eyes, swiftly rose and started to walk away. 'Nevermind..' He managed to mutter.

I growled softly. He wasn't going to get away with this that easy. I scrambled upwards, pushed the people aside that eyed me with a mix of amusement and pity, and started after him.

'You could have told me! You could have told me there were more reasons for you to come here!'

'Well I thought it not important!' Ezio snapped back without looking at me. He hastened his stride.

'Not important? I'm supposed to be with you on this! I thought you had nothing left here!'

Suddenly, Ezio whirled around and walked back to close the distance between us. He brought his face only inches from mine, and I could see his eyes flaring with anger and dismay. 'That's right! I thought I had something here, but if you didn't notice, the girl I have loved for so long is now engaged to someone else! So sí, I have nothing left here!' Then he froze, his breathing rigid and heavy, his brows bristled in anger. Anger fueled by the pure pain of a broke heart.

We just stood there, until his eyes softened, and my stubborn mind slowly ceased its fight. We both straightened, and merely looked at each other. He knew I understood, and he understood how much I valued our little companionship that had started to grow ever since we fought in San Gimignano together. And then, that perfect moment of understanding was ruined as a staggering courier ran into our alley and stumbled against us. He was a tiny, weak looking man, who, unfortunately for him, bore the Pazzi emblem on his shoulder. He was the first courier we encountered since we had entered Firenze, and our first sign that the Pazzi family was still active here.

Ezio and I lunged for the man at the same moment, which resulted in a small game of brutal tag. Ezio flung himself against the fleeing courier, who had turned around to go back the way he came, and I squashed the man's left arm which was desperately grasping a small dagger sheathed at his belt. Knowing we couldn't keep him alive, for he would surely raise the alarm with Vieri, I unsheathed my own dagger and pierced the back of the courier's neck. A plume of blood resulted from the wound as I withdrew my weapon from the man's spine, and Ezio and I waited for the man to cease his struggling. When he did, we searched him, but found nothing but a small pocket of florins, which Ezio reluctantly threw to the ground.

'Nothing! How are we supposed to find Vieri when his couriers don't even bear messages from him?' Ezio straightened himself and threw his arms up to the sky in frustration.

I sat still crouched near the dead courier, and eyed the contents of the pouch curiously. We had been mistaken, for there was something else with the florins. A florin bore the crest of the fleur-de-lis, but there were several golden coins among the pouch's contents that had a head carved on both sides. In tiny letters beneath the head it read Πέτρος. Greek letters on a coin? I picked the coin up and brought it closer to examine. The head showed the side silhouette of a face with a small cap on the top of his head, and a beard covering his chin. Petros.. Wasn't he declared the first Pope? These were.. Papal coins?

'Affrettatevi, Cecilia, let's not dwell with the dead!' Ezio called, but I rose swiftly and called him back. He came back, reluctant, and clearly not in the mood for games.

'What is it now?' He sighed.

I held up the coin and grinned. 'Coins are power, bello!'