Chapter 6
Now knowing what now lay before him Antonio at last made it back to Leonardo's workshop and discussed with him what had just occurred at Marco's prison cell window. Antonio was at a loss of what to do with all of the information his father had given him only just moments ago, he decided to take Leonardo's advice and get some sleep and think about things after tiredness was no longer an issue to cloud Antonio's thoughts and judgements.
The next morning Antonio awoke to find Leonardo studying at his desk and pondering to himself about matters that seemed a little distant to Antonio but it must've been related to the brotherhood as he had mentioned a name he had heard before. Ezio Auditore. This name appeared over and over again within Leonardo's quiet ramblings to himself so Antonio decided not to question Leonardo about who Ezio was but instead question on what the best course of action would be.
"Salute Leonardo" said Antonio
"Ah Antonio, I've been waiting for you to wake up I didn't want to disturb you after last night's events. I have a surprise for you, here" Leonardo reached into the top drawer of the desk and produced a bundle wrapped in cloth and then handed it over to Antonio. Antonio carefully removed the cloth to reveal his father's hidden blade and bracer completely restored as if it was brand new, the details etched into the blade and on the bracer. Antonio ran his finger over the point of the blade and not to his surprise saw a drop of blood begin to form at the spot where his finger met the cold steel of the deadly weapon. A razor sharp blade to help him take out all who stood before him. Next thing to do was to familiarise himself on how it worked.
"Leonardo, I don't suppose you know anywhere where I might be able to practise using this to its full deadly effect?" asked Antonio eager to master the hidden blade's use.
"Si I have set up dummies in the courtyard outside for you to master the art of various assassination techniques which will come in use to you." Replied Leonardo who then started to show Antonio again on how to activate the mechanism and then sheathe the blade again. Antonio then attached the bracer to his left arm as was customary for all assassins and proceeded to go into the courtyard and practise what was to be his new deadly art form. Antonio stepped outside the workshop to find the courtyard had been transformed from what was an old mess to a place which was neat and tidy and made up for training purposes. As Leonardo had said dummies had been placed all over the courtyard for Antonio to practise on, one for each of the different assassination styles that could be performed. Leonardo had mentioned that there were different styles of assassination that he had read up on in the past while helping Ezio and he said that an assassin could kill from many places and they could be from; behind the target which is considered the conventional method of assassination, from hiding in a pile of straw or hay, an easy way to pick off guards on a patrol if needed, killing whilst hanging from a ledge which would be handy to take out any sentries walking along any gangways or any balconies, and lastly from above which would be a great way to kill with the element of surprise.
Antonio lowered himself into a crouched position just like he would a real person to help cushion his steps and then as he approached the first the dummy which was set up for the conventional assassination method Antonio released the blade which made a quiet metallic click and then Antonio rammed the blade into the straw dummy whilst covering the mouth of the dummy just like a human to muffle out any screams that a human would make which would could alert any nearby guards. Next Antonio turned his attention to the dummy which was positioned in front of a pile of straw which was big enough to easily conceal him inside and enough for another body. This method looked simple but Leonardo mentioned that this method was all about subtlety as well as execution he had to kill in one strike of the blade and drag the body into the hay to hide it so it looked like nothing had ever happened at all. As Antonio concealed himself inside the straw pile he wasn't going to strike the dummy straight away he waited for a couple of moments as though stalking the dummy just like he would a guard and then engaged the blade and successfully assassinated the dummy and pulled it inside the straw pile before leaving the pile as though nothing had happened at all. Next challenge Antonio faced was to kill the dummy on the balcony. The balcony was too high to just simply jump and hang from so what Antonio decided to do was run up the wall that it was built into and then catch onto the bottom the balcony that way before making the assassination attempt on the dummy. Once hanging onto the edge of the balcony Antonio shuffled quietly along the balcony until he was level with the dummy, and in one swift and smooth movement lasting no more than 2 quick seconds Antonio was on the balcony and the dummy was laying on the floor of the courtyard with a large puncture wound in it. Last challenge Antonio saved till last was the air assassination method, if it meant jumping from high places and killing people as well it sounded like the perfect combination for Antonio. The dummy was located on the other side of the courtyard near the entrance a simple rooftop walk away, Antonio was now above the final target and Antonio allowed himself a small half smile as he was going to enjoy this brief dispatch of the dummy, he planned to pierce the dummy right where a normal person's jugular would be allowing for a quick kill but in a messy ending giving him the distraction needed to get away using the crowd to block the guard's view of him. Antonio for the final time engaged the blade with the now familiar snick sound that it made as it sprung from the bracer before jumping onto the dummy piercing the dummy right on target, the force of him falling and the position on which he hit the dummy forced the dummy to collapse and just fall to pieces on the floor. After completing all of the methods of assassination Antonio was now feeling content on how to kill and how the blade worked at its best, even though Antonio was feeling these things he was still asking himself one question that an assassin should never allow himself to ask. Could he kill an actual human in cold blood? Antonio was hoping the answer was going to come later rather than sooner.
Antonio went back to into the workshop and apologised to Leonardo for breaking one or two of the dummies that he used for practise.
"It's ok Antonio just happy to be of service, don't worry about it I'll get one of my apprentices to clear up the mess you made." Leonardo replied to the apologies, but before he could continue there was a knock at the door to the workshop and then the person who knocked said in a low demanding voice.
"Leonardo Da Vinci! It's the city guard, we have had reports you are hiding a fugitive of the city. He goes by the name of Antonio Romero de Madrid. Open up so I can ask you a couple of questions" bellowed the guard before thumping on the door once more.
"Uno momento seniore! I'm coming. Stay here Antonio I'll sort this out just stay quiet and make no noise or they'll arrest you." Said Leonardo before going to open the door. "Hello seniore, what can I do for you today?"
"We have had reports that you hide and aid Antonio Romero here he is a criminal in this city, do you or do you not deny these claims?" asked the guard his arms folded.
"I most certainly do deny these claims, I have no intention to involve myself with the city's criminals especially one such as Antonio Romero." Replied Leonardo.
"I do not believe you seniore, I think a stern beating will get the truth out of you." Said the guard now unfolding his arms and grabbing Leonardo by the scruff of his tunic and dragged him into the courtyard.
"Now you will tell me the truth peasant! Where is he hiding?" demanded the guard before landing a thundering blow into Leonardo's stomach making double over in pain. "Tell me where is he?!" demanded the guard" before landing another blow on Leonardo.
"I do not know where he hides, I just work away in my workshop" replied Leonardo between the repeated blows from the guard.
The guard continued striking Leonardo demanding answers and Antonio could hear the guard's demands and Leonardo's cries of pain and he had heard enough, he was going to silence the guard once and for all. Antonio left the workshop and turned to the courtyard and to his joy the guard's back was turned allowing the young assassin the best chance of a quick and clean kill. Sneaking up as quietly as possible to the guard Antonio unsheathed the blade with a simple flick of his wrist and then swiftly and deadly sliced the guard's throat allowing the blood to spray out like a fountain out of the wound.
"The man you seek seniore is right here, and is not going anywhere just yet, now go to god in peace and may you find mercy in heaven." Said Antonio as he closed the lids of the guard's eyes and then went to check on his friend. "Leonardo are you ok? Are you hurt?" he asked.
"Yes Antonio I am fine, thank you for your help, without it I would've been done for. Now we best clear up this mess you made." Leonardo said dusting himself off. "Quickly bring him inside and we can hide him in my workshop." Said Leonardo wanting to get off the streets and hide the body from sight from any prying eyes.
Now back inside the workshop and the body safely hidden away in the back where a number of other's lay also apparently subjects to Leonardo's whacky experiments they both sat down and pondered on what to do regarding Marco's trial and possible execution in the square in only a matter of hours time. The constructers where no doubt beginning to build the gallows in which Marco would be hanged from if found guilty and this began to trouble Antonio terribly.
"What would you suggest I do Leonardo, I could just run onto the gallows and cut him down but that would reveal where I am and ruin everything so far. I'm at a loss and don't know what to do?" Said Antonio now beginning to show his worry for his father's almost inevitable fate.
"I don't know how to put this Antonio, maybe you should just blend in with the crowd and watch see how events unfold, maybe interference won't be needed. If thing's do go wrong however then do not bring attention to yourself as you said you don't want to risk everything you've worked so hard for." Said Leonardo trying to comfort his friend.
The evening was drawing in and it had been an eventful day so Antonio thought an early night and a good night's sleep will help him prepare for what tomorrow was going to bring. The next morning Antonio awoke with a plan forming in his brain that to him seemed to work but in reality was probably doomed to fail but he had to try, anything to save his father. Once noon came around Antonio had left the workshop and headed to the town's square, he knew he had some time before the trial was due to begin so he took the opportunity to gather his wits and get some fresh air so that he was focused and ready for anything that was to come at him in the following hours. He went through his plan in his head time and time again ironing out any details that could prove fatal if they where to go wrong, Antonio repeated his plan in his head until it seemed perfect to him; But fate it seemed would still add in a twist to the Antonio's future that even he wouldn't be able to foresee let alone change. No matter what Antonio could do Marco was prepared to meet his fate no matter how much Antonio despised the thought.
The hour of reckoning had now arrived and Antonio was already perched high on a building overlooking the square where his father was due to be hanged if found guilty, he knew that whoever was behind this would want to publicly humiliate Marco before he died. As the minutes passed Antonio watched as the square began to fill with people from all over the city to watch the spectacle of Marco's trial and no doubt inevitable hanging, the square began to buzz and the atmosphere was now beginning to grow as people began talking and bustling for the best possible place to see the events unfold. Antonio decided now would be a good time to climb down from his vantage point and try and blend in the crowd to get nearer the stage so he could begin to try his rescue attempt. Next thing Antonio heard was the roars of the crowd as Marco was lead onto the stage bound around the wrists and placed into position before the noose that was due to claim his life. Then another beat of the drums sounded and the prete and Francesco Almeo walked onto the stage ready to conduct the trial. Francesco raised his hand to silence the crowd and began.
"Marco Romero, you stand here today accused of treason against the city of Milan for conspiring with others to commit murder to others for causes unjust in the eyes of the law of the city. Can you provide evidence that explains otherwise and proves that you are not doing as accused?" Francesco asked Marco knowing that the evidence that Antonio had already delivered to him and gave to the house servant to give to him but the evidence was received and then burned that night by his own hand.
"Yes, the letter which was delivered to your house a matter of days ago by my own son who gave it to your servant who passed it onto you." Replied Marco in a desperate but futile attempt to delay his own fate.
"I have received no such thing from no one" he lied in front of everyone in attendance including Antonio in the crowd. "in the absence of any evidence I have no choice but to pronounce you GUILTY and see to it that your family's name dies with you." Continued Francesco.
"You lie Francesco! He's innocent!" shouted Antonio but it no use his voice was drowned out by the voices in the crowd.
"I hereby sentence you to death Marco and may God have mercy on your soul." He finished
Francesco allowed the priest to deliver Marco final rights before pulling the lever on the trapdoor, but before he pulled it he spotted Antonio in the crowd making rapid progress towards him and from what he could see Antonio's eyes where ablaze with anger and hatred towards him.
"GUARDS! Stop that man, he wishes to save this traitor to the city and help him escape arrest him now!" bellowed Francesco. This gave Marco time to say some final words towards Francesco and his son before departing the world forever.
"You may take my life this day Francesco but my family's name will never die as long as one of us remains alive, we will have our vengeance for this betrayal and mark my words bastardo you will be the first to fall to the blade of justice." Finished Marco and then the platform in which he was standing fell away leaving him hanging there, lifeless and limp. Dead.
"NO FATHER!" shouted Antonio he was being surrounded rapidly by guards leaving only one space left to run but he wanted to fight knowing the odds where tremendously not in his favour.
"Better run boy, before it's too late." Said a strange man who stood before him and without a second thought Antonio ran for his life leaving his father hanging lifeless behind him. Antonio couldn't look back, he knew he had failed in his attempt to save his father, but what could he do now? Antonio decided to hide and lay low and let the loss of his father overcome him until it hurt no more, only then could he move on to avenging his death with a price to be paid in blood.