Revelations

FIFTY-TWO

The Imperial Park to the east of Haghia Sofia was laid out in formal gardens, interspersed with verdant lawns dotted with white marble benches and arbors ideal for private meetings, and in one of them he soon found Sofia.

She had laid out a little picnic, and Ezio could see at a glance that it wasn’t local food and drink. She’d managed somehow to organize a lunch that brought together some of the specialties of both their hometowns, so there was moleche and rixoto de go from Venice, and panzanella and salame toscano from Florence. She’d also provided figs from Tuscolo and olives from Piceno, and there was a dish of macaroni and turbot. The wine she’d brought was a Frescobaldi. A wicker hamper stood by the neat white cloth she’d laid.

“What is this?” he said, marveling.

“A gift. Sit.”

Ezio bowed, handing her the flowers, and did as he was bidden.

“These are beautiful-thank you,” she said, accepting the huge bouquet of tulips he had cut for her.

“So is this,” he replied. “And don’t think I don’t appreciate the trouble you’ve been to.”

“I wanted to thank you for letting me play a small role in your adventure.”

“I would scarcely have called it small, but a ‘small’ role is quite enough for this adventure, believe me.”

She laughed quietly. “You are a mystery, Ezio Auditore.”

He looked worried. “I’m sorry-I do not mean to be.”

She laughed again. “It’s fine!” She paused, then added: “It’s attractive.”

Ezio didn’t know how to respond to that, so he concentrated on the food. “This looks delicious.”

“Why, thank you.”

Ezio smiled. He didn’t want to break the mood, but a shadow had fallen over his thoughts. He mustn’t celebrate-or hope for anything-prematurely. He looked at her more seriously, and she immediately caught his frame of mind.

“Any luck with the final code?” he asked, as casually as he could.

“Ah, the code,” she replied, still a little playful, and Ezio was relieved. “Yes, I’ve solved it. A few hours ago. But you’ll have to be patient. You will get it soon enough.”

And she looked at him then in a way that broke down any defenses Ezio had left.