Red City on the Ocean

Chapter 14. Outcome

Duke Fernando de Braganza was sitting in his cabin and thinking about his plan of attack on the residence of the king, the castle of St. George. Nothing could escape his attention or occur unexpectedly. Now was the only opportunity for the duke to enact his scheme. He was a knight, a soldier, a general and knew of military affairs! Of course, he was aware that the African savages, de Braganza continued to believe the strangers were African, would be unable to besiege the castle of St. George. However, the Lord himself had brought His help to the duke, sending the garrison of the castle away and granting him this opportunity. Right now, there were no more than a hundred people inside the castle, only the guards, servants, and a few other military servants of the king. If he attacked them and could get inside, they would not be able to offer serious resistance, but if they managed to close the castle gate, the savages, with their bows and spears, instead of bombards, siege engines, and ladders would not be able to take the castle.

The gate would have to be opened somehow, and then the savages would be able to crush the defenders of the castle with their numbers, and then, once the king fulfilled the conditions that the rebellious duke would present to him, the savages would receive the arsenal of the castle. It wouldn't do them much good. They wouldn't know how to use the crossbows, muskets, or cannons anyway. The duke looked complacently at the prepared scroll, the commitment that the king would sign. The scroll was tied with a white ribbon woven with depictions of bizarre people with animal heads. The duke had secretly picked the ribbon up at Coatl's house on the ship.

So, thought the duke, first it would be necessary to bring the ship as close as possible to Lisbon in order for the savages to land. It would not work if it was too near the city, because even at night, it would be impossible not to notice such a large ship and an army. Seeing the savages, local people would take them for the Moors and hurry off to the Royal castle to report it. Then, the castle would have time to prepare for the attack. He would need to land far from the city and go running toward the castle.

If Africans appeared in Lisbon by day and made their way to the castle through the city, the citizens, seeing gold jewelry on the savages, would start to trade and barter. News about such profitable exchange would spread quickly to the merchants and money changers. Soon, the crowds would flood the streets and alleys and block the narrow streets of the city, and the Africans would be slowed too much. So, it would be best to move at night along the widest roads and streets, advancing to the castle on the hill quickly.

Here began the most difficult part of the plan. Perhaps the guards would not notice the savages running to the hill among the city houses, but as the Africans began to climb the hill to the castle, the guards at the gates and, moreover, on the walls would be able to spot them at a glance. The guards would not only close the gates, but they would also be fortified with stones, which were always kept at the ready. The sentries would sound the alarm and start shooting, and the whole plan would be ruined. This could not be allowed.

The duke raised his head and looked at the bulkhead of his cabin. He suddenly remembered the fire in the house of Don Leandro, from which they barely escaped. The fire was so terrible that all who could, ran and carried buckets of water and pikes to try to extinguish the blaze. Taking advantage of the commotion, the duke, along with Nuno and Anacaona, managed to escape unnoticed. Through the windows of the cabin at the stern of the caravel, the duke could see the outline of the giant ship as it followed. On the wall above the windows was the de Braganza family coat of arms, and the duke decided, let it be what it will be! There was no turning back for him, he had nothing to lose. There would be no name, no title, no life itself if he were to escape now and leave. The duke suddenly stood up from his chair, "What if..." he thought, the lips of the duke pulling up into a devious smile. He had devised a plan to get into the castle without siege.