Oliver Bowden: Brotherhood

"Just a minute, Zio," said Ezio, turning to face two Borgia guards who had managed after all to struggle up to the roof and were now facing him with-to his astonishment-cocked pistols of a type that was new to him. Where the hell had they got those from? But this was no time for questions. He whirled through the air at them, unleashing his hidden-blade and slicing each neatly through the jugular before they could even fire.

"Impressive," said Mario, reining in his impatient horse. "Now, get a move on! Cosa diavolo aspetti?"

Ezio threw himself off the roof to land close by the second horse, held firmly by the hunchback, and rebounded off the ground to spring into the animal's saddle. It reared excitedly under his weight but he immediately had it under control and wheeled it around to follow his uncle as he rode fast toward the Tiber. At the same time Gianni disappeared into the inn, and a detachment of Borgia cavalry tore around the corner, into the square. Digging his heels into the horse's flanks, Ezio sped after his uncle as they made their way at breakneck speed through the broken-down streets of Rome toward the dirty, sluggish river. At their backs they could hear the shouts of the mounted Borgia guards-cursing their prey as Mario and Ezio galloped through the maze of ancient streets, slowly pulling farther away.

Having reached Tiber Island they crossed the river by a rickety bridge that trembled beneath their horses' hooves, and then they doubled back, turning north to ride up the main street leading out of the squalid little town that had once been the capital of the civilized world. They did not stop until they were in the depths of the countryside and had assured themselves that they were out of the reach of their pursuers.

Near the settlement of Sette Bagni, in the shade of a massive elm tree by the side of the dusty road that ran alongside the river, they reined their horses in and took time to draw breath.

"That was too close, Uncle."

The older man shrugged and smiled, a little painfully. From a saddlebag Mario produced a leather flagon of rough red wine and proffered it to his nephew.

"Here," he said, slowly catching his breath. "Good for you."

Ezio drank, then grimaced. "Where did you get this?"

"It's the best they can do at the Sleeping Fox," said Mario, grinning broadly. "But once we get to Monteriggioni you'll fare better."

Ezio, grinning, too, passed the flask back to his uncle. But then his features became troubled.

"What is it?" asked Mario, in gentler tones.

Slowly Ezio produced the Apple from the pouch in which he'd stowed it. "This. What am I to do with it?"

Mario looked grave. "It is a heavy responsibility. But it is one you must shoulder alone."

"How can I?"

"What does you heart tell you?"

"My heart tells me to be rid of it. But my brain…"

"It was vouchsafed you…by whatever Powers you encountered in the Vault," said Mario solemnly. "They would not have given it back to mortals if there was not a purpose devised for it."

"It is too dangerous. If it fell into the wrong hands again…" Ezio looked ominously at the slothful river flowing nearby. Mario watched him expectantly.

Ezio hefted the Apple in his gloved right hand. But still he hesitated. He knew, he couldn't throw such a great treasure away, and his uncle's words had swayed him. Surely Minerva would not have allowed him to take back the Apple without reason.

"The decision must be yours alone," said Mario. "But if you feel unhappy at having custody of it now, give it to me for safekeeping. You can take it back later, when your mind is calmer."

Ezio hesitated still, but then they both heard, in the distance, the sound of thundering hooves and the baying of hounds.

"Those bastards don't give up easily," said Mario through gritted teeth. "Come, give it to me."

Ezio sighed but replaced the Apple in its leather pouch and swung it over to Mario, who quickly stowed it in his saddlebag.

"And now," said Mario, "we must jump these nags into the river and swim them across. That'll put the damned dogs off our scent, and even if they're bright enough to ford the Tiber themselves, we'll be able to lose them in the woods over there. Come on. I want to be in Monteriggioni by this time tomorrow."

"How hard do you expect to ride?"

Mario dug his heels into his mount's flanks. The beast reared, foam at the corners of its mouth.

"Very hard," he said. "Because from now on we don't simply have Rodrigo to contend with. His son and his daughter are with him-Cesare and Lucrezia."

"And they are…?"

"The most dangerous people you are ever likely to meet."

It was the afternoon of the following day when the little walled town of Monteriggioni, dominated by Mario's rocca, appeared on its hill on the horizon. They had made better time than they'd expected and had now eased their pace to spare the horses.

"…and then Minerva told me about the sun," Ezio was saying. "She told of a disaster that happened long ago, and foretold of another which is to come…"

"But not for some time in the future, vero?" said Mario. "Then we need not fret about it."

"Si," Ezio replied. "I wonder how much more work we have to do." He paused reflectively. "Perhaps it will soon be finished."

"Would that be so bad?"

Ezio was about to reply when he was interrupted by the sound of an explosion-cannon fire, from the direction of the town. He drew his sword, rising in his saddle to scan the ramparts.

"Don't worry," said Mario, laughing heartily. "It's only exercises. We've upgraded the arsenal here and installed new cannon all along the battlements. We have training sessions daily."

"As long as they aren't aiming at us."

"Don't worry," said Mario again. "It's true that the men still need to get their eye in, but they have enough sense not to fire at the boss!"

A short while later they were riding through the open principal gate of the town and up the broad main thoroughfare, which led to the citadel. As they did so, crowds gathered to line the street, looking at Ezio with a mixture of respect, admiration, and affection.

"Welcome back, Ezio!" one woman called.

"Grazie, Madonna." Ezio smiled back, inclining his head slightly.

"Three cheers for Ezio!" a child's voice rang out.

"Buon giorno, fratellino," Ezio said to him. Turning to Mario, he added, "It's good to be home."

"I think they're more pleased to see you than to see me," said Mario, but he was smiling as he spoke, and in fact much of the cheering, especially from the older townsmen, was for him.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the old family seat again," said Ezio. "It's been a while."

"It has indeed, and there are a couple of people there who'll be looking forward to seeing you."

"Who?"

"Can't you guess? You can't be that preoccupied with your duties to the Brotherhood."

"Of course-you mean my mother and my sister! How are they?"

"Well. Your sister was very unhappy when her husband died, but time heals most things, and I think she's much better now. In fact, there she is."

They had ridden into the courtyard of Mario's fortified residence now, and as they dismounted, Ezio's sister, Claudia, appeared at the top of the marble staircase that led up to the main entrance, flew down it, and ran into her brother's arms.

"Brother!" she cried, hugging him. "Your return home is the best birthday present I could have wished for!"

"Claudia, my dearest," said Ezio, holding her close. "It is good to be back. How is our mother?"

"Well, thanks be to God. She's dying to see you-we've been on tenterhooks ever since the news reached us that you were returning. And your fame goes before you!"

"Let's go in," said Mario.

"There's someone else who'll be glad to see you," continued Claudia, taking his arm and escorting him up the staircase. "The Countess of Forli."