The Vixen of the Thieves – Chapter 9 – The Brotherhood - 1486
Isabelle stood with Niccoló Machiavelli looking down as some guards moved through the streets below them. "They seem determined." She said.
"Yes." He looked at her. "You have become the object he seeks more than any other."
She rolled her eyes. "Why are you in Venice?"
"We have heard that the prophet will appear. The prophecy puts him here in the floating city."
She nodded. "How long must we wait?"
"As long as it takes. I have gathered the others."
She nodded. "Very well."
Isabelle stood her hand on her swollen belly. He looked at her. "You do not have long before the child comes forth." He said.
"No." She smiled a little. "Gilberto would not be happy with me up here."
"Then perhaps we should take you to the guild headquarters."
She chuckled and allowed him to lead her away from the area. The guild headquarters were safe, but also boring. La Volpe was busy helping Ezio and Antonio with various tasks. For now she had to wait.
ZzZ
It had been several months since her marriage. It was nearly high summer and it was becoming difficult for Isabelle to move around.
She felt ungainly with her belly far before her, forcing her to lean backwards to counter balance. It was a cool morning when she first felt the pains. Bianca and Rosa were with her. Giana and her brother, Giovanni, were out playing with Ugo in the courtyard as Isabelle watched.
She hissed her hand going to her belly.
Bianca looked at her and touched her arm. "Are you well?"
"Yes."
"The child?"
"I am in labor, yes, but it is not serious yet." She said.
She wondered how noble women dealt with confinement for the last two months. She needed to have the air and freedom, not that Venice had wonderful air. It was getting toward the time when the city would smell terribly and it would be so hot and humid she would spend much of her days indoors resting.
Bianca looked to Rosa. "It is time. I will prepare the room. Stay with her."
Rosa nodded and came to her friend. "Is it terrible?"
"Not yet." Isabelle said.
Rosa nodded.
ZzZ
La Volpe and Ezio returned to the guild courtyard just as a scream was heard. Both looked at each other and turned to race up the stairs hearing it was Isabelle. They arrived by the door to find Ugo, Giana, Giovanni, and Antonio were all seated on benches nearby.
Giana was in tears and ran to Gilberto's arms. La Volpe lifted her and looked at her. "What is it mio piccolo Tesoro?"
"It is momma." She whimpered. "Make it stop daddy." She whimpered and buried her head in his shoulder.
He caressed her back and looked at Antonio. "What goes on here?"
"Isabelle is in labor." Antonio said stepping to them. "She has been for about four hours now."
Ezio moved to the door, but Antonio and Ugo stopped him. "Rosa said it was women's work."
Ezio hissed and looked at Gilberto who looked torn.
"He is right." La Volpe said. "There is little we can do. Come brother. Let us take the children for a treat."
Ezio nodded and sighed as Isabelle screamed again. Giovanni went to him as he lifted a hand to him. La Volpe led the way carrying his step-daughter in his arms. Ezio watched him. How quickly the man could go from cold calculating thief to father.
ZzZ
The four returned two hours later as the sun was setting. Gilberto blinked.
It was silent.
He and Ezio told the children to go play as they went up the stairs. There they found Antonio walking in a small circle with Rosa nearby. In his arms was a wrapped small bundle.
Ezio stopped in his tracks and Gilberto gasped as she walked to Antonio.
Antonio smiled. "Your daughter is beautiful, La Volpe."
Gilberto gasped as he took the small bundle with as much care as he would glass. He looked in the bundle and was startled by the small, still sleeping little human in his arms. He looked up at Antonio. "Isabelle?"
"She rests, but is well." Antonio smile. He clapped him on his shoulder.
Rosa came to Ezio as Gilberto gently laid the baby in her uncle's arms before going to the door. He opened it and walked in.
Ezio looked at the small baby and smiled as he moved a little as he bad when he had held Giovanni and Giana as infants. Rosa smiled. "You do that very well."
"I had a lot of practice with the twins." He smiled at her and then kissed her softly. "What do you think?"
"About?"
"About having one of these one day."
"Perhaps." She chuckled. "Are you offering?" She arched her eyebrows playfully.
He chuckled and then looked as the twins came up. "Come see your new sister." He said as he knelt down so they could see her.
Giana gasped and cooed at her. Giovanni was more reserved and looked at the baby somewhat circumspectly.
Ezio chuckled.
In the room Gilberto walked to his wife who was sleeping on new sheets. The room smelled still of sweat and blood, but the window was open to allow for the salty breeze to come in. He went to her and bent to kiss her brow.
She woke and looked up at him. Her hair was sweat fouled and her body pale, but she looked well. "Gilberto." She whispered.
"Cara." He smiled. He sat down on the bed beside her. "Our daughter is beautiful, thank you."
"She looks like you."
"Indeed."
She smiled and took his kiss before he rose to his feet. "I will leave you to rest. I will bring her when she starts to fuss."
"What do you call her?"
He smiled. "I did not give it much thought since you carried her."
"I do not know. Do you have sisters? Your mother?"
He shook his head. He then smiled. "Siena."
"Oh?"
"City of my birth. Seems fitting."
"I like it." She said and yawned.
He chuckled and squeezed her hand before he turned to leave. She settled back into the blankets to sleep while she could. Meanwhile, outside, baby Siena had no shortage of aunts and uncles to hold and spoil her. She slept well. Gilberto found it nice to have so many to help him. When it did come time for the baby to eat, Ezio smiled and walked the tiny baby into the room.
Isabelle was awake and she smiled at her brother. Gilberto followed, but leaned against the door as Ezio dropped the small baby down. Isabelle bared a breast and gently caressed the baby's cheek until Siena nuzzled, rooted, and found her aim. She began to suckle and Isabelle sighed softly as she held her looking up at Ezio.
Ezio knelt beside her and smiled. "She is perfect." He said watching his new niece feeding. Though not of his blood, any child of Isabelle would be a niece or nephew to him. "She is likely the best birthday gift I could have."
"Your birthday is a month off." She smiled.
"Yes, but she still is a good gift."
"Indeed." She smiled and touched his cheek as she looked up at Gilberto.
The men fussed over her and the baby. Ezio showed Gilberto how to change the small diaper and wrap the baby snug up after she had been burped. He then had her father take her as she settled down to sleep again.
"All she does is sleep." Gilberto said.
"Enjoy it." Ezio chuckled. "They soon do other things, but for now she will sleep, need to be changed, and feed at Isabelle's breast."
Gilberto nodded. "This is somewhat overwhelming. I never thought of myself as a father." He noted Isabelle had drifted to sleep as well and lowered his voice. "It is an interesting feeling."
"Treasure it my friend. Family is very important."
Gilberto nodded and patted Ezio's shoulder with his free hand. "My thanks brother."
ZzZ
It was a month later.
Midsummer's Day
Isabelle had been able to be up and about within a week of giving birth. She had been churched and her daughter christened in the nearby church. She was active and strong again. Ezio and Gilberto were amazed how quickly she had recovered, but as she even commented, it had been an easy birth.
Siena was a good baby who loved to sleep or watch her surroundings. She hardly cried as she lay in her carrier.
It was Ezio's twenty-seventh birthday. He sighed and walked to the harbor where he sat on a bench deep in thought. Isabelle had left her infant in the care of Bianca as she traveled to make friends with some of the powerful families she had met as a child. On paper, she was a noblewoman and could dress the part.
It was a game she was playing to try and keep the Borgia at bay. It had amazed him that one of the families that joined her first was the Orsini clan, a powerful family of Roma, and the family Clarice, Lorenzo's wife, had come from. Clarice had been ill and it had been rumored to be consumption. However, she had made sure her husband's cousin had allies.
Isabelle had visited her, but had not been able to touch her due to her cough and the doctor's warning. However, the women were still close, though Isabelle feared for her friend. Lorenzo was also worried for his wife, though he was happy to see his cousin was well.
Ezio had side. Isabelle had been traveling to Florence with a couple thieves and Leonardo da Vinci, their old friend. They were to return soon, but Ezio had much on his mind.
Rosa approached him. "There you are, Ezio. Why so serious?" She asked him.
"It's my birthday." Ezio said.
"Davvero? Cento di questi giorni. That's wonderful!"
"Is it? It's been ten years since I watched my father and brothers die. Ten years hunting the men responsible. I'm so close to the end now, but...no closer to understand what any of it was for."
"You may not see it, Ezio, but its better here now because of the things you've done." She sighed and sat down. "Basta. Look, here. I have a birthday present for you." She held a ledger. "It's L'Arsenale's shipping manifest, from the day the boat left."
"The boat to Cyprus? You're serious?" He looked up at her and pushed his hood back. His golden eyes looked at her. He reached for it and she held it away from him with a smile.
"And guess when it's scheduled to return?" She looked at him. She kissed him lightly and playfully. "Tomorrow." She whispered against his lips. He leaned to get the book and kiss her more deeply, but a polite cough interrupted them.
"Ezio!"
They looked up to see Leonardo Da Vinci standing there with Isabelle. Isabelle was dressed in silks of her family name with a locket with the De Medici family sigil on it in jewels. She looked weary, but happy to see them.
"Leonardo?! Belle! When did you get back?" Ezio asked sitting up.
"Just now. I need to talk to you. Right away." Leonardo said. He looked at Isabelle. They had spoken about what he needed to tell Ezio in great detail. Due to her influence, he had been able to travel well and he thanked her. He knew the danger she was in, though no one would harm her in full few of the public and she knew it. It would cause a revolt. She had done good works in Venice and Florence in the name of her cousin and so had become close to the poor.
Rosa smiled and handed Ezio the book before looking at Belle. "Go on. Have fun, boys." She smiled and rose to her feet taking Isabelle's hand. "Come your family is waiting."
"I am sure." Isabelle kissed Leonardo's cheek and then Ezio's before she walked with Rosa.
Ezio lifted his hand to Leonardo as he stood up drawing his cowl down once more. "This better be good."
"Oh, it is! It is! Walk with me. Stay close."
Ezio and Leonardo walked through Venice.
"These last two codex pages...I was studying the copies. I don't know why I never saw it before! But when put together, I realized the markings on the back clarify into words. Here: "The Prophet will appear when the second piece is brought to the floating city."
"Prophet...? "Only the prophet may open it... two Pieces of Eden..."" Ezio said remembering.
"What are you saying? Ezio, what is this?"
"We've known each other a long time, Leonardo. If I can't trust you, there is nobody. My uncle Mario spoke of it long ago. A prophecy hidden in the Codex... leading to an ancient vault that holds something... very powerful."
"Grandioso. But, if you took these pages from the Barbarigo, then maybe they know about this vault too. That's not good."
"Wait...what if that's why they sent the ship to Cyprus? To find this...Piece of Eden...and bring it back to Venezia."
""When the second piece is brought to the floating city...""
""...The Prophet will appear...only the prophet can open the vault..." My God! When my uncle told me about the Codex I was too young, too brash to imagine it was anything but an old man's fantasy! But now I see...the killing of Mocenigo...even the Medici...my father and brothers...it was all part of his plan! To find the vault...the Spaniard!" He sighed. "Isabelle will not be pleased to know he is involved…"
"Rodrigo Borgia." Leonardo's voice dropped. "Her father still looks for her without mercy, though she has allies now that will make it hard for him to strike. The De Medici clan, the Orsini clan."
Ezio looked at him. "You know her true heritage?"
"We spoke often when I was at the villa and she was for the most part bored while carrying her child." He smiled. "I hear she made you an uncle again."
"Yes. A beautiful baby girl."
"I hope to meet her soon. As for secrets, you know well, I keep them."
"Yes." Ezio lifted the book. "The boat from Cyprus arrives tomorrow. I plan to be there to meet it."
Leonardo nodded. "Good luck, my friend."
They parted ways and Ezio returned to the guild finding Belle no longer dressed as a noble, but a commoner softly singing to her infant who she had just nursed.
He smiled and moved to go to his rooms. He had a big day tomorrow up coming.
ZzZ
That evening Isabelle stood holding her baby in her arms as Antonio, La Volpe, Teodora, Paola, Niccoló, Bartolomeo, and Mario all stood together in the open airy bell tower of the church near the Rialto Bridge.
"Greetings brothers and sisters." Niccoló Machiavelli began. "Today we have received news from Antonio's thieves that the ship is returning to Cyprus. It is said to carry something valuable."
""The Prophet will appear when the second piece is brought to the floating city."" Mario quoted.
"Indeed."
"Who is this Prophet of ours?" Isabelle asked.
"We know not. Altair made the codex and it is by his hand that the pages were formed. It is said he used a piece of Eden, the Apple as he named it, to see the future. He created weapons and armor. The armor Ezio now possesses." Mario said.
"I think it is time." Isabelle looked about her. "We have trained him well enough to join our ranks. I was far less able when I joined the Brotherhood."
"I agree." Paola said. "He has trained hard and well. It has been ten long years directing him, but he has learned moderation and how to use skills to protect those who need aide and end those who would harm others."
"Indeed." Teodora said. "My child." She looked at Isabelle. "You often speak wisdom beyond your years. It seems to be a common trait for the De Medici women."
Isabelle smiled. "Thank you sister."
"Tomorrow night then. We will join Ezio to see the piece of Eden as ours and bring him into the fold." Niccoló said.
"It is rumored the Piece of Eden is for the Spaniard Cardinal."
Isabelle paused. "We should kill him and be done with it."
La Volpe lifted a hand, at least speaking. "Person vengeance cannot be a reason to act."
"If he gains the Apple, he could use it against us."
"True enough." Niccoló said. "We shall go and watch. Ezio will learn he is not alone soon enough."
ZzZ
The next day Ezio found the boat returning from Cyprus and saw a guard carrying the Piece of Eden off the boat and giving it to another guard. It was evening, nearing sunset as he watched. He then saw his uncle watching as well around a wall.
"Uncle Mario...? Where are they taking it?" He gasped. He blinked and watched his uncle retreat.
Ezio followed the courier carrying the Piece of Eden. He reached a checkpoint.
A captain looked at the courier. "The Maestro awaits. He will not suffer mistakes. Package it correctly. Do it now."
Ezio fumed. "The Spaniard's here?! That changes things. If I can infiltrate this group...take the place of the courier...they'll lead me right to the figlio di puttana."
Ezio climbed up a wall and moved to overlook the courtyard. There he assassinated the courier and hide the body, taking the clothing from him. He had stabbed him in his neck in order to keep the suit of armor and clothing of blue clean.
Dressed as the courier he had just killed, Ezio attempted to check on the artifact contained inside, though he was interrupted by the captain.
Ezio coughed a little as he shut the box. It looked all the world like he was double checking his work. "Yes sir?"
The captain looked at him. "This is a moment of great importance. Stay in formation. Make this right."
Ezio followed the guard as he held the box, and were soon joined by a couple more. As Ezio maintained his cover along the way, all four reached the location where a cloaked man was waiting for them by a canal in a secluded part of town. There the captain bowed and Ezio followed suit.
Borgia was hooded and regarded them. "Do you really have it? You were not followed?"
The captain nodded. "Absolutely. Everything went perfectly–We have followed your orders exactly as specified. The mission to Cyprus was more difficult than expected. There were complications, but we have returned with the artifact. And have carefully transported it to you, as instructed. We look forward to be paid handsomely for this–" His words ended as he looked down at his chest. A blade was protruding from it and blood bloomed from the wound. He gurgled and fell.
Ezio smiled grimly at the Borgia.
Rodrigo was surprised, but then smiled. "Ezio. It's been sometime."
The two guards beside Ezio reacted to this and drew their weapons, but the Assassin was too fast for them. He dropped the box to his feet and stabbed them both with his dual blades to either side of him. They dropped and Ezio looked at his nemesis coldly.
"Rodrigo. So, where is he?"
"Hmmm? Who?"
"Your prophet!? Doesn't seem like anybody showed up, Rodrigo! How many people have died for this? For what's in this box?! And look– There's NOBODY here!" Ezio said.
Rodrigo laughed then. "You claim not to be a believer. And yet, here you are... Don't you see him? The Prophet is already here...I AM the Prophet. Now give me the Apple."
Ezio drew his sword. "Come and take it from me."
Rodrigo accepted Ezio's challenge and they fought each other. Halfway into the fight, Rodrigo taunted Ezio as they stood apart panting a little.
"Is this all you have? Where's the rest of your people?"
"What people?"
"You really have no idea, do you? Guards!"
Many guards joined to protect Rodrigo. Ezio lifted his blade to defend himself, but Mario appeared behind him with a smile.
"Uncle?" Ezio asked startled.
"Don't worry, nipote! You are not alone." He charged at the guards.
Another guard aimed at Ezio as he blocked another's blow. La Volpe grabbed the guard's shoulder and stabbed him in the back.
"Volpe! What are you doing here?" Ezio blinked.
"We could very well ask you the same thing!" La Volpe said helping him to his feet.
"We?" Ezio looked about.
Two soldiers went to Ezio and Ezio gasped as they both fell to arrows that hit them square in the eye. He turned and saw Antonio de Magianis and Bartolomeo d'Alviano joined the group of combatants, surprising the young Assassin further. With them was Isabelle as she stood a bow in her hands and an arrow notched. She looked down it and felled another guard, one close to Rodrigo.
He turned and looked over as Isabelle took aim, but she was distracted by a guard who came at her. She blocked the blow, and Bartolomeo swung Bianca, his great sword, beheading the poor man.
"Save your questions, brother. Don't let Borgia leave with that box!" Antonio said and jumped into the fray.
Bartolomeo laughed. "Avanti!"
Rodrigo squared off against Ezio whose back was to the canal wall. "Now, you all shall die." He hissed lifting his sword.
Antonio looked over. "Take him down, Ezio. We are right behind you."
Bartolomeo was having too much fun. "Come at me, codardi! All of you! My Bianca hungers for more skulls to crush!"
"This is pathetic. You cannot stop what is written. What lies in the vault shall be mine!" Rodrigo hissed as he engaged with Ezio who fought him.
Isabelle leapt onto the wall behind them and fired an arrow that felled the guard who was trying to stab Ezio in the back. Rodrigo watched him fall and looked back at her standing there.
"You little whore." He hissed.
"A pleasure as always Rodrigo." She said.
"You will never be anything, whore born daughter."
"Oh, I am much more than you ever will be, Rodrigo."
"The best part of you ran down your mother's legs as she birthed you."
She smiled without humor as he continued to fight, Ezio was being angered by the words. "I was going to say the most intelligent part of you ran down your mother's when your father squirted you into her."
Bartolomeo and Antonio looked at her startled. Bartolomeo then laughed as he realized that part of that was his influence on her.
Rodrigo paused and Ezio swung wounding him, but only lightly. He growled at her. "Bitch. I will end you." He charged at her, but Ezio stopped him.
"When you are done insulting women and children, fight with a man." He hissed. "I do not need words to best you. I have a sword." He beat Rodrigo back and injured him a little more.
"Look, my friends. Our Ezio has become quite a guerriero." La Volpe said.
A guard advanced towards Volpe. "A cuccia, tu. You mess with the fox, you get the sword."
Mario joined his niece as she dropped off the wall. "What FUN! We should do this more often!"
"This is a losing battle for you, hombrecito. You will die by my hand, just like your father...This war has been going on far longer than either of us have played a role." Rodrigo hissed.
"Isn't this magnifico, Ezio?! All of us smashing these Templar heads together!"
Mario watched Ezio. The guards were dead, but the group refused to join the fight between the cardinal and Ezio unless asked. "Notevole, nipote! You have improved since the last time we fought together."
"Ah, bravissimo. We should do this more often."
"Indeed." Isabelle said.
"Your brothers didn't need to die, I just killed them to make a point. There is no mercy when you cross the Templars."
Isabelle growled and moved to charge at the man, but Mario and La Volpe restrained her. "Murdering coward. You killed my husband and in-laws for your own vanity?!"
Rodrigo turned his head slightly. "I killed them to give your people a warning. Clearly it was not enough."
Ezio managed to slow Rodrigo and attempted to kill him. "This is for my father you–"
Before he could react, Rodrigo kicked Ezio and fled.
Isabelle was out of arrows and could not hit him. Mario shook his head at her and she sighed.
Knocked down, Ezio looked around to find Paola standing in front of him. "Paola?!"
Paola offered him a hand. "He's gone, but we have what we came for..."
Ezio took her hand and then stepped back. "No! I need to go after him–"
Teodora appeared. "Do you really, now? Or are you here for another reason, my son?"
"Teodora–? What–?! What are you all doing here?!" Ezio asked looking at them all.
Machiavelli entered the group and addressed Ezio. "Perhaps the same thing you are, Ezio. Hoping to see the Prophet appear."
Ezio crossed his arms. "I came here to kill the Spaniard. I couldn't care less about your prophet. – He never showed up!"
Machiavelli walked into full view of Ezio beside Isabelle who was beside Mario. "No...? But, you did." He pointed out.
Ezio blinked. "What?!"
Machiavelli continued. "A prophet's arrival was foretold...And, unbeknownst to us – here you are. Perhaps all along, you were the one we sought."
Ezio looked at them all in confusion. "Cosa? Who are you?"
Machiavelli smiled. "Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli. I am an Assassin – trained in the ancient ways to safeguard mankind's evolution. Just like you, and each one of us here."
Ezio was astonished by the new information. "You are all Assassins? Paola...? Volpe...? Isabelle…?"
Mario laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's true, nipote. We have all been guiding you, for years, teaching you the skills you need to join our ranks... I think it's time..."
Ezio looked to Isabelle. "All this time. You were one of them?"
"Yes. I was trained with your brother." She said evenly.
Antonio broke in. "We have our prize, but there is much to be done. Come meet us here at sunset."
Antonio handed Ezio a map, before the group moved on, leaving Ezio to his thoughts. Isabelle was the last to leave. She looked at him and smiled. He looked at her a moment and touched her cheek. "I will come."
ZzZ
Ezio reached the location mentioned by Antonio, a tower near to the Rialto Bridge as the sun was setting. The Assassins waited for him at the top of the tower, while a brazier burned in a corner. All were there including Isabelle who had just joined them a few moments before Ezio after nursing her infant.
Mario stood by the fire. "Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine. These are the words spoken by our ancestors – that lay at the heart of our Creed." He turned back to Ezio and then nodded to Niccoló Machiavelli to continue.
Machiavelli spoke looking at Ezio. "Where other men blindly follow the truth, remember..."
Ezio cocked his head. But he knew the words. "...Nothing is true."
"Where other men are limited, by morality or law, remember..."
"...Everything is permitted."
"We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins."
With this, the Assassins spoke in unison. "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted."
Ezio blinked as Isabelle smiled at him.
Mario spoke again. "It is time Ezio...In this modern age, we may not be as literal as our ancestors. But our seal is no less permanent. Are you ready to join us?"
Ezio looked at Isabelle who nodded slightly. "I am." It was then as if for the first time he noticed the burn on her ring finger of her left hand. Mario had one, Niccoló had one, La Volpe had one…
Ezio extended the ring finger of his left, while Antonio removed a pair of heated metal tongs from the brazier, before he approached Ezio. "This only hurts for a while, brother. Like so many things."
Antonio branded Ezio's finger. Ezio winced, but did not pull back. Antonio released the tong and Ezio looked at the burn.
Machiavelli smiled and clapped his shoulder. "Benvenuto, Ezio. You are one of us now. Come! We have much to do!"
With Ezio newly initiated, the Assassin group performed a Leap of Faith from the tower. All, but Isabelle. She stepped to him and put a paste on his finger that wicked the pain. She wrapped his hand and smiled. "Welcome, brother Ezio." With that she turned and leapt from the tower herself.
Ezio followed them shortly after into a haystack. He smiled as La Volpe and Mario helped him up.
From there, accompanied by Mario, Isabelle, and Machiavelli, Ezio took the artifact to Leonardo da Vinci's workshop, and once there, Leonardo closely examined it. They had made a stop to pick up Siena for her evening meal. Isabelle wore a sling that allowed the baby to be carried and nurse while leaving Isabelle's hands for the most part free.
Leonardo looked at it on his table. "Fascinating! Absolutely fascinating!"
"What is it, Leonardo? What does it do?" Ezio asked.
"I could no more explain this than explain to you why the Earth goes around the Sun." Leonardo said.
"You mean the Sun around the Earth." Mario corrected. Leonardo was too enthralled to correct back.
"It's fabricated with materials that shouldn't exist and yet this is clearly a very ancient artifact."
"The Codex refers to it as a Piece of Eden." Mario said.
Ezio took a breath "The Spaniard. He called it the Apple."
"Like Eve's apple of forbidden knowledge. Are you then suggesting that this thing..." Leonardo started, but was interrupted.
Ezio touched the Apple and light erupted from it to display many unknown images and designs. Isabelle also was watching in fascination. In her sling her infant cooed softly. As Leonardo watched fervently, Mario, Ezio and Machiavelli covered their eyes due to glow's intensity, before Ezio touched the artifact once more to subdue the light it was emitting.
Leonardo lifted a hand. "This must never fall into the wrong hands. It would drive weaker minds insane."
"It was beautiful." Isabelle said.
"No doubt the Spaniard will be relentless in his desire to gain it back." Mario said.
Machiavelli covered the Apple with a bag and handed it to Ezio. "Ezio. You must protect this with all the skills we have taught you."
"Take it to Forlì. The citadel's walls are protected by cannons and our ally controls it." Mario suggested.
"Who is this ally?" Ezio asked.
"Her name is Caterina Sforza." Mario said.
"You don't say. I think I may enjoy this mission." Ezio approached Leonardo. "Thank you for everything, my oldest friend." He said embracing Leonardo.
Mario smiled. "Leonardo! Ezio tells me that you travel often to Milano. You must come visit me there again."
"Indeed."
Isabelle smiled and looked up at Ezio. "Be safe."
"And you also."
"We shall return shortly." Niccoló said. "Once the Apple is safe."
"I look forward to your return." Isabelle said and promptly left them.
Ezio looked at her. "Between her and Caterina, I will have my hands full."
"Indeed, nipote." Mario chuckled. "But what a wonderful position to be in."