Chapter 5

The group had been travelling for a few days when they arrived in Rocamadour in France. Some locals had been kind enough to pass on some stories about the location of the legendary Durendal. The trio had decided to go to a tavern to rest for a bit and decide what their next action should be. Inside the tavern they got some food and sat at a table near the back of the room. Araceli drummed her fingers on the table as she looked at a map of the area, "So... Durendal is likely to be in the local sanctuary."
"Which means we need to sneak in." Kiran murmured before running a hand through her hair, "I strongly dislike sneaking into and stealing from sanctuaries and religious places... But I am sure God would forgive us given the circumstances."
"We'll leave after dark." Araceli stated, "It should be a simple in-and-out retrieval."

Everyone looked up as the tavern door was flung open and a group of rowdy young adults sauntered into the building. Kiran smirked and let out a short laugh as she stood up. Matteo arched a brow and looked at Araceli, who smirked and leaned back in her seat as if she was about to watch something interesting.
The young adults were crowded around a table being noisy and bothering the other patrons. Some of the young men sent a serving girl scurrying away while they hollered and whistled after her. Kiran cleared her throat and crossed her arms, her hood up and covering most of her face. The group fell silent before laughing at her. The supposed leader of the group, a big burly looking man with dirty blond hair and green eyes stood up and walked over to her, "Now, what do we have here? Someone who doesn't like our fun?" He laughed loudly, "Well, that's too bad." He placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned down, "Maybe you'd be interested in another kind of fun?"
"Sorry, monsieur." She looked up and brushed back her hood, revealing her face to him, "But I am not interested. But might I recommend you take your 'fun' elsewhere? I don't think the people here like it... And I do hate seeing the people disturbed by troublemakers." She smirked, "I know you don't want to see what I do to people who bother the people, or me. So why don't you just run along now? Hm?"
The man's face paled, "M-mon Dieu! L'Ange des Ombres!"
His company all paled and a number of the patrons looked up in shock. The man ushered his friends out of the building quickly, not bothering to look back. Kiran smiled before wandering back to the table, slipping her hood off her head as she sat down. Araceli snickered, "'Angel of Shadows' is it?"
"I did some work around here when I was first starting out working for Ezio." Kiran shrugged casually. She looked up as a young child wandered over, "Madamoiselle?"
"Oui, ma petite?" She smiled down at the young girl.
"Are you really L'Ange des Ombres?" She asked meekly.
"Perhaps I am." Kiran chuckled, "Why do you ask?"
"Mama and Papa are in danger..." She began timidly, "These men... They say if Papa doesn't pay them back... They'll destroy the farm!"
"Sounds more like a job for the local authorities." Araceli murmured.
Kiran looked from the child, to Araceli, and back again. "I think it's beyong that at the moment..." She looked at her companions, "I'll meet you at the place. I should look into this."

Kiran had told the girl to go home and keep quiet about seeing her. She hide in the shadows of the barn and watched the sun dip below the horizon. She watched as a group of men made their way to the farm house, slamming on the door to get the attention of the family inside. Kiran pulled her hood up over her face and stayed in the shadows as she listened to the exchange.

One of the debt collector grabbed the girl's father as the door opened and slammed him against the farm house's wall, demanding that he pay them their money. The father's eyes were wide with fear, "Please! Just a few more days!"
"Time is up." The collector snarled and pulled out a dagger, "Give us the money, or we will take something else." He eyes the inside of the farm house.
"Non! Please-!" The father cried out.

Kiran stepped out from the shadows, "Why is he in debt?"
"Who-" One of the collectors began.
"Why," Kiran cut him off, "Is this man in debt?"
"Made some bets he couldn't pay up on." The collector holding the girl's father hissed.
"How much?"
"Pardon?"
"I said, how much?"
The collectors all looked at each other before laughing. The collector holding the farmer turned to face Kiran, "You think you can pay us off?"
"I think I can make you leave." Kiran stated.
"Oh really now?" The collector arched a brow, "I would love to hear how you plan on doing that, girl."
Kiran crossed her arms, "This man owes you a thousand francs. He's had a little over two months to earn that much money, but sadly his crops have been savaged by pests. If he can't pay you, you will take anything you want from his house... And you, monsieur, seem to have an eye for this man's wife."
"How would you know any of this? Even if that were true-" He began.
Kiran raised her index finger before stepping into the shadow and dragging out two unconsious men, "These men were kind enough to fill me in on your little scheme. Oh, by the way, if you want to sabotage a farmer's crops, best not to do it during the day when they can be spotted." She crossed her arms, "This man still has a debt, I will acknowledge that. He will pay five hundred francs and you will leave."
"And if we refuse?" The collector asked.
"Then too bad for you." She shrugged, "I won't let you harm these people."
The collector and his friend grabbed their weapons and prepared for a fight. "I think someone needs to be taught a lesson in minding their own business." The head collector spat.
"And I think a lesson from L'Ange des Ombres is something you pests desperately need." Kiran said as she readied her sword.

Araceli tapped her foot on the ground as she leaned against a tree. Matteo sat close by, anxious for Kiran to return. It was quite some time past sunset and she hadn't met up with them yet. Matteo was just about to suggest going to find her when he spotted Kiran walking over. Araceli arched a brow, "So?"
"The girl's father paid the collectors five hundred francs, which they graciously accepted, declaring that there would be no further problems." Kiran said innocently as she flipped back her hood.
Araceli chuckled, "Gave them a real scare didn't you?"
"The Angel of Shadows will do that to a person." Kiran winked before nodding at the sanctuary, "We heading in?"
Araceli nodded before leading Kiran and Matteo into the sanctuary. The slowly and quitely made their way through the halls and down a long, winding staircase until they reached a locked chamber door. Araceli quickly picked the lock while Kiran and Matteo stood guard and after a few minutes the lock gave way. The trio slipped into the chamber silently, shutting the door behind them. Matteo gaped at the chamber in awe, "Wow...!"
The chamber was made of marble with pillars shooting up into the ceiling forty feet above their heads. In the middle of the room was a marble pedestal with a sword lying on top a sky blue cloth.
Matteo ran a hand over a marble table, "These designs... This place is beautiful..."
Kiran and Araceli nodded as they looked around the room. The trio started to make their way towards the pedestal when a voice stopped them. A woman in a long dress stepped forward from behind a pillar, smiling warmly at the group. She walked towards the group, "I take it you didn't get lost. Now, what are you three doing here?"
"We are sorry for sneaking in but-" Kiran began.
"It's important business." Araceli finished.
"I'm all ears." The woman said before chuckling, "I mean, we're all ears." She nodded at the other women who emerged from behind other pillars.
"We don't want a fight." Matteo said quickly, "We need the sword... Our home is in danger. We want to defend our people-"
"Templars?" The woman asked.
"H-how...?" Matteo stammered.
"Word travels quickly." The woman chuckled, "So, you want to defend your home from Templars?"
"Their goal is noble, but their means aren't." Kiran said, "They almost killed two innocent people."
"We won't stand by while our home is wrapped in fear." Matteo said, "The Templars call us demons... But we don't kill innocent people." He shook his head, "Religion has nothing to do with this fight. Greed for power is what started this fight... And we will end it if it means our friends can live in peace."
The woman nodded her head in contemplation as she walked over to the pedestal. She picked up the sword and closed her eyes as if listening to something no one else could hear. After a moment she smiled and picked up the sword, then walked over to Matteo, "You swear to use this in the defense of your home? To never use this to harm an innocent person?"
"Of course." He said, "What good is there in harming an innocent person? If anything can be done to protect our home, I would gladly take any risk for it." He glanced briefly at his companions, "And some things are even more important than simply defending home."
The woman smiled warmly as she handed him the sword, "Then I entrust this to you. Do well by it, and protect what you value most."
"You're just giving us the sword?" Araceli asked, mildly surprised.
"I'm giving it to him. He will be the new keeper of the sword. He is to do with it as he sees fit." The woman explained.

"Thank you, madame." Kiran said quickly, bowing to the woman before turning to Matteo, "We should be going now."

The trio made a retreat from the sanctuary back to the tavern. Inside they went to a room with three beds that they had paid for earlier. Matteo sat on his bed and stared at Durendal, taking in the smooth blade and elegant hilt, "So... This is Durendal, hm?"
"You really impressed that woman." Kiran smiled, "And frankly, I'm glad she entrusted you with the sword. It's a great sign of faith to do something like that."
Matteo smiled proudly as he sheathed the legendary blade. Araceli nodded with a smile, "We should rest now. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day."

Kiran looked over as she rested her head on her pillow, "Matteo?"
"Yes, Sparrow?" He looked over at her.
"Back in the sanctuary you said somethings are more important than defending home. What did you mean by it?" She asked, "I mean, I agree with you, but I'm just curious."
"Ah-... Nothing important." He murmured.
Kiran arched a brow, "Really now?"
"It's... Nothing big." He murmured, "Just... Something important to me. We can talk about it later."
"If you want." She said.
"Love's blind, but I never knew it was clueless." Araceli whispered, chuckling to herself.