The Medici Girl

Renato

There was a sense of calm that came over Ezio when he saw Contessina's sleeping form on the small seti in Leonardo's workshop. The artist assured him that the blood on the dress draped over the chair in the corner of the room was not the girl's and the assassin was grateful to hear it. The fire kept her warm at least, even though she seemed to shiver every now and then as he kept watch over her. Ezio had not meant to come in so late and Leonardo had been more than welcoming despite the time.

The artist sat nearby with a cup of wine in his hand as Ezio moved the thin fleece blanket up to cover Contessina's shoulders. He looked over to where Leonardo had placed a pitcher of wine on the table and a glass next to it. Wine was the furthest thing from his mind at that moment, but he did not want to insult Leonardo's hospitality by refusing the offer. So, the assassin moved to the table and poured himself a glass of red wine before making his way to the empty chair across from the artist he called a friend. At first, there were no words spoken as Ezio's gaze occasionally wondered to where Contessina slept. Sometimes she would whimper in her sleep, but that was to be expected. The only other sound was the crackling of the fire and that was somehow comforting.

Ezio knew he was not going to sleep the rest of the night even with the wine or the bread and cheese that he filled his hungry belly with. He was exhausted for sure, but for some reason he could not bring himself to close his eyes, so he sat there with the artist. This was perhaps what he needed. He needed a way to calm his mind and body from the events of the night and when he heard his wife whimper out again from her dreams, he felt the need to be closer.

"When will you be leaving Firenze?" Leonardo asked and Ezio turned his attention back to his friend.

"As soon as I speak to Lorenzo de'Medici and find the whereabouts of the conspirators in the attack." Ezio replied looking down at his half empty glass of wine. "Jacopo fled."

"But Francesco is no more." The artist replied to Ezio's comment before giving a nod. "What of the other conspirators? Do you know who they are?" To this, Ezio did not know the full answer, but he knew who would. He sipped on the glass of wine in his hand and then looked to the fire with a thoughtful gaze.

"Lorenzo should know something." The young assassin put his empty hand to his chin wondering if the Medici was willing to work with him or not. Chances are Lorenzo would because of their close ties, but the timing was not good. With Giuliano's death the Medici were in the mood to hang first and ask questions later. Perhaps staying in Firenze for a few days could not hurt in order to gain the intel he sought. "I was going home to Monteriggioni in two days, but it seems I will be staying a little longer." Ezio looked over to where his wife laid sleeping more comfortably.

"Perhaps that is best." Leonardo stood from his chair to pour more wine into his glass. "Poor Giuliano. To be slain in a sacred place on the day of sacrament and unarmed. I'd have never thought the Pazzi family would stoop so low, nor the Pope of all people give their blessing." The artist said shaking his head almost in disbelief. Ezio did not put it past the Holy See to convey their agenda, however there was no doubt in his mind that Firenze was going to be under fire.

"Contessina will want to stay until after the funeral." The young man was growing tired as the wine began to relax him. "I won't deny her the chance to say goodbye to her family either."

"In the meantime, Ezio, you are welcome to stay here." The painter offered and Ezio nodded his head before leaning back in the chair even further. He was exhausted and at the same time his mind would not let him rest.

Sometime in the early hours of the morning Leonardo had gone off to be leaving Ezio to find a suitable place to sleep. The strangest thing was that the young man could not find it in himself to leave Contessina's side or leave the chair he had been sitting in. Every now and then he would reach over to the logs stacked on the side of the fire place and throw another on the fire, but overall, he did not leave. Eventually though, he felt his body give up an relax. He did not know if it was the wine or if it was the crackling of the fire, but his mind wondered off into different places before he finally fell asleep.