The Pirate's Map

by J. N. Cao

  “Your Majesty, the guards said that they have captured a Matilda Burley. Or to be more precise, she walked right up to them.”

  “Really?” said the King.

  “Yes, Sire. And she wants to speak with you. She said it’s very important.”

  “Hmm. Yes, I have something important to discuss with her too. Bring her into the throne room.”

  The King sat on his throne and the guards brought Matilda to him.

  “Ah, I see now. You were disguised as Matthew Dudley. The Duke has told me all about you.”

  Matilda smiled. “Yes, and there’s a lot of things he still hasn’t told you.”

  “Oh. What then?”

  “He has eyes on your thrown and is plotting with the Spanish King to overthrow you.”

  “Oh, really? And why should I believe you? What do you want out of this?”

  “Simple. I am tired of hiding. So in return for my freedom, I have told you the Duke’s secret. All the evidence is in his study. And not only that, he and the Spaniards have gathered ships to invade you at this very moment.”

  In the meantime, Ralph and Roger, and a few other guards, had bought two ships from Newquay and were now sailing on one and leading the other. They also had men display the North England flag on all of the mastheads. Now they must attract the Duke’s attention as they sailed towards the English Channel. Captain George was with them, steering the ship and sweating from fear.

  “Relax, Captain George. I don’t want you to faint, not this time,” said Ralph. Then he noticed that Captain George’s hands were trembling, so he put a hand on the Captain’s shoulder. “We need sturdy hands for this,” and he took over the ship’s wheel. The Captain looked at him surprise, “Are you sure?”

  “No fear, Captain,” said Ralph. “I’ve watched you enough to do well enough.”

  “What if they get to us before we can even lead them to the King,” said Captain George.

  “Have courage, Captain,” said Ralph. “If we survived a storm, then we can survive this.”

  “I think I can see them now,” cried Roger.

  “Alright, let’s get a little closer,” said Ralph as he steered.

  At that moment, the Duke and Señor Gonzola had just sent out fifteen ships to capture the Prince’s remaining four ships. They had decided that the Prince was trying to deceive them into thinking that he would throw all his gold away if they approached.

  “Fifteen should be enough,” said the Duke. “He should run out of ammunition before knocking down all fifteen, that is, if he decides to shoot. Otherwise, getting on board of his ships should be easy.”

  Some time later, the Prince saw the fifteen ships approaching in the distance. He sighed. He knew that reinforcements couldn’t arrive this soon. Then he turned around to his men, who were waiting for his commands. They all wore worried expressions, knowing that their end was near. They just did not know if they would be ordered to fight till the death or surrender.

  “Men,” said the Prince, “it has been a great honour to fight beside you. And it is a privilege to die with such a brave ——”

  “Err … Your Highness?” said a guard.

  “What?”

  The guard pointed beyond the Prince. Then the Prince turned around.

  “They’re leaving,” said another guard in astonishment.

  All the men had forgotten their positions and started to make their way to the edge of the deck to get a better view.

  “They’re leaving!” cried another.

  “We’re saved!” shouted another.

  Then everyone started to jump and dance for joy amongst themselves. Everyone was celebrating but the Prince, who was still standing there in shock, watching the mass of ships leave.

  “Why?” he asked himself. Then some moments later, “They know about the other ships?”

  Back in the throne room, the guards brought many things that they found in the Duke’s study to the King. The King spotted the small chest first. “What’s that?” Then he took out the gold coins and examined them.

  “It’s the chest he found in Victor Harte’s shipwreck. That’s where the map was,” said Matilda.

  “I thought you had the map?” said the King.

  “I did and so did the Duke. He had a copy and had gone after the treasure in secret.”

  Then the Chamberlain handed a piece of paper to the King. “Sire, read this. It’s their agreement.”

  The King read quickly and then put the paper down, “How dare he. And I trusted him all this time.”

  “And Your Majesty,” said the Chamberlain, now holding a pile of papers. “He had some of your guards and sailors sign these papers agreeing to be discreet about him working with the Spaniards, in return for higher wages.”

  “And I allowed him the funds to do that! That scoundrel!”

  “And Sire, Sir Devon has also signed,” added the Chamberlain.

  “I will have the Duke hanged for treason!” said the King.

  Then Lord Stanley and a general burst into the room.

  “Your Majesty! They are here! The Duke and the Spaniards. We saw their ships!” he cried.

  “What are you waiting for? Get every ship out there, now!” said the King.

  “We have, Your Majesty. All of the ships are on their way now,” said the general.

  Then the King got up from his throne and started to make his way out of the room. But before he left he stopped at Matilda. “I’m not finished with you yet. I still haven’t forgotten what happened in Oxford. Guards! Take her away.”

  Matilda did not protest as she knew that this would happen. The guards then took her down into the dungeons and locked her in a cell. She sat down on the floor and hoped that everything would go as planned.

  By now all of the Duke’s ships had begun chasing after Ralph’s ships, heading towards the English Channel.

  “I should have known. I knew there was something suspicious about all of this,” said the Duke as his ships sailed into the English Channel.

  “Well Duke, I wish you had discovered this sooner. It looks like our gold is getting away,” said Señor Gonzalo.

  “I wish you could be more optimistic, Señor Gonzalo,” said the Duke. “It won’t be long until we catch up, and they are defenceless.”

  Meanwhile, Matilda was staring at the small cell window way above her head. Suddenly a guard came to her cell.

  “Matilda,” he said.

  She turned her head, “Will.”

  Will was disguised as a royal guard and had made his way into the dungeons.

  “Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” she said, standing at the cell bars.

  “I’m going to get you out,” he said taking out a chain of keys.

  “Are there any guards out there?” whispered Matilda.

  “Yes, but we can avoid them. And I know a way out, behind the dungeon with hardly any guards,” said Will. “Best to keep your handcuffs on to avoid any suspicion. And we must hurry, your father is waiting outside with an unconscious guard.”

  “My father?”

  “Yes, he insisted on coming,” said Will.

  Eventually, they got away from the castle. Will had arranged three horses, and they rode down towards Portsmouth to help Ralph and Roger. They quickly set out and rode at full speed, without stopping.

  The chase was still going along the English Channel and had been in progress for some hours.

  “Look! More ships up ahead,” said Roger. “They must be the King’s.”

  “You’re right. Let’s get ready,” said Ralph, and then he let go of the wheel and called out to the men on the deck, “Abandon ship!” Then he held up a small red flag to signal the other ship to do the same. Not long after, they all got into the longboats and rowed away, watching their abandoned ships sail aimlessly towards the King’s fleet. The fleet had come out of Portsmouth a few hours earlier and was now approaching the Duke’s ships at full speed.

  “It looks like they have lost their steering,” said Seño
r Gonzalo.

  “This doesn’t look right,” said the Duke.

  Some moments later, they heard a cannonball hit one of the ships ahead.

  “What was that?” said Señor Gonzalo. “They are attacking?”

  A guard came running up to the Duke. “Your Grace, one of our ships has been attacked.”

  “By Prince Henry’s ship?” said the Duke.

  “No, Your Grace. By the King’s ships,” said the guard.

  “What? Let them know that I am here,” said the Duke.

  But it was pointless. Some of the ships had already engaged in battle.

  “This is a disaster. Does your King not ask first before he starts shooting?” said Señor Gonzalo. “And why has he sent out his ships?”

  The Duke did not answer. He was preoccupied with trying to understand the situation.

  After a long wait, the guard returned.

  “What’s happening?” the Duke asked before the guard could speak. “What has happened to those two ships?”

  The guard was wide-eyed, like a terrified rabbit. “Your Grace,” he finally managed to say, “those two ships were abandoned and, and …”

  “Go on!” said the Duke.

  “A … and the King has ordered the attack on you. You have been charged for treason, Your Grace.”

  The Duke began to chuckle and then feeling faint, he supported himself with one hand on the handrail.

  “And how did the King know about this?” asked the Duke.

  “They say that Matilda Burley went to the King and told him everything,” said the guard.

  “What now, Duke?” said Señor Gonzalo.

  “There’s nothing else to do. I’ve failed,” the Duke said. “Two abandoned ships?” He chuckled, “I’ve been tricked again!”

  Then he turned to the guard. “I suppose now you want to run for your life. I’m not the Duke anymore.”

  “Sorry, sir,” and then he ran off.

  “Well, there is no reason for me to stay,” said Señor Gonzalo. “My mission was to simply get the gold for my King, not to waste all his ships in another disaster. This is not our battle.”

  And with that, he transferred to his Spanish ship and sailed away with the rest of them. The Duke was left alone, with only a few ships remaining. Most of the men had also left as they knew they would also be charged with treason. After some time the royal guards arrived to arrest the Duke, but when they boarded the ship, they could not find him.

  Matilda, Will and Victor had finally arrived at the shore. It was almost dusk, and they still had not seen Ralph and Roger.

  They decided to split along the shore to find them. While they did this, Victor stayed behind to mind the horses. Matilda walked along the sand for some time but could not see them. Eventually, she turned around and started to head back. As she walked back she sensed someone approaching from behind. She quickly turned around saw the Duke. He was pointing a sword at her.

  “Matilda Burley, aren’t I lucky to find you here,” said the Duke. After his tragic failures, the Duke had disappeared from his ship to find a quiet place to end it all. But he saw Matilda on shore and vengeance consumed him. Matilda Burley, he thought, every time something happened, it was the name to blame. Had she not trespassed into my study and stole the map and letter, no one else would have the map but me. Had she not sided with the Queen, situations would not have been so difficult. But above all, had she not turned the King against me, I wouldn’t be here with nothing. Nothing to return to and nothing to go to.

  Matilda stepped back, but the Duke only stepped forward with his sword. She could not get away.

  “What do you want?” she said.

  “Why, to kill you of course,” said the Duke. Now, before I kill myself because of my miserable failures, I must kill you first.”

  “You only have yourself to blame. Nobody asked you to overthrow the King,” said Matilda.

  “Anyone could have overthrown that pathetic King eventually, so I decided it should be me.”

  Then he lifted his sword and struck, but Matilda dodged and fell to the ground.

  “Keep still, it will be over quickly,” said the Duke. Then he went in for another strike, but Matilda quickly threw sand at his face.

  The Duke shielded himself with his arm, and without warning, Matilda swiftly grabbed the dagger that hung from his belt and got to her feet.

  The Duke drove the sword at Matilda, but she blocked it with the dagger. “It must sting to be so close to being King,” she said, warding off his sword.

  The Duke retreated. “I have you to thank for that.” Then he tried to strike her, but she dodged.

  “No, I’m talking about you,” Matilda said.

  “Oh?”

  “You had everything to make you King. You were King Martin’s son.”

  He slashed, she blocked, “And his first born.”

  He drove his sword with strength, and it crossed with her dagger, and they held like so for a moment. Matilda felt his strength overpowering hers. “But your mother was not the Queen.”

  She let go and fell on the ground, quickly holding up the dagger to block an attack, but the Duke’s blade flicked the dagger out of her hand. The dagger spun far away. Now the Duke’s sword pointed at her neck. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing: trying to distract me with words.”

  Then the Duke turned his head and saw someone speed towards him, their sword driving at his neck. The Duke leapt back to dodge the attack.

  Will stood with his sword raised at the Duke. Matilda quickly got to her feet, Will motioning for her to stay behind him.

  “Ah, I see now, you’re not alone,” said the Duke. Immediately, the Duke engaged in a duel with Will.

  Steel clashed and criss-crossed.

  Matilda stepped back as Will evaded a blow. Will engaged the Duke in another duel, then the Duke slashed across Will’s left shoulder.

  “Will!” said Matilda. She tried to look around for the dagger but could not see it. It was getting dark, and the weeds and other vegetation made it difficult to find.

  The duel then renewed and eventually the Duke slashed Will’s thigh. Will’s knees buckled and he dropped to the sand, one hand on his wound while, with his other hand, he tried to parry the attack. But the Duke disarmed him, and his sword flew some feet away, out of reach. Matilda ran towards Will, and as she did so the Duke turned, driving the sword towards her. She heard Will cry, “No,” and then CLANG as the sword was blocked by Victor’s rod.

  “Get back, you,” said Victor as he hopped forward and tried to push the Duke away with his rod. Without warning, the Duke plunged the sword into Victor’s abdomen. Victor never stood a chance.

  “No!” said Matilda.

  The Duke withdrew his sword; Victor fell to the ground. Suddenly a dagger pierced the Duke’s back. Will had spotted the Duke’s dagger just moments before.

  The Duke fell.

  Will and Matilda hurried over to Victor’s side; he was breathing rapidly.

  Victor’s eyes turned to Matilda.

  “I never have done anything right. Forgive me?”

  “Yes, Father.”

  He gave a weak smile, and then his breathing slowed to nothing. Matilda lowered her head, her eyes closed. No tears fell, only a quiet sigh.

  “There they are!” cried Roger from a distance.

  Matilda and Will turned and saw Roger and Ralph approaching. And behind them was a ship to take them back to North England.

  Epilogue

  In the months that followed, North England was able to recover quickly, with help of the new gold. Some taxes were abolished, and the citizens were happy. Some months later, King Anthony, unaware of the Queen’s new-found wealth, attempted to invade North England. Naturally, he soon surrendered to the Queen’s powerful force. She, in turn, conquered South England and united the two countries to become England once again. King Anthony’s whereabouts was unknown after this, but some have seen him living in France in a cottage near a lak
e.

  With Northern England being so much colder and wetter, the Queen decided to have her main palace in the south.

  “Where would you like your palace, Majesty?” said Sir Laurence. “They say Esterwall Palace is the finest in the south.”

  “Urrgh, I’m not living anywhere that reminds me of him. Perhaps London, near the river. I want to build a palace there,” said the Queen.

  After returning from South England, Matilda had resumed her normal life but had also been a familiar face in the palace. She was often invited to visit the Queen and enjoyed assisting Sir Laurence in his work.

  Despite the rough experiences they had endured at sea, Ralph and Roger still find pleasure in cruising the ocean, and so occasionally set out on their ship, along with Martha, Luke and Grandfather Tom.

  While Will was recovering from his wounds, he completed a painting of the treasure in the cave, based on his sketch. The Queen loved it so much that Will leased his painting to her. She hung it in her palace, where many people around the world would come to see it. Soon Will had the desire to travel again and arranged to do so over the coming months. But before that, there were some things that he wanted to sort out first. One of those things was to pay his family a visit.

  Mr and Mrs Sheffield were just heading to their house one afternoon when their friend, Mr Kent, approached them.

  “I just saw your son in the marketplace. He was buying a whole lot of gifts,” said Mr Kent.

  “Issac?” said Mr Sheffield.

  “No, I mean William.”

  “Will? Did you really see him?” said Mrs Sheffield.

  “Humph, I have no such son,” said Mr Sheffield.

  “Then I must have come to the wrong house,” came a voice.

  Mr and Mrs Sheffield turned around and saw Will leaning outside his carriage window with a smile. They had heard the sound of a carriage behind them but did not expect it to be their son. The carriage driver doffed his hat to them.

  Mrs Sheffield was teary. “Oh my Will, come out here, darling.”

  “That’s a nice carriage you got there,” said Mr Kent as Will climbed down. “How did you manage to afford it?”

  “Yes, how Will?” asked Mr Sheffield. “What could you possibly do to get something like that.”