He heard the confidence and couldn't blame the young man for its presence. After all, to him, this was second nature. To Altaïr, trees this tall were a rarity. "A living thing holds my weight," he answered, "and I can feel it bend beneath me." He wasn't holding to the trunk. The branch still held him, and his balance on it - even as high as he was, was impeccable. But--

"I can see no path from here. Will you lend me your experience, Akhi?" Without a trace of shame or embarrassment, Altaïr asked for that much assistance, even crouching to look to his fellow Assassin who was watching him from the ground.