‘First, perhaps, I owe you an apology,’ began Machiavelli. ‘I was not present in the vault and urgent business took me to Florence before I could truly analyse what happened there. Mario has given us his account, but yours alone can be the full one.’

Ezio rose and spoke simply and directly. ‘I entered the Vatican, where I encountered Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI, and confronted him. He was in possession of one of the Pieces of Eden, the Staff, and used it against me. I managed to defeat him and, using the combined powers of the Apple and the Staff, gained access to the secret vault, leaving him outside. He was in despair and begged me to kill him. I would not.’ Ezio paused.

‘What then?’ prompted Machiavelli as the others watched silently.

‘Within the vault were many strange things - things not dreamt of in our world.’ Visibly moved, Ezio forced himself to continue in level tones. ‘A vision of the goddess Minerva appeared to me. She told of a terrible tragedy that would befall mankind at some future time, but she also spoke of lost temples which may, when found, aid us and lead us to a kind of redemption. She appeared to invoke a phantom, which had some close connection with me, but what that was I cannot tell. After her warning and predictions, she vanished. I emerged to see the Pope dying - or so it seemed; he appeared to have taken poison. Later something compelled me to return. I seized the Apple, but the Staff, which may have been another Piece of Eden, was swallowed up by the earth. I am glad of it: the Apple alone, which I have given in custody to Mario, is already more than I personally wish to have responsibility for.’

‘Amazing!’ cried Caterina.

‘I cannot imagine such wonders,’ added Claudia.

‘So the vault did not house the terrible weapon we feared - or at any rate, the Templars did not gain control of it. This at least is good news,’ said Machiavelli evenly.