Renaissance. Part 10

Were approaching the town.

"I thought that was an enemy of Florence Monteriggioni said Ezio.

"Not much of Florence as the Pazzi," he told his uncle. And you are old enough to know the partners.h.i.+ps that istablishes between cities-state, large or small. One year you're friends with one and the next enemy and then another, go back to being a friend. And forever, like a chess game that has gone mad. But you'll like this. The people are honest and hard working, our products are strong and resilient. The priest is a good man, do not drink too much and never gets their noses in anything but their own affairs. And I care about mine ... with him, although I've never been a devotee of the Church. Best of all is the wine that will taste the best Chianti in your life comes from my vineyards. Come on, a little more and we're here.

Mario Castle was the former headquarters of the Auditorium and was built around 1250, although the site was previously occupied by a much older building. Mario had relate and renovated the building, which today, despite its high walls and several feet thick, looked like an affluent town and fortified. Ahead of her, and the place occupiedusually the garden outcast, was a large driving range where Ezio saw a couple of dozen young men armed by diverses exercises to improve your fighting technique.

-Casa, dolce casa "Mario said. Had not been here desthey were little. There have been some changes since then. What do you think? "Mario said. Had not been here desthey were little. There have been some changes since then. What do you think?

"It's awesome, man.

The rest of the day was full of activity. Ezio Mario taught the castle, he organized his bed and made sure that Mary and Claudia were alive and well accommodated in the convent cercano, whose abbess was an old and dear friend of Mario (and, rumor, a former lover). The next morning was quoted in the early hours in the office of his uncle, a wide room yourights high with walls decorated with maps, armor and weapons, and furnished with table and chairs st.u.r.dy oak.

"Better to go immediately to the city," said Mario one day soon after, with a formal tone. Equip yourself properly. Will command one of my men to accompany you. Once you are back here and start.

- Will we begin what, man?

Mario was surprised.

"I thought you'd come to train.

"No, man ... that was not my intention. It was the first safetyro that crossed my mind when we were forced to flee Florence. But my intention is to take my mother and my brothersna farther.

Mario became serious.

- What about your father? Do not think you would have liked to terminalNARAS your job?

- What job? Does the banker? The family business no longer exists ..., the House of Auditore either, unless the Duke thingrenzo Pazzi has achieved that do not put hand on it.

"No, I meant" began Mario, but then stopped. Are you telling me that Giovanni never told you?

"Sorry, man, but I have no idea what you're talking.

Mario shook his head from side to side.

I do not know what he was thinking about your father. Maybe he thought it was not the right time. But events have theirpected any prior opinion. He looked directly Ezio. We talk at length. Let guar doc.u.mentsdas in the bag. I have to study while you you go to the city to equip. I give you the list of what you need, and money to paing them. go to the city to equip. I give you the list of what you need, and money to paing them.

Totally confused, Ezio left for the city in company with one of the sergeants of Mario, a grizzled veteran named Orazio, and following their advice in the armory became a battle dagger, light armor, and doctor's house, bandages and basic kit. When he returned to the castle, Mario was waiting impatiently.

-Salute Ezio said. I've done everything you asked me. Ezio said. I've done everything you asked me.

And quickly, what I see. Ben fatto! Ben fatto! And now, we have to teachNart to fight properly. And now, we have to teachNart to fight properly.

"Uncle, forgive me, but as I said, I have no intention of staying.

Mario bit her lip.

"Listen, Ezio, I hardly knew defend against Vieri. If it had not arrived when I did ... "He broke mydom of the sentence. Well, go if you want, but at least learn before skills and knowledge necessary to defend yourself. Otherwise, you will not last even a week on the road.

Ezio was silent.

"If they do for me, do it for the good of your mother and hermana 'said Mario.

Ezio considered alternatives, and was forced to admit that his uncle had the right.

"Okay, then," he said. Since you've been amabiity to equip ...

Mario's face lit up and he gave his nephew a pat on the shoulder.

- Good boy! Live to thank me!

The following weeks were filled with instructionstion on the intensive use of weapons, but while learning Ezioday new fighting skills, also discovered more detailedlles about your family history and secrets that his father had not had time to reveal. And Mario had put the library at your disposal, slowly began to discover that it was very possible that he was on the verge of a destination far more important than I ever could have imagined.

- You say that my father was more than just a banker? Asked his uncle.

"Much more serious," said Mario. Your father was a murderer with excellent training.

"This can not be ... My father was always a financier, a businessman ... How do you want to be a murderer?

"No, Ezio, was much more than that. Born and raised to matar. He was senior member of the Order of the Murderers. -Mario hesitated a moment. I know you will have discovered some of this in the library. We must talk about the doc.u.ments entrusted to you and your father who had the ingenuity to recover, thank G.o.d, Alberti. That list of names ... is not a list of creditors, "sabes? The names of all responsible for killing your father, men who are part of a conspiracy even larger.

A Ezio digest what he was struggling, everything he thought about his father and his family turned out to be true to myself nowdays. How could his father would have concealed It was so inconceivable, so strange ... Ezio carefully chose their parentsJewel, believing that his father must have his reasons for manhave its secrecy.

"I accept that my father was much more than you ever poDria have imagined, and forgive me for doubting your word, but why all the secrecy?

Mario took a while to respond.

- Do you know the Knights Templar?

"I've heard of them.

-The Order was founded many centuries ago, just after the First Crusade, and became an elite fighting force composed of soldiers in the service of G.o.d, in fact, were monks in armor. Abstinence pledge and made a vow of poverty. But years pa.s.sed and the situation changed. Over time EMPEZaron to engage in international finance and very sucto, indeed. Other orders of knights, the Hospitallers and the Teutonic "looked on with suspicion, and his power began to cause concern, even for kings. They established their base in southern France and in their plans was to const.i.tute its own isTreaty. Not pay taxes, they had their own private army and began to subjugate the entire world. Finally, make a couple hundred years, King Philip the Fair of France decided to act against them. There was a terrible drain, the Templars were Arresresults, expelled, ma.s.sacred, and ended up being excommunicated by the Pope. But it was impossible to eradicate them completely, it had about fifteen thousand councils spread throughout Europe. Everything and that, with their farms and properties attached, gave the impression that the Templars disappeared, that his power was broken.

- And what became of them?

Mario shook his head.

"Of course, they planned a ploy to ensure his survival. Went underground, the treasured wealthforces that could hold, kept their organization and, more than ever, focused on their objective.

- And what was it?

- Which is, you mean! -Mario sparks flying from his eyes. Their intention is none other than world domination. And there is only an organization devoted to disrupt their plans. The Order of Murderers, which your father and I have the honor to belong.

Ezio needed a moment to capture it all.

- And Alberti was a Templar?

Mario nodded solemnly.

"Yes. Like all the other names that apAreca in the list of your father.

- Y. .. Vieri?

"It is also, and his father, Francesco, and the whole of the Pazzi clan.

Ezio reflected on what he had to tell his uncle.

"This explains a lot ... "He said. But there's something I have not yet taught.

He got his sleeve to show his hidden dagger.

"Ah," said Mario. You were very wise not to showdome to be sure that you could rely on me. I wondered what had become of her. And I see that you have made repairs. It was your father, our father gave it to him, and he hers. Broke into ... a confrontation in which your father was involved for many years but never managed to find a craftsman bastant skilled or confident enough to repair it. You did good, kid.

"It seems," said Ezio. But all this talk of Murderers and Templar I think a story of old ... Paread fantasy.

Mario smiled.

-As an old parchment deed full of arcane, perhaps?

- Do you know that Codex page?

Mario shrugged.

- Did you forgotten? With the doc.u.ments was delivered to me.

- Can you tell me what is? "Ezio was reluctant to implicate his friend Leonardo in everything unless it was strictlyabsolutely necessary.

"Whoever noticed your blade must have been able to read at least part of the page," said Mario, but Ezio raised his hand when he was about to open his mouth. I do not think to ask you questions. I see you want to protect someone and resPetar. But on that page there are other things besides the instructionstions of operation of your weapon. The pages of the Codex are actualmente spread throughout Italy. It is a guide to the inner workings of the Order of the Murderers, its origins, objectives and technicaltechniques. Is, if you want to call it, our Creed. Your father believed that the Codex contained a powerful secret. Something that would change the world. He paused to reflect. Maybe that's why they went after him.

Ezio was overwhelmed with all that information, toosiad to a.s.similate all at once. "Murderers, Templars, that exCodex tran ....

"I'll be your guide, Ezio. But first you must learn to open your menuyou and always remember that: nothing is true. Everything is permitido.

Mario did not tell anything else at the moment, however much they try to pressure Ezio. His uncle continued his rigorous processso military training. From sunrise to sunset was exercised with young people condottieri condottieri on the driving range and at night fell into bed so exhausted that I could think of nothing but sleeping. And then one day ... on the driving range and at night fell into bed so exhausted that I could think of nothing but sleeping. And then one day ...

- Well done, cousin! "Said his uncle. I think you're ready.

Ezio was satisfied.

"Thanks, man, for all you have given me.

Mario's response was to give a hugs the boy.

- Forms part of the family! This is only my duty and my desire!

"I'm glad convinced me to stay.

Mario looked at him with interest.

"Well, have you reconsidered your decision to leave? Ezio looked back.

"Sorry, man, but the decision is made. For the safety of mamma mamma and Claudia, I have yet to attempt to reach the costa and go by boat to Spain. and Claudia, I have yet to attempt to reach the costa and go by boat to Spain.

Mario did not hide his displeasure.

"Forgive me, cousin, but I've taught you everything you have taught or for fun or for your sole and exclusive benefitsurface. I have taught you to make you better prepared infrentarte enemies.

"And so what if they do me.

"Well," Mario said bitterly. Will you go? "Throw everything overboard and your father fought and died? "Negar your real estate? All right! I can not pretend I'm not disappointed ... extremely disappointed. But so be it. Orazio will take you to the convent when you judge which is the momentappropriate to your mother can take a trip and take care of you on the road. I wish buona fortune. buona fortune.

And with that, Mario turned his back to his nephew and left.

He spent more time because he realized that his mother Ezio necessarysitaba peace and quiet to recover. He, meanwhile, iniCIO preparations for the journey to the heart broken. When he finally departed for which he imagined would be his last visit to the convent before taking away her mother and sister found them better than we had dared to imaWink. Claudia had made friends with some of the younger nuns and Ezio realized to his surprise but not asto your satisfaction, beginning to be attracted to that type of life. Meanwhile, his mother was recovering steadily but slowly and the abbess, on learning of their plans, demurred, inways to break still needed above all else and should not even think about a transfer.

When Mario returned to the castle, therefore, was full of doubts, and he knew also that they had been increasingTando over time.

During that period, on the other hand, had been LLEing out in Monteriggioni various military preparations now reached a critical point. Served as distractions watchtion. He found his uncle anywhere, but managed to locate Orazio in the map room.

- What happens? "He asked. Where is my uncle?

"Preparing for battle.

- What? Who?

"Oh, I hoped that I would have had to have thought you were going to stay. But we all know is not your intention.

"Well ...

"Your old friend, Vieri de 'Pazzi, was installed in San Gimignano. Has tripled the garrison is stationed there and has announced it will soon be ready, you think completely demolish Monteriggioni. So we antic.i.p.ate, to crush that little snake and give them a lesson they will never forget Pazzi long time.

Ezio breath. That changed everything. And maybe it was Fate, the stimulus that had been unconsciously seeking.

- Where is my uncle?

"In the stables.

Ezio was leaving the room.

- Where are you going?

- At the stables! You must also have a horse ready for me!

Orazio smiled to see him go.