[A/N]: Thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcome! Tomorrow is going to be busy for me, so I'm putting this out a day ahead.

Chapter 58

"Salute" boomed Mario as they arrived at the gates. "I trust your trip was pleasant?"

"Sì, pleasant enough," Ezio replied, his mind still occupied by the concerns that had distracted him during the trip.

"Good to see you again, Rosa!" Mario kissed her cheek. "I hope Ezio isn't causing your city too much trouble."

Rosa kissed his cheek in return. "Venezia is used to a bit of chaos from time to time. Besides, he's useful once in a while."

"Bene, bene!" Mario laughed. Then he turned to Ezio again. "I'm sure we have much to discuss, nipote, but let it wait until after supper. No doubt you are both starving after your trip."

"I could eat," Rosa shrugged.

They followed Mario to the Villa Auditore, where Claudia and Maria were waiting. They exchanged more warm greetings, and the meal for the evening was prepared shortly thereafter. Once everyone was satisfied, the group agreed it was time to discuss recent developments.

"So, Ezio, tell me what you have been doing in Venezia," Mario requested.

"Where do I begin, Uncle?" Ezio told him about the assassination of Marco Barbarigo (Mario had already received the news, of course), the capture and rescue of Bartolomeo d'Alviano and his men, and the deaths of Silvio Barbarigo and Dante Moro.

"It sounds like you've been successful, Ezio. Well done!"

Ezio frowned. His tone was more somber now. "I thought as much until I spoke to Silvio and Dante. They were not planning to take the Doge's throne, but to sail for Cyprus. Even in his last moments, Silvio was convinced that I was too late to stop whatever they were planning."

Mario shook his head. "Typical of these Templars. They're always one step ahead of us. Still, none have faced you or me and currently live to tell about it. When Borgia's day comes, I'm certain he will suffer the same fate as the rest."

"Borgia?" Rosa asked.

"A Spaniard," Ezio explained. "One of the men responsible for the deaths of my father and brothers." Then he turned to Mario. "I am not sure that day will ever come. We do not know where he is."

"He seeks power, above all else. A man like that does not stay hidden from the public for long. He'll turn up sooner or later."

Ezio was a bit relieved by this, but it raised another concern. "I am not sure we can afford to let him become powerful before making our move."

Mario smiled. "Wise thinking, my boy. We'll redouble our efforts at tracking him down. I'm sure your friends in Venezia will help as well."

Rosa nodded.

"Speaking of friends and gathering information, has your inventor been able to decipher any more of our Codex pages?"

Ezio pulled a few out of his bag and handed them to Mario. "Leonardo is away in Milano. It may be some time before we are able to make more progress with them."

"That is unfortunate," Mario said as he looked over the pages. "His work is magnificent."

"While we are here in Monteriggioni, what do you propose we do?"

Mario got up and paced the floor for a while with his head down, thinking to himself. Finally, he answered.

"Use my library. There are a few texts that may provide answers as to why the Templars are interested in Cyprus. They and Assassins alike have had a strong interest in the city for centuries, although I am not clear on the details."

Ezio cringed at the idea of poring over stacks of history books, but if they provided him with a way of stopping the Spaniard, he was willing to try.

"It may take some time," he noted. "Rosa, how long are you willing to stay here?"

All eyes were on the thief as she shrugged and turned to Mario. "If your training arena is still open, I'm sure I can keep myself busy."