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Chapter 17 - Blades

Taddea had been sitting in her room for two days and Leonardo isolated himself in his study. Mario was avoiding discussion with them and kept himself busy in the City gathering the information he needed and Ezio wasn't around either, so Bartolomeo was running around the house, trying to please everybody.

It was the morning of the 2nd of April, a beautiful sunny day in Milan, and now the trees were green and the flowers were blossoming everywhere. Taddea opened the courtyard door and stepped in. In the middle of it, there was the tree she always stood under since she came to Leonardo's home. In the same place was her chair, still covered in soft pillows. She smiled, but it quickly faded away. She looked around and saw Leonardo in his balcony, looking at her. She froze for a few seconds, then waved at him. For her surprise the man waved back. He went back in his study, but in a few moments Taddea would look at him passing through the same door she did a few minutes ago.

She stood almost frozen gazing to the ground, waiting to hear his voice. Leonardo came closer and opened his mouth to say something, but closed it right up when te girl rose her head from the ground. She looked at his, tall, slender body, thin nose and squarish face, but round eyes, so blue and clear. His hair turned almost blond from the sunlight. His face was painted with green and red dye and so was the white messy shirt he was wearing. In one hand he had a brush and the other one he kept it close to his eyes, trying to cover them from the sun. She smiled and said:
- I think I understand now...
Leonardo looked at her confused and said:
- ... What are you talking about?
She smiled again and answered:
- Would you please forgive me? ... For what I've done...? I know now, it was out of place... And you from all the people, deserved it less...
Leonardo was puzzled beyond his belief but nodded. He went toward the wooden table and placed the brush there. He sat on one of the chairs near it and sighed. He turned his face to her and said:
- I don't even know what to say. I think I know what was on your mind, but then... I don't want to care... But then again... maybe I do... It's a very twisted... feeling...
Taddea smiled and sat on her chair. She took one pillow in her hands and squeezed it to her chest then said:
- I was wrong to do... that...
Leonardo nodded:
- ... Why did you do it?
- ... Because...
- You love him?
Taddea felt a knife in her heart. She gulped and turned her head slowly to Leonardo and said:
- If love is a pain in my chest that makes me sometimes sick when I think I can't touch him, then yes, I love him...
Leonardo stood silent. He knew what she was talking about. He had the same feeling for years now, until the assassin... confessed. Well, Ezio didn't quite confess to him. He leaned his head on his palms and grouted nervously. Taddea looked at him and said:
- Is there something wrong?
Leonardo lifted his head and said:
- We can't stay like this forever!
Taddea nodded:
- Yes! I know, I am preparing to leave...
Leonardo's eyes grew:
- No. That's not what I ment... How come you manage to have these crazy ideas all the time and act so natural to them...?
The young woman burst into laughter:
- You sound like my father...
- Well, he was a wise man! You're a... a firecracker, ready to explode at any minute! No thoughts, no nothing, you just act on instinct...
She smiled again:
- I guess that would not make a good assassin...
- What?
- I ran away... because I heard you... I heard that Ezio and Mario were assassins... I've understood whom I protected all that time and why my mom is dead now. I was... mad. I was mad at him, for not telling me the truth... back then, when we were in my home... and I was mad at you, for keeping me here, in this... fairy tale, with all your works...
Leonardo nodded:
- I see... And... what happened between you two while he was there?
Taddea looked at him:
- ... Nothing Leonardo. I wish that something would have happened, but only now I understand his feeling. He always acted like a big brother... And I only misinterpreted everything... Every smile he waved at me, every touch he layed on me... It was all "brotherly"...
Leonardo closed his eyes, covering his face with the palms. He knew how she was feeling. Every gesture that the assassin made or a simple joke that would taunt or tease his senses. He had endured that for years. But he was older, he knew how to restrain himself. But Taddea, she suddenly had a prince before her eyes, who was strong enough to give her comfort. And Ezio, well, he was a master at giving signs that actually weren't there. The painter smiled and said:
- Let's go...
The young woman looked around puzzled:
- Where?
- ... I think it's time you go see your mother...
Taddea stood silent, but after a few second she nodded:
- Yes... it's time... You're right...

After a few minutes they were walking out of the house. They did not take the carriage, both of them agreeing it was way to beautiful outside to stay hidden into a wooden cage, so they walked. It would take more then an hour to the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio where her mother was buried. As they were walking, Taddea dressed in a brand new hooded cloak, turned to Leonardo and said:
- You know... I didn't know you were... real...
The man looked at her confused:
- What do you mean?
- Well... As a matter of fact, I didn't know who "Leonardo" was until Ezio brought me to your home...
- I don't understand, said the painter again.
- While he was wounded, Ezio, and he had fever from the poison and the infection, at night he would have nightmares or... he would call your name...
Leonardo felt how heat would rise to his head and his cheeks would get red. He turned his head and said flustered:
- Did he...?
- Yes, said Taddea. Sometimes my words would not reach him, but you, that's another story. I guess you too share a long history together after all...
Leonardo smiled and said almost whispering:
- Yes, we do...
She turned to him:
- ... Aren't you worried? For him... when he leaves?
- ... More then I could say..., smiled sadly Leonardo.
- And why don't you tell him?
Leonardo burst in laughter:
- You don't truly mean that...
- But why?
- See, that's why you can't be an assassin. You say and do things without thinking at all. He is an assassin. How do you think he can carry out a mission if he knows that maybe something will happen home? He knows I am worried, but he also knows that he can trust me. And I trust him. We know exactly our places and our tasks when a mission is involved. We do not put each other in danger...
- I see, said Taddea. You do really... belong together...
Leonardo gulped. They both stood silent, then the painter said:
- I wanna know...
- ... What?
- ... That night... when I...
Taddea waved her hand in the air and said:
- Not his fault. Mine... I wanted to kiss him and he was so surprised that when he tried to get away from me... we both... fell down and then... you and sir Mario came in and...
- I see... I guess I need to apologize also...

Then suddenly Leonardo stopped. He looked around confused and while listening. Taddea tried to speak, but he made a gesture with his hand and halted her. He thought he heard the sound of a sword being taken out of its scabbard. But there was nobody around, just the two of them, on an empty path between desolated buildings and the tower of the Basilica of Sant'Eustorgio could already be seen in the distance. He shrugged and made a step, but he heard again a noise, very similar to steps approaching, like somebody was running toward them. This time Taddea heard it too. She looked at Leonardo and he looked back. They both nodded and tried to start running, but from a corner two men appeared: thiefs.

Two man, one taller the the other, but both about Leonardo's stature. The bigger one had a long dark beard, as for the smaller one, he was bald. Their clothes were torn and patched and their faces dirty. One of them was missing a front tooth and so did the other one. Both well build, grinning to them and suddenly circling Leonardo and Taddea. The painter looked at the taller one. He had a metal vest on him, most probably stolen from a guard, but that only covered his chest. At his waist, two knives, two palms long each, and when he took them out of their cases, the blades shone. The other one had a different weapon, similar to the Indian blades, slightly curved, but shorter. The taller one spoke:
- Well, what do we have here?
The other one replied:
- ... Fun!
The one with the metal tooth grabbed Taddea by the arm. A sudden cry slipped out of her lips. The man pulled her closer and grinned:
- So you're a girl...
The other thief replied again:
- Fun!
Leonardo looked at the tall one and said:
- What do you want?
The taller one start laughing annoyingly loud for Leonardo's ears:
- Did you hear that Ligo?! What do we want...
The man pointed a blade to Leonardo's throath and shouted:
- For starters... SHE'S MINE NOW!
Taddea panicked. She suddenly started to struggle with the attacker, making him more angry. He put back his knife and rose his hand to hit her, but in that moment Leonardo jumped toward him and punched him in the stomach and threw another blow in his nose. The man fell down taken by surpise by the painter's hits, his nose bleeding. Taddea moved aside quickly, staring amazed at Leonardo, but before that, she took one of the blades from the man's belt. She knelled beside him in an instant and put the blade to his neck. The other thief remained frozen, shocked by the speed his victim showed. Leonardo took advantage of the moment and stole the other blade from the first attacker. He turned to the tall one and said:
- Make him go away or you die here...
The thief made a short gesture with his head, but the tip of the blade pointed in his throat. He frowned, mumbling curses to Leonardo and Taddea. The second thief put his knife back and turned around leaving the other behind, Leonardo backed down slowly and grasped Taddea by an arm. The girl rose quickly and they both started running in the opposite direction, taking the knifes with them.

They stopped only when they got back to a more populated area where people already started to look at them suspicious for running around, bumping into them and carring the knives out in the open. They both hid them under their cloacks and looked around, heading toward Leonardo's home. Their hands were shaking, both panting for air, adrenaline pumping in their veins. Leonardo was frowning, looking suspicious at people and around them. Taddea looked at him for a few seconds, then took him by the hand and said:
- You think he followed us?
Leonardo winced when the girl touched him. He looked at their hands and said speaking bewildered:
- N-No... I don't think so... Are you hurt? Did he hurt you...?
Taddea shook her head:
- I don't know... I'm...
- Yes, I know, said Leonardo taking a deep breath. Let's go home..., continued the man, still holding Taddea's hand.

They got into the house running, still holding they hands, almost stumbling over Bartolomeo and Mario who were near the entrance. The two looked at them and then to their hands. Mario's face turned into complete puzzlement. Ezio appeared in the hallway, hearing the commotion and saw the two. He stood for a few seconds silent and Mario and Bartolomeo took off heading somewhere else in the house pretending to be busy. Leonardo snorted and Taddea covered a smile as Ezio's eyes grew open, his face confused and angry at the same time. Leonardo let Taddea go and ran to Ezio embracing him. Ezio took a few steps back and said:
- Care to explain...?
Leonardo smiled and said:
- Before that... I must apologize to you...
Ezio's look showed more puzzlement than before. He answered:
- I do not understand what is happening...
- That night, I didn't want to listen to you and it was wrong for me to do that... I am truly sorry, Ezio...
Ezio nodded and said:
- Aaaaalriiight... But...
Taddea came to him and said bowing:
- Welcome back... I hope your mission was successful.
- You two! snapped Ezio. What happened?! Why were you holding hands?
Taddea giggled and went up the stairs:
- Ask him! said the girl pointing at Leonardo.
Ezio turned to him and almost yelled:
- You tell me everything now! Yesterday you didn't want to talk to me, you didn't want to see her and now you two are holding hands! Now! Tell me!
Leonardo took him by the hand then said smiling:
- You are right, my love...
Ezio looked at him and followed Leonardo in silence. The painter said:
- We were attacked...
- WHAT?!?! snapped Ezio, then shouted, MARIO!!!
Leonardo covered his mouth with this hand and said:
- "Idiota"!!!
Mario came running:
- What happened?
- They were attacked! said Ezio turning to him then said to Leonardo, name, tell me now!
- I will tell you if you stop and calm down...
Leonardo went toward the guest room and said:
- Please calm down...
Mario and Ezio follwed him into the chamber and after a few minutes Bartolomeo and Taddea joined them too. Ezio looked at him and said:
- ... I'm waiting...
- It's not so much to say.. We just wanted to go to Taddea's mother's grave and we got attacked on the way there... But we escaped...
Taddea snorted and said:
- It was scary, but you should have seen Leonardo...
Ezio and Mario looked at each other puzzled and the young assassin said to Taddea:
- See... what?
Taddea rose her hands in the air and almost yelled:
- HE PUNCHED THE THIEF!!!
She made a move with her fist pointing it at Ezio stomach and continued:
- He hit right in the stomach and then... BOOM! In the face! And blood everywhere... And then, the thief fell and I stole his knife, HE HAD TWO!
- Yes! That was a great move Taddea, said Leonardo with a broad smile on his face.
- ... And then Leonardo just took the other knife from his belt and put it at his throat and threatened the other thief to go away..., continued Taddea excited, then continued turning to Leonardo, how big was the other one's weapon?
Leonardo shrugged and said turning to Ezio:
- He had a bigger knife, it was actually a blade... a bit circular, like a sickle... And the man name was... Ligo...
Taddea nodded:
- Yes, yes! Ligo! He called him Ligo and when he took off, we just ran...
- Yes, nodded Leonardo.
- ... And we came back... and people were looking funny at us and I hope he didn't follow us. And we ran again until we got home... here..., said Taddea taking a deep breath.
Ezio and Mario were under shock. Ezio looked at Leonardo and babbled:
- Youuuu... punched a thief...
- Yes, said Leonardo proud.
Taddea smiled and said:
- Yes, he did! You should have seem him...
Mario scratched his chin and said:
- You two are making fun of us!
Taddea's eyes grew larger and she almost yelled:
- NOOOO! WE HAVE PROOF!!!
Ezio looked at Mario and whispered:
- ... I can't believe this is happening...
Leonardo and Taddea took out the knifes they took from the thief and showed them to Mario and Ezio. Bartolomeo giggled in content. Leonardo said:
- Here! You have the proof... The two knifes...
Taddea rose one sleeve of her coat showing her arm, but she didn't expect to find it bruised again. Leonardo looked at her and said:
- You said you are fine...
- I didn't know he grasped me so bad... I didn't feel anything then...
Ezio rose from his place and took both of them in his arms. The two stopped talking suddenly almost chocked by the assassin's embrace. Leonardo said:
- Ezio...? Is everything alright?
Ezio nodded and said:
- Yes. Everything is alright..., replied the assassin kissing both of them on the forehead.
Leonardo and Taddea looked at each other, the young girl almost scared, but met Leonardo's gentle smile. Bartolomeo said:
- Well, isn't this a nice turn of events... Is anybody hungry?
Mario was the first to pat the boy on his shoulder, showing him the way to the kitchen, followed by Taddea who now seemed happier then ever. Ezio looked at Leonardo and smiled:
- I'm proud of you...
Leonardo looked at him smiling:
- I though you already were...
- I was... and I still am... But, you punched him? How big was he?
- Taller than me!
- Nooo...
- I can punch you to see I can do it...
Ezio laughed and kissed his lips. He wrapped his arms around him and let his head on his shoulder then said:
- I am sorry for...
Leonardo stopped him:
- It's over... I was wrong not to trust you.
Ezio smiled:
- Am I still yours?
- Just as long as you keep me, said Leonardo smiling, kissing the assassin.
Ezio nodded and Leonardo said:
- Let's go with them. I'm sure you'll leave soon tonight...

Chapter 19 - Claymore

The gates flew open violently. On a horse stood Mario carrying Ludovico in front of him. The assassin's face was bruised and cut, his garments torn and Ludovico was bent over, keeping his hand to the side, blood dripping from between his fingers. A few guards and some servants rushed toward them, taking Ludovico down from the horse and bringing him inside. The chief of the guards came closer to Mario and said:
- What happened?
- ... We were attacked, said Mario panting for air.
- By whom?!
- I do not know! It happened so fast...
Ludovico screamed:
- Leave him be! He saved me! I know who attacked me!
The chief of the guards turned around and said:
- My lord! I'll send for help.
- Is the Duke safe? Bring the Duke to me! Now!
The whole palace was now in a commotion. Mario dismounted and helped him inside as some servants lead the way to a room. Finally he layed down the regent and took a few steps back, but in that moment the young Duke himself came in the chamber running. He looked at Ludovico wounded and came closer. The man looked at him and screamed:
- You are alright!
The Duke nodded confused:
- Of course I am! But what happened, uncle?
- I was attacked...
- By who?!
Ludovico turned his face to Gian and said:
- ... Iacopo Balista!
The Duke's eyes grew larger. He looked at Ludovico in disbelief then looked back to Mario and yelled at him:
- You! Tell the truth!
- I... I don't know who Iacopo is... I just saw a man dressed in a monk's robe ordering a few thieves to attack this man. I helped him fight them, but when it was over the monk stabbed him...
The Duke looked at him horrified and turned to Ludovico:
- But how...? Why?
Ludovico smiled and said ruffling the young man's hair:
- I heard that you were concerned about Iacopo, so I went looking for him. I know you care about your friendship with him, but... I don't know... why he did that... I asked this man to bring me back, said Ludovico pointing at Mario. If Iacopo stabbed me, I thought that you would be in danger too...
The Duke was shocked. He wanted to leave the room, but was stopped by Ludovico who asked him to stay by his side so he can watch over him. In a few minutes a doctor came in, patching Ludovico's wound. He cut down the man's garments now soaked in his blood. Mario got closer to the Duke, bowed and said:
- My Lord... Are you alright?
The young Duke turned his eyes to him and nodded absent:
- Yes, I am! Who are you?
- I'm just a merchant who was passing by at that moment...
- I see... Thank you for saving him!
Mario bowed again and said:
- Are you sure alright?
- Yes, I just trusted that... man...
Mario nodded and said:
- The one who stabbed him? I think you should trust your uncle more. He was worried sick for you, "Messere"...
The young Duke looked at him and said:
- Was he...
Mario said:
- If you excuse me, My Lore ... I have to leave...
The young Duke looked at him as if awaken from a dream and said:
- Somebody bring medicine for this man!
Some servant rushed outside, but Mario said:
- I will be alright, "Messere"!
Mario looked at Ludovico who was lying in the bed and sketched a short smile as the man made a slight gesture with his chin. Mario went out of the room, but instead of going outside, he went the other way around, into the palace. The whole commotion was the perfect cover up. "Ezio should already be close", thought to himself.

Their plan was developing great, even though both him and Ludovico needed to hurt themselves in a fight to make everything look more real and all because of Ezio's idea that sounded so "brilliant" to the Regent of Milan. Hurt and bruised, they will go back at the Palace and claimed they were attacked by Iacopo. Mario played the role of a mere merchant and Ludovico will try to gain back the trust of the young Duke by telling him what happened. In the meantime Ezio would enter the Palace other ways. Mario thought this was a bit extreme, but if that could save the City, a mission was a mission after all. As soon as Ludovico arrived at Taddea's house, the place where they kept Iacopo until they killed him, Ezio told him that behind everything was Domenico Grimaldi, who was actually a della Torre.

And now it was clear for everybody what Domenico was tring to do. If the Duke didn't trust Ludovico he would not be able to rule the city, the real power being in Ludovico's hands. Still if the Duke thought of him as an enemy, he could easily discard him. With a scared child, that didn't trust anybody, the faith of Milan was sealed and anybody could claim the power easily. But not anymore. The Duke was betrayed by Iacopo and his trust went back to Ludovico. Now all they needed to do was to find Domenico, who was one of the clergyman of the palace. Ezio wanted to move fast so he won't give time to Domenico to think of a plan, so in the time Mario and Ludovico were causing a big commotion, Ezio would look for Domenico. Ludovico instructed them where the "God's man" could be, but he knew that he also heard about Iacopo's attack, so a violent response from Ludovico was to be expected. Mario thought that this hunt for Domenico would take place later, but here he was already trying to track him down.

Ludovico Sforza told him that the clergymen were all in a small chapel near the palace. The short way there would be through the palace so he followed Ludovico's directions, but the long corridors of the palace started to annoy Mario. They were too large and they didn't offer any hiding spots. He looked up and not even there could he find places to climb and hide in case he needed it. He went forward, paying attention to every sound. After a long corridor, at his right, he could see the interior courtyard through an iron gate. Then a shadow moved fast in front of his eyes, jumping from a column, down a ladder. He heard his nephew's voice:
- MARIO! It's him!
He ran to the gate, but it was closed. He saw another monk, his face hidden by the brown hood on his head, running toward a small door in the courtyard. No guards were around in the hysteria thet he and Ludovico created moments ago. The monk disappeared through the door. Ezio ran toward it but the man closed it before the assassin could get in. Mario could hear his nephew swearing all the iron gates in the world. The assassin came closer to the main gate and yelled:
- He's inside! FIND HIM!!!
Mario nodded and flew away from the gate only to return in the labyrinth of corridors of the palace. Ezio moved fast, tracking him down like that. A few steps away he heard a door slamming. Mario ran in the direction of the sound. By the time he opened the door, Ezio was already climbing a window getting inside the palace. They met at one point, both following Domenico's steps that now were leading to a spiral stair. They looked along them only to see Domenico somewhere up rushing away from them. "Bad move!" thought Mario. "High up is harder to get away!" he smiled. Ezio was the first to run after him, followed by his uncle. They both took the swords out, but when finally arrived at the end of the stairs a few guards were waiting for them. Ezio punched one of the guards in the face, and stabbed another with his sword. Mario yelled:
- Leave them! These are mine! Go after him!
Ezio nodded and ran through the door behind the guards. He stopped suddenly realizing he was on a large terrace, somewhere pretty high from the ground. The city could be seen in the distance, Domenico turned to him and said:
- Who are you?
- None of your business, della Torre!
The man looked at him and yelled:
- Go back, Demon!
Ezio shook his head and said to himself:
- "Not again!"
- You will not take Milan from me!
- Milan is not yours to take!
- It is not that boy's either! You think you can kill me?
- In fact, yes I do..., replied the assassin with a grin on his face.
Domenico took off the monk robe. Under it he had a whole armor prepared. His hair was tight back in a tail, his beard covering his cheeks and chin. He had a metal vest and metal gaunlets, both engraved with della Torre's family crest. At his waist hanged a claymore, a heavy sword, that Ezio wasn't too found of. Domenico took the sword out and started swinging it in the air, taunting the assassin. Ezio looked at him and said:
- So you're not a monk after all. Easy how you all lie in the name of God!
Domenico clenched his jaws, snorting and panting like a bull ready to attack. He kissed his sword and said:
- The family's sword will kill you! I WILL KILL YOU, DEMON! yelled the man.

Ezio got closer to him, the both of them going in circle, Domenico grasping the claymore with both hands. Suddenly the monk jumped toward Ezio swinging his sword in the air and hit, but the assassin counteracted with a short blow of his sword. The metal screeched at the impact and threw a few sparks in the air. Domenico moved aside and swiftly changed the blade from his right hand to the left one and made a circular motion swinging the cutting edge in Ezio's direction with an unbelievable speed. The assassin ducked the blow in the last second. He threw himself to the ground and with a circular motion of his leg hit Domenico's ankles, throwing him off balance.

Domenico found himself flat on his back, sucking in deep breaths of air, his claymore lying next to him. Ezio jumped in his feet, trying to get to the sword, but Domenico got it a second before Ezio could kick it away from him. He rolled away, but not quick enough, the assassin administrating a kick in his ribs. He felt how air would leave his lungs and worsen himself, trying to get up while keeping his balance straight. He could see the assassin rushing toward him, the steel of his blade shining in the sunset's red light, but before Ezio could take a strike at his opponent, he moved aside.

He heard Ezio speaking as he was leaning in his sword. The assassin moved back as well, but when Domenico saw him getting close again, he lifted the claymore and pointed it at Ezio, trying to tackle him. The assassin, moved away swiftly and when Domenico was beside him and hit him again with the elbow in his back, pinning him down to the ground. With a quick move Ezio leaned and took the claymore from his hand and said:
- This kind of sword is not for everybody, "idiota"!
He put away his falchion and Domenico could hear a blade being taken out. Ezio kept his foot on his back twisting his arms behind him. Domenico smiled and said:
- This is not over... More will come...
- And I will be waiting, replied Ezio.
- Milan is ours!
- It was! Let the past go or die Domenico!
- Never!
- Then, "Requiescat in pace", said Ezio as he sticked his blade in the man's throat.
When Ezio turned around he found Mario leaning on the wall applauding. His uncle said:
- It's over "nipote"...
- Yes, for now it's over...

It was already late at night, but the lights in the Sforza Palace were still lit. Ezio and Mario were in Ludovico's room, the man bandaged and laying down. He got up from the bed and looked at Ezio and Mario, then said:
- I will forever remain in your debt, my friends!
- There is no need, said Ezio. I am sure you have enough worms in the Palace to deal with. We leave that to you.
Ludovico nodded and poured a glass of wine then said:
- "Salute!" But tell me, what do you need?
Mario looked at him and said:
- An ally when times are hard!
- Then you shall have one, replied Ludovico.
Ezio looked at his torso and said:
- I am really sorry that I had to stab you...
Ludovico laughed:
- It's alright! It was for a good cause!
- We will take our leave, said Mario. Milan is in your hands now!
Ezio and his uncle bowed and left the room quietly.

Nobody knew beside the three what really happened in the palace, not even the Duke. Especially him. When the young man entered Ludovico's chamber, the man just smiled back at him, apologizing for something that the boy didn't understand. The next days Ludovico was "cleaning" the Sforza house of everything that was of della Torre descent or follower. Even the house of the clergymen was verified, everything that was against the Duke's well being needed to be removed...