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Chapter 45

Night was falling over Venezia when Ezio arrived at the Palazzo della Seta. He found Antonio standing and speaking with a large bearded man, evidently a member of the city's nobility.

"Ah! There you are!" the thief cried jovially when he saw Ezio. "Come , Ezio. I'd like you to meet an associate." Then, indicating the man beside him, "This is Agostino Barbarigo…soon to be Doge of Venezia, thanks to you."

Ezio stopped in his tracks upon hearing the name and turned quizzically to Antonio, but the brother of the late Marco Barbarigo bowed respectfully to him. This confused Ezio further, but he bowed in return.

"È un onore fare la sua* conoscenza, illustrissimo." Then he cautiously added, "I am sorry for the loss of your brother."

Agostino shook his head. "He had it coming. He was bought and paid for by the Borgia, a mistake I have no intention of making."

"You need not worry, my friend," Antonio assured him. "Agostino is on our side."

"Va bene. I am glad. Is this why you called me here?"

"This, among other things," replied the thief, patting his back. "Come, Ezio. We have much to discuss."

They retired to a room overlooking the courtyard of the Palazzo. In it was a table, upon which Antonio had placed a map of the city. The three of them sat around it and Antonio offered caffé to both of his guests. Both politely refused.

"So," began Ezio, "I am hoping whatever news you have is good."

Antonio and Agostino looked at each other, and Agostino spoke first. "Only time will tell, dear boy," he said.

"We've located Silvio Barbarigo for you," explained Antonio. "He's fled into L'Arsenale."

"Hah," Agostino scoffed. "Fled? You mean occupied, and joined by two hundred mercenari, no less! I wouldn't call that a victory for us!"

"You're Doge now. Can't you command them to stand down?" Ezio suggested.

"Ah, Antonio mentioned you are un fiorentino. You must not be familiar with our politics. You see, the committee of forty-one has yet to confirm my ascension. And this little stunt of Silvio's has only made things worse. He has an entire army at his command!"

The three sat in silence for a moment before Ezio spoke again. "Then help me to raise my own," he said to them.

Antonio chuckled at this. "I figured you'd say as much. Bartolomeo D'Alviano is the man you seek. He and his men have little love for Silvio. He resides within the military district, southwest of L'Arsenale." He pointed out the general location on the map.

"Va bene, I'll go and see him," Ezio said as he got up. "What does he look like?"

Antonio and Agostino exchanged another glance.

"You'd recognize him more easily by his…personality," the thief explained. "Just ask around. He's eccentric enough to have earned a reputation."

Ezio wasn't sure what to make of this, but if nothing else, he could find the man by using his heightened senses.

"Then I should be off," announced Ezio. He turned to Agostino. "It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope our paths cross again."

"Likewise," the man smiled.

"Ezio, may I have a word?" Antonio asked before he could run off.

Ezio nodded, and the two stepped back out into the courtyard.

"Agostino is a good man, but I still prefer to keep many of our operations secret, including this one. Bartolomeo and I occasionally communicate through some of my men, as our interests are usually aligned. I wanted to warn you that some of those men have gone missing recently."

"Do you suspect foul play?"

"Sì, but not from Bartolomeo. I'm worried that they are all in danger. Silvio has no doubt been aggressive in his occupation of the district. I just hope Bartolomeo and his men are ready for them. Either way, you should be careful."

"Grazie for the warning," Ezio said, and was quickly out the door and on his way.

*In the game, Ezio says "la vostra," which is the plural form of "your" rather than the formal singular form "la sua." The latter makes more sense in this context, as Ezio is addressing a single person.