Chapter Twenty-Five:

The Siblings Auditore

1529

The Auditore vineyard was a success in Firenze. Their wine was perfectly aged, and delicious. I'd tried it when I'd stayed in Firenze once, and even though I didn't like alcohol, it was one of the best things I'd ever tasted.

Those were my thoughts as I hopped off of my horse in front of the Auditore Villa. It hadn't aged a day since I'd seen it last, eight years ago. A few boys were out in the vineyard working the soil and picking good vines. Among them, I saw my old friend, Sofia. She was wearing work clothes which had obviously seen some good use, more lines were apparent on her face, and her hair was streaked with grey, but it had not lost its fiery lustre.

Sofia stood and stretched her back for a moment. I sighed and released the reigns on my horse so that a stable boy could take it away. Sofia looked over at me then, and smiled.

She dropped her tools and came over to me, extending both arms. "Poco Sofia! What a surprise!"

We embraced for a moment. "I figured I'd drop by. There is something we must discuss, amico."

Sofia invited me in and got me a glass of their wine. "What is it?" she asked as she sipped her own glass.

I put the glass on a table beside me. "I think you and your children may be in danger."

Sofia was immediately alert. Though not an official member of the Assassin Order, I was sure that, if she were younger, she would have joined in a heartbeat. "And how did you come by this… information?"

"Five years ago, I spoke to a young man who told me that you would be left alone… for a time. Lately, the Templars have been on the move and I fear that they may be coming for you." I leaned back in my chair. "I am here to offer my protection. I promised Ezio before he died that I would do so."

"Before he…?" Sofia sighed. "Poco Sofia, you really didn't have to—."

"Ezio was family to me," I assured her. "As was his father, and his father before him. I protect my family."

Sofia rubbed her eyes. It was hard for me as well, knowing he was gone. "Very well. But how are we going to explain you to Flavia and Marcello?"

"You won't." Sofia looked at me in confusion. "I'll introduce myself. But that means that you and I must act like strangers."

"What if I just said you were a child of a friend of mine?"

I nodded. "That could work too."

Sofia smiled. "But that means you'll have to lose the weapons."

"My weapons? El Diablo!"

"Either that or you're not going anywhere near my children."

I hesitated. "… Can I keep my hidden blades?"

Sofia crossed her arms, but she was amused. "Si. You may."

I smiled. "Then where do I put my things?"

Sofia led me upstairs to a room that was obviously reserved for guests. She explained to me that a young Chinese Assassin named Shao Jun had stayed there just a few days before Ezio had passed away.

"It hasn't been used since?" I asked.

Sofia shook her head. "I usually bring Marcello and Flavia to Venezia with me to visit my uncle. He cannot come to visit because of how busy he is."

I nodded. "Si. Speaking of which, where are Marcello and Flavia?"

"Flavia went to visit some friends in town. Marcello… he disappears in Firenze for a while, and I rarely see him now. He doesn't have Ezio as a role-model, and there is no one else…"

I put a hand on Sofia's shoulder. "Tell you what; I'll change into some simple clothes and go to Firenze. I'll find Marcello, and give him a kick in the ass so hard he lands on this doorstep."

Sofia smiled.

1217

"We have been travelling for months!" Darim mumbled in frustration. "Are we there yet?"

"Your manly parts finally starting to give way?" I asked with a smirk.

Darim glared at me. "You're one to talk! You were complaining about how your—!"

"Both of you, be silent!" Maria snapped, shutting us both up.

Darim made a face at me, so I stuck my tongue out at him. When Darim's faces proceeded I slapped his horse's bottom and it surged forward, Darim holding onto the reigns desperately.

"That will teach you!" I yelled after him, smiling.

And just as I was about to speak to Darim again (having caught up with him), an arrow whizzed by my face.

"Ambush!" Altair yelled.

We hurried along the cliffs, our horses gaining some serious ground, but it looked like some more attackers were positioned up ahead. We dodged out of the way of the sailing arrows and tried to find a way off of the cliffs.

Finally, Altair led us through a large chasm and we managed to escape the ambushers.

"Mongolians," Altair breathed. "It appears they know our mission."

Maria nodded. "We should proceed with caution. There's no telling just how many more of them are ahead. Strange though; how were they able to find us?"

"I think we are being followed," Altair stated. "I thought it was curious how there was a caravan following us, but there were children, so I thought nothing of it."

Darim nodded. "Perhaps this caravan has someone who is not part of that family."

"It would explain a few things," I added. "We should keep an eye out."

Altair considered it quietly, rubbing his stubble. "Darim, hang back a few days. Watch for that caravan. If you do not see them in five days, we will meet you at an inn somewhere."

Darim nodded. "So, where do I start?"

"By stopping your horse and finding a way to camp out," I said with a smirk. "Get your ass away from us, little brother!"

Darim reigned in his horse and showed me his middle finger.

1529

I think I was in the same clothing as when I'd first met Ezio. Loose white shirt (with an undershirt underneath), black boots, brown trousers, a red sash around my waist, but the difference was instead of having my hair short, I had grown it out and tied it back.

I searched Firenze for about an hour before I happened upon a brawl on a bridge, but only two people were taking part in it. I groaned as I saw who one of the competitors were.

He looked strikingly like Ezio, but his hair was shorter. For a moment, I thought I was staring at my old friend, but the yelling of the boys around me made me think otherwise.

"Kick his ass, Antonio!"

"Don't give up, Marcello!"

The other boy raised his fist in the air as soon as Marcello was on the ground again. "Haha! The Auditore are no match for me! Is there anyone else but this whelp of the Auditore who wish to challenge me?"

Marcello wiped the blood from his mouth and spat at Antonio's feet. "Pezzo de merda!"

Antonio brought his leg up to kick Marcello in the face, but by then I had made my way into the ring of boys and grabbed his leg in mid-air.

"Boys, boys, boys," I chided. "Can't we all just get along and bring down the testosterone levels?"

Antonio smiled as I released his foot. "Ah, and who might you be, bella donna?"

"Sofia d'Alviano," I said. "And you must be Antonio. Tell me, amico, why were you attacking Marcello? You look older than him."

"I am. This bastardo insulted me, so I fought him. This was weeks ago, so now its become something of a routine until he can beat me, or someone of his house can." Antonio spread his arms and shrugged. "As you can see, no one has."

"How did he insult you?"

Antonio pointed to his foot. "He stepped on me and refused to apologize."

"Because you're the bastardo who tried to force himself upon my sister!" Marcello snapped.

My eyebrows rose. "Ah. Well, this changes things."

"How so, bella donna?"

"Now, instead of breaking up this fight, I'm going to break your face."

Antonio and all those who were following him laughed, whereas Marcello and his friends looked confused.

"I don't want to hurt you, poco Sofia," Antonio said with a smile. "But if you insist, I will—."

My leg shot up and I hit him in-between his legs, in the male "soft spot". I think he hit notes that he wouldn't have hit as a child. And then my fist came around and slammed into his jaw, throwing him to the ground.

"I insist," I said, raising my fists.