Wee Devil (open!)

[Catone[Inactive]]

A native Roman and a Scottish immigrant. Even stranger. Well, at least now he could identify the accent should he ever hear it again. After a quick thought, Catone accepted the apology as well as the explanation without any qualms. "Perfectly understandable. After all, we wouldn't be who we are without our experiences."

Shifting his attention to the woman, he gave a friendly smile, a relaxed shrug, and a point at the bird cage behind him in the distance. "Our Creed required my services."

No reason why they shouldn't know. After all, they were brethren and could obviously guess that the recent death was his work. Suddenly, he let out a somewhat sheepish chuckle. "Venezia is actually doing quite well, so most of us there tend to do some jobs in other cities in Italia or even places halfway across the world..."

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola looked at him somewhat gratefully for understanding. He didn't want to be so insecure around strangers--but then again--it was more important to keep your guard up. The mention of Venice only put a bad taste in Nicola's mouth, but he tried not to let it show on his face. When he spoke of how well their Assassins were doing, however, he expressed more interest. "Ah, have you many members there?" he asked curiously. It was a strange thought that the people he grew up around might actually have taken the same path he had.

[Catone[Inactive]]

Catone blinked. That was a strange question. "Uh. Maybe? I really don't know what counts for many in our business."

Plus, he really didn't know how many they had at the moment. It had been going so well, that a few of them were either relocating or retiring. Who knew you could retire from the Brotherhood? Apparently, you could do that once you became too old for field work, or become a teacher within the order.

Cocking his head, he asked, "Why do you ask? Ever been to the floating city?"

[Deleted]

Aednat sensed a change in Nicola that she didn't understand. As before she stood patiently and quietly as the men spoke. It was quite alright; she liked to listen about as much as she liked to talk. This particular conversation was more interesting because it was about Venice, the city she hoped to see. Maybe she would live there one day, when she was an old Mentor. A silly dream, she thought, but it was hers. Unless she married, but she didn't see that happening.

Her mind wandered for a few more seconds before she focused on the conversation again. They hadn't spoken to her yet. That was a relief.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola couldn't help but blush slightly as he realized that his question was an odd one. How was he to know how many Assassins called Venice their home? And why would it matter?

"I've, uh... I've been there a couple times," he mustered. "Nothing compares to Roma, however," he said in an attempt to change the subject.

[Catone[Inactive]]

Catone raised an eyebrow at the statement. It was the opinion of a single man. After all, the amount of tourists he pedaled across the city in his gondola spoke for itself. "If you say so."

He shrugged. "Well, I got to know. What's-"

The young Assassin was cut off by the sound of an arrow embedding itself at his feet. Turning around, the new sight shocked and surprised him. Dozens of archers were stationed on the far roof. "Cazzo!"

How did they manage to sneak up on him? On all of them? Without a second thought, he started sprinting in the opposite direction. "Run!"

With that, he jumped off the rooftop onto an awaiting platform. There, he sprung up to a nearby rope and shimmied across to a nearby church. Pausing, he looked back to see of his newfound friends' progress.

[Deleted]

The arrow at Catone's feet snapped Aednat out of her reverie. "Gods!" she huffed, shoving Nicola to help him get a headstart as they ran away. She wasn't strong enough to knock him over, but she hoped she could help. Another arrow barely missed her arm as she jumped away. She tried to keep Nicola ahead of her so she would take an arrow in his stead. She'd protect her brothers with all her energy.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola nearly fell backwards at the sight of the arrow, shouting a short curse in Italian as he saw the source of the projectile. Turning on his feet, he ran after Catone, getting a short burst of speed from Aednat's shove. Panic took hold of his heart, and all that he could think of was fleeing. He took a short glance over his shoulder, only to see the woman keeping right behind him, likely trying to protect him from anymore arrows that came their way. He wanted to tell her to stop; that he'd be completely okay taking any arrow that sought him. Unfortunately, there was no time for that.

He continued after Catone, across the rope, and eventually to the church. By now, he knew the guards had to be gathering forces on the ground. Panicked breathing was all that could be audible from Nicola.

[Catone[Inactive]]

Aednat was more formidable than she seemed. Catone could see her lagging behind, but he doubted it was due to her stature. No, she was trying to protect them. A small needle of guilt pricked his heart. No time for that now. Duck!

A whishing arrow sped over his skull, narrowly missing the chance to give him a fashionable new hairstyle. Popping his head back up, he scowled and made an obscene gesture at the offending guard. Only to barely dodge another projectile.

Scrambling to his feet, he ran to the far end of the church and leapt to the nearest beam. Falling short, he grabbed on by his fingers and hung in the air. Suddenly, a small stone collided with his left ear, making him drop a hand in pain and leaving him a dangling puppet on a single string. Guards were assembling below, trying to assist their comrades on the higher levels.

Catone could feel blood dripping from the side of his head. Slightly woozy, he attempted to pull himself up, only to lose his grip even more....

[Deleted]

Aednat followed Nicola to the church, only to see Catone make a jump to what he must have hoped would be safety. He missed, and before she knew what happened he was dangling by one hand, bleeding on the side of his head. She looked down at the guards gathering below like dogs waiting for scraps. She looked at Nicola, noticing his crossbow. "Are you any good with that thing?" she asked desperately. Another arrow barely missed her and she cursed to herself. She ran and jumped to Catone, as she did she called back over her shoulder. "Cover me, I'm pulling him up!"

She fell short as well but managed to pull herself up. When she was stable she reached out a hand for Catone. "Grab my hand!" she cried, starting to panick a little.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola gave a quick nod at the first mention of his crossbow. Stopping on the roof of the building, he knelt down on one knee, removing his weapon of choice from his back. He loaded it expertly, and took aim. The first guard to meet his talent head-on was not so fortunate--he took the bolt straight to the eye, and his screams only died out after a few, short, agonizing moments. This, however, brought back the attention of the archers, who began firing at him from below. At least he was drawing their fire away from his comrades.

Nicola fell deeper, into a prone position, to further increase the difficulty of hitting him. He had the advantage here. The higher ground would make him a very formidable target. Some of the guards may have realized this, and had already gone searching for a ladder, or some sort of access to the rooftops. Some of them stayed right where they were, however, and made easy targets for the marksman Assassin.

[Catone[Inactive]]

Through his daze, he felt the beam shudder slightly as another person jumped atop it. A hand slipped through his mental fogginess which he grabbed gratefully. Using both his strength and his savior's, he lifted himself up onto the beam, crawling across rather than trusting his balance to walk.

Now, back on solid rooftop, he remained on his knees and tried to let the world stop spinning. Within moments, he shook away the last of his dizzy stupor and put a hand up to his ear. It was a shallow cut, mostly on the lobe, but it would have to remain bleeding until they were safe. Speaking of which, he looked up to find three men rushing him. They must've found a way up.

Catone easily sidestepped the stab of a sword and unsheathed a knife, then impaled it into the offender's jugular. The second guard thrusted a spear at his chest, which he dodged by buckling his knees and bending his back, the pole passing over him harmlessly. Before his opponent could retaliate, Catone grabbed the weapon himself and swung it hard. The strong momentum pushed the other man, sending him stumbling off the building and into the street below. Assassin grabbed another knife off his belt and turned. Now for the third...

The last guard had an arrow nocked in a bow, pointing it straight at him and screaming something. Catone couldn't make it out. Must've hit his head harder than he realized. Shrugging, he held up his hands in surrender. The guard relaxed slightly, just enough to give him his chance. A flick of his wrist and his knife found a new home in the unlucky man's forehead. The new corpse crumpled to the ground, revealing a couple more men clambering over the side. Crap.

Running over to the last guard's body, he retrieved his knife before jumping over to the other one. Sharply tugging, his blade wouldn't come out. It must've embedded itself into the neck bone. Finally, it came free only for Catone to see the shadow of swing blade above him.

[Deleted]

With Catone safe and recovering, Aednat looked back to see Nicola shooting down the guards with his crossbow. She gave a small smirk. He was a useful ally. She turned around and found three guards attacking Catone. Why they didn't attack her was beyond her comprehension. Maybe because she was a woman? How sexist. Catone disposed of them easily despite his injury, but more were coming.

She engaged her blades at the sight of them and readied herself. "I'll get them, you rest a bit." she said. Though she doubted he'd listen. The first guard gave a shout and charged her with a spear, which she deflected with her vambrace. A quick jab with her blade and his life was over. She didn't like blood on her hand, but what could she do?

The other guard advanced at her with a sword. She blocked, but he was almost as fast as she was. But she was a little devil. He didn't let up attacking. All she could do was block.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola barely had time to get into a rhythm before the first few guards started to infilitrate his position. Two had jumped onto the roof, and the Assassin had to make a quick rise to his feet before blocking a diagnol slash from one of their blades with his crossbow. Following up, Nicola countered the man with a jab to the neck with his hidden blade. The guard gave a short gurgled yelp before falling backwards to his death. The second guard wielded a lengthy halberd, and was already making an overhead hack for Nico's head. Reacting briskly, he caught it by the handle, pulling it from the man's grasp. He took it in both hands, swiping across the guard's chest, followed by a short jab that would send him tumbling off as his comrade had.

Nicola discarded the weapon distastefully. A glance to the direction of his brethren showed they were fending off just fine. "We need to run!" he called up to them urgently. Waves of guards would only pour over them relentlessly unless they could locate a hiding spot.

[Catone[Inactive]]

Catone brought up both knives and stabbed the air behind his head, blocking the rapier swung at his neck. Rolling out of the way, he faced the next enemy from below. A quick duck from the stabbing and he jabbed both of the man's knees, bring his opponent sprawling on the ground. One downward motion with his knife and another flame of life was extinguished.

Agreeing with Nicola, he shouted, "then let's go!"

With that, he stumbled forward and jumped past two guards. The Assassin found the ladder and put his foot on it, kicking off from the roof. Balancing on it was easy, the momentum from his kick propelling the wooden stilt forward. Screaming could be heard from the six plus guards hanging on it as the Gondoliere atop it leaped to the nearest building and sent the ladder to the ground.

Many of the guards below turned their attention to Catone as they saw only him land on the roof. As they scrambled to get the ladder up to his position, the Assassin gave a whistle to his comrades as well as a beckoning wave. Wanting to wait for them, he sat down and watched as the ladder came back up, only to push it off again.

A throbbing in his head brought attention back to his bleeding ear. Great. The blood loss was bringing back his dizziness.