by J. N. Cao
“No she hasn’t,” said Roger.
“What?” said Ralph and then he approached Matilda, but Roger pulled him back.
Matilda moved the map closer to the flame, “Stop it, now!”
“All right!” cried the King and then he turned to the guard. “Tell them to stop.”
The guard changed the red flag to a yellow flag and waved it with all his might. From a distance, Sir Nicholas, who was stationed on his horse, saw the flag, so he blew a horn to stop his army. The army retreated but Sir Nicolas also had his men surround the area to prevent any rebels from escaping, in case the King ordered another attack.
As this was all happening, Matilda, still holding the map near the flame, noticed something peculiar started to appear on the map. She froze and watched brown ink forming the word FAKE on the top centre of the map.
“Now give me the map!” cried the King.
Matilda broke out of her trance, then she went over to Walter. “You can go now. And tell them that it’s safe to leave.”
Walter did not move. His eye’s still lingering on the map.
“Go!” said Matilda.
Then Walter and his men ran out through the gates and Ralph and Roger came to Matilda and stood close to her.
“I’ve done what you’ve asked, now give me the map,” said the King.
“I will give you back the map, once I can leave safely,” she said.
“Nonsense. How would I know that you won’t run off with the map?” said the King.
“I think we’re in a sticky situation here,” said Ralph to Matilda.
He was right. There was an army waiting outside with cavalries that could easily outrun them. Matilda needed a head start, a very long head start.
“Do you have a dagger on you, Uncle?” Matilda whispered.
“Yes.”
“Don’t let them see you take it out. Get ready to grab the King.”
Ralph almost could not believe what he had just heard. “All right, I’m ready.”
“If we give you the map, will you promise that we can leave safely?” said Matilda to the King.
“Yes, I will release you once you hand over the map.”
“You must swear to God so I’ll know you can’t go back on your word,” said Matilda, hoping the King would think that she was gullible so that he would drop his guard.
The King gave a light chuckle, “All right.” Then he placed a hand over his heart, “I King Anthony II, swear to the heavens above that I will release these people safely once I get my map. And may lightning strike me, if I don’t.”
Then the three of them walked slowly to the King. Matilda held out the map to him. As the King reached out for the map, Ralph quickly caught his wrist and pulled the King to him and held the dagger at this throat.
“Sire!” cried the Chamberlain
“Stay back, or the King dies,” said Matilda as she and the rest of them moved through the gate.
The Chamberlain and several guards quickly followed at a safe distance. Matilda put out the torch and shoved the map into her pocket. By now the area was clear of rebels and only the army remained. Sir Nicholas saw them come out of the gates, so he moved forward.
“Stay back!” cried Matilda.
“Stay where you are,” yelled the King.
“Get us a carriage,” Matilda said to the Chamberlain.
“Go on!” cried the Chamberlain to a guard.
While they waited, Matilda tied a cloth around the King’s eyes. At this moment, Will had come forward; soon a carriage arrived. They put the King into the carriage with Will and Roger.
Ralph and Matilda sat in the driver’s seat while Ralph took the reins.
“Where are we heading to?” said Ralph to Matilda.
“I don’t want to say it here. Just head towards the town centre,” said Matilda.
Ralph looked at her, confused.
“Please trust me,” Matilda said to Ralph.
“All right,” he said.
Then Matilda turned to the Chamberlain, “Tell them to clear the road.”
“Clear the road. Clear the road,” the Chamberlain said to a nearby guard, who went to tell Sir Nicholas.
Matilda turned to the Chamberlain again, “No one is to follow us. And expect a letter to collect your king.” Then she held on the handle as the carriage took off. The royal army watched the carriage speed past them until it was out of sight.
Chapter 17
Truths Revealed
The carriage rode through Oxford town centre and back on to the road that they were once travelling.
“Now, will you tell me where we’re going?” said Ralph.
“North,” said Matilda.
“North?”
“Yes, North England to be exact.”
“What? Why?” asked Ralph.
“I’ll explain later.”
“Yes, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do,” finished Ralph.
They rode for some hours without stopping, making sure that they were well away from being followed. Soon they stopped at a small village near Somerton. The village was rural, with only a few houses and farms. It had a countryside inn that was situated near the woods. The inn was small and simple, with a pond some distance behind it. It also had a small bath-stall located just behind the inn. And only one person could bathe at a time.
Roger stayed with the King, who was tied up, gagged and blind-folded, in the carriage after having finished his much-needed meal. Will had gone to take a bath. He had decided to leave the group here, as there was no place for him in North England.
Matilda and Ralph sat outside the inn eating a large meal at a table. There were other tables and chairs amongst them but were empty. As they ate, Matilda explained to Ralph everything that had happened since meeting with Prince Henry and Sir Laurence.
After hearing everything, Ralph stopped eating, gave a big sigh and looked away, not knowing what to say. Then he shook his head.
“Look on the bright side, Uncle. We may not get to see all that gold, but at least you can now have your home and land in North England.”
“I suppose,” Ralph said with little enthusiasm.
Then he picked up his spoon to resume eating. “I just can’t believe that our journey has to just end like that. All those nights of planning and dreaming. I thought it was the best thing that had ever happened to me.”
After a while he said, “I suppose Will is going to start on that journey of his, while we go to North England.”
“Yes.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Matilda got up. “I’m done. I think I’ll go and take a bath.”
“Yes, and then it’s my turn.”
Matilda walked behind the inn and found a small building. The door was left opened for the customers and inside to the far left of the building were three lavatories. Closer to the door to the right was one cubicle used for bathing. Will walked out of the cubicle fully dressed and saw Matilda at the entrance of the building.
“It’s all yours. I’d better go and get some supplies now,” Will said. “For my journey,” Will added after Matilda looked at him blankly.
“Yes, I know. I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Then Matilda watched a man came out of a lavatory, walked past them and headed for the inn.
“Actually, I’ll tell you later.” And she disappeared into the cubicle.
Inside there were a small bath tub and a water drawer. Matilda took off her beret and let out her hair. The feeling was satisfying as it has been a while since she had done this. After putting down her beret on a small stool, she massaged her scalp for a short while then she peeled off the moustache. She put the moustache on top of the beret and began to take off her jerkin.
Just then Will returned and stood in front of the cubicle. He knocked at the cubicle’s door, which made Matilda jumped.
“Matthew?”
“Yes?”
“It’s me, Will. Ther
e wasn’t any soap in there, so I brought you one.” Then he waited for a response and expected Matilda to open the cubicle’s door to reach for the soap. As he waited, he spotted a frog sitting just at the entrance of the building. A playful smile spread across his face and he slipped the soap into his pocket.
Matilda looked around inside the cubicle and realised that there was no soap. “Oh, yes, thank you. You can throw it in.”
“Throw it in?” said Will as he approached the frog.
“Yes.”
Will caught the frog with both hands and then came back to the cubicle. He decided to go to the side of the cubicle, where its length was longer than the front. He stood there, holding the frog in both hands. “Are you ready? I’m going to throw it in now.”
“Yes.”
Will threw the frog over the wall of the cubicle, and it landed inside.
“AAHHH!!!!!” Matilda screamed. Will could hear her rattling inside as she screamed. Will held his stomach, and his head fell back laughing. Suddenly, Matilda burst out of the door of the cubicle. She stood there catching her breath, staring at the frog inside the cubicle. Will still laughing said, “Oh, you scream like a girrrllll …,” his voice trailed off after he had turned and saw Matilda. She was wearing the cloth that bound her chest, and her breeches and boots. And her long hair still out.
Will stood stunned.
Matilda quickly covered her arms over her chest. “Don’t just stand there. Get rid of it!”
Will quickly went to grab the frog and then went out of the cubicle. Matilda stomped back into the cubicle and slammed the door.
Will stood there for a moment and then pulled out the soap from his pocket. Then the cubicle door opened slightly, Matilda’s hand reaching out. “Soap,” she said firmly. Will put the soap in her hand and then she slammed the door again.
Will left the building. He walked around the inn to the front and saw Ralph still sitting at the table. He had just finished eating. The other tables were now occupied with customers having their meals outside. Nearby Ralph’s table was a man sitting alone. He wore a large black hat and a black cloak over his clothes. He ate with his head down and all that was visible was his bushy beard. Roger had just come out of the carriage and went to join Ralph at the table.
“He just finished eating,” said Roger.
“The sooner we are out of this country the better. I don’t like keeping him with us for too long,” said Ralph.
Just then Will sat down at the table, not saying anything.
Ralph watched him for a bit. “What’s the matter? You look like you have seen a ghost.”
“I just found out … Matthew, he’s a girl?”
“Oh, she told you,” said Roger.
“So it’s true then?”
“Well, good. At least now we can go back to calling her Matilda, it was so much harder when we had to call her Matthew all the time,” said Roger.
“Matilda?” said Will.
“Yes, it’s Matilda. Didn’t she tell you?” asked Roger.
“No.”
“Then what has she told you?” asked Ralph.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” said Ralph.
“I just saw it,” said Will.
“Saw what?” said Ralph.
“He, she was about to bathe, and I saw everything.”
“You mean, you saw something that you shouldn’t have seen?” said Ralph.
“Well, yes, but it’s what you thin ——”
Ralph grabbed Will by the jerkin. “What exactly were you doing while she about to bathe, huh?”
“Nothing. Nothing of that sort,” said Will. “I mean I saw the hair, the face, the cloth.” He waved his hands just above his chest insinuating where the cloth had been on Matilda. “Don’t worry, she still had her breeches on. It was by accident, I swear.”
Ralph let him go.
Will was deep in thought. “Wait. Ralph Burley, Matilda Burley. Is she Matilda Burley? The outlaw?”
“Shhh. Yes,” said Ralph.
Just then Matilda walked to them. They all looked at her.
“Will, can I have a word?” she said.
“Yes,” replied Will as he got up and followed her.
Ralph and Roger exchanged glances as Matilda and Will left.
Matilda led him to the pond behind the inn then she turned to face Will. She looked him in the eye and could see that he was studying her face. She dropped her eyes.
“I know you have a lot of questions for me. So now is the time to ask them.”
“I’m sorry about what happened before,” said Will.
“You’re forgiven.”
“I’ve also learnt that you’re Matilda Burley.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You’re an outlaw?”
“Yes.”
“What was your crime?”
“I stole the map from the Duke.”
“So your grandfather didn’t find it?”
“No.”
Just then Matilda remembered the map and what she had seen appear on it. But right now she wanted to make things clear with Will first before he left.
“So, why did you lie?” Will said.
“So, how would you have felt if I had told you before that I stole it from the Duke?”
“Well, a bit unsafe, and I would probably expect my belongings to be gone the next day,” he said with a weak laugh.
“Basically, you wouldn’t trust an outlaw around you. And what if you reported me to the Duke?”
“Well, I might not, or … well … Why did you steal it anyway? Were you in some kind of trouble?”
“I was.” Then she told him about her getting the map to rescue Ralph and Roger from the sailors.
“After that, I could have returned the map to the Duke. I thought it was the right thing to do. I could have told him that I was pressured, and he might have forgiven me. Maybe. But I didn’t do any of that. I simply took it for myself. Something came over me when I first saw it.”
She looked at Will for a reaction. “You can judge me badly if you want, I wouldn’t be surprised if you did.”
“I don’t. I can sort of understand why you did it. Well, in a positive light, if you hadn’t stolen it, then the Prince wouldn’t be able to prevent a war,” said Will with a smile. “Of course you didn’t know that at the beginning. If you had it would have made your actions more honourable, but after knowing you and seeing what you have done, I can say that you’re not a bad person. Better than most I would say.”
Matilda smiled at his understanding. Then they were both silent in their own thoughts.
“Well then, I’m glad it’s all clear between us,” said Matilda.
“Yes.”
Matilda was silent for a moment, then she said, “It’s a pity that you have to leave. We enjoyed having you with us.” She paused. “Back in Esterwall I didn’t have a friend, except for Mr Dudley, but he’s not really from Esterwall and even he doesn’t really understand…me...um, what I really wanted to say is that … it was nice having you as a friend.” And she smiled at him.
Will smiled back, “I could say the same about you. I was no different, in Stamford I ——"
“Sorry to interrupt,” said Ralph, who had just appeared. “But we had better be going. I want to get rid of the King soon.”
The three then started to make their way to the carriage. There, they would say their goodbyes to Will and leave for North England. As they were walking, Matilda remembered the map and pulled it out of her pocket. The word FAKE was still there. Its brown ink looked very familiar to Matilda; very much like the one found on Victor Harte’s letters.
“There’s a word fake here on the map,” she said to Ralph and Will. Then all three stopped walking.
Ralph took the map and had a look. “Strange.”
Then Matilda had a realisation. “Wait for me at the carriage. I’ll be back.” She rushed back into the inn.
Moments later, Matilda returned to the carri
age holding a candle.
She gave the candle to Roger to hold while she fished out the letter from the pocket inside her jerkin.
Then she took the candle from Roger and moved it around beneath the letter. Soon enough, light brown ink started to appear on the letter, forming readable words between the black ink writing.
Roger gasped, “Witchcraft!”
The brown writing read:
The real map to the treasure is with Paullo Suarez, a monk livin in a monastree in a village called Sobrado, Portugal. The other map is fake. I will find a way back alive. So get the map and keep it safe for me.
Roger clasped his hands over his head. “Unbelievable! All this time we’ve been following the wrong ——”
“Shh,” Ralph quieted him.
They moved a few feet away from the carriage to prevent the King from hearing their conversation. They stood near the edge of the woods.
“Do you know what this means?” Ralph said excitedly, shaking Roger by the shoulders.
Matilda was speechless with shock and excitement.
“So this whole time the map has been in Portugal. But who is Paullo Suarez?” Will wondered out loud.
“Then this whole time the Duke and the Prince were in the wrong place?” Matilda said.
“So what are we going to do now?” Roger said.
“Go to Portugal, of course,” Ralph said.
“Wait. But we are not in the right position to go after the treasure,” Matilda said. “Firstly, we have to deal with the King. And once he is set free, it will be impossible for us to go anywhere without him tracking us down. Secondly, we are nearly out of food and money. Not to mention no money to buy a ship. I say we must get to North England as soon as we can. Gather our supplies and ship there.”
“Sounds like a good plan. But my next question is, are we going to go on this journey as the four of us?” Ralph said to Matilda.
Will was pleased to hear that he was still taking part in the journey.
Ralph continued, “Or are you going to mention this to the Prince and the Queen’s secretary? Because something tells me that you are.”
“I don’t see why not,” Matilda said. “You can’t possibly use all that gold. The Queen’s country needs it, and we are now their citizens. And I think it safe to go with their ships that are all well-equipped and protected by guards. We won’t have to fear the King trying to get to us. And I’m sure they’ll let you have a nice share of the gold.”