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Chapter 73

As the sun set, Ezio found himself in the area that Antonio had marked on the map, but he wasn't sure exactly where he was supposed to go. There was no sign of Antonio or any of the others. He was about to give up his search when he noticed a light coming from a nearby bell tower.

When he got to the top, he was met by the Assassins and the small fire that had been the source of the light.

Assassins. It was strange for him to think of them in this context; everything he had learned from each of them was part of something greater. They seemed to masking a sense of pride as he looked at each of them, but Ezio wasn't sure what to feel. Mario spoke first.

"I'm glad you've decided to come, Ezio," he said. "Your father would have been very proud to see you here today. You wear his robes, but now it is time for you to take on his quest."

Ezio was still silent. He didn't know how to answer his uncle. Everything seemed so surreal. Mere hours ago, he thought he had found the answers to all his questions and would see the death of his most hated enemy. Now, everything had changed. He found himself in a tower full of people who thought he was some kind of…prophet! What the hell were they expecting of him?

"With your help, we will begin a new era of peace and prosperity for Italia and the world, free of Templar tyranny," the man who called himself Machiavelli added.

Finally, Ezio managed to utter a sliver of the thoughts racing through his mind.

"Where did the Spaniard go? What have you done with his box?"

"All in good time, Ezio," Antonio answered. "You will have your answers. Only be patient and trust us now as you have trusted us before."

Ezio fell silent again, and Mario turned and raised his hands over the fire.

"Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine," he recited. "These are the words spoken by our ancestors that lay at the heart of our creed."

Machiavelli stepped forward and spoke next.

"Where other men blindly follow the truth, remember…"

Ezio recalled these words from many of the books in his uncle's library. He knew how the phrase always ended.

"Nothing is true."

Machiavelli nodded and continued. "Where other men are limited by morality or law, remember…"

"Everything is permitted."

Machiavelli nodded once again. "We work in the dark to serve the light. We are Assassins."

The others repeated, "Nothing is true, everything is permitted."

Machiavelli stepped back and indicated for Ezio to join Mario.

"It is time, Ezio," his uncle said. Antonio was holding some sort of metal device over the fire that began to glow orange. Mario directed Ezio's attention to it.

"In this modern age, we are not so literal as our ancestors, but our seal is no less permanent. Are you ready to join us?"

"I am," Ezio replied. It wasn't the truth, but he knew it was what they wanted to hear. How could he be ready for something this permanent? Until this point, he had not been fighting for any cause greater than that of vengeance or the safety of his friends and loved ones. What if he became tired of the fighting? What if they asked him to do something he wasn't prepared to do? He certainly trusted all of them, but this was something entirely new to him.

Antonio pulled the metal device from the fire and Mario invited Ezio to hold out his hand.

"This only hurts for a while, brother. Like so many things."

He clamped the device down on Ezio's ring finger. It only lasted a few seconds, but the pain and the weight of the decision this mark symbolized made it seem like a lifetime to Ezio.

When it was removed, Machiavelli stepped forward again.

"Benvenuto, Ezio! You are one of us now. Come! We have much to do."

Ezio examined his finger, wondering how long it would take to heal. I was all he could think about without going mad.

"Perhaps we should let Ezio rest for the night," Antonio suggested. "It has been a long day…for all of us."

Machiavelli frowned, but conceded. "Very well. We will meet again tomorrow."

They leapt from the tower one by one, each falling effortlessly in a hay bale below. Ezio was the last to jump. When he got out of the hay bale, he found he was alone, so he made his way back to the thieves' den. He had to talk to Rosa.