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Chapter 10

The next few months were fortunately busy for Ezio and Rosa. Although Rosa still spent most of her time confined to her room, Ezio helped her outside every day, and every day they went a little farther from her front door. He repeatedly assured her that he would attempt her challenge at the Frari when he felt she was well enough for the walk. She, in turn, repeatedly accused him of being too frightened to climb it.

Otherwise, Ezio could be found practicing with Franco on either the scaffolding they used before or on similar structures around the district. Their short talks eventually developed into something of a friendship, although many of their conversations pertained to Rosa.

"I trained with her," he told Ezio one time, "She is a bit like a sister to me, as she is to Ugo, and perhaps to all of us. Although, she is probably more like a daughter to Antonio."

"You must know her well, then."

"No more than you, probably. She doesn't talk much unless she's threatening someone. I've never seen her open up the way she does with you."

"Should that concern me?" Ezio laughed.

"Probably not. I think she's just happy to have the company. I can't imagine being trapped in that room for so long. We thieves would rather be out on the rooftops."

"If I may ask," began Ezio, "how does one become a thief?"

"You steal something," replied Franco.

"I mean professionally," Ezio rolled his eyes.

"Thinking of joining?"

"No, grazie, I am busy enough as it is. I just want to make sure I'm not being recruited without my knowledge.

"Usually we'll find someone around the city who impresses us. In Rosa's case, she stole money from Antonio, and almost got away with it," Franco explained, "Then we offer to help them live a richer life, financially and morally."

"I haven't been offered anything yet. Does that mean I'm safe?"

Franco chuckled, "Si, you are just an ally. From the rumors I've heard about you, to train you as a thief would be a tremendous waste of your talents."

Indeed, Franco was able to put Ezio's talents to some use. Sometimes he was asked to dispatch guards on rooftops so that the thieves could move around them. Sometimes he was needed to retrieve letters that the city guards had taken. Sometimes he brought boats around so that the thieves could stash the loot they recovered from various Venetian nobles.

Regardless, whenever he told Rosa about his adventures, she complained that she was anxious to join them, which provided Ezio with enough of a sense of guilt to escort the recovering thief through the city more than once on certain days.

By June of 1482, Rosa was fit enough to get to most of the city on her own, provided the rooftops were not necessary. Nonetheless, Ezio insisted that she be escorted if her journey took her outside the thieves' den.

"Buongiorno, Rosa," Ezio greeted her on the bench one morning around this time, "Up for a trip?"

"Si, to where?" Rosa asked as she propped herself up on a small cane.

Ezio covered his smile with his hand and attempted to resist the urge to snicker.

"If you tell me I look like an old lady again, I'm going to break your nose," Rosa threatened, although Ezio could tell she was suppressing a small smile as well.

"Not that far," he told her, "although we may be away for a while, perhaps even overnight."

"Then we should speak to Antonio…"

"I already have," he assured her, "He only asks that we be careful."

"Va bene, then where are we going?"

"I am visiting a friend," he told her, "and I need a travelling companion."

"Is this the same friend you've been visiting every month or so?"

"Si, you will enjoy his company."

"He can't be any more unpleasant than you," she reasoned as they began their walk.