Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 21

"You mean, you arranged for Corradin to come to me?"

"Forgive my penchant for drama, but also make sure you're not being followed. He's a young man, so it's a test for him too. You see, I may have arranged for him to come to you, but he He didn't know my real intentions. He thought I was just picking targets for him!" His tone became more serious and colder, "Now you have to find a way to snoop on this meeting, it's not easy Something." He looked at the sky. "The sun is going down soon. We must hurry, and the shortest way to get there is the roof. Come with me!"

Without further ado, he turned and started climbing the wall, so fast that even Ezio had trouble keeping up.They galloped on the roofs paved with red tiles, jumped over the street in the afterglow of sunset, as light as cats, and walked as silently as a running fox, approaching the northwest of the city until the Virgin Mary appeared in sight The front wall of the Cathedral of Mary.Fox stopped.Ezio arrived a few seconds later, but when he caught his breath he realized that the Fox, despite being considerably older, was clearly more than capable.

"You have a good teacher," said the fox.Ezio had a strong feeling that his new friend could easily get rid of him if he wanted to.This gave him the determination to continue honing his skills.But now is not a good time to race.

"Mr. Francisco will hold his meeting here." The fox pointed down.

"In church?"

"Under the church. Come!"

At this hour, the square in front of the church is empty.The fox jumped off the roof and landed in a graceful crouch, and Ezio followed suit.They went round the square and the side of the church, and came at last to a side door in the church wall.The fox urged Ezio to go in, which opened the Rucellai Chapel.The fox stopped at the bronze tomb in the middle of the chapel. "Down below is a network of catacombs that span the entire city. I've found it useful in my work, but unfortunately I don't have access to its benefits to myself. Not many people know the secret and can walk the paths below , but Francisco de' Pazzi was one of them. His meeting with the Roman visitors was held below. This is the nearest entrance to the meeting place, but you have to find it yourself. Once you go down, Fifty yards to the right is a chapel, which is part of a disused basement. Be careful, the sound travels far down there. And it's dark in there, so let your eyes get acquainted with the light first—it won't be long , you can follow the lights of the chapel to find it."

He reached for a medallion on the pedestal of the tomb and pressed it down.At his feet, a seemingly solid stone slab turned down, revealing a section of stone steps.He stood aside. "Good luck, Ezio."

"Aren't you coming?"

"It's not necessary. And even with my skills, two people still make more noise than one. I'll wait for you here. Now, go!"

Once underground, Ezio groped his way along the damp stone corridor leading to the right.The journey was smooth, because the corridor was very narrow, his hands could touch the walls on both sides, and his feet were wet and muddy, so he walked quietly.From time to time, the passage will fork, but he doesn't see it, but touches it: when there is a fork, what his hand touches is no longer the wall, but the air.Getting lost down here would be a nightmare because no one can ever get out again.Some sort of rustling startled him at first, until he realized that they were only the scurrying of rats, though he could hardly help crying out as one of them crawled across the back of his foot.In the alcoves on the wall, he vaguely glimpsed the corpses buried here many years ago, those skulls wrapped in spider webs - this catacomb gave off a primitive and terrifying feeling, and Ezio could only try to suppress the surge in his heart. panic.

At last he saw a dim light ahead, and slowed down, walking towards it.He remained in the shadows until he came to a position where he could hear the conversation of the five ahead: their silhouettes were illuminated by the lights of the small, ancient chapel.

He recognized Francisco immediately - Ezio saw his small, thin figure bowing to two shaved-headed strangers.The older one was praying in a strong nasal voice: "May God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit bless you forever..." The light shone on his face, and Ezzie O recognized him: he was Stefano da Bacononi, secretary to Francisco's uncle Jacopo.Jacob himself stood beside him.

"Thank you, Father." After the blessing, Francisco said.He stood up straight and said to another person standing beside the priests: "Bernardo, start your report."

"Everything is ready. We have swords, clubs, axes, bows and crossbows in our hands."

"An ordinary dagger is best for this kind of work," interposed the young priest.

"It depends, Antonio," Francisco said.

"Poison is good, too," the young priest continued, "but it doesn't matter, as long as he can die. He destroyed my birthplace and my only home, Volterra, and I won't let him off easily."

"Calm down," said the man named Bernardo, "our motives are enough. Thanks to Pope Sixtus, we now have the means."

"Indeed, Mr. Baroncheri," replied Antonio, "but does he approve of the matter?"

At the back of the chapel, in the deep shadows where no lights could illuminate, came a voice: "He approves our actions, but 'on condition that no one is killed.'"

The speaker stepped into the light, and Ezio recognized the figure in the crimson hooded cloak, although his face was mostly hidden by the shadow of the hood, only a sneering lip could be seen.This is the most powerful of the visitors to Rome: Rodrigo Borgia, the Spaniard!

The other conspirators gave the same knowing smile.They all knew that it was the cardinal in front of him who really controlled the Pope.But of course, the Pope must not openly condone bloodshed.

"It's good to have it done," Francisco said. "We've suffered too many setbacks. It's just that killing them in the cathedral would have severely condemned us."

"This is our last and only option," said Rodrigo majesticly, "and our motives are justified: we are doing God's will to rid Florence of this scum. Besides, when we control the city From now on, those people can condemn us all they want—if they have the guts!"

"Their plans are always changing," said Bernardo Baroncelli. "I was even forced to find someone to visit his brother Giuliano to make sure he would be there for High Mass."

Everyone laughed, except Jacob—and the Spaniard, who noticed the seriousness on Jacob's face.

"What's the matter, Jacob?" Rodrigo asked him. "Do you think they're suspicious?"

Before Jacob could answer, his nephew interrupted impatiently: "That's impossible! The Medicis are either too arrogant or too stupid to notice!"

"Don't underestimate our enemy," Jacob scolded, "don't you understand that the army that attacked San Gimignano was funded by the Medici family?"

"There will be no such problems this time," his nephew roared.He was annoyed at being blamed in front of his associates, and the memory of his son Vieri's death was still fresh in his mind.

In the silence that followed, Bernardo turned to look at Stefano da Bacononi. "I need to borrow a set of your priest's robes for tomorrow morning's service, Father. The more they feel surrounded by priests, the more at ease they will feel."

"Who will do it?" Rodrigo asked.

"Me!" said Francisco.

"And me!" Stefano, Antonio and Bernardo said in unison.

"Very good." Rodrigo paused, and then said, "I think generally speaking, daggers should be the most suitable. They are easy to hide, and they are very handy in narrow places. But it's good to be able to carry those weapons— — I believe that after the Medici brothers are gone, we still have messes to clean up." He raised his hand and made the sign of the cross to his accomplices. "God be with you, gentlemen," he said, "may the Father of Knowing lead us." He glanced around. "Oh, then it's settled. Excuse me, but I have to take my leave now. I have a few things to do before returning to Rome, and I must start before dawn. If the Medici family falls apart On the same day, someone sees me in Florence, and that doesn't really do me any good."

Ezio waited with his back against the wall, until all six had gone together, leaving him alone in the dark.When he was sure he was the only one around, he took out his lantern and lit the wick.

He returned the way he had come.The fox was waiting for him in the shadowy Rucellai Chapel.With a heavy heart, Ezio told him what he had heard.

"...to murder Lorenzo and Giuliano in the Duomo at High Mass tomorrow morning?" the Fox asked after Ezio had finished speaking.Ezio saw him almost speechless for a moment. "It's blasphemy! Worse still—if Florence falls to the Pazzi, only God can save us."

Ezio was lost in thought. "Can you give me a place in the cathedral tomorrow morning?" he asked, "near the altar, near the Medici brothers?"

Fox looked serious. "It's hard, but maybe it's possible." He looked at the young man in front of him. "I know what you're thinking, Ezio, but you can't do this on your own."

"I can try it, and I have the advantage of surprise. And if there are several unfamiliar faces among the nobles in the front row, it may arouse the suspicion of the Pazzi family. You must put me there, Gilberto. "

"Call me a fox," Gilberto said, grinning, "only a fox can compare with me in cunning," he paused, "and meet me in front of the cathedral half an hour before High Mass Go." He looked into Ezio's eyes with respect, "I will help you if I can, Don Ezio. Your father will be proud of you."

(End of this chapter)