"Capitan," said a crewmate. "Do you think they'll all go along for the voyage's entirety? The English seem the most... well, you know." The crewmate's hand shook with uncertainty.

Captain Delarosa said, "they have enough supply to piss it all way. Let them not dare fail on their promise to see it all the way through." He took out a dagger and spun it on the table, watching it's spin. "But,” he stopped the knife, “chickens do tend to sing before slaughter... If at the ice walls they complain, then we will know what kind of men we travel with. And that goes for all, not just the English. If any of them dare turn back, we will show them who has the biggest pearls of them all." Captain Delarosa took the dagger to his throat. "We'll make them see reason by the blade."

His second in command, the doctor, interrupted. "Captain, pardon,” said the doctor, “I bet my life they'll turn back as soon as they see the walls of ice. Only sissies drink wine on a night like this... Look at them sitting over there. Let us make them drink of our drink. A man's drink..."

Captain Delarosa liked this very much. "Yes,” the captain said, “let us have them join us."

The captain stood from his chair and took to the center of the tavern. "Men," he said loud for all. " I was saving this barrel for once I was on my ship. But, on such a special night, I say join us in filling your cups with the finest Spain has to offer."

The captain's crew rolled a barrel of their finest rum to the center, and Captain Delarosa poured the warmth of the rum into his glass and raised it high. "Come. Join me and my men, and let us all cheer to new land."

The tavern joined in agreement.

"To new land indeed," the English said.

"To the newest of new lands," the Africans said.

"To riches and glory," the many others said.

And they mingled in a jumbled reunion of arms and bodies, and drinks were poured and glasses clanked, and they toasted, and when all was swallowed — because all was swallowed — the tavern split back into factions of: royalty, fishermen, and men.

Captain Delarosa took to his chair, surrounded by gold, women, and men he could call brothers. He was no fishermen. He was no royal. But he was a refined captain, anxious and fascinated with the journey ahead.

"A supply for seven years," he said, whispering into his empty glass. He had far too much to drink, but he was not ready to call it a night. He stood, and stumbled through the tavern, out the door, and when the tavern door slammed behind him, he shouted: "Seven years," over and over, in triumph, whilst making his way to the Santa Luz anchored at the docks, smiling like a madman, kicking sand under his feet.

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His prized ship was before him, sails pointed south, and the cross of his nation flapped above him. Pride was more intoxicating than the tavern, and he closed his eyes envisioning the destination.

He saw the ice walls before him. His prize deep in undiscovered depths of frost. And doubt crept. Would the ice lead him to skeletons, or would it land him on treasure? He did not know... He did not know of beyond the ice. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the salted air of the coastline, pretending it was frigid— and he smiled again, shunning all doubt, and he believed himself a rich man.

They would leave Cape Agulhas in the morning. A fleet of nineteen other ships were anchored next to his. He looked to them and looked to his ship. The Santa Luz was the smallest of the fleet, but it was his, through labor and honor, and he swore it to be the fastest, convinced that he, Invictus Delarosa, was the most astute captain of them all.

"We have enough supply... How is it that the English say?” Captain Delarosa said. “... Enough bloody supply to last us seven years... Seven fu'kin years. Seven years... I'll have children on that ship for crying out loud." He paused, looked to his empty glass, spirit low, and muttered, “If only, there were women.”

He’d run from marriage, he belonged to the journey, and he laughed, taking the empty glass in hand and throwing it against his ship. Excitement boiled, and he cheered as the shattered glass plopped into the ocean. "Our big break," he said spinning round', slurring movement and words, and he spun again, back to his ship, and he drew the dagger from his pouch, and he flung the dagger, directly through one of the windows of the Santa Luz, breaking stained glass. "Perfect," he said. "Cheers to tonight, to tomorrow, and to the future... For tonight we break night and glass, and my voice, and vows, but tomorrow, " he raised a finger to the starry night, "Oh, tomorrow, we break records... And I'll show all that doubted me. I'll show them all."

He left the docks, boots dragging sand, and he stumbled into the tavern, greeted with cheers and drink, and Captain Delarosa feasted. And, the barkeep was good to his word and continued to fill their glasses until daylight...until the captain could no more.

"One more," said Captain Delarosa.

"No, captain,” said the Doctor, his second in command, “We're retiring to the ship now.”

They took the Captain in arms, dragging him into the Santa Luz.

The sweet air of the morning was cold for the morning, and it reminded Delarosa of home, of quiet cobbled streets and brick laden homes of the early morning, but Spain was far behind, and Cape Agulhas would soon warm the oceans of their voyage.

The captain was lowered to his quarters, his window was shattered, and he laughed into a frenzy until he plopped into bed. A stream of light came through the broken window, gleaming onto his heart and chest, and Delarosa knew the time. It was dawn. Exactly dawn... And he crossed his forehead and chest, thanking the Almighty for the drink, for his crew, for the winds, and for the heavens. And he listened to the heavy boots of his crew above, lulling him into dreams of new land. And, they sailed off, rocking the captain until they arrived at the ice walls, where the Captain awoke and took command.