Chapter V - Accursed Plague
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« The Strait of Sicily, at sea »
« Anno Domini 1425 »
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Chimente playfully joggled around with a cyan compass, worrying his first-mate to no end. They were currently sailing home from another fruitful journey.
Having set a new sales record, the captain was beside himself with joy, hence the carefree treatment of one of the most valuable things on board. The compass was naturally a present from Leonardo.
After successfully making use of the unearthed magnetite, he produced a few trinkets to help the old man with navigation. Despite sailing this route for decades, you never knew when you ran into a storm in the middle of the night. At least it could help him accurately get his bearings.
The first mate on the other hand was restless because he knew just invaluable that intricate toy was. Few sailors could get their hands on them, and they were usually worth as much as a chunk of the ship itself. Perhaps because he was due to inherit the ship at some point, he cherished the compass and carried it around as if it was made of glass and not metal.
“Sir, we’ve spotted a fleet. It’s a bit far, so we’re unable to identify it.”
“Got it.”
Putting down the compass and grabbing the spyglass from a locked desk, he followed the sailor up on deck. Flicking the telescope open in front of the envious crew, he observed the distant fleet.
“Hmm. Looks like the Portguese flag. Shouldn’t be pirates nor hostile, just pass along them.”
Dismissing the worried crew, he continued to smugly observe the fleet using his ‘superior tech’. These hand telescopes were not popularized for another three centuries, and so Chimente enjoyed being the only captain on the Mediterranean carrying one.
‘Hmm. Something’s odd.’ As he continuously spied on the fleet, he noticed an unusually macabre atmosphere. His sixth sense was tingling, but he didn’t quite know where his worries stemmed from.
Originally thinking they might be disguised pirates, he soon dismissed his thoughts when he saw the fleet separate. Some ships sailed North-East along the coast of Sicily, while a small galley kept its course parallel to his own ship.
His worries eased significantly, as he’d be able to outrun them if they turned hostile. Yet even so, something at the back of his head kept him alert all the way until they reached Malta’s shores.
Half a day passed and they reached Valetta. Setting his heart at ease, he let the other ship pass first and trailed slowly after it into port.
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The crew in the meanwhile didn’t seem to be perturbed by anything, and quickly busied about preparing to unload the cargo. They usually exported salts, while importing various metals or rare minerals for Leonardo.
Particularly when there was a bountiful sale at the auctions, the ship would usually be loaded full. Even rare gemstones weren’t lacking, though they were locked in the captain’s cabin and kept under constant watch.
Chimente strenuously carried the chest himself, knowing full well the greed of men. It’s best they didn’t know there were two dozen gold bars in there. The value of the chest surpassed 250,000 Tari, something that moved even the old merchant.
The sold item was naturally nothing mundane. It cost just over 30,000 Tari just for the materials, with Leonardo having melted down a bunch of gold for the frame. He then employed an entire pouch of gems, encrusting them on a slender but fashionable crown fit for a queen.
The treasure drew the attention of everyone in the audience at Aragon, with the crown ultimately selling to a foreign Duke from Germany. Whether as a symbol of authority or just an early sign of ambition, it seemed like a waste to invest in this.
Yet, history would slap the naysayers harshly as in just a few years, when presented as a gift — it culminated in the union of two powerful families which set out to conquer half of the fragmented nation.
Mulling over the absurd sale that astonished even him, their ship finally stopped in the harbor. Energetic young men came aboard and helped move things into a convoy of wagons. Very quickly, they set out of Valetta and onto the hilly roads leading up to the monastery.
Chimente’s own wagon trailed along. It just so happened he was passing by the Portuguese ship. Seeing them unload crates full of fresh fruit ‘imported’ from Africa, he outright purchased a whole cart as well. Though he didn’t have much of a sweet tooth at his age, he knew just how much the silver haired lass adored them.
As they drew closer to the monastery, he smiled involuntarily. A crisp tune echoed out the gates and throughout the surrounding hills. Pity that there was no audience, with the strings of Guzheng admired only by birds and a few orphans who knew little of music.
Even the horses seemed to have learned not to interrupt, allowing the song’s rhythm to dominate all life in the forest. Passing the gates, Chimente finally reached the origin of the melody.
A teenage girl, incongruous with the dilapidated monastery background, rested cross-legged under a blossoming cherry tree. She was the picture of an otherwordly creature who didn’t belong in the mortal plane. Dressed in an unblemished pure-white kosode and paired with long silvery hair, she almost resembled a divine marble statue.
Her eyes were closed and she smiled serenely while caressing the instrument on her lap. Only her fingers moved occasionally to break the serene illusion. A few strands of rebellious hair freed themselves from her rustic ponytail. They moved playfully with the wind, veiling her thin face from being profaned by the sight of mere mortal men.
Despite seeming entrapped in a world of her own, Yukiko opened her eyes and met Chimente’s gaze almost immediately. Not seeming to mind being disturbed, she greeted him with a sincere smile.
“You’ve come early, mister Chimente.”
Smiling, the girl stood without haste and invited him into the workshop. The Daedalus Astula has expanded three years ago, now boasting a small office and a larger storage space built on the side of the monastery.
“I trust your journey was without incident. Though absent, I’m sure Leo is relieved too.”
With five years having passed, the young girl had long since outgrown her timidity. She dealt with the merchant without any fear, and seemed to have inherited much of Leonardo’s boldness in business. That said, she still treated the guest with the grace and gentleness befitting a noble lady.