Ch 9

Kiran, Araceli, and Matteo stood at the front of the group as the Templars and their army approached the city. At the head of the Templar army were three templars with their own legendary blade. Kiran glared as the Templar with the sword of Attila the Hun strode forward, "Well, I see you are alive." He laughed, "I was hoping to see you when you came for the sword of Damocles, but you never showed. Very disappointing."
"There were more important things to deal with than you and your pests." Kiran stated, "Besides," She unsheathed Joyeuse, "I think it's a fair fight now."
The Templar narrowed his eyes before smirking, "Ah yes... Didn't you master die? What will the dogs do now without their master?"

Kiran raised her sword, "Last warning. Leave this place."
The Templar Captains readied their swords. The head Templar grinned as he raised his own sword, "Request denied." He gestured forward, "Attack!"

The air was filled with the sound of clashing metal and screams. Kiran, Araceli, and Matteo carved their way through the crowd, trying to reach the sword keepers in the middle of the brawl. All around them their allies were bloodied and injured, but they still fought on. Araceli pushed back an attacker while driving her hidden blade into another. Kiran appeared behind her and ran another attacker through with Joyeuse. Matteo cut down a Templar who was about to kill an Gondolier. He pulled the man to his feet before continuing to fight.

Kiran and Araceli stood back to back as they held back the Templars. The Templar Captain weilding Hrunting called out over the din of battle, "You can't win! We will wipe you off the face of the earth!"
"It is futile!" Another Templar Captain called out, "You just can't win, you fools! All the strength you can muster is nothing when put against an army!"
Kiran looked around. It was true. They were completely outnumbered and losing quickly. She clenched her teeth, We can't give in... Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what to do.
The din of battle was cut by the sound of several guns being fired from a distance. Kiran looked over her shoulder and smiled, "I'll be damned...!"
Araceli looked up and smirked, "Perfect."
Matteo looked over as he ran a Templar through and laughed as he saw who had fired the guns.

The Duke of Joyeuse stood at the top of a hill with an army of his own. A short distance away they spotted Lucio in a soldier's armour along with a number of other soldiers, and beside them was Jean, Laurent, a man who looked like Jean's twin, and a number of French Assassins. Kiran looked over at the Templar Captains and smirked, "Care to take back what you said?"

One of the Captains hissed something to the others before they all vanished into the fray. Kiran rushed forward, "After them!"
In the distance she head the Duke cry out as he lead the charge into battle, followed by the Frence Assassins and Lucio and his men. The trio ducked and slashed their way after the Templars. They eventually caught up with them in a wooded area close to the battle. Kiran, Araceli, and Matteo found themselves face to face with the Templar Captains at last. Kiran growled, "Done running I see."
The Templars readied their swords. Araceli nodded at Kiran as she readied her own sword. She had checked around the area and could see no signs of an ambush. Kiran nodded in return before looking at the Templars, "This ends here."

The Templars lunged forward, swords raised and ready for blood. Kiran lunged forward to take on the Templar wielding the sword of Attila. Behind her swords clashed as her friends took on the other two Captains. Kiran grunted as the Templar's sword cut into her arm, leaving a deep gash. She growled as she jumped to the side before driving her sword into the Templar's gut. Behind her she heard the other Templars drop to the ground. Araceli and Matteo stood back as Kiran took on the final opponent. Matteo moved forward to help but Araceli stopped him, saying that this fight was Kiran's to finish.
Kiran and the Templar moved around in a deadly dance of blades. She caught the movement of the Templar's had as it reached into a pouch behind his back. At the glint of a metal barrel she moved in close, bringing Joyeuse down across his arm. The Templar reared back as his hand that held a gun dropped to the ground in a bloody puddle. Kiran took the chance and rammed her hidden blade home into his neck. She jumped away as he collapsed onto the ground, blood pooling around him. She sheathed Joyeuse and knelt beside the Templar. She stared into his eyes sadly and whispered, "Where did these men come from?"
"What does it matter?" The Templar spat.
"I want to be able to send these people home to their families. It's the respectful thing to do... It would be better if they were buried in home soil." She whispered.
The Templar growled at her, "The Templars will live on..."
Kiran wanted to say more but closed her mouth as the light faded from the Templar's eyes. She raised a hand and closed his eyes, "Rest in peace..."

Kiran and her companions returned to the battle field to see that the battle was over. The Templars were either dead or captured, and her allies stood victorious. She didn't smile as she looked around at the dead enemies and allies. She walked over to the Duke, Lucio, her father, brother, and uncle, "We can't thank you enough."
"Think nothing of it." The Duke smiled.
"The Captains?" Her uncle asked.
"Dead." She responded. She looked at the fallen fighters, "Is there any way to find where these people came from?"
Kiran's uncle cleared his throat, "We intercepted some Templars who were coming to join up for the fighter. These men are all from places boardering France and Italy."
"How fast can we get a message out for these bodies to be taken home?" She asked.
"I'll get my men on it right now." Her uncle said before nodding at his men, who all ran off to their horses.
"I want to start burying bodies as soon as possible." She said, "We'll start with our people. Any Templars not claimed within the next few days will be buried in marked graves."
"I will leave a few men here to help out." The Duke said, "And I will also send messengers to pass on the word."
"Thank you." Kiran smiled.

"Kiran." Jean said.
She looked at her father, still surprised to see that he showed up. He smiled and patted her shoulder, "I'm proud of you." He looked over at Matteo, "And you... Take care of my little girl."

"You have my word." Matteo nodded.
Kiran turn to Araceli, "Let's start burying the dead. It would be disrespectful to leave them to rot." She turn to the surviving allies and Assassins, "I want the injured to seek treatment right away. Anyone who can, I want to help bury the dead, that includes the Templars. Each and every body, ally and enemy, will be taken care of and treated with the utmost respect." She smiled, "The battle is over. Our home is safe."