ACT II.
There was a short five minute interlude between acts, but other than that it was hard to tell anything had changed. The Assassins sat quietly in their seats, waiting eagerly for the chatting to die down and the curtain to be lifted.
They were soon rewarded: the velvet banner rolled itself up and several people paraded themselves onstage, laughing and talking excitedly with one another. Ezio immediately recognized his actor and his uncle's, and picked out six or seven mercenaries. This should be interesting, he mused…
Mario waited for the cast to assemble before heartily slapping his nephew on the back, "Ezio!" He boomed, "We've done it! La Toscana is free!"
"Indeed," The Assassin replied darkly from beneath his hood, wiggling out of his uncle's grasp, "I am just regretful there was no other way…"
"Oh stop moping around!" Mario laughed, "Enjoy the celebration!" As he said this, he motioned to several of the mercenaries, who were popping open wine bottles that seemed to materialize from no where.
"What are we celebrating?" The hooded actor muttered bitterly, inching away from the scene with folded arms.
"What are we celebrating?" Two of the many men repeated in unison, jaws dropping to the floor as they struggled with the wine bottles in their hands.
"Ezio, Ezio!" Mario sighed, patting his nephew on the shoulder (with some difficulty), "Just relax!"
Ezio made no reply, and Mario merely shrugged and joined his soldiers as they began to drink to their hearts content. He grabbed a bottle and held it up, asking loudly for his men's attention.
Along with this attention came a quick, upbeat tune from the orchestra. Once Mario was sure all eyes were on him, his mouth split into a grin and he began to sing quietly:
I'd say we've done a fine job, lads,
I'd say we've got it good…
"Per l'amor di Dio…" Ezio moaned, covering his face with his hands as Rosa snorted in his ears, trying desperately to hold back her laughter. Meanwhile, actor Mario was on a role, strolling through the lines of soldiers as he sang:
Vieri is dead, San Gimignano is free,
Quiet as it should…
The music took another perky turn and Mario took a deep breath before singing the next line in a more conversational tone.
Now I must ask,
I must inquire,
How did this come about?
The men shrugged at each other, and Mario's grin widened.
Who freed Toscana, slew the snake?
Why, US! Without a doubt!
The mercenaries cheered and Mario leapt into a dance they quickly followed as all announced the chorus:
OHHHHH-
NOW'S THE TIME TO CELEBRATE!
BE MERRY, HAVE A DRINK!
WE'RE THE HEREOS, THE CHAMPIONS!
THERE'S NO MORE NEED TO THINK!
NOW'S THE TIME TO CELEBRATE!
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!
Two mercenaries danced forward as one cried out:
We put those Templars in their place!
And the other replied:
Victorious, that's a fact!
They then rejoined the others as they danced to the chorus again, splashing ale all over the set.
OHHHHH-
NOW'S THE TIME TO CELEBRATE!
WITH HONOR AND GOOD CHEER!
NOW'S THE TIME TO CELEBRATE!
EVERYONE FROM FAR AND NEAR!
Slowly, the dance morphed into a circle with Mario at its center. As the next line began, the fighters effortlessly lifted him up.
NOW'S THE TIME TO CELEBRATE!
Mario spread his arms and shouted:
And lads, do you know why?
The whole ensemble replied:
WE'VE DONE IT!
A loud strike of the drums-
WE'RE THROUGH!
Another loud burst-
AND WEEEEE-
DUM!
SURRRRRRR-
DUM!
-VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVED!
The cast held the note as the music paraded off to an ending, finishing with a magnificent clash of the symbols.
HEY!
Applause shattered the room as the audience screamed their approval. Several spectators actually stood up, clapping energetically. The actors expertly held their pose until the cheering died down, then they quickly disassembled and the dancers emptied the stage, leaving only Ezio and Mario.
"Now, do you see, nipote?" Mario asked, smiling.
Ezio shrugged, "I guess, uncle."
"Bene!" He roared, clapping his hands, "And what will you do now, Ezio?"
"I will travel to Firenze," Ezio murmured, though loud enough for the audience to hear, "Francesco de'Pazzi will share the fate of his son."
"Are you sure about this, Ezio?" Mario raised his eyebrows, regarding his relative nervously.
"Yes," Ezio nodded, "I am sure Vieri's father will have some clues as to why my family was murdered."
"Revenge, then?" Mario sighed, turning away to follow his men offstage.
"Revenge," Ezio agreed blackly, "I will not allow them to get away with what they've done."
Mario turned to give the Assassin one last look before wandering off stage. Ezio sighed, shaking his head, then turned and exited in the opposite direction.
The curtain fell, and the audience (minus one golden eyed man in denial) clapped appropriately.
[…]
There were another few minutes of interlude as stagehands fiddled with the set behind the curtain. Idle music floated up from the orchestra to entertain the viewers as they waited. It was clear a major change was going on behind the long red velvet…
"So, Ezio," Rosa whispered in the darkness, tapping her friend on the arm, "How are you enjoying the performance?"
"Don't ask," Ezio muttered, pulling away sharply.
Rosa shrugged and let the soft melodies carry the silence between them. Soon the orchestra's slow tune began to heighten as the curtain slowly rolled up, until it finally peaked in a cheerful, busy-town tune.
"Ah, here I am!" The Assassin onstage shouted loudly over the music as he strolled around a set decorated with many tall buildings. Several similarly dressed citizens scuttled past to give the whole area a markety-look. "Firenze!"
The audience watched curiously as actor Ezio took a look around, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
"Well now that I am here," he continued noisily, "How am I ever going to find Francesco de'Pazzi?" He directed his question to the viewers helplessly.
The white-robed man simply shrugged upon receiving no response and continued his walk. He grasped a fellow actor by the sleeve as he came flying past:
"Good sir," Ezio asked, "Have you seen Francesco de'Pazzi?"
The man shook his head and broke free, shuffling quickly out of the scene. Ezio sighed, dismayed. He waited a few more moments, then grabbed another passing citizen.
"You, have you seen-?" He began, but the figure wrenched itself free and ran off.
The music slowed as the Assassin sighed again, leaning against a piece of the set tiredly. Slowly, the stage began to fill with a thick fog- it was hardly noticeable at first, but soon it became hard to see anything but the actor playing Ezio…
"Looking for someone?" An ominous voice asked. Ezio jumped up, alarmed. His wide blue eyes scanned the horizon fearfully, but could not find the source of the mysterious voice.
"I'm behind you, idiota." And suddenly he was. There was a collective gasp from the audience as a tall man in a tawny cloak suddenly appeared at the center of the stage, right beside the Assassin's panicked figure.
"Wh-wh-who are you?" Ezio choked out, hand already at his hip and fumbling for his sword handle.
"Quiet, boy," the man replied smoothly, "I do not wish to harm you, or I would have already."
Ezio relaxed slightly, but not much.
"They call me many things," the cloaked figure continued, "But…You, may call me 'La Volpe'."
The audience gasped again in awe and terror of the infamous Florentine mastermind.
"Well…Volpe," Ezio began uncertainly, catching the Fox's attention, "In-indeed I am looking for someone."
"Who?" La Volpe asked simply.
"Francesco de'Pazzi," Ezio replied- the name brought some of the confidence back to his shaky voice.
"Hmm," The Fox hummed in thought. The music took an eerie twist, and the stage smoke gathered on the tan-cloaked man as he slowly began to move his arms in a mystical fashion. He took a deep breath and then fell into the foggy stage, disappearing with a whip of his cape.
The Assassin jumped in his place as a high voice began to speak in tune to the music:
In the dark of the night I fly with the shadows…
Gliding over the rooftops, none can hide…
Everything is revealed to me,
So lying is pointless, you see?
I will always know the evil insiiiiiiiide…
I am the most mystical man in all Florence…
To pursue me would be a grave mistake…
Anything can be mine if I want it,
Such a gift, why not flaunt it?
Look out, little eagle, the fox is awaaaaaaaake!
Several other voices joined in as the orchestra launched into a powerful chorus:
In the dark of the night,
Evil will find him,
In the dark of the night,
Just before daaaaaawn,
La Volpe cried out:
Oh won't it be sweet,
When he crawls at your feet!
IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT,
He'll be gone!
The actor Ezio gulped loudly as another verse began with La Volpe's tawny cloak swirling through the smoke.
I know the man you seek, he is hiding…
Thinks bits of stone can block my eyes…
Is it your desire to kill him?
Then by all means, let me fulfill it!
You can't beat The Fox, you must realiiiiiiize!
IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT,
Terror will strike him (Terror's the LEAST I can do!)
In the dark of the night,
Evil will brew…
Soon he will feel,
That his NIGHTMARES are REAL!
In the dark of the night,
In the dark of the night!
HE'LL BE THROUGH!
The music finished loudly as La Volpe suddenly appeared at the front of the stage with a bow. Applause rang out as expected, everyone praising the Fox's performance. A couple of roses landed at the actor's feet, though he pretended not to notice.
"So, Volpe," Ezio stuttered, shrinking when the thief's powerful gaze fell on him, "Where can I find him?"
"Francesco is meeting with caravan from Roma this evening," the tawny-cloaked figure explained, "You'll find him at the Santa Maria Novella, certa."
Ezio nodded firmly and bowed his head to the man in reverence.
"Thank you, Fox," he said, "This means much to me."
"Yes, now if you'll excuse me," La Volpe muttered, wiping a bit of dust from his tunic, "I have other places to be right now…"
"Take care, little eagle…" The misty call was all that was left of the thief as he disappeared into the foggy set.
As Ezio watched his actor jog off stage, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. La Volpe…An all-powerful wizard? He couldn't quite picture it, but then he did have to admit there was something strange with the man's purple tinted eyes.
He resolved to ask the elder Assassin on his next trip home.
[…]
It was hard to tell when the next scene had begun, as it seemed the set had hardly even changed. The colored smoke left by La Volpe had been blown away behind the curtain, so the flat buildings of Firenze's San Giovanni district were boldly defined. There seemed to be a strange amount of people gathered at the stage's right entrance- but all eyes were on Ezio as he entered from the left.
It was easy for the audience to tell his mood was not a cheerful one- he seemed to drag himself across the set before heaving an exasperated sigh.
"I was able to eavesdrop on Francesco's meeting last night," The Assassin explained to the spectators, "But it told me nothing useful! All I know is that he will not be alone."
The hooded-actor took a moment to pace the stage, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Other citizens made their way past him as he went, all seemingly intent on reaching the other end of the set where they gathered into a large group. Finally, after several minutes of this, Ezio began to pick up that something was happening. Curiously, he followed a curly-haired man to the gathering and looked around.
"What's going on?" Ezio asked.
"The Medici are going to be here for Mass this morning," The citizen replied, "They should be arriving any second…"
Indeed all halted as the scene was interrupted by the blast of a trumpet, announcing the prosperous family's arrival. An adorable man with slightly auburnish hair made his grand entrance with a beautiful woman on his arm. He smiled dazzlingly at the audience as he made his way through the crowd, giving little waves now and then.
"That's Guliano," Ezio explained quietly, "And his wife."
Following this, another regal-looking couple made their way in: a tall man in a purple cloak, with impeccably styled waves of black hair and watchful eyes. His wife trotted beside him dutifully as he took his place next to his beaming brother.
"Well, the Medici have arrived," Ezio noted, "But now what's going to happen?"
As if to answer him, the music suddenly picked up dramatically as a round actor in a red beret flew from the crowd wielding a sharp dagger, which was aimed directly at Guliano.
"DIE, MEDICI DOG!" The assailant screamed, plunging the sharp tip deep into the shocked man's chest- his wife shrieked in horror as blood (or something similarly red) splashed all over her.
"Guliano!" Lorenzo, the black haired aristocrat, yelled, reaching out for his brother's falling body in disbelief.
The crowd began to panic, people running everywhere, on, off, and around the stage. The music began a fast, desperate tune as several more Templars appeared, surrounding the Medici.
Finally, the light focused on what had to be Francesco de'Pazzi, a tall man in a black cloak similar to Vieri's, only with a furry grey hat. He grinned wickedly at the lone banker as he began to sing in a faint Russian accent:
What have we here?
The great Lorenzo on his own?
Not prepared for the tables to turn on you, eh?
How's this for a show?
Lorenzo scowled, biting back his reply just as musically (though less accented):
Insolent Pazzi cur!
How dare you attack my family!
I'll show you barbaric ruffians,
How a true banker ought to be!
And so they engaged in battle. Several guards came rushing on stage and attacked the Templars, launching the cast into yet another well choreographed dance. Ezio jumped in, sword drawn, and he and Lorenzo took on Francesco. As the fighting commenced, the Templar singers managed to ring out a rough chorus:
Death to the Medici!
Tyrants of our city!
We'll kill them quick,
Their heads we'll stick,
On poles for all to seeeeee…
Death to the Medici!
Soon you'll all see clearly!
How they controlled you,
What they told you,
Just couldn't beeeeee!
Soon the fencing between Francesco and Lorenzo escalated and became frantic. The cloaked Pazzi managed to knock the banker to the floor and was prepared to kill him when the Assassin threw himself at him, blocking his sword heroically. Francesco snarled at him, but Ezio replied with another stanza:
Stop!
I cannot let you haaaarm…
De Medici….
They've done so muuuch…
For my familyyyyy…
Francesco barked his lines, carrying on the tune:
Out of my waaaay!
Bastard Assassin!
You're obstructing justice here,
Can't you see he clearly needs to
Diiiiiiieeeee?
Lorenzo succeeded in jumping back on his feet and lifted his sword to Francesco challengingly as he sang:
Enough of this!
Francesco de'Pazzi!
I'll destroy your whole family,
You'll be erased!
The fighting resumed with the three separating and joining several different groups, all battling amongst themselves quietly while the stars had sung. The talented Templar cast took this opportunity to announce another line of their chorus:
Death to the Medici!
It's time we ruled freely!
Templars to be in power soon,
Rise up and fight, people too,
And our conquest will be complete finallyyyyy!
The battle was tipping in favor of the Medici, however, even as this song progressed. Finally it seemed the Pazzi were running out of guards, and Francesco himself seemed threatened. As Lorenzo and Ezio closed in on him, he quickly turned and fled the stage, poking his head out only to deliver his closing line:
Curse you Lorenzo!
Don't think you've won!
You'll be dead as your brother…
By the setting of the sun!
And with that, the music flared and then ended as the curtain threw itself down violently to raging applause.
[…]
Again there was an interlude between scenes, but this one was filled with a steady tune from the orchestra. The music carried no particular emotion, however, and was quickly forgotten when the curtain rose again, this time on the office set.
There was a lot of hustling as actor Ezio and Lorenzo de'Medici struggled onstage, followed by a small group of friendly guards.
"Curse those Pazzi!" Lorenzo swore as Ezio helped him onto a chair- from the way the actor moved, the audience could assume he was wounded somehow.
"You must conserve your strength, messere," The hooded actor grunted as he stepped back towards the audience. Ezio couldn't help but lift an eyebrow at the display, as the cast hadn't even bothered to show the viewers when or how the Medici had been injured. "Leave revenge to me."
"A single man cannot destroy an entire family!" Lorenzo scoffed, waving his hand dramatically, "Do you intend to take on the Pazzi alone?"
Ezio sighed, looking away. The audience waited silently as he took a moment to inhale deeply.
"If that's what it takes," He began, "Because as we both know, Lorenzo…My family must be avenged."
This seemed to have an impact on the stoic banker, and he nodded sadly.
"Yes…" he said, "Your father. Your father was a good man- he understood honor…loyalty…"
"Vieri de'Pazzi has already fallen to my blade," Actor Ezio interrupted quickly, "And I intend to fell Francesco tonight, with your leave."
Lorenzo sighed and took another moment for himself, gray eyes misting as though he were recalling many fond memories. Then he finally looked back up at Ezio and announced:
"Go, then," he said, "And avenge our families."
The Assassin nodded and exited the stage briskly to applause.
[…]
The curtain was down for a while, which gave Ezio time to think. Again, none of his companions attempted to make conversation with him, which he appreciated, but at the same time he wished they would say something. With the only light in the room focused on the stage, the Assassin couldn't help but feel somewhat lonely. Memories of the previous scene swam before him- and for once he felt the playwright had actually depicted something accurately. He vividly recalled the grim look on Lorenzo's face and the tight grip on his bracer as he charged him with the murder of Francesco de'Pazzi. He remembered the look of pure terror that was Guliano's last expression, his unseeing eyes staring up at the heavens.
Ezio was broken from his reveries as the curtain swept itself back up, revealing a large tower that seemed to penetrate the clouds, as they floated on the bottom of the stage (apparently meshed together from some papery material). The backdrop of the set was simply a black banner with some glistening circular objects (stars) pasted on its front, giving the appearance of night.
Finally, a figure made its presence known. The stage-light focused on a tall man bearing a fur hat as he scaled the tower, painfully climbing onto its top and spreading his arms.
"NONE CAN DEFEAT ME!" Francesco screamed to the audience from atop his perch, "I AM INVINCIBLE!"
But just then, another shadow appeared behind the Templar, its white-hood only just visible under the dark background. Ezio hurled himself at Francesco, successfully tipping him over the edge of the tower.
The banker shrieked in rage and fear as he fell out of the scene, completely hidden by the clouds that ruled the bottom half of the stage. Ezio watched on bitterly as a large amount of people backstage began to cheer at Francesco's ugly demise.
The curtain fell unceremoniously and the scene was over.
Ezio frowned, but said nothing as the light applause acknowledged yet another inaccurately portrayed memory of his.
[…]
The pause between scenes was much shorter this time, hovering around the thirty second line. The Assassin had to admit, the acting was good and the stage hands were good at their jobs, but he still harbored little love for the performance. Perhaps it was the playwright he felt needed improvement…
The scene opened up with the city set- Florentine buildings splayed over the background as citizens made their way across the stage, all bearing happy grins. Lorenzo and Ezio were already on scene when the curtain was raised, and they appeared to be deep in conversation.
"Then it is decided." Lorenzo announced to the audience loudly.
"Indeed," Ezio explained, "Francesco was only the beginning of the Pazzi's downfall. My true enemy is his father, Jacopo."
"And I have already given you the means to search for him," Lorenzo sighed, spreading his arms in a gesture of helplessness, "I just wish there was more I could do, my son."
"I appreciate it, Il magnifico," Ezio murmured, bowing as he prepared to take his leave.
"Just one more moment, Ezio," Lorenzo said suddenly, grasping the Assassin's arm. Ezio paused, turning.
"I would like to give you this cape," He explained as a servant came about, presenting a red silk garment to the Assassin enticingly, "So that my contacts everywhere know that you are a friend of the Medici."
Ezio took the cape and nodded gratefully, "It will come in handy, Lorenzo. I thank you."
Lorenzo smiled and placed his hands on the younger's shoulders lovingly, "May god protect you on your quest."
The hooded actor merely nodded again and exited the stage. As the curtain went down, the only thoughts Ezio could muster were of frustration.
[…]
"It's no use," The hooded-actor announced, "If I'm going to find Jacopo, I'm going to need a new strategy."
And how true it was. The scene had been progressing for quite some time, and the Assassin was finding it difficult to keep his weathered eyes open. The Florentine backdrop had been replaced a while ago with a blue sheet (the sky), and several papery country cottages.
For the past ten minutes, the audience had watched on in faint amusement as the actor Ezio plodded around the set, apparently expecting Jacopo to pop out of one of the nearby houses. When this failed to transpire, he simply took to pacing back and forth. Now and then a lone traveler would pass by, paying the baffled Assassin no heed whatsoever. After some thinking, it seemed he had come up with something:
"I remember…" He began, scratching his chin, "…My uncle gave me a list, with several names on it. Perhaps…by interrogating those people, I will be able to find whom I seek…"
Ezio gritted his teeth and it took every ounce of his patience not to growl 'you think?'.
He watched in annoyance as his actor-counterpart reached slowly into his sash and pulled out a leathery piece of parchment. A few moments passed while he looked it over, then the music struck up while he was putting it away. It was a happy, yet somewhat foreboding tune…
The number of travelers moving across the stage increased noticeably, and soon it seemed Ezio had found his way into a small city, not an empty countryside. The hooded actor leaned against a wall, fading into the background as the music continued. It went on this way for a few minutes, and the Assassin began to question the playwright's sanity. But suddenly-
Ezio leapt into the crowd and grabbed a seemingly innocent man as the music spiked, and began to sing;
You! Francesco Salviati!
You have ties to the Pazzi, I know!
The man immediately responded,
Please sir, just let me go,
You know not what you speak!
Ezio sang loudly,
Indeed I do!
So tell me now…
Where can Jacopo de'Pazzi be found?
There was a moment while the man considered, appearing quite scared for his life. But then he replied harshly:
I will not say!
Jacopo cannot die this day!
The audience gasped as Ezio threw the man off stage and grabbed at another- a small, round man with a red cap.
Baroncelli! I've heard of you!
You know of the Pazzi too!
Baroncelli spluttered (musically, of course):
Oh no, good man, you're confused!
This person you're talking about- I don't know who!
But the Assassin didn't fall for it:
It's information I want,
So tell me now…
Where can Jacopo de'Pazzi be found?
Again, the music subsided a bit as Baroncelli thought hard, his small body trembling horribly at the Assassin's grip. But in the end, he too bit back stubbornly.
Kill me Assassin,
I have nothing to tell!
Betray the Pazzi and their influence?
I'd sooner go to hell!
Ezio growled and heaved this man off stage as well. Before anyone could blink, he had another Templar in his grasp.
Antonio Maffei! A scholar, I've heard
But if you don't tell me where to find Jacopo,
You won't speak another word!
The monk shrieked back:
Devil Assassin!
Get away!
The whereabouts of Jacopo de'Pazzi,
I cannot say!
Ezio hurled the man off stage and heaved a frustrated sigh. He paced violently through the crowd as the music sailed into an interlude. After several minutes, he finally spotted the last man- and grabbed him.
Stefano de Bagnone!
My patience has run thin,
This is a game I have no interest in!
So before I beat you- tell me now!
WHERE CAN JACOPO DE'PAZZI BE FOUND?
The music peaked as the frightened old man began to sing;
Alright! You've got me!
Stay your blade, Assassin, I'll speak!
You'll have to search the roman garden,
To find the man you seek!
Ezio grumbled a musical response:
I do not understand your words, Templar,
Explain or taste the dirt!
Stefano seemed even more afraid now, and sang faster:
We are all going to a meeting tonight,
Under the stars, in a grassy field,
It is here you will find Jacopo and his masters,
But weapons they will wield!
He took a deep breath before the next stanza:
Follow Jacopo after church,
He will show you where to go,
Now please may I leave, master Assassin?
I have told you all I know!
Ezio considered for a few moments, and his hold on the old monk slackened slightly. Then his expression hardened and he spoke:
No, Stefano,
I'm afraid I cannot let you live,
Requiescat en Pace, my friend,
I shall listen to the advice you give.
Then the orchestra came to an abrupt halt as the Assassino dramatically raised his left arm and killed the monk with the device on that wrist. The curtain went down on light applause, signaling the end of the scene.
[..]
The curtain rose several minutes later on an interesting set- it was quite dark, filled with thin smoke that seemed to give an appearance of night. The Assassin was on stage, but hiding in some bushes, as the lights helpfully pointed out. There was some murmuring backstage, and suddenly a group of dark robed people appeared, strolling casually across the set. They were chatting amongst themselves, almost too quietly for the audience to hear. After a bit of walking, they stopped in their places and turned to one another, continuing the conversation.
"I had expected the others to be with you, Jacopo," One black-hooded man, quite short, glowered, "This is disturbing."
"Yes, maestro," Another figure said quickly, pulling down his hood to reveal an old man with a nice hat (how this hat fit under his hood, Ezio could only guess), "I simply cannot fathom what has happened to them!"
"I'll tell you!" The third black robed figure yelled arrogantly, "They were killed by that damned Assassin your family can't seem to get rid of!"
"It isn't my fault!" Jacopo, the old man, insisted, "It's Francesco's! I always knew he was a bit stupid, but-"
"Ha!" The arrogant figure interrupted, "You Pazzi are all the same! Making sorry excuses for yourselves-"
"Well I'm afraid we can't all be as perfect as you Venetians, Emilio!" Jacopo snarled.
"ENOUGH!" The short Templar bellowed, silencing the two. He glared at them, waiting a full five seconds before continuing. He rounded in on Jacopo with narrowed eyes;
"We put our faith in you," He explained venomously, "Put our trust in you and your family- and you repaid us with inaction and incompetence! How do you expect me to respond to this?"
Jacopo looked down, ashamed, "…I don't know…" He mumbled.
The short Templar frowned and quietly unsheathed his sword, "Don't worry," He said as he brought it up, "I do."
There was a loud shriek as the weapon ran through Jacopo's chest, and the audience gasped as blood spurted all over the Templar's clothes. On this cue, Ezio jumped out of the bushes, sword unsheathed:
"How dare you!" He yelled angrily, "I was going to kill Jacopo de'Pazzi! And I spent so long preparing for it!"
"Sorry to have claimed your prize, Assassin!" The murderer sneered, "But I'm afraid we have to be going now!"
And so he and the other Templar waddled swiftly off stage before Ezio could even make another move.
"Curse you, Templar scum!" Ezio cursed after them, stomping furiously off stage. No one bothered with Jacopo's bleeding carcass.
END OF ACT II.