Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 29

Ezio turned his horse and saw five or six riders approaching.The flag pattern in their hands is a red cross on a yellow shield.

"Borgia!" he whispered, drawing his sword as a crossbow lodged in the side of the wagon.The coachmen had already got out of their carts and fled. Even the two cows were infected. They were dragging their carts and moving forward slowly.

"Take the reins and keep the car going!" Ezio yelled at Leonardo. "They're after me, not you. Whatever happens, keep going!"

Leonardo hastily complied, while Ezio turned to face the riders.His sword, which Mario had given him, was even in the hand, and his mount was lighter and more mobile than those of the enemy.But they were all well armored, rendering his wrist blades useless.Ezio kicked the horse's belly with both feet, urging it towards the enemy.Ezio crouched low in the saddle and rammed straight into the enemy line, the force of his forward charge causing the two horses to jerk upright.Then the sword fight began.The bracer he wore on his left arm parried many blows, allowing him the opportunity to strike back hard when an enemy was stunned.

It didn't take long before he knocked four enemies off their horses, and the remaining two turned their horses around and ran back the way they came.This time, however, he knew he could not allow anyone to return Rodrigo.He rode after him, felling first one, then the other, and stopping the horse.

He searched quickly, but they carried nothing of note: then he dragged the two bodies to the side of the road and covered them with stones.He remounted his horse and returned quickly, stopping again to lift the rest of the bodies off the road, and hastily buried them with whatever stones and firewood he could find.Their horses were long gone, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Once again Ezio thwarted Rodrigo's plans for revenge, but he knew that the Cardinal would not give up until his death was confirmed.He kicked the horse's belly and started chasing Leonardo.After catching up with the ox carts, they searched for the drivers in vain, calling out their names.

"I paid them a large sum of money in advance for the wagon and the two cows," Leonardo grumbled, "and I don't think I'll ever get that money back."

"Sell the ox and cart in Venice."

"Don't they all use gondolas there?"

"There are many farms on the mainland."

Leonardo looked at him. "God, Ezio, I love you for being practical!"

They continued their long country journey through the ancient town of Forlì--now a small city-state--to Ravenna and the port a few miles ahead.There they boarded a galleon that sailed along the coast from Ancona to Venice, and Ezio relaxed only a little after he was assured that there was no danger on board.But he also understood that even on such a relatively small ship, it is not so difficult to slit someone's throat in the dark and throw the body into the deep blue water, so whenever the ship entered the port, , he will vigilantly keep an eye on the people on board.

A few days later, the ship arrived in Venice without incident.But upon reaching his destination, Ezio suffered another setback, one completely unexpected.

They landed and waited for the local ferry to take them to the city.The ferry arrived on time, and the sailors helped Leonardo push the truck onto the boat, and the weight of the boat sank visibly.The captain of the ferry told Leonardo that Count da Pesaro's servants were waiting at the pier to take him to his new residence, then he bowed with a smile and pulled him aboard. "Your Excellency, you must have your passport with you?"

"Of course." Leonardo said, handing the man a piece of paper.

"And you, sir?" asked the captain, turning politely to Ezio.

Ezio was taken aback.He was an unexpected visitor and did not know the local regulations. "But—I don't have a pass," he said.

"It's all right," Leonardo interrupted, "he's with me. I can vouch for him, and I trust the Earl..."

The captain raised a hand. "I'm sorry, sir. The rules of the city council are very clear. Anyone without a pass cannot enter the city of Venice."

Leonardo was about to protest, but Ezio stopped him. "Don't worry, Leonardo. I'll figure it out."

"I would like to help you too, sir," said the captain, "but I must obey the rules." He raised his voice again, and announced to the passers-by around him: "Attention! Attention! The ferry will be at ten o'clock. Go when it rings!" Ezio knew he must hurry.

His attention was attracted by a man and a woman dressed extremely luxuriously: they had been on the same boat as him before, lived in the best cabin on the boat, and hardly interacted with anyone.Now they are standing next to a dock where several private gondolas are moored, apparently having a heated argument.

"Honey, please..." the man began.He seemed weak in character, at least 20 years older than his piercing red-haired companion.

"Girolamo—you are a fool! Only God knows why I married you, and only He knows how much I have suffered! You pick and choose, keep me like a chicken in that terrible cage. Country town, now-now! You can't even find a gondola to take us to Venice! I thought, since your uncle is the Pope, you must have some influence! But see You—you're as weak as a slug!"

"Katerina..."

"Don't call me 'Caterina', you toad! Find someone to carry the luggage, and for God's sake, find a way to get me to Venice. I need a bath, and wine!"

Girolamo was angry. "I should like to leave you here and go to Pordenone by myself."

"We should have gone overland."

"It's too dangerous to go by land."

"That's right! It's too dangerous for a guy like you who has no backbone!"

Ezio saw Girolamo suddenly fall silent.Then he said cunningly: "Why don't you go on that gondola first..." He pointed, "I'll find some boatmen right now."

"Ha! You finally speak human words!" She said angrily, and let him help her into the boat.But as soon as she sat firmly on the boat, Girolamo quickly untied the cable, pushed the bow of the boat hard, and let the gondola float to the middle of the lagoon.

"Bon voyage!" he yelled viciously.

"You bastard!" she yelled back.Then, as if aware of her predicament, she began to shout: "Help! Help!" But Girolamo had already moved towards the servants who were milling about the pile of luggage, and began to give orders.He came to the other side of the pier with his servants and luggage, and began to arrange the ferry for himself.

At this moment, Ezio looked at the unfortunate Caterina, a little wanting to laugh, but also a little worried for her.Her eyes turned to him.

"Hey you! Stop just standing there! I need help!"

Ezio unhooked his sword, his boots and coat, and jumped into the lake.

Back at the pier, Caterina smiled and held out her hand to a dripping Ezio. "My hero," she said.

"It's just a hands-on effort."

"I might drown! That pig doesn't care if I live or die!" She looked at Ezio gratefully, "But you! My God, you must be strong. I can't believe you can drag The gondola's cable swims back."

"As light as a feather," Ezio said.

"You are really flattering!"

"I mean, these boats are well balanced..."

Katrina frowned.

"It is an honor to be at your service, madam," Ezio added awkwardly.

"One day I'll repay you," she said, but not the literal meaning of the words in her eyes. "What's your name?"

"Ezio of the Auditore family."

"I'm Katerina," she paused, "where are you going?"

"I'm going to Venice, but I don't have a passport, so the ferry..."

"I see!" she interrupted him, "So that little officer won't let you board the boat, is it?"

"Correct."

"Let's see!" She turned and walked away before Ezio could put on his shoes and coat.When he followed up, she had already come to the side of the ferry boat and was sternly criticizing the captain.All he could hear was the captain muttering respectfully: "Yes, ma'am; of course, ma'am; it's up to you, ma'am."

"You'd better do what you say! Or I'll have your head chopped off! Here he is! Go and get his horse and luggage on board yourself! Go! Don't miss him! If you can't Come on, don’t blame me for getting angry!” The captain hurried away.Caterina turned to look at Ezio. "See? Problem solved!"

"Thank you, ma'am."

"What goes around comes around," she looked at him, "hope we can see each other one day." She held out her hand. "My hometown is Foley. Go there if you have time. I'd love to be your host." She let him kiss his hand, then turned around, ready to leave.

"Aren't you going to Venice too?"

She looked again at him, then at the ferryboat. "On this wretched boat? Don't be joking!" Then she strode toward her husband, who had just loaded their last piece of luggage on board.

The captain hurried forward to lead Ezio's horse. "Please come aboard, sir. My sincere apologies, sir. If I had known..."

"I need to put the horses in the stables when we get to our destination."

"Happy at your service, sir."

As the ferry left the shore and began to cross the pale gray water of the lagoon, Leonardo, who witnessed the episode, grimaced and said, "You know who she is, don't you?"

"I wouldn't mind having her as my new love," Ezio said with a smile.

"Be careful, then! That is Caterina Sforza, daughter of the Duke of Milan. Her husband is the Duke of Forli, nephew of the Pope."

"what is his name?"

"Girolamo Lilao."

Ezio was silent.That last name sounded familiar.Then he said, "Oh, he really married a powder keg."

"I told you," Leonardo replied, "you have to be careful."

(End of this chapter)