It was good there was somewhere safe, and Altaïr was as eager to follow as Ezio was to show him. The man climbed very fast and a few times Altaïr had to push himself faster than he normally would climb in order to keep up with the older man! The assassin's movements were refined, graceful and highly controlled. Yet once more Altaïr found himself impressed and he wondered between them who was more the Master, and if Ezio would retain this reverence. In the back of his mind he could hear Malik's opinion on that matter.

When Ezio stepped forward with such a grin, Altaïr gave him a curious look which was then turned to unguarded surprise at a hidden blade coming out of the right bracer. Altaïr had thought it merely more armor, decorated to match the left bracer which he had assumed from the start to hold the blade. Altaïr had also noticed the man still had his left ring finger but had not thought much of it at the time. This man had not only more weapons than him but improvements also. Indeed, Altaïr thought, who would be mentoring whom?

Once inside he followed Ezio though his eyes were all around them more than where they were going. It was a good hideaway, it looked well guarded in its secret entrance. But Ezio would be here all alone in such a bureau? Not any longer, at least. They would be solitary brothers. Altaïr stood by his seat in quiet and he continued looking around the room with great curiosity, but after a few seconds he moved to Ezio rather than sit down.

"Your second bracer, may I see it?" Altaïr held out his right hand. When Ezio permitted him, he moved closer and lightly grasped Ezio's forearm with his right hand and turned it over to view the underside. Altaïr leaned down and looked over the mechanism, the fingers of his left hand tracing over the improved design, and his fingers briefly touched up along Ezio's ring finger which obviously no longer needed to be removed. Without asking Altaïr grasped Ezio's other arm and brought that up too, leaned slightly over it and touched along the identical hidden blade mechanism, and he took a moment to inspect Ezio's finger with the healed burn mark.

Altaïr stood straight again and let go of Ezio's left arm. He was close enough now he could see the man's face better beneath the shadow of the hood, and his eyes looked into Ezio's eyes for long seconds before they went down to his mouth, and looked at the scar there. His right hand came up to touch his own scar and he tilted his head slightly and gave Ezio a questioning look.