Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 13

"Solved," Ezio said curtly to Paola.

She hugged him, then stepped back. "I know. I'm relieved to see you safe and sound."

"I think it's time for me to leave Florence."

"Where are you going?"

"My father's brother Mario has an estate near Monteriggioni. We'll go there."

"They've launched a massive hunt for you, Ezio. They've posted wanted notices everywhere, with your portrait on them. The public speaker will start speaking against you, too," she paused. Deep in thought, "I will send someone to tear up the notice as much as possible, and then spend money to buy those speakers to let them talk about other topics." She seemed to think of something again, "I'd better prepare your travel documents for you. "

Ezio shook his head, thinking of Alberti. "Even beliefs can be manipulated so easily, what kind of world do we live in?"

"There was nothing Alberti could do about the situation, but he should have stood firm," she sighed. "The truth is a commodity that can be bought and sold. You'd better get used to it, Ezio."

He took her hands. "Thank you."

"Florence will get better, especially after Duke Lorenzo made his cronies the magistrate. You have to hurry up, your mother and sister are here." She turned and clapped her hands, Then say, "Anita!"

Anita appears from the back of the house, leading Maria and Claudia with her.What follows is a touching reunion scene.Seeing that his mother's condition had not improved much, Ezio still clung to Petruccio's box of feathers.She returned his hug, albeit absent-mindedly, and Paula watched with a sad smile.

Claudia hugged him tightly. "Ezio! Where have you been? Paola and Anita treated us very well, but they wouldn't let us go home. Mama hasn't said a word since then—" She stopped, fighting back tears . "Well," she said, recovering a little, "maybe Dad can help us sort things out. This whole thing was a horrible misunderstanding, wasn't it?"

Paola looks at Ezio. "I'm afraid it's time," she said softly, "it's better to let them know the truth sooner."

Claudia looked from Ezio to Paola and back to Ezio.Maria sat down next to Anita, who put her arms around her.Maria stared at the air, smiling, and caressing the pearwood box gently.

"What's wrong, Ezio?" Claudia said with fear in her voice.

"Something happened."

"What do you mean by that?"

Ezio fell silent, not knowing what to say, but his expression said it all.

"Oh, God, no!"

"Claudia—"

"Tell me it's not true!"

Ezio lowered his head.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Claudia yelled.

"Shh," he tried to calm her down, "I did my best, little one."

Claudia buried her head in his chest, letting out a long, hoarse whimper, while Ezio did his best to comfort her.He looked past her to his mother, but she didn't seem to hear.Maybe she already knew it in her own way.Seeing his sister and mother sinking into the abyss of despair after such a huge turmoil in Ezio's life almost broke him.He stood there, holding his sister in his arms for a long time -- the responsibility of the whole world seemed to rest on his shoulders.Now he had to protect his family—the Auditore family's reputation depended on him.The boy Ezio was no more...he was lost in thought.

"Listen," he said to Claudia when she had calmed down a bit, "the most important thing now is to get out of here. Go to a safe place where you and mother can stay out of danger. If you want to do this, you You have to be brave. You have to learn to be strong, to take care of our mother. Got it?"

After listening to what he said, she cleared her throat, then stepped back a little and looked up at him. "Understood."

"Then it's time for us to start preparing. Go and pack up what you need, but take as little as possible - we can only leave on foot, and it's too risky to arrange a carriage. Wear your most modest clothes, we can't attract people Watch out. And be quick!"

Claudia left with their mother and Anita.

"You should go shower and change," Paula told him, "you'll feel better that way."

Two hours later, when Paula had prepared their travel papers, it was finally time to leave.Ezio checked the contents of the briefcase one last time.As for the documents he got back from Alberti, perhaps his uncle could help him decipher the contents—they were obviously very important.His new weapon is secured to his right forearm, hidden by his sleeve.He tightened his belt.Claudia led Maria to the garden, leaning against the wall by the door, Anita, who was holding back tears, was by their side.

Ezio turned to face Paola. "Goodbye. Thanks again for everything you've done for me."

She put her arms around him and kissed the side of his mouth. "Take care, Ezio, and don't forget to be vigilant. I'm afraid the road you have to travel will be quite a long one."

He bowed solemnly, then put on his hood, walked over to his mother and sister, and picked up their packed luggage.They kissed Anita and said goodbye to her.A few moments later they were in the street, walking north, Claudia holding her mother's arm.For a moment, they were silent, while Ezio pondered the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.He hopes that he can support the overall situation on his own, although it will not be easy to do so.He'd have to stay strong, but he'd do it: for Claudia and for poor, totally shut-in mother.

By the time they were in the heart of the city, Claudia had spoken—and she had a load of questions to ask, but he was satisfied that her tone was firm.

"Why is this happening to us?" she said.

"I do not know."

"Is it possible for us to come back?"

"I don't know, Claudia."

"What will happen to our home?"

He shook his head.There's no time to arrange everything, and if there is, who can he ask to carry it out?Perhaps Duke Lorenzo could seal it off and send someone to guard it, but that hope was too remote.

"Did they...did they get a decent funeral?"

"Yes. It was... arranged by me myself." Ezio glanced down the Arno.

Finally they approached the south gate of the city, and Ezio was thankful that no one noticed them all the way, but the moment was very dangerous because of the strict inspections at the gate.Fortunately, the pseudonyms on the papers Paula had provided them had allowed them to pass through, and the guards on the watchtower were paying attention to a young man of his own age, rather than a plainly dressed family.

They walked southward at an unhurried pace all day, and when they were far from the city, they stopped, bought some bread, cheese, and wine from a farmer's house, and stopped in the shade of an oak tree at the edge of a wheat field. Rested for an hour.Ezio had to suppress his impatience, since they were at least thirty miles away from Monteriggioni, and they had to follow his mother's pace.She had been a strong woman in her early forties, and this terrible event had aged her considerably.He prayed again that she would recover when he got to Mario's house, although he could see that the recovery period would not be short.He hoped to arrive at Mario's manor smoothly the next afternoon.

At night they spent the night in an abandoned barn: at least it was clean and warm and covered with hay.They ate what was left of their lunch and made Maria lie down as comfortably as possible.She didn't complain, in fact she seemed oblivious to her surroundings, but when Claudia tried to take Petruccio's box from her so that she could lie down, she protested loudly and pushed Drive Claudia, cursing like a fish woman.The siblings were simply stunned.

She fell asleep peacefully and awoke the next morning seemingly fully refreshed.They washed in the stream, drank some water, and set out on their journey again.The sky was clear and pleasantly warm, with a cool breeze blowing here and there.They walked much faster, and there were many trucks passing by along the way, but they only saw people working in the fields and orchards along the way.Ezio bought some fruit, but only for Claudia and his mother, since he was not hungry at all - he was too nervous to eat anything.

Finally, at three or four o'clock in the afternoon, he excitedly saw the walls of Monteriggioni bathed in sunlight on a hill in the distance.The vicinity of the town is actually under Mario's control.A mile or two further on, and they were within his domain.They cheered up and quickened their pace.

"It's almost there," he told Claudia with a smile.

"Thank God," she said, smiling back.

They had just relaxed their guard when they saw a familiar figure blocking the turn of the road, followed by dozens of people in gold and blue uniforms.One of the guards held up a banner bearing a coat of arms that Ezio hated and knew well: a golden dolphin and a cross on a blue background.

"Ezio!" the man called, "Good day! And your family - at least the ones left! What a surprise!" He nodded to his men, who scattered on the road Open, raise the halberd.

"Vieri!"

"Exactly. When they freed my father, he readily agreed to support my little hunting party. I am very hurt. You left Florence without a proper farewell!"

Ezio took a step forward, and motioned for Claudia and his mother to get behind him.

"What do you think, Vieri? I thought you Pazzi's would be satisfied enough with this result."

Vieri spread his hands. "What do I want? Oh, it's hard to say. I have so many wishes! Let me see... I want a bigger house, a prettier wife, more money—and What's up! Oh, yes, your head!" He drew his sword, signaled his guards to get ready, and walked straight towards Ezio.

"I'm surprised, Vieri—are you going to take me on your own? But of course, your thugs are standing behind you!"

"I don't think you deserve me to use a sword," retorted Vieri, drawing the sword back into its sheath, "I think I can finish you with just my fists. If it breaks your heart, my sweetheart, then I'm sorry," he added to Claudia, "but don't worry - it won't be long before it's over, and then I'll do my best to comfort you - who knows, maybe with your mother!"

Ezio took a few quick steps forward and punched Vieri on the jaw, causing him to stagger, but Vieri quickly regained his footing, waved his men back, and then roared and rushed towards the Ezio, pumping his fists one after another.Vieri's attack was so ferocious that Ezio could only parry for a moment, unable to make a decent counterattack at all.The two entangled, struggling to overwhelm each other, staggering back now and then, but soon pounced on each other with renewed vigor.In the end, Ezio was finally able to use Vieri's rage against him - no one could fight for long in full rage.Vieri threw a large pitchfork with his right hand, as Ezio took a few steps forward, the pitchfork's shaft brushed his shoulder, and Vieri was unable to stop his body's forward rush.Ezio stretched his legs and swept his opponent down, sending him rolling in the dust.Blood was flowing, and Vieri, who was powerless, hurriedly hid behind his men, then stood up, and patted the dust on his body with his scraped hands.

"Enough is enough," he yelled at his guards. "Get rid of him, and those women. I don't want a scrawny little one with a dead mother!"

"Cowards!" Ezio yelled, panting and drawing his sword, but the guards had surrounded them, holding out their halberds.He knew that he might not have the chance to get close to them.

The encirclement is getting smaller and smaller.Ezio kept circling around, trying to protect his family behind him, but things went so badly that Vieri let out an annoying, triumphant laugh.

Suddenly, there was a sharp and elusive whistling sound, and the two guards on Ezio's left knelt limply, then fell forward, releasing their weapons.Both of them had a throwing knife pierced to the end of their backs, and they were obviously killed by a single blow.Blood trickled from their shirts like bright red flowers.

The others backed away in panic, but not before another guard fell, with a knife stuck in his back.

"What kind of witchcraft is this?" Vieri yelled, his tone full of fear.He drew his sword and looked around frantically.

He was answered by a deep, sonorous laugh. "It has nothing to do with witchcraft, boy—it's all about skill!" came the voice from a nearby grove.

"Show yourself!"

A burly, bearded man in high boots and a light breastplate stepped out.He was followed by several other similarly dressed people. "As you wish," he said sarcastically.

"You are mercenaries!" Vieri yelled, turning to face his guards. "What are you waiting for? Kill them! Kill them all!"

The burly man stepped forward, snatched Vieri's sword in an instant with astonishing speed, and snapped it on his knee as lightly as a twig. "I don't think it's a good idea, little Patsy, but I have to say, you really lived up to your family's name."

Vieri didn't answer, just urged his men to come forward.Reluctantly, they surrounded the strangers, and Vieri took the halberd of a dead guard and turned angrily at Ezio, knocking the sword from his hand.

"Hey, Ezio, use this!" said the burly man, throwing another sword.The sword sliced ​​through the air, and finally sank into the dirt at Ezio's feet, trembling.The sword was so heavy that Ezio had to use both hands to swing it, but it was sharp enough to cut through the wooden handle of Vieri's halberd.Vieri saw that his guards were beaten to the ground by the mercenaries, and two more had fallen to the ground, so he quickly ordered a retreat.He dropped a few harsh words, and then fled with his men.The burly man walked towards Ezio and his ladies, smiling cheerfully.

"It's a good thing I came out to meet you," he said. "Looks like I came just in time."

"Whoever you are, please accept my thanks."

The man laughed again, in a voice that sounded familiar to Ezio.

"Do I know you?" Ezio asked.

"We haven't seen each other for a long time. I'm still surprised you don't recognize your own uncle!"

"Uncle Mario?"

"Like a fake replacement!"

He gave Ezio a bear hug before walking towards Maria and Claudia.Seeing Maria's appearance, a look of pain appeared on his face. "Listen, son..." he said to Claudia, "I'm going to take Ezio back to the castle now, but I'll leave my men to protect you, and they'll give you food and drink. I'll send A rider set off first, and asked him to bring a carriage to take you there. You have been walking all day, and I can see that my poor sister-in-law has..." He paused, and added cautiously: "Exhausted. "

"Thank you, Uncle Mario."

"That's it. We'll see you again soon." Turning around, he gave orders to his men, then hooked Ezio's shoulders and led him towards the castle in the middle of town.

(End of this chapter)