Journey to the Forgotten Island

Chapter 11 - Family Histories

It was the shaking of the ship that woke Toma. By the time he had grabbed his sword he could hear the chanting and shouting on the deck. He had assumed the threat of mutiny was over now that Fero had been returned to the men and their rations had been improved. Heart racing, he ran out of his cabin only to be struck by the strong wind, the bright sun and the blue sky.

For a moment he was dazed, unsure of where his enemies stood. Then he heard the chants again; they were not drunken chants, or military songs – they were joyous sailors' songs of voyage and exploration. He looked out to sea and down at the water and realised that the ship was moving, no longer becalmed. The winds had returned. Up on the masts, the sailors worked the sails. Down on deck, they cleaned the floorboards. All sang with joy as if the wind was their lifeblood, their only source of meaning.

'Captain Adelmo,' a shaky voice said.

Toma turned to see an attendant with visible discomfort on his face, the veneer of neutrality gone.

'I apologise,' the attendant said, averting his eyes.

Toma did not understand until he looked down and remembered he was in his underclothes, sword in hand. His legs and chest were bare with only a cloth shielding his manhood.

Looking up towards the sky, the attendant said, 'I am to inform you on behalf of the Manteca's and their patriarch, Gordo Manteca, that you are invited to a morning feast to celebrate the returning of the winds. The feast is to last until sunset. Your presence is requested at your earliest convenience.'

The attendant turned on his heals and walked away.

Toma, embarrassed that he had been seen so exposed running out in broad daylight with his sword, returned to his cabin. As Ximena slept, Toma attempted to change his clothes in silence. Just as he was removing his sleeping cloth and replacing it with fresh undergarments, he heard a stir behind him.

'I see you, Captain,' Ximena said in a sleepy, mirthful voice. 'More of you than I expected.'

Toma felt himself blush and hopped to hide himself behind the divan. 'I'm sorry, Lady Ximena, I thought you were asleep.'

'Don't be so shy, Captain. In fact, it is a pleasant surprise. You know you can't run away from me forever. I was always bound to see you.'

She laughed again and Toma refused to turn to face her until he was fully dressed.

He turned and saw her sitting on the edge of her bed, dressed in long flowing silk sleeping clothes. The silks were jade green like the sea on a hot day and her eyes were as bright and alert as ever, the corner of her mouth curling in anticipated amusement.

'I apologise Lady Ximena, I am once again unable to attend to you. The Mantecas have requested my presence at their morning feast.'

Ximena scoffed and rolled her eyes. 'Your subservience to those nobles – no, to all nobles, myself included, is disgraceful. Don't you know by now, Captain? Nobles are all useless, spineless fools who will do whatever they must to protect their gold and live their lavish, debauched lifestyles.'

Toma was shocked to hear such words coming from the mouth of a high-born lady. 'Y-you must not speak of nobles like this, my Lady,' was all he could think to say.

Ximena's eyes narrowed and she laughed again. 'Oh mustn't I? But see, your subservience to the nobility means that even when you admonish me, you cannot help but address me with respect. It is too much, Toma.'

'My name is Adelmo now,' Toma started only to be interrupted by Ximena's laugher.

She rang her bell and several of her attendants and maids arrived and began to dress her and feed her. Toma was unused to being around so many servants at once but Ximena continued to speak to him as if they were alone.