Anna wavered for a few moments before she sighed. "It wasn't entirely your fault," she allowed. "I didn't tell you. For good reason, but I still didn't tell you."

"Still. I apologize," Ezio said. That was about all he could say on the matter, for now. Later, when she was comfortable on the wall, he would broach the subject of higher structures for training.

Anna shrugged and started walking again, getting used to the height. It wasn't so bad, as long as she didn't have to get overly close to the edge.

"So what are we doing up here, really?" she asked quietly.

"Training, as I said," Ezio replied. He glanced at her and quirked a crooked little grin. "Not all training is physical or strenuous, you know."

Anna's heart did an odd little thumping when he smiled at her like that, but she managed not to show it. "Uh huh. Why do I get the feeling that's not all that's on your mind?"

"It never is," Ezio replied easily. Not a lie. But he didn't say anything about what else was on his mind.

Anna rolled her eyes and kept walking, just enjoying the scenery for the moment. At least it was pretty up here.

Ezio walked with her, making note of how far from the edge she stayed and how she reacted every time a breeze kicked up. Depending on how favorably she reacted, he would work her up to taller structures faster. The only real obstacle standing between her and becoming a full-fledged Assassin was really her Leap of Faith.

It took a few more weeks of running around and finding nice stable structures, but Anna sort of got over her fear of heights. She still hated going up high, but she wasn't frozen anymore when it happened. And she could fall properly.

She just had problems doing it from off buildings.

Altair, meanwhile, was very pleased with Iris's progress. Really, she could become a full-fledged Assassin whenever now, but he wasn't quite willing to go back just yet. He wanted a little more time with her to make sure she was prepared.

Iris had gotten used to extended periods of horseback riding, and didn't get so sore anymore at the end of a long days' ride. She'd noticed more and more often lately that Altair had been watching her, though. Of course, she'd noticed this while she was watching him, as well. She couldn't help but wish she could get to know him a little better, without all this training getting in the way.

Ezio was pleased with Anna's training. He'd managed to get her to learn how to fall, and he was getting her over her fear of heights. Now he only had to get her to join the two things together, and she would be ready to take her Leap of Faith and he would finally be able to pursue her properly.

Altair looked over at her. "Ready to return?" he asked reluctantly, after a few more weeks out away with her. It would take them a while to return, at least. Which would be good.

"Wait. You're telling me you want me to jump. Off the building. Into a pile of hay." Anna looked at Ezio like he was totally crazy, or had two heads. "Ha. No."

"It would be nice to be back somewhere familiar," Iris ventured. She enjoyed the trip with him, though, and was reluctant to have it end yet.

"It is a highly useful skill," Ezio countered. "One I have employed countless times, as have all of the Assassins before me." He looked at her. "And you will not be considered a true Assassin if you can't do it. Every member of the Order has to make the Leap at least once."

Altair nodded. "It will take time to get back," he said quietly. At least a month, probably. Which was really the only reason he was even offering.

Plus he should really get her back so she could become a full-fledged Assassin.

"Well crap." Anna frowned. "Do I really have to? Really?" She looked over at him almost pleadingly. Jumping off buildings was still kind of crazy.

"Alright," Iris replied, not complaining about it like she would have before.

"You do," Ezio replied. "It's tradition, and a skill you should have regardless." As much as he wanted to buckle under the look she was giving him, he didn't. "You've seen me do so before."

Altair noticed the lack of complaining and blinked. Well that was new. And perhaps he'd achieved more progress than he'd originally thought. He smirked faintly at that thought.

"Yeah but you're crazy anyway. I expect you to pull stuff like jumping off towers." And yes she understood why she needed to learn, but that didn't make it (or him) any less crazy.

"And soon you will, as well," Ezio replied. "It really is not difficult." He was sure that once Anna managed a successful Leap of Faith, it wouldn't bother her any more.

Anna rolled her eyes at that. She didn't believe him but she still had to try for herself.

"At least let me start somewhere decent as opposed to off one of those guard towers?"

Ezio glanced around for a suitable perch for her to practice on.

"The church," he said, gesturing to the building. It was shorter than the guard towers, but still taller than most other structures.

Anna grumbled but headed over to the church anyway, scaling the side and perching on top. Oh she did not want to do this. But she didn't actually seem to have a choice. At least she'd be landing on hay and not in a bush or something.

Ezio followed her, intent on demonstrating for her before she took her own jump. Really, the church wasn't all that bad for a Leap, and it would be good practice for her.

Anna watched him as he climbed up on top of the church, blinking once as she watched him move, before she looked back down at the pile of hay.

"You going first or are you going to kick me off while I'm not looking?"

"I will go first," Ezio replied, "to demonstrate." He gave her that little grin he tended to reserve just for her. "Try not to land on me when you jump." With that, he took a Leap of Faith down to the bottom and landed neatly in the hay.

Anna looked down at him to make sure that yes he actually had survived the jump. And she made sure he moved before she jumped. Her Leap wasn't quite as neat as his, but she didn't land wrong and didn't hurt herself. And she might have freaked out in mid-air, but she also managed not to start flailing, so she figured that was a good sign.

"That was good for a first try," Ezio said as he held out a hand to help her up. He picked a bit of hay from her hair. "Practice will allow you to stay calm throughout and land more confidently." He grinned a bit. "But overall a good jump."

Anna grumbled. "You're only saying that because I managed not to start flailing when the panic set in about halfway down." Idly she reached over and plucked some hay from his hair. Because he was just as covered as she was.