When I finally caught up with Ezio he was already standing on the rooftop of our headquarters and watched while I climbed over the edge. Let's just say I were more out of breath than I thought I'd be, even so that couldn't speak a word for a moment. Oh dear...I guess the small lack of proper practice has taken it's toll on me very fast. Leaning on my knees for a while, I then straightened myself up and swiped a tuck of hair away from my eyes.
"Phew! That was...well harder route than I expected" silently muttering through my teeth, I caught the pouch which was thrown to me by Ezio who seemed to then watch me very closely. It would normally be slightly disturbing, but now I guessed he could be counting my insane heartbeat while trying to decide would I perhaps need any medical help. I'm too young to get heart attacks.
"The route wasn't any harder than any other. A little out of shape are we? With this speed rate even the Borgia Brutes would catch you by walking: Rena, I know you can do better. How much you actually were using your skills while being in your time?"
"Don't mock me! I was...I was doing everything you told me to, but apparently just not enough. I confess being lazy were sometimes...krhm...more tempting option. Believe me, back there it ain't so hard" Images of tortillas and tacos and burritos with very good movies ran through my mind. Shouldn't have eaten those., the tenth was maybe too much. Hmm...which by the way brought to my mind: cheese-ham-pineapple pizza is just the most perfect thing in existance. Okay stop it woman this is serious!
He took couple steps forward to the edge and placed his eyes on me once again. "Sí, that only means you have a whole lot more work to do, I will keep sure of it. Come on then" Ezio said with a firm but warm voice and took a leap of Faith to the ground level. Running after him, I did the same thing only to see if I could still perform it. Leap from the edge, tickling in your stomach, wind hitting on your face and a quick swift of body weight to change your position and boom into the hay pile. Don't forget to keep your whines to yourself if you happen to accidentally hit your hand on tiles. That's just keeping your pride you know, no one knows that you screwed it.
Reminder: do not try this at home. You'll en up hurt or dead if you don't know what you're doing and where.
Later on that evening.
Ezio observed carefully the worn map of the city on the other side of the table, around which we both were sitting. He paid no attention to me or anything else at all, at least it seemed so from the outside but I was pretty sure things would be opposite if anything happened. But of course the thing was that there isn't much to happen here in our secret little lair – even though it actually wasn't so small. When I first time entered through it's doors I figured out the building to be even bigger than in Rome and well...we seem to be more organized plus I love the cave like entrance with flags and all. It's cool and mysterious looking enough.
To the next topic then, I assume you probably know that woman sitting behind the desk? The one that reminds you of secretaries, black hair? Always the nose in those pages?Her name is Nadya and she enjoys keeping our bookshelves in shape, and I'm not joking I promise. This is actually some serious shit: I left once The History of the Kings of Britain open on the floor, my thoughts in getting something to eat and this lady is already punching her hidden blade on my throat with a pointing finger! I think Ezio and Yusuf are the only ones to not get beaten up if this she-monster finds books left in places they don't belong...like in the fire place. Just don't tell her it was me, please don't it was an accident. I'am no book hater and I'd like to keep my life.
And now while Ezio was focusing on doing plans for the quite multiple tasks (abnormal. Plans here are often used to take their own way), I was carving stick figures on the table with my throwing knife. I look really ambitious do I? So why I am not interested? Why I am acting like a waiting bored kid in the school? The answer is that I am interested and I am slightly bored and in waiting because I have been waiting for an hour now. True, I really was helping him to get some ideas, but after the couple minutes he basically shutted down and started to think by himself so, no idea what he's even been planning for a while.
No judging of course, I know very well that when he finally stops thinking these through we are going to get some serious results and the reason why it has taken so long is that he's waiting as well. We still need that one person who should be involved: where ever he is then I don't know, but hopefully on his way! And when he finally does manage to drag his lazy ass back here I'am going to kick it two days straight for letting me wait this long. Mentor glanced at me once when I shifted on my chair, but a sound of opening door and footsteps drew my attention to elsewhere. Threw my hood up.
Oh, look who's coming now! The missing plot partner and I think I'm not going to ask where he was since his vambraces partly covered in dry blood, I didn't have to. My gosh he always to be such a show off. Actually you could call our Order "The Club Of True Show Offs"
We all had it one way or another. Better admit that one.
Just when I was going to think Yusuf Tazim is finally coming here, instead of even looking at our way he just walked straight and started babbling with some other guys some shit which – after an hour of waiting – made me just a little bit impatient. One sin on me. So I decided to do a little prank. Just a little. Second sin on me. Taking a firm grasp of my throwing knife I carefully aimed it just right...just...right, a little left. Yes that's it! A small, little, painless flick of wrist and the knife was standing on a wooden pillar in front of his face. For now I was getting strange looks on Ezio's side of table but I shushed him. I'd pay a price to see that expression now, but I turned quickly my attention away and covered empty knife holder with my hand. Acting completely normal as did before I noticed how Yusuf turned around and started moving.
"Okay, who threw that!" he said and crossed the main hall with an either confused or an fake serious sounding voice. I still acted normal, thought inside my head I was laughing my ass of.
"No one?" Couple of other Assassins whispered something with themselves, but due to my hand signal they didn't bust me. Leader walked among us then, and I felt how he stopped behind me. I had a bad feeling about this.
"You. Evet! It was you! Reena, I am assuming you want your knife back?" I could hear him grinning just by listening to that, but I was happy that I fooled him at least for a moment. Lucky guess? Wouldn't be hard to believe if one takes a closer look of the people in here. I turned around lowering my hood once again. "Yes please. How nice of you, I happened to lose it all sudden", grabbing it back to me from his hand I let my face to take rather mischievous appearance.
"And haven't I told you, it's still Rena"
"And I still do not hear the difference"
"You are one big boulder head Yusuf! Or a deaf. It's not even Italy, so don't go tell me you can't remember it"
"Oh no, that won't be a problem", he smiled a smile that went through his eyes and bro-punched gently my arm which made me feel like one of the "guys" for a moment. Sweet!
"So, Ezio. What you've been figuring out?" a quick change of subject, just like him was it. This were after all what we've been here for and I also returned my attention to Auditore as Yusuf stepped closer to the map. "I need to speak with you about Topkapi palace, and likely will need your help. As for you..." he stopped his speech and looked at me, so now I knew something important was coming. Still, not bothering to tell me what's actually going on? Thanks. "We are spread quite thin here so I want you to take one matter in your hands. Speak with Istvan Borzák if you need any help which I recommend, he may know more of this problem. For what I've heard there are quite a few of our Brothers gone missing. Investigate it"
I was so glad to hear this. I mean no, no I wasn't glad that there are assassins missing, but I was super happy to get the whole mission of my own, haven't been doing these for a while. The point of this is that Ezio still trusts my skills so apparently he doesn't think I have been too comfy after all. I jumped up and clutched my fists together, with a nod. "Will happen Mentor. While you two are discussing, I'll just start straight away, I'm not taking too lightly these possible disappearances"
"You sure you can handle it?" Yusuf asked with a tone that made me think that he wasn't asking this serious. Again if he'd been asking that in serious manner I would drag him on the highest point of Fatih Camii and throw him down at least twice. And I hope he read it from my face. "Hey! You. Me. Race. Tomorrow! No excuses, we'll see who's going to handle who here! How does everyone have something questionable to say about me today? I can handle anything plus by the way where did you actually knew that it was me who threw that knife" Turkish guy just laughed and spreaded his arms while Ezio silently rose from his seat in the background. He intend to had no part on this.
"You are little questionable, aren't you? I also just might except your challenge, but there's no turning back then! I'am not going easy on you even if you are a woman, and I think it is very unlikely that Ezio here would be throwing me with knives! You happen to possess such kind of thinking arkadashim"
"How convenient of you...Congratulations Yusuf you have finally learned the name of the opposite sex, now I suggest you to go there, where even the Constantinoples sun isn't shining and stay put" I just rolled my eyes in amusement and after recieving the last good luck wish from him (Ezio was starting to look quite out of place there, hah) I turned around to finally make my leave. It was just too easy to get caught up in some stupid conversations with this Master Assassin, but no can do. To say the truth I liked him for a reason, that our sense of humor were more than often matching, it's nice to have some clever people to chat with.
Now let's find that Istvan and find out what's going on. Who is snatching my bros? No one is snatching my bros and get away with it alive.
This could be fun.