[A/N]: Thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcome!

I apologize for how long this one took, and thank you for your patience. The next and final chapter will be the epilogue, and I promise it will come soon.

Chapter 115

Ezio's ride to Roma felt as eternal as its destination. His horse was followed by Machiavelli's, La Volpe's, and Bartolomeo's, whose riders bantered with one another to pass the time. At his side rode Mario, who repeated their plan over and over again to Ezio so that he was certain there would be no mistakes. Ezio would climb the Castel Sant'Angelo, eliminate any guards in the way, run atop the walls to get to the Capella Sistina...

Ezio was barely listening. He knew the plan well enough, but he was less focused on what was lying ahead of him than on what he had left behind. While he was riding south to confront the Spaniard, Rosa was riding north to Venezia with Antonio to take care of some business he had there.

They hadn't said much to each other on the morning they left Monteriggioni. There were still many last minute preparations to be made, and enough had already been said a few nights before. They parted with a long embrace and a mutual understanding that fortuna would likely decide when, if ever, their paths would cross again.

"I think you're going to like Roma, Ezio," Mario continued. "There's no other city quite like it in all of Italia...or the world, for that matter."

"I'm sure I will," Ezio replied with markedly little enthusiasm.

"And what magnificent architecture! Some of it has been around for more than a millennium!" Mario went on. "I'm sure Leonardo will have much to keep himself busy." The painter had left for Roma a day ahead of them, promising to keep a low profile until the Assassins' business at Il Vaticano was finished.

"Sì, I'm sure he will," Ezio answered again, mildly irritated that his uncle insisted on making small talk when Ezio was clearly uninterested. Almost as if Mario could read his thoughts, however, they remained silent for the next half hour before his uncle spoke again.

"It's never easy, is it Ezio?" Mario said.

"What isn't?" the younger Assassin asked, caught off guard by the question.

"Saying goodbye to the people we care about," Mario explained. "Even if it is only temporary."

Ezio sighed and nodded. Now was as good a time as any to confess what he had long been thinking. "Forgive me Uncle," he began, "but when I first joined the brotherhood, I was quite unsure about my decision. This life...it makes friendship...and love...rather difficult."

Mario laughed. "Of course you were unsure, my boy. Everyone is! It's a lot to ask of anyone." His chuckles died down. "Love and friendship...such things are always difficult, no matter what kind of life you live. But our brotherhood would be nothing...and mean nothing...without them."

"A brotherhood of killers," Ezio reminded him with a hint of a smile.

"I do not see a contradiction, nipote," Mario replied. "Our wars have been long and bloody, yes, but we fight for those we care about. We fight for those who cannot wage the battles we can. We fight to preserve the memories of those who once fought for us. So you see, it is love that drives us, not hatred."

Ezio considered his uncle's words.

"That is why we have all been guiding you over the years," Mario continued, indicating the others. "You became blinded by your mad quest to avenge your family, but I knew that once you understood who they really were, you would begin to fight for the right reasons."

"How can you be so sure I will fight for the right reasons?" Ezio asked.

"The same way you know that Rosa will," Mario answered plainly.

Ezio nodded to himself, understanding his uncle's meaning. Time had passed quickly during their conversation, and darkness was beginning to fall over the party of Assassins (owing much to the shorter winter days). Their journey would continue again in the morning, when they would reach their destination and, fortune willing, eliminate the Spaniard.

He wondered if Rosa, riding north with Antonio, was having similar reservations about the tasks ahead of her. He wondered when their paths would cross again.