Renaissance. Part 5

"Among the contents and find a letter with her some doc.u.ments. You take it all without delay, the same is notche!, to Messer Messer Alberti ... Alberti ...

- Al Gonfaloniere? Gonfaloniere?

"Exactly. Now go!

"But, Father ... -Ezio he struggled to get out the words, and eager to do more than simply transporting doc.u.mentsments, stammered: Are the Pazzi behind all this? I read the note from the pigeon. Said ...

But Giovanni silenced him. Ezio heard the key introDose in the lock of the door.

"They're going to question me," said Giovanni sorry. Go before getting caught. My G.o.d, you are a brave boy. You merecedor of your destiny. And now for the last time I say: go!

Ezio moved warily down the ledge and hung on the wall so you do not see him as he heard how his father had. Play that was unbearable. Then he donned goinglor for download. I knew that the declines are almost always harder than promotion, but in the last forty-eight hours had gained much experience climbing and falling buildings. Tower crawled down, slipping a couple of times but always recovering balance, until it reached again the battlements, where the two guards were still lying where she had left. Another goalpe of luck! He had been hitting their heads with all its forcesforces, but if by chance they had regained consciousness while he was at the top of the tower and had sounded the alarm ... Not worth thinking about what would have been the consequences.

The truth is that there was no time to think about such things. Pounced on the battlements and looked down. The weather was a key factor and if identified something down that might interrupt his fall, would dare to jump. As their eyes were adaptedtandose to the gloom, he saw the awning of an empty stall next to the wall, far below. Should he play? To achieve win precious minutes. If he failed, ending with a broken leg would be the slightest of problems. But I had to have faith in himself.

Deep breath and plunged into the dark.

From such a height, the canopy gave way under his weight, but was signedmously subject and gave him enough strength to cut its fall. It was out of breath and in the morning followingI have some bruised ribs, but was down! And it has notBia triggered an alarm.

He shook himself and ran towards him that only a horas ago had been their home. On arriving there he realized that the rush his father had forgotten to explain how to locate the secret door. Giulio would know, but where was Giulio?

Luckily there were no guards hanging around the house and could access it without anyone to intercept. He had stopped at his home one minute, almost unable to cross the dark threshold of the door gave the impression that the house had changedinformation exchanged, that his holiness had ifdo desecrated. Ezio was forced newtively to bring order to his thoughts, knowing that their actions were critical. Now his family depended on him. He went into the family home in the dark. Shortly after he was in the office of his father, gloomily lit a single candle, looking around.

The guards had turned the room and it was obvious that he hasbian seized several bank doc.u.ments. General chaos reigning falls shelves, chairs overturned, drawers on the floor and papers and books everywhere, not at all the work facilitatedEzio jo. But knew the office, enjoying a great view and decided to use his wit. The walls were thick, whichany of them could hide a camera inside, but he went to the wall that was installed large fireplace, where the walls were thicker, and began their search there. Bringing the candle, and groping, always keeping his ear alert for returning guards, distinguished thought finally, on the left side of the carved mantel, the faint outline of a door marked on the caissons. There had to be something that servedra open. Carefully studied the sculptures of Colossi Colossi they held on their backs the marble fireplace. The nose of the left seemed to be broken and have been postpreviously repaired, it had a small slit at the base. Touched his nose and saw it was a bit loose. With a heavy heart, moved gently and the door swung inward rolling on silent spring hinges and discovering a stone-floored hall that turned to the left. they held on their backs the marble fireplace. The nose of the left seemed to be broken and have been postpreviously repaired, it had a small slit at the base. Touched his nose and saw it was a bit loose. With a heavy heart, moved gently and the door swung inward rolling on silent spring hinges and discovering a stone-floored hall that turned to the left.

Upon entering, his right foot hit a stone that moved under him and, with the movement, the oil lamps hanging on the walls of the pa.s.sage came to life. The tour was short, with a slight downward slope, and ended in a chamber circular decorated in a style more reminiscent of Syria to Italy. Ezio's brain remembered the picture that hung in the office firstford of his father in the castle of Masyaf, which was in its day the seat of the ancient Order of Murderers. But it did not have TIMEe to consider whether this curious decoration might have some special meaning. There was no furniture, and in the center of the room was an iron chest closed with two large voluminous locks. He looked around to see if there was a key, but the stay, except for its ornamentation, it was empty. Ezio was wondering if you would have to return to the dismissalfact of his father to look there, and if you have time to do so when his hand accidentally brushed against one of the locks, which opened suddenly. The other was opened with the same ease. Would you have given your father some kind of power he did not know? Would the locks programmed to respond to a particular contactanything else? The mysteries are piling up, but no TIMEe to enter them now.

He opened the trunk and saw that it contained a white hood, evidencetemente old, made with some kind of woolen fabric that does not remet. Something made him put it on and immediately felt a strange power. He pulled down his hood, but it is not removed.

The cabinet also contained a leather cuff, a broken knife instead of a normal grip was connected to an unusual mechanism whose performance did not reach comturn, a sword, a piece of parchment with symbols and letters and what looked like part of a plan, and the letter and the doc.u.ments that his father had told him that was due to Uberto Alberti. I took everything, closed the cabinet and returned to her father's office, closing the door carefully behind her secret. In the office found a bag to carry doc.u.ments that belonged to Giulio, guarDO in her cabinet doc.u.ments and slung across his chest. b.u.t.toned his sword. Not knowing what to do with this strange set of objects and no time to reflect on why his father kept those things in a secret chamber, returned cautiously to the front door of palazzo. palazzo.

But just when he was about to leave the forecourt, he saw two guards entered the city. It was too late to hide. I had seen.

- Stop! Shouted one of them, and they began to move rapidly towards him.

There was no way to start the withdrawal. Ezio saw that they had removeddo ya swords.

- Why are you here? Why arrest?

"No," said he had spoken before. We have orders to kill.

And on hearing this, the second guard ran to him.

Ezio drew his sword when he saw it coming. It was a weapon that was unfamiliar, but felt light and competentTENTE in his hand, as if he had used all my life. Skived the first onslaught, right and left, both guards pouncing on him at the same time. The three swords let loose sparks, but Ezio noticed that his new weapon was firm, his mordant, sharp edge. Just at the time the second guard was down his sword with the intention of separating the braEzio zo his shoulder, he made a feint to the right, shouldjo edge. The guard lost his balance when the arm that held the sword fell heavily, though harmlessly on the shoulder of Ezio.

The boy used his momentum to lift his new sword and crossed to the heart of his opponent. Straightening, Ezio turned on his heels, raised his left foot and pushed the dead guard to remove the sword from his body with just enough time to turn around and face her partner. The other guard rushed roaring and wielding a powerful sword.

- Prepare to die traditore! traditore!

The guard jumped on him, tore his left sleeve and sangre began to sprout. Ezio grimaced in pain, which lasted only a second. The guard kept pus.h.i.+ng to see what was ahead and allowed Ezio attack again. Then, taking a step back, put his heel, he waved the sword stuck resolutely and firmly on the neck of his opponent at the moment it fell, separating the head from his shoulders before toface soil.

Ezio stood for a moment trembling at the sudden silenceCIO followed the confused fighting, breathing hard. It was the firstfirst time in his life he killed someone - what was it? - although it was another life inside, oldest, a life that seemed to have years of experience in dealing with death.

The feeling frightened him. That night had seen things that went well beyond what could have been any boy his age, but this new feeling began to awaken in the depths of his being a dark force. It was more than the simple effect of the harrowing experiences he had visaw in the last hours. He walked the dark streets flagging didirection to the house of Alberti, so startled at the slightestnest and looking back frequently. Finally, on the brink of exhaustion but still able to move forward, came home from gonfaloniere. gonfaloniere. He looked up and saw a dim light behind one of the front windows. He knocked loudly on the door with EmpuNadura of his sword. He looked up and saw a dim light behind one of the front windows. He knocked loudly on the door with EmpuNadura of his sword.

Receiving no response, nervous and impatient, called again, louder this time. Nothing.

But at the third attempt, it opened a crack in the door that was closed afterwards. The door opened wide for a moment desas suspicious and armed servant invited him. He explained what brought him around the house and was taken to a room on the first floor where Alberti found sitting at a table full of papethem. Behind him, through the side and sitting on a chair beside a dying fire, Ezio thought he saw another man, tall and robust, evencould only see a little profile, and little clarity.

- Ezio? -Alberti stood up, startled. What are you doing here at this hour?

-No ... not ...

Alberti approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Wait, boy. Breathe deeply. Put your ideas in order.

Ezio nodded. He felt safer now, but also more vulnerable. Began to a.s.similate the events of the evening and night, since he had proposed to deliver the letters GioVanni. He saw the bra.s.s clock that was on the desk, on a pedestal, it was almost midnight. Could only twelve hours have elapsed since Ezio, the boy, had accompanieddo to his mother to pick up some pictures in the studio of an artist? Reluctantly, he realized that he was about to lie to mourn. But he calmed down and was Ezio, the man who took the floor: "My father and my brothers were taken prisoner I do not know under what authority," my mother and sister have been hidden and the bank of our family have been sacked. My father sent me that I submit this letter and these doc.u.ments ...

Ezio removed doc.u.ments from his bag.

Thanks.

Alberti was a pair of gla.s.ses and pulled the letter of Giovanni in the light of the candle burning on his desk. In the room could not hear anything except the ticking of the clock and the crackle of the wood off the fire. If there was another presence in the room had forgotten Eziodo completely.

Then, Alberti turned his attention to the doc.u.ments. Spent time consulting them and finally one of them discreetly stored inside his black coat. Others left them gently aside, separate from other papers on the table.

"There has been a terrible misunderstanding, my dear Ezio" he said, removing his gla.s.ses. It is true that there have been acc.u.mulatedsations-serious charges, and knack for tomorrowna trial is scheduled. But apparently someone has showndo, perhaps for reasons of their own, too extreme. But do not worry. We explain everything.

Ezio could not believe it.

-How?

"The doc.u.ments I have given contain evidence of a conspiracy against your father and against the city. Will present these papers at the hearing tomorrow and Giovanni and your brothersRAN released. I guarantee it.

The boy saw a huge relief. He shook hands with the Gonfaloniere. Gonfaloniere.

- How I can grateful to you for?

"My job is to administer justice, Ezio. I take it very seriously y. .. He hesitated for a fraction of a second-... your father is one of my dearest friends. -Alberti smiled. But where have my manners gone? I've even offereddo a gla.s.s of wine. He paused. And where will spend noche? Even I have urgent matters to attend to, but my servants shall ensure that you have food, drink and a warm bed.

Ezio did not know what ended up rejecting an offer as friendly.

When he left the mansion gonfaloniere gonfaloniere it was past midnight. He covered his head again with the hood and gave LapTAS in the streets trying to gather his thoughts. In fact, I knew very well where his steps led him. it was past midnight. He covered his head again with the hood and gave LapTAS in the streets trying to gather his thoughts. In fact, I knew very well where his steps led him.

Once there, he climbed to the balcony with more easily than had been imagined, perhaps the need gave strength to their musclesthe delicately-and called the shutters. Whispered: - Cristina! Love Love Wake up! Me. Wake up! Me.

He waited, quiet as a cat, and stayed to listen. The stretching heard, rising. And then his voice, asusited, on the other side of the shutters.

- Who is it?

-Ezio.

Quickly opened the shutters.

- What happens? Something wrong?

"Let me. Please.

Sitting on his bed, he explained the whole story.

"I knew something was wrong," she said. Tonight my father was worried. But what you say all will be well.

"I need to let me stay here tonight ... Do not worry, I'll go long before dawn. And I have to giveone thing you save for the custody. "He picked up the bowlsa and placed between the two. I need to trust you.

"Oh, Ezio, of course you can trust me.

He fell into a restless sleep in the arms of her.

Chapter 4.

Hacyclica gray, overcast morning and the city was oppressed by a sweltering heat, the clouds had caught. Ezio arrived at the Piazza della Signoria and saw extremely surprised, which had gathered at the scene a dense crowd. They had built a platform on which stood a table covered with a cloth embroidered with the emblem of the city. Sitting at the same were UberAlberti and to tall and robust, with a hooked nose and eyes alert and calculating, dressed in rich robes of color carmeyes. An unknown, at least for Ezio. But what he called enseguiattention was given to other occupants of the platform: his father and brothers, chained, and just beyond them, a buildingtion high with a large cross beam from which hung three nooses.

Ezio had reached piazza piazza with anxiety and optimism. Aca "so had not told the with anxiety and optimism. Aca "so had not told the Gonfaloniere Gonfaloniere everything would be fixed the same day? But his feelings changed instantly. Something was wrong ... very wrong. He tried to cut through the crowd, but it was impossible. Threatened to overcome claustrophobia. Desperately trying to calm down, rationalize their actionstions, stopped, covered her head with the hood and adjusted the sword into his belt. Do you fail Alberti? And I could not stop looking at that tall, Spanish by his dress, his face and his complexion, which recommendedconstantly RRIA crowd with his piercing gaze. Who was he? Why awakened something in memory of Ezio? Would you have seen before somewhere? everything would be fixed the same day? But his feelings changed instantly. Something was wrong ... very wrong. He tried to cut through the crowd, but it was impossible. Threatened to overcome claustrophobia. Desperately trying to calm down, rationalize their actionstions, stopped, covered her head with the hood and adjusted the sword into his belt. Do you fail Alberti? And I could not stop looking at that tall, Spanish by his dress, his face and his complexion, which recommendedconstantly RRIA crowd with his piercing gaze. Who was he? Why awakened something in memory of Ezio? Would you have seen before somewhere?

The Gonfaloniere, Gonfaloniere, resplendent in traditional dress of his office, raised his arms to silence the crowd, and at the moment there was silence. resplendent in traditional dress of his office, raised his arms to silence the crowd, and at the moment there was silence.

Auditore-Giovanni Alberti said in a commanding tone that, for the keen ears of Ezio, could not hide a note miedo-. You and your accomplices of the crime you are accused of treason. Do you have any evidence to rebut this charge?

Giovanni seemed both surprised and uncomfortable.

"Yes, it's all in the doc.u.ments handed to you last night.

But then Alberti said: "I have no news of any doc.u.ment, Auditore.

Ezio quickly realized that this was a love trialpanied, and could not understand what seemed a betrayal of large cafree by Alberti. Shouted - It's a lie!

But her cry was m.u.f.fled by the roar of the crowd. Intempted to get closer, pus.h.i.+ng his way between airatwo citizens, but they were many and was caught in the middle of them all.

Alberti had returned to take the floor.

"They have met and considered the evidence there is against you. Are irrefutable. In the absence of any evidence to demonstrateamong otherwise, my position requires me to declare to you and your accomplicesces, Federico and Petruccio, e -in absentia- Your son Ezio, guilty of the crime for which you are charged. He paused as the crowd was silent again-. Accordingly, I sentenced them all to death. The sentence will be carried out inMediate!

The crowd roared again. When Alberti gave the signal, seedugo prepared the ropes, while two of his a.s.sistants caught the pePetruccio flute, struggling to suppress her tears, and withDucie to the scaffold. They put the rope around his neck while the child read hastily and priest sprinkled holy water on his head. The executioner then pulled a lever on the side of the scaffold and little was left hanging, kicking in the air to stand still.

- No! Ezio-delivered, ifn believe what they saw his orjos-. No, my G.o.d, please no!

But his words were drowned in his throat, the sensationtion losses exceed it.

Federico fEU el Next, shouting his innocence and his family, struggling in vain to try to get rid of the guards who led him to the rope. Ezio, beside himself, trying to destabilizingdesperately need to move, saw a single tear running down the cheek of his father's emaciated. Horrified, Ezio watched his older brother and best friend hanging from a rope convulsing. Petruccio took more time to leave this world, but eventually he ended up staying still, balanceDose on the rope ... the crackle of the wood beam the only sound that broke the silence. Ezio tried to combat the growing disbelief in it. Could it be true that this was happening?

The crowd began to murmur, but a strong voice stopped her. Giovanni was talking Auditore: "It's you who is a traitor, Uberto. You, one of my dearest friends and partners, to whom I entrusted my life! And I am one isdense. I did not know see that you were one of them! them! "And to say this raised his voice to a cry of anguish and rabia-. Perhaps today we steal life, but please note the followingyou: we will we change the "And to say this raised his voice to a cry of anguish and rabia-. Perhaps today we steal life, but please note the followingyou: we will we change the tuyto! tuyto!

He bowed his head and was silent. A deep silence, broken only by the murmur of the prayers of the priestdowry, which followed Auditore Giovanni as he walked with dignity to the gallows and commended his soul to his last great adventure.

Ezio was too shocked to feel pain. It was as if he had hit a great iron fist. But when the trap door opened beneath the feet of Giovanni, could not resist.

- Father! He shouted, his voice breaking.

The Spanish eyes were riveted on him instantly. Would supernatural vision of the man, to find a crowd like that? As if in slow motion, was that Spanish Ezio leaned Alberti, whispered something, and pointed.

- Guards! Alberti shouted, pointing also-. There! It is one of them! Capture them!

Before the crowd could react and catch it, Ezio force his way between her, driving punches whichwant to get in his way. A guard was specialRandol now. Ezio pounced on, pulling the hood. With an instinctive, Ezio got rid of him, grabbed the sword with one hand and grabbed the guard by the neck with the other. The reactionEzio tion was much faster than the guard isperaba and before he had time to raise the arms ofdefend itself, Ezio harder pressed both the neck and the sword, and a sharp swift movement, ran the guard's body, sticking the sword. Upon removal, the guts of their victimesteem popped up under his robe and spilled on the floor pavement. She pulled the body of a kick and has turnedence the podium, stared Alberti.

- I'll kill you for this! He shouted, his voice tense with hatred and anger.

But guards were closer. Ezio, ruled by his instinctsto survival, he ran away from them toward the perceived safety of the narrow streets behind the square. To his dismaytion, he saw two more guards, quick, ready to intercept it.

They clashed on the edge of the square. The two guards in front of him, blocking his retreat, others approaching from behind. Ezio fought the first two of a frenzy. An unfortunate by removing one of them is ripped offpada hand. Fearing that the end was approaching, Ezio turned to flee their attackers ... but before he threw out cobarrier, something amazing happened. From the alley would be saidogy, and a few feet away, a man appeared roughly seeTido. With lightning speed, surprised the two guards from behind and with a long knife, cut short by the armpits with arms that held their swords, cutting tendons and leaving insertimmediate and perceivable. It moved so fast that barely Ezio visual tracking how withdrawing the sword to one of the fallen and tossed it to him. Ezio suddenly recognized him, and sniffed again have that strongdor of onions and garlic. At that time, or Damascene roses would have smelled better.

"Get out of here," said the man, and he left.

Ezio ran down the street and plunged into the corridors and pa.s.sageways as well known for their evenings out with Federich. The commotion and screaming were slowly fading. He walked to the river, and found refuge in hut abandoned by a sentry behind one of the stores owned by the father of Cristina.

During that time Ezio stopped being a boy to become a man. The weight of responsibility that he knewNla revenge and correct those horrible evil fell on his back like a heavy cloak.

Lying on a pile of bags, he noticed that his body empezaba shaking. Their world had just been shattered. His padre ... Federico ... and G.o.d, no, the little Petruccio ... All disappearedacids, all dead, all killed. Holding her head in his hands, began to mourn, unable to control that spillstreatment of pain, fear and hatred. Only after several hours was caPeace remove his hands from his face, his eyes were bloodshot and full of unyielding vengeance. Ezio At that moment he knew his former life was over: Ezio, the boy wasBia gone forever. From now on, his life revolved around a goal, one goal: revenge.

Much later, well aware that the guard would still be searching, relentlessly, went to the mansion of the family of Craig following side streets. Unwilling to put in any danger, but I needed to pick up your bag and its precious contents. He waited in a dark hole that stank of urine, not moving even when the rats scurrying between his feet, until the light of his window he said he had retired for bed.

- Ezio!She exclaimed when she saw him on his balcony-. Thank G.o.d you're alive! Her face reflected the relief I felt, but the term was short, the pain taking over her-. Your father, your brothers ...

He could not finish the sentence and dropped his head. Ezio took her in his arms and spent several minutes simply embraced.

In the end, it was she who broke the embrace.

- You're crazy! What are you still in Florence?

"Still I have issues that deal truly sorry," saiddo-. But I can not stay here long, is a riskgo too big for your family. If they knew that these surveysbriendome ...

Cristina remained silent.

"Give me my bag and leave.