Daisha frowned as everyone rushed forward to help the German girl. She rolled her eyes and walked to the kitchen. She tore some bread in half, and then she filled up a cup with water. She walked back into the dining room, carrying the half a loaf and the water. She rolled her eyes again at how everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

“Tancredo! Take her up to the guest room! Tad, get the dottore! Marco! Wet a cloth! Daisha! Cosa stai facendo?” Alessa asked as she saw her.

Daisha sniffed, walking over to the girl. She dumped the water on her head.

The girl immediately woke up with a start, looking around in confusion.

“She fainted you idioti,” Daisha huffed. She tossed the cup to Tancredo and sat down next to the now soaking girl.

She handed the bread to the girl. The girl took it and gobbled it down before anyone could say anything.

Daisha pointed at Marco. “Speak to her.”

Marco nodded. “I will, but she needs rest. Tancredo, help me.”

Daisha frowned as Tancredo easily helped the girl up, slinging an arm around his shoulders. Why am I angry all of a sudden…I can’t be that. I won’t allow it.

Daisha crossed her arms, huffing. She turned her attention back to Alessa and the others. She needed to think about something else.

---

Alessa pinched the bridge of her nose. “Mio Dio,” she muttered.

Marco stiffened when she looked at him. He didn’t know why, but the young woman managed to scare him a little bit.

“Go up to her room and find out what happened to her,” Alessa ordered.

Marco nodded and escaped from the room. The other woman that intimidated him was Daisha. She looked like she was about to kill something as well. “Hope Taddeo will be alright,” he muttered.

He found Tancredo still helping the woman up the stairs. He walked over and slung her other arm over his shoulders.

“Hallo nochmal, was ist Ihr Name?” Marco asked as they got to the top of the stairs.

The woman looked at him. “Malika,” she replied weakly.

Marco nodded as they turned into a room. The woman sat on the bed. Tancredo nodded before walking out.

“Malika, tell me what happened to you,” Marco continued in German.

Malika bit her lip. A novice came through the door, carrying a plate of food and more water. Malika nodded in thanks, taking another bite of bread and drinking some wine. The novice left.

Marco waited for her to finish the food before asking her again. “What happened to you?”

Malika set her plate on the nightstand, looking sad. “I was on a mission for my Mentor in Deutschland. My partner and I were following the slave traders, hoping to be able to stop them. We knew their leader was a Templar. But they found us out first. My partner was killed in the conflict. And I was taken to be sold. Then I was brought here,” she paused, taking a sip of wine, “I have nothing now. I can’t go back, not without exposing the Assassin’s guild there. We’re in danger as is, the Teutonic Knights don’t care for us and I will easily be spotted.”

Marco nodded, standing up. “I’ll talk to Maestro about what to do. You rest and regain your strength.”

She nodded gratefully and moved to lie down.

Marco walked out, closing the door behind him. “This is going to be interesting.”

---

Taddeo paced as everyone else was thinking of ways to tell Ezio about what happened.

“We really cannot tell him anything until Marco finds out what happened to her,” Alessa said, running a hand down her face.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Taddeo frowned. “We can’t tell him anything now anyway. We don’t even know where he his.”

“Now you do,” a deep voice cut in.

Everyone’s heads snapped to the entryway where the Maestro was standing. Ezio walked in, looking around at everyone. “And what exactly are you going to tell me?”

Tancredo cleared his throat. “An Assassin from Germania was among the prisoners you all saved.”

Ezio nodded, looking grim. “Do you know what happened to her?”

Taddeo and everyone else shook their heads.

“Marco is speaking to her right now. We will have to wait until he comes back,” Alessa explained.

Ezio nodded again. “Bene,” he paused and looked at Daisha and Alessa, “Can you go and help some of Claudia’s girls? There is a man that has been threatening a group of them lately.”

Alessa and Daisha looked at each other, shrugging before moving toward the door. Now, it was only Taddeo and Ezio.

Ezio sighed, sitting down in one of the chairs. “Dio,” he grumbled, clasping his hands in front of him.

Taddeo suddenly realized how tired he looked. “Where did you go after we took care of Sabbatini Sir?”

Ezio pinched the bridge of his nose. “I found another place the Followers of Romulus were hiding. I am getting closer to finding out who their leader is, but it will still take some time,” he explained, looking up at Taddeo.

Taddeo nodded, resting his palms against the table.

“Maestro.”

Both men looked to see Marco standing in the entry way with Tancredo. Marco stepped forward, pushing his dark bangs back from his forehead. “I trust you’ve been told about the girl?” he asked, looking grim.

Ezio nodded. “What happened to her?”

Marco put his hands on his hips, looking away. “She was with a partner in Germania trying to find one of Sabbatini’s men. They were ambushed…her partner didn’t survive.”

Ezio exhaled through his nose. “So, they kept her alive to sell her.”

Taddeo grit his teeth together in anger. Tancredo looked as angry as he was.

Marco sighed, looking at Ezio again. “So what do we do now?”

Ezio stood up, furrowing his brow. “Wait until she recovers, then we will decide what to do. In the meantime,” he looked at the twins, “I will need your help, you too Marco.”

Taddeo stood up straight, pulling his hood up. “With what?”

Ezio frowned. “Claudia has told me of a Senator that can lead us to the Banker. But, this man has a debt larger than Roma.”

Taddeo almost groaned. “So of course the Borgia femmine will be after him.”

Ezio nodded, grunting in agreement. Marco pulled up his hood as well. “Andiamo, the sooner we help this man, the sooner we can get to Cesare’s banker.”

Taddeo followed Ezio out of the hideout, taking off across the rooftops of Roma.

He started to wonder when this would all be over.

---

Alessa collapsed into a chair in the dining room, pushing her hood off of her head. The man they had to protect the Courtesans from happened to be a thief from the Cento Ochi; which led to Daisha and her helping la Volpe with a group of the bastardos.

She watched as Daisha collapsed in a chair as well. Even the little spitfire was tired. Alessa leaned her head back against the chair closing her eyes. So much had happened and the sun has not even gone down yet. Alessa wondered how Ezio dealt with it all the time. She only had part of the responsibility and it was exhausting.

“Where did everyone go?” Daisha asked, resting her head on the table.

Alessa shrugged, looking at her. “Maestro probably sent them on another errand.”

Daisha sniffed, closing her eyes.

Alessa closed her eyes again too, relaxing again.

She didn’t get to relax long. The slam of a door and multiple sets of footsteps warned her of a group returning. She looked to see Ezio, the twins, and Marco. Ezio beckoned to her and Daisha, making his way toward the main hall. The girls got up and followed the men into the main hall.

Ezio stopped, picking up a letter from a table nearby. “Almost forgot about this,” he grumbled, breaking the seal.

Alessa moved over to Taddeo, pulling on his sleeve. “Where did you all go?”

Taddeo looked at her, frowning. “We found a Senator that might be our way to Juan Borgia, Ezio just had to pay off his debt though.”

Alessa frowned. “How much?”

“3000 Florins,” he growled.

Alessa’s eyes widened. “3000 Florins!”

Taddeo’s frown grew. “We are supposed to meet him with the money tomorrow. We are trying to find a way to steal it back.”

Alessa furrowed her brow, looking at Ezio again. What exactly are you planning Maestro?

“Cazzo.”

Everyone’s gazes snapped to Ezio.

“What is it?” Marco asked.

Ezio turned, looking grim. “Claudia has told me that some of her girls will not be available at the party tomorrow.”

Alessa heard Taddeo sigh. “Well that’s just great, now you won’t be able to sneak in the way we planned!”

“Yes, he can.”

Everyone’s gazes went to Daisha. She looked down her nose at them. “Take us. We can dress and act like them. We can get you in.”

Alessa stiffened, realizing what the pixie girl was suggesting. She leaned forward, looking at her around Tancredo. “You’re telling me you want us to dress up as puttane?” she asked with an incredulous look.

Daisha looked at her. “Why not?”

Alessa wiped a hand down her face. “I will not do it.”

Daisha stepped forward getting in Alessa’s face. “And why not? Isn’t an Assassin supposed to blend in wherever they are, codardo?”

Alessa stood as tall as she could; she barely towered over the girl. “I’m not afraid you little idiota. You do realize we won’t be able to fight because we won’t have our weapons. Didn’t you even think of that?!”

“It’s perfect.”

Everyone looked at Ezio. He looked at Alessa with an apologetic look. “The others can cover you if you need help. The rest of Claudia’s girls can focus on stealing the money back that way.”

Alessa felt anger simmer in her gut, threatening to boil over. “Vous êtes tous des imbéciles baisent. Nous allons avoir l'air ridicule,” she seethed, crossing her arms.

She peeked at Taddeo out of the corner of her eye. He looked furious.

At least I’m not the only one, this better go quick tomorrow.