Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 31

After bidding farewell to Leonardo and settling down again in his lodgings, he wasted no time in going straight to the Palazzo Seta, although in this complex of alleys, winding rivers, low arcades, Not an easy task in a city of narrow squares and dead ends.But everyone knew about the palace, and the locals were more than happy to guide him if he got lost—though they couldn't figure out why anyone would volunteer to go there.One or two suggested that the easiest way would be to go by gondola, but Ezio wished to get acquainted with the city and arrive at his destination without drawing attention.

In the afternoon he came to the Palace of Seta, though it was not so much a palace as a fortress or a prison, for the central complex rose within a high wall with battlements.The other houses on either side of the city wall are separated by two alleys, but behind it there appears to be a large walled garden, while the front facing the canal is the same open space Ezio had seen earlier. area.But right there, the guards of Babaig's house seemed to be clashing violently with a motley group of young men who seemed to be laughing at them, then deftly dodged the halberds and spears they swung, and headed towards the Those annoyed guards hurled bricks, stones, rotten eggs, and rotten fruit.They were probably just trying to attract the attention of the guards, though, as Ezio looked past them and saw a figure climbing the walls of the Palazzo Seta.Ezio was amazed - the palace walls were so steep that even he hesitated before climbing them.But the man climbed the battlements easily, without attracting anyone's attention, and then rose with a shocking leap, landing on the top of one of the watchtowers.Ezio could see that the man intended to jump from there again, land on the roof of the palace, and from there try to find his way inside.Ezio made a mental note of this route in case he needed it.But the guards on the watchtower heard the man fall and warned their fellow guards in the palace.An archer appeared in a window under the eaves of the palace and shot an arrow.The figure leaped gracefully, the arrow missed the target and bounced off the tiles, but his second arrow hit the target, and with a faint cry, the figure clutched its injured thigh and staggered.

The archer shot again, but missed, for the figure had returned the way it came, leaped from the top of the watchtower onto the battlements—a few guards had already chased it—and climbed over the wall again, half sliding, half falling. Fall back to the ground.

In the clearing in front of the palace, the Babaig family guards pushed the attackers back into the alley and started chasing them.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ezio followed the figure who was limping away in the opposite direction.

When he caught up, he was surprised to find that the man was small, like a boy, but with a strong physique.He was about to offer a favor when the man turned and he recognized the face: it was the girl who had tried to steal his wallet at the market earlier.

He found himself surprised, confused, and inexplicably depressed.

"Help me quickly," the girl said eagerly.

"Don't you remember me?"

"Should I remember you?"

"You are still trying to steal my wallet in the market today."

"I'm sorry, but there's no time for easy catch-up. If we don't get away quickly, we're all dead."

As if to confirm her statement, an arrow whizzed past them.Ezio hastily took her arms and put them around her waist, supporting her as he had supported Lorenzo. "Where are you going?"

"canal."

"Of course," he said sarcastically, "there's only one canal in Venice anyway, right?"

"You're quite pompous for a stranger. This way—I'll show the way—but hurry! Look—they're coming." Indeed, a small company of guards was walking along the cobbled road. walk towards them.

With one hand on her injured thigh, her body tensed in pain, she guided Ezio through alley after alley, until Ezio was completely disoriented.Behind them, the voices of the pursuers became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared.

"They're hired thugs from the mainland," the girl said in a tone of extreme contempt. "There's no chance against us natives. They're too easy to get lost. Come on!"

They came to the docks of the Canal of Mercy.An unremarkable boat was moored there, and there were two people in the boat.Upon seeing Ezio and the girl, one of them immediately began to untie the hawser, while the other helped them into the boat.

"Who is he?" the man who helped them into the boat asked the girl.

"I don't know, but he was in the right place at the right time, and he's obviously not Emilio's friend."

She was on the verge of fainting by now.

"She has an arrow in the thigh," Ezio said.

"I can't get it out now," the man said, looking at the arrow embedded in her leg. "I don't have any balm or bandages handy. We have to get her out of here quickly, before Emilio's The lackeys haven't found us yet," he looked at Ezio, "who are you?"

"My name is Ezio Auditore. I am from Florence."

"Well. My name is Ugo. She's Rosa and the guy at the oars is Paganino. We don't like strangers."

"What do you do?" Ezio ignored his last comment.

"I'm good at liberating other people's property," said Hugo.

"That's the thief." Paganino explained with a laugh.

"There's no poetry in anything coming out of your mouth," Ugo said sadly.Then he became suddenly alert: "Look out!" he cried as two arrows shot from above and pierced the hull.Looking up, they saw two Babaig archers standing on a nearby roof, nodding their arrows to their longbows.Hugo fumbled hastily in the boat, picked up a rough, short crossbow, quickly loaded the bolts, and took aim, while Ezio quickly hurled two bolts at the other archer. Throwing knife.Two archers fell screaming into the canal below.

"That bastard's minions are everywhere," Ugo said calmly to Paganino.

They were all in their twenties, short, broad-shouldered, and fierce-looking.They maneuvered the boat deftly, and were evidently as familiar with the intricate network of canals as they were with the backs of their hands, for more than once Ezio felt that they had reached a "dead end" in the sense of a waterway, only to find that it ended not in a brick wall, but in a Low arches, the boats could barely get through if they were all stooped.

"Why did you attack Palazzo Seta?" Ezio asked.

"What does this have to do with you?" Ugo asked back.

"Emilio Babaig is not my friend. Maybe we can help each other."

"How did you know we needed your help?" Ugo retorted.

"Well, Ugo," said Rosa, "don't forget what he just did. And you're ignoring the fact that he saved my life. I'm the best climber of us. No more Me, we have no way of getting into that snake's lair." She turned to look at Ezio. "Emilio wants to monopolize the city's trade. He has power and influence, and there are several councilors at his disposal. Now as long as any businessman dares to challenge his authority and wants to maintain independence, Emilio will directly let him He shut up."

"But you are not merchants—you are thieves."

"We're professional thieves," she corrected. "Independent businesses, independent stores, independent employees—these are far easier to deal with than monopolies. And they're insured, and the insurance companies pay out after charging huge premiums. Come and be happy. Emilio will make Venice a desert for people like us."

"Not to mention that it's not just the local trade that that bastard wants to take over, but the city itself," Ugo interjected, "but Antonio will explain."

"Antonio? Who is he?"

"You'll soon find out, 'Mr. Florence'."

(End of this chapter)