Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 5

"Go and meet your mother and sister," said Giovanni. "Besides Federico, you should spend more time with the rest of the family! Take a good rest—I'll need you later. ’” His father waved again, indicating that he could leave.

He walked slowly across the house, nodding to one or two of the family servants, and he nodded to Giulio, who was hurrying back to his office with a piece of paper in his hand, looking as usual, All I can think about is business.Ezio waved to his brother, who was still wandering in the garden, but had no intention of passing.Besides, his father wanted him to be with his mother and sister, and he knew it was better not to disobey his father, especially after their conversation this morning.

He found his sister sitting alone in the corridor leading to the courtyard, holding a book by Petrarch.This is also reasonable.He knew she was in love.

"Hello, Claudia," he said.

"Hello, Ezio. Where have you been?"

Ezio spread his hands. "I ran for my father."

"I've heard it's not just that," she retorted, but there was only a mechanical smile on her face.

"Where's mother?"

Claudia sighed. "She went to see the young painter who has been very popular recently. You know, the one who has just graduated from Verrocchio's school."

"Really?"

"Couldn't you be concerned about the family? She's commissioned him to paint a few pictures. She's sure they'll be good investments."

"Sounds like a mother's style!"

Claudia did not answer, and it was only then that Ezio saw the sadness on her face.It made her look a lot older, not like a 16-year-old girl at all.

"What's the matter, sister?" He said, sitting on the stone bench beside her.

She sighed and smiled regretfully. "It's because of Duccio." She finally said.

"What's up with him?"

There were tears in her eyes. "I found out he was cheating on me."

Ezio frowned.Duccio is engaged to Claudia, although it has not been announced publicly...

"Who told you?" he said, putting his arm around her.

"The other girls," she wiped her eyes and looked up at him, "I thought they were my friends, but they seemed happy when they told me."

Ezio stood up angrily. "They are so vicious! It's better to break up with them as soon as possible."

"But I loved him!"

Ezio waited a while before speaking: "Are you sure? Maybe you just think so. Do you still love him?"

Claudia stopped crying. "I would like to see him suffer, if only a little bit. He really broke my heart, Ezio."

Ezio looked at his sister, saw the sadness in her eyes, and the obvious anger.He made up his mind.

"I think I should pay him a visit."

Duccio Dovic was not at home, but his steward informed Ezio of his whereabouts.Ezio crossed Ponte Vecchio, then walked west along the south bank of the Arno towards the Church of San Jacopo Soprano.There are several secluded gardens nearby, where lovers meet from time to time.Ezio wanted to vent his anger on his sister, but he needed more solid evidence of Duccio's infidelity - and he felt that the gardens would be an ideal place to search for evidence.

Sure enough, he soon spotted the blond Duane, all dressed up, sitting on a bench overlooking the river, with his arm around a dark-haired girl he didn't recognize.

"That's beautiful, my dear," said the girl, holding out her hand.Ezio saw the sparkle of the diamond ring.

"I'll give it the best, dear." Duccio said triumphantly, hugging her to him, wanting to kiss her.

But the girl pulled back. "Don't be so hasty. I can't buy it with money. We haven't known each other for long, and I hear you're engaged to Claudia Auditore."

Duccio spat. "It's over. Anyway, my father often said that I can find a better wife than Auditore," he pinched her buttocks, "like you!"

"Bad guy! Let's go for a walk."

"I can think of a more interesting thing to do than a walk," said Duccio, putting his hand between her legs.

Ezio couldn't stand it anymore. "Hey, you dirty pig!" he growled.

Du Qiao was taken aback.He turned and let go of the girl. "Hi, Ezio, my friend," he said nervously.How much did Ezio see? "I suppose you haven't met my...cousin?"

Enraged by this blatant lie, Ezio stepped forward and punched his former friend in the face. "Duccio, you should be ashamed! You insulted my sister and found such a...such a bitch!"

"What are you, calling me a whore?" the girl yelled.But she immediately stood up and stepped aside.

"I think even a girl like you could find a better man than this bastard," Ezio told her. "You really think he'll make you a dame?"

"Don't talk to her like that," Duccio hissed, "at least she's more generous than your rigid sister. I guess your sister's place is as dry as a nun's. Too bad I could have taught her Yes. But then again—”

Ezio cut him off coldly: "You broke her heart, Duccio—"

"Really? What a pity."

"So I'm going to break your arm."

The girl ran away screaming.Ezio grabbed the wailing Duccio and slammed his arms against the edge of the stone bench until Duccio's eyes watered with pain.

"Stop, Ezio! Please! I am my father's only son!"

Ezio looked at him contemptuously, before letting go.Duccio fell to the ground, turned sideways, and rubbed his bruised arm while whimpering, and his good clothes became dirty and torn.

"Hitting you dirty my hands," Ezio told him. "If you don't want me to change my mind, stay away from Claudia. Don't let me see you again."

Ezio then walked along the embankment towards home.His shadow is getting longer and longer, but his thoughts are getting clearer and clearer.He told himself that if he allowed anger to take hold of him, he would never be a man.

Not far from home, he saw his younger brother who had been missing since yesterday morning.Ezio greeted him warmly: "Hello, Petruccio. What are you up to? Did you skip class? And then again, isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Don't say silly things. I'm already an adult. In a few years, I'll be able to beat you to the ground!" The two brothers grinned and smiled at each other.Petruccio is holding a box of carved pearwood.The box was uncovered, and Ezio noticed a handful of brown and white feathers inside. "These are eagle feathers," explained Petruccio.He pointed to the tower of a nearby building. "There's an old bird's nest up there. Those young eaglets must have grown up and flew away. I saw a lot of feathers falling on the roof." Petruccio looked at his brother imploringly, "Ezio, can you help me get some more?" come?"

"Oh, what do you want feathers for?"

Petruccio bowed his head. "Secret," he said.

"If I bring it for you, will you go to bed? It's late."

"it is good."

"you promise?"

"I promise."

"All right then," Ezio said.Since I can help Claudia, there's no reason not to please Petruccio, he thought.

The process of climbing up the tower was not easy, because the walls were smooth, so he could only concentrate on finding a place where he could use his strength at the joints between the stones.It took him half an hour, but he managed to gather fifteen or so feathers—that was all he could find—and took them to Petruccio.

"You missed one," said Petruccio, pointing.

"Go to bed!" Ezio yelled.

Petruccio ran off.

Ezio hoped that their mother would like the gift.Petruccio's secret is not difficult to guess.

He smiled, and entered the room himself.

(End of this chapter)