Chapter 3

It was a midsummer's day and Antonio was running errands for his father Marco as he normally did while his father was selling pieces of fine art which he'd had done for so many years now. Antonio was on his way to gentleman's house located within the financial district of town where houses where difficult to distinguish who's house belonged to who because they all the same be it the odd hanging basket with a plants growing in them. All his father had said to him before he set off on this errand was to find the banker's house and come straight back as he had important piece of paperwork he had to deliver before a certain time. As Antonio arrived at the house that matched the address that was written on the letter he knocked on the door three times and waited to see if there was a reply. A few seconds later the door slowly opened to see a man dressed as a servant at the door.

"Buongiorno seniore is your master in?" Antonio said cheerfully

"Regretfully no seniore, but is there anything I can do instead?" replied the servant in a voice that made it sound that he was looking down on Antonio.

"Si seniore there is, I have a letter destined for your master's eyes only, may I leave it with you for you to give to him upon his immediate return?" Antonio asked quickly knowing time was not on his side.

"Of course seniore, I give you my word" said the servant nodding his head, and with that Antonio handed over the letter and turned to take his leave and as he did so glanced up to the nearest watchtower to look at the time. After he managed to tell what time it was he knew that he would be tight pressed walking or even running through the busy streets at this time if day so he decided to take to the rooftops knowing they'd be a much faster route back to his father. Antonio found the nearest building and finding suitable placements for his hands and feet quickly scaled the building and got his bearings, he knew the financial district was in the eastern side of the city and that he'd come from a north-westerly direction to get here so once he'd worked out which direction to go Antonio set off at a brisk run over the rooftops back to the art dealership. After a period of about half an hour running and jumping over the city's rooftops Antonio had finally reached the roof of the dealership and just as this morning the cart of straw still stood as it did this morning.

"I know I promised father I wouldn't but what he won't know won't hurt him" he thought so he lifted his arms and leapt into the straw just he did before, the rush he felt as he fell was also the same it was beginning to feel like an addiction to Antonio as the feeling felt so good. As he got out and dusted himself down and straightened out his clothes so Marco wouldn't notice what he had just done approached the door. Just as he was about to open the door Marco had appeared in the doorway with a stern look on his face.

"What's taken you boy? You know that this important document has to be delivered within the hour now you won't make it time." Complained Marco staring at his waiting for his excuses and his reply.

"Mi dispiace father but the streets where busy within the financial district, I'll make sure those documents arrive at the destination on time." Replied Antonio taken by his surprise that his father had not noticed that leaped off the roof again like he was told not to earlier the very same day.

"Very well, I trust you will son, here they are now go before time runs out, and get back swiftly as i need a chat with you when you return." Said Marco as his son turned to leave on his errand.

"Va bene father I'll see to it I return swiftly." And with that Antonio was off running at full pace towards his destination. After he got far enough away from the dealership Antonio took to the rooftops again knowing it was the only way he was going to reach his destination on time. So after Antonio had reached where he was meant to be he found the time to be five minutes early which was a relief. Just like the previous errand he knocked on the door three times and then waited for a reply. The door was answered by a middle aged man who appeared to be running some kind of workshop. There was odd looking contraptions hanging from the ceiling and designs for even weirder looking things laying on the tables that he could see over the man's shoulder.

"Salute seniore, I bring important documents from my father he said it was urgent you received them." Antonio explained, and upon concluding what he had said the man's face seem to just light up with what he had just received.

"Ah excellent, grazie seniore it's very much appreciated." Replied the workshop owner who had brown scruffy hair and looked quite a friendly person all around a person who you could spend hours talking to about random things.

"It's no problem seniore it's my job to carry out my father's errands for him." Antonio said surprised by the level of gratitude in the man's voice.

"I'm sorry seniore I'd love to stay and chat but I have a business meeting I must attend to." The man said after thanking Antonio further.

"I understand seniore, I must return to my father as I'm sure he has more work for me to do." Replied Antonio and with that the two men went their separate ways. Unbeknownst to both men their paths would cross again very soon as they were both headed for the same place but getting there via two different paths.

Antonio knowing that his most important task of the day was completed decided to walk comfortably back through the streets of the city back to the dealership where his father was waiting for him so they could have that talk that Marco had spoken of before he set of on his last task. As Antonio approached the building of the dealership he could hear voices one being his father and one Antonio recognised but couldn't place where from, whoever it was they sounded like good friends as they were both chuckling and talking about matters past. Antonio thought it must be the person that his father wanted him to meet, regardless of who ever it was, he entered through the door to find his father talking to someone Antonio could now place the voice to, the scruffy brown hair was a dead giveaway. As he entered his father turned round and beckoned him over to join them.

"Antonio, my dear boy! Come over here there is someone I want you to meet" said Marco "T his is Leonardo Da Vinci one of the greatest artists of the modern age.

"I believe I have already had the pleasure of meeting senior Da Vinci father as he was the person your documents were destined for but I didn't catch his name until now." Replied Antonio whilst shaking hands with the great artist.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company Leonardo?" Marco said getting down to business.

"Si I hear that you are fine art dealer by trade, but I hear there are other things you have grown to be good at also over your many years." Began Leonardo.

"I'm listening" Marco replied with interest in his face.

"While I am visiting the city I happen to be quite busy dealing with both personal and matters of other importance and I am wondering if you can do me a favour?" asked Leonardo.

"Anything for an old friend, tell me what is it you require me to do?" Marco replied only too happy to help an old friend out.

"Grazie Marco, I need you to dig up some information for me on a matter of great importance and come back to me when you have found what I need, can you do that for me my friend?" explained Leonardo.

"Nessun problema Leonardo give me a few days to find what it is you seek and I will send Antonio with my findings if that will suffice?" Said Marco finalising the arrangement.

"Bene, that would be perfect Marco" Leonardo said and then proceeded to hand Marco a sealed envelope "This envelope Marco contains details of what I need finding out, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this task".

"Do not worry my friend I will get to it straight away and send the boy to your workshop upon its completion. With that the two men said their farewells and Antonio showed Leonardo to the door and bid the man farewell also. He then approached his father at his desk.

"What you heard just now Antonio you speak of this to no one, absolutely no one understood?" Marco said with deepest sincerity in hi voice. He wasn't messing around so Antonio knew this must be a really important matter.

"You have my word father, no soul will hear of this I swear." Replied Antonio.

"Very well then, I must get started on this task, you may go for the day, I'll see you tomorrow son stay safe." Marco said meaning Antonio's day was finished and time now till tomorrow morning was now his own to spend as and how he wanted. As he turned to leave through the door Marco said "Oh before I forget Antonio, your mother wishes to see you soon, she feels it's been too long since you last visited home, you know what she gets like. If it's possible could you drop by the palazzo sometime within the next couple of days?" he asked as a father not as a boss.

"Certainly father she is right, it has been a while since I last visited maybe after our next training session I can come home for dinner perhaps and have a proper family meal so we can all catch up as one big family?" Antonio suggested.

"I like the sound of that Antonio, I will tell Carolina and I'm sure she will be thrilled at the news, so this Saturday evening after our next sword fighting training session?" Marco replied getting the details straight with his son before he left.

"Sounds great father I can't wait. I'll see you tomorrow" Antonio bid farewell to his father and left the dealership with only one thing in mind. What was his father and Leonardo Da Vinci talking about, and what was the contents of that envelope that was so important which seemed to trouble Leonardo so? Answers which Antonio would find only with the passing of time and waiting would he begin to discover what his destiny was going to entail.