A/N- I have a few things to say.
First of all, I will write the incident with James in the separate story, when I shall explain him and exactly how everything was ruled out. But I would just like to mention a few things so there is no confusion.
James is from a mixed family of an Englishman and an Italian farmer's daughter, and the father got to name the child. He himself has never seen England, which is why he introduces himself as James of Florence, as he was born and lived most of his life there. He became a bounty hunter when he very foolishly went after the bounty on Ezio's head, and attempted to hold Eden hostage, miscalculating by a mile on that account. That's about all you need to know for now, except one more thing- he was eighteen when Adel was twelve, which would make him around twenty eight now.
This chapter is dedicated to Laurie Moore, who was my best fried of nearly three years. "Was" being the key word, as she has died last night. She was a special and inspiring young woman who I loved with all my heart. It's only sad that she was less than honest with me for the past few months, or this might not have come to pass...
Mourning will not affect my writing in any way, as I have already written all the chapters to the end out, and frankly, I'm already past the crying and onto the "Stare blankly at the wall for hours" and the "breaking anything that meets my hands" phases. I ask only that no one tells me how sorry they feel for my loss, because it makes me feel uncomfortable and awkward, and routine phrases will not make things any better for anyone anyway.
So please, just enjoy the chapter.
Firenze, 1497
"Did you hear?" The old man behind the bar muttered to the only client that was at a table.
The reason the tavern was so empty was because not many people even came out of their houses any more. Aside from the most fearless or stupid ones, it was rare to see anyone going out to drink. And only the most suicidal people risked running a tavern these days. But the old barkeeper had five mouths to feed, so the "Dragon's Lodge" was about the only pub and inn running in all of Firenze. It was a blessing that it was still undiscovered, he thought for the hundredth time, or they would have ransacked it long ago.
"What?" the man at the table in front of him looked up with a raised eyebrow, staring at him wearily. A mercenary, the barkeep decided. Or a bounty hunter, which seemed more likely. He was dressed in leather armor, light and durable, though slightly battered, showing off the hard lifestyle of the man. Not to mention, he had much lighter weapons on him than your average soldier, and many of them. He looked somewhere between thirty and forty, with days old stubble covering his chin. Three scars were all crossing on one cheek, one going deeply over his nose, causing his breathing to be slow and loud. His eyes were a stormy gray, staring out at the world with a cynicism and irony that made his true age almost impossible to determine.
He did not look like a son of Italia, however, though he had no accent when he spoke. There was no way of truly determining of his nationality, so the barkeep didn't bother trying.
"There's word on the street that the assassins came back to Firenze," the barkeep shrugged. All of a sudden, the younger man smirked, letting out a hoarse chuckle.
"They're myths and rumors, nothing more." The man seemed truthful, but the older man's experience with people allowed him to see through the lie. He didn't bother to call him out on it. Everyone was allowed secrets, and the barkeep did not need trouble right now.
"Well, that's not true. I remember the Pazzi...and I remember who was defending Lorenzo Il Magnifico, may his soul rest peacefully! And my niece sent word from Venice but a fortnight ago; said she saw them plain as day!"
The bounty hunter shrugged, not replying and just taking a long drink from his glass of wine. Last bottle, too, considering all of the tavern's supplies could never have lasted more than a year. Not with the current parody of a government sticking their murderous noses into everything.
"Wonder were they've been all those years," he barkeep mused with slight distaste, "If they're coming to help, then they're late by a half a decade..."
The door suddenly opened with a screech, and both the men present looked around in alarm. The barkeep saw the mercenary's hand fly to the pommel of his sword, he himself reaching under the counter for a dagger he'd taken to keeping there for a chance at protection. For the only people that were wandering the streets were guards, so they had reasons for their caution.
But the visitor wasn't a guard. It was a young woman dressed in white and red robes, with tight leggings and heeled boots made of dark leather. Beneath the robes she wore a red silken doublet, shot through with gold threads and laced up over a white tunic. About her waist was a black sash, tied closed with an intricate, silver buckle. A masterfully done bracer covered her right forearm, but that was about the only armor on her. Golden hair showed from underneath her hood, for some reason loose about her shoulders and glittering in the faint light of the room.
As she threw her hood back and nearly glided towards the table with nary a sound, the barkeep's jaw nearly dropped as he stared at her face.
In his life, he has seen a lot of women. Some of them could be considered beautiful, but most were simply plain. Even the courtesans never had a true charm to him, as they painted their faces thickly. And no matter how they tried to hide it, he could see their weary, tired and empty stares that summoned his pity rather than lust. He has also seen plenty of noble women as well. But they were little better, with their noses stuck up in the air and a dozen body guards that were necessary to simply walk down a street. Especially nowadays.
But the stranger was much different. Though she was of ripe age she showed no signs of pregnancy, no engagement seal about her signaling her impending marriage. Yet she was absolutely stunning in every sense of the word. She had a straight forward, obvious kind of beauty, with high cheekbones, fair skin and arched eyebrows that gave her a strangely mischievous air. Her thick eyelashes darkened and her lips painted with very light lipstick were the only sign of makeup on her face. Her icy blue eyes were surprisingly warmer than their color and her appearance, sparkling with laughter, her full lips spread in a slight smile.
"What was that about assassins?" the bounty hunter threw to the barkeep, who was trying to collect his jaw off the floor. "Wait, don't tell me," he nodded at the woman, "You must be Adelaide, of course."
She smiled wide, cocking her head slightly and raising an elegant eyebrow. She looked surprised to see the man, though barely showed it. "Have we met-?" At his nod, she let out a thoughtful hum, sitting down beside him. "You seem familiar, but..."
"I suppose you wouldn't remember a laughable bounty hunter that tried to bite off more than he could chew."
Her eyelashes flew up. "Ah! James!" She suddenly ran her eyes over him in shock. "Amazing, and there I thought you were rotting in the first ditch you fell into after our last meeting."
"I was close to it a few times," James admitted without smiling. "Actually, last I saw you, you were only twelve or so."
"And you were eighteen and barely good enough to be anything other than a farmer," she snorted cheekily. "I see that's changed..." her eyes slipped over his armor and weapons with an expert gaze. Without warning, James felt slightly uneasy, as if in just one look she found all the weak spots in his defense. "Eden will be pleasantly surprised that her words only worked to motivate you."
"She's still alive? Amazing, with that sharp tongue of hers, I would have imagined someone would have already killed her."
"There were volunteers, of course, but Ezio would rather die himself than allow her to come to harm. And she isn't defenseless, either," Adel swiftly defended her teacher, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"I remember," James smirked wolfishly. "The one time she held me off the roof by my throat was enough of a demonstration."
"It was your own fault."
"Yes, it was. She taught me a valuable lesson back then...I should probably thank her," the man admitted with a smile, "Though eight years ago, I would have rather drove a knife into my heart than say it."
The barkeep stopped understanding anything, and just asked if the lady wanted anything. She glanced thoughtfully at the wine glass, but then shook her head.
"So. What brings you here? Doubt you were looking for me," James wondered.
"I wasn't. I didn't even know you were still alive," she shrugged lightly. "We simply heard that this was the only tavern left open in all of Firenze, and I've come to see if someone can properly tell us what's happening. Considering the last tavern I tried was nothing but a smoldering ruin, I figured if there was one open, it would have sane people in it."
"What's happening? Have you been living under a rock?" the bounty hunter couldn't hold a skeptical chuckle. "Bloody chaos is what's happening. It all started with Lorenzo's death and the attack from France that drove Piero out."
"I know that part," Adelaide waived her hand in the air. "I've was there to help escort Piero out of the city and to Venice. Though that was more out a favor Ezio felt he owed Piero's father," Adelaide curled her lip in distaste. It was no secret that Piero di'Medici was sorely lacking in the governance and strategy skills his father drove himself to perfect in his fierce devotion to Firenze and her people. Somewhere along the way, Piero never took it upon himself to learn from the fine examples of his ancestors. Hence, he was driven from the city, the Florentines enraged by his lack of will to properly fight the French and defend them. "I'm more curious about now," Adelaide continued.
"That monk, Savonarola," James talked freely with the woman, not minding the barkeep behind the table, "He began to take control of Florence. Mad as a hatter, I say, with all the books and art burning.. Food has been withheld, soldiers oppress citizens to turn in everything they have deemed 'sinful,' and they banish anyone who does not agree with them from Florence. Though many times it gets worse and they force them into the fires, along with the books. The worst part of it? Everyone supports him with both arms, legs and anything else they can lift in the air."
The bounty hunter took a small pause to finish up the wine, pushing the glass away. Adelaide was listening with a serious expression, slightly squinting her eyes in thought. "His endless sermons do something to the people...it's hard to explain, but it's like he gets inside their heads somehow, making them think that his insanity is the will of God."
"And you, of course, aren't affected?" she asked with a raised of the eyebrow, looking curious.
The bounty hunter just grinned. "I'm not foolish enough to stare at the glowing thing in the madman's hands. The one time I did was a good enough lesson."
"Well you're just learning so much recently," she laughed beautifully, folding her hands on her lap. "That is interesting, though..." She delicately folded her hands under her chin. Even with her outfit and the mark of Assassins on her hip, not to mention a hint of a decent sized dagger on one side of her sash, she seemed infinitely fragile, much like the china doll that she resembled. However, her confidence and calmly calculating stare clashed with the image. Suddenly James had no doubt that if she wanted to, she could take him by the hair and bash his head into the floor a few times, likely hard enough to crack his skull.
He imagined the situation, and shivered.
Assassins...all he needed to do was remember the... welcome that Eden Cleare – or rather, Eden Auditore as she'd been known for last ten years, gave him when he first met them. The girl seemed much like her, along with a healthy dose of Ezio's complete self-confidence. No matter how fragile those women looked, James knew first hand they could give any mercenary or guard in the city, or even the papal guards a run for their money...
"And what are you doing back in the city? Passing through, or did you finally realize what's happening here?"
"Please." Adel gave him a smile many men would kill to have directed at them. Even James, having been through a lot in the last rather exciting decade, felt his breath catch, "We knew."
She always said "we" as though it was completely natural. James briefly wondered if under the thick glove on her left hand a burn mark could be seen, like the one on Eden's and Ezio's...
"Then what the hell kept you?" he couldn't hold back a growl. She looked completely unfazed, though she did hesitate before answering.
"We... well. There was a lot going on. But believe me, we didn't sit with our hands folded throughout the decade."
"I can see that," he snorted, turning away from her. She was so different than the twelve year old girl he had first seen. Back then, he barely spared her a glance, only finding himself surprised and a little angry that a little girl would be trained to be a professional killer. After a few years, of course, he realized that sometimes such measures were necessary, and that the world was not black and white as he foolishly believed at the age of eighteen.
Now, however, the young woman- well, she didn't scare him, but alerted him, forcing him to watch her every movement. She was much older, much more beautiful, smart and dangerous. Someone that he definitely had to account for, and that unnerved him slightly. He was not used to waiting for danger from females. After all, it has been eight years since his encounter with Eden.
"How long have you been an assassin?"
"Three years," she raised her chin with pride. "Now. If there is nothing else, I should be getting back before Eden sends out a search party. She's been slightly paranoid for some reason ever since we entered the city. Ezio was acting strange, too."
"I'll walk you," he muttered, getting up and slapping down a few florins onto the table. They were swiped within moments by the forgotten barkeep.
"No need," she grinned, though there was something steely in that smile.
"Yes there is," he argued. "How long have you been out on practice, Adelaide?"
"Longer than you can imagine," she snorted, "But I began to receive proper contracts and jobs five years ago."
"Yet you weren't named an assassin until two years later?" he raised a skeptical eyebrow, walking out the door.
"That's not how it works," she wrinkled her nose very slightly, following him.
Firenze had seen better days, to say the least. It'd lost its brightness, its mass of crowds that pushed along the avenues, the laughing children that followed their families about, the calling merchants and proud nobles. Even the thieves and courtesans seemed to have all but disappeared. Streets were all but deserted, except for the clashing of blades that seemed to be coming from everywhere. Alexander VI had sent his troops to try and capture Savonarola, but so far they'd only been successful in driving even the bravest citizens into their homes.
Of course, it wasn't completely empty. Shadows of marauders and looters could be seen in the alleys, looking for another hurriedly deserted home to rob. The homeless people that had not left Florence yet squatted in abandoned buildings, praying with all their might that they would not be noticed. The city smelled of smoke through and through, the fires happening almost on every square, day and night.
"Well, I'd really rather not explain to Eden and Ezio how their student accidentally ran into a large group of guards and tragically died before she could even squeak," James assured Adel that his suggestion had nothing to do with chivalry or courting. She humphed, looking up at him and somehow completely disregarding their difference in height.
"And you think you could hold out longer?"
"I have," he just shrugged, and she found nothing more to say to that. She only looked at his face for a long moment, and then turned away, looking forward. "Where are you staying? I'd prefer to take you there by alternative routes, as the main streets are a bit riskier at the moment."
"It's good to be home, no?" I muttered thoughtfully, dumping my bag onto the bed and stretching.
"Of course," Ezio nodded with a small smile in response to my grin, though moments earlier, he was as dark as a storm cloud ready to burst into a downpour. No wonder, considering the sad state we found Firenze in. While he fled the city so many years, ago, it was still his initial home. As well as the ancestral home of his family, going back quite a few generations. False accusations or not, this place was first in his heart. So to see the city in such disarray, the people either charmed into zombie-like submission, or terrified for their lives caused him untold grief. No matter how well he tried to hide it and press on, I could see it reflected in his eyes every so often, especially during his rare moments of silence. Though never one for empty words, I made sure I stayed close to him, my off-handed touches and the usual irreverent musings hopefully helping to soothe the ache.
"I really wish it wasn't this far gone at the time of our arrival," I sighed.
"You don't say?" he muttered, taking moment to draw back the dusty curtain and look out the window, taking in the deserted streets once again.
Dropping a hand on his forearm in understanding, I brightened, "But hey, at least they didn't get in here just yet." Glancing around the room thoughtfully, I added, "Did you really grow up here?"
"Of course...why would you think otherwise?" he bit the hook with a small sigh.
"It's rather big. Compensating, are we?"
The next moment my legs were swept from under me, and the floor rushed to meet my head with frightening speed. Faster than I could let out a gasp of alarm, Ezio's arm caught me an inch away, allowing me a moment to stare at the carpet with huge eyes before he brought me back up to his face, smirking.
"Not fair!" I whined, "I thought we agreed that you would stop doing that!"
"I'm sorry, amore, but even after ten years, it never gets old," he laughed at my glare, hurrying to soothe my wrath with a kiss, "Among other things..."
"We just got here, Adel got lost, and you only have one thing on your mind, you old pervert!" I kicked my legs for a good measure so he had no doubt that I was against it. "Mph- Not to mention, I'm the only person in this city keeping up a cheerful atmosphere!"
He pulled away, looking at me with reproach. "You don't have to remind me, you know."
"Put me down! We have work to do!" I demanded. But he not only did not oblige, but also threw me over this shoulder so he could hold my legs from kicking. Moments later, he put me down in a bathtub that was in the room beside the bedroom. "Is that a hint?"
"Yes. I'll bring you a pillow if you'd like," he offered with a smirk, and I growled at him, jumping to my feet.
Ezio was saved just in time by the new arrival.
"Getting comfortable?"
"Look who it is!" I exclaimed, quickly focusing on Adel, "Our best and only student, our pride and joy, the closest thing I have to a daughter! Darling, sweetheart, love, where the hell did you go?"
"Obviously not on a date...I was just looking around."
It became almost a routine suggestion in our little strange family. Adel, though extremely beautiful and charming by this age, with everyone wrapped tightly around her finger, had never gone on even a single date. The reasons were simple - she had no time, no desire, and no need. Though requests for her hand in marriage came to us almost monthly since she turned sixteen, and in certain cases we had to physically push the love-struck grooms out the doors and down the staircase, she solidly refused each of them. She didn't even entertain the idea of a healthy romance once in a while, either believing the boys in town beneath her, or perhaps simply unimpressed by their cat calls and their pathetic attempts at flexing as she passed by.
Though it was slightly her fault for showing off every curve of her body with fitted robes and keeping her hair down. Whenever we suggested that she'd wear blood-caked rags and cut her hair to cut the problems at the root, she just laughed, and replied that she would not hide herself just for the sake of some boys with an overactive imagination.
Clearly, she spent too much time with me...
"Thought there was one rather irritating guy around..."
"Ezio, call a doctor! If we have another broken groin on our hands, like hell I'm taking responsibility again. Who is the poor chap?"
"I suppose that would be me."
The reaction to the unfamiliar voice and footsteps was instant. My hand flashed to the nearest knife, and Ezio steadied his left arm, ready to drive the hidden blade into the intruder's face.
"I told you to stay out," Adel told the man disapprovingly, casting him a glance over her shoulder, "See how they react? Some people never live through the little surprises."
"I simply had to meet them again." The man that appeared outside the door looked almost thoroughly unfamiliar to me, though his gray eyes reminded me of someone. "Madonna Auditore, you did not change at all over the years, it seems," he paid me a double-sided compliment, picking up my hand and bringing it to his lips. Ezio shifted his eyebrows together. The room cooled about a hundred degrees.
"Either you tell us who the hell you are, or I rip your face off," I growled lowly, my voice holding more danger that the man could ever hope to achieve.
"I'm almost hurt you don't remember me. Then again, I was only a nameless the son of a farmer who naively thought he could get the better of you..."
I blinked, glancing first to Ezio, then to Adel. Ezio shrugged, Adel just rolled her eyes.
"Do you realize just how many of those I've seen in my lifetime? Yeah, I've got nothing."
The man stepped back with a small smile. "Then I'll repeat the introduction. James of Florence, as they say here, bounty hunter and mercenary, at your service."
"James? The little boy that foolishly attempted to put a knife to my wife's throat?" Ezio looked almost amazed.
"I was lucky she did not kill me right there, actually, or I would not be talking to you right now," James shrugged.
"I'll say," I snorted, "What the hell happened to you?"
"Life," he calmly replied. Hm, and to think that eight years ago, at any question from me, his face would change a few colors according to his emotions- anger, fear, humiliation... Not a trace of it was left on his aged face. Seems like time doesn't spare anyone... "Though I must thank you, because I don't think I would have received the proper...motivation if I had not met you."
Slowly, I lifted my hands, and clapped a few times, slowly, and almost mockingly. "So you proved me wrong. So what, did you come to repeat the attempt on my life?"
"I gave that thought up a while ago," he simply rolled his eyes cynically.
"Good, you wouldn't live through another encounter," Ezio muttered. "Adel, where did you even find him?"
"I ran into him in the tavern, and he told me all that was happening in the city," Adel informed us. "Seems that he's been here since the beginning of troubles. You know Paola can't get much snooping done while her hands are tied, and La Volpe has been trying to keep the underworld under control. So, I found you an informant!" She looked at us, as if expecting praise, but we waited with that, still rather cautious.
"So can we get to work, then?" James asked almost wearily, likely getting tired of watching our hands tensing on our weapons.
"What are you talking of?" Ezio raised his eyebrow, not rushing to relax his grip on the hilt of his sword. I perfectly understood his hesitation - while the Apple was in the hands of that madman, we couldn't trust anyone, old acquaintances or not.
"Savonarola! Or have you come here on other business?" By the way our expressions began even more grim and serious, James correctly deducted that we were indeed back in Firenze because of the insane monk.
"Can we trust him?" I asked Ezio. Only to be sure, as I felt aura of an ally aura around James myself. After a few moments, Ezio gave me a short nod.
"Adel?" I glanced at her. She thought for a second.
"If he wanted to harm us, he would have at least tried to kill me after I told him where I was heading, and come after you. He's not a spy, he seems totally in control of his mind, and he did get us out of a tricky spot on the way," she reported flawlessly, not even thinking of covering up details or denying his protection.
"Well, it won't make things any worse. Adel, send out a message to Niccolo, La Volpe and Paola," Ezio asked of her as we walked down the stairs. The girl- no, woman (she was now as old as I was when I appeared in Florence, I had to remember) smiled, nodding and lightly walked out the front doors. "James is right, it's time to get to business."
A half an hour later, all of the unofficial Assassin leaders of Firenze were seated in the large office that used to belong to Ezio's father.
We got the palazzo back during the short rule of Piero de'Medici, who was more than eager to help out his father's saviors and friends, considering the shaky ground he soon found himself governing on. We hired a few workers and a maid, who had the entire house back into shape in no time at all. We also spared no expense in its security. Thankfully, that made it one of the only buildings in Florence not yet ransacked and raided by the invading French, and later, by Savonarola's men. We also decided it was a convenient location for headquarters, as it was located almost in dead center of the city.
Not to mention, we already began to gather certain things into the secret room where Ezio found his father's armor. For now, Eve's necklace and a few documents were the only things in there. But we already planned certain expansions to the place to leave the heirloom there after we...retired. I knew my sister and Jake would eventually find it, passing it on in case we still had a surviving line.
Not that we'd be able to really continue the line any time soon. Knowing Templars, it will still be a while before we could have even a few years of proper peace, without regular attacks, expeditions, jobs and contracts that filled up our time in all the years since our wedding. Though to me, the end was so near I could almost taste it, what with all the codex pages gathered and the Apple nearly within our grasp. Yet something told me that the enemy would not leave us alone, even after all of this.
I snapped out of my thoughts just as La Volpe entered the office through the window, so casually as if he had done it thousands of times. Likely he had, considering he also knew and closely worked with Giovanni Auditore. Paola was already seated, her hands folded on her lap and her posture likely the envy of many noblewomen. Niccolo was spreading out a map of Florence on the cleared table with Ezio's help, pressing down the corners with books.
Ten years had changed them all, though in almost untraceable ways. Niccolo, being younger than Ezio, had barely aged, though he now bore a slightly harsher look in his eyes. His new habit of going into thoughtful silences also lent him a maturity far beyond his years. Paola was beginning to get wisps of gray hair throughout her dark locks, which she carefully covered with dye, and there were a few more lines along her face. Her bright clothes were changed to more humble ones seen among regular citizens, allowing her better blending. After all, since her brothel was shut down, she had to move very far underground.
La Volpe didn't look as if he had changed at all, his violet eyes still sparkling with their usual laughter, the rest of his face concealed by the bronze hood of his robes.
The years were kind to all of us, I noted. I, only having hit thirty three some time last spring, still felt young and full of energy, thanks to the frequent practice and work. Ezio hardly changed at all either, except for the fact that the laugh lines on his face became more pronounced and his hair had blackened completely. Not to mention, the maturity he developed towards such things as strategy and planning. He realized quickly that it was no longer about revenge, and there were greater things at stake.
Actually, Adel and James were the only people in the room that'd undergone such dramatic changes over the decade. Both evolved into something very different than their previous selves, and both matured beyond belief in all senses. Admittedly, I had an occasional bitter thought as I watched Adel, sometimes feeling like one of those old ladies that watched her grandchildren shoot through the years. After all, it was with children that one could really see the passage of time.
"Savonarola is seated in the Palazzo de Pitti," Niccolo stated, placing the makeshift markers (Chess pieces. Savonarola got the king, being our main target) onto the map. "It is heavily guarded, and even harder to lay siege to than the Palazzo Ducale of Venice, due to the lack of courtyard." He glanced at Ezio meaningfully, and I couldn't hold back a snort.
"We have to get him to come out, then," Paola nodded, "Out in the open, he would be a much easier target."
"Don't forget, he has the Apple," Ezio countered, "And we still don't know completely what it's capable of."
"He can't charm everyone." Adel was standing in the corner, feeding bits of meat to Sokolo. Perched on her wrist, the golden eagle was eating with pleasure, in return allowing her to gently run her fingers through the feathers. The giant bird looked very out of place on her slim, gloved wrist, yet she held him with a practiced grip.
"The size of the crowd doesn't matter," James corrected her. He was nearest to her, but staring at the bird with outright distrust and concern, edging away every few seconds. "The only drawback for him of the thing he uses is that there is no way he can influence the entire city at once. Maybe because they can't see it, or because he can't handle such a large number of people. There's bound to be slip ups."
"It would take too much time and energy to keep all of them under control," Niccolo nodded. "That's why he brainwashed only certain influential people, who, in turn force the civilians into obedience."
"So we have to take them out first," La Volpe cocked his head slightly, watching Sokole's meal with interest.
"How many are there?"
"Eight or nine. Here," Paola stood up, approaching the map and taking some of the chess pieces into her hands, "There's a priest singing passages from the Bible in Latin up at the very top of the Duomo."
"I heard him as we passed," Adel nodded. "Has a pretty voice, and it really carries, but the passages were not the most kind. More importantly, there are three guards on each side, two bellow the dome, and one patrolling the platform."
"Getting to it unnoticed could prove a challenge," I noted.
"Nothing I can't handle," Ezio smirked confidently.
"Moving on...some insane nobleman has been preaching to the people from the roofs. He's likely to make a run for it as soon as he senses danger, so we absolutely cannot allow him to escape and raise the alarm."
"Charmed or not, the nobles remain cowards," James scratched his stubble. With age, even he could not escape the daily male ritual of shaving, something he was neglecting recently. "And they can run nearly just as fast as us. He would likely head towards the Pitti."
"I resent that," Ezio rolled his eyes, "But you're right. All we have to do is remember our good friend Vieri de'Pazzi. Or his father," he nearly growled.
"Again, we can't have him alerting Savonarola...Eden, think you can catch him in time?" Niccolo glanced at me. I smiled confidently in return. Out of everyone present and matching Ezio, I was the fastest. Well, except for perhaps La Volpe, who I was still itching to race against. But now was really not the time to think on that…
I threw a glance to the map, calculating the distance from the district to the Palazzo de'Pitti, and nodded. "He won't even realize I'm there. And if he does, I have plenty of time to catch him again."
"Good," Paola nodded. "Hm. The head doctor in the hospital is refusing to give medical aid to the citizens until they accept Savonarola's rule." Paola placed another piece on the map, not too far away from her brothel. "He's an easier target, as there are plenty of rebelling crowds that are begging him for medicine. So blending in would pose no challenge. His speeches are early in the morning and then late in the afternoon." Ezio and I nodded, silently agreeing we'd determine later who'd take care of that target. "Meanwhile, there is also a farmer on the outskirts of the city, along the walls where the fields are. He refuses to give food to the people."
"I'll take this one," Adel bowed her head slightly, not taking her eyes off her bird, who was now nibbling at her fingers and asking for more food. "It's been a while since our last hunt, and Sokolo is getting restless." I couldn't help a shiver. Even after watching the bird rip a man's throat out with it's talons a few times already, it was still a disturbing image. It was a very smart bird, and he was extremely dangerous and violent when it came to hunting.
"Next, there is an artist burning paintings right across from the Pitti Palace, as well as a corrupted herald preaching Savonarola's words in the church near there."
"Anyone else?" Ezio raised an eyebrow.
"A captain is ambushing anyone who comes near here," La Volpe poked into one of the squares of the map. "We already had some unfortunate souls that stumbled in there completely by accident and were accused of treason and conspiracy against the leader...we found bits of them on the walls."
"There is also a merchant on the only boat that stands on the Arno river between the districts," James spoke up again. "He's surrounded with guards, refusing to trade with the merchants and citizens, cutting off some of the main supplies. People will soon be dying of hunger if this continues for much longer."
"Let's move from the outside towards the Palazzo de'Pitti, liberating the outer districts and leading the people to a riot," I suggested. "That way, Savonarola hopefully won't catch wind of us until we're at his gates."
"You take care of the sergeants," Niccolo nodded with agreement. "And we will lead the people. No doubt they will not be pleased with all of the oppression, once their eyes are cleared of the influence of the Apple. So with no one threatening them, no amount of guards will hold them back from torching Savonarola, and the palace along with him if he refuses to come out."
"What shall I do?" James asked calmly.
"Whatever the hell you want," I couldn't help but snap. "Really, no one called you here today…"
"Eden," Ezio put his hand on my shoulder in a calming gesture, "He wants to help, so we're going to let him."
I shrugged, standing up and pulling on my hood, getting ready to depart on our mission. "Your call, then."
"Keep an eye on the Palazzo," Niccolo spoke up. "Adel and Sokolo can intersect any messages sent by bird, but just make sure no messenger alarms Savonarola."
"Guard duty. Lovely," the bounty hunter rolled his eyes, but complained no further, getting to his feet as well.
"So all our roles are clear?" Paola asked everyone present, waiting for the nods, and smiling. "Then let's begin."
As we were leaving, I suddenly paused in the middle of the courtyard. Meaning to climb up onto the roofs for more discretion, I then suddenly called out to Adel.
"What is it?" she looked back to me. In a sense, she remained just as innocent and childish as ten years ago, with large blue eyes that she was in the habit of opening widely in surprise, attention, or curiosity.
"Be careful out there," I told her, "Ezio has immunity, and I'm working on mine, but you are still vulnerable to the Apple."
"You worry too much, Eden," she smiled reassuringly, coming back to hug me.
"I know. But we didn't raise you all these years for you to get killed now."
"You always use the same excuse," she laughed. "Ever since I got my first target."
I couldn't help but smile in return. "Because it's true. Alright, go. Kick ass, do as you'd like. Just don't get too cocky, and please don't die. And I mean you too, Ezio," I called out to Ezio, who had already sprung up to the internal balcony of the courtyard, watching our touching family scene from above.
"Ten years of rest, think you may be getting rusty?" he taunted, and I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh, you are on!"
"It's a long climb," Ezio declared knowingly, having been up there after the climbed all over the inside of the Duomo, trying to get to the Assassin tomb that rested at the very top.
"Be sure not to be seen," La Volpe advised him as he was preparing to scale the wall between the Santa Maria and the tallest tower of Florence. "I'll be waiting."
Ezio nodded, and took the first bit of the wall at a run, grasping the above ledge with practiced ease. As he climbed higher, he made sure to check the ground below him to make sure no one was looking upwards. Of course, the crowds were more focused on the fire that the Fox set as a distraction, as well as glaring up to the monk, who continued screaming his usual mad jibberings. No guard was looking his way...
It was when he got the landing on the side of the roof that he had to exercise more caution. The watchmen traveled all along the railing, earnestly patrolling the entirety of the roof. If Ezio was any higher, and his timing even a little worse, they would have no problems spotting him from their posts. But he avoided detection by swiftly following them in their step, hanging only a few feet below them, out of sight.
An eagle cried somewhere in the distance. Ezio waited a moment for the closest guard to turn away and towards the sound before swinging himself up onto the landing. He immediately pressed himself to the base of the dome, the guard still none the wiser that he had an intruder. The monk's singing beginning to ring in his ears, Ezio felt the familiar gentle probing of the Apple on his mind. The charmed monk didn't have the artifact on his person, but perhaps his speech channeled its powers somehow. He mentally waved it off, focusing on his task at hand and keeping his eyes on the two guards that stood at the front of the Duomo. They were turned away from him, but when he started to climb further, there would be a good chance of them taking note...
He was contemplating his chances of killing both at once and somehow keeping them quiet, but then decided not to risk it, simply beginning his ascent with more caution. The tiny windows of the dome provided good and convenient support. But there was more trouble ahead, in the form of another guard beside the monk...
The solution came suddenly. The large bird, it's golden feathers shining in the sun, swooped in, it's impressive talons closing around the head of the guard. Sliding on his helmet, they sunk into his throat. The man didn't even manage to make a surprised shriek as Sokolo, without losing momentum, pushed him over the railing, sending him hurtling to the street below. By a lucky coincidence, the body landed with a sickening thud away from the crowds, onto a deserted street.
The bird let out a satisfied call, and glided back away in circles. Ezio twisted his head enough to see Adel standing on the nearest roof, holding her arm out to signal the bird back to her. She noticed him looking, gave a short salute, and continued on her way. Ezio shook his head lightly, getting back to the target. A worthy student of the masters, quite the worthy student indeed...
He proceeded to the highest point on the magnificent dome, soundlessly coming up behind the monk. The man was too distracted by his own singing to even notice his interloper, until a hand appeared over his mouth, and a blade sunk into his back.
"You preached to the wrong means," Ezio whispered confidently, as if reading out his crimes in court, "And listened to the wrong man..."
"I thought-" the man blinked, the pain clearing the haze the Apple pulled over his eyes, "I thought…he preached…the word of God!"
Ezio shook his head, lowering the man down to the ground, "I fear his sermon is a lie."
The pain in the priest's eyes was not only from the wound. "I led my flock astray...it's just... I wanted so badly to believe..."
"We all do." Ezio understood the reasons, as did everyone. The second coming of Christ was foretold to be at the end of the fifteenth century, throwing those naive enough to believe in panic. This man's sins were understandable, but unfortunately not excused. "I will see my father's work complete, no matter the cost. Requescat in Pace."
He left the now dead body lying there, glancing downwards to the crowds. They had already noticed the sudden stop of the song, and were throwing their heads back in confusion. Noise quickly filled the street, and Ezio noted La Volpe addressing them. He left it to him to ensure the direction of their anger, and decided to make his exit before someone noticed him. Lightly perching on the railing, he did his usual Leap of Faith down to a haystack down below...
Adel couldn't help but grin as Sokolo returned to her arm, immediately clicking in demand of a reward, which she supplied immediately. He deserved it. After all, if it wasn't for the smart bird, Ezio would have slightly more difficulty...
As soon as the eagle was done swallowing the piece of meat, she threw him back up in the air, as a command to follow her from the sky. Sokolo followed the unspoken instruction, gaining height and beginning to circle up above her as she broke into a run over the rooftops, passing the archers before they could even notice her. She only stopped on the buildings that were the closest to the walls, overlooking the small farms that ran inside the city.
Adel glanced around the streets, and then brought her eyes back up to the roofs, remembering one of the more priceless lessons that Eden and Ezio taught her. That all those who lived along the underbelly of any city could be of help, as they saw and heard everything and helped those who paid the right price with little hesitation. The group of thieves, bless them, was located nearby. Without a second thought, she headed their way.
"And what is such a pretty lady doing up here?" one of them noticed her approach, raising an eyebrow as his eyes slipped over her form appreciatively.
Adel strongly believed that she had nothing to hide, those religious and decency rules be damned, allowing him the gaze. Eden would have already brought a blade from his shoulder to hip for a stare like that, despite taking no measures to conceal her figure. Ezio, likely, as well. After all, he'd been a young man once, well aware of the salacious thoughts that churned through his male brethren. Hell, considering how often she caught him playfully seducing Eden, no doubt those ideas were still present, and in healthy, full effect. But Adel knew that at times such things could be used to lower the price or create a much more pleasant impression. Besides, the thief wasn't overly threatening of disgustingly obvious, at least not yet... "Not here to offer us company, by any chance, eh?"
"Didn't you hear? The guards don't like strangers up here." Another thief flicking a coin up and down and deftly catching it with one hand joined his friend in the conversation.
"Shut up, both of you stronzi. See that mark?" A third thief, the oldest one of the group who had a moderately clean and shaven face, shoved the first one with his fist, pointing to the Assassin symbol on her sash. "If Ser Ezio found out you spoke like that to one of his flock..." he left the sentence hang meaningfully. The younger thief she initially spoke to paled visibly through the grime, quickly backing away and averting his eyes.
Adel noted mentally, and not for the first time that Eden was right. Bearing that mark brought more benefits than trouble, somehow, at least when dealing with these types.
"I won't tell him," she spoke evenly, gracing them with a friendly smile, "If you can help me with a little job..."
"Signorina, we don't do things for free," the fourth one that remained silent to this point told her. His eyes kept flickering maniacally to her money purse. She chuckled.
"Of course."
"With that god damned madman walking around with a flock of guards protecting all the crops, we can't even get a proper meal now," the first man snorted. "Not to mention, with no work for the normal citizens, there's barely even enough to steal. Please, for the love of God, tell me you're here for that wretched soul."
"That's exactly why I'm here," she calmly replied. All four of the thieves immediately paid attention with even more interest, now, hungry excitement in their eyes. "See, I'm rather fragile, and there's a lot of guards around him. I can take on two or three, but more is trouble."
She lied, of course. If she wanted to, she could get rid of all of them within moments, though it would take a mild bit of effort. But it did make the case more convincing.
"Not a problem. If it's a distraction you need, then a distraction you'll get."
"A hundred florins."
"A hundred and fifty."
"A hundred and twenty five or you'll continue to starve," she chuckled, though her gaze was unwavering.
"Deal." The oldest one didn't hesitate in agreeing, for the amount she offered was enough for a week of full stomachs for all four of them. After all, they were simple people with simple needs, and they did not need much to enjoy life.
"Are you sure you can handle it, tesorina?" the very first one spoke up again as she handed over the money while looking up to the sky to check on Sokolo. He continued to circle, sometimes settling on the towers for a quick rest, and then rising into the air. He made no sounds of worry about losing his benefactor mistress. "No offense but you look too fragile to even take on the farmer..."
Her stare turned hard. Appreciative and flirty glances, she didn't mind. But ones that questioned her ability or competence made her hands itch for a mace. The boy was taken aback by the sudden steel in her voice as she said, "Rest assured, I'm more than capable. Just do your job and I'll do mine."
There were no more objections.
They separated, Adel, breaking into a run towards the edge of the roof. In one long jump, she tumbled downward, reaching the lower farmhouse, rolling over her shoulder and springing to her feet again. The thieves, meanwhile, followed through to the ground, silently coming at the target's group from the side opposite of her.
"You think this is a simple job, and I'm just being paranoid, don't you?" the middle aged man leading a small squad of guards exclaimed loud enough for Adel to hear. "But see, that's where you're wrong! If you take away those people's most basic needs - food, water, shelter, they will weaken, and become desperate. And that's when they will submit!"
She ran her gaze over the landscape, calculating in her head, clicking coldly through the strategies she had at her disposal.
"Here's something that helped me survive on more occasions than I care to remember," Eden's voice rang in her head. "There is always a way out of any situation. Without exception. And when you have nothing to lose but your life to save, then even the boldest, wildest plans you can come up will do. Do you need a plan to bust into the most heavily guarded palazzo to rescue a Doge that is about to be poisoned by one of his closest servant? I thought it was impossible, yet Ezio burst in. And I'm sure if Leonardo's machine didn't work, at least one of us would come up with something even more insane."
Adel smiled to herself, nodding along with her thoughts and getting ready to move again.
The hired thieves did not take long to appear. It didn't take much to provoke the separate group of guards either, as per usual. All that was required was a little bump, and a false attempt to steal a crate of apples. The thief pretended to be surprised by the attention, dropping the box, breaking it and spilling the fruit everywhere, at which point they all made a run for it.
Adel followed them lead the group away with her eyes, and then lightly jumped down behind the procession that didn't even glance towards the disturbance.
"You see how they sink so low as to try and steal? But when they realize it's futile, they will bow down!" The farmer continued his lecture, almost madly muttering to himself. Adel caught up with the last two guards who walked side by side. Taking example in Ezio's preferred method of silent death, she slit both their throats, driving the hidden blade (the gift her teachers and Leonardo gave her when she turned eighteen) and a dagger into their necks as she stepped between them. She knew well where to strike, so they didn't let out even the faintest of moans as she allowed them to drop to the muddy ground, continuing on her way.
The other two guards finally noticed her, sharply turning around. But she readily sprung away from their weapons, instinctively balancing her weight on her feet in preparation to strike. After so many years, the natural rush adrenaline seemed to sing in her ears, clearing her mind so that everything came into sharp, glittering focus.
Oh, how she loved the thrill of a real fight, where she did not know the outcome for certain. How she enjoyed their confusion of coming in a skirmish with a fragile-looking woman, and then the way their bodies fell to the ground.
She came to believe each body on her death list as a needed sacrifice. And each battle was to her like reaching the goal she wanted to get to so badly when she was younger, fighting Eden over her training, begging Ezio to take her side...
And now, she bent backwards under the swing of the pitchfork of the farmer. Pressing her hands down into the ground and in one smooth movement kicking upwards into his chin, she continued to strike with her legs. Leaping back to her feet to a standing positon, one of her throwing knives stopped the enthusiastic guard that came running at her with a yell of frustration. The blade hit him square in the chest, giving her just enough time to twist around and avoid another strike from the farmer.
She grabbed hold of the shaft of the pitchfork, kicking her heel hard below the man's belt, and twirling her improvised weapon in her hands. Stabbing it into his stomach with all her might, she all but pinned him to the wall of the nearest farm house.
The farmer gurgled with surprise as he stared at her, and then down to his stomach, his breath harsh and struggling. Blood stained the front of his tunic, exploding into an ugly circled of scarlet, his life literally draining from him. "For what-?"
The question surprised Adel. The man did not look charmed like half the town, seeming in control of his actions and words, as though he knew what he was doing. Yet he asked such an obvious question?
"You starved the people under someone's command," she explained, knowing well that until she shifted the spear further up into his body, he would take a long time to bleed out. Enough for a few seconds to tell him his crimes. "Why?"
"Too long..." he gasped out, his little eyes shifting around as if looking for help. But he found none but starved and hungry peasants that had an uncanny similarity to a flock of vultures, just waiting for the man to release his last breath. They were definitely not going to intervene... "To long I suffered their insults! They called me...simple, and low-class...I wanted their respect!"
"By the wrong means, I'm afraid." She grasped the spear tightly, levering in through his body until she saw his eyes twitch, and roll back. "Perhaps the next life will be more to your satisfaction. Requiescat in pace," she calmly finished the short ritual before pulling the spear out, dropping in to the ground.
She didn't rush from the scene. Besides, even if the guards came back, they would have a hell of a time searching for her in the large crowd of people that flooded from the houses and streets, rushing to collect the much-needed hay for their animals and other crops for their own dinners. Adel caught a glimpse of Paola making her way on the street towards the crowds. Sokolo let out a small shriek fromthe sky above, and like a stone, dropped down to her, stopping at the last second to fluidly perch on her arm. She absently stroked his feathers, making her way towards the woman.
"Good work," Paola nodded with appreciation. Adel smiled in return. "Ezio is making his way towards the docks. Perhaps you should get started on the corrupt doctor. As soon as these people are stocked, I shall lead them to the rest of the rebellion."
"It's already forming?" Adel was almost not surprised. Ezio likely finished the very first task, and Eden was a close second, so at least two groups of freed citizens were already rampaging through the streets. Their hope was that James could intersect the guards before they raised the alarm...
"Yes. Now go...and Adel," the young woman stopped, looking back to Paola. The leader of the courtesans was smiling confidently and almost proudly, "Ezio and Eden were devoted teachers, it seems. As I'm sure you were an attentive student."
"The best," she nodded, feeling her ego swell up slightly bigger before she continued on her way.
On the next street she caught sight of the familiar band of thieves, who threw her smiles and respectful bows, before running off to join the gatherings.
My target, as I later found out in comparison to Ezio's and Adel's, was almost too short and definitely boring. The charmed nobleman stood proudly atop the roofs, shouting down onto the people without tricks or guilt trips. All he did was simply tell them to support Savonarola. His rather pleasant, but too loud voice resonated through the smoky streets, the rare people out and about already managing to form a small crowd underneath him, hanging onto hisevery word.
I would not have been noticed if the man didn't turn to me, as if sensing my approach. "What - assassin! No, you will not get in the way of our master's work!"
"I beg to differ," I muttered under my breath somewhat sourly as I took a stack of crates and a series of ledges at a run. My appearance on the roofs caused the man to madly scream about alerting Savonarola as he fled. Just like we expected him to.
There were guards all around that looked to the nobleman's shrieks, quickly giving me chase. But I paid them no mind, running after the escaping lieutenant. It was almost funny; I did not rush one bit, going at a pace that would match any practice run, but I was easily catching up to him and outrunning his guards. The game would have even been fun if I was not in a hurry.
With one huge leap forward, I tackled him, sending him sprawling and forcing him to the tiles of the roof.
"No!" he struggled in my steel grip, "I was a victim! It's not my fault!"
"Lies," I dropped confidently. I saw his eyes were panicked like any coward that was cornered. But I only felt a slight influence coming off him, nothing more. I was well familiar with the effects of the apple, reacting to the Apple's presence and rejecting it outright. Hoping that the little practice I had over the ten years of forcing the artifact out of my head was enough, it was obvious that this man had undertaken his actions mostly on his own.
"No! He charmed me!" his voice suddenly became almost dreamy as he looked to the skies behind me. A rain drop fell on my hand, and I heard the guard approaching. I had to hurry to get away, or I'd have a fight on my hands. "With that... thing..."
"You could have rejected it, yet you willfully made your choice. And this is the consequence. Requiescat in pace," I growled, driving the hidden blade into his throat.
I was off the next moment, leaving the body where it lay. Jump!With that, I was on the next roof, already seeking out Adel's eagle circling in the sky...
Their tears are filling up their glasses,
No expression, no expression.
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow... No tomorrow...
And I find it kind of funny,
I find it kind of sad.
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.
I find it hard to tell you,
I find it hard to take.
When people run in circles...
It's a very, very mad world.
(Mad world, Gary Jules)
Death is not the end, it is an end.
I truly hope that you like your next life more than you did this one. But don't worry, we'll have Chinese food together again, I promise you. Maybe we'll even find a bookstore to watch the sunrise from.