Firenze offered little answers when we arrived. However, I noted with near surprise that life was still the same as ever; peasants worked tirelessly on their fields, as it was nearing the end harvest season, and the citizens went about their daily business. No one but Ezio and I seemed to feel increasingly suffocating strangeness in the air. It was as though some sort of impending disaster was brewing that we had very little power to stop. But such was the burden of the Brotherhood. You were never blessed with the bliss of ignorance. Nor ever allowed to live a simple life, where one's biggest concern was the clothes on their backs, or where their next meal would come from.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. Years ago, I'd read those words in the codex, as penned by Altair's own hand. Yet, it seemed the old master rode right beside me, shaking his head with a sad smile as I was suddenly hit with the full force of his cathartic musings.
Brushing away increasingly uncomfortable feeling that I was being watched by the long-dead ancestor of the very real man next to me, I shot Ezio a glance. Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice, gaze searching for any potential trouble as we rode to the city gates. As we dismounted and left our horses at the stables, the smell of sand and citrusy palm fronds wafted under my nose. The scent was dry and heady, inexplicably reminding me of an endless, barren, desert plain. I swore I heard a distant, mocking laugh beside me…
Shut-up, Altair!
"What?" Ezio asked me as we passed beneath the fortified walls, now on foot.
I mentally swore, my hand finding the talisman that was buried deep in one of my pockets. Likely just the artifact playing more tricks on me. The sooner we got rid of it, the sooner I'd get a good night's sleep and finally stop having those damned hallucinations.
"Ehrm, nothing," I muttered, not realizing I'd spoken aloud. Ignoring Adel's curious expression, I steeled a grin onto my face, gesturing in front of us, "Firenze awaits, si?"
No one took note of us as we entered the city, two adults dressed in white and a child. They seemed to all but forget about the assassins, though I did catch sight of a few of the citizens doing a double take as we walked along the last remaining thread that could lead us to Savonarola.
Santa Maria del Carmine was on the other side of the river Arno, not far from the Palazzo de'Pitti. I'd never been in the Oltrarno district. Then again, it offered little more than the rest of the city, so I was not missing too much. The houses were perhaps a tad richer, but nothing more. Ezio took over at that, almost begging Adel and me to wait at the steps and not go anywhere. Oh, he should have known better by now - we just glanced between ourselves conspiratorially, and with innocent smiles told him not to worry.
Of course, we promptly wandered off. Hell, I still had a job to do, aside from all this search for the Apple. Adel wanted to watch me at it, keeping me to my word to follow through on her training.
"Adel, stay close," I called out to the girl, who was curiously looking at the facades on the walls. At my voice, she snapped out of it, catching up to me quickly.
"They're pretty," she informed me, and I chuckled as she added, "But Leonardo can do better."
"Oh, most definitely. I think after he designed an actually functional flying machine, he can do just about anything. "
"Where are we going?"
"To the underworld," I shrugged. She glanced at me with curiously widened eyes. "Just watch and learn, and I'll explain everything later."
She nodded readily, not asking any more questions. I left her to tail me behind me with clear instructions as I walked confidently through the less crowded alleys, waiting for my informants.
And they came.
"Give me your money!" Two shadows jumped out of nowhere in front and behind me, both brandishing blades that they aimed at my throat. I heard a small gasp of surprise from Adel, who was far enough away to only be noticed by me. She did not, however, run to rescue me. Previously, I strictly forbid her from ever doing something as stupid as trying to help an assassin before he was mortally wounded and unable to move any longer. And this was obviously not the case right now.
I didn't even think of getting scared or handing over my money, instead taking a stern position. "Finally! I've been walking in circles for an hour now, carefully jingling with coins!"
Well, they certainly did not expect that. After a confused pause, one of them lowered his knife slightly. Their faces were thoroughly concealed in the shadows, despite the early sunset. The weapon didn't even tremble in their hands, showing that the two robbers were not amateurs. Which meant they were likely professional purse-cutters and thieves. "Do we know you?" They were apparently rather polite too, despite threatening to end my life but a few seconds ago.
"Perhaps you've heard of me...are you Volpe's men?" They both gave a slow nod. "Do put those away, then. I get nervous and trigger-happy when pointy objects are pointed at my face."
"Who the hell are you?" the one behind me finally asked with exasperation,"...Signora?" he quickly added.
I let out a breath. "I don't suppose the name Eden Cleare tells you anything? Alright, then how about Auditore?"
There was pause. And then both of them speedily sheathed their daggers. So they had heard of me. Or at the very least. Ezio. Well, that made things much easier. In the underbelly of Italia, the information network was shared by all: whores, thieves, mercenaries, and of course, Assassins, who led all the factions. So I suppose its no wonder that the name was known.
"Marco and Aliano," one of them introduced himself, along with his colleague.
"Hmm. Adel, come here, it's alright now," I motioned for the girl, who was waiting at the mouth of the alley on the other end to come closer. Tentatively, she did, looking up at the robbers with curiosity rather than fright. However, she put a hand on my side, as if signaling that she was with me. "Gentlemen, hope you don't mind," I gestured at her, "Continuing with our lessons, Adel, thieves are an invaluable source of information, right along with courtesans and beggars."
"Beggars?" she cocked her head.
"Oh, yes. Easily overlooked, but they have good eyes and ears. Unless they're missing, of course," I nodded, and turned back to the thieves. "Now, is there information for sale today?"
"That really depends, Signorina," Aliano leaned onto the wall, smirking. "But I like that word - sale. How much are you willing to pay?"
"I need to find a man by the name of Vincesto Mortefarri. I know he is in this area."
They tensed slightly. "What did he do to you?"
"He's a spy for the wrong side," I coldly stated the verdict. "But if you really don't want to share, I can find another source..."
That turned their attitude around. "Well, there is a building...you know, one of those where they rent out rooms and corners, whatever people can afford. It's just down the street, you can't miss it."
"Smells worse than a dead sewer rat," Marco snorted, "You can check there."
I narrowed my eyes. "I can check there, or you can earn your coins and tell me where he is at this moment."
They glanced at each other. Noticing their hesitation, I held out my hand, shaking the coins slightly. They were gone in the next second, the two spilling everything, interrupting each other as they went. But from their over-excessive babbling, I managed to figure out the solid direction of the target. As well as the clothes he usually wore, his favorite tavern and the name of the prostitute he spent the night with yesterday...as well as a joke on the many diseases he could have contracted at that. And Madonna Cleare shouldn't worry herself, as he was going to kick the bucket any day now, even without my help.
I gave them a smile, nodding my head in satisfaction. "I imagine you missed at least two defenseless women taking a short cut through these alleys, so I won't keep you from your job any longer." They looked properly ashamed by that, one of them muttering they'd go roll over one of the men instead. I nodded in agreement, calling out, "Adel, let's go, we have an impostor to catch."
She was watching me work with a slightly open mouth, as if trying to follow and commit everything to memory. Though I think that she could read me entire lectures in some aspects of manipulation, especially the more dirty ones. I a bit scared to think what would become of her in a few years. Which is why she needs proper training to root that right out, I briefly thought to myself. An ill-formed instrument did no one any good. I knew that myself, in dealing with Larry's sadistic methods. Not to mention, no person deserved to be used as such. Adel would be an assassin, yes. But one with a solid sense of right from wrong and a will to choose between them.
"Oh, and gentlemen," I suddenly turned back to them, "Do keep a sharp eye out. I've seen at least two dozens of rather unfriendly people on the streets today."
The saluted me, walking out of the alley and down the street. I probably gave them more than enough money than they could manage to rob in a week, so their work has ended for now. I committed to memory the pub they were heading towards just in case I needed to go back.
"Where are we going now?" Adel asked, and I smirked.
"You were listening to the same story as me. So take a guess."
She brushed a hand through her hair, pushing locks behind her ears thoughtfully. "He headed north. North of here is the Signoria... that is more likely than the church on the way, so that's where he headed."
"Good. Let's go see if you're right."
"Wait, are you going to do it in public?" she stared at me with wide eyes. I rolled my shoulders.
"I don't see why not. A few ladies will get blood on their skirts and dramatically fall unconscious, giving me enough distraction to get away from the scene," I chewed on my lip thoughtfully. "Have you noticed? Those women never hit the floor...they either manage to station themselves near strong, brave men, or they carefully fall onto couches, trying not to crumple their dresses."
Adel giggled, and raised no more objections.
"Eden, Adel, let's go there is-" Ezio stopped short, and turned his head in all directions. Then sighed and rolled his eyes. "Of course I can't expect them to wait quietly. When do they ever?"
"Your cat goes where she pleases, yes?" the man beside him asked with a slight smirk.
"She belongs only to herself," Ezio confirmed, repeating her own words.
"I imagine marriage is going to be a little challenging."
"I am not even going to ask how you found out," he grumbled. Volpe simply chuckled. "But yes, you're right."
"You found yourself a truly special one, then. But, back to business."
"What business? Savonarola is not in this city. The trail goes cold," Ezio frowned, kicking a little stone that lay at his foot in frustration.
"Don't be so sure. He is certain to expose himself in one way or another. And when he does, we will be the first to know."
"I have no doubts in your abilities."
La Volpe looked up past his hood and to the sunlight, squinting his eyes. "Then go and find Eden. And I think it's best if you attend to Monterrigioni. I'm sure the paperwork is piling right up."
"Claudia takes care of the paperwork," Ezio automatically corrected him, but then noticed the laughing sparks in the man's violet eyes.
"I expect an invitation, by the way. It's been an age since I've been to a wedding... I believe your parents' was the last." Ezio arched a brow of disbelief, which only caused the thief to laugh aloud. "It shall be hard to top that affair, as many of 'my kind' were in attendance: thieves, courtesans, mercenaries. At your mother's insistence, no less. Which is how I knew from that moment that your father had found his match." Volpe gave a slight bow, "Madonna Maria is a woman without parallel…"
Before Ezio could summon a reply, the man took a step into the shadow of the alley, dissolving in it. Ezio stared after him for a long moment, and then sighed, wondering where Eden could have possibly went.
The answer came very suddenly in the form of Eden herself, who appeared out of nowhere, and ran straight into his arms. He reflexively flinched back, but then recognized her scent and her hair, immediately calming down. After another moment, he realized she was shaking, either with tears or laughter. "What's the matter?"
"Can't even do my job without-" was the only reply. Adel bounced up to them, laughing as she went.
"Should I ask-"
"All men are pigs!" Eden moaned into his shoulder.
"Che cosa?"
"Oh, that's right, you're a man too!" She took a step away from him and jabbed a finger into his chest, "Why are you such a pig?"
Anger. She was shaking with anger..."I apologize on the behalf of my gender," he gave a sweeping bow, which only seemed to cause her to roll her eyes, though Adel was chuckling behind them. "What happened?"
"The man she was trying to assassinate thought she was a courtesan," Adel told him with a huge grin, seriously enjoying the situation.
"Oh no." Ezio wasn't really sure how to react to that, "Will the poor misguided soul live?"
"Oh yes!" Eden replied in an overly cheerful voice, "His soul will continue its' miserable existence in the deepest bowels of hell. I hear it's very cold at this time, considering it just froze over!"
Ezio decided to bite. "Why is that?"
"Because he is the first fucking jackass to ever mistake me for a prostitute!...Adel, don't ever use the word 'fucking' until you're an adult, you hear? Like I'm glad the fucking target is dead!" She was seriously incensed at this. Ezio finally decided there was no point in being mad at a dead man, so he settled on amusement at Eden's wrath.
"You are such a beautiful woman, mia cara! I'm sure it was an honest, and a very understandable mistake," he tried to soothe the fire at least a little. She simply snorted.
"Ezio, I love you not for your shameless flattery, but rather, in spite of it."
"I have more than shameless flattery at my disposal, though," he smoothly replied with a knowing grin, hands coming to her waist and pulling her closer, "I'm sure I can make you feel better in some way..."
"AHEM," Adel suddenly broke into a coughing fit. They looked at her simultaneously, "I don't need to see your two flirting."
"Then don't watch," Eden broke into a grin. "Where did you even learn that word?"
"Diana was cooing over how cute you two look," she grumbled, suddenly looking concentrated and focused on something. Ezio exchanged surprised looks with Eden. For the girl just witnessed an assassination, seemed perfectly fine after that, and then suddenly her laughter evaporated.
"What got you in such a bad mood, principessa?" Ezio smiled, hand falling to her shoulder. Surprisingly serious considering her cheerfulness just moments ago, Adel pointed in the direction down the street. Both of them turned around with raised eyebrows, not really sure what to expect.
"What are they doing to the poor woman?" Eden furrowed her eyebrows, her voice suddenly a deadly quiet.
"Let's find out," Ezio nodded, and they moved towards the commotion.
"-you are a dirty little puttana, selling your body in such a manner, it's a disgrace! You are an abomination!" one of the lunatics was shouting, delivering a merciless kick to the courtesan's ribs.
"Please - someone...!" she gasped out, having already given up trying to plead with her attackers, and now begging the crowds. Women were passing by quickly with looks of fear, and men either stopped to watch, or simply didn't want to get involved.
There were three maniacs, all seemingly normal people off the streets and dressed as the middle class. What on Earth possessed them to beat a woman down like that?
Ezio and I sliced through them under ten seconds, putting a stop to their insanity. The panic in the crowd did not rise immediately; I think certain observers were thanking the gods that someone did something. I crouched beside the woman, but she had already gone limp. I was afraid we were too late, but I fortunately I could still feel her pulse flutter at her throat. "She's alive," I breathed, "But she won't be for long if I don't stop the bleeding."
"Can I move her?"
"Well, it won't make things any worse..."
Ezio bent down, and easily picked the woman up into his arms. I glared at the gathering civilians, most of whom were already looking for guards but didn't dare make a sound quite yet. "Cowards," I sneered under my breath, falling into step with Ezio. Adel caught up to us quickly, too.
"Where to?"
"Paola's brothel is too far away. As are the markets." I thought for a moment, carefully monitoring the woman's breathing. I didn't like it - it was labored and whistling, and she was grimacing with each movement. The bastards must have broken a few ribs. "Adel! Keep up! Damn, where are all the damned doctors when you need them?"
"In here, quickly!" a voice suddenly ushered us. I blinked, turning to the source. It was a large man, dressed and armored as a mercenary with an impressive axe in his hands. He was looking around cautiously, gesturing us to come inside the building he was standing on the steps of. We did not spare it too much thought, following him inside the building. It was a fairly large, but otherwise easily ignored house, no different from the ones around it.
"You beat us to it, and it seems like it's a good thing, too," the man guffed, leading us through the rooms.
We took full advantage of the hospitality, quickly putting the woman onto the nearest couch. I asked for some hot water, opened my bag, and set to work, instructing Adel as I went about explaining my actions. She no longer cared for the sight of blood, taking it as a given as she watched the process carefully.
"Two broken ribs, three bleeding wounds, bruising and perhaps a minor concussion," I muttered the diagnosis under my breath, unlacing her out of her dress, underskirts and bodice to get to tend to her wounds. "Ezio, get the hell out of here so we don't make the poor woman blush when she wakes up."
"She is a courtesan, amore. It likely takes more than that to make her blush," he reminded me. "But I should talk to the mercenary. Call me if she wakes up."
"Shoo," I shook my hand at him, working on getting the dress off. It was good and bad that it was so revealing; it was easy to get rid off, but allowed more damage to the girl. "Adel, hold this one right here and try not to let the blood escape."
She followed my instructions, putting her hand on the shallow stab wound of the woman's stomach, while I worked on the other ones. The ribs were the hardest to put into place, but I managed to finish patching her up in about an hour or so. Once I washed the blood off her face, I realized that she was still fairly young. Somewhere between eighteen and twenty, with smooth, tanned skin and red hair. She was also very pretty, and I absently wondered once again why the men attacked her.
I washed my hands, and wiped off a bead of sweat on my brow. Just then, Ezio came back, and not alone. I recognized Niccolo Machiavelli instantly, and gave him a wave of greeting. This must have been his house, which would explain the strange hospitality.
"So?" Ezio asked with some concern. I shrugged.
"She'll live. And hopefully tell us why those men attacked her."
"It's been happening all over the city, lately," Niccolo spoke up. I raised an eyebrow. "Courtesans are attacked in the middle of the day, paintings are stolen from the art stores, workshops and manors... there's been word of some cult forming."
"A cult?" I snorted. "Just lovely. What type of cult is this? The black-magic type, or fanatics of some old, forgotten and bloodthirsty pagan god?"
"They are fanatics, it seems," Niccolo showed no surprise at my question, "But I don't think any old, forgotten and bloodthirsty pagan gods are involved."
Adel laughed quietly. I sat down onto the couch beside the rescued prostitute, and leaned my chin onto my hands thoughtfully. "If it's not that, then what?"
"We're not sure yet. We don't have enough information, unfortunately. The cult must be still very small, and they don't attempt to spread their cause publicly just yet."
"When did it even start?" Ezio looked troubled.
"Just over a month ago."
I locked eyes with Ezio, tilting my head to the side, running mental calculations. "Coincidence?"
Ezio shook his head. "There's no such thing as coincidences in this line of work."
"Then there is a high chance of Savonarola being involved in this forming cult."
"Even if that's true, he is definitely not in Firenze right now. La Volpe would have known if he was."
"Then these men must be coming from outside the city," Adel spoke up with a reasonable conclusion. I glanced at her, and nodded in agreement.
"So perhaps if we caught one of them or followed them to a meeting-"
"We already tried that," Niccolo intervened. "The trail went dead. They are not meeting, nor are they even attempting to recruit anyone just yet. All in all, they won't talk."
"Have you tried more, ah, barbaric methods of interrogation?" Ezio raised an eyebrow. Niccolo spread his arms and shrugged.
"Actually, yes. But they remain silent. It's almost as if they are not physically able to talk about it."
I leaned towards him with curiosity. "How is that possible?"
"If the Apple is truly behind it, I think this is perfectly within its powers."
"So he is biding his time." Ezio walked over to the window, drawing away the curtain and looking down to the street.
"It's like chasing smoke at this point," I muttered. "So what about this woman?"
Everyone present looked at the courtesan, who was still lying as motionless as a doll under the thin blanket. "We should bring her to Paola's brothel, now that her life is out of danger. Perhaps we should ask the girls to be a bit more careful out on the streets these days..."
"And then?"
Ezio dropped the curtain, taking a step away from the window again. "We can't do anything right now. Let's head back to Monteriggioni. There are a few preparations that need to be done."
"What are we, getting ready for war?" I skeptically snorted. But by the look on Ezio's face, I could tell that was exactly what he had in mind.
"It's good to be home," I smiled, sliding off the gray horse.
Our arrival was noticed quickly, the old man that was in charge of the stables already taking care of the horses. I noticed that the stable itself had expanded greatly, quite a few horses residing at the moment. Seemed like "tourists" were flowing in. The town fully restored, travelers now stopped for the night, while before they preferred to wait until the nearest city or village. Passing merchants had even set up a small marketplace in the middle of town. The restored gardens and flowers that wound along the top floors of the shops and homes gave the fortress a more lively and cheerful feel. Not to mention, the cleaned and patched walls, repaired stained-glass windows, and new, wrought-iron railings of the villa made it look almost new. It was far more pleasant than the half-ruined house that towered over the town years before, when we first fled Firenze.
"It has become a charming little town, hasn't it?" Ezio proudly grinned in reply to my previous remark as we walked through the raised gates. His arm slung comfortably about my shoulders, I could almost feel the electric charge in the air as he took everything in. Not only was restoration of the villa a labor of love for him, it was a matter of Auditore pride.
"It's the Maestro!"
"Really?"
"Eden!"
"You won't believe it-"
The people were genuinely happy to see us as we moved between the houses, heading towards the villa. I replied to almost all the smiles that were shot at us, and soon my cheeks began to seriously hurt. Ezio looked pleased to be back in the place he could fully call his home, as well. But Adel...
She was not showing any emotion. She was simply walking close beside me, almost grabbing onto my belt, and refusing to look around. She also pointedly ignored the other kids, as if sending a clear message. I was already seriously worried about her anti-social nature…but it was really nothing new. I really didn't know whether she didn't like other kids simply because she considered herself above them, or if she was shy. Though if I was to be completely honest with myself, the latter was less likely than the former. Maybe she was like me a few years back, thinking that she really didn't deserve friends. Or that she would not be a good match for anyone. That was until I fell through time and threw in my lot with the assassins, of course. And even then, I still had those doubts some days.
I wrinkled my nose slightly at those thoughts. Complexes and insecurities... sad that it was so hard to root them out, if not impossible. And Adel was, after all, only ten years old, even if she'd seen and knew more than other kids her age. She'd learn with time to at the very least tolerate the presence of others when it's needed.
She'd have to learn a lot with time. No child deserved to have life's troubles heaped upon before they were ready. We'll have to remedy that then…as soon as possible, I mused, mentally adding it to the checklist of things I'd have to focus on now.
"Ezio! Eden! It's great to have you back!" The enthusiastic smile on Mario's face could never be faked. The man was positively shining at the sight of us, pushing aside an impressive stack of papers in his study as we met him. "I heard of everything that happened in Forli. But don't worry, we will catch that insane monk and get the Apple back."
"We have no doubts in that," Ezio grinned. At that moment, Claudia entered the office, not looking at us just yet, and dumping another stack of papers onto Mario's desk. His smile fell and he looked at them rather sourly.
"There are some merchants applying for permanent shops in the city, and there are income records for this week," she said in a business-like, slightly stern voice. "All I need is your signature, so no procrastinating this time!"
"I'm sure I can take care of those," Ezio spoke up, and Claudia's back tensed for a moment. Then she turned to him, dropping her manner completely and squealing like and excited little girl, throwing her arms around her brother's neck. I couldn't hide a smile a how the force of her leaping into his arms nearly caused him to stumble backwards. But of course he didn't mind.
"Ezio! Dio mio, I didn't notice you, and I didn't hear you were back in town - oh, I missed you so much!"
After Ezio, it was my turn to have the air totally crushed out of my lungs in her bear-hug attack. I patted her on the back, laughing.
"It's good to see you too. But what is it with everyone and trying to suffocate me with hugs?"
You could now see great family resemblance between Claudia and her brother. As she hit the age of eighteen, she was taller than me, though still a little plump, giving her a rather pleasing roundness. In my opinion, it was loads better than the bony noble women I got to see in Firenze, Venezia and Milano. There was a wedding ring glittering on her hand, as well. Last I heard, she married a condittiero, though she refused to leave the record books, saying that her uncle would let everything gather dust, much like it did before her arrival.
While she spent most of her day in the villa's library, keeping track of everything related to villa's success, she had other duties as well. A scribe of sorts, she kept detailed lists and records of the jobs and assassinations that the Brotherhood did. I also noted that her belly was bulging slightly in a new way. Seemed like Ezio will be getting a nephew or a niece soon...
"Are you going to be staying?" she grasped my hands, looking close to jumping up and down in excitement. "Oh, there is so much to do-"
"Wait, what do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow, mentally going through a list of things we could do in the villa. But considering the last time we spent a month here, I was bored to tears, I had no idea what she meant.
She looked at me confused, as if it was already common knowledge and we were the only ones ignorant. "The wedding, of course!"
I exchanged stunned looks with Ezio. Then I freed one hand out of her grasp, and slapped my forehead. "Can someone please explain to me how everyone knows about it? I don't remember telling a soul!"
Mario laughed out loud. "Caterina sent a message ahead of you."
"Caterina... ri-i-ight."
Damn, the one person that we told about it was the one to tell all of Italia, it seemed.
"Of course there is much to do, and you have to set the date, and manage the preparations-"
"But-"
"No buts, we have more than enough money, but there is still plenty-"
"Claudia," Mario intervened, noticing how I was slowly paling as she continued to talk about dress cuts and different seasons. I wasn't sure how Ezio was reacting to this, for he was still silently standing behind us. Either he was laughing at my expense…or maybe he was beginning to panic, like me. "They have barely stepped over the threshold, nipote, give them a few days to rest."
"I don't think a few days will be enough," I muttered weakly, suddenly feeling a little sick. "Right - but before we get to all that, I think we should get the important things out of the way." Claudia opened her mouth, and then humphed, muttering something about how the wedding is important. However, she nodded, giving her brother another hug before walking out.
I settled into one of the chair, holding my face in my hands, "Oh good lord."
"Are you alright?" Ezio asked with some concern, likely worried by the shade of green my face took.
"The very idea of a wedding is still making me nauseous. It's nothing to do with you, don't worry, just the whole...wedding bit," I bluntly put it, rubbing my forehead forcefully.
"How about we talk about this important matter, then?" Mario suggested.
"So I didn't just say that to get rid of Claudia?" I thought about it for a moment. "Ah! Right. I remember now. Cannons."
"...cannons?"
"Yes. Cannons. We have the walls and towers, but we don't actually have anything for offensive if it ever comes to that," I explained.
"That's a good idea," Ezio nodded. "With the Apple in the wrong hands, I think we can almost readily expect an army at our gates any day."
Mario clasped his hands together under his chin, thoughtfully moving his one remaining eye between us. "You're right. And if not Savonarola's, then Borgia's. We have to be ready for anything."
"Also, it would be nice if we had some sort of escape route for the people that live here," Ezio added, "Perhaps a sanctuary? Or some passage that leads to safety, some ways outside the city?"
"There is a route through the Auditore crypt, but it's not accessible to anyone without the assassin skills. And now I have a question." Mario stood up from his desk with visible relief, still sourly eyeing the papers that were patiently awaiting an Auditore signature. He moved around us, towards the wall where the codex pages were hung up, scattered. "You have the map that leads to the locations of the codex pages, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then I suggest that aside from our search for the Apple, we attend to that, as well. I'd prefer if you did it personally, but send word to the Assassins in the cities, and they will do what they can."
"There are almost half of them still out there, and Leonardo is in Milano, so it will be difficult to translate them."
"Well, send him an invitation to the villa, then. Or visit him in Milan."
"Cannons?" Ezio asked with a smirk. I jabbed him with a pin in reply. Now I could totally understand the tailors who punished me for my sharp tongue with vicious pokes- the effect was immediate, Ezio letting out a small noise of surprise that brought immerse satisfaction.
"Yes, I thought of it in Forli. They didn't help out much there, but they could be useful. And aside from that, we should stock up on the usual tower defences: boiling oil, windows for archers, you know. The usual."
"Hey, I'm not saying anything against it. Like I said, it's a good idea," he hurried to reassure me before I could poke him harder. "How do you know so much about defenses, though?"
I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I was in mechanics and design class. You'd really be surprised the type of stuff we talked about. Castle defense is just one of many. If anything, at least historically, it was the starting point. As that's when people seriously started the mechanize ways of killing anything that moves."
"What else did they teach?"
"Weaponry, cars, architecture, torture machinery-"
"Wait, torture?" he paused.
I grinned, "Yeah. Like the Chinese water torture, electrical chair, stretching machines-"
"Please, spare me the gory details. Are you about done?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, just one little - there."
I took a step away to admire my handiwork. Sewing fabric was loads easier than stitching up wounds, so I managed without having to call the tailor. Besides, I simply had to tighten the outfit in some places and loosen it in others, so now the armor fit Ezio perfectly.
Altair's armor was mostly black with white strips leading the sleeves and falling into at least four different layers on the lower half. The cut seemed to fit well with the whole eagle theme of the outfit and their names, the slits reminding a bit of feathers. The metal work was very interesting, too. Black without any shine, despite being perfectly smooth, it was strangely lighter than leather. But there was not a single scratch on the surface, aside from the decorative design.
"How does it look?" Ezio asked me, spreading his arms. I laughed.
"Do you want me to be truthful, or can your ego stand another blow? I think it suits you." I came closer, reaching over his shoulders, and pulled the black hood on. It hung over his eyes, adding a mysterious shadow to his face. "That and the beard... you look awesome."
He caught my hands as I pulled away, and brought them to his lips. "Grazie."
"Well, the fitting is rather hard-" I began dramatically.
"I meant for staying with me so long. I don't think I could have made it this far without you."
I smiled, touched at that confession. "Where did your confidence go?"
"I'm serious," he murmured.
"Yes, I gathered that from the serious expression on your se-e-r-r-rios face." I lightly stood up on my toes so that I could kiss him. "Ezio, don't talk nonsense. You would have made it just as far without me. Except it would have been pretty damn boring. But I am here, so cheer up. You're a Master Assassin with your awesome Master Assassin armor and your Master Assassin sword-"
"And my Master Assassin wife?" he finally grinned. I rolled my eyes.
"Yes. Wait, am I considered a Master now, too?"
"Why wouldn't you be? Considering you are the one that taught me quite a bit, I think you became a Master even before me."
"Come now, I didn't teach you what you already innately knew. Its in the blood, I suspect. Plus, all of the other assassins as well," I smiled cheerfully. "So, what shall we do with our super awesome Master Assassin skills?"
"You never stop, do you?" he laughed as I shook my head. "Well, like Uncle said, there is the codex. We will still have to travel plenty to collect all of them..."
"That's alright. And don't forget," I suddenly frowned, narrowing my eyes and staring right into Ezio's brown eyes. "We still have an extremely dangerous and possibly fetal mission to do. It will take us many months under the rule of one bloodthirsty and unpredictable tyrant that we will not be able to control. We may not get out alive."
"Hm?" he tensed, staring at me suspiciously. "Savonarola?"
"No." I paused dramatically, "The wedding." I finished gravely.
We exchanged glances, and the next moment we both broke out laughing. Though that laughter was cut short by the realization that a wedding planned by a pregnant Claudia was likely the most terrifying assignment we've ever had to undertake in the world...
The Apple was a fascinating object, beautiful and dazzling, unlike anything that mortals could create. It was worthy of God, Girolamo Savonarola thought, not for the first time as he held it in his hands.
It was a sign from the Lord, he knew it. A sign of the approaching Second Coming, a sign to all those that believed that God had not forsaken them. You are the prophet, it seemed to whisper, The man who will lead them to the safety of faith and worship. Only you may put an end to all the blasphemous masses.
The monk looked outside the window, down to the streets of Pisa, where he has temporarily taken refuge, biding his time. His teeth clenched at the sight of all those women, their painted faces and necks and arms wrapped in jewels and gold. I should strangle them with it, he furiously thought, mouth curling with a snarl, Them and all the people who wear colorful clothing of nobility, walking about with their undeserved pride…lust…gluttony. Their wanton ways, blight upon us all.
God created them in his image, as close to perfection as the human race could get. Yet they still tried to outshine his glory, cover up his creation with all those excessive clothes and metals. Idolatry, the golden gift in his hand whispered. Ah, but you, you can make it clean!
The day of reckoning would come. They would all learn, or fall into hell behind him.
His next step was to take Florence. Firenze was the center of Italy at present, the perfect place to begin the conversions. But Lorenzo de'Medici still stood in his way, and Savonarola knew that the man would not back down, even before God's prophet. So they would have to wait. And if things did not move fast enough, perhaps he could even push the events a little bit. But in the meantime...
"Master," The monk looked around at the servant. The boy had the honor of being the very first person cured of his delusions... and now he stared at Savonarola with an obedient and blissfully happy expression, hanging onto his every movement, every word.
"There is going to be a wedding in the small town of Monteriggioni," the monk replied, "The assassin survived, and is now about to marry a woman by the name of Eden." Even as he spoke, the Apple whispered to his mind with the voice of the Lord. "She was his last word, and she shall be his end, as well. Capture her and bring her to me. There may be more to her than meets the eye if she was strong enough to hold a murderer's love."
"It will be as you command."
"No," the monk snapped, eyes wild and wide, "As God commands..."