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Chapter 107

The noise was inescapable. As Ezio drew closer to the Palazzo Pitti, all he could hear was the roar of the angry mob that had gathered outside the mad monk's residence. Rosa, who had followed him out, shouted inaudibly to him and made her way up some nearby scaffolding. Ezio could only assume she was trying to tell him that she wanted to get a better view from the rooftop.

In any case, Ezio made his way to the back of the crowd where the other Assassins were standing.

"All is now in place," La Volpe informed him as he approached. "Hopefully this madness will all be over soon."

"You've done well, Ezio," said Paola.

"What happens now?" he asked them.

Machiavelli turned to him and gave a hint of a smile. "Watch," he suggested, pointing to the man who presently stepped outside the front doors of the palazzo and raised his hands.

"Silence!" Savonarola tried to make his voice heard over the crowd, but with no luck. "I demand silence!"

"It seems the people of Firenze are tired of hearing his sermons," Paola chuckled.

"Why are you here? Why do you disturb me?" Savonarola continued. "You should be cleansing your homes! Cleansing yourselves! There are bonfires to feed! Prayers to be said! Penance to be done!"

Nothing swayed the crowd, and Ezio took note as the monk's face changed to one of desperation. Slowly, as Savonarola's hand reached into his robe, Ezio's hand reached for a throwing knife.

"You will do as I command!" Savonarola ordered, holding up the glowing Apple. "You will submit-"

He was cut off as Ezio's knife flew into his arm. As he dropped the Apple in pain, the crowd rushed for him and carried him off, but Ezio had little time to wonder where they were taking him. There was a far more pressing concern.

"Find the Apple, Ezio," La Volpe shouted. "It can't be far!"

As the area surrounding the Apple cleared out, a guard ran over and picked it up, hoping not to be seen. Ezio immediately gave chase, following him up onto a rooftop.

When he saw Ezio, the guard became more desperate, tripping a bit as he bounded from rooftop to rooftop. The mistakes slowed him down, allowing Ezio to catch up, which in turn made the guard panic even more.

The guard looked behind his shoulder one last time, and when he turned back, another figure blocked his path. He could have easily switched his route, but he paused just long enough for Ezio to tackle him. In another swift movement, Ezio's hidden blade was in his throat.

"Whatever would you do without me?" Rosa inquired as Ezio took the Apple from the guard's hand.

"Probably the same thing, but I would be a little more out of breath," he returned.

"I'll take that as gratitude," she shrugged. "I suppose it's a good thing I came up here."

"Sì," Ezio agreed. "It seems that was a sensible idea."

"I did not see where all of them went, though," she confessed.

"Neither did I," he frowned. "I hope the other Assassins are following them. The important thing is that we have the Apple now. It is safe from Savonarola and the Spaniard. One option is to return to Monteriggioni with it and let the crowd deal with its tyrant. Still..."

"We have to see this through," she urged. "The city is in turmoil and that man is too dangerous to be kept alive."

Ezio thought for a moment. "Search for the noise," he suggested. They could see smoke rising near the Palazzo Vecchio, and as they started on their way, the deafening sound returned.