Chapter Twenty-Three:

The Auditore Family

1519

"Leonardo…"

Da Vinci looked at me and stared, as if trying to recognize me. When he couldn't, I sighed and sat down beside him on the bed.

"I'm Ezio's friend, Sofia, remember?"

Leonardo thought for another moment before he smiled. "Ah, Sofia. Piacere."

"Salve to you as well, amico." I smiled at him and watched him for a while. He was nearly as energetic as several years ago, but it was obvious that age had taken its toll.

"What are you doing here?" Leonardo asked.

"I came to visit. A simple visit."

Leonardo was lying in his bed, a bundle of canvasses beside it. He pointed to a package that seemed important. "That one I made in honour of you," he said. "I kept trying to get it right, but I could never. The smile just…"

I picked it up and opened the package. Taking great care, I slid the painting out. It was a woman, one arm crossed over another, with black hair and a strange smile.

"This looks nothing like me," I said, half-honest and half as a joke.

"Exactly!" Leonardo exclaimed. "But I tried to put some of your aspects into it. The piercing eyes (though they are not gold) and the smile. I could never get your smile right."

I shook my head and slid the painting back into its holder. "Leonardo, would you like me to get anything for you?"

Leonardo thought for a moment before he beamed and pointed to his desk. "There is a figurine in my desk! I would like to see it, at least once more."

I hurried to get it for him. It was an old thing, but it seemed stable. It replicated the human shape almost perfectly.

"Ah," Leonardo sighed as he took the figurine. "Ezio bought this for me when we arrived in Venezia. His pocket was nearly picked by Rosa, but he caught her and let her go. This has helped me much with my work. I am glad that I have contributed to Ezio, as he has to me… with this."

"Would you like to see him?"

Leonardo shook his head. "No. I've already seen him and Machiavelli. They know what comes, as do I." Leonardo closed his eyes and rested the figurine atop his chest. "All this time, I thought I was teaching myself to live, when really I was teaching myself how to die."

A few minutes later, the figurine on Leonardo's chest stopped its rising/falling action. I put Leonardo's hands on his chest and the figurine, and then closed his eyes.

"Requiescat in Pace," I muttered. "May you find the answers you seek, brother."

1217

Robert had left for Jerusalem, and nearly a month later we hadn't heard any word of him. Altair got us sidetracked along the way, and we learned from a passing messenger that his name was among the list of the dead. We also learned that his son had been born, only a day after his father died.

The next few weeks passed uneventfully, though we all took turns taking watch to guard ourselves from any thieves or bandits in the night. The days were long, and Darim and I were growing restless. We were running out of things to speak of.

I found my own training leaving me as my impatience grew with each passing day. I wouldn't be able to control myself. It was lucky that Altair was there; I'd be lost without him.

We received a few letters from Sef and Malik once we'd settled in a village to rest, after we'd sent them some, of course. It seemed Abbas Sofian was growing just as restless as I was, and Malik was forced to ask Altair for guidance.

I sometimes found myself awed by Altair. He knew proper judgement and was possibly wiser than a king. It was no wonder I always thought so highly of him, and idolized him as a child. Who did he have to look up to? Al Mualim? Surely he'd had another person! But I couldn't think of another one. It annoyed me the more I thought about it.

We set off after we'd sent our replies to Sef and Malik. It would be a while before we found an Assassin-friendly village again.

1524

I knocked on the door of the large Villa. Surrounded by grapevines, it was probably quickly becoming Firenze's new pride. A little girl answered the door. She was small, as many children her age were, with chocolate brown eyes and hair, and near-unnoticeable freckles dotting her cheeks.

She took a good look at me before she looked into the home. "Papa! Someone here to see you!"

"You get many strangely dressed people here?" I asked, amused.

The girl smiled. "Si. Messer Machiavelli comes all the time."

I laughed at that. Sometimes I didn't agree with his clothing choice, either. A few minutes later, an old man with short grey hair and a beard came to the door, dressed simply, but I could see a hood behind his head.

He smiled at me warmly. "Ah! Sofia! This is unexpected!"

"Mi dispiace for coming without announcing myself, but I was in the neighbourhood."

"Nessun problema. Please, come in. I will get some of that wine I've been working on."

The little girl pulled on her father's clothes. "Papa! I will get it!"

He stooped and kissed his daughter on the forehead. "Grazie, Flavia. Let your madre know that one of your Papa's friends are here as well."

Flavia nodded excitedly and ran off, her dress a simple blur. "Flavia? A good name," I commented. "And what's your son's name, Ezio?"

Ezio smiled and led me inside, shutting the door as soon as I was in the main room. "Marcello."

I smiled. "What Prince Suleiman called you when Ahmet caught you speaking to him?"

"It's my own little joke, but I liked the name." Ezio pulled up two chairs and sat slowly into his own. "What brings you here, amico? Business?"

"Pleasure," I replied. "Just went to Firenze to look around. Guess what I found?"

"What?"

I smiled and pulled a picture out of my robe. It was years old. "Remember this person? Fifty-thousand florins if you can name him."

"They still have these up?" Ezio muttered as he took the wanted poster from my hand.

"No. It was blowing around in the wind. I had a laugh about it when I picked it up."

Flavia returned with her mother, Sofia. The two were bringing the wine. "Sofia! Mio dio, it has certainly been some time!"

"Si, it has!" I rose and hugged Sofia once she'd put the tray down. Besides a few lines on her face here and there, she hadn't changed.

"What brings you here?" Sofia asked.

I released her and sat back down with Ezio. Sofia pulled-up three more chairs, possibly just-in-case Marcello wanted to visit as well. "Just some travelling. Firenze is a favourite of mine."

"It has grown on me as well," Sofia admitted. "I do not miss the stink of the canals in Venezia."

"You were married in Venezia, si?"

Ezio nodded. "We were. And then we headed to Roma for—." Ezio glanced at Flavia and cleared his throat. "—for business. Firenze was our last stop."

"You've done well for yourself, Ezio. I'm glad," I said. I noticed Marcello had come as well. He looked almost exactly like his sister, but I was certain that if he'd pursed his lips, he'd look more like his mother. "Speaking of which, I've a present for each of you."

Ezio looked surprised. "Sul serio? You did not have to do that…"

I smiled. "Please. These moments of peace are rare. It is always nice to sit and take a breather."

I quickly opened the satchel on my back and rummaged through it. "Now… let's see…"

"Have we become San Niccolo?" Ezio asked with a smile.

I glared at Ezio, but smiled still. "Aha!" I exclaimed, and pulled out a small doll like a bear. "Flavia, this is for you."

Flavia took the bear and admired it, which I was happy about. I continued my search, and eventually pulled out a toy wooden sword. I handed it to Marcello, who admired it like his sister was admiring her new bear.

"Sofia," I said as I pulled out a book, "I found this in a market in Syria. I translated it, but I brought the original as well."

Sofia took the book from me and examined it with a smile. "Grazie, poco Sofia. I will put this to good use."

I nodded and grabbed the last gift in my bag. "Ezio."

Ezio took it in his hands and smiled. "A scheduler? Why would I need this?"

"Machiavelli told me that you 'forgot' to attend one of his plays." I grinned. "This way, you won't 'forget' again." Ezio shook his head. I stood up and hefted the bag over my shoulder. "Well, it is about time I left. I have many things to do yet."

"Going to see Iskender?"

"Si. Altair's family needs my guidance. Either that or my company."

Ezio nodded. "Until next time, amico."

"Nessun problema about the gifts. Just don't spoil your children too much."