Assassin's Creed- Keep Me

Chapter 5- Ezio

"This is it." We had been riding for hours, through busy towns and quiet villages. Niccolò had drifted off to sleep not long after Valéntina, and his snoring had been god awful since. I laid Valéntina gently on the floor of the carrello and turned to face the man.

"Are we at the tavern?"

"No, the tavern is a mile that way." He said bluntly, pointing a grimy finger to the east. I dug in my pouch for a few florins and held them out for his palm. Trying to keep myself from cringing, I placed them in his hand, stinking of piss and sweat.

"Grazie, seignor." I said, forcing enthusiasm. Valéntina was already awake and upright, though Niccoló was still oblivious and deep in slumber.

"What is happening?" asked Valéntina, whispering so not to wake Niccoló.

"Niccoló!" waking him so harshly wasn't pleasant. Of all the times I had seen him sleep he never slept for long. Maybe an hour or so, but he would always wake trembling and tormented by visions... Death was not his art, after all. "It is time to leave." He nodded in bleak acceptance.

After we had thanked the chauffeur once more, we clambered out of the carrello and started towards the east. We walked in silence for a while, unsure of what to say. Niccoló trudged behind, drowsy and weak, Valéntina only slightly in front.

"Ezio." she was still quiet as if the trees could hear her. Her stealth was impressive.

"What is it signora?" looking at her feet, blushing slightly, she answered me.

"I...I wanted to thank you... for helping me today. I am in your debt." What was I supposed to have done? Let her get raped, robbed and possibly murdered by the worst pezzi di merda that were ever granted existence? I think not.

"To look upon your face is all the repayment I need." If Niccoló had been listening, he would have sighed, for he would know what I was up to. She smiled, complimented. "Do not be shy, you definitely were not with the Templar's this morning."

"So that is what they are called..."

"Yes, and they are our enemies."

"Why do you oppose them?" I bowed my head. Could I tell her? Could I even trust her? I'd known her for all of five minutes and she'd been asleep for most of the time. It only took one look into her eyes... Her deep, sincere, chocolate brown eyes... I melted. She was no Templar. No Templar could ever be that beautiful.

"My name is Ezio Auditore da Firenze. I am part of a secret organization called the Assassin's Brotherhood. My father was an Assassin also. They murdered my two brothers and my father. They will proceed to murder me and the rest of my family if I don't protect them. I will do everything in my power to make sure that never happens." That would make Niccoló's eyes widen. My trust for even my closest friends was starting to dwindle. After seeing that side of men, that power craving, pain inflicting side, I lost all my faith in good will.

I hadn't realised I'd stopped walking. Valéntina only looked at her feet. Niccoló had not even noticed.

"Could I ever be one of them?" she said, after a long, slightly uncomfortable silence.

"We must get to this tavern first. No one becomes an Assassin without sleep." grumbled Niccoló. He was obviously awake then.

It took an hour or so to reach it. My companions were finding it difficult to walk, so we trudged through the woods, slow and gentle. It was large and painted white. There were lots of crates and pieces of scaffolding littered around. But there was an advantage. If Valéntina was really serious it would make her training easier if she had lots of things to climb, which the tavern did not have a shortage of.

There was only one problem.

Three young girls emerged from the heavy oaken door, dressed in thin pastel coloured silks. One in blue and one in a joyful pink pressed themselves against mine and Niccoló's chests.

"Ciao, signori..." they flirted in voices as sultry and gentle as rolls of silk. The last woman, slightly younger then the others turned to frown at me. Why bring a woman to a brothel? She sensed something was wrong. Quickly, so not to discomfort the poor girl, her face softened and she linked her arm through Valéntina's.

"Welcome, signora. Please, come inside..."

It was warm, almost stuffy. Candles flooded the place like a sea of fire. A hundred red chaises were pressed against the walls, the rest of the space filled with oak tables and matching seats. There was a bar also, with a twenty or-so man, leaning against the surface with his arms spread put. His finger nail tapped against the wood as he stared at a precarious dress wrapped around a golden haired woman's body. Many turned to face the new visitors, even the guests, though some were too distracted by the beautiful women in their laps.

"May I get you a drink?" asked the bartender, reluctant to avert his eyes from the woman who was now walking upstairs, giggling with a false happiness. A hand wrapped itself around my arm, squeezing for comfort. I brushed my fingers over Valéntina's hoping it would be of some reassurance. I shouldn't have brought her here. Though it was in fact the safest place she could be.

After a while I realised I hadn't answered the man and he had already found his eyes next victim. Valéntina. "No, grazie. Is there anywhere we can stay? We are..." I glanced at my two lethargic companions. "...weary from travel."

"That I can see." observed the bartender. A woman swept from behind a bead curtain, wrapped in a hundred different satins and velvets. Untamed ebony curls muddled to her hips, framing an elegant golden face with smoky eyes and full lips. 

"Pietro, who are these dashing men and this beautiful young flower?" complimented the woman as she picked her way through the dashing crowds. Swift as a snake, she dodged my arm to place two fingers beneath Valéntina's chin. Lifting her face up high, she scrutinised and evaluated every contour and blemish on her face, then gave a soft grin. "Yes... quite beautiful..." she almost breathed, with a queer look that made me shield Valéntina from anymore inspection. 

"Is this quite necessary?" I asked gruffly. 

"No, I suppose not. I was only trying to be polite. My name is Lissandra. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." with a firm grip she shook each one of our hands, though never questioned us for our own names. Yet I had the feeling she knew who we were. "There are many empty rooms upstairs. All those who are being used are locked. You may have the larger one that will be at the end of the corridor up the stairs. Breakfast will be served in the morning. You may pay your stay and then have the choice to leave or stay another evening. I want know fights under this roof. Only peace. Capito?"

"Si, seignora. Thank you for your hospitality." 

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Hopefully there should be more drama in the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed :)

carrello- cart

grazie- thank you

pezzi di merda- pieces of shit

capito- understand

si- yes