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Chapter 48

"Bianca! Bianca!"

Ezio walked through Bartolomeo's door to find the man yelling and frantically sifting through the mess that the guards had made of the room.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"What do you think?" the mercenary shouted. "Look at this place! And poor Bianca! If anything's happened to her…"

"If Silvio's men took her, perhaps we can still get her back" offered Ezio hopefully.

"If any of those bastardi laid a hand on her, I'll-" Bartolomeo paused as his eyes found something behind his desk. "Ah-ha!" he exclaimed with a smile as he reached for it. Ezio watched as he pulled out a large sword and kissed it. "Oh, my darling. Thank God you're alright!" He pointed the sword at his new acquaintance. "Ezio, meet Bianca. Bianca, Ezio."

"Charmed," Ezio assured them both as he gently moved the tip of the sword away from his face.

"So, I know your name but not why you're here."

"I have business with Silvio Barbarigo. I was told you could help."

"Business, eh? What exactly are you proposing?"

"If you will aid me, I am hoping we can rid Venezia of him and his treachery once and for all," Ezio explained.

"Ah. It would be my honor."

"Bene, but it's going to require more than just the two…er, three of us to weaken his forces," Ezio told him, indicating Bianca as the third member of their party. "How do you suggest we proceed?"

Bartolomeo thought for a moment. "I'll go and ready my men for battle. While I do this, I'd like you to rescue those who were captured during Silvio's assault. I cannot, in good conscience, leave them behind."

"I will try," Ezio promised. "Do you know where they are being held?"

The other man looked solemnly at the ground. "No, but I know they are still alive, and will be for some time. Silvio will try to use them as hostages to get me to surrender…a coward's method. My men know I'll die before that happens, but that doesn't mean we can abandon them. Besides, they'll be a great asset in our fight. We have to find them."

"I know some people who can help to locate them," said Ezio. "With luck, we'll have them back soon."

"I would appreciate that, Ezio. Thank you, and please hurry. Every day Silvio has them, they are in danger."

"Intesi," Ezio bowed as he began to walk out. "I will attend to it at once."

"Good luck out there, Ezio. Silvio's days are numbered."

As he made his way back to the thieves' den, many of the thoughts that had plagued Ezio's mind on his way to rescue Bartolomeo came back again. The mercenaries were evidently not prepared to fight Silvio's men, and Ezio had to find and rescue a number of them to even have a chance at attempting such a battle.

He wanted to ask Antonio for his opinion and for the thieves' assistance as soon as he returned, but Antonio and most of the thieves were more than likely asleep, as his quest to find Bartolomeo that night had taken longer than expected. His business would have to wait until morning.

As he passed by Rosa's room, he wondered if she was still awake. He wanted very much to talk to her as well, but he wasn't sure what he would have been able to say. What more could he say? He had followed Teodora's advice and told her how he felt. How Rosa felt in return was up to Rosa.

Despite his worries, he was able to fall asleep relatively quickly, as it had been a busy couple of days for him. He hoped the next morning would bring the answers he sought.