[A/N]: Thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcome!

Chapter 60

It was late in the afternoon when Antonio sent a thief to summon Ezio and Rosa to the Palazzo della Seta. When pressed about the reason for Antonio's request, the thief simply shrugged and ran off.

Antonio greeted them in the courtyard of the Palazzo, chuckling warmly at their confusion.

"We have a visitor," he explained. "He insisted I find you."

He led them upstairs to a library, into which he ushered them. Impatiently pacing the floor as he marveled at the library's paintings was Leonardo da Vinci. He didn't notice them come in, as he was occupied by a conversation with himself about what the artists had done right and wrong and about how the mistakes could be mended. It wasn't until Antonio closed the door that Leonardo turned around to see who had come in.

"Ezio! Rosa!"

"Leonardo!" the returned in unison, and the artist made haste to embrace them.

"I wasn't sure you'd come. Antonio said you have been busy lately. I understand Silvio Barbarigo is no longer with us."

"Sì, but we can talk about that later," Ezio told him, eager to change the subject. "What made you return to Venezia?"

Leonardo frowned. "I am not returning," he explained. "At least not right now. This is only a temporary visit."

"How long?" asked Rosa.

"I must return to Milano as soon as I can, but…I need your help with something."

"What is it?" asked Ezio.

Leonardo was clearly uncomfortable talking about it, so Antonio stepped in for him.

"His assistants here in the city have been writing to him about a strange man they've seen near his workshop. One of them has gone missing, and they fear he may have been kidnapped."

"Ludovico," Leonardo nodded solemnly.

"You want us to find out what happened to him?" Ezio inferred.

"Sì," the artist replied. "Er, I mean…If you aren't busy."

"I'm not busy," Ezio frowned. "Silvio had little information to help me track his allies, so I can only wait for a sign of them. This would be a better use of my time."

"Mine too," Rosa added. "Where should we start?"

Leonardo gave them a grateful look, almost doubting the sincerity of their offer. Their friend was being too polite, thought Ezio. Antonio patted him on the back, silently encouraging him to accept.

"Talk to some of my remaining assistants," he suggested. "They can give a better description of the man than I can. It's possible they're only paranoid, but-"

"If not, we'll be glad we looked into it," Rosa assured him.

"Grazie," he nodded.

"While you are here," Ezio remembered, "I have some Codex pages for you to decipher."

"I was hoping you would say that," Leonardo smiled. "It's the least I could do to repay you. Besides, I er…forgot my brushes and tools in Milano. I thought this would be a short trip, but after talking to my assistants, I'm not so sure."

"If you see any useful items around the Palazzo, they are yours to keep," Antonio offered. "I doubt Emilio Barbarigo will be needing them anytime soon. His artists have found employment elsewhere."

Leonardo began walking around the room again. "I pity their new patrons," he chuckled, searching through the bookshelves.

"Ezio and I will go check on your workshop," Rosa said.

"Wait until tomorrow," Leonardo suggested. My assistants have probably left for the night. Lazy children."

"Bene," Antonio clapped his hands together. "Then we should all visit Sister Teodora. She may have some answers as well. Her girls see everything that happens in this city. I'm sure she'll want to see you again, Leonardo."

"Ah, sì!" exclaimed Leonardo. "I've missed her terribly. She has the best wine, after all!"

[A/N]: Yeah, I'm adding a little side story here with Leonardo. I hope it goes alright. Fingers crossed!