Neither Elena nor Alessandro quite appreciated the Templar's accusatory rant about the lower class of Florence earlier in the market. That was the great crater between the Assassins and the Templar Order. Wealth and power meant different things to each fraternity. Of course, none of that mattered now. The two former Assassins needed to put their previous affiliation aside, for now they worked under a different faction. 

As Luciano moved onward to the grand Basilica, Elena and Alessandro dipped away and disappeared into the quiet night. For a brief time, they moved silently towards the church, keeping a tail on Luciano and an eye out for anyone lurking in the bushes or on the roofs leading to the building. After watching the Templar move into the old church, the two decided to take themselves to the rooftops to watch for anyone coming or going to the so-called meeting. 

Elena stationed herself on the corner of a low sloping roof, sitting statuesque as if she were a gargoyle overlooking the courtyard. Alessandro took a position opposite of her, tucked behind a chimney, watching the alleyways for any approaching feet. All remained quiet for a while, until another shadow entered the alley. A owl's hoot from Alessandro alerted Elena, who remained still until she could see the figure emerge into the side of the courtyard. 

The shadow stuck to the side of buildings, rather than walking up the open space of the yard. It seemed too suspicious. Elena waved to Alessandro, who quietly moved over to her and peered down at the suspicious character as it slowly moved towards the basilica. He looked across the yard to see if Emerico could be spotted. It took a moment, but he was spotted beneath the awning of a building across the way. Garnering his attention was not going to be done without making some kind of noise. Alessandro made a mental note to share his and Elena's bird signals with the other's before the next night's mission. 

The shadowy figure was now moving past the next alleyway, and Elena motioned for Alessandro to follow her. Alessandro moved to the next rooftop, Elena remained. The pair both waited until the person was in between both of them in the alley, and they exited the rooftop to bring the suspect to the ground in one fluid motion. Alessandro had his mouth covered with his hand and Elena had a blade to his throat. 

"Make any noise at all and I will not hesitate to silence you." She whispered. 

Alessandro picked the man up, who's eyes showed a great surprise even in the dim light of the cool moon. He was pushed against the wall of one of the buildings.

"We have a couple questions for you. Mind telling us what's going on tonight inside the San Lorenzo?" 

Alessandro's hand slowly moved from the man's mouth, who let out a breath before inhaling one just as quickly. He looked from Elena to Alessandro, and then down at the blade at his throat. 

"You two look like [i]Assassini,[/i] don't you know?" The man questioned. 
"Why don't you fill us in on the details." Alessandro pressured. 
"What's in it for me?" With that, the blade was pressed against his throat even further. "Ay ay ay, okay okay." 
"Answer the questions and we will let you go on." Elena said.
"The Thieves are gathering here tonight. There was word that a Templar is coming to spoil a meeting that isn't happening."
"And?"
"And what? The Templars are stupid enough to walk into a trap then we will take what we can get." 
"You think a couple of Thieves can take on one or two highly skilled Templars?" Alessandro questioned. 
The man laughed, and Alessandro punched his mouth shut. He shoot his head, and his mouth was uncovered. "There are not just a few of us. There will be a dozen or more. The chance to take out those that oppress us? We do not take that for granted." 

Alessandro subdued the man and left his body lying in a heap against the building before the two returned to the rooftops. They approached the church from the top, hoping more of the Thieves had not entered to overwhelm Luciano by now. Elena instructed Alessandro to fetch Emerico and warn him of their discovery. She proceeded to the roof of the church. 

Entering, she saw still that there were only several thieves gathered. She needed to find Luciano before they became surrounded. From an overhang, she scanned the ground beneath her and tried to remain hidden. A cloak tail disappearing behind a pillar shadow was all Elena needed. When the pair in the middle were distracted with each other, she made her way down.

She made her way one pillar at a time, until she was close enough to get Luciano's attention and move away to a far wall. When the Templar joined her, she kept her voice low. 

"I think it is best we leave, we are soon to be greatly outnumbered..." Just as she got her sentence out, about three more men entered the center of the courtyard with the others. One pulled a blade from his hip and looked around, grinning. 

"We know you are here, Templar [i]feccia.[/i] Might as well come out now, or we will have fun finding you!" He called out with a hearty laugh.