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Chapter 39

"What is it, my son? You want to ask me something?"

Ezio, who had been quietly studying Teodora, now turned up to meet her gaze and answer her question.

"I do. Forgive me, but why is it you wear a nun's habit if you aren't one?"

Antonio smiled, and Sister Teodora chuckled at this, but Ezio noticed a slight bitterness behind the chuckle. She was happy to answer his question, but he sensed he had touched on a tender subject.

"Well whoever said it wasn't?"

"I am certain the Church has its objections," Ezio pressed her.

She shrugged. "Why should I care if the Church condemns me? Can't I seek God in other ways? Indeed, I am married to the Lord."

"And yet you are also a courtesan? You run a bordello."

"So? I see no contradiction. How I choose to practice my faith, what I choose to do with my body…these are my choices to make."

"I cannot argue your rights, Madonna, but how did you choose such a path?"

"Like many young women, I was drawn to the church, but grew disillusioned by the 'believers' of this city, quite like dear Antonio did with the nobility." Antonio smiled as she continued, "Men hold God only as an idea in their heads, not in the depths of their hearts and bodies. And the hypocrisy! Pick any cardinal in Roma, and I'd bet he's had more lovers than I have, but I'd also bet he hasn't truly loved all of them with his heart as much as I've loved any one of mine. Do you understand, Ezio?"

"I think so. You think love should be embraced in all its forms, even those condemned by the Church."

She nodded. "Men must know how to love in order to reach salvation. My girls and I provide that to our congregation. No church would agree with me, I realized, so I started my own. It may not be traditional, but men's hearts grow…firmer in my care."

"Among other things, I'm sure," Ezio jested.

Teodora smiled. "What about you, Ezio? Do you embrace love with your heart? Or is it only an idea in your mind?"

"I think so. I…I'm not sure."

"You must be sure, mio caro," she insisted. "My girls can teach you if you'd like."

"There is another girl who might not like that," Ezio replied.

"Indeed? And what of your feelings for Rosa? Antonio has told me much about the two of you."

Ezio turned to confront Antonio on this subject, but the thief had already left them without a word, presumably to attend to some other business.

"I er…care for Rosa…very much," Ezio tried to explain as he scratched his head.

"That is not the same thing," Teodora frowned. "Have you at least told her this?"

"Well…no. I think she knows."

"How can she? I don't think you know, yourself," scolded Teodora. "I sense you are afraid of something."

"Oh?"

She looked him over. "You are a dangerous man, from what I can tell. How does a handsome young gentleman like you come to carry so many weapons?

Ezio recounted the story of his family, omitting the details about secret societies and encrypted documents. He was hesitant to speak at first, but something in this woman's manner seemed genuine and trustworthy. Perhaps she used this same charm whenever she wanted information out of her clients, Ezio thought to himself.

"I see," she nodded when he was finished. "Then I am correct. You do not embrace love with your heart. You are afraid to love because you are afraid to lose what you love."

"I-" Ezio started to object.

"It is a sin, Ezio. Think about all the love you have around you from your family and friends. You must open your heart to receive it and return it. Why do you fight, if not for them?"

Before Ezio could formulate a response, they came upon an area filled with revelers, each louder than the last. Lights adorned the plaza where the festivities of Carnevale were in full swing. They observed a small stage on the far end, where the master of ceremonies was enthusiastically describing the competitions Ezio would need to win in order to obtain a mask for the party. Holding the mask, Ezio noticed as he gritted his teeth, was the largest man he had seen among the group of conspirators who killed the last Doge. Ezio had learned that his name was Dante Moro. Next to him was the man in the red hood, Silvio Barbarigo.

As the master of ceremonies finished his speech, the crowd cheered, and Teodora turned to her companion.

"You'd best get to it, Ezio."