Ezio woke to the sound of men yelling repeatedly in Arabic. Some basic words he could make out, sail and port were the most prominent.
Groaning Ezio carefully sat up before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His mouth was dry and his eyes stinging, a painful reminder of his lack of sleep. Throughout the night he had gotten up and checked on Meryem in the cabin. It was funny, when she was sleeping you would think she was a quiet peaceful woman.
Ezio stretched out his arms above his head before leaning his neck to both left and right as cracks followed up and along his vertebrae. His body was sore from the hammock, and he knew full well that the sleeping conditions with the Assassin's would not be as nearly hospitable as the hammock. Standing the man stretched out his legs before heading up deck.
The wind was whipping around wildly, waves crashing into the ship at an alarming rate. Ezio quickly set off to work, helping the other sailors with fastening the sails down. However it was all futile; they would not make it to shore in such conditions. As the crew prepared the smaller boasts to take them to shore Ezio went to wake up Meryem. Opening the door Ezio saw Meryem unwrapping herself from the blanket. He quickly closed the door and shouted through the thick wood. "I'm sorry to intrude, but we must hurry." Ezio then turned and began to load the possessions he already had from his rook into the vessel. When he turned back towards the cabin to get the woman and remainder of his items he was surprised to see that she was already dressed and ready to go. However her clothing choices made Ezio wrinkle his brow. "Would you care to explain why you are in my clothes?"
Meryem smirked and ran her hands along the dark trousers. "Well walking around in Constantinople in a blanket isn't necessarily the safest idea." Retorted the woman as she walked passed him and tossed a small bag into the boat. "And besides, I have no head scarf, so passing as a man will have to do until I get some proper attire.
"Yes, but... But how are those pants even staying up?" Asked the man stunned. Meryem lifted her shirt to expose a three strand rope wrapped tightly around her waist and the pants bunched up beneath it. With a smirk the woman lowered the simple white blouse back over the pants and went back into the cabin. Rummaging through the clothes Ezio had Meryem pulled out a black hooded robe and slid it on. Gazing into the mirror the woman fastened the robe shut and began to tuck back her hair before pulling the hood over her face. Dressed as she was Meryem could easily pass as a young man. Turning back Meryem smirked at Ezio's horrified reaction.
"No woman in their right mind in Italy would ever dress up like a man." He muttered, Even the female assassins could be seen to be a female!
"Well I'm not from Italy." She said simply and began to help the man pack up his things putting them in the boat. After double checking that the duo had all of their possessions Ezio and three sailors slowly began to lower the small boat into the sea. After the boat was in the water a sailor hooked a rope ladder to the side of the ship. Carefully Ezio climbed down and slipped into the boat grabbing the oars. After him another man climbed down and then Meryem. After they were all settled the sailor and Ezio began to row to shore.
It was hot, it reminded Ezio of the days when he and Federico would run along the roofs of Florence in the heat, often times getting a nasty sunburn as a result. He smiled at the thought, the two would often race each other before taking dips into the river to cool down. Federico would goof around by removing his shirt just to bug the women that came by,
Glancing up from his oar Ezio saw a ghostly figure clad in white standing from the ship. He blinked and the apparition vanished. Sighing and shaking his head Ezio continued to row to shore. The man watched as the beautifully detailed buildings got closer, people were at the port waiting to help them up to shore. It was defiantly a magnificent city. As they got closer Ezio scanned the horizon for the tallest building in sight. He'd need to scale it, despite whether of not Meryem knew where the Assassin hideout was.
Looking at said woman, Ezio was again taken aback by her attire. Looking at the woman he spoke in a suave voice. "Meryem, as soon as we can you are getting out of my clothes."
Meryem shrugged and shifted as if snuggling the clothes. "I think I like them. Perhaps it suits me." She retorted with a smirk as Ezio grimaced. Meryem laughed and watched as the men rowed to shore. The waves were powerful, moving and rocking the tiny boat immensely, it took both the men's strength to get it to the docks. Yet as soon as they were close enough Meryem bounded out of the boat with grace and a smile as she turned to gaze at the city.
Men, and women of all different colors walked around busily. All different styles of clothing, smells of different foods and words of may different languages filled the streets. Ezio suddenly felt very blessed to have the woman with him, surely she knew enough of most of the languages to aid him in his quest, she spoke Italian very proficiently, Arabic; what else did she know pondered the man. Ezio pulled himself onto the dock as well, his eyes overwhelmed with the vast layout of the city,. Not even the center of all Italy, home of the Vatican; Roma could quite compare. Meryem began to walk and Ezio quickly grasped their bags and paid the sailor before jogging to catch up with the woman.
"We need to get to the highest point of the city." Said the man softly to the woman.
"We will, we will don't get in a panic." Whispered the woman before smiling wildly walking ahead of Ezio. She quickly walked to a vendor who was selling lamb on a stick. She smirked although it was difficult to see beneath the hood. Reaching into the pants she pulled out a few coins to pay the man and grabbed two of the sticks. Returning to Ezio she handed one to him before sinking her teeth into the meat. It had been weeks since her last taste of meat.
Ezio went to stop the woman from paying but the coins were already in the vendors hands. Turning back towards the man Meryem smiled and handed over a skewer."You do realize that was my money, don't you." Muttered Ezio gazing at the food.
"Just eat, you'll soon thank me." Meryem said before stating to walk again. As Meryem ate she also weaved through large crowds of people ignoring the man following, she knew full well he could keep up.
Looking down Ezio gazed at the meat. It did smell simply enchanting. Leaning down Ezio took a bite from the meat as he followed the woman. Suddenly his mouth was rushed with flavors he had never tasted before. It amazed and startled him. How could he have never tasted something like this in Italy? Would the entire world ever be able to taste things, feel things, experience things from other parts of the world?
Nibbling on his meat Ezio kept his eye on Meryem who seemed amazed, and pleased to be back home. Looking up to the sky Ezio gazed for any clouds, none. However something else white caught his eye. Glancing to the rooftop Ezio saw a man, clad in white and wielding a hidden blade... He was missing his ring finger. Ezio blinked and the man was gone but something stuck... Something Leonardo said... "It once required a sacrifice from it's wielders?" Ezio touched his finger and remembered how frightened he was of Leonardo holding the cleaver in a threatening manner. The artist could cut apart dead bodies without even a flinch; what would stop him from taking ones finger?
So the figure was an Assassin, that much was certain but who was he; was Ezio truly seeing the legendary Altair? If so by what means, magic, God, or perhaps another form of divine intervention.
"Ezio!" Called Meryem as the man quickly looked up, blades ready. However when he saw Meryem over at a seamstresses stand he eased and walked over. Gazing over the clothes with the woman he smirked as she held nearly every piece in nearly every color up to her body, draping it across her form. Others looked strangely at the apparent 'man' trying out womens clothing, however Ezio could not contain his laughter.
"What color?" She asked with a smile looking up at the male.
"Well perhaps red, it seems fitting enough." Meryem smiled and began to laugh. "What is it now?" Asked Ezio with a confused look on his face, yet his lips were still twisted into a smile.
"Well, in India, the Hindu's believe red is the color for the bride to wear." She said through broken laughter.
"Well are you Hindu?" Asked Ezio, she shook her head. "Then red you shall wear."
"It will draw too much attention." Said Meryem holding up a brilliantly colored yellow cloth with small round pieces of metal sewed in rows that chimed as the fabric moved. She held it up to her body and Ezio gave a smile and nodded. Meryem turned towards the old seamstress who smiled and grasped her hand dragging her inside the house behind the small stand. Ezio watched as the two women disappeared. For now the clattering of the metal would fine, but perhaps for later on it would be wise of him to get her less noticeably noisy clothing, Looking at the younger woman sitting at the stand Ezio motioned for her to come over, with her help he picked out a few more wraps for the woman, a dark green, a dazzling purple, a stunning blue, and of course the deep, blood red crimson wrap he was already particularly fond of, After paying for the wraps themselves and additional head scarves he loaded them into the bags he was carting around on his back with his own possessions.
While waiting Ezio finished his meat and threw the stick into another merchants fire oven, Returning to the clothing stand with a smile Ezio watched as Meryem came out with the old woman. The yellow fabric was wrapped tightly around her body, hugging her curves and flaunting her beautiful shape. Only a single curl could be seen from the corner of the head scarf she was wearing, The scarf looped over her forehead, and then just above her nose, her sparkling green eyes giving hint that the characteristic mischievous little smile was simply hidden beneath the fabric. The wrap covered nearly her entire body expect for her feet and the lower parts of her arms. Her eyes were darkened with kohl and some how through all the mystery she looked as beautiful as ever.
After doing a small twirl the woman looked at Ezio questioningly. Ezio raised a brow and shrugged. The woman surpassed a giggle and tossed his shirts and pants at him before beginning to walk forward waving goodbye to the old woman. Ezio tried his best to thank the woman through the language barrier and continued to walk. However this time, it was Ezio's turn to stop.
Gazing at a vendor in a remote corner of the market Ezio's eyes distorted into a look of disgust and anger. There in a cages sat multiple birds. Of course Ezio had seen this in Italy, but only with simple birds, pigeons doves but never what he saw in these cages. In these cages sat eagles and falcons, with broken eyes, and bleeding wings.
Meryem turned back to see if the man was still following her but instead saw him standing still gazing at the vendor.
Walking up to the merchant Ezio pretended to be looking around. He soon felt the presence of the woman at his side and heard her soft voice whisper. "Ezio... It isn't a problem... They are just birds. We don't want to cause a scene..." She cautioned sternly. Ezio felt his stomach twist as he saw the eagles gently trying to move their wings but found it impossible with the amount of pain they were in. Their wings were clipped, and not skillfully either. A shotty job done by lazy men. Ezio very gently patted the womans shoulder before turning to the merchant and speaking in Italian knowing he wouldn't understand. "My friend, I demand you set these poor animals free." The vendor looked unphased by the comment thus proving he had no idea what the man was speaking about.
"You would like a bird?" Asked the vendor in horribly accented Italian.
Ezio turned towards Meryem and she took a step forward and began to speak in Arabic. The merchants face distorted into that of anger. There was the reaction Ezio was hoping for the first time. Suddenly the man began to spew out harsh words in Arabic which Meryem quickly retorted back in Italian.
"You have no right to judge me, or what I do." Spoke Meryem looking up at Ezio with curious eyes wondering what he would do next. Ezio decided to speak the language that all of them would understand. Quickly glancing around for people watching them Ezio lunged forward blade drawn and pressed it to the mans neck. The merchant turned as white as the clouds and rose his hands. Muttering in Arabic too fast for Meryem to translate. As he calmed down the woman spoke. "Take whatever you'd like, just spare me." She muttered. Meryem noticed the man glancing around and quickly followed his eyes. Guards. Swearing quickly she tried to get Ezio's attention but he was too preoccupied with gathering the injured birds. By the time the merchant yelled for the guards it was already too late. Ezio looked up and saw three man heading for them. The streets in public view were no place to fight these guards.
Quickly grasping the last few cages and handing them to Meryem the two began to take off quickly towards the high point in the city. It was an easy chase, the guards were lost within a few streets and the duo climbed ontop of a small building panting from the excitement. Suddenly Meryem began to speak. "What do you think you were doing; you could have gotten us killed!" She shouted., Ezio however was unloading the birds from his jacket. There were three eagles and four falcons in all. Ezio examined each one carefully. Two of the eagles, and two of the falcons were beyond help. They would never fly again, and their spirits were broken. Ezio knew this much from helping Leonardo with his research on flight. Handing the healthier birds over to Meryem Ezio unsheathed his blade and put the broken birds out of their misery. After discarding the carcases Ezio motioned for Meryem to hand him the other birds. Meryem complied and gently handed them over. Ezio softly nestled them in his second bag full of stale bread and a few unimportant scrolls. After lacing the bag back up Ezio turned to Meryem and let out a sigh before standing and offering a hand. "No creature deserves to suffer. It was better for them, no bird deserves not to fly"
