The Pirate's Map

by J. N. Cao

  “Yes, all of us,” said Matilda.

  “You’re all an adventurous bunch,” said the Prince with a smile.

  “I don’t see why they can’t come, Your Highness,” said Sir Laurence. “After all, they managed themselves quite well in Oxford.”

  The Prince considered it for a moment, “Very well. You may all come.”

  Ralph turned to Roger, raised a fist to his torso and mouthed ‘YES’.

  Then the Prince stood, “I must go see the Queen now. When everything is ready, we will send for you.” Then he left the room.

  “Has he gone to discuss this with the Queen?” asked Ralph.

  “No. The Queen has asked His Highness to dine with her tonight,” said Sir Laurence. “The Prince does not discuss important affairs without me.”

  “What is she like?” asked Roger.

  Sir Laurence smiled, “If you don’t have any other engagements, we can talk about this over dinner. I would also like to hear in detail how you managed to leave Oxford.”

  They all happily agreed to stay, partly because they were all very curious about the palace and its people.

  Two days later, Sir Laurence invited them to the palace to see the Queen as she was quite eager to meet them.

  Soon Matilda, Ralph, Roger and Will found themselves in the Queen’s throne room. She was sitting in her throne and beside her was Sir Laurence. After they had greeted the Queen accordingly, they stood before her and waited to be spoken to.

  The Queen was in her mid-fifties, with auburn hair and had a pale face.

  “Well, I’ve heard a lot about all of you from Sir Laurence and the Prince,” she said, studying each of them. “And I am grateful that you have informed the Prince about Victor Harte’s letter. You can be assured that I will use the gold wisely, as a queen.” She paused. “And I’ve have decided to reward you all a share of the treasure.”

  They all thanked her.

  Then the Queen got up from her throne and made her way down the steps to them. They could see that she was very tall.

  She stood and watched them for a moment. Then with a smile, she clapped her hands to her left. Immediately, a servant ran up to her.

  “Prepare some food and drink in my private dining quarters,” she commanded.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” said the servant, who bowed and left quickly.

  “I hope having a meal with me will loosen your nerves,” she said, still smiling. “Come. You too, Sir Laurence.”

  Then she faced Matilda. “I’d like to hear what you did to my silly second-cousin.”

  Matilda looked at her, confused, as she started to lead them all to her private quarters.

  “I meant that child of a man that you call King,” said the Queen smiling.

  After they’d had their meal, the Queen decided to show Matilda her garden just outside her quarters. Sir Laurence remained inside entertaining Ralph, Roger and Will with his stories of when he was in Italy recruiting spies, something Matilda would have loved to have heard, but no one refuses a queen, and the Queen had already heard the stories; Sir Laurence reported everything to her.

  “I admit that I envy you,” started the Queen as she led Matilda around the fountain.

  Matilda lightly chuckled, “I don’t see what I have for a queen to be envious of me, madam.”

  “Oh, you do. I had dreamt of travelling and exploring when I was about your age. Although I have been to almost every country on the map, but I never really knew them. All I see are their castles and their subjects, and occasionally nice scenery that I can’t comfortably enjoy with guards watching me all the time.”

  Then she gave a long sigh. “At least I had five precious years with my Consort, Prince Philip.”

  Then the Queen proceeded to talk about when she got married. Matilda learned that the Queen was in her early thirties when she married Prince Philip. Before that, she went through eleven years of her subjects fussing about whom she should marry and whom she should not until the Queen finally had enough and said, “I’m going to marry whomever I fancy. So stop suggesting me teenagers and old geezers.” She then finally settled on Prince Philip, who was not a prince at the time. He was Philip Summers, the son of a baronet. Sir Laurence had to make him a prince of some small island to satisfy the Queen’s subjects so that they would allow the marriage. After five years of happy marriage, Prince Philip died of an illness, leaving behind the four year old Prince Henry.

  Then the Queen laughed, “And despite what I had gone through, I am guilty of coaxing Henry to marry. But not for the same reasons that my subjects meddled with me. He seems to take the idea all too lightly, and I would like to see grandchildren before I’m too old to lift them.”

  Soon the Queen left Matilda in the garden alone, to attend to other affairs. Matilda went to a flower bush that had caught her attention. The flowers resembled that of a purple duck. She held it in her hand to study it. At Matilda’s slightest touch, the flower dropped into her hand. It wasn’t really Matilda’s fault, the flower was about to fall from its stem anyway.

  “You there,” cried a young woman. She was one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting; she hurried over to Matilda.

  “I saw that. You pulled off one of the flowers,” she said.

  “It was an accident,” said Matilda.

  “Nonsense. The Queen is not going to be happy. This flower is rare and ——” she quickly curtsied. “Your Highness.”

  Matilda turned around to see Prince Henry and then quickly curtsied. “Your Highness.”

  Prince Henry gestured for them to rise. “What has happened, Lady Jane?”

  “Your Highness, she plucked one of the Queen’s favourite flowers.”

  “It was an accident, Your Highness,” said Matilda.

  “I’m sure she’s telling the truth,” said Prince Henry.

  “But ——”

  “That’s enough. The Queen is waiting for you, Lady Jane,” said Prince Henry.

  Lady Jane curtsied and then left the garden.

  “Thank you, Your Highness,” said Matilda after Lady Jane had left.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “How did you know I was telling the truth?”

  “I don’t. But I do know that Lady Jane likes to cause trouble for others, especially to ladies that the Queen is fond of.”

  Matilda only nodded to this. She started to wonder about the kind of people living in court.

  “We’ll be sailing in two days. All the men and ships will be ready by then,” said the Prince. “Of course, you will have a cabin to yourself.”

  “Thank you, Your Highness.”

  “I’m surprised someone like you would want to be at sea for months. It can get unpleasant,” said the Prince.

  “Yes. I am aware of that. My parents died on a long sea voyage. But I would not want to let go of this opportunity to finally see the real truth behind a legend.”

  Then Matilda continued, “I’m surprised that the Queen would allow you to go on this voyage. Your Highness is her only heir.”

  “Yes. That is true. But she knows she can’t stop me. However, I did promise the Queen that if she allowed me to go, then when I’ve returned, I will actively look for a bride.”

  Matilda smiled, “I think Your Highness got away with an easy promise. It’s not difficult for a prince to find a bride.”

  “You could say that. But it’s not easy to find someone you like, wouldn’t you agree?” said the Prince, staring at Matilda waiting for her response.

  Matilda stared back at the Prince. She could see that his fixed smile was friendly, but his eyes were analysing. Then she finally said, “I don’t know. I haven’t tried.”

  The Prince looked at her for a moment, then they heard footsteps approaching and turned.

  Will appeared but then stopped when he saw both of them. He was surprised to see the Prince and bowed, “Your Highness.”

  The Prince nodded, “I must be leaving.”

  After the Prince had left, Will turned
to Matilda, “I was looking for you. Ralph and Roger are about to leave.”

  “Oh, let’s go then,” said Matilda.

  Two days later they all set out to Portugal. Fifteen ships sailed, with guards and supplies. And sailing some safe miles away from the Prince’s ships were twenty-four ships led by the Duke: four of the Duke’s and another twenty galleons from the Spanish King.

  It was dusk when the Prince’s ships arrived in Portugal some days later. They decided to set out to go to Sobrado immediately. Four guards waited outside on the dock for Matilda and her companions to leave their ship. Sir Laurence was also with her. Once they were all outside, the Prince watched them leave on their horses from the deck. They had also hired a Portuguese man to lead them the way.

  Two hours later they arrived in Sobrado. It was dark now and not many villagers were outside. They soon found out that there were two monasteries in the village. But they decided to go to the oldest one since the other monastery had been built five years ago.

  When they arrived at the monastery, Sir Laurence knocked on the door. Moments later an elderly monk answered the door.

  “Sorry to bother you, sir. But we are looking for Paullo Saurez,” said Sir Laurence.

  “I am sorry, but he is not here,” said the monk.

  “Then where can we find him?” said Sir Laurence.

  “He died ten years ago.”

  Their hearts sank a little.

  “Victor Harte gave something to Paullo Saurez for safekeeping,” said Matilda. “We are here to take it back.”

  “And where is Victor Harte?” asked the monk.

  “He is dead. But his wife, Cecelia Harte, is still alive and I am her daughter. So please will you help us?”

  Sir Laurence turned to look at Matilda in surprise. He wondered whether she was telling the truth.

  The monk looked at Matilda for a moment. “Please come inside.”

  Then they all went inside the monastery, except for two guards who stood outside minding the horses.

  Inside the monastery, they watched the monk light some candles. When he had finished, he turned to them. “My name is Fernam Saurez, and Paullo Saurez was my brother.”

  He moved closer to them. “Yes. Paullo did leave some things behind before he died and one of them belonged to Victor Harte. He told me to give it to Victor Harte or his wife, Cecilia Harte. I still have it with me, do you mind following me?”

  They all followed Fernam into a library. The two guards stayed at the door while the others spread around a table. They watched Fernam bring a box to the table in excited anticipation. Fernam unlocked the box and then took out a rolled-up piece of paper. He then handed it to Matilda.

  “Thank you,” she said. Her heart thumped rapidly as she unrolled the paper. Everyone but Fernam gathered around her to see the map.

  “My god, we have it,” said Roger.

  Matilda borrowed Fernam’s candle and then heated the map over it. The word REAL appeared the top centre of the map. Everyone smiled.

  “This is the one,” Matilda said.

  Matilda handed the map to Sir Laurence.

  Then Will turned to Fernam, “May I ask, how did your brother know Victor Harte?”

  “He told me he was a slave on Victor Harte’s ship.”

  “Oh,” said Matilda in a low voice, feeling somewhat guilty about this. “I’m sorry about that.”

  Fernam only smiled.

  Then he continued, “Many years ago my brother was on a ship returning from South England when Victor Harte captured the ship. Luckily, Victor Harte spared my brother’s life and kept him as a slave on his ship for four years. After that, my brother was released and Victor Harte left this map for my brother to keep for him.”

  “And your brother just happily kept it?” said Will.

  “Yes. My brother and I are peaceful people. We don’t want any trouble and besides, Victor Harte set him free.”

  “After four years of slavery,” muttered Ralph.

  Then they thanked Fernam and left the monastery.

  ✽✽✽

  For the past three months, they had been sailing with the guidance of the new map. During those months, other than enjoying the view of the sea, they also found other activities to entertain themselves. Matilda enjoyed whale and dolphin watching, and Ralph and Roger befriended the captain of their ship, Captain George, an older and experienced man who had been at sea for over forty years, and who considered himself lucky to have only experienced minor storms throughout his career.

  As for Will, he had started to pick up fencing through the encouragement of Sir Laurence. So once in a while, Will would practise duelling with Sir Laurence on deck, and occasionally Matilda would join them.

  Some weeks later they found themselves passing through a channel.

  “Are we anywhere near it?” Matilda asked Sir Laurence as they stood on deck looking at the islands as they passed.

  “Almost. I believe another week or two,” Sir Laurence replied.

  Chapter 21

  The Storm

  Two weeks later they left the channel and sailed in the open sea again. Ralph, Roger and Will were playing cards at a small table on the main deck.

  Then the cook came over to them with a basket of only a few apples.

  “You lads want to take the last few apples so I can put this basket away?” he said.

  “I’ll have two,” said Roger.

  “Yeh, I’ll have one,” said Ralph.

  “Same,” said Will.

  So the cook gave the apples to each accordingly. He looked into the basket, “Ah, one left.”

  “I’ll take it,” said Will.

  After the round of cards had finished, Will took the two apples and stood up. “All right. I’ll stop here.”

  “No, you’re won’t,” said Ralph. “I just lost all my money to you. You’re staying. At least until I win back half.”

  “Sorry, Ralph, but I’m bored with the game now,” said Will.

  “Oh, all right,” said Ralph as he starting dealing the cards between him and Roger. “And if you want to know, Matilda is on the quarterdeck.”

  Will looked at Ralph, trying to interpret what he meant, and then left them.

  Will climbed the stairs to the quarterdeck and spotted Matilda there, leaning on the handrail, but he was discouraged to approach because the Prince was in a jovial conversation with her. So he left and returned to the table.

  He sat down and left the two apples next to him. “Deal me.”

  Ralph made a quick glance at Will. “Oh, I forgot to mention that there is a particular person with Matilda,” Ralph said with his eyes on his cards.

  Will shot Ralph an annoyed look.

  “Who’s that person?” asked Roger.

  “Oh, no one important,” said Ralph. “Hopefully, no one important to M.” He hanged on to the M long enough until Will looked at him in shock.

  “You read it?” said Will. “That’s private.”

  “It’s not my fault you left it lying around your bed,” said Ralph.

  “What do you mean? I had it inside my book,” said Will.

  “Oh, did you now. Ah, my memory is foggy right now,” said Ralph in jest.

  “Oh, are you talking that poem?” said Roger. “The one where it starts with Oh M, Oh M, Oh M, err——”

  Will turned to Ralph, “You showed it to him?”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” said Roger, “I liked it. Short and to the point.”

  Will sighed out of annoyance and left them, making his way to his cabin.

  Soon enough it was dusk, and dark clouds were forming. Moments later the ships were caught in turbulent waves. Lightning appeared in the sky.

  Sir Laurence came out on deck and looked up at the sky.

  “This doesn’t look good,” said Roger as he got up from his seat.

  Then the Prince and Matilda appeared on the main deck.

  A sailor came to them, “Your Highness, a hurricane is coming.”

 
“Hurricane?” said Roger. “Oh no, we’re going to die.”

  “Relax, Roger. We’re in good hands,” said Ralph.

  Then another sailor ran up to the Prince. “Your Highness, Captain George has just fainted.”

  “What?” said the Prince. “Get all men on deck!”

  The sailor then turned to the men on the ship, shouting, “Batten down the hatches! Secure the rigging!”

  Then the Prince went with the sailor to the helmsman who was having trouble steering against the wind.

  Matilda noticed that Will was not on deck, so she went inside to find him.

  Soon everyone was helping with securing the ship while water sprayed over them. Then, without warning, lightning struck the mast, causing a fire.

  “Watch out!” cried several men as the mast fell over the ship. Flames from the mast started to spread on deck.

  “Everyone to the longboats!” said Sir Laurence.

  Many made it to the longboats but then a wave rolled the ship, throwing some men overboard.

  “Help! Help!” cried Roger, splashing in the water. Then Ralph dragged him onto the boat. Sir Laurence was also on the boat, along with four other men.

  “Find the Prince!” Sir Laurence called to the men, and the men started to row the boat.

  Ralph and Roger called out, “Matilda! Will! Matilda!”

  On deck, the remaining people, including Matilda and Will, tried to make their way around the fire. But then an enormous wave picked up the ship and rolled it to its side. As the wave retreated the ship dropped, crashing into the water.

  The next morning Will woke up on the shore. He slowly got to his feet and looked at his surroundings. There was no one in sight and no ships either. He noticed that he in was in a bay and so decided to walk around it, hoping to be seen more clearly by the ships.

  As he walked along the shore, he noticed a figure lying on the sand. It was obviously a male. He ran towards the body and turned it over to reveal the Prince, who was still unconscious.

  “Your Highness,” Will called, shaking the Prince.

  Soon the Prince regained consciousness and opened his eyes. “Where am I?”

  “You’re on shore,” said Will.