The perpetual calm that the Templar had for dealing with Elena was something to be envied. No matter how she cursed or what kind of scene they young woman caused, he steadied with a level head and enduring patience. Perhaps the Templar Order did have some desirable traits to be learned yet. 

The glimmer of the key that would relinquish the pair from their captivity caught Elena's eye, but it was Alessandro's outstretched hands that caught the small piece of metal and made quick work of each of their chains. The weight that fell to the blood stained ground brought a great relief to Elena's wrists, which had formed sores from struggling against the restraints for the past days. 

It was as curious as it was suspicious for the two Templars to let Elena and Alessandro move about unrestrained. It would be easier now, had they the strength or could rustle up some weapons off of the fallen guards, to engage their captors. However, this act further proved a growing trust in the pair, and so (though hesitantly) Elena moved forward to follow Luciano and Emerico back inside the walls of [i]Le Stinche[/i], Alessandro only a step behind. 

The sudden stop and then jolt of movement by the party leader caused Elena to flinch, but she and the others soon followed him inside to find a guard pinned to the wall, blade pressed firmly against his throat in something more than a threat. From the ongoing conversation being had, it was quick to gather that this man was an inside informant in the prison. Supposedly reporting on Elena and Alessandro's condition during captivity, but from his blabbering in the face of accusations, it seemed he had reported for them to be disposed of. 

Alessandro took a step forward in anger, wanting his own answers, but he was too late. The rat slid down the wall as he gagged on his own blood, falling into a slump as he hit the floor. Alessandro was angered, spitting on the corpse. 

"[i]Pezzi di merda.[/i]"

"Don't be," Elena spoke up in response to the Templar's apologies, "He is better off that way." 

The whole thing seemed to be too perfect to Elena, who still could not believe that the Brotherhood would turn on them and act out an order to kill. Especially her brother, her [i]real[/i] brother, who held enough power in the Assassin ranks to stop any bounty that was on her head. Was he so foolish to believe she was a traitor to the Brotherhood? Or could he not convince the likes of Niccolo Machiavelli and the others? Nevertheless, the Assassins who showed up today had arrived with the intent to end both she and Alessandro's life. The image of the Assassin lunging at her in the yard just moments before this one beamed in her mind again before Alessandro grabbed her arm, breaking her from her conflicting thoughts to follow the Templar yet again. 

Arriving in the warden's quarters, it seemed the two Assassins (or rather, exiled Assassins) were out of time to ponder the recent events that had fallen upon them. It did not take long for the Knight Templar to speak up, leaving his apprentice outside to guard the door. The words he spoke were true, and both Elena and Alessandro knew that. The two stuck close to each other, standing side by side as they have many times before. This decision would affect the both of them permanently. Alessandro looked down eagerly at Elena. His mind was already made, but he waited patiently for her to speak first, as he always did. Quickly taking in the situation around her, Elena realized two things: (1) They would not make it out on the streets on their own without aid if the Brotherhood had already made its mind up about them, and (2) they would not make it out of this room alive if their answer was not to the liking of the Templars or their benefit. It seemed her mind was made up without her doing much thought at all. 

"It appears you have made an offer that we would be ignorant to refuse," Elena lifted her hand out to seal the deal, accepting the Templars offer and effectively severing her ties as an Assassin. Alessandro again followed the young woman's actions, repeating them himself and giving a satisfactory nod and a firm shake. 

"Where do we go from here?" Alessandro asked, curious of his new role in the grand battle. 

"Would it not be best to conceal our fate from the Assassins?" Elena piped up, wondering how hard the Brotherhood may pursue them if they do have a growing influence as the Templar admits. "All they know is that their agents did not survive here today, they do not know however, that their attempts at our lives were not first successful. Though they will soon find out, unless we have the warden fake our deaths."

"And," she said, realizing now that each were supposed allies now, "I suppose formal introductions are in order. I'm Elena Carrozza." 

"Alessandro de Gonella."