Chapter 6

The Doctor felt hurt at Ezio's words. He had always gotten involved in others' fights, clearing up wars and saving lives normally he was asked to assist, not to leave a conflict alone. That said he could understand the motive behind the Assassin's words. The two time travelers would complicate things and make a mess out of this feud. Also, the Doctor's time traveling power would disrupt everything here, where the line between life and death was very, very thin. He could twist time and make the whole world better, appearing in the past and stopping the killing of Ezio's family. But the Doctor knew as well as anyone that the dead could not be brought back. They were gone. Nobody had the right to go back and change death, the right to bring a person back from the dead. The same way the Time Lord had no right to make this city war become more dangerous and deadly by changing the past. He sighed. Truthfully he agreed with Ezio. Amy and he had no place here, and would only get in the way. Much as he hated it, it was time for them to step out of other peoples' affairs. "Very well Assassin."

"What? You're just going to let him keep killing people Doctor?! That isn't what we do! Help this city, help this country!" Amy was angry, and she stepped forward glaring at the Doctor. He thought she was going to slap him. Then Ezio's arm shot out and grabbed her wrist.

"This city is none of your business. I told you two to be on your way, and I meant it. An Assassin does not speak lightly of such matters." A glare silenced Amy's retort. "Now on to more pleasant tidings. You came to see the beauty of the Renaissance. I can at least show you that before you leave." Ezio's words were to the point and left no room for argument. The Doctor saw Amy's shoulders slump a little as she realized that there was little she could do. Letting go of her wrist Ezio led the pair over to a wall. "Now let us see how well you do."

…

Ezio didn't know how the two strange travelers had lived in all the places they had traveled. They were terrible at running and climbing. Even with his amour and sword he was far quicker then they. Eventually they made it to the top of the wall he had selected. They now just had to go over another few minor parts of brickwork and get up the tower.

The two time travelers were panting. So much for being dangerous foe. If he had wanted to Ezio could have darted forward and knocked both of them off the roof, or simply run across to another building and vanished into the streets of his home town. Just as well the pair were leaving. They had no place in this war, and were not skilled enough to last long if they tried to get involved. This want even the highest building he knew of, certainly not as high as the places he and his brother had climbed. Forcing the pain at the thought back Ezio gestured for the two to follow him once more. "Come. We should be up there soon."

To his surprise the two merely nodded and began to climb up. He had expected more protest. His thankfulness for not having to argue with the frustrating duo was quickly abandoned as he had to save them numerous times from falling. "Catch a ledge on your way down!" He snapped at Amy as he grabbed her hand and heaved her up beside him onto a window ledge.

"Well I haven't been climbing buildings by whole life!"

"Come on Amy. One more ledge and you're up." It was the Doctor's voice coming from above. As he was not strong enough to catch two people at once Ezio had helped the Doctor up first before going back down for Amy. Ezio wondered how the other man was so patient. He had had to catch the woman multiple times. Maybe in the future climbing was less important, but he wanted to show them his city. It was beautiful, and even if they thought badly of him he wanted them to see the glory or the Renaissance, not shadowed by blades and death.

At last all three were up on the ledge. Amy and her friend stared at the sight below them, of the beautiful buildings and the trees around the edges, of the masses of people swarming the streets of the Italian city, bustling with food and cloth and works or art worthy of the gods. Of the rebirth of Greek and Roman style, touched with yet more detail, more intricacy then even those great cultures had managed. In short, the city was magnificent, a jewel even by Renaissance standards.

"It's beautiful." The Doctor sounded almost in awe as he spoke. Amy nodded, her eyes enraptured by the view below her. At last Ezio allowed himself a smirk. It seemed even travelers such as these could be impressed.

The Assassin berated himself later for letting down his guard so much. It was foolish to think that with strangers such as these he hadn't attracted attention. "Assassin!" The cry was loud and bounced off the stone walls, easily traveling up to Ezio's ears. He stiffened, cursed, and stepped closer to the edge to look. It was a pair of men who had called it, one carrying a bow and knife, another sword. Already they had begun climbing up. He recognized the two from an earlier assassination; they were two that had fled while their master died. It would seem they had more bravery then he had given the credit for.

Amy shifted nervously, the Doctor looking unsure what to do. The two were stupid, not running in a situation like this. "Go. I will take care of the two." Ezio shoved them back towards the west facing edge, a side from which they could climb down to the main roof. "You must manage on your own for now. Go back to your time."

"What are you going to do? We aren't just going to leave you here." Amy was vehement, and the Assassin was surprised by how much she seemed to care. For somebody who killed people he seemed to end up with a lot of friends.

"Do not worry about me." With the Ezio stepped towards the edge of the tower that sided into the street below them the Doctor reached out.

"That side doesn't lead back down to the building Ezio." The Assassin's eyes flashed. Did they have no faith in him? He looked at the attackers climbing. They were already half way up the side of the building, though not to the roof and tower yet.

"I know. That is why I chose it." Without looking back Ezio ran forward, spread his arms like a bird and jumped. He stayed flat or a while, parallel to the ground, arms out and feet together, forming his body into a T shape as he fell. Then the Assassin shifted, changing it more into a dive, wind whistling by his ears.

The hay cart was just where he had remembered, and he landed perfectly, barley ever winding himself. Instantly on his feet Ezio headed towards the wall the two attackers were following at a run, drawing his blade as he did so. They had noticed his jump and were already headed down, hoping to catch him unawares.

The men were unprepared for his blinding assault. The most they could do was block and parry, hoping for an opening. An opening Ezio did not plan on giving them.

…

Amy stared after the Assassin. "Did he just… do that?" Looking down they saw a small explosion of hay from where Ezio had landed before the black-clad man surged up and attacked the men who had been climbing.

Amy turned away. "What now Doctor?" She had gotten used to suddenly dangerous situations quickly in her time with the Time Lord.

"Now, we run."

"Run? Leave this city to tis fate?"

The Doctor sighed, pain in his eyes. "There is nothing we can do for it Amy. Cybermen, Daleks…. I can fight them. But humans who kill each other? I have nothing to stop them, nothing that can help the emotion involved there. The best we can do is not make this war worse."

Turning away the last Time Lord headed back toward his TARDIS. He was right the assistant realized. There was nothing they could do to this city that would not make it worse. Much as it pained her they would have to leave the part of the Renaissance to tis blood-soaked fate. It was not their battle to fight.

Amy glanced over the edge of the roof one last time before following the Doctor down the tower. The fight was already over, but she stared, shocked. Ezio was lowering the man he had just stabbed gently down to the ground. Just barley she heard his voice, not particularly sad, but not happy either. Calm an unafraid the Assassin shut the eyes of the dead man.

"Requiescat in pace." Rest in Peace.