Chapter 5
Antonio now in his Assassin robes equipped with all the tools and knowledge provided by him from training with his father now had to leave the life he lead only just a matter of hours ago well behind. He knew his mother and sisters were safe from harm at a family friends house nearby all Antonio had to do now was go and find Leonardo Da Vinci the man with all of the answers to the questions that was now running through his mind. Antonio could sit in the ransacked house that was his family home and ponder all of the events of the evening and come up with nothing, but no he was going to follow his father's advice and go find Leonardo if there was any chance of saving Marco's life. So with his mind now made up Antonio stood from the chair he were he sat going through many things in his head and left the house he once called home and in his heart knew this didn't feel real but the harsh reality was it was real as can be and was only going to get worse before it got any better. Antonio closed the front door to the house and raised his peaked hood to conceal his face in shadow so no one would recognise him especially the guards that would be searching for him. Antonio knew the streets well and knew where all the short cuts and guard patrol routes were so with a couple of detours he soon found himself at the front door of Leonardo's workshop, he knocked on the door three times and waited anxiously for any reply. A few seconds later the workshop door was being opened by the man who bore all the answers but Leonardo was a little surprised to see Antonio at the hour it was.
"Antonio is that you? What are you doing her at this hour?" asked Leonardo still looking puzzled as to why Antonio was standing at his workshop door so late at night.
"My apologises Leonardo but my father has been captured and imprisoned so in that case I was instructed to give you this so I may receive some answers as to what's going on." Antonio replied having lowered his hood now he was safe from the streets. Leonardo took the letter that Antonio had read from Marco then he took a while to process what had happened to his good friend.
"Well where do I begin?" Questioned Leonardo looking at Antonio hoping for an answer.
"How about with what the subject that you got my father to research for you which landed him in a prison cell." He replied.
"Si that would sound a good place to start. Well I asked your father to research into the whereabouts of an ancient artefact which we assassins have been hunting down for decades now but with no success and where hoping some answers could be found here in Milan. This artefact is said to possess mythical powers which can predict the future and answer any questions that the possessor may hold. It goes by the name of "the apple" as it's said to be a piece of Eden given as a gift from God himself. So it's of the upmost importance that the Assassins get their hands on it before the Templar's do because if they do the possibilities of what could happen would be endless." Leonardo explained with an interested Antonio hanging on to every word he said.
"So how did that involve my father getting arrested?" asked Antonio wanting to know how an innocent man or so he thought at the moment could get arrested due to an interest that was none of his concern.
"Antonio, before I answer that question there is some small details that I must clear up with you. Marco Romero was an Assassin just like you are now, as am I even though in my situation I am merely a supporter of your cause and help out where I can like now, your father was held in high regards within the brotherhood and had killed many a target in his life to get to where he was then one day he came up to the Mentore and said that he would like to settle and stop going on missions and live as a simple civilian and raise a family. He was granted that request upon the condition that if he was needed to research or help the brotherhood in any way he would have to do so. Of course he accepted that condition and that's how we get to this situation really." Leonardo explained at length. Antonio still had more questions for the man that could be answered at a later time but now he focused on the more important ones that would hopefully allow him to save his father.
"Wow, I guess he has lived a hectic life outside of the family. Leonardo for now I only have two more questions that remain unanswered." Said Antonio not wanting to waste more time than what he deemed necessary as every minute was important to saving his father or at least being able to see him one last time.
"Bene, what can I do for you Antonio?" replied Leonardo.
"Firstly, do you know where my father is being held captive from people talking in the street, so that I may go and see him to speak to him one last time, and secondly how do I operate this device?" Antonio presented the hidden blade and bracer to Leonardo who's eyes widened at the device but knew how it worked as he had fabricated some similar devices for another assassin from another city.
"Si Antonio, it's quite simple really after a little practise on its use. You put the blade on your wrist and when you want to strike with it simply flex your wrist like so and hay presto there's your killing weapon." Leonardo said. Antonio stood there just staring at the beauty of the blade's details but it looked a little worn down in some places probably from not being used for some years. "As for the whereabouts of your father I would imagine he would be held in the Prigione de Madrid but to confirm that you'll have to eavesdrop onto a conversation between officials and/or the city's guards." Said Leonardo.
"Va Bene, grazie for everything Leonardo I will return soon after finding some information and hopefully find my father, but until then, I don't suppose you could touch up and restore this blade back to its former glory and make it smooth, silent and more deadly?" asked Antonio as he raised his hood once more as he prepared to go.
"Si Antonio I will see what I can do for you while you are away." Leonardo said with a smile as he loved to tinker with assassin technology and have the opportunity to possibly improve on current designs.
"Grazie Leonardo I will return soon" s said Antonio as he turned to leave Leonardo's workshop.
"It's no problem Antonio, just return safely and buona Fortuna on locating your father" Leonardo said before Antonio left and he bid his friend farewell. Antonio left the workshop with the task to do on his mind, and that was to locate some guards and eavesdrop into their conversation on the exact location of his father's whereabouts in the prison. As the guards were already looking for him then finding a pair of guards would be child's play or so he thought. He looked high and low for a pair of talking guards until then he had a thought of going to the prison and finding guards there which sounded a better idea then what he was finding now. The Prigione de Milan was the largest prison in all of the city and holds the more dangerous and high security criminals within the city, Antonio knew where it was but would need a high view point to be able to scout out what the security would be like and any possible way of climbing the walls and finding his father's cell without being detected. Being the middle of the night being stealthy would be the best approach into getting into the prison and getting out without being seen. Antonio climbed the nearest church spire which overlooked the prison perfectly and Antonio could see where all of the guards where posted and he memorised there patrol routes before moving closer to the prison and closer to hopefully rescuing his father.
Antonio, now at the base of the Prigione looked up at the vast walls in which he knew he had to be careful when climbing as to avoid detection and avoid conflict with the guards. When he was atop of the church spire he also saw where archers were posted along the gangways of the prison as well. Moving as stealthily as possible Antonio navigated the walls up to the point where he could see his father's cell. He learned of Marco's position from listening into a pair of guard's conversation who was meant to be guarding the entrance to the tower where the cell is located. After dodging a few of the guards patrol routes and eyes of the nearby archers Antonio climbed the tower to Marco's cell.
"Father, are you there?" whispered Antonio as to not attract any unwanted attention to himself.
"Antonio? Is that you?" replied Marco confused as to why his son was at his window.
"Si father, I've come to try and rescue you and get you out of here" said Antonio.
"I appreciate that my son but the guards are too many, even for you. You would be captured and put in here with me and sentenced to the same fate that I now face." Marco said.
"There must be a way. What do they plan to do to you father?" Antonio asked.
"I am to be hanged in the city square in two days time, Antonio I ask you do not attend I do not wish you to see that." Said Marco knowing that this was the last time he was ever going to see his son.
"Father tell me who is responsible for this and I will see that they share the same fate as you, I promise you that" Antonio said knowing time with his father was growing ever more shorter.
"I do not know who is responsible, but you know that important letter I sent you to deliver before we met Leonardo?"
"Yes, what about it?" asked Antonio.
"That letter contains information which would clear my name, it will be presented at the trial on the gallows, hopefully then I would be released and my name cleared" said Marco.
"Bene, let's hope all goes well. If not then I will make sure that whoever responsible pays for this crime to our family is" claimed Antonio.
"Very well my son, you must go now and promise me you won't attend the trial" said Marco
"I can't promise father, I would want to know who would be the first to taste the sting of my blade in their chest if things don't go well." Antonio said
"Such fire in your words my boy, reminds me of how I was when I was like you after first put on those robes, very well then Antonio do what you feel. I'm proud of you Antonio." Tears now beginning to fall down the aged face of Marco as this was the final time he was going to see his son in his life and it was tearing him up inside.
"Father, thank you for everything you've done for me. I will see that this act does not go unpunished. I will go now and prepare for what lies ahead and see that things go as well as possible."
As Antonio bid his father farewell for the final time, the next thing he had to do was to get out of the prison unseen which was going to be easier said than done. Or was it? Antonio climbed to the top of the prison tower and scanned the nearby surroundings. Looking down into the streets he noticed a large pile of straw lying in the street, either way Antonio knew what he was going to do to get out now. Judging the distance and timing for the guards not to be looking when he jumped, he spread his arms and leapt from the tower allowing his body to fall with such grace that he could fly. After landing in the straw pile exactly as he planned he dusted himself off and made his way back to Leonardo's workshop knowing now what he was going to do. He was going to become the assassin his father taught him to be. Antonio was ready to embrace his true inherited destiny.