Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 16

One midnight in the spring of 1477, Mario, accompanied by Ezio, led the troops to the front of the city of San Gimignano.This will be the beginning of a fierce battle.

"Tell me again why you changed your mind," said Mario cheerfully.

"You really never tire of hearing it."

"So what? Anyway, I know Maria still has some time to recover, and you know they'll be safe here."

Ezio smiled. "I've said it, I want to take responsibility. And I've said it, Vieri came to trouble you because of me."

"As I said, young man, you think too highly of yourself. The truth is that Vieri came to trouble us because he was a Templar and we were Assassins."

As Mario spoke, his eyes swept over the tower that San Gimiano was almost next to.Those square buildings almost towered into the sky, and Ezio had a strange feeling. He felt that he had seen a similar scene, but it was not in a dream, or in another life, because his mind did not No clear memory of it.

Torches were lit on the top of every tower, and many torches burned on the battlements of the town walls and by the gates.

"He has a lot of troops there," Mario said. "Judging by the torches, Vieri probably expected us to come. It's a pity, but I'm not surprised. After all, he has spies on his staff, just like me. He paused, and then said: "I saw archers on the defensive walls, and the city gates were also heavily guarded." He continued to scan the city, "But even so, it seems that his strength is not enough to hold every city. The gates. The southern gates don't look like they have any defenders—he must think they're the least likely to be attacked. So that's where we're going to attack."

He raised one arm and kicked the horse's belly again.His troops moved forward with him.Ezio rode beside him. "That's what we're going to do," Mario said urgently, "my men and I will fight the defenders of that gate, and all you have to do is cross the wall and open the gate from the inside. Our actions It has to be silent and swift."

He untied a leather strap with a throwing knife in it, and handed it to Ezio. "Take this. Use these to deal with the archers."

When they were close enough, they dismounted.Mario led an elite force and began to approach the defenders outside the south gate of the town.Ezio left the main force and sprinted across the last few hundred yards, using bushes and groves to cover his tracks, and finally came under the ramparts.He wore a hood, and by the light of the torches by the gate he saw his shadow on the wall like the head of an eagle.He looked up, and the sheer walls towered before him, fifty feet or more.In this position, he did not know if anyone was on the battlements.He tightened the belt holding the throwing knife and began to climb.The wall was made of material stone, without many support points, and it was quite difficult to climb up, but the shooting holes near the top of the wall gave him a chance to rest for a while.He peered cautiously over the edge of the battlements: on the defensive wall to the left were two archers, their backs turned to him, leaning forward, bows in hand.They saw Mario's troops and were about to shoot at the assassin mercenaries.Ezio did not hesitate.If they didn't die, some of his friends would, and at this moment he was all the more grateful for the new tricks his uncle insisted on teaching him.He quickly concentrated his mind, fixed his eyes on the dim area, then drew out two throwing knives, and threw them out one after another with astonishing accuracy.The first throwing knife stabbed an archer in the back of the neck—killing him instantly.The man slumped on the crenel without saying a word.The second flying knife flew a little slower, but stabbed the second archer's back with full force. The other archer let out a dull cry, and fell headlong into the darkness below.

Below Ezio, at the bottom of a narrow flight of stone steps, was the gate.But right now, he was beginning to rejoice that Vieri didn't have enough troops to guard every gate, because there wasn't even a single soldier on the inside of the gate.He descended the steps three steps at a time, as if flying, and soon found the lever that held the heavy iron latch, which, when released, opened the ten-foot-high oak gate.He was forced to use all his strength to pull the lever, since the device wasn't designed to be operated by a single person, but he managed it in the end.Then he pulled hard on the huge shoulder-high iron ring on the door.The city gate began to open slowly, and he saw that Mario and his men had also completed their bloody mission.The two assassins fell dead, but twenty of Vieri's defenders also went to God.

"Well done, Ezio!" Mario called softly.So far, no one seems to be sounding the alarm, though it's only a matter of time.

"Let's go!" said Mario. "Take it easy!" He turned and said to one of his non-commissioned officers, "Go back and bring the big troops."

Then he led the troops cautiously through the silent streets - Vieri must have imposed a curfew or something, because the streets were empty.On the way, they almost came face to face with a Patsy patrol, ducking into the shadows to let the enemy pass before attacking from behind and finishing them off cleanly.

"What's next?" Ezio asked his uncle.

"We need to confirm the position of the captain of the guard. His name is Roberto. He should know where Vieri is." Mario was uncharacteristically nervous, "We've wasted a lot of time. It's better to divide the troops into two groups. Listen, I know Roberto. At this hour, he's either drunk in his favorite tavern or asleep in the castle. You go to the castle. Take Orazio and a dozen good men. ’ He looked at the beginning of light and sniffed the cooler air. "Meet me at the cathedral before dawn for a report. Don't forget—I've handed over these rascals to you!" He smiled cordially at his men, took his own troops, and disappeared into the On the street at the top of the hill.

"The castle is northwest of town—sir," Orazio said.He grinned, and so did the others.Ezio could sense both their deference to Mario and their concern for an inexperienced commander like him.

"Then let's go," Ezio replied firmly, "follow me. Watch out for my signals."

The castle is located on one side of the central square of the town, not far from the cathedral, near the top of the hill where the town is located.They reached there without hindrance, but before entering the castle, Ezio noticed several Pazzi soldiers guarding the gate.He signaled his subordinates to back off, and then approached alone, always hiding in the shadows, walking as lightly as a fox, and finally came to a position where they could hear their conversation clearly.Obviously, they didn't like Vieri's leader, and the more excited one was just talking.

"Listen, Thebaldo," said one of the guards, "I don't like that little Vieri dog. I don't think he's even good enough to piss in a bucket, let alone fend off a raging enemy. As for Captain Roberto, he drank so much he was like a bottle of Chianti in uniform!"

"You talk too much, Zohan," Thibbado reminded him, "do you remember what happened to Bernardo who was outspoken?"

Zohan closed his mouth, nodded solemnly, and said, "You're right... I heard Vieri blinded him."

"Oh, thanks, I still want to save my eyes, so let's stop talking. We don't know how many people think like us, and Vieri's spies are everywhere."

Satisfied, Ezio returned to his men.The sullen defenders were not effective, but Vieri might have commanded a strong and loyal army of cronies.With the rest of Vieri's men, Ezio understood how formidable the Commander himself could be, but the immediate task was to enter the castle.Ezio scanned the square.The square was dark and deserted except for a small squad of Pazzi soldiers.

"Orazio?"

"What's the matter, sir?"

"Can you take out these soldiers? Be quick and make no noise. I'm going to try to climb to the top of the castle and see how many troops they have deployed in the courtyard."

"That's what we're here for, sir."

Ezio left Orazio and the others to deal with the guards at the gate, checked that there were still plenty of throwing knives on their belts, and then ran a short distance to an alley adjoining the castle.He climbed up to a nearby roof, and jumped from the roof to the top of the castle, which was the inner courtyard of the castle.Vieri apparently forgot to place sentries on the rooftop towers of the local wealthy families, who could see everything going on in the city from that vantage point - and Ezio couldn't help but thank God for his luck.But he also knew that the first goal of Mario's army was to control those towers.From the top of the castle he saw that the courtyard was empty, so he jumped to the top of the colonnade and from there to the ground.Next, he deftly opened the iron gate of the castle, and instructed his men to hide in the shadow of the colonnade—they had dragged the body of the guard into hiding.To avoid arousing suspicion, they closed the iron gates of the castle again.

No matter how you look at it, the castle looks abandoned.But not long after, voices came from the other side of the square, and another group of Vieri's men appeared. They opened the iron gate, walked into the courtyard, and helped a stout, fat man who was obviously drunk .

"Where are those bastards at the door?" the man demanded. "Could it be that Vieri rescinded my order and sent them to patrol the damned gate again?"

"Sir Roberto," pleaded one of the soldiers who supported him, "you should go to rest?"

"What do you mean by that? Didn't I come back well? And it's still growing tonight!"

The soldiers made him sit by the fountain in the middle of the courtyard, and then stood around, wondering what to do.

"Everyone thinks I'm not a good captain!" Roberto said with self-pity.

"Nonsense, sir!" said the man nearest him.

"Vieri doesn't think I am," said Roberto, "you should have heard the way he spoke to me!" He paused, glanced around, tried to concentrate, and then said in a sad tone: It's only a matter of time before I'm fired—maybe it's worse!" He paused again, sniffling, "Where's my bottle? Here!" He took a swig, looked inside, and made sure Drink it up, then toss it aside. "It's all Mario's fault! I didn't expect that he would save his nephew from under Vieri's nose—the little bastard! Now Vieri is out of his head, and I have to face To my old comrade!" He looked around wearily, "Dear old Mario! Did you know that he and I fought side by side. But he refused to join me in the Pazzi family, even if there was more pay here, Better lodgings, better armaments--and many more! I wish he was here. I wish..."

"Sorry." Ezio interrupted, before stepping forward.

"What?" said Roberto. "Who are you?"

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mario's nephew."

"What?" growled Roberto, trying to get to his feet, trying in vain to draw his sword. "Grab this puppy!" He leaned forward, and Ezio could smell the wine in his mouth.And the smell of onions. "You know, Ezio," he said with a smile, "I should thank you. Now that you're in my hands, Vieri will do anything I ask. Maybe I can retire. Live in the beautiful Go to the seaside villa, maybe..."

"Don't get too optimistic, Captain," Ezio said.Roberto turned and saw what his men saw now: they were surrounded by enemies armed to the teeth.

"Oh." Roberto said, and fell down weakly.All his fighting spirit seemed to be gone.

After the Pazzi soldiers were captured and imprisoned in the dungeon of the castle, Ezio brought Roberto another bottle of wine, made him sit at the table in the room next to the courtyard, and had a long talk with him. Fan.In the end, Roberto was persuaded by Ezio.

"You want to catch Vieri? I'll tell you where he is. Anyway, it's going to be my fault. Go to the Dolphin Palace on the square near the north gate of the city. There's a meeting there..."

"Who is he meeting with? Do you know?"

Roberto shrugged. "I guess it's other helpers from Florence. It stands to reason that they should come with reinforcements."

Orazio interrupted their conversation with a worried look. "Ezio! Hurry up! There's a war going on at the Duomo. We'd better hurry!"

"Okay! Let's go!"

"What should he do?"

Ezio looks at Roberto. "Leave him alone. I think he'll pick the right side in the end."

By the time Ezio reached the square, he could already clearly hear the sound of fighting coming from the open area in front of the cathedral.After approaching, he saw his uncle's men turned their backs to him, being forced back by the Pazzi family's large force.He used the throwing knife to cut a way, rushed to his uncle, and told him what he had just learned.

"What a Roberto!" Mario said, chopping down the opponent in front of him neatly. "I've always regretted that he went to Pazzi, but now he's our trump card. Go! Go get it!" Know what Vieri is up to."

"But what about you? Can you stand against them?"

Mario looked stern. "For now, at least, but our large army should have taken most of the towers, and they will come to our aid soon. So hurry up, Ezio! Don't let Vieri escape!"

The palace was located in the northernmost part of the city, away from the battlefield, but the Pazzi family had a large number of troops here—perhaps they were the reinforcements Roberto had mentioned.Ezio had to carefully avoid them as he advanced.

He arrived just in time: the meeting seemed to be over, and he saw four men in robes walking towards four tied horses.Ezio recognized Jacopo de' Pazzi, Jacob's nephew Francesco, Vieri himself, and - he gasped - the man who had been present at his father's execution ground Tall Spaniard.To Ezio's even greater surprise, he found the cardinal's emblem embroidered on the shoulder of the man's cloak.The men stopped beside the horses, and Ezio managed to hide under a nearby tree, trying to hear what they were saying.He heard only fragments here and there, but they were enough to pique his interest.

"Then it is settled," said the Spaniard. "You stay here, Vieri, and consolidate our power as soon as possible. Francisco will gather our troops in Florence and wait for the right time to attack. As for you, Jacob, be ready to appease the people when we take power. Don't rush: the better our plan, the better our chances of success."

"Master Rodrigo," Vieri interrupted, "what should I do with that bastard Mario?"

"Get rid of him! Don't let him know our plan." The man they called Rodrigo got on his horse.Ezio saw his face clearly, saw his icy eyes and hooked nose, and guessed that he was forty-five years old.

"He's always been a nuisance," Francisco said angrily, "like his bastard brother."

"Don't worry, my lord," said Vieri, "I'll reunite them soon—in hell!"

"Come on," said the other Rodrigo, "we can't stay long." Jacob and Francisco mounted beside him, turned their horses, and headed for the north gate that Pazzi's guards had just opened. "May the father of knowledge guide us!"

(End of this chapter)