Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood by Oliver Bowden Read Free Book Online Page A

voice. “Where is the Apple?” He did not tell his uncle that the Codex weapons had been destroyed by one of the first cannonades. Inwardly he prayed that, by some miracle, his path would cross with Leonardo’s again, for he did not doubt that the master of all the arts and sciences would help him reconstruct them, in case of need. In the meantime, he had the hidden-blade still, and he was a past master himself in the use of conventional weapons.
    “The Apple is safe,” Mario reassured him. “Now go. And if you see that the Borgia show the
slightest
chance of breaching the walls, shift your attention to evacuating the town. Do you understand?”
    “Sì, zio mio.”
    Mario placed his hands on Ezio’s shoulders and looked at him gravely for a long moment. “Our fate is only partially in our own hands. There is only a certain amount of it that we can control. But never forget,
never
forget, nephew—that whatever happens to you, or to me, this day, there is never a feather lost by a sparrow that is not brushed away by the finger of God.”
    “I understand,
Capitano
.”
    There was a brief moment of silence between them. Then Mario extended his hand.
    “Insieme per la vittoria!”
    Ezio took his uncle’s hand in his and wrung it fervently.
“Insieme!”
    Mario turned to go.
    Ezio said, “
Capitano
—be careful!”
    Mario nodded grimly. “I’ll do my best! And you—take my best horse and get to the outer walls as fast as you can!” He drew his sword and, with his great war cry rallying his men, ran toward the foe.
    Ezio watched him briefly and then ran himself toward the stable, where the old groom whose runaway horse he’d saved only the day before was waiting. The huge chestnut was saddled and ready.
    “Maestro Mario had already sent orders,” the old man said. “I may be past my prime, but no one could ever accuse me of being inefficient.
Ma attenzione!
This horse is full of spirit!”
    “I brought him to heel yesterday. He’ll know me today.”
    “True enough!
Buona fortuna!
We all depend on you!”
    Ezio swung himself into the saddle and urged the eager horse toward the outer walls.
    He rode through the already devastated town. The tailor, dead and mutilated in front of his shop. What harm had he ever done anyone? And Angelina, weeping in front of her burned-down house; what was the point of not showing her pity?
    War—that was all. Brutalizing and cruel. Vicious and infantile. Ezio’s gorge rose at it.
    Freedom and Mercy. And Love. These were the only things worth fighting for, worth killing for—and these were the prime elements of the Assassin’s Creed. Of the Brotherhood.

     
    Ezio, as he rode forth, encountered scenes of terrible desolation. Devastation and chaos surrounded him as his horse carried him through the burning town.
    “My children! Where are my children?” a young mother screamed as he passed, helplessly.
    “Just pack what you can and let’s get out of here!” cried out a man’s voice.
    “My leg! My leg’s been shot away!” yelled a towns-man.
    “How can we escape?” shrieked several people, rushing around in panic.
    “I can’t find my mother! Mamma! Mamma!” rang out the voice of a little child.
    Ezio had to steel his heart. He could not go to the rescue of individuals. There was no time. But if he could organize the defense properly, more people would be saved than lost.
    “Aiuto! Aiuto!”
a teenaged girl, mobbed by Borgia troops, cried out as they forced her down.
    Ezio rode grimly on. He would kill them. Kill them all, if he could. Who was this heartless Cesare Borgia? Could he be actually worse than the Pope? Could there ever be a more evil Templar?
    “Water! Water! Bring water!” a man’s voice bellowed despairingly. “Everything is burning!”
    “Where are you, please, oh, God! Where are you, Marcello?” a woman’s voice sang out.
    Ezio rode on, his mouth set. But the cries for help still rang in his ears:
“Come usciamo di qui?”
    “Run! Run!”