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Chapter 76

"What tasks? What is he talking about?" Rosa asked.

Ezio shrugged as he pulled his boots on. "Your guess is as good as mine," he answered. He reached for his robe but Rosa snatched it and held it out of his reach.

"So…what, you're just going to go with them?" she demanded.

"Do you have a better idea in mind?" he asked her, emphasizing the exasperation in his voice.

She glared at him for a few more seconds before handing back his robe. He quickly put it on and gathered his supplies before moving to the door.

"We both know you haven't really made up your mind about this yet," she said.

He stopped in his tracks, but didn't respond.

"They think you have, but you haven't," she continued. "What are you going to do if you decide this is a mistake?"

"Perhaps this is the way to find that out," he told her, opening the door to find Mario outside waiting for him.

"Va bene!" his uncle smiled. "Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, Uncle. Lead the way."

Ezio began to close the door behind him when it suddenly swung back open and Rosa marched out.

"I'm coming with you," she announced to them as she finished closing the door. Ezio and Mario exchanged a glance.

"Rosa-" Ezio began, but his uncle cut him off.

"We'd be delighted," he said, bowing. "It's probably for the best, anyway. I could easily get lost in this city without some help. I trust you know the way to the Palazzo della Seta?"

Ezio was confused by his uncle's consent, and it seemed Rosa was as well. It clearly wasn't the response she was expecting, and all she could manage in return was a courteous nod.

"Excellent. Andiamo!" Mario said.

A short time into their trip, Mario took a deep breath and let out a pleasant sigh as he looked at his surroundings.

"It has been far too long since my last stay in Venezia," he remarked. "I've missed the smell of the sea on mornings like this. It is a pity I do not have the time to enjoy it free of distraction."

"Your nipote has complained about that same smell a few times," Rosa told him.

Mario let out a hearty laugh at that. "He must have gotten it from his father. Giovanni never was able to get past the…atmosphere…of Venezia. He tried to avoid the city altogether, but his duty as an Assassin came before his nose. Speaking of which, how is your finger, Ezio?"

Ezio, who was thinking to himself, had only paid attention to the final question. He examined his finger for a moment before answering.

"It is still a little painful," he said. "I expect it will take some time to heal completely."

"Consider yourself lucky," Mario reminded him with a grin. "Our ancestors removed whole fingers before wearing their hidden blades."

"Sì, I've heard as much," Ezio replied, remembering the time Leonardo nearly removed his as a practical joke.

"Here we are!" Mario announced as they arrived at the palazzo. "It's quite a change to see this building out of Templar hands. Alas, when one head is cut off, another five take its place. Still, it is a good start."

They walked into the main courtyard, and standing there were all of the Assassins that Ezio had seen the night before. Ezio glanced at Rosa, whose eyes widened as she took in all the faces that presently greeted the three of them. If she hadn't believed his tale before, all of her doubts now fluttered away. As concerned as Ezio was about Rosa's presence, it was comforting to have someone next to him who could empathize with the shock he had been feeling ever since the previous night's revelation.