Minerva bowed down to him, close to him, and he felt a mother’s warmth embrace all his weariness, all his pain. ‘I do not wish to speak with you but through you. You are the Prophet.’ She raised her arms above her and the roof of the Vault became the Firmament. Minerva’s glittering and insubstantial face bore an expression of infinite sadness. ‘You’ve played your part… You anchor Him… But please be silent now… that we may commune.’ She looked sad. ‘Listen!’
Ezio could see all the sky and the stars, and hear their music. He could see the Earth spinning, as if he were looking down from Space. He could make out continents, even, on them, a city or two.
‘When we were still flesh, and our home still whole, your kind betrayed us. We who made you. We who gave you life!’ She paused, and if a goddess can shed tears, she shed them. A vision of war appeared, and savage humans fought with handmade weapons against their former masters.
‘We were strong. But you were many. And both of us craved war.’
A new image of the Earth appeared now, close by, but still seen as from Space. Then it receded, becoming smaller, and Ezio could see it now as just one of several planets at the centre of whose orbits stood a great star – the Sun.
‘So busy were we with earthly concerns, we failed to notice the heavens. And by the time we did…’
As Minerva spoke, Ezio saw the Sun flare into a vast corona, shedding unbearable light, light which licked the Earth.
‘We gave you Eden. But we had between us created war and death and turned Eden into hell. The world burned until naught remained but ash. It should have ended then and there. But we built you in our image. We built you to survive!’
Ezio watched as from the total devastation that seemed to have been wrought upon the Earth by the Sun, a single ash-covered arm thrust skyward from the debris. Great visions of a windswept plain swept across the sky, which was the Roof of the Vault. Across it marched people – broken, ephemeral, but brave.
‘And we rebuilt.’ Minerva continued. ‘It took strength and sacrifice and compassion, but we rebuilt! And as the Earth slowly healed, as life returned to the world, as the green shoots thrust up out of the generous earth once more… We endeavoured to ensure that such a tragedy would never be repeated.’
Ezio looked at the sky again. A horizon. On it, temples and shapes, carvings in stone like writing, libraries full of scrolls, ships, cities, music and dancing – shapes and forms from ancient times and ancient civilizations he didn’t know, but recognized as the work of his fellow beings…
‘But now we are dying,’ Minerva was saying. ‘And Time will work against us… Truth will be turned into myth and legend. What we built will be misunderstood. But Ezio, let my words preserve the message and make a record of our loss.’
An image arose of the building of the Vault, and others like it.
Ezio watched, as if in a dream.
‘But let my words also bring hope. You must find the other temples. Temples like this. Built by those who knew how to turn away from war. They worked to protect us, to save us from the Fire. If you can find them, if their work can be saved, then so, too, might this world.’
Now Ezio saw the Earth again. The skyline of the Roof of the Vault showed a city like a vast San Gimigmano, a city of the future, a city of towers crushed together which made a twilight of the streets below, a city on an island far away. And then all coalesced once more into a vision of the Sun.
‘But you must be quick,’ said Minerva. ‘For time grows short. Guard against the Templar Cross – for there are many who will stand in your way.’
Ezio looked up. He could see the Sun, burning angrily, as if waiting. And then it seemed to explode, though within the explosion he thought he could discern the Templar Cross.
The vision before him was fading. Minerva and Ezio were left all alone, and the voice of the goddess now seemed to be disappearing down a tunnel of infinite length. ‘It is done… My people must now leave this world… All of us… But the Message is delivered… It is up to you now. We can do no more.’
And then there was darkness and silence, and the Vault became a dark underground room again, with nothing in it at all.
*
Ezio turned back. He re-entered the antechamber and saw Rodrigo lying on a bench, a dribble of green bile oozing from a corner of his mouth.
‘I am dying,’ said Rodrigo. ‘I have taken the poison I kept back for the moment of my defeat, for there is no world for me to live in now. But tell me – tell me before I leave this place of wrath and tears for ever – tell me, in the Vault – what did you see? Whom did you meet?’
Ezio looked at him. ‘Nothing. Nobody,’ he said.
He walked back out, through the Sistine Chapel and into the sunlight, to find his friends waiting there for him.
There was a new world to be made.
List of Characters
Giovanni Auditore: father
Maria Auditore: mother
Ezio Auditore: second son of Giovanni
Federico Auditore: eldest son of Giovanni
Petruccio Auditore: youngest son of Giovanni
Claudia Auditore: daughter of Giovanni
Mario Auditore: brother of Giovanni
Annetta: Auditore family housekeeper
Paola: sister of Annetta
Orazio: servant of Mario Auditore
Duccio Dovizi: ex-boyfriend of Claudia
Giulio: secretary to Giovanni Auditore
Dottore Ceresa: family doctor
Gambalto: sergeant in command of Mario Auditore’s guards
Cristina Calfucci: girlfriend of the young Ezio
Antonio Calfucci: father of Cristina
Manfredo d’Arzenta: son of wealthy family, later married to Cristina
Gianetta: friend of Cristina
Sandeo: Cristina’s father’s clerk
Jacopo de’ Pazzi: member of Pazzi family, fifteenth-century Florentine bankers
Francesco de’ Pazzi: nephew of Jacopo
Vieri de’ Pazzi: son of Francesco
Stefano da Bagnone: priest, secretary to Jacopo
Father Giocondo: priest in San Gimignano
Terzago, Tebaldo, Capitano Roberto, Zohane and Bernardo: soldiers and guards in the service of the Pazzi family
Galeazzo Maria Sforza (Galeazzo): Duke of Milan, 1444–76
Caterina Sforza: daughter of Galeazzo, 1463–1509
Girolamo Riario, Duke of Forlì: Caterina’s husband, 1443–88
Bianca Riario: daughter of Caterina, 1478–1522
Ottaviano Riario: son of Caterina, 1479–1523
Cesare Riario: son of Caterina, 1480–1540
Giovanni Riario: son of Caterina, 1484–96
Galeazzo Riario: son of Caterina, 1485–1557
Nezetta: wet-nurse to Caterina’s baby
Lodovico Sforza: Duke of Milan, brother of Galeazzo, 1452–1508
Ascanio Sforza: cardinal, brother of Galeazzo and Lodovico, 1455–1505
Lorenzo de’ Medici, ‘Lorenzo the Magnificent’: Italian statesman, 1449–92
Clarice Orsini: wife of Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1453–87
Lucrezia de’ Medici: daughter of Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1470–1553
Piero de’ Medici: son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1471–1503
Maddalena de’ Medici: daughter of Lorenzo de’ Medici, 1473–1528
Giuliano de’ Medici: brother of Lorenzo, 1453–78
Fioretta Gorini: mistress of Giuliano de’ Medici
Boetio: servant of Lorenzo de’ Medici
Giovanni Lampugnani: conspirator in murder of Galeazzo, d. 1476
Carlo Visconti: conspirator in murder of Galeazzo, d. 1477
Gerolamo Olgiati: conspirator in murder of Galeazzo, 1453–77
Bernardo Baroncelli: conspirator in murder of Giuliano de’ Medici
Uberto Alberti: Gonfaloniere of Florence (chief official of the Council of Magistrates)
Rodrigo Borgia: Spaniard, cardinal, later Pope Alexander VI, 1451–15
03
Antonio Maffei: priest, conspirator in murder of Giuliano de’ Medici
Raffaele Riario: Pazzi sympathizer, nephew of the Pope, 1451–1521
Francesco Salviati Riario, Archbishop of Pisa: involved in Pazzi conspiracy
Lodovico and Checco Orsi: Orsi brothers, mercenaries
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli: philosopher and writer, 1469–1527
Leonardo da Vinci: artist, scientist, sculptor, etc., 1452–1519
Agniolo and Innocento: assistants to Leonardo da Vinci
Girolamo Savonarola: Dominican priest and political leader, 1452–98
Marsilio Ficino: philosopher, 1433–99
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola: philosopher, 1463–94
Poliziano (Angelo Ambrogini): scholar and poet, tutor to de’ Medici children, 1454–94
Botticelli (Alessandro di Moriano Filipepi): artist, 1445–1510
Jacopo Saltarelli: artist’s model, b. 1459
Fra Domenico da Pescia and Fra Silvestro: monks, associates of Savonarola
Brother Girolamo: monk at the abbey of Monteciano, cousin of Savonarola
Giovanni Mocenigo: Doge of Venice, 1409–85
Carlo Grimaldi: member of Mocenigo’s entourage
Conte de Pexaro: patron of Leonardo in Venice
Nero: official assistant to Conte de Pexaro
Emilio Barbarigo: Venetian merchant, allied to Rodrigo Borgia
Silvio Barbarigo (‘Il Rosso’): state inquisitor, cousin of Emilio Barbarigo
Marco Barbarigo: cousin of Silvio and Emilio
Agostino Barbarigo: younger brother of Marco
Dante Moro: Marco’s bodyguard
Carlo Grimaldi: in Doge’s entourage
Bartolomeo d’Alviano: mercenary
Gilberto the Fox, la Volpe: member of the Assassins
Corradin: the Fox’s assistant
Antonio de Magianis: head of thieves’ guild in Venice
Ugo: member of thieves’ guild
Rosa: member of thieves’ guild
Paganino: member of thieves’ guild
Michiel: member of thieves’ guild
Bianca: member of thieves’ guild
Sister Teodora: brothel owner
Glossary of Italian and Latin terms
abominato filth/wretch
accademico academic
accompagnatrice companions, chaperones
addio goodbye
Ahimè Alas
Aiutami, Dio! Help me, God
Aiuto! Help!
Al ladro! Stop, thief!
Altezza Highness
amici intimi close friends
amico mio my friend
amministratore administrator, manager
amore mio my darling
anche also, too
anch’io me too, same here
Aprite la porta! Open the gate!
Arcivescovo Archbishop
aristocrazia aristocracy
artiglierie artillery
Assassino Assassin
bacino basin (in a dock)
bambina baby
Basta! Enough!
bastardo, bastardi bastard/s
bello handsome
ben fatto well done
benvenuti welcome
Birbante! rascal, rogue
biscotti biscuits
bistecca beefsteak
bordello brothel
buona fortuna good luck
buona sera good evening
buon’ giorno good morning, good day
buon viaggio safe journey
caffè coffee
calma calm down
campo area
Cane rognoso! Mangy cur!
capitano captain
Capito? Understand?
cappa cloak, cowl
carcassa carcase
Carnevale Carnival
caro, cara, carissima dearest, darling
casa, dolce casa home, sweet home
castello castle
cazzo! prick/shit
Che vista penosa! What a painful sight!
chiudi il becco shut up
ciao goodbye
ciccione fatty
cimice bedbug
codardo coward
coglioni balls
commandante commander, captain
Commendatore Commander
compagno comrade
condottieri hired soldiers, mercenaries
coniglio! coward, chicken
Cordelie
corno ducale traditional hat worn by the Doges of Venice
così like this
Creapa, traditore! Die, traitor!
crepi il lupo may the wolf die
Curia the Roman law courts
diavolo devil
Distinti saluti sincerely, faithfully (in a letter)
dottore doctor
ducati ducats
duce leader
duchessa duchess
Duomo dome (meaning the cathedral in Florence)
Evviva! hurrah
fidanzato fiance
figa vagina (slang)
Figlio d’un cane! Son of a bitch!
finanziatore financier, backer
fiorini florins
fottiti! fuck you!
Fra’ Brother
fratelli brothers
fratellino little brother
funzionario da accoglienza reception, welcoming party
grappa Italian alcoholic drink
grassone bastardo fat bastard
Grazie a Dio Thank God
Grazie, amici Thank you, friends
grullo silly
hospitarius guest-master of monastery
idiota idiot
il Magnifico the Magnificent
il Spagnolo the Spaniard
in bocca al lupo! good luck!
Infame Awful, shocking
Infelix ego omnium auxilio destitutus Unhappy I, bereft of all comfort
in perfetto ordine shipshape
inquisitore inquisitor
intensi certainly/understood
liberta liberty
‘Libertà! Libertà! Popolo e libertà!’ Liberty! Liberty! The People and Liberty
Luridi branco di cani bastardi! filthy bunch of son-of-bitches
luridi codardi filthy cowards
lurido porco filthy pig
Ma certo! But of course
Ma che? But what’s this?
Ma che cazzo? What the fuck was that?
madre mother
Maestro Master
maledetto cursed
marmocchio brat
medico doctor
merda! shit!
Messer Sir
mia colomba my dove
mi dispiace veramente I’m truly sorry
miserabili pezzi di merda miserable piece of shit
molto onorato very honoured
nipote nephew
no preoccuparvi not to worry, don’t worry
novizia novice nun
ora di pranzo lunchtime
oste innkeeper
palazzo palace
passeggiata evening stroll
Perdonate, Messere Sorry, sir
piccina little one
piccola small, little
pistola pistol
popolo the people
porco pig
porco demonio! spawn of the devil
principessa princess
promesso promise
puttana whore
Rallegramenti! Congratulations!
Requiescat in pace Rest in peace
ribollita Tuscan soup
salute! bless you!
Sancta simplicitas! What Blessed Simplicity
Sangue di Giuda! Christ on a bicycle
scusi excuse me
se lo tu dici if you say so
Ser Sir
sfortunato unlucky
sì yes
signore Mr, gentleman
Signoria governing authority
signorina miss
>
signorine plural of signorina
soldo penny
Sono grato del tuo aiuto I’m grateful for your help
sorellina little sister
Spero di sì I hope so
Stai bene All right
Stolti! Fools!
stronzo asshole, prick, etc.
su altezza your highness
subito suddenly
tagliagole cut-throat
tartaruga tortoise, slowcoach
terra ferma dry land
tesora, tesoro sweetheart, treasure
Ti arresto! I arrest you!
traditore traitor
Tutti per uno e uno per tutti! All for one and one for all!
ubriacone drunkard
uomo coraggioso brave man
va bene all right
vecchio old
zio uncle
Acknowledgements
Yves Guillemot
Serge Hascoet
Alexis Nolent
Richard Dansky
Olivier Henriot
Sébastien Puel
Patrice Desilets
Corey May
Jade Raymond
Cecile Russeil
Joshua Meyer
Marc Muraccini
The Ubisoft Legal Department
Chris Marcus
Darren Bowen
Amy Jenkins
Caroline Lamache
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Map
Assassin’s Creed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Renaissance Page 37
