Oliver Bowden: Renaissance

– Ezio!She exclaimed when she saw him on his balcony-. Thank God you're alive! Her face reflected the relief I felt, but the term was short, the pain taking over her-. Your father, your brothers…

He could not finish the sentence and dropped his head. Ezio took her in his arms and spent several minutes simply embraced.

In the end, it was she who broke the embrace.

– You're crazy! What are you still in Florence?

"Still I have issues that deal truly sorry," saiddo-. But I can not stay here long, is a riskgo too big for your family. If they knew that these surveysbriendome…

Cristina remained silent.

"Give me my bag and leave.

She went to look, but before giving said

– What about your family?

"That's my first duty. Bury my dead. I'm not allowed to throw into a pit with lime as if they were common criminals.

"I know where they have been taken.

– How do you know?

"In the city has not talked about nothing else all day. But now there is no one for alli. Are close to Porta San Nicslipped, along with the corpses of the indigent. There is a grave preparedrada, and are waiting to arrive in the morning cars with the lime. Oh, Ezio!

Ezio spoke staying calm but very serious:

"I must take care of my father and my brothers are heading in this world that they deserve. I can not offer a requiem, but I can save his body from the indignity.

– I'll go with you!

– No! Do you realize what it would mean that surprised yousen me?

Cristina looked down.

"I must also take care of my mother and my sister isTen to save, and I owe to my family one more death. He hesitated-. Intonka I will. Perhaps forever. The question is: will you come with me?

She stepped back and saw in his eyes Ezio a multitude of conflicting emotions. There was love, deep and lasting, but at the time that had elapsed since the first day I tookbetween his arms, he had matured a lot more than her. Cristina was a child. How could I pretend to make a sacrifice like that?

"I do, Ezio, do not know how… but my family… This would kill my parents…

Ezio looked at her kindly. Despite being in the same age, his recent experiences had done much more mature than her. He had no family to depend upon, only responsibility and duty, and that was very hard.

"I've been wrong preguntandotelo. And who knows, perhaps thegun day, when this is back… "She raised her hands to cuement and in the folds of his robes located a medallion plata hung from a thin gold chain. Took it off. The medallion was a simple picture, the letter 'A' of your last name-. I want you to haveyou gas. Take it, please.

Cristina took it with trembling hands, crying. He looked and then looked at him, to thank him, to give any excuse.

But Ezio was gone.

On the south bank of the Arno, near the Porta San Niccolo, Ezio whatlimestone the desolate place where the bodies lay next to a large pit dug in the ground. Two guards look pitiful, simples recruits on the basis of their appearance, patrolling nearby, carrying their halberds more than covers with panache. See their uniforms aroused the wrath of Ezio and his first instinct was to kill them, but then thought he had seen enough deaths that day and were only forced to field boys seetir that uniform in search of a better life. He shrugged coright to see the bodies of his father and brothers on the edge of the pit with the rope still around his neck burned. He understood that as the guards were asleep, could transporttar without problem the bodies to the shore of the river where a boat was discovered that prepared previously loaded with stubble.

It was nearly three, and when he finished his task in the dim light of dawn was beginning to whiten the sky to the east. Is foundlocks along the river, watching the boat loaded with the bodies of his family, in flames, was carried away by the current slowly towards the sea. He continued staring until the firelight disappeared into the distance.

He returned to the city, their pain replaced by a relentless determination. He still had much to do. But above all, needed to rest. He returned to hut Sentinel and settled as he could. A nap does not go bad, but got even sleeping Cristina leave their thoughts, or dreams.

Knew about the whereabouts of the brother's houseAnnetta na, although he had never been there, did not even know Paolo, but had been his nurse Annetta and I knew that you can trust someone, had to be in it. He wondered if known and the fate of his father and brothers and if so, whether it would have explained to his mother and sister.

He came home very quietly, making a detour and in meas far as possible, covering the distance on the run, head down over the rooftops to avoid streets where surely would Uberto Alberti his men searching. Ezio could not injar thinking about the betrayal of Alberti. What faction would refer his father when he spoke at the gallows? What could have led to AlAlberti to lead to death one of his closest allies?

Ezio house knew that Paola was on a street just northyou from the cathedral. But when he got there, he could not guess what it was. On the facades of the buildings there were few signs that identifyCaran, and could not afford the luxury of loitering there because they could recognize. I was about to leave when he saw Annetta in person approaching from the Piazza San Lorenzo.

He pulled down his hood so that his face is camouflaged by the shadows and approached her, walking at a normal pace, trydo mingle with other citizens traveling on the street. Annetta He passed, and was glad to see that even she showed signs of having recognized. A few meters ahead, turned and sped up to stay by his side.

– Annetta…

Acuity was not her turn her head.

– Ezio. You're safe.

"Not exactly. Are my mother and my sister…?

"They're protected. Oh, Ezio, your poor father. And Federico. Y… "Stifled a sob the little Petruccio. I come right now of San Lorenzo. I've put a candle to San Antonio for them. They say the Duke will return soon. Maybe…

– Are my mother and Claudia aware of what happened?

"We thought it best not to tell.

Ezio thought for a moment.

"It's better this way. I'll tell you when the time comes. He paused-. Will you take me to them? I could not identify the house of your sister.

"Now I go there. Follow me.

It was delayed a bit, but without losing sight.

The place became sober and was the facade with the appearance of strength of the most magnificent buildings in Florence, but once inside, Ezio was stunned. Not exactly what was expected.

Was found in a large room with high ceilings and richfurnished mind. It was dark, enclosed space. The walls were covered with swags of velvet in shades of maroon and dark brown interspersed with oriental tapestries depicting scenes of luxury and pleasure s unequivocalEXUAL. The room was litanything by candlelight and floated in the air a scent of incense. The furniture was composed mainly of soft sofa cushions covered with precious brocade and low tables on which it had silver trays with wine jugs, goblets of Venetian glass and gold containers with candy. But the most surprisingyou were the people who occupied the room. A dozen beautiful girls, dressed in silks and satins in shades of yellow and green floral styleRentin but skirts with cuts to the top of the thigh with deep necklines that left little to the imagination except protabletop where it should not venture. In the three walls of the room, beneath garlands and tapestry, there were several doors.

Ezio looked around, in a sense without knowing where look.

– Are you sure this is the place? An he askednetta.

"Ma certo! And here is my sister who comes to meet us.

Saw him coming towards them an elegant woman, who must roTsar forty but looked ten years younger, as beautiful as any Principessa and better dressed than most. Its myrada hid a sad evening, augmented somewhat by transmitting sexually charged him, and Ezio, with everything he had in his head was touched.