System in Assassin's Creed

Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Reuben meets Father in Law - Extra

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The walk towards the villa east of Monteriggioni was darker and longer than it looked from the town gate.

Loud crickets could be heard in the surrounding fields, and they only had to source of light... the moon and the single lantern Flavia carried.

Tall cypress trees lined parts of the dirt road, and everything was basically dark, making the coachman’s fear of things lurking in the night now understandable.

’Still,’ Alaric thought, easily navigating the uneven path, ’in my previous world, I used to just search for places like this on Google Maps... click a button, get directions. It’s certainly different doing it like this. More... atmospheric, I suppose. But less convenient, of course.’

Reuben, walking beside Flavia and carrying the bulk of their bags, broke the silence. ”So, Flavia,” he asked, adjusting the straps on his shoulder, ”you never told us... what exactly were you doing back in Barceno?(Barcelona)”

”I received a coded letter from my cousin, who is stationed there,” she replied calmly while keeping her eyes on the path ahead, illuminated by the swaying light of the lantern. ”He requested assistance for his assigned mission... the assassination of the Maestre de la Orden del Temple en Cataluña.”

Reuben raised an eyebrow. ”Maestre what now?”

Alaric chuckled softly from just ahead of them. ”It means Master of the Templar Order in Catalonia, Reuben.” He glanced back at Flavia. ”Impressive target.”

Flavia looked slightly surprised by his casual understanding. ”It seems you know castellano as well?”

”Un poco,” Alaric replied easily. (A little.)

Flavia chuckled lightly. ”His name was Don Hernando de Valcázar,” she continued as her tone became more serious. ”A powerful man, deeply entrenched. My cousin’s team had been tracking him for months, but he was heavily guarded. I-” ℴ

She stopped abruptly as her body tensed. In the same instant, a dark shape detached itself from the thick branch of an overhanging tree, dropping silently towards where Flavia had been standing a second before.

She leaped back instinctively, raising her lantern defensively. The figure landed silently on the spot she’d just vacated, an Assassin.

Simultaneously, Reuben twisted sharply as a hidden blade flashed past his face, missing by a hair’s breadth.

Another Assassin had emerged from the roadside shadows. Alaric, who had sensed them moments before they attacked, simply reached out and caught the wrist of a third Assassin aiming a hidden blade at his neck, stopping the attack cold.

’Honestly,’ Alaric thought with a touch of boredom, ’it’s no fun when I can sense any living being within such a large radius.’

”W-Wait!” Flavia cried out, recognizing the attackers’ attire. ”They are-”

She couldn’t finish as another figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the light that was casted by the lantern. He was a middle-aged man, stern-faced, wearing the distinct, authoritative robes of an Assassin that Alaric was all too familiar with.

’His outfit’s similar to a Mentor’s robes...’ Alaric noted mentally.

The Mentor’s sharp eyes fixed on Flavia, ignoring Alaric and Reuben for the moment. ”Flavia,” he said, his voice was cold and laced with disappointment. ”To think you have sold us out. Brought strangers to our doorstep.”

”N-No, Padre! I would never!” Flavia protested vehemently.

”Then who are these men!?” the Mentor demanded, finally turning his piercing gaze towards Alaric and Reuben.

”I-” Flavia started, but Reuben cut her off. Nobody aside from Alaric noticed that he had a dagger just a centimeter from the stomach of the Assassin who tried to stab his face with a hidden blade.

”I am her husband!” Reuben announced firmly as his voice rang with conviction.

Everyone... Flavia, Alaric, the Mentor, and the other two Assassins, widened their eyes, staring at Reuben in stunned silence. Alaric was more of being impressed rather than shocked.

The Mentor recovered first, his gaze snapping back to Flavia. ”Flavia... is this true!?”

Flavia, after a second of shock, seemed to seize the opportunity. ”Sì!” she declared, looking defiantly at the Mentor. ”He is my marito... soon.”

Before the Mentor could respond to this unexpected development, Alaric sighed dramatically, releasing the wrist of the Assassin he held, as the Assassin stumbled back warily.

”Tutti, tutti...” Alaric said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. ”Let’s all be civil, aye? We don’t mean any harm. It was Flavia who invited us to visit her home.”

(Tutti = Everyone)

The Mentor stared hard at Alaric, then at Reuben, taking in their height, their calm demeanor despite the ambush, and the ease with which they had handled his Assassins.

He had a sense of unease, these were not ordinary men. ”Are you trying to recruit them into the Brotherhood without sanction, Flavia?” he asked sharply. ”They seem... capable.”

”No, Padre,” Flavia insisted. ”But... they know of our ancestor. Ezio.”

That declaration caused another wave of shock. The three attacking Assassins visibly startled, and the Mentor’s eyes widened considerably. ”H-How?” he demanded, taking a step closer. ”What do you mean, they know of our ancestor, Ezio Auditore?”

Before Flavia could attempt an explanation, Alaric spoke again, his tone reasonable. ”Well... how about we discuss this inside? You cannot possibly intend to be this disrespectful to your daughter’s guests, can you, Maestro? It’s midnight.”

The Mentor stared at Alaric for a long with a sharp gaze, assessing moment. Finally, he gave a curt nod. ”Va bene,” he conceded gruffly. ”But you will remove your weapons first.”

Alaric raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Reuben. ”Seems fair,” Alaric said with a shrug. ”Let’s just get on with it.”

Reuben hesitated for only a second, glancing at Flavia, before nodding reluctantly. He sheathed his dagger that was centimeters off the stomach of the assassin.

He then untied the sheaths holding the Sword of Damokles and the dagger from his belt and handed them over to the Assassin he almost killed, who took them cautiously.

Alaric nodded towards the weapons Reuben surrendered. ”Ah... please handle his spada with great care,” he advised the Mentor smoothly in Italian. ”They are quite... importante.”

The Mentor gave another curt nod, his eyes lingering on the unique sword for a moment before turning back to them.

”I am Matteo Auditore,” he introduced himself formally despite his wary gaze. ”Maestro Assassino and mentore to the Assassins based at the Villa. And,” he added, his expression softening almost imperceptibly as he glanced at Flavia, ”father of Flavia.”

Reuben’s eyes widened slightly at the confirmation, while Alaric simply nodded politely. ”Alaric Jonathan Kenway,” he replied, switching fluidly back to English. ”From Bristol, England. I may speak italiano, but my friend here and I are English lads primarily.”

Matteo raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Alaric’s smooth language transition. He looked at Reuben and also transitioned his language to english. ”And this fellow? Does he speak Italiano?”

Reuben cleared his throat. ”Ah... I am Reuben. I can understand... a little bit.”

Matteo shook his head, looking momentarily displeased. ”That is no good. Flavia cannot have a marito who is not fluent in Italiano.”

Reuben immediately straightened his posture, looking determined. ”I will study to the best of my abilities, suocero!”

Matteo’s eyes widened again, and a vein throbbed in his temple. ”Suocero!?” he snapped back. ”I will be the judge of whether you have the right to call me father-in-law or not, ragazzo!”

Seeing Reuben flinch under Matteo’s glare, Alaric chuckled softly beside him. ”So, how do you feel now, Reuben? Still want to marry her?”

Reuben shot Alaric a fierce glare before Matteo cut them off with an impatient ”Tch... Andiamo!” (Let’s go!)

Matteo turned and started walking towards the distant villa, the other Assassins behind him, keeping a watchful eye on Alaric and Reuben. Flavia hurried to catch up with Reuben, offering him an apologetic smile.

”I am sorry about my papà,” she whispered. ”He is not usually like this...”

Before Reuben could reply, Matteo called back sharply, ”Flavia! Come here and walk beside me!”

Flavia sighed, gave Reuben one last apologetic look, and hurried forward to join her father.

Alaric clapped Reuben on the shoulder. ”Don’t worry, lad,” he said quietly. ”Fathers of daughters are always like that. Protective.”

Reuben nodded glumly. ”I know,” he muttered. ”Like Caroline’s father, who you...”

”Shh,” Alaric interrupted quickly. ”I know, I know...”

They continued walking in silence for a moment, following Matteo and Flavia up the dark path. Alaric glanced back towards the coast, though nothing was visible.

’I should probably send them a letter soon... let them know I’m still alive, at least.’

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