The spacious yard was quickly filled with sounds of shouts, cries and clattering steel as a confused struggle unfolded upon the emergence of a new threat. The unarmed and chained prisoners, no matter how tough they were, knew better than to throw their lives away by getting in between the intense fights between the guards and the attackers. The thriftier ones realised the opportunity to make their escape once and for all, making a run through the [i]Le Stinche[/i] towards its only gate. The situation was quickly devolving into an uncontrollable turmoil.
The warden saw it unfold as well and tried to organise his people before it was too late, barking loud orders wherever he went:
“[i]In nome di Dio,[/i] don't let the prisoners get away! After them, guards, after them! Alert the rest!”

He was more than preoccupied with securing the incarcerated, and was unable to pay much mind to the ambushers who felled his men one after the other. That task was left up to the two Templars who both rushed the Assassin targeting the screaming Elena. Luciano reached him first, shoving him to the side with the same momentum. The momentary disorientation was not enough for a quick kill as the Templar hoped as the Assassin quickly broke free and pushed him away. It was at this moment that Emerico also reached the scene and so began the two-on-one standoff as Elena had taken the chance to run off, seemingly towards her friend and companion.
“Go...and...check on the other one,” Luciano ordered his accomplice, taking a moment to catch his breath now that the mad rush to save the woman from the initial strike was over.
“This one's dangerous... We defeat him together!” Emerico, unusual to him, showed defiance and wanted to fight besides his mentor, who left it at that with a nod. The two Templars now stood besides one another, blades drawn and ready to battle.
“Stand aside, [i]luridi codardi.[/i] We did not come for you this time,” said the Assassin who held two daggers in his hands, no doubt accompanied by his hidden blades if they were needed. “We merely came to preserve the Brotherhood's honour and uphold its creed.”
“By that you mean killing those who stray from your chosen path?” Luciano asked with feigned anger in his voice. Making the opponent believe he was impulsive and easily overtaken by emotions usually made them underestimate him. “And you think yourself to be above us...”
“I will not explain the intentions of the Brotherhood to you. Your narrow, obedient Templar minds would not understand!”

The Assassin picked his target and charged at Luciano with the twin daggers. He parried one hand and dodged the other, holding the bladelock for just long enough for Emerico to deliver a stab from the side. Resilient, the Assassin shrugged off the attack and immobilised the apprentice with a well-timed kick. That gave him enough time to once again engage Luciano and strike at his right arm with great precision, allowing him to disarm and take one sword away from the Templar. With the same motion, he swung the newly acquired weapon to cut down Emerico, who was just deft enough to dodge out of the way. The weight of the lengthy sword caught the Assassin used to the light daggers off-guard however, and it took an extra moment for him to raise the blade up again. That moment of having his side turned was all that was needed for Luciano, who quickly ducked down and used his remaining blade to deliver a powerful blow at the Assassin's leg—forcing the Brotherhood warrior to the ground. Before he had any chance to regain his balance, Emerico struck as well and cut off the hand that held Luciano's sword altogether.

[i]“Fanculo!”[/i] the Assassin cried out in pain, clutching onto his blood-squirting, mutilated arm. “Curses upon you, Templars... Know that the end of your day is drawing ever closer... Soon, your tyrannous rule over Firenze will be over...and the people will be free at last...”
“You can take your foolish ideals to the grave with you, [i]Assassino.[/i]” Luciano raised his sword with both hands above the dying man. “The Order shall never fall!” And delivered the coup de grâce.

The two Templars looked over the yard once again. By the time their battle was over, it seemed like so were all others. The prison guards were almost all gone, each leading recaptured convicts back to their cells or mourning over their fallen brothers, for many patches of the dark green grass still lay coloured red by blood with many unfortunate souls released from their bodily vessels during the frantic struggle.

What truly mattered for Luciano however...was that the two Assassins stood as survivors above it all.

He made his way over to them, shaking the blood tainting his blade off before slowly putting it back to its sheath. Before he could have had a word to say to the two however, a visibly shaken Elena spoke first, shouting in a fit of rage that quickly dissolved into anguish.
“We had no deal in this. This was your Brotherhood showing its true colours,” he said, his head nodding at the corpse of the other Assassin who was either subdued by them or the guards. “You've served them with loyalty and honour. And they reward you by sending their own for your heads.”
He did not want to speak too much. The actions were more than enough for the message he wanted to carry across.

“I told you, Elena. I value you highly.” He turned to the woman personally after she admitted she was wrong about him. “Your allegiance does not define you, nor does it define us. It merely is a restriction to keep great people from joining forces and making the world a better place. Can you see it now?”
“This is not over yet though, I'm afraid...” Emerico chimed in. He did not know what caused the Brotherhood to declare the two as traitors either, but they did and that meant they were not safe anywhere anymore.
“It surely is not. Being outside is all but a death sentence... Come. We'll need a better place to discuss this.” He beckoned the Assassins. “Oh, and.” He reached into his pocket and raised up a key, which he threw over to the two. “These unlock the chains. You've no need for them anymore.”

Now with all four of them moving freely, the group made their way back into the Le Stinche's main building. On the way, Luciano heard the voice of two guards discussing through the wall in the room right next to the alleyway they were walking in.
“Are you sure they're still alive?” asked one with audible anxiety.
“I was there when they killed that [i]maledetto assassino[/i]... Fierce warriors they were, I have to say!”
“This was all so unexpected. It was not meant to happen like this...”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, it's just—”

Luciano suddenly froze in place for a moment, then rushed into the room where the two guards were talking, pinning the first one violently to the wall.
“[i]Che cosa?![/i] What is...this all for, [i]signore?![/i]” grunted the pinned guard, struggling with breath.
“So you were the Assassin informant!” the Templar roared.
“What are you talking about? I never—”
“Silence!” He drew his blade and held it to the guard's throat. “Don't lie to me, [i]bastardo[/i]...or your head will regret it!”
“It...it shouldn't have happened like this...”
By this time, the others were in the room too. Emerico held back the other guard from interfering with anything. Luciano made sure the two Assassins saw and heard everything clearly.
“You ordered the execution of these two right here! They'd have every reason to carry out the same on you right now!”
“They...they were to be rescued, I swear!”
“Ah yes, of course they were...” He brought the blade closer. Any sudden move from the caught informant and it would have done the job already. “Rescued from this cursed world, huh?!”
“The warden...he would not allow this to happen...” The guard's breathing quickened as death was looming on the horizon. “He would bring you to the tribunal for acting like this!”
“The warden has lost some of his best men today, all because of you... Do you really think he would come for your protection?”
“Don't do something you'll regre—” was all he could mutter before Luciano plunged the blade into his throat.

“I'm sorry you had to witness this.” The Templar turned back to the two as the now lifeless body of the informant slowly slid to the ground along the wall with a trail of blood. “But justice needed to be served. Let the Assassins know we will not tolerate their sins.”

There were no other sudden events on their path and they arrived to their destination shortly after: the warden's quarters. It stood empty, the poor occupant having a share of duties to attend to after this chaos. It was also the best-protected area in the entire prison. Emerico stayed to guard the door and make sure no one was listening to what was about to be said, while the other three walked in.
After they have all settled in, Luciano spoke up:
“The Assassin Brotherhood is after you. Now that they are increasing their foothold in the city as a result of the recent events, they will no doubt employ even greater forces to hunt you down.” His expression was deadly serious. “I, in the name of the entire Templar Order, extend you a hand of help and protection, without asking for anything but partnership in exchange. Will you take it?”