Chapter 3

Kiran strode down a stone path, watching the moon as it rose in the sky. She left the city and made her way to a farm a short distance away. As she felt the city's perimeter she was flanked by Araceli and Matteo. Kiran nodded at them both before continuing down the winding pathway. Araceli glanced at Kiran, "Ezio knows what you are planning."
"Someone told him? Or is it just his keen senses?" Kiran asked, a wry smirk tugging at her lips.
"Someone tried to kill a young apprentice, whom you watch over like a mother hen." Araceli chuckled, "Anyone would be shocked if you didn't confront the person who planned the incident." She glanced at Matteo, "And Ezio asked that try to avoid killing the informant."
Matteo gave a small grunt. While he didn't care for that order he would still obey it, knowing that it would cause more trouble if he didn't listen. He nodded slightly, "Marco is alive and recovering well. That's all that matters to me."

Kiran lead the group to a small farm house and knocked at the door. An older woman opened the door and gasped slightly, "What are you doing here?"
"Is your husband home?" Kiran asked.
"Please-" The woman began, her tone turning frantic.
"We mean no harm." Kiran said gently, "We just want to talk. You have my word."
The woman hesitated for a moment before motioning for the trio to enter the house. A few moments later a man came out of what the group presumed to be a master bedroom and paled when he saw Kiran and Araceli. Kiran stepped forward, "Senor Contadino?"
The man gaped at them before stammering, "Wh-what are you doing here?" He looked upstairs before looking at the group, "Please, my children..."
"We have no harmful intentions." Kiran stated, "That you can be certain of. What we want are answers." She motioned for the man to sit, "We almost lost a young boy today because of your information."
"Aniello, what are they talking about?" His wife asked in a concerned tone.
"Who do you work for, Contadino?" Araceli asked.
Aniello looked away, "You are mistaken."
"There was an ambush that is linked to the information you gave us." Araceli stated firmly, "We know that you know something." She crossed her arms, "Final chance."
"You wouldn't dare." He glared.
"We can't kill you, but we can make you wish you were dead. An innocent life was almost lost today, Contadino, and his blood would have been on your hands. Answer us now!" Kiran shouted.
"The guards don't like you Assassins." Aniello stated.
"Actually is the higher ups and their lap dogs, but do go on." Kiran explained.
"They want to be rid of the Assassin influence in the city and surrounding area. They want the Templars back in power." Aniello said, "The people here are... Too fond of your kind and too trusting."
"They have no reason to fear us. We don't kill for no reason. When we do, we do so to keep the people safe." Kiran stated, "Continue."
"The guards want the Templars back." Aniello stated, "To restore order... You Assassin's do not understand this. You do not fight for a proper cause."
"The Templars seek order by controlling others. We seek order by letting people find it themselves." Kiran corrected, "The Templars can demonize us as much as they please, but we have the same goal in mind. Our methods are just different." She crossed her arms, "And the Templars won't be making a return here."
"You really believe that?" Aniello chuckled, "Fools."
"Talk old man." Matteo hissed.
"Have you ever heard of the six Legendary Blades?" Aniello smirked.
"Joyeuse, Durendal, Exaclibur, Hrunting, Damocles and the sword of Attila the Hun." Kiran recited, "Swords of great warriors and strong leaders. What about them?"
"I overheard some guards talking about the Templars going to find these swords. With them, the Templars will see to it that their goals are achieved." He shrugged his shoulders, "Something about them being pieces to... a puzzle or something. I don't know. I didn't hear much after that."

Kiran and Araceli exchanged glances before looking back at Aniello. Araceli uncrossed her arms, "You and your family have a day to leave this place." She and the others turned to leave and she looked over her shoulder, "If this is what we think it is... Things are going to get bad really quickly. You and your family will leave this place."
"Your information is appreciated, but traitors are not." Kiran stated as she and her companions left the house.

Ezio narrowed his eyes as he listened to Kiran and Araceli tell him about what Aniello had told them. He crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat, "If what he says is true..." He looked at the trio standing before him, "I want you to look into this. If there is any proof to what Aniello said..."
"It will be dealt with, sir." Kiran stated firmly.
"Might I recommend going to the guard's base? Perhaps we can get information there." Araceli suggested before smirking, "Kiran, don't you have a friend within the guard ranks?"
"Cencio?" Kiran arched a brow before grinning, "Ben oui! Wonderful young man. I'm sure I could ask a favour of him." She furrowed her brow, "It would be a major risk for him... But if he'll help..."
"There's no doubt in my mind that he will help you." Ezio smiled gently, "Now go. Rest well and good luck tomorrow."
As the group left Ezio's home Araceli noticed Matteo's stern look. She chuckled, "What is it, Captain?"
"This guard. Can we trust him?" Matteo asked, his arms crossed over his chest and his gaze averted to the side slightly.
"Cencio is a good guy. I would trust him if he said something was wrong." Kiran stated with a shrug, "He's helped me out before, and has done nothing to betray my trust."
Matteo responded with a grunt and a sharper gaze, "Still..."
"Easy, de Felice. One may think you were jealous of this man." Araceli chuckled before brushing past a now stunned Matteo. She nodded at Kiran, "I'll contact Cencio and have him drop by your place in the morning with any extra information. Maybe he'll be able to get us into the building."
"I don't doubt he'd be able to." Kiran grinned, "He is a cheeky little warrior."

The group soon split off to go to their homes. Araceli had met up with Cencio later that night and told him of the situation. He paused a moment before saying he would do the best he could.

Kiran was awoken early in the morning to someone knocking at the shop door. She quickly got changed and rushed to the door to see a young man in a guard's uniform standing outside the shop. She smiled and waved him inside, "Cencio! Good to see you!"
Cencio looked around before entering the shop. He was a few years older than Kiran, and was one of the first people she has met when she arrived in the city. He had helped her obtain information when he believed it to be the right thing, but did not keep his criticisms quite if he disagreed with something she, or her allies, did. Kiran motioned for Cencio to take a seat as she went into the kitchen to grab some food for breakfast. She returned a few minutes later with a few plates and a plater of cheese, bread, and fruits.
Cencio watched as Kiran took a seat before he spoke up, "So, Araceli says there is trouble?"
"Potentially. Have you heard anything?" Kiran asked.
"I will not deny that I have overheard the higher ups discussing somethings about Templars. Though what they have planned, I do not know." He explained as he bit into a piece of bread.
"Can you get us into the building?" She asked bluntly.
"There is going to be a meeting tonight, some Templars will be coming to talk with the Captains of the guard. You should be able to sneak in through the cellar and make it to the main office room where information and notes are stored." He explained, "Everyone will be busy, so you won't have to worry about the doors being heavily guarded." He smirked, "I mean, only a fool would sneak into a building filled with guards and Templars."
"Or masters of shadows." She corrected with a smirk before taking a bite out of a piece of cheese, "Either way, information will be obtained." She smiled, "I want to thank you for your help. I know that you must be risking a lot and-"
"Think nothing of it." He interupted, "People have been acting weird lately, and I want to know what's going on myself."

Kiran was about to speak when the shop door swung open and Matteo marched in. His face was, as usual, hidden under his hood keeping everything hidden except his mouth, which was pulled into a frown. Cencio tensed and his hand subconsciously shifted to his sword. Kiran rolled her eyes, "Men..." She nodded at Matteo, "Good to see you, Matteo." She offered him a plate of food, "Breakfast?"
Matteo nodded at Cencio, "So, the guard gave you the information you needed?" He glanced at the other man, "One would not expect a guard to turn against his own."
"I'm a protector of the people first and a guard second." Cencio hissed, "I want to know what is going on, and if the people of the city are in danger."
Kiran sighed as she stood up, "Your shift starts soon, right? I'll let you be on your way. But first..." She ducked behind a counter before emerging with an oranate gold bracelet, "This is what you were looking for for Gema?"
"It's perfect! Where did you find this?" Cencio beamed.
"A trader I ran into a while ago was selling it. I saw it and it was just what you were looking for." She smirled proudly.
"What's that for?" Matteo asked, his tone flat.
"He's going to propose to his girlfriend." She smiled, "He's working on a ring of his own to give her, but he wanted to give her a 'promise' gift. A token of sorts."
"His... girlfriend?" Matteo's tone turned to one of surprise.
Kiran bid Cencio a fond fairwell and wished him luck. Once he left she turned to Matteo and crossed her arms, "Did you have to be so hostile with each other?"
Matteo shrugged, "I don't trust guards."
"Uh huh..." Kiran rolled her eyes before nodding at the food, "Have some breakfast, then we'll meet up with Araceli."

Araceli, Kiran, and Matteo knelt in the bushes near the guard tower, watching as the guards all entered the building. Supposedly two Templars had arrived earlier that day and were already inside. The trio watched the silhouettes of people moving inside, waiting until most of them were in the same area, before making their way to the cellar door at the back of the building. Kiran quickly undid the lock and slipped into the shadows of the cellar followed by Araceli, and finally by Matteo, who shut the cellar door behind them. After a moment of listening for the sound of people moving above them they made their way to a door that, after some lockpicking, opened to a long hallway.
The slowly made their way into the room Cencio had indicated as the 'office' where documentation was kept. Matteo stood watch at the door as the young Assassins rummaged about. They found several notes from the Templars to the Captains and Commanders about their plan to 'eliminate the Assassins and return the balance of power to its norm', as well as allusions to weapons that would serve to aid the Templars in their mission. Kiran shook her head, "This is bad... If they get their hands on any of these swords..."
"We need to get to Ezio and show him these letters." Araceli stated firmly before pocketing the notes and documents in her hands.
Kiran followed suit before turning to Matteo, "Is it safe?"
"I saw no movement in the hall. Sounded like people were walking around near the front of the building, but I do not believe they would spot us if we left now."

They quickly gathered what they needed before making their way to the cellar and out of the building. They were halfway to Ezio's home when a young woman came rushing over. Her cheeks were streaked with tears and her gentle blue eyes were bloodshot. Kiran's face paled when she saw her, "Gema? What's wrong?"
"It's Cencio. They have him in the city center. They are going to kill him!" She shrieked.
Kiran hissed, "Go to Ezio and tell him what's going on. We'll keep Cencio safe."
"But-"
"I swear to you, I won't let anything happen to Cencio."
Gema nodded quickly before running off. Kiran growled before rushing off towards the city center, Araceli and Matteo racing close behind her. They soon were standing on a roof at the city center, looking down into the crowd. At the front stood two Templars and Cencio, who was held down so he was on his knees by two other guards.

"-Do you want to be watched over by bloodthirsty killers? Or do you want to be guided to true knowledge, to true glory and peace?" A male Templar shouted at the crowd, who all stood in shock. He gestured harshly at Cencio, "This man almost cost you all the chance at freedom! He would rather you be lead by killers than by true leaders!" He grinned darkly at the crowd, "The Templars can offer you true freedom! We can free you all from your chains! Hear me! We can bring you salvation!"
"Salvation at the cost of life!" Kiran shouted venemously as she lept down onto the platform the Templars and guards stood on, "You call us bloodthirsty killers... But we aren't the ones about to slaughter an innocent man!"
"He gave you information-" The Templar growled.
"His only crime is knowing an Assassin, nothing more!" Kiran shouted.
"Kiran... Run..." Cencio coughed, blood spattering from his lips.
"He seeks to defend you, which is enough to call him the traitor he is." The Templar glared, "And he will be put down like the dog he is!"
The other Templar raised a sword and aimed it Cencio's neck, but just before they could swing their blade Araceli shot them in the back with an arrow, not a lethal shot but enough to make them drop their weapon and crumple to the floor. The first Templar hissed darkly as Araceli and Matteo appeared on the platform, swiftly taking out the guards holding Cencio.
Kiran turned to the crowd and saw Ezio, Gema, a number of her fellow Assassins, and a number of Gondoliers approaching the crowd. "Do you really want this? Do you want people killing you just for knowing someone? If that the freedom you want?" She looked about the crowd at the guards who were also in shock, "Would you let a friend die for the greed of others! The Templars chose the Assassins as their enemies, what glory is there bringing innocents into the fray! The guards have done well protecting the people, and we only seek to help protect all peoples from people like this!" She pointed at the Templar, "What is freedom, if it is under the control and manipulation of another person? True freedom comes from learning it yourself! Only you can free yourselves!" She shook her head, "But you as people are free to choose! You can choose to fight this! Don't let yourselves be manipulated-"
"Silence!" The Templar shouted.
"I will be silent when I am dead!" Kiran shot at him venemously, "I will stop fighting when my very soul ends! Until then I will not stop my work in protecting these people from monsters like you!" She looked at the guards, "I thought of many of you as noble warriors, prove me right! Prove that you truly want to defend these people! Do you want to be treated as you friend here? Do you want to live in fear of death because of these people?"
"That is enough!" The Templar reached from Kiran.
"You claim you want to bring salvation, but what salvation is their in murder?" Kiran looked at the crowd sadly, "The Assassins are not perfect... No... I won't argue that, but we only wish to help protect you so you can find true freedom... We kill, yes, but only to keep people safe and in our own defense... Have any of you faced cruelty at the hands of any of my brothers or sisters? Speak now, and I will listen!"
"That is enough of your words, demon!" The Templar growled, unsheathing a dangerous looking sword.
"Sharp words and anger does not a demon make. Just a fool declaring a demon of someone else." Kiran stated before eyeing the sword warily.
The Templar spat before levelling his sword at Kiran, "Do you know what this is?" He was met with a level and silent gaze. "This is the sword of Attila the Hun, the very man who lay seige against Masyaf. Does that sound familiar?" He grinned, "And it will be used again against the Assassins."
Kiran readied her sword, along with Araceli and Matteo. Ezio and his allies made their way through the crowd, ready for a fight. The Templar lunged at Kiran, who just barely blocked the attack and dodged out of the way. Soon a fight broke out between the Templars and Kiran, Araceli, and Matteo, amongst the guards and Ezio and his allies.
Kiran noticed the second Templar sneaking up behind Cencio, sword raised. She let out a shout and raced forward, knocking him out of the way and taking the attack. The Templar's sword dug into her shoulder, knocking her backwards onto the platform. A hush started to fall over the crowd as everyone looked at Kiran lying motionless on the platform. Cencio rushed forward and pulled the sword from his friend's shoulder before shaking her, "Kiran! Answer me!"
The crowd began to murmur amongst each other and many of the guards gaped in horror. The first Templar laughed and spat at Kiran, "This is what happens to those that oppose us..."
Kiran winced in pain as she pulled herself to her feet, "If what we do is wrong, then I will see you in Hell... I talked to someone recently and you know what I said?" She took a shaky breath, "The Templars and Assassins have the same goal in mind, but our means of achieving this goal are different... But there is yet another difference between us..." She took a breath, "We don't take pleasure in killing others! I will never take pleasure in taking life... Each time I must is just as hard as the first... But you...! Your pleasure in this pain... Take your pleasure, I can't stop that, but at least I can be satisfied knowing I kept my humanity, unlike you... Monster..." Kiran winced in pain, the blood spurting from her wound causing her to faint. The last thing she heard as she fell into darkness was an uproar from the crowd.