CH 41: Pazzi conspirators P3

CH 41

(Third person POV)

Having taken care of the gahba (whore), Ezio laid him on the ground and rose to her feet as she clapped her hand to dust them off.

She looked at the mercenaries as she nodded at them in appreciation :"grazie per l'aiuto, a tutti voi, è apprezzato (thanks for the help, you all, it's appreciated). You all can go now."

And the mercenaries didn't stay to chit chat as they walked away to who knows where. Ezio turned to Ali as she nodded :"three of them are gone, but we don't know the exact location of the meeting.

But we still have Stefano da Bagnone to hunt down. Speriamo di poter ottenere le nostre informazioni da lui (Let's hope that we can get our information from him)."

Ali nodded as he nodded towards a location :"yeah, and guess what, he seems to be in Monte Oliveto Maggiore, the place where the Benedictine monks practice, if I'm right. Let's go."

They quickly found two horses and made their way to where Ali led them with his map. After some time, they finally reached a grand building.

Nothing to exaggerate, but it was still quite a big place. It was for the monks to practice 'peace, prayer and work's after all.

After reaching the place, they quickly found the mercenary who reported the situation :"Ah! There you are!

Listen, we've found Stefano da Bagnone. Just follow this road and it'll bring you to the abbey where he's taken refuge. Wait, before you go... Take these. You can create a distraction."

He took out six small balls and gave three to each of them. Once Ali looked at what he has gotten, he recognized them as smoke bombs.

He wasn't one to run from a fight, if someone came after him, he would just send them on a one way road to meet their ancestors.

So, he didn't need these. Even in the game, he just used them to complete the challenges. Otherwise, he really didn't use them.

But even if he wasn't planning on using them much, he and Ezio still showed their appreciation :"our thanks, friend."

Ezio and Ali proceeded towards the abbey but found that many guards had disguised themselves as monks and were protecting Stefano.

After infiltrating the abbey undetected, the two noticed Stefano walking along the courtyard, talking with a fellow monk.

They nodded towards each other as Ali whispered :"let's listen to them first. Forse riveleranno alcune informazioni (Maybe they will reveal some information)."

Ezio didn't disagree as the two listened to the conversation between the monk and Stefano while they walked.

Monk :"Let us pray brother."

Stefano :"Pray? Pray for what?"

Monk :"The Lord's protection!"

Stefano :"If you think the Lord has any interest in our affairs, you've another thing coming. But please, by all means, continue to delude yourself if it helps to pass the time."

Ali's eyes went wide as he whispered to Ezio in shock :"a Templar is actually talking logically... That's something that I didn't think I would see or hear..."

Monk :"You speak blasphemy."

Stefano :"No. I speak truth."

Monk :"But to deny His most exalted existence..."

Stefano :"...Is the only rational response when faced with the declaration that there exists some invisible madman in the sky.

And believe me, if your precious Bible is anything to go by, he's completely lost his mind."

Monk :"How can you speak as such? You wear His vestments..."

Stefano :"Only because they afforded me the opportunity to get close to the Medici. But you're right, I should look into replacing them – after the Assassins are dealt with."

Monk :"Ah! Thise unholy demons!"

Stefano :"At least on this we agree."

Monk :"They say the devil has gifted them with unnatural speed and strength."

Stefano :"The devil? No. These are gifts he gave himself, through training. It is disturbing how unwilling you are to credit people for their circumstances. I think you'd make victims out of the entire world if you could."

Monk :"I forgive your lack of faith and forked tongue. You are still one of His children."

Stefano :"I told you... Oh, what's the use? Enough of this! It's like speaking to the wind."

Monk :"I will pray for you."

Stefano :"As you wish. But do so quietly. I must keep watch."

Seeing that their conversation is over, Ali lowered his head as he whispered to Ezio :"hey, Ashkim (my love), I like this guy.

For a Templar, he actually talks some sense. How about you give him a nice and painless death since he talks logically?"

Ezio nodded with an impressed look :"yeah, he actually does speak good for a Templar. Alright, let's get into action."

The two got up from their hiding spot, a stone bench where they had hidden and we're magically gone unnoticed as they made their way to the two.

The two waited for them to go to a quiet place before they made their moves. Ezio went after Stefano as planned, and Ali stabbed the monk from behind.

Not much of a reason, just because he really pissed him off with how stupid he was. While he covered his mouth so he wouldn't let out a noise, Ezio gently brought Stefano down.

Stefano :"Now I will see who was right..."

Ezio :"Where is Jacopo?"

Stefano :"Nothing to fear I suppose...

They meet in the shadows of the Roman Gods..."

Ezio :"Ora sei libero dalla paura (Be free of your fear now). Requiescat in pace (Rest in peace)."

Before anyone could notice them, they quickly climbed up the wall and got out of the area before a fight broke out.

After getting out of the area and quickly getting on the already prepared horses to run, they heard the uproar and shouts that came from the place.

But they just sped up and went away before any of the guards could come to attack them. After a little while of riding the horses and getting away from the place, they finally slowed down.

After slowing down, Ali turned to Ezio :"so? Where do you think is this meeting? With the clues that we have got, we should be able to find the place.

Bernardo said that the meeting will be in a church, That bastard Antonio didn't do shit but run his mouth.

Salviati said that they will only emerge in the darkness, and Stefano said that they will have the meeting in the shadow of the Roman gods..."

They thought about it for a few moments before they looked at each other with wide eyes at the same time :"the ruins outside of San Gimignano!"

Ali got comfortable as he thought about it :"makes sense. It's the only place safe enough to hold a meeting."

But Ezio smirked :"forse questo aiuterà (maybe this will help)." Once Ali looked at her with a confused face, he saw her taking out a letter.

She smirked as she flapped the letter a few times smugly :"took this from Stefano while he was talking, let me read it.

Brother,

As you've no doubt heard by now, they hunt us - in search of retribution. We should never have consented, never have conspired.

But what's done is done. And so I have called a meeting with Maestro 3 nights from now to ask for sanctuary - either in Venezia or with him or in Roma.

We will assemble at the church in San Gimignano and travel to the meeting location at the appointed hour.

I urge you to attend. Remaining here would be suicide. The Assassins are relentless. We cannot hope to stop them on our own. But perhaps, aided by Maestro, we might buy ourselves the time to form a proper response.

Guard yourself well. Firenze may be lost to us, but it does not have to mean our end.

May the father of understanding guide you.

Your brother, Jacopo."

Ali hummed in satisfaction as he stretched his arms :"sigh,. Finally! This bastard will be found and finished in a few days!"

Ezio chuckled before sighing as well :"sì, stiamo dando la caccia a questo bastardo da un anno, quasi due ormai (yeah, we have been after this bastard for a year, nearly two now)."

<Ok the game, when you go to the DNA and to sequence 5, Loose Ends, the time is between 1478 and 1480. So they have been at it for at least a little over a year now>

Ali stretched and cracked some bones as he sighed frustratedly :"yeah, the bastard has been hiding really well. But after three days, he will finally die."

Ezio nodded before she gave him a crooked smile :"so? What should we do in this three days? We're always prepared, so no need for preparation. Should we relax?"

But Ali smirked at her :"I have a better idea. How about going treasure hunting? Specifically, the one where we find seals?"

Ezio's eyes went wide a she smiled excitedly :"there is another Assassin's Tomb?! Why didn't you say so sooner?!"

Ali shrugged :"didn't want to distract ourselves from the situation. And besides, we need four more seals, one wouldn't make that much of a difference. So I didn't tell you."

Ezio sighed before she nodded :"alright, you have a point. The situation was serious after all. We couldn't get distracted. Alright, let's go and do that."

And so, while they waited for the time of the meeting, the two decided to have fun and do things that they would do in the past.

Like delivering messages, winning races, beating up cheating and double crossing husbands. You know, the things they used to do before all of this happened.

In the a year and something time that they were in San Gimignano they had also taken care of people that Lorenzo had told them to assassinate.

And now, after obtaining the third seal, the seal of Wei Yu with a dagger on it, they were waiting on top of a building. Watching the church.

After a little while, at night, the doors of the church opened and people along with monks started walking outside.

"Alright, Ali, troviamo questo bastardo (let's find this bastard)." At Ezio's command, both of them used their special visions.

After finding him, Ali sighed as he looked up at Ezio while sitting in a squatting position :"Ezio, dimmi, perché abbiamo aspettato fino ad ora per uccidere questo tizio (Ezio, tell me, why did we wait till now to kill this guy).

We could have easily found him earlier and just killed the gahba (whore) instead of waiting a few days."

Ezio nodded calmly while watching him walk :"yeah, but If I can stay our blades long enough to follow him, he'll lead us to his Templar brothers. We'll have more names for our list..."

Ali took a deep breath in before he stood up :"alright, we'll listen to you. Let's get down and follow him."

And that's what they did as they climbed down the building and started following Jacopo to the meeting.

After a little while, Jacopo met up with a guard who then walked along with him as Ezio narrowed her eyes at them :"What's going on here? Are they late? They haven't seen us, this much I know... What are you and the others planning, Jacopo?"

As they followed them to the south city gate, Ali cursed when he saw guards stationed at the city gate :"shit, we won't be able to pass through with them locking the city down."

Ezio also frowned as she looked around :"and Jacopo will definitely notice us if we start a fight... From there. Let's go."

Where Ezio pointed, was the place where they first used to get into San Gimignano to kill Vieri. Ali smirked at the memory as he followed her and they both saw Jacopo and the guard again.

While they followed them without being detected, Ezio murmured under her breath :"Your letter mentioned Venezia... are there Templars there as well?"

And after finally reaching the ruins outside the city, Ali and Ezio snuck inside without being noticed as Ezio saw other men deeper in the ruins :"How many men are responsible for my father and brothers' death?"