The night air was crisp and cool as Ezio, Amelia, and the small group of soldiers led by Mario crept through the hills overlooking Tuscany. A faint breeze whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves and carrying the distant sound of rushing water. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the rugged landscape, painting the hills and valleys in shades of black and gray. Shadows stretched long and eerie across the ground, turning every rock and bush into a lurking silhouette. Below them, the walls of the Castle de Pazzi loomed, dark and foreboding, its ancient stones bathed in moonlight.
Amelia kept her gaze sharp as they moved, her senses attuned to every shift in the shadows. Her years of training had taught her to read the signs in the landscape—the crack of a branch, the distant murmur of conversation from the guards patrolling the walls. Mario's figure cut a strong silhouette against the dark sky, his shoulders square with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. He halted at the edge of the hillside, gesturing for the others to pause as he surveyed the castle below.
Ezio dismounted his horse with a determined set to his jaw, his eyes fixed on the distant walls. He moved forward to join Mario, the tension between them palpable in the silence. "Ezio? What are you doing here?" Mario asked, raising an eyebrow as he noticed his nephew's presence.
"Taking responsibility. Vieri troubles you because of me," Ezio replied, his tone edged with guilt. He cast a glance toward Amelia, as if seeking her unspoken approval, before turning back to face his uncle.
Mario's laugh rumbled through the quiet night, though his expression held a hint of concern. "Vieri troubles us because he is a Templar, and we are Assassins."
Amelia, who had remained a step behind, stepped closer, her voice calm but firm. "Ezio's right. Vieri may be a Templar, but he's still a spoiled teenager nursing a personal grudge. That makes him reckless—and dangerous." She met Mario's gaze, then turned to Ezio with a faint smile. "I'm glad you made it, Ezio."
Ezio's resolve hardened, his posture straightening. "Either way, I wish to help," he said, determination clear in his voice.
Mario's expression softened slightly, recognizing the fire in his nephew's eyes. "Va bene. Alright. Then listen closely," he said, turning back to the distant walls of the fortress. "First, we must find a way inside the city. Though it seems Vieri expects us... He has sealed the gates and sent his men to guard them. Fortunately for us, the city is larger than his host. The southern gate suffers for it. So this is where we will strike. Pronti? Ready?"
"Ready." Amelia nodded, her gaze scanning the darkened walls below, already planning their route. She could see the faint glow of torches and hear the distant murmur of guards' voices. She knew they'd need to move swiftly and quietly if they were to avoid detection.
The group moved like shadows through the night, their footsteps muffled against the soft earth as they approached the castle's imposing walls. The ancient stone structure loomed ahead, its dark silhouette broken only by the occasional flicker of torchlight. Mario gathered his men in a tight circle, his voice low and urgent as he handed Ezio a bundle of throwing knives.
"Alright, Ezio. Here's how it is going to work: My men and I will distract the guards. Once we've engaged them, get yourself over the wall and find a way to open the gate. Take these throwing knives. Use them to dispatch the archers," Mario said, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"I'm ready when you are," Ezio replied, gripping the knives tightly, his expression steeled for the task ahead.
"Then let us begin. All'attacco! Charge!" Mario's voice rang out, and his men surged forward, their shouts echoing through the night. The clash of swords and the shouts of surprised guards filled the air as Mario's soldiers met the enemy head-on.
Ezio and Amelia split from the main group, slipping along the shadowed side of the wall. With a nod from Amelia, Ezio crouched and interlocked his fingers to give her a boost. She scaled the rough stone with practiced ease, her movements fluid and silent as she reached the top and turned to help him up. Together, they crouched on the parapet, hidden in the shadows.
The air was cold against Amelia's face as she scanned the rooftop, her breath misting in the night. She spotted three archers patrolling along the wall, their backs turned to the intruders. Without a word, she pulled a throwing knife from her belt, took aim, and let it fly. The blade cut through the air with a deadly whisper, striking the nearest archer in the throat. He collapsed without a sound.
Ezio mirrored her actions, dispatching the second archer with a precise throw. As the third turned, catching a glimpse of movement, Amelia lunged forward, her blade slicing through the air. She drove it into the man's side before he could raise the alarm, his body crumpling at her feet.
"Not bad, Ezio. You're getting faster," Amelia said, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips as she wiped the blood from her blade.
Ezio returned her smile, despite the tension in his eyes. "Thanks. Now let's get that gate open."
They dropped down into the courtyard below, where the sounds of battle echoed against the stone walls. Ezio spotted the gate mechanism and sprinted toward it, cranking the heavy iron wheel until the gates groaned open. As the metal creaked and clanged, Mario's men rushed through the entrance, their swords flashing as they pressed the attack.
"Well done, Ezio! We're in! This way, men!" Mario called, clapping Ezio on the back as he joined the fray. He turned to his nephew, his expression serious. "I want you to distract those guards, and keep them from raising the alarm. Hopefully, it will buy me enough time to find and silence Vieri."
"Va bene. Alright," Ezio said, nodding firmly.
"Wait, nipote. Take a few of my men with you... Just to be safe. Come join me once they're dealt with," Mario added, catching Ezio's arm before he could move away.
"You take the guards in the south. I'll handle the ones near the market square. Meet you at the front of the fort where Vieri is hiding," Amelia said, giving Ezio a reassuring nod before slipping into the shadows.
As they moved through the city, Amelia dispatched her targets with ruthless efficiency. She crept up behind guards, her dagger flashing as she slit throats and dragged bodies into the shadows. Her breathing was steady, her mind focused solely on the task at hand. Each enemy that fell before her was another step closer to Vieri, another blow against the Templars who had taken so much from her.
Ezio's throwing knives found their marks with deadly precision, taking down archers and guards from a distance. He moved with purpose, his strikes growing more confident as he fought his way toward the center of town. The clash of steel and shouts of battle filled the air as they pressed through the narrow streets, cutting a path through the chaos.
Suddenly, one of Mario's soldiers stumbled into Ezio's path, clutching a deep wound on his side. "Ezio! Your uncle's under attack and needs help! Go to him," the soldier gasped, his voice strained with pain.
Ezio's heart pounded in his chest as he nodded and sprinted toward the sounds of fighting. He reached the wide square near the palace, where Mario and Giovanni battled Vieri's men, their blades a blur in the moonlight. Blood spattered the cobblestones, and the air was thick with the scent of sweat and iron.
"Ah, nipote! There you are! It seems my plan has hit something of a snag... Vieri's men ambushed us, and now we've got our hands full. Giovanni and I will deal with these guards—I want you to go on ahead and root out that snake! Find Vieri! See that justice is served!" Mario shouted, parrying a blow with a grunt of effort.
Amelia appeared beside Ezio, her expression fierce and determined, a fresh cut marring her cheek. "Go, Ezio. I'll hold them here. Vieri won't get away," she promised, her voice firm as she turned to face the advancing soldiers, her dagger gleaming in the moonlight.
Ezio nodded once, his eyes meeting hers in a brief moment of shared understanding. With a final look at his uncle and Amelia, he dashed through the battlefield, his mind focused on his target—Vieri de Pazzi.
As Amelia held the line, Vieri's men closed in around her. She moved like a whirlwind, her blade dancing through the night. The first soldier lunged at her, but she sidestepped his attack, driving her knife into his ribs with a vicious twist. She pulled it free just in time to deflect another blow from the second, her muscles straining as she turned the blade aside. She ducked under a wild swing, using her momentum to spin and slice across the throat of a third man. Blood sprayed into the air, staining her cheek, but she didn't falter. The fourth and final soldier charged, his sword aimed at her heart. She felt the blade slice across her leg, a searing pain that brought a gasp to her lips, but she gritted her teeth and drove her dagger into his neck, feeling the hot rush of blood spill over her hand.
As the last of Vieri's men crumpled to the ground, Amelia staggered back, pressing a hand to the wound on her leg. The cut was shallow, but it burned with every movement. She forced herself to focus, wiping the blood from her cheek with a grimace. She cast a glance toward the top of the parapet where Ezio now faced Vieri, his silhouette stark against the moonlit sky.
Ezio fought with a fury that matched the wildness of the wind around them, driving Vieri back with each swing of his sword. The two combatants circled one another, their swords clashing in a brutal dance of steel. With a final lunge, Ezio disarmed Vieri, knocking him to the ground. He loomed over the fallen Templar, his breath coming in harsh gasps.
Vieri choked out a laugh, blood bubbling on his lips. "You... would have done the same. To save the ones you love," he gasped, his voice weakening with each word.
Ezio's face twisted with rage, his voice rising in a snarl. "Pezzo di merda! Vorrei solo che avessi sofferto di più! Hai avuto la fine che meritavi! Spero che bru—"
"Ezio, basta. Enough. He's beaten. We do not curse the dead," Amelia interrupted, her voice rough but insistent as she rushed forward, placing a hand on his arm. Her grip was firm, her eyes meeting his with a steadiness that cut through the haze of his anger. Ezio froze, breathing heavily as her words sank in. He met her gaze, seeing the unwavering resolve in her eyes, and slowly, he nodded, letting the fury drain from his limbs. He stepped back, chest heaving, as Mario approached from behind.
"Show some respect," Mario said, his tone firm as he knelt beside Vieri's body.
"Respect? After all that's happened? Do you think he would have shown either of us such kindness?" Ezio snapped, his voice rough with lingering anger.
"You are not Vieri. Do not become him," Mario admonished, his voice gentler now as he looked into his nephew's eyes. He turned to the fallen Templar, placing a hand on Vieri's bloodied chest. "Che la morte ti dia la pace che cercavi. Requiescat in Pace."
As the last echoes of the battle faded into the night, Mario handed Ezio a folded piece of parchment, his expression somber. "Take this. Read it when you have the time. Our work here is finished. Let us return to the villa."
Amelia leaned heavily against the stone parapet, her leg throbbing with pain, but she forced herself to stand tall. She exchanged a brief, weary nod with Ezio, who met her gaze with a silent look of gratitude. Together, they turned away from the parapet, the weight of their victory heavy on their shoulders, knowing that the true battle was still far from over.