by J. N. Cao
Roger gave Martha and Luke a kiss.
“You be careful, love,” said Martha.
“I know.”
“And keep an eye on Uncle, you know how he is,” said Martha in a low voice.
“I know.”
“And you be brave, love. I know you panic quite easily,” said Martha.
“No I don’t.”
Then Martha turned to Ralph, “Uncle, you will take care of Roger for me?”
“Yes, yes Martha. He’s good with me. Now, we’d better start going before we draw any attention from the neighbours.”
Then Ralph turned to Matilda, “And you’ll take care of your grandpapa for me?”
“Yes, Uncle Ralph.”
“That’s a good girl,” said Ralph as he patted her shoulder. “All right, let’s go, Roger.”
Martha and Matilda spent the rest of the morning finishing their packing. Matilda wore the necklace that she’d had since she was a baby. It was a blue crystal pendant with a small white pearl hanging at the bottom, and it hung on a silver chain.
“I’m going see Mr Dudley before we leave,” said Matilda.
“All right, we’ll meet you at the stagecoach. Remember, it leaves at two,” Martha said.
At around one o’clock Matilda was in the marketplace looking for Mr Dudley. She spotted him selling turnips at a stall.
“Mr Dudley.”
“Ah, Matilda. Good to see you. You look like you’re going somewhere with that bag.”
“I’ve come here to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye? Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving town with my family. Family matters.”
“Where to?”
“A town north from here.”
“Up north? That’s strange, I thought I saw Mr Ralph and Roger heading south very early in the morning. They seemed to be deep in conversation, so I didn’t say anything. ”
“That can’t have been them. They are still in the tavern, saying goodbyes to their friends,” Matilda lied.
“Oh. Must be my old eyes failing me again.”
Matilda finished the conversation with farewells and then started to make her way to meet Martha at the stagecoach. Eventually, she came to an intersection and stopped. One road led to the north of town, where the stagecoach was waiting for her. The other led to the south of town, where Ralph and Roger were travelling.
Matilda continued to stand at the intersection, deep in thought.
She walked a few steps along the north road, but then a thought made her turn around and she started walking towards the south road. She shook her head and turned back to the north road. But after a few steps, she again stopped. She pulled out an envelope and a piece of paper from her travelling bag. She then unfolded the paper. It was a map. This map was another copy that she had made last night when Grandfather Tom was outside. After their conversation, she had crept into Ralph’s room to borrow the original. She turned around again to face the south road and then gazed at the horizon.
“Are you lost, miss?”
Matilda turned to see that the voice came from a man carrying a large bag, coming towards the intersection.
“You could say,” she replied in a low voice.
“Saw you walking left and right as I was coming,” he said. “Well I’m heading that way,” he said, pointing to the north road. “Where do you need to go?”
✽✽✽
It was almost two o’clock. Martha was standing near the stagecoach, waiting for Matilda. Grandfather Tom was inside the coach, with the other passengers, holding Luke.
“Is she not here yet?” asked Grandfather Tom, his head sticking out the window.
“Not yet, Grandpapa. Why is it taking her so long just to say goodbye to Mr Dudley?” said Martha.
“We’re leaving every soon, miss,” said the driver to Martha.
Just then, Martha spotted a man with a large bag on his back walking towards her.
“Excuse me, are you Mrs Martha Hawkins?” he asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“I’ve got a letter for you from a girl I met earlier.”
“Thank you.”
Martha opened the letter and it read:
Dear Martha,
I am sorry to say that I have decided to join Uncle and Roger. I know this will disappoint you and Grandpapa, but I have thought about this the whole night. I know with all my heart that I want to go on this trip, and I know I will regret it if I don’t. I am sure that you and Grandpapa will be safe in the countryside without me.
Forgive me.
Matilda Burley
Martha climbed into the coach.
“What is it, Martha? Where’s Matilda?” asked Grandfather Tom.
Martha didn’t know what to say, so instead handed the letter to Grandfather Tom.
He read the letter. When he had finished, he sat there with tears forming in his eyes.
Chapter 6
The Duke’s Plot
Sir Devon arrived at the Duke’s manor later that night. The Duke led Sir Devon into his study, which he had left just as he had found it when he returned from the palace.
“Someone has broken into my study and stolen the map.”
“What? That’s not possible. How could anyone know that it was here?” said Sir Devon.
“Yes. I thought the same. That’s why I asked you to come. As far as I know, the knowledge of this map was only between you and me,” said the Duke.
The Duke then walked to the window. “They came through the window. Though it puzzles me how they could climb over that wall without being detected.” He looked out the window and saw another two guards standing at the back gate.
Then he turned to Sir Devon. “There’s sand in the footprints. They may have come from the shore.” He then looked at Sir Devon for a moment. “But what’s strange is that they could open this cabinet without breaking in. It seems that they may have had a key to open it.”
“Or they were a very good lock picker,” added Sir Devon.
“Yes, that is possible,” said the Duke, looking troubled.
“Could it be your valet, Your Grace?”
“No, he was with me the entire time.” The Duke walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a piece of paper hidden between books. Then he went to shut the window and lay the paper down on the table. Sir Devon approached and could see that it was the map.
“Luckily, I made myself a copy. But I am concerned that there are others that know what we’re doing,” said the Duke.
“Forgive me, Your Grace,” said Sir Devon. “I have only just discovered that one of my crew members, Samuel Baker, has left. He has also stolen a small ship of mine. A crew member mentioned how he heard Baker boasting about coming back as a rich man. Come to think of it, it may have been my careless mistake that has caused all of this. Please forgive me, Your Grace.”
“You are forgiven. In that case, we are just dealing with a lowly sailor on a small ship. We will still carry out the original plan. Eventually our ships will catch up to him, and there, he will be arrested.”
“No need. I have already sent some men after him. He can’t have gone too far.”
Sir Devon was right. It did not take long for them to find Samuel Baker’s ship. Samuel and his men were arrested and taken to the palace’s dungeon for questioning. Soon they found themselves with their hands bound, kneeling in front of the Duke. Sir Devon searched Samuel and found a map, which he handed to the Duke.
“How did you know about the map?” the Duke asked Samuel.
Samuel looked at Sir Devon, and it confirmed what the Duke already knew. Sir Devon then bowed in apology to the Duke.
“How did you steal the map from my manor?”
“We didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“We got your maid to do it for us.”
The Duke’s eyebrows joined at the centre, “Miss Abbott?”
“No, Matilda.”
“Matilda?” the Duke said.
&nb
sp; The Duke reflected on this. “Yes, and now she had left my manor.”
The Duke took a closer look at the map and then turned to Samuel. “I suppose the only crime you’ve committed here is the stealing of a small ship.”
“And stealing a map, Your Grace,” Sir Devon added.
“No, that would be Matilda’s crime,” the Duke said.
Samuel and Sir Devon were confused.
“You haven’t stolen my map,” the Duke said. “This map is false.”
“False?” Samuel said.
“Yes, it is completely different from the original. You have been tricked,” the Duke said.
“Why, that double-crossing … witch!” Samuel said.
The Duke then turned to Sir Devon, “I don’t want anyone else getting hold of that map. If we want to get our treasure with ease, then the less people who know about it, the better. Matilda’s a criminal now, and I want her arrested.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The Duke gathered many ships for his journey to find the treasure. But before leaving, he met with the King of Spain, the young King Lucas, in secret.
“I am pleased that you have come, Your Majesty,” the Duke said.
“Yes, evening Duke. Now, if this is going to be about your proposal for overthrowing Queen Isabel, then I am sorry. I can’t help you.”
“Oh, do you not wish to see her fall?” the Duke said.
“Ha! What a question. Of course I do! In the last war, she destroyed all of my father’s ships and my father was so grief-stricken that he died in bed. Now my country is totally bankrupt. We can hardly defend ourselves.” King Lucas banged his fist on the table. “I want revenge!”
“I understand your frustration, Majesty. But I can help you invade North England.”
King Lucas raised an eyebrow and then gave a light chuckle.
“Excuse me for being straightforward, Duke, but your King’s army isn’t any better than mine. In fact, it’s probably worse than mine, despite the situation that I’m in. And I hear that your King is, err, how should I say this,” he thought for a moment, “an idiot.”
The Duke smiled. “Yes, he is a fool. And I don’t plan on letting him sit on that throne for long.”
“Oh?” King Lucas said.
The Duke continued, “I am not here tonight on his behalf. I came on my own account. And with your support, I don’t think it will be difficult to sit on that throne myself.”
“Ah. You’re a rebel, my Duke. But I don’t know if I want to risk my army to fight your King. It will put me in bigger debt. And besides, what will I get out of this?”
“Why, your revenge, of course. Have you heard of Victor the Vicious?”
“Yes, and of his lost treasure,” King Lucas said.
“Yes, and I have his map. I only have a few ships and men that I can control. If you help me, you can use the gold to rebuild your army, support me in overthrowing King Anthony and then, when I am king, we will watch that witch fall off her throne.”
King Lucas laughed and clapped his hands. “Yes, I like it. You have my support. I will grant you some of my galleons. I want my gold to come back safely.”
“Good, then it’s settled,” the Duke said. “However, I would like this in black and white. I don’t mean to offend, but you can never be too careful, especially when gold is involved.”
“Of course. I completely understand,” King Lucas said.
Chapter 7
A Companion
Matilda had just passed a sign that read ‘Stamford.’ She had been travelling on her own for the past day and a half. By now it was late afternoon and Matilda decided to stay overnight in Stamford. As she walked towards the town, she saw a gather of people cheering and shouting. From where she stood it appeared to be a small festive event. Curious, Matilda decided to have a look.
So she made her way, with some bounce in her steps, towards the crowd. As she came closer, it became clear to her that it was a wrestling match. She walked past a tree and stood amongst the crowd. Two young men with only their breeches on were wrestling each other. One of them, who was a built like a bull, plunged his opponent onto the ground. Then the crowd cheered and applauded. Several young women next to Matilda screamed, “Isaac! Isaac!”
A middle-aged man next to Matilda shouted, “Yes! That’s my boy!”
“He’s marvellous, dear,” said a middle-aged woman next to him.
Then a young man, who was just as brawny as Isaac, turned to the man and said, “I’m up next, father. Watch me take Isaac down,” and he marched towards to his opponent while some young women near Matilda yelled out his name.
“Oh, I hope Bernard will be careful. Isaac’s arm has only just recovered,” said the woman.
“He’ll be fine, Dorcas,” said the man. “Nothing wrong with a few broken bones. Now Will, are you watching this? Will?”
The man then turned around, “Will!”
Matilda turned around also and saw a young man with wavy brown hair sitting underneath the tree, a quill and paper in his hands. He was much thinner than Isaac and Bernard and was more occupied with his paper than the whole event.
“Will, come and see this. Your brothers are fighting,” said the man.
“That’s all right, father. I’ve seen enough of them fighting at home,” he said, without taking his eyes from the paper.
Will’s father turned back to the match. “I don’t know why I bother bringing him here if he’s not going to try to like the game,” he said to his wife.
“Perhaps he has other interests,” said his wife.
“What other interests? You mean those silly pastimes of his? Painting, poetry and what did he do yesterday? Cooking!”
“He made that dish for us, dear, and it was delicious. He said he learnt the recipe from some travellers.”
“And don’t get me started on the friends he makes. Strange bunch,” said Will’s father.
Matilda felt that she had stayed long enough and turned to head towards town. When she did, she noticed that Will was no longer under the tree.
When Matilda reached the town she learnt that there was only one inn in the whole town, which was called River Bow. So she walked inside the inn and asked the innkeeper for a room.
“Yes, miss. I can get that arranged for you,” the innkeeper said.
“Also, did two men named Ralph and Roger stop by here?” Matilda asked.
“Ah. You’re referring to a tall curly-haired man and a short chubby one?”
“Yes, that’s them.”
“Yes, they did come here yesterday and then left early this morning.”
“I see. Thank you,” Matilda said.
Then the innkeeper’s assistant led Matilda to her room. Matilda was glad that she was not too far behind Ralph and Roger. She knew that they were heading to a coastal town called Portsmouth. She had overheard Ralph telling Roger that he knew someone in Portsmouth who could lend them a ship. Her only problem now was how she was going to get to Portsmouth before they left without her. She then considered riding a horse to catch up with them, but she did not have enough money to buy one. Eventually, she lay in bed, toying with other ideas until she fell asleep.
The next morning, while getting dressed, Matilda suddenly heard a commotion downstairs. She left her room and then crept over to the interior balcony of the first floor. She looked down and saw three officers at the counter. They seemed to be bullying the innkeeper’s assistant. Then finally, the innkeeper appeared out of a room.
“Sorry, sir. Got caught up with the cook. What can I do for you?” the innkeeper said.
The man in the middle spoke, “I am Captain David Fitzalan. Captain of Esterwall’s guards. Have you seen this person, Matilda Burley?” He held up a poster with a sketch of Matilda’s face.
“Well, I can’t really say that I have, captain. Too many people come and go here.”
“Search his books,” Captain David ordered one of his men.
At this moment, Matilda rushed back to her
room to grab her belongings. Then she went out and hid in a vacant room near the stairs. After she heard Captain David and his men climb the stairs, she peeped out from the door of the room and saw them barge into a room down the corridor.
Without a moment to lose, Matilda climbed down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, the innkeeper just stared at her in surprise and watched her quickly drop the money on the counter and leave.
Matilda did not stop once when she left the inn. She paced down the road and then came to a halt. Just a few feet away, a man, wearing the same uniform as Captain David’s guards, was walking around asking people if they had seen the person on the poster that he was showing them.
Matilda frantically searched for another road or street. Then she spotted a small street to her left, but before she could start to run for it, a beggar took hold of her arm.
“Oi there! She’s over here,” he called to the guard. Then he took another look at her, “It’s her all right. Oi!”
Matilda kicked him hard in the shins. He immediately let go of her arm and cupped his shin in agony, “Aww! That hurts.” Then Matilda bolted towards the small street to her left.
The guard hurried after Matilda but the beggar stopped him, his arms around the guard.
“What about my money? I found her for you,” the beggar said.
The guard shoved the beggar to the side and continued after Matilda.
“Oi, I just wanted to help!” the beggar said, and then he grinned. He pulled out a small money bag that he had stolen from the guard.
Matilda ran, turning randomly into any street. Every street she turned into, she could hear the guard running not far behind her. “Stop, you! Stop!” he would shout as he ran, but eventually he did not bother anymore because he was getting out of breath. Matilda turned into a street and saw a woman coming out of her house to feed her cats. The door was left open. Without a second thought, Matilda slipped inside the house without being seen by the woman and then hid underneath the front window. Just then the guard appeared on the same street, still running. Matilda waited until she heard the guard pass the house.