have considered ways of stealing it, but it is kept under close guard, and I am only allowed access to it under the strictest supervision. But I was able to use its powers to locate you. It has that facility, you know. Quite fascinating.'
'And you taught them that trick?'
'Of course not! All I want is to return it to its rightful owner.'
'Fear not, Leo. We will recover it. In the meantime, stall them as far as you can, and if you can, keep me posted on how much you have let them know.'
'I will.'
Ezio paused. 'There is something else.'
'Tell me.'
'I have lost all the Codex weapons you once fashioned for me.'
'I see.'
'Except for the original hidden-blade. But the pistol, the poison-blade, the double-blade, the miraculous bracer-all these are gone.'
'Hmm,' said Leonardo. Then he smiled. 'Well, recreating them for you may not be a problem.'
'Really?' Ezio could scarcely believe it.
'The designs you let me have are still in Florence, well hidden with my old assistants Agniolo and Innocento. The Borgia will never have them. If they ever-heaven forfend!-took Florence, or even if the French did, Agniolo has strict orders to destroy them, and even he and Innocento-not that I do not trust them absolutely-would never be able to re-create them independently of me. But I-I never forget a design. However-'
He hesitated, almost embarrassed. 'You must pay me for the raw materials I will need. In advance.'
Ezio was astonished. 'Really? They are not paying you at il Vaticano?'
Leonardo coughed. 'Very…very little. I suppose they think that keeping me alive is payment enough. And I am not such a fool as to think that the minute my services become…superfluous to requirements, they will not kill me with as little reflection as they might kill a dog.'
'Hardly that,' said Ezio. 'They would rather you were dead than have you work for anyone else.'
'Yes, I've been thinking along the same lines,' said Leonardo. 'And there's really nowhere to run. Not that I want to-I want to see the Borgia crushed-I'll engage myself so far in politics as to say that! But my beloved Milan is in French hands…' he started to muse. 'Perhaps…later…when all this is over…I might even try my luck in France. They say it's a very civilized country…'
It was time to bring him back to reality. Ezio went to an ironbound chest and from it produced a leather pouch bulging with ducats. This he gave to Leonardo.
'Payment on account for the Codex weapons,' he said briskly. 'When can you have them ready?'
Leonardo considered. 'It won't be as easy as it was last time,' he said. 'I must work secretly, and alone-for I cannot wholly trust all the assistants I have working for me here.' He paused. 'Let me contact you again. As soon as possible, I promise.' He hefted the heavy bag in his hand. 'And who knows, for this much money I may even be able to throw in a couple of new weapons-my own inventions this time, of course, but effective, I think you'll find.'
'Whatever you can do for us will earn my undying gratitude and my protection, wherever you are,' said Ezio. He made a mental note to delegate a handful of his new recruits, as soon as they finished their training, to keep a watchful eye on Leonardo and to report back regularly on him. 'Now, how shall we maintain contact?'
Leonardo said, 'I've thought of that.' He took out a piece of chalk and on the table between them drew a man's right hand, pointing.
'It's beautiful,' said Ezio.
'Thank you-it's just a sketch of part of a painting I've been thinking of doing-of Saint John the Baptist. If I ever get around to it. Go and sit where it's pointing to.'
Ezio obeyed.
'That's it,' said Leonardo. 'Tell your people to keep their eyes peeled. They see one of these-it'll just look like a bit of graffito to anyone else-tell them to let you know, and follow the direction it's pointing in. That's how we'll rendezvous.'
'Splendid,' said Ezio.
'Don't worry, I'll make sure you're forewarned. In case you're thinking of charging off somewhere on some mission or other.'
'Thanks.'
Leonardo stood. 'I must go. Otherwise I'll be missed. But first-'
'First what?'
Leonardo grinned and shook the bag of money.
'First, I'm going shopping!'
TWENTY-EIGHT
Ezio left the hideout shortly after Leonardo, to continue his recruiting work but also to keep himself busy. He was impatient to have the replacement Codex weapons back in his hands.
When, later in the day, he returned for a prearranged meeting, it was to find that Machiavelli had preceded him. Caterina was with him, sitting in a chair, her knees covered with a fur rug. As usual, Machiavelli did not stand on ceremony.
'Where have you been?' he asked.
Ezio didn't like his tone. 'We all have our secrets,' he replied, keeping his voice level. 'And, may I ask, what have you been up to?'
Machiavelli smiled. 'I've been refining our carrier pigeon system. We can use it now to send orders to the new recruits scattered about the city.'
'Excellent. Thank you, Niccolo.'
They looked at each other. Machiavelli was almost ten years Ezio's junior; yet there was no doubting the independence and ambition behind those veiled eyes. Did he resent Ezio's leadership? Had he hoped it might have fallen on him? Ezio put the thought aside: no, surely the man was more of a theorist, a diplomat, a political animal. And there could be no doubt about his usefulness-or his allegiance-to the Brotherhood. If only Ezio could convince La Volpe of that, fully.
And, as if on cue, La Volpe entered the hideout, accompanied by Claudia.
'What news?' Ezio asked him, after the two had greeted one another.
'Bartolomeo sends his apologies. It seems that General Valois has had another stab at attacking the barracks.'
'I see.'
'They redoubled their assault. But we are holding our ground.'
'Good.' Ezio turned to his sister, coldly. 'Claudia,' he said, inclining his head.
'Brother,' she rejoined, with equal frostiness.
'Please sit down, all of you,' said Ezio.
Once they were settled, he continued. 'I have a plan prepared for the Borgia.'
'I suggest,' Machiavelli put in immediately, 'that we either go after their supplies or Cesare's followers.'
'Thank you, Niccolo,' said Ezio evenly. 'My plan is to attack both. If we can cut off his funds, Cesare will lose his army and return without his men. How does he get his money?'
La Volpe said, 'We know that he depends for much of his money on Rodrigo, and Rodrigo's banker is Agostino Chigi. But Cesare also has his own banker, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, though we have our suspicions.'
Ezio decided, for the moment, to keep his own suspicions in that direction quiet. It would be best to have them confirmed, if possible, by La Volpe's men.
'I know someone-a client of ours at the Rosa in Fiore-who owes that banker money. The senator Egidio Troche is complaining about interest rates all the time.'
