Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 22

Ezio woke up before dawn the next day - it was Sunday, April 4th - and walked in the direction of the Duomo.The surroundings were very deserted, only a few monks and nuns who went to morning prayer.Knowing that attention should be avoided, he laboriously climbed to the top of the clock tower and watched the sun rise over the city.The square at the foot of the bell tower gradually became crowded with all kinds of citizens, including men accompanying their wives, some with their families, businessmen, and nobles. They all wanted to participate in the important ceremony of this day, because the Duke and his His younger brother - who is also his fellow ruler - will also be in attendance.Ezio watched those people carefully, and when he saw the fox appearing on the steps in front of the cathedral, he walked around to the most inconspicuous position by the side of the tower and climbed down, moving as nimbly as a monkey.Ezio approached the fox, keeping his head down as much as possible all the way, blending into the crowd, using the others as cover.He was dressed in his best clothes for the event and carried no obvious weapons, although many of the male townspeople - such as those wealthy merchants and bankers - wore ceremonial swords at their belts.He couldn't help looking for the shadow of Christina, but found nothing.

"Here you are," the fox said to Ezio, who was coming. "Everything is arranged. I have a place for you in the third row of the aisle." As he spoke, the people on the steps gave way. Along the way, a group of heralds raised their trumpets to their mouths and blew ritual music. "They're coming," he added.

Lorenzo de' Medici and his wife Clarice were the first to appear, coming from the Baptistery.She holds their eldest daughter, Lucrezia, and five-year-old Piero walks proudly at his father's right.Behind them, the nanny walks with three-year-old Maddalena, while Lorenzo himself holds the baby Leo, wrapped in white satin.Behind them are Giuliano and his pregnant mistress Fioreta.People in the square bowed respectfully as they passed.The two priests in charge of the reception met them at the door of the cathedral, and Ezio recognized them with horror - Stefano da Bacononi and the fellow from Volterra, the fox told The man's full name was Antonio Maffei.

The Medici family entered the cathedral, followed by the priests, and the citizens of Florence also entered in order of status.The fox nudged Ezio, then pointed.In the crowd, he recognized Francisco de' Pazzi, disguised as a deacon, and his accomplice, Bernardo Baroncheri. "Go," he whispered eagerly to Ezio, "follow them."

More and more people entered the cathedral until there was no room for anyone inside, and those who came after had to stand outside.There are tens of thousands of people gathered here. Fox has never seen a bigger scene in Florence than this in his life.He secretly prayed that Ezio would succeed.

The church crowd settled in the sweltering heat.Ezio was unable to get as close to Francisco's group as he had hoped, but he kept his eyes on them, mentally calculating how he would get past them once they started attacking.At the same time, the bishop of Florence stood before the high altar, and the mass service began.

As the Bishop blessed the Communion, Ezio caught Francisco and Bernardo winking at each other.The Medici family sat right in front of them.At the same time, standing on the lower steps of the altar, Bacononi and Maffei, who were closest to Lorenzo and Giuliano, began to scan furtively around.The bishop turned to face the crowd, held up the golden chalice, and said:

"The blood of Christ..."

It's too late to say it.Baroncheri jumped to his feet, yelled, "Die, traitor!" and stabbed Giuliano in the back of the neck with a dagger.Blood spurted from the wound and splashed on Fioreta, who fell to her knees screaming.

"Let me take care of that bastard!" Francesco yelled, elbowing Baroncelli away and pinning Giuliano to the ground, who was covering his wound with his hands.Francisco knelt beside Giuliano as the dagger plunged into him again and again, and in his madness he seemed oblivious to the fact that the weapon had also penetrated his thigh.Giuliano was dead long before Francisco stabbed No. 19 — and the final one.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo uttered a warning cry and turned to face his brother's assailants, while Clarice and the nannies dragged the child and Fioreta to safety.There was chaos all around.Lorenzo had given up on waiting for the guards to arrive—murder in churches was almost unheard of—but now they were fighting past the panic-stricken faithful fleeing the slaughterhouse.The stuffy, cramped environment made the situation worse.

Except for the small area in front of the altar.The bishop and the deacons stood there in terror, unable to move, but Bacononi and Maffei, seeing Lorenzo's back turned to them, seized the opportunity, drew the dagger from under his robe, and rushed at him.

There were few skilful killers among priests, and no matter how noble they believed their purpose, they left Lorenzo with only a few flesh wounds before he shook off the pair, but in the ensuing struggle they Gained the upper hand again.Now Francisco limped in from the wounds he had inflicted, fueled by the hatred that churned in his heart, cursed loudly, and raised the dagger.After doing that, Bacononi and Maffei felt guilty and panicked, and turned around and ran towards the apse.But Lorenzo was staggering, blood gushing from his body, and a cut high on his right shoulder prevented him from even raising his sword.

"Your time is over, Lorenzo!" screamed Francesco, "you despicable family will all perish at my hands!"

"Wicked!" retorted Lorenzo, "I want your life now!"

"Only with your arm?" Francisco sneered, raising the dagger.

Just as the blade fell, a strong hand pinched his wrist, stopping its movement and forcing him to turn around.Francisco finds himself facing another sworn enemy.

"Ezio!" he growled, "You! Here!"

"It's you who are going to die, Francisco!"

The crowd gradually dispersed, and Lorenzo's guards also approached.Baloncheri rushed to Francisco's side. "Come on, it's time for us to go. It's over!" he yelled.

"I want to deal with these bastards first." Francisco said palely.His own wounds were bleeding profusely.

"No! We must retreat!"

Francisco looked angry, but also compromised. "It's not over yet," he told Ezio.

"Yes, it's not over yet. You can't get rid of me wherever you go, Francisco, until I take your dog's life."

Francisco glared at him viciously, then turned around and followed Baroncheri who had disappeared behind the altar.In the apse there is a door leading to the outside of the church.Ezio was about to give chase.

"Wait!" came a hoarse voice from behind him. "Let them go. They won't be far. I need you to stay. I need your help."

Ezio turned to see the Duke sprawled on the ground, between two overturned chairs.Not far away, his family huddled together, crying, and Clarice, looking terrified, hugged her two oldest children tightly.Fioretta stared numbly at Giuliano's twisted, mutilated body.

Lorenzo's guards arrive. "Watch my family," he told them, "the whole city will be in turmoil. Send them to the palace and lock the gates."

He turned to face Ezio. "You saved my life."

"I was just doing my job! Now it's time to make the Pazzi family pay!" Ezio helped Lorenzo to his feet, lifting him into a chair as gently as possible.He looked up and saw that the bishop and several other priests were gone.Behind him, people were still jostling to leave the cathedral through the west-facing main entrance. "It's time for me to go after Francisco!" he said.

"No!" said Lorenzo, "I cannot escape to safety by myself. You must help me. Take me to the church of San Lorenzo. My friends are there."

Ezio was distraught, but he knew that Lorenzo had treated his family well.He couldn't blame him for failing to protect his family, and who could have expected such a sudden move?Now Lorenzo was alive, but he would not live long if Ezio did not send him to medical treatment as soon as possible.The Church of San Lorenzo is just to the northwest of the Baptistery, not far away.

He tore off the strips of his shirt and wrapped Lorenzo's wound as well as he could.Then he carefully helped him to his feet. "Left arm over my shoulder. Good. There should be a way out behind the altar..."

They staggered in the direction from which the assassins had left, and soon came to an open door, still stained with blood.There is no doubt that Francisco left from here.Could he be lying in ambush on the road?Ezio's right arm was supporting Lorenzo, unable to eject his wrist blade, let alone fight.But he wore the metal bracer on his left forearm.

They entered the square from the north wall of the cathedral, and there was chaos before them.Ezio stopped, wrapped the cloak around Lorenzo's shoulders as a disguise, and the two walked west along the Duomo.In the square between the Duomo and the Baptistery, people dressed in Pazzi and Medici costumes were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, completely oblivious to Ezio and Lorenzo passing quietly by.When they came to the street leading to San Lorenzo Square, two men wearing dolphins and crosses stood in front of them.Both wore ugly looking scimitars.

"Stop!" said one of the guards. "Where are you going?"

"I must get this man to safety," Ezio said.

"Who are you?" another guard said unhappily.He stepped forward and looked into Lorenzo's face.Lorenzo, a little confused, turned his face away, but this action caused the cloak to slide down, revealing the Medici coat of arms on the coat.

"Aha," said another guard, turning to his companion, "Terzag, it looks like we caught a very big fish!"

Ezio's brain was racing.He couldn't let go of the bleeding Lorenzo, but if he didn't he couldn't use the weapon.Ezio quickly raised his left foot and kicked the guard hard in the rear.He fell on his back.A few seconds later, his companion rushed over, raising the machete in his hand.The blade slashed, and Ezio parried the blow with his wrist armor.At the same time, he swung his left arm, swung the blade away, and stabbed the opponent with the double-edged dagger attached to the metal wrister, but it was not strong enough to kill the man.At this point another guard also stood up, coming to assist his companion, who staggered back, surprised that he had not been able to cut off Ezio's arm.

Ezio blocked the second machete in the same manner, but this time he slid his wristguard against the blade and slid forward to the handle.He grabbed the opponent's wrist and twisted it quickly and hard, causing the man to drop the weapon with a cry of pain.Ezio bent down quickly and grabbed the handle of the knife almost before it hit the ground.It was difficult to use his left hand while carrying Lorenzo's weight, but he still nearly chopped off his opponent's neck with one hard swing.Another guard charged at him again, roaring angrily.Ezio blocked with the broadsword, and for a moment they fought each other.But the guard still failed to notice the metal gauntlet on Ezio's left arm, and chopped it off again and again.Ezio's arm ached, and he was barely on his feet, but he found a gap in his opponent.The man's helmet was a little loose, but he was still looking unawarely at Ezio's arm, ready to strike there again.Ezio swung the blade upwards, pretending to miss the head, but managed to knock off the man's helmet.Then, before his opponent had time to react, Ezio drove the heavy blade into the man's skull, splitting it in two.The knife got stuck inside, and Ezio didn't have the strength to pull it out.The man stood still for a moment, his eyes widened in surprise, and then fell powerlessly into the dust.Ezio scanned his surroundings quickly, then dragged Lorenzo up the street.

"Not far, sir."

They came to the church of San Lorenzo without hindrance, but the church door was closed.Ezio looked back to see that on the other side of the street, the fellow guards had discovered their bodies.He knocked hard on the door, and the peephole in the door opened, revealing an eye and part of a suspicious face.

"Lorenzo is injured," gasped Ezio, "they are coming! Open the door!"

"I need the password," said the man inside, and Ezio was at a loss, but Lorenzo recognized the man's voice and pulled himself together.

"Angelo!" he cried, "it's Lorenzo! Open the damned door!"

"In the name of Hermes!" said the man inside, "we thought you were dead!" He turned, and shouted to the other man, "Open the door! And be quick!"

The peephole closed, and then there was the sound of the latch being pulled.At the same time, the Patsy's guard, who was approaching along the street, ran.A heavy door swung open, closed just as quickly once Ezio and Lorenzo had entered, and the man in charge of the door pushed the latch back.There was a terrible fight outside the door.Ezio found himself looking into the calm green eyes of a well-mannered man of about 23 or [-] years old.

"Angelo Poliziano," the man introduced himself, "I sent some men around the back door and stopped the Pazzi rats. They can't give us any more trouble."

"I am Ezio Auditore."

"Ah - Lorenzo talked about you," he hesitated to speak, "Let's talk about some things later. Let's help him to the recliner and check his injuries."

"He is safe now," Ezio said, helping Lorenzo to two attendants, who carefully carried him to the pew against the north wall of the church.

"We'll bandage him to stop the bleeding, and when he's almost recovered, we'll send him back to his palace. Don't worry, Ezio, he's really safe now, and we won't forget what you've done .”

But Ezio was thinking of Francisco de' Pazzi.That guy probably used all this time to escape. "I should go," he said.

"Wait!" Lorenzo yelled.Ezio nodded to Poliziano, then walked over, kneeling beside Lorenzo.

"I owe you my life, sir," said Lorenzo. "I don't know why you helped me, or how you came to know about this plot, not even my spies." He paused Paused, squinting his eyes in pain - one of the attendants was dealing with his shoulder injury. "Who are you?" He waited until the pain subsided a little before continuing.

"He is Ezio Auditore," Poliziano said, stepping forward and putting a hand on Ezio's shoulder.

"Ezio!" Lorenzo looked at him movedly. "Your father was a great man and a good friend of mine. He was one of my strongest allies. He understood honor and loyalty, and he never Putting my own interests ahead of those of Florence. But..." He paused, smiling, "I was there when Alberti died. Was that you?"

"Correct."

"Your vengeance was swift and just. As you can see, I was not so successful. But now, driven by pride and ambition, the Pazzi family has finally killed itself. I pray..."

One of the Medici guards who were going to deal with the Pazzi family's pursuers hurried forward, his face covered with blood and sweat.

(End of this chapter)