The Family Auditore - Chapter 11 – Footsteps
Isabelle woke with her husband.
They broke their fast together. Her morning sickness seemed to have abated. She smiled across her tea as he rose to his feet. He had some errands to run as he always did.
He bent and kissed her cheek as she finished a small biscuit.
She rose to her feet and walked up to Ezio's room. She wondered if he had come home. She peeked in. The bed was still made as it had been by the maid. She sighed and shook her head.
Giovanni spotted her and called her down to him. "Ah there you are, my dear."
"Hello, Papa, Good morning."
He kissed her cheek and touched her belly gently. "You both are in good health and spirits?"
"Of course."
He nodded. "Have you seen Ezio?"
"I do not think he made it home."
"Where is he?"
"With the girl."
"Which girl?" He asked rounding on her.
"Christina, it think was the name Federico said."
He took a breath. "He plays with fire and he is too young to even know it."
She chuckled. "I am aware that my husband could have several bastards around as well, Papa."
He looked at her startled. "Such words from those sweet lips."
"Tell me it is not true."
He sighed. "No one has come forward so I suppose it was luck."
She nodded.
ZzZ
Ezio stirred. He heard a voice in the hallway. He gasped realizing it was Christina's father. "Cristina! Cristina! Sveglia! Your tutor will be here soon!" He said outside the door.
Christina looked at Ezio with fear in her eyes as he dressed quickly and made for the window. He paused to kiss her once more and the door opened.
"Come, my daughter. Is it really so terrible tha–" He spotted Ezio as he moved away from Christina, his hands up in and innocent gesture. "Figlio d'un cane! What is this?!" Christina's father growled.
Ezio leapt out the window. "Perdonate, Messere! Chiedo venia!" He said crawling down away from the angry man.
The man lifted his fist. "I'll kill you!"
Ezio looked up from the street. "Now, now, that's not necessary!"
"Guards! Guards! Voglio la sua testa."
The guards were alerted and ran toward Ezio. He sighed. He started to back away. "There's really no need for violence...You have me confused with someone else...She needed some help... with... some things...I'm mostly innocent!" And with that he ran for home.
He lost the guards by running up onto the roofs and returning home, which was nearby, thankfully.
Ezio dropped down before the main gate of the palazzo and was startled to see both Isabelle and his father standing there. They had clearly been talking and looked up at him. Isabelle's face held a look between distain and concern. Giovanni's arms were folded over his chest as he regarded his son.
Ezio smiled. "Good morning, father." He looked at his sister-in-law. "Isabelle, you look lovely."
She shook her head and threw up her hands before walking away.
Giovanni looked at him coldly. "Come with me."
Ezio blinked as he watched Isabelle leave and his father move. "Is something wrong?"
Giovanni whirled around to face him. "Do you think me blind and deaf, son? I know all about your fight with Vieri de' Pazzi last night. And then this little visit to Cristina! Your behavior is unacceptable! It... It..." He looked at his son whose head was down looking sufficiently chastised. Giovanni laughed and changed from a serious manner to a more jovial one. "It reminds me of myself when I was your age! I assume these misadventures won't interfere with your work today?"
Ezio sighed in relief. "No, padre. Avete la mia parola."
Giovanni led Ezio to his office. Isabelle had gone to her rooms and moved like a cloud.
Giovanni turned to his son and lifted some papers. "I've prepared some documents here for Lorenzo de' Medici to review. I need them delivered to him."
Ezio nodded. "With haste, father."
"Return to me when it's done."
"Of course."
ZzZ
Ezio left to deliver the documents to Lorenzo. The Palazzo di De' Medici was sealed and a steward greeted Ezio. "Ah! Ezio! Ben trovato! How are you?"
"Come sempre. I have a letter for Messer Lorenzo."
"I'll see that he receives it when he returns."
"Returns?"
"They've gone to Villa Careggi, I'm afraid. And are not expected back for at least another day."
"I'll let my father know."
The steward nodded.
ZzZ
Ezio returned to the Palazzo Auditore and found Federico standing idly by.
Federico grinned playfully. "Keep up the good work."
Ezio hissed at him. "Bischero!"
Once inside, Ezio went to the office of his father. Inside Isabelle was seated in a chair and Uberto Alberti was there. They were speaking.
"Papa. This paper confirms what you need."
"You worry too much, Giovanni. Francesco de' Pazzi is in prison. The threat is ended."
Giovanni spotted Ezio and lifted his hand. All three turned to Ezio. "Ah, hello son. You remember my friend Uberto?"
Ezio smiled. "Yes. Good morning, Gonfaloniere Alberti." He said bowing.
Uberto smiled. "To you as well, young man."
Giovanni looked at his son. "I trust you delivered the message?"
Ezio nodded. "Sì, padre. But it seems Lorenzo is out of town."
"Hmm, I did not anticipate this..." Giovanni said making a face.
Isabelle rose to her feet. She was still able to move without it seeming awkward. "I could go visit my cousin, Papa." She said.
Uberto shrugged. "What does it matter? So you wait another day or two."
Giovanni shook his head and kissed Isabelle's cheek. "No, Belle. I do not wish you to be riding in your condition." He looked up at Ezio. "It will wait a day." He smiled. "We have matters to discuss. Isabelle, could you and Ezio excuse us."
She nodded and took Ezio's hand in her own. "Come, Ezio." She said.
Uberto smiled. "Good to see you, Ezio." He then lifted Isabelle's hand. "Always a pleasure, my dear."
She smiled and led her brother-in-law out, shutting the door behind her.
ZzZ
It was the next day at dawn when a small group stood together. Federico, Isabelle, Giovanni, and Maria all stood in Giovanni's study. Isabelle rubbed her hands together. Giovanni had woken his son and daughter-in-law to speak to them.
"I must bring Isabelle."
"But why must she be put in danger?" Federico asked.
"I am not going to put her in danger. I just want her to follow and watch from the roofs. She is better at stealth than you are my son. Even you have to admit that."
Federico nodded slightly.
"We are assassins, Federico." The girl said. "We work in the shadows." She smiled a little ruefully. "You would not be so worried if I was not with child."
"Oh yes, I would." Federico said. "Part of me regrets training you into the order."
Maria looked at him. "That was not your choice and you know it. This is her choice as well, my son."
Federico took a breath and fell silent. His mother was right. His wife was an assassin as he was and she was the better shot with a bow and arrow than he was and she also blended far better. He was better at free-running, but only marginally, perhaps because of his size and more time practicing. She was part of the web and he knew he needed to let her go.
"We are not leaving Firenze, only traveling to a part of town we normally would avoid. I will keep her under guard. Trust me. No harm will come to her and she will be back to your bed by sundown tomorrow."
Federico sighed. "What do you think, Cara?"
"I wish to help." She said.
He nodded. "Very well." He looked at his sire. "But in another month, she is not allowed to leave. Her stomach is already making it awkward for her. As it grows it will throw off her balance."
Giovanni nodded. "I will not allow her to be in danger. You have my word."
Federico kissed her deeply before turning to walk from the room knowing if he stayed, he would not be able to allow her to go on this mission. Giovanni kissed his wife and then nodded to Isabelle who stood back quietly.
Isabelle followed her father-in-law into his secret office. He dressed in is assassin tunic and cloak. He then lifted a hood with a bow and arrow quiver resting on it. "I will need you to watch my back, dove."
"Always, Papa."
He smiled and lifted a gloved hand to her cheek. "There are days when I wish you were my own child. I would be happy to call you so. You make me proud."
She blushed as he led her through the narrow tunnel and out onto the street.
They walked together.
It was still early yet. Only the bakers were busy moving about their shops making ready to sell their fresh baked bread. As they passed a shop that had just opened in the still cool morning, Isabelle's stomach growled. She swore the sound had reverberated off the walls of the buildings.
She frowned, embarrassed and closed her eyes.
Giovanni chuckled and touched her cheek. "Perhaps I should feed you first, eh?"
She opened her violet eyes and nodded. "Thank you, Papa."
After a bit of bread and cheese they walked the streets. He signaled to his daughter-in-law and she went to the roofs, following him as he walked slowly along the streets carrying the letter. The letter had been recreated by Father Antonio Maffei. Then the seal remade.
It was mid-afternoon and starting to be hot as Isabelle crouched in the shade. Giovanni gave the letter to a man who was clearly waiting for it. He bowed and carried it about thirty feet. Giovanni stood back and watched some twenty people carry and pass the letter around the square.
Isabelle watched from above and then a young woman handed it to a dark cloaked figure. She looked at the man who had his cowl up. She blinked as he walked. Giovanni followed him, but paused as he stopped at a fruit vendor to buy an apple. He lowered his hood and smiled the young girl as he paid and lifted his fingers in a blessing. She blushed and bowed.
Isabelle felt her blood run cold. It was Rodrigo.
She drew her knife ready to spring and finish this, but Giovanni caught her eye and shook his head once. She took a breath and nodded. Rodrigo was vital to this and she knew it and her father-in-law was right. She could not kill him just out of vengeance or hate.
Though he was far from innocent, if she killed him, it would expose Giovanni for what he was, an assassin, a man who killed for money, an offense punishable by death. She took a breath. She could not expose the brotherhood. Giovanni was becoming one with the crowd and as Rodrigo turned to leave, Giovanni picked up the pursuit.
Rodrigo went into a church. Giovanni moved to the door and nodded to the girl to go to the back to make sure the Templar master did not escape. She nodded and leapt to the church roof and moved along it to the back door. She would be able follow if she needed to.
An hour passed and neither Rodrigo had come out, nor had Giovanni to come collect her. She took a breath and leapt down to the street, the leap rocked her legs a bit, but did not harm her. She turned and walked to the door, but then she saw a large dark cloak swirling down an alley way. Rodrigo was on the move. She waited. Giovanni was not following.
She took a breath and opened the door. There was the rustling of wings. She took a breath and drew her knife and held it as she notched and arrow in her bow. She walked down the hallway and came out in the Southern Transept. She looked about listening to the wings of birds above her.
She came into the main crossing, the middle of the church, and found five bodies lying there. Blood pools from four them made her sigh. She then looked about. The Choir was before her. She took a step, but a hand lashed out and caught her ankle.
She cried out and whirled, bow ready. At that range, the arrow would embed in the floor. She then gasped again seeing it was Giovanni. His eyes were bright, but held pain as he pressed a hand to his chest. Under it, a crimson stain was forming. Isabelle gasped and knelt as she put her knife and arrow away and slung her bow over her shoulders.
"Papa."
"It's not as bad as it looks. Just stings a little."
She gently unbuttoned the tunic and then pushed his shirt away. It was a knife wound and a deep one. Clearly, Giovanni had yanked it out. She reached down to her shirt and ripped it, bringing the line to her pants. She pressed it to the wound and he hissed as she did.
Like hell, she thought, but then touched his brow. "Who did this?"
"Rodrigo Borgia. He threw a knife at me while I was finishing this lot."
"I will kill him for…"
"No, daughter." He shook his head. "Get me home. There are matters we must attend to."
She sighed and helped him to his feet. He smiled a little and then stumbled a little. She put his arm over her shoulders. "Come, Papa. Home is not far."
They stepped out. He leaned heavily on her. She skirted them around guards who would likely be curious about his injury.
It was sundown before she managed to help him home. The last block she had become exhausted herself. Giovanni was becoming a bit heavy lidded and bodied from his blood loss. She opened the door and pressed him against a wall. "Momma! Federico!" She called.
Federico had been reading in the parlor and came. He looked at his wife who had blood on her hands, tunic, and even smeared on her cheek when she tried to brush a wayward bit of hair back. "Isabelle?!" He gasped.
"It's all right. I am well. Help, Papa." She said in a clearer tone that she felt.
Federico helped Giovanni into his office. Maria came and looked at her husband and then went to fetch her sewing kit.
Giovanni pressed his lips to Federico's ear. "Go. Keep watch my son."
He nodded.
Isabelle helped Maria get Giovanni out of his shirt, tunic, and weapons. He was silent as the girl poured him wine. He was still as his wife sewed his wound and then bound it. Isabelle changed and then returned to them sighing. She stood, a hand on her swollen belly as she watched.
Giovanni looked at her. She seemed to be standing due to nerves, but he knew half carrying him home had cost her. She lifted a roll filled with cheese and ham. Good, he thought, eating was good for her.
Maria helped Giovanni back into his shirt and he smiled a little as the movement tugged the stitches she had done. "That blade almost pierced your heart. If Isabelle had not been there…" She watched him look away and sighed. "You have not said a word since you returned."
He looked at her, searching her eyes.
"What's going on Giovanni?" He cupped her cheek in his hand and she leaned into it. "Tell me."
He took a breath. "Sforza's assassination was just the beginning. This is a vast conspiracy Maria. I am pretty sure the next step will occur here in Firenze. I know I only delayed them."
She looked down. "Mother of God." She whispered.
"I fear for the De' Medici safety, for his allies fate, and for our own…" Maria had brought her fingers to his lips sharply and shook her head to keep him from continuing.
"Papa!" Came Federico's voice. Maria rose to her feet as Federico came into the room. "Papa. Father Maffei is here." He took a breath. "He wants you to come with him immediately. He's not alone. Armed guards are with him." He said sounding distressed.
Giovanni went to him and cupped his head. "Calm yourself my son." He said softly.
Federico took a breath and looked down as Giovanni went to the window. Federico went to his wife who was standing looking pensive. He kissed her softly and wrapped an arm around her as his other hand went to her belly to calm himself more than anything.
"Why would Lorenzo De Medici send guards for you?" Maria asked.
"I don't know." Giovanni said. He looked down. The good father was standing at the door. Two guards were with him and two more joined them.
He took a breath and turned back lifting his banker jacket. Federico moved to his side. Giovanni put a hand on his shoulder. "Go back, tell Maffei I have already gone. Buy me some time." Federico nodded and turned to go, but Giovanni held him. "Federico, I'm depending on you. You're the eldest. Protect the family." Federico's eyes flicked to his wife and backed to his father. Giovanni nodded and smiled a little. "Go."
Federico left then and Giovanni went to his wife. He kissed Maria deeply and then smiled at her. He went to Isabelle and smiled at her. He kissed her cheek as he pressed the panel on the mantle to lower the fireplace to his secret office. "Be safe." He told her. He looked back at Maria who was standing there stoically.
She nodded as he stepped throw the passage and then pressed the other side. Maria moved to cover the bloody clothes as she heard angry voices coming from the hall.
Isabelle dropped into a bowl chair near the fireplace and held her embroidery to her as she nervously held it.
The guards shoved Federico into the room. He looked at them. "I told you." He said straightening his clothing, "My father isn't here!"
Maffei looked about and Isabelle rose to her feet a bit shakily. She walked to Maria who was glaring at Maffei. He stared right back.
Federico shoved the guards. "Out!" One shoved back, but he pointed to the hallway. "And don't ever doubt the word of an Auditore again!" He barked. "Leave this place now!"
The guards and Maffei left and Isabelle took a deep breath as did Maria. Federico moved to follow, but paused at the door to look back at his mother. She nodded and lifted a hand. He took a deep breath and followed the group out, slamming the door angrily behind them.
Federico returned, opening his arms. His took a breath and sat down. His wife, however, moved in his arms and began to weep. He held her, his hand becoming lost in her thick hair as his other hand wrapped about her back. He took a breath and kissed her hair. "It's all right, Tesoro. They have gone. Papa is safe."
She nodded and pulled back to look up at him. He kissed her softly. "Hush, my love. You will tire yourself." He took her to the chair that his father had at his desk.
He looked at his mother. "That was close. Too close."
She nodded.
Isabelle lifted a paper. Something that her father-in-law had been working on. It was written in his script.
My dear sons, dark skies are rising over Florence and time is running low. The enemy is closer than I thought. Now, the final battle is about to unfold. Every man is mortal, every life bounds to an end but certain things will never change. Federico and Ezio, my sons, always remember: we are the Auditore da Firenze and we are Assassins.
I pray you will never have need of this note.
Your father,
Giovanni Auditore
She took a breath. She then put it with the other papers.
After a time of the silence, Federico collected her and went upstairs. He gently watched as she made ready for bed. She then laid down and he joined her, holding her from behind, his body pressing to her gently, letting her know he was there. She felt the comforting body heat from him and relaxed a little.
Federico was uneasy, but soon slept also.
ZzZ
Three days later Giovanni returned.
Isabelle was the only one home. Petruccio had gone with Maria to the doctor, Ezio was at the bank, Federico was out with Claudia. She had not been feeling well and so she had stayed home from the shopping trip.
She was in the parlor. She had been doing embroidery, but her stitches had become large as she had been weeping. After the third time of undoing them, she let out a sob and threw the sampler away from her as she whimpered.
"Such a thing of beauty, La mia piccola colomba, should not be thrown away." Giovanni's soft voice said from the side of her.
Her head whipped up and she looked up at his smiling face. "Papa!" She whispered. "Oh, mi papá, que me perdí que te quiero!" She whimpered. She was so on edge she forgot she was speaking in Spanish and not Italian.
He tenderly lifted the embroidery and set it the side as she rose to her feet. He smiled and pressed kisses to her cheeks. "I missed you too, little one." He said.
She sobbed happily and he held her a few moments. He then put her from him. "Where is everyone?"
"Out." She wiped her eyes. "Are you hungry?"
"Starved. Do you think Annette has those cakes you are fond of?"
She managed a giggle through her tears of joy at seeing him. "Come, Papa. Let us see."
He nodded and followed her to the kitchen.
The scene of Giovanni meeting Borgia face to face was in Rome according to Assassin's Lineage, but Rome is more than a week away from Florence and with the severity of his wounds, it is unlikely Giovanni would have made it home. So hence I made it in Firenze.