"Ezio, hurry! I want you both to leave before the morning rush!"

The young adult male made hast in getting ready after hearing his mother call out to him from down stairs. Her wrath was a force to be reckoned with, so when she says hurry up you better hurry up. 

"Coming!" Slipping on his shirt and pants with ease, he grabbed his vest, tossing it over his shoulder before bolting out of his room and raced down the steps like a race horse. 

"Good morning, brother--" Ezio's younger sibling, Petruccio, had reached out to greet him, but Ezio ran past him, causing Petruccio to spin on his heel and fall back towards the floor, his silky mid-length black hair flapping upward. "Wah!!!"

"Eh-!" Ezio stopped himself, a sense of adrenaline coming over him as he turned back, reaching out with both hands as he caught his younger brother before his small head could hit the floor below. "Good morning to you too. My apologies, Petru, I'm in a hurry," 

"I know, I know, but I wanted to ask you something!" Petruccio shook his head in disarray as Ezio helped him up to his feet. 

"Can it wait until Claudia and I get back?" Ezio questioned with a sigh as he knelt in front of him. 

Petruccio shook his again, staring his pleading puppy dog like eyes at his older brother. Ezio sighed again, louder in defeat as his shoulders slouched. None the less, he smiled softly at him. 

"What is it?" 

"Can you buy more chocolates for me at the market?" The youngest Auditore asked. 

"More? I bought you some two weeks ago," Ezio reminded with a gentle wave of his finger. 

"I may or may not have eaten them all, sorry," Petruccio shrugged apologetically.  

Ezio muttered a curse quietly in his mother tongue before speaking. "Petruccio, mother will kill me if she finds out about this. . . again," 

"But it's not for me this time, I swear!" Petruccio insisted, jumping up and down in place. 

"You? Sharing sweets?" Ezio raised a brow at the boy before he placed both hands on his shoulders, staring down at him with a playfully intense look, shaking him gently. "How are you and what have you done with Petruccio Auditore?" 

Petruccio couldn't help but laugh at the brotherly torment. He knew Ezio would never hurt him, and always enjoyed goofing around with him. "I'm me, and I'm serious this time!" 

"Who is it for then?" Ezio asked curiously as he removed one hand from his shoulders, looking at him curiously. 

"It's for my friend from school, Cynthia!" Petruccio beamed. 

"Cynthia? She's your doctor's daughter, isn't she? I didn't know you were in the same class," Ezio quipped with intrigue. 

"Ezio, come on! It's time to go!" Claudia appeared at the archway of their house's front doorway. She wore a beautiful sunset golden dress with her hair done up in a cinnamon like braid at the back of her head. 

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Ezio waved at her before returning focus to Petruccio. "So you like this girl, is that it?" 

"Well," Petruccio's cheeks turned a light shade of pink as his hands tied themselves behind his back. "She always hangs out with me during my checkups. Her birthday is coming up soon, and I wanted to do something nice for her. To say thank you," 

Ah, there it was. Ezio smiled brightly at the boy as he patted his head. "A true Auditore. Alright, I'll get you your chocolates, but this is the last time, deal?" 

"Deal!" Petruccio smiled brightly as he nearly tackled Ezio with a hug. "Thanks big brother!"

"Anytime," Ezio patted the boys back before pulling away. "Head back to bed, you're suppose to be resting," 

"Okay!" Petruccio turned on his heels, running off down the hall and back up the stairs. 

Ezio watched him go with a soft smile before standing up from his kneeling position. He turned, walking towards the front door were Claudia stood waiting, arms crossed over her chest. "Alright, I'm ready to--" He glanced down to wear he kept his shoes only to find the shoe mat empty. His stare grew cold as he fixed his gaze towards his sister. "Claudia, where are my shoes?"

"Whatever do you mean, Ezio?" Claudia asked him with a sly cat like smile on her lips. 

"They were just right here a minute ago!" Ezio stated, not entirely in the mood for her silly pranks. 

"Because you took so long, I decided to hang on to them for you," Uncrossing her arms, she revealed Ezio's shoes dangling from her fingers. Ezio reached for them but she pulled them out of his range. "Going to have to do better then that," 

"Claudia, give them here--!" Ezio reached for them again, taking a step forward as his socks stepped onto the sun bathed concrete walkway. 

"Ah, ah, not so fast," Claudia stumbled back, turning her back towards him as she took her leave across the front yard walkway. "Catch me before we make it to the market and their yours. If not, you're just gonna have to go bare foot for the rest of the trip," 

"Did Federico put you up to this?" Ezio pointed an accusing finger at her. 

His eldest brother Frederico was his closest friend. Though when it came to his pranks, Ezio would always try to outsmart him, outplay him. It was like a little game of theirs, and ever since Frederico left home late last year to attend the Isu Corps Academy it seems as if he passed the torch onto his sister.

In all honest he felt as if it should have gone to Petru instead. That little monster could get away with anyway. 

"Catch me if you can, Ezio!" Claudia laughed as she picked up a part of her skirt and took off running. 

"Bring it!" Ezio huffed determinedly. 

He ran to the brick fence that guarded their house, jumping forward as his fingers latched on to a few lucky blocks that were suspiciously removed as he climbed his way to the top, pulling himself up. Like a gymnast on a tight rope he cat-walked his way across the wall before jumping onto the roof of the building next door, and the chase was on. 

*******

"Drop anchor!" 

The Jackdaw docked into the Florence Port, crew members gathering crates and other supplies and delivering them off the ship one by one. The ships captain oversaw the process on the dock, arms crossed over his chest as the brisk sea salt air blew against his golden hair. 

"Captain Kenway, right on time!" 

The Welshman looked over to see a dark skinned man stalk towards him, a warm smile on his face as Kenway's lips formed a smirk, reaching his hand out towards him. "Good to see you again, Ade!" 

Adewale took Edward's hand, the pair sharing a brotherly hug before pulling away. "How long has it been? Four months I gather," 

"Has it really been that long? Almost feels like yesterday," Edward chuckled at the thought. "I suppose the old saying is true; Time flies when you're having fun," 

"In your case time flies when you're out at sea," Adewale laughed in response. "I'm willing to bet money you were born in the water! But honest, are you a merman?" 

"If I was I'd be out swimming and not sailing my own ship," Edward jabbed back playfully, poking Ade's shoulder before shaking his head, refocusing on the actual reason he was here. "What do you need?" 

"Sugar, cocoa beans, and rum," Adewale listed, counting his fingers with a sharp grin, "Lots of it!" 

"Got it right over here for ya, lad," wrapping an arm around his shoulder, Edward led Adewale to the supplies. 

They both rummaged through the crates, the Captain handing his friend a series of papers to sign off on as a member of his crew worked on preparing the crates for passage onto Ade's carriage. 

Adewale glanced over at his friend, nudging his side. "How's your boy doing?"

"Haytham?" Edward's widened at the sudden question. How was Haytham? He didn't know all that much if he was being honest with himself. 

"Yeah, last I heard he was attending that Isu school," Adewale recalled one of their letters the pair had exchanged. He had only interacted with Haytham from time to time when he was merely a child. That seemed ages ago by now, especially after that. 

"That he is," Edward nodded in confirmation. 

The Isu Corps Academy, the Realm's finest military school. Those who attended and graduated had the option of serving under the Knights of the Templar Order or under her majesty herself, Queen Juno. The lucky ones that didn't break before long, anyways. 

There was a third faction, The Assassin Brotherhood, but by decree of the Queen, their military status was removed from the Isu Empire's forces, and much of their units were executed or went into hiding. Any surviving members of the Brotherhood were considered Mercenaries, forging a new path for themselves. Florence may still wave their flags, but now it's a reminder to never feel the Queens wrath ever again. 

The crazy part is no one in this Realm seems to remember why. Edward always seemed to get a splitting headache when he tried to recall the memory. That, or it was the whiskey and rum. 

Speaking of, Edward could feel one coming right now. He shook off the old history lesson, returning to reality as he glanced over at his friend. 

"He's actually graduated, and given an officer position with the Templar Order," 

Adewale whistled astonishingly. "The Order? Not bad. I knew he was bright, but damn. A mind like a steel trap that one, eh?" 

"That he does," Edward smiled proudly. "Got it from his mother," 

"So I take it he's not with you in London anymore?" Adewale pressed curiously as the pair began to walk towards the carriage, crossing the docks. 

"No sir," Edward shook his head. "As he advanced in his classes, he was asked to attend their campus in The Colonies, Boston I think I was, and he agreed without giving it a second thought," 

"An opportunist," Adewale nodded knowingly. "Always has been, anything to avoid those crooked Isu, ammi right?" 

"Watch your tone in how you speak, my friend," Edward advised, bringing a finger to his lips. "Brotherhood territory Florence maybe, but the Isu have eyes and ears everywhere," 

Adewale nodded knowingly as the last crate was stored into the carriage. He watched the crew man walk by before looking over at Edward. "Till we meet again, old friend," 

"I'm in town for a few days, maybe we can catch up over a drink?" Edward offered as she watched his friend climb into the drivers seat of his carriage. 

"There's this one pub in town I think you'll really love," Adewale smiled shined brightly, pointing over down the road. "The place is called The Sun Flower," 

"I'll keep an eye out for it," hands on his hips, Edward nodded towards Ade as the man snapped on the reigns and the horse began to pull the carriage forward. 

The Kenway captain waved goodbye to his friend, before steering his attention back out to the water, the giant crystal hovering in the distance above Queen Juno's castle. If he stared at it too long, the headaches would come back. He was feeling a migraine beginning to set in as he steered his gaze away from the crystal. 

"Look out!" 

There was a loud 'CRASH' as Edward jumped in place. He whirled around, following the source of the noise to see Adewale's carriage toppled over. The horses cried in distress but appeared to be unharmed. The containment of most of the crates were scattered all over the crowd as a crowd began to surround the scene. Edward's heart raced in his chest as he pushed and shoved his way through.

"Adewale!" He called out to his friend as he broke through the last wave of people. 

Adewale laid on his side, moaning in pain. How could this have happened? He only steered his gaze away for just a split second. That's when he saw it. Or rather, him. 

A man in his early twenties, wearing dark clothing, a newspaper boy cap and a copperwire necklace was near Adewale, rummaging through the wreckage. 

"You there!" Edward pointed a finger at thief. 

Gaining the man's attention, Edward was met with piercing brown eyes, a stubble beard along a toned jawline and light skin. Realizing he was made, the thief grabbed the closest sack of goods he could carry before throwing out a smoke bomb. The white puff clouds coded the area as bystanders screamed and the man took off running. 

The Rook had struck again.