"Élise, Arno, wonderful to see you! What did you learn?"

"We think we know where the Piece of Eden is."

Chobat's eyes popped wide opened.

"Danton said something about...he said something about Robespierre bidding him adieu near the Temple to retrieve a great source of power."

She noticed the intrigue on Chobat's face was starting to melt. Before she could ask why, Arno spoke. "I think it's a little thin to go on, Monsieur, but..."

Timothee waved his hand. "No. Believe me, the idea they could be hiding the Apple there has crossed our minds many times, but we haven't conducted more than a cursory investigation for a reason. That fortress is nearly impregnable."

"But you sent us in through the secret tunnels to -"

"Tunnels which had been destroyed! And that was for a quick infiltration and exfiltration! Those tunnels were directly connected to the lowest floor of the prison."

That was true. She decided to say what was really weighing on her mind:

"Monsieur, I fear a picture is coming together. Danton said Robespierre left him with cryptic quote shortly before his betrayal, the words of Voltaire: 'If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him.' Robespierre's 'Festival of the Supreme Being' is approaching. It was the date scrawled on Theot's wall. Theot said the world would soon 'know his divinity'. What I fear is he will use this festival to put on a spectacle with the Piece of Eden."

Spectacle. Such a mild word, but anything that could capture the true horror would be hard to say.

Chobat looked down, with a mix of dread and contemplation.

"Think about it, Monsieur. First, he gets rid of the atheists, then..."

He put up a finger up. "No, no, your theory is solid! But that fort...that will be difficult, and to risk you, my best agents..." He looked down in anguished thought. To her it seemed a pointless thing to stew over: What choice did they have? If they died trying, it would be lives well spent.

Then he perked up.

"Ah! If your theory is true, we need only intercept him before or at the fête! It won't be easy, but easier than entering that fort!"

"Arno and I discussed a similar plan, Monsieur. The problem is Robespierre might come to pick up the treasure days in advance. He might send an associate to pick it up. We need to retrieve it proactively."

Timothee replied, "Or it might be not there at all when you come to retrieve it; In the same vein, he could already be keeping it on his person for nefarious purposes."

"But this is still our best course of action, if they normally store it at the Temple for safety."

"And what about killing him at the fête?"

Arno spoke up this time, "We would have to do it swiftly, before he touched the minds of all the others. That would be tricky in a way even infiltrating the Temple would not."

Élise added, "Not to mention Robespierre knows himself to be a target, Monsieur. It would be entirely unsurprising if his security at this event is better than the security at Le Temple." Perhaps that was a bit of a strech but...

She knew she had made a powerful points; Again Timothee looked pained. He stewed over the words.

He went over to his favorite chair to sit, plopping down like a sack of potatoes, an ungentlemanly and uncharacteristic motion. The younger two waited for him to continue. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke. "The Temple complex is large. And there are at least two locations within I would expect them to store such a treasure, at least!"

"What about the Assassins?" Arno suggested. She was pleased he did not say other Assassins. "We could request their..."

"No!" Timothee thundered. It was the first time he had heard him yell. It rattled her. Then in a calmer tone, he continued. "We can't involve the Assassins in anything regarding the Apple. Even sending you two I -"

He caught the words in his throat, but she knew his meaning. He still did not fully trust them, not with the Piece of Eden. Élise could not blame him. Only a few in the Templar Order were normally even allowed to know its location, let alone handle it themselves.

Then finally he put a hand up, "S'il te plaît, I need to be alone...to think this through."