Sorry this took so long to get up! Enjoy! And I don't own AC2!
Ezio stood behind a large pillar, listening closely in on the meeting between the Templars. Ezio had been tailing Jacopo all day. Finally, he led Ezio to a set of ruins at sunset.
"I am sorry Maestro! I did all I could, but the Assassin proved too strong," Ezio heard Jacopo pleading to Borgia. Ezio sensed a real desperation in the man's voice.
"Clearly. Else the others would be here with you… To say nothing of the fact that Firenze remains in the Medici hands," Borgia replied. Ezio smiled. So Ophelia must be working with the Medicis now… Ezio never was able to hear of Ophelia's mission, and probably for good reason. Now he had a clue to what she was up to at least. Perhaps he could relay the information onto Mario.
"It's Francesco's fault! His impatience made him reckless. I tried to be the voice of reason-" Jacopo seemed to be pleading for his life and was so quick to point the blame on his son. What a coward…
"More like the voice of cowardice!" Emilio Barbarigo seemed to agree with Ezio.
"You're one to talk, Signor Barbarigo. Had you sent us quality weapons, instead of this garbage you Venetians call ar-" Jacopo began, blaming another for his own folly again.
"ENOUGH!" Borgia was becoming irritated; Ezio could hear it in his voice. Ezio, too, was becoming irritated with Jacopo. The man was a coward. "We put our faith in your family and you repay us with inaction and incompetence. Then, when asked to account for your failures, you make excuses and insult us? How do you expect me to respond?"
"I don't know…" Jacopo sounded hopeless.
"It's alright. I do," Borgia replied. Ezio sensed something was soon to happen to Jacopo. Borgia was too irritated.
Ezio soon heard Jacopo shriek. Ezio turned to look around the pillar and saw Borgia holding a knife into Jacopo's stomach. Borgia was going to kill Jacopo.
"No… please… don't…" Jacopo pleaded. Ezio could tell the wound was too much, if not taken care of soon, for Jacopo to survive. Either way, he wouldn't; Ezio would make sure Jacopo de Pazzi was dead.
"Please don't what?" Barbarigo laughed, holding up his own knife in front of Jacopo. Ezio couldn't help but feel sorry for the old man; no man deserved to die like Borgia and Barbarigo had in mind for Jacopo. Ezio soon saw Barbarigo push Jacopo to the ground.
Jacopo crawled on the ground toward Borgia, holding his wounds. "I can fix this… Only, spare me…"
"No," Borgia replied, unsheathing his sword and driving it through Jacopo's neck. "What a mess..." Borgia looked at his blood stained sword before sheathing it once more. "So sorry to have claimed your prize, Assassin!"
Ezio felt the hands of two guards around his arms. Ezio flailed. Shit… he thought. His focus was too much on Borgia; he lost attention on his other surroundings.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't expect you to follow? That I didn't PLAN for it? We've been at this a lot longer than you!" Borgia laughed, approaching Ezio. Borgia's face went still. "Kill him."
Kill me… Yeah right… Ezio thought. "I know you're only doing as you're told. So if you release me, I will spare your lives," Ezio told the guards holding him. Ezio meant his words. What the guards didn't know was that he was more than capable of breaking their grasp.
"HAH! Listen to this one he-" one guard began before Ezio released his hidden blade straight into his neck. He then turned and drove his blade into the other guard's abdomen. But Ezio had more competitors ahead. A group of eight guards faced him. The corner of Ezio's mouth turned up into a smile. Fools… he thought. Ezio quickly approached a guard, unsheathing his sword. Soon, all of the guards surrounded Ezio.
Ezio heard Jacopo's heaves; the man wasn't dead. Ezio needed to quickly kill of the guards so he could gracefully end Jacopo's life. After his months with Mario, Ezio learned that death was something to be respected.
Quickly, Ezio killed off four of the guards with blows of his sword. He sheathed his sword, deciding that using his hidden blade would be best. He drove his blade into the abdomen of one guard, the heart of another and the necks of two others simultaneously. Ezio ran over to Jacopo, cradling his head in his hand. Ezio drove his blade through Jacopo's skull.
"Vai, amico, libero da fardeli e paure. Requiescat in Pace," Ezio told the man gently before resting Jacopo's head on the ground.
Ezio heard shouting behind him. He quickly turned around to find Mario and the mercenaries cheering Ezio on for his job well done. Ezio couldn't help but feel smug; he was getting quite good at the whole assassin thing. "Grazie, Grazie!" Ezio thanked, a giant smile painted across his face.
"Well done, napote! We were about to come in, but he handled it very well by yourself!" Mario congratulated Ezio with a pat on the back. "Now, do you have any other business in Tuscany or San Gimignano?"
Ezio shook his head. "No, I do not," Ezio replied.
Mario looked to the mercenaries with a nod. "Then let's head back to Monteriggioni!"
Ezio followed Mario and the mercenaries back to the stables to retrieve their horses. Ezio located his white horse, saddled it up, and soon was back off to the villa with his uncle.
They were halfway into their journey back before Ezio mentioned to Mario what he heard of the Florence mission. "So, Uncle Mario, I overheard the meeting… They said something about Florence being in the hands of the Medici. I suppose Ophelia's mission was successful then," Ezio suggested with a smile.
Mario smiled, too. "That is great news, Ezio. I have received only one letter from her. All she put on the letter was a sketch of Lorenzo smiling… I'm guessing Leonardo sketched it, unless she has brushed up on her drawing skills," Mario laughed.
"In her letters, she talks much about spending time with Leonardo and learning new skills form him. I suppose the drawing may have been hers," Ezio replied.
"Well, either way, Ophelia seems to be doing well, which is why I have decided to tell you now…" Mario started, his voice getting quiet and soft.
Ezio immediately frowned. Mario's tone did not sound happy. Something was wrong. "What is it, uncle?" Ezio asked, concerned.
Mario sighed and wiped a hand down his face. "Ezio… your next mission will be in Venezia…" Mario confessed.
Ezio rose an eyebrow at the man. Ezio didn't understand why his tone was so dark. "And what will I be doing in Venice?" Ezio asked.
"There is a Templar underground in Venice… There, you will be staying in the bordello. We've already made arrangements. The owner is a friend of Paola's and is a supporter of the Brotherhood. You will be safe there."
A bordello… Ezio thought. He didn't want to be in a bordello, especially not after last night in the tavern. "And is there anybody there that I should meet with?"
"Antonia de Magianis. He is the leader of the Thieves Guild in Venice and is also a member of the Assassin Order. He will know much about the Templars' activity in Venezia."
"And on my way to Venice, may I stop in Florence? I have not been there for many months; I doubt the guards will be after me, especially if I stay low," Ezio asked, hopeful. He knew that Florence was on the way to Venice. Even if it wasn't, he would still ask permission to see Ophelia.
Mario thought a moment, scratching his head and running his palm through his long, greasy, dark hair. "Ehh… Why not? But you must only stay for a day, Ezio. Venice needs you."
Ezio's heard fluttered and his face lit up. He didn't know what else to say to Mario; he felt like the giant smile plastered across his face was saying thanks enough to Mario. Ezio tapped the sides of his horse with his heels, and the horse began to gallop. Ezio could hear Mario laugh behind him.
Ezio was soon back in his room at Monteriggioni packing away his belongings. Excitement filled him from head to toe. He was anxious to see Ophelia, and what a surprise it would be for her! He only hoped she would find his visit as exciting as he.
Ezio was shoving his extra change of robes and his plain clothing in his bags when Mario climbed the ladder to his room. Ezio turned around to greet his uncle with a bright smile. "Uncle! Come in!"
Mario's face was distraught, however. Ezio's smile soon waned. "Ezio, there was something I didn't tell you about your mission earlier…" Mario confessed, taking a seat on the edge of Ezio's bed.
Ezio stopped packing to look up at Mario in worry. "What?" Ezio asked plainly.
"Ezio… when you are in Venice… you will need to be very quiet about your location. The Templars have known where you have been so far… This needs to stop, for your safety and for the sake of the Assassin Order. So, when you arrive, you will not be able to give anybody any indication of where you are…" Mario was hoping Ezio got his hint.
Immediately, Ezio's eyes became sad. He knew what Mario meant; he wouldn't be able to write Ophelia or receive letters from her. "Oh…" Ezio replied softly. He slowly began packing again.
"Ezio, I hope you understand. The life of an assassin is not an easy one… Remember, everything you do-"
"Must be for the Order. Yes, I know," Ezio interrupted, shoving belongings into his bag more forcefully.
"I know what it's like to be in love and have this life, Ezio… Her name was Isabella. She left me when my work became too much for her… Luckily for you, though, Ezio, is that Ophelia is in the Order as well. And remember, your mother and father worked things out as well, and trust me, they went through many periods where they couldn't speak or see one another. This will pass sooner than what you think. I tell you what, stay in Florence for a week, but, if guards start to notice your presence, you must leave to Venice immediately. But go enjoy yourself," Mario told Ezio.
Ezio sat on the floor, staring at the ladder to his room. Mario had a good point; at least Ophelia understood his work and even if she didn't, he loved her enough to be able to work things out. "Grazie, uncle. I will be responsible in Florence," Ezio promised, packing up the last of his things. He stood up and flung the bag over his shoulder.
Mario looked up to his nephew with a confused look. "What are you doing, Ezio?" Mario asked.
"Leaving. I am ready to see her," Ezio replied, heading toward the ladder.
Mario quickly got up and followed Ezio. "Alright… but don't forget to give a good farewell to your mother and Claudia, okay?" Mario requested, putting a hand on the young assassin's shoulder.
Ezio smile dup to his uncle and nodded. "Absolutely, Mario."
Ezio climbed down the ladder and into his mother's room. There, he found Claudia sitting with Maria who was now playing with a few feathers. "I must go now…" Ezio announced when he entered the room.
Claudia immediately jumped up, enveloping her older brother in a hug. "But you've only just returned Ezio!" Claudia clung tightly to him. Ezio sat down his bag and gave Claudia a tight hug.
"It is for the Order, sister. I am sorry," Ezio replied before letting go of Claudia and heading over to Maria who was sitting on her bed. He sat down next to her before putting an arm around her shoulders. "Mother, look after Claudia. Mario will take good care of you," Ezio explained, giving her a squeeze.
She gave Ezio a weak smile, putting down a feather. "I understand Ezio. Remember, I was with your father," she reminded him. Ezio couldn't help but smile. For the first time in many months, he heard his mother say something positive.
"Grazie. I love you both," Ezio said, looking to Maria and Claudia. He then stood up and flung his bag back over his shoulder. "Farewell."
Ezio headed back into the main hall and toward the front of the villa. There, he saw Mario waiting for him. Ezio approached, putting a hand on his uncle's shoulders. "How will I relay the information in Venice to you, Uncle?" Ezio asked.
Mario turned to Ezio with a smile, placing his own hand on Ezio's shoulder. "There will be no need," he replied.
"But what good will the information be if I can't give it to you? You are the leader of the Italian Assassins!" Ezio questioned.
Mario's smile grew brighter as he shook his nephew's shoulder. "No, not anymore, Ezio… I am becoming old and my place is here in Monteriggioni. I will be here when you need me, but, napote, that title is now yours."
A breath caught in Ezio's throat as he took in the information. "Grazie, uncle. I will not let down our Brotherhood. I will do everything I can," Ezio promised his uncle.
Mario knew that the position was in good and promising hands. Ezio had much to still learn but his skills and passion were already great enough to bestow him the title of leader. "Now go. She awaits," Mario smiled, giving Ezio a slight push toward the gate of the city.
Ezio laughed as he stumbled forward. "Goodbye, uncle!" Ezio called back before running toward the gate. Ezio smiled as his pace increased. He couldn't wait to see Ophelia again.