Chapter 4

Sunshine leaked through the boards covering the broken windows and holes in the walls. A stray beam of light annoyed the sleeping lady assassin until she finally forced herself up, rubbing away the sweat the had beaded across her forehead. All this talk of her family was bringing back the dreams and memories she had been trying to suppress. She slowly peeled away the fingerless gloves from her hands and sighed a sigh of heartbroken acceptance as the beautiful sunshine brought out the gruesome scars across her palms. They would forever be her reminder that every time she awoke from the nightmare, reality's harsh truth would bellow that it wasn't just a dream.

"Buon giorno bella addormentata," Alcina quickly put her gloves back on startled by Ezio's charming greeting. She tucked her legs to her chin and saw him standing at the foot of the pallet. He was already suited up in his armor and cape again and casually leaned against the wall. "Pensare in fretta!" He tossed a bright colored fruit her way.

"Grazie," she clasped the gift in her hands and nodded. "How are your feeling?"

"Good as new," he patted his side, "I am ready to have my revenge on that guard," he handsomely smirked. Ezio eyed the documents and sketches that were now legible on the walls. Most of the written work were stolen letters of correspondence and pages ripped from various books, anything that might help with leads to her targets. The sketches however, he found much more interesting. He mused over the charcoal and ink artwork that were roughly sprawled on creased, tan, paper. "These are... rather lovely," he studied the imagines of various towns people, both friendly and mysterious faces. Some work depicted views of the city, most likely sketched from atop the tall towers of Venice. It occurred to him that of all his travels of chasing and tracking down templars, he more often than not ignored the life and scenery around him. Perhaps his past made him bitter this way or perhaps he had just been completely and totally absorbed in his quest.

She smiled over his shoulder as she followed his gaze to a sketch of a mother and child playing in the water of one of the canals, "another hobby of mine," she spoke.

"You certainly have a keen eye signora." He admired how she noticed the joys of simple life, at least the life outside of her darker and more secretive one. "What are these for?" he pointed to anatomical sketches that had been taken from books of some kind.

"I was looking into the effects of poisons and chemicals on the human body. I was hoping to somehow find a way to weaponize my findings."

"And this?" he pointed to a page written in bizarre cryptic text.

"My father left it for me. I don't understand what it means, but he felt it important enough to salvage." Ezio smiled hugely to himself. "What are you grinning at?"

He carefully took it down from the wall and rolled the word puzzle into a scroll. "Come, I know someone you should meet," He took her by the hand and guided her out into the streets.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"Buon giorno Leonardo!" Ezio cheerfully exclaimed upon entering Leonardo Da Vinci's workshop.

"Ezio! So good to see you!" Leonardo approached him with open arms and hugged him warmly.

"Leonardo, this is Alcina Gavino," Ezio politely introduced. Leonardo quickly hugged her as well and even gave her a quick kiss to the cheek. Ezio chuckled to himself at Alcina's surprised expression, "He tends to do that..." he muttered.

"Saluti! Benvenuta signora!" Leonardo welcomed, "Can I offer you some breakfast?"

"Bene grazie... I'm alright,"

"Ahh another time then! Alcina Gavino, how extraordinary! Alinca roots back to the Greek word for goddess of enchantment and sensuality, Gavino Italian for the 'white hawk'. What a truly charming name!"

She smiled awkardly and shot a confused glance at Ezio, "Alcina, this is Leonardo Da Vinci, he has been a close friend to me and my family for many years now. He's something of a genius."

"Genius to some, but thank you Ezio, you are too kind," Leonardo energetically patted Ezio on the shoulder. "So, how may I be of assistance?"

"Can one friend simply not visit another?" Ezio laughed.

Leonardo cocked an eyebrow and wagged a finger with humor, "Indeed one can, but not if that friend is Ezio Auditore!"

Ezio smiled a bashful smile, "Well Leonardo, I do actually have a favor to ask."

"mmmhhmmm, I imagined so. It is truly no trouble at all."

"I believe we have another codex page for you," Ezio presented the scroll to Leonardo who snatched it without hesitation.

"Really? How exciting!" Leonardo already began deciphering the jumble of numbers and letters as he brought the artifact to his work table.

"A what?" Alcina whispered.

"The codex pages were once part of a book that the assassins of old wrote mentioning something called 'the pieces of eden'. I am not sure what it all means, but Leonardo has been helping me translate these pages as I find them."

"But how can he translate my father's scroll? I have tried for years but could nev..."

"Finito! I've solved it! Boy, that was a tricky one," Leonardo triumphantly exhilarated.

Ezio smiled and nudged Alcina with his elbow, "He tends to do that too."

"It appears that this scroll contains instructions for some kind of a weapon, a crossbow of somekind... but smaller, the size of your wrist! How amazing! Perphaps I can modify it a little and make it more suitable for you Ezio. Hmm?"

Ezio gave Alcina another charming smile, "Actually Leonardo, I was thinking you could help Alcina by making her a tool of her own. She has already begun some research, perhaps the two of you could discuss it. I'm sure you artists have much in common." Alcina suddenly flushed a rosy pink and shot an unamused glare at Ezio, she gathered that he was up to something.

"Of course! Please share signora! I would love to hear your ideas! We may even be able to create some plans and I can create your contraption! I cannot wait to get started!" Leonardo wasted no time, he hurried over to Alcina wrapping his arm around her waste and corralled her to his work bench.

"While you two geniuses work, I have some business to attend to," Ezio began to walk to the door. He took one last look over his shoulder to see Alcina come running back to him. "You are leaving?"

"Why so concerned aldabella?" Ezio smiled.

She folded her arms, "You cannot leave me with this pazzo," she muttered under her breath. Ezio laughed and pulled her hood down to her nose playfully.

"Leonardo may be a little..." he titled his head searching for a delicate word as she fixed her hood, " A little... peculiar, but he is someone you can trust and he a good friend of mine, one of the few I have left. You will be safe here, besides, you might learn something from being around him, he truly is remarkable."

"So where will you go then?"

"I have been assisting the thieves of Venezia to help restore the rights of the people. I've been meaning to speak with a man named Antonio. I will return..." Ezio bowed his head and tenderly brought her hand to his lips, gently kissing her knuckles, "I promise."

...

Translations:

buongiorno bella addormentata- good morning sleeping beauty

pensare in fretta- think quickly

grazie- thanks

saluti- salutations

Benvenuta- welcome (to a woman)

Bene grazie- I'm ok, thanks

Finito- finished

Alldabella- beautiful

Pazzo- crazy man

Venezia- Venice