‘Go and find Mario,’ said Caterina urgently.

Another ball flew in, shattering the beams over their recently vacated bed and smashing it to pieces.

‘My troops are in the main courtyard,’ said Caterina. ‘I’ll find them and get around the back of the citadel to see if we can’t outflank them. Tell Mario that’s what I’ve decided.’

‘Thank you,’ said Ezio. ‘Stay out of sight.’

‘I wish I’d had time to change,’ she said, laughing. ‘We’d better book into an albergo next time, eh?’

‘Let’s make damned sure there is a next time,’ rejoined Ezio, laughing too, but nervously, as he strapped on his sword.

‘You bet! Arrivederci!’ cried Caterina, rushing from the room without forgetting to blow him a kiss.

He looked at the ruins of the bed. The Codex weapons - the Double Blade, the Poison Blade and the Pistol - were buried beneath it, in all probability destroyed. At least he still had his Hidden Blade. Even in extremis he would never forget that - his murdered father’s last bequest.

8

Ezio had no idea what time it was, but experience told him attacks usually began at dawn, when the victims were still confused and wiping the sleep from their eyes. He was lucky that his training had bestowed on him, even having reached the age of forty, the alertness and agility of a wildcat.

Once outside and on the battlements he scanned the surrounding landscape. The town below him was in flames in many quarters. He saw the tailor’s shop burning, and Angelina’s house too. There would be no birthday party for poor Claudia tonight.

He ducked as another cannonball smashed into the ramparts. For God’s Love, what guns were their attackers bringing to bear? How could they reload and fire so fast? And who was behind this?

Through the smoke and dust he made out Mario, dodging crumbling masonry as he came towards him. Ezio leapt off the ramparts, landing in a crouch near Mario, and ran to join him.