Blood rushed to his ears with every beat of his racing heart, muting his hearing and leaving him even more vulnerable. In a vicious cycle, his anxiety rose and his heart sped further. The assassin’s vision doubled and his boot slipped on the rooftop, sending him briefly to his knees.
The rain made his trek so much more dangerous, but he was so close to his destination. Normally quick, his thoughts were hazy and sluggish, but survival was his goal and there was one place where safety was guaranteed.
Ezio pushed himself shakily to his feet and crossed to the next rooftop… where he fell against the roof with a heavy thud and a gasp of breath. His senses whited out with pain, so he didn’t hear the footsteps as they approached.
Sadly, the clammer of unrelenting rain does little to mask the odd thump in the middle of the night. Ever the light sleeper, pains of an ever-racing mind, Leonardo rose with a start, reaching at once for the candle by his work bench. The workshop remained empty... so the artist scaled the ladder to the roof of his little workshop.
The candle — of little use now since the flame was then swallowed by rain — fell from Leonardo’s hand as the artist rushed to his friend’s side. He could feel his own heart compete with the pounding of the rain. The sight of slumped body nearly stunned him. All he could think was ‘Please don’t be dead.’ The soft rise and fall of the body gave sign to breathing. Thank God. Leonardo understood that the assassin often put himself in harm’s way, and for a greater good, but at what cost?
Leonardo had many questions, but now was not the time to ask, so after a moment of struggle, and using a rope and pulley, the artist lowered Ezio into the workshop and away from the unkind forces of nature. Despite his distress, the artist worked quickly.
With one grand sweep, the artist cleared his work bench of books and loose papers. Some paintbrushes also clattered onto the wooden floor. The work bench made for a makeshift bed in the short time Leonardo assessed and dressed injuries.
“You will be the death of me, you know.”
