Tail of the Gold Monkey
Chapter One
The morning after we had retrieved Ratbeard's gear, we began preparing to leave for Puerto Mico, a Monquistan colony in Tradewinds Skyway. We were tasked by Captain Avery to negotiate a treaty between the pirates of Skull Island and the Monkeys of Monquista.
At noon, I crossed the gangplank and walked to the pilot's wheel as the last of the crates and barrels were loaded onto the Aquila. I gripped the familiar handles of the pilot's wheel. "Half sail!"
As the sails were partly unfurled, the Aquila sailed out of Flotsam's harbor and north to Tradewinds Skyway.
After being stopped by one of the ships of the blockade, I showed him our letter of introduction, and we finally reached Puerto Mico, a beautiful city made of marble.
As we made port among the Monquistan ships being loaded with lumber and spices, I left our gunnery officers, David and Richard Clutterbuck in charge of the Aquila as I and my trusted associates made our way to the governor's palace, an ornate building made of marble like the rest of the city.
As we entered the great hall of the palace, a Monkey, presumably the majordomo, sat at a desk. He had a mustache and wore a black hat with a gray feather, a black suit with brass buttons and an absurdly large ruffled collar, bright yellow trousers, and black shoes. In my opinion, the fashion sense of Monquistan nobles left a good deal to be desired.
"We're here to meet with the governor." I said to the Majordomo. The Majordomo looked up.
"You have business with His Excellency? I trust you have a letter of introduction." The Majordomo asked. I produced the letter from Captain Avery from my coat pocket and handed it to him.
"Let me see. So you are…" The Majordomo said as he opened the envelope and took out the letter.
"I hope the credentials Avery got you are good enough to get us in…" My first mate, Rena Raden whispered to me. She had golden blonde wavy hair that reached down to her shoulders, and emerald green eyes.
"Ah… you are Matthew Exeter, of Skull Island. I hope you had a good journey. I see the legends of your youth are… not exaggerated at all." The Majordomo said as he showed us a sketch that I think was supposed to be a picture of a troll. I won't describe it in much detail, because it was disturbing to look at. I seriously doubted he'd let me see the governor now.
"That's a fine likeness, that is! It looks just like you!" Ratbeard laughed. I gritted my teeth.
"These… credentials are fine, but I cannot, alas, let you see His Excellency the Governor. At least, not while you are dressed as you are." The Majordomo said, looking down at my clothes. I had to admit, the clothes I had on right now weren't exactly presentable to a formal occasion.
"But I don't have any dress clothes with me." I said. The Majordomo sighed.
"See if you can find the shop of Fernando Sastre the tailor. He'll make sure your lack of fashion doesn't disgrace you when you see the governor." The Majordomo said. I frowned at that last statement as we turned to leave.
Fernando Sastre's shop had a sign depicting a thread and needle hanging above the door, so it was easy to find. We entered the shop to find a Monkey dressed in purple sewing a suit.
"Who are you looming over my shop, gangly one?" Fernando Sastre asked.
"My name is Matthew Exeter. The Majordomo sent me to get a suit because I lack fashion sense." I said, holding back a scoff. The Monkey nodded.
"The Majordomo is right – you are dressed like a savage. I'm hesitant to even be seen talking to you, but I shall take pity on your plight." Fernando Sastre said as he walked over to me with a measuring tape.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of – it's hardly your fault you were raised without the tiniest shred of culture or civilization." Fernando Sastre said as he began taking measurements.
"To fabricate something acceptable, in your size, will be difficult. I must charge you fifty thousand gold coins, labor included."
"That's a total rip-off!" I shouted.
"It's too expensive for you? There is an alternative – the House Guzman Trading Company has an unfair monopoly on MooShu silk. Bring me silk from one of their ships, I make your suit." Fernando Sastre said as he finished taking my measurements.
"We have a deal, then." I said, shaking his paw. We left the shop and crossed the gangplank to the Aquila, where I retook my position at the pilot's wheel.
"Half sail!" I called, and as the men unfurled the sails, the Aquila sailed out of the harbor and out to the skyway.
Not long after we had left Puerto Mico, Richard Clutterbuck shouted from his post atop the starboard railing. "There's a Monquistan frigate at one' o'clock!"
"Beat to quarters!" I shouted, and the men took their battle stations at their cannons. I had to admit I was nervous, since this was my first real battle aboard the Aquila. "Ready the chain shots!"
The crew began loading two small cannonballs connected by a metal chain into the cannons and waited for their signal. I turned the ship to starboard and called for full sail, unfurling the sails fully so we could go faster.
As we drew next to the House Guzman frigate, we opened fire on the Monquistan frigate's sails, the chain shots flying and ripping through the Monquistan frigate's sails, effectively stopping her.
"We take her a prize, men!" I shouted, and the men cheered. I turned the Aquila around in an arc, and as the Aquila's port side drew level with the Monquistan frigate's starboard side, I called for the sails to be furled.
"Hook us in! Bring her close!" Rena shouted as she drew her saber and pointed it at the Monquistan frigate. Richard Clutterbuck handed each of his men a sparquebus while David's men threw grappling hooks at the Monquistan frigate.
"Man the swivels! Cover from the quarter deck!" Richard's older brother, David shouted to his men as he fired a pistol at an approaching Monquistador, stunning him. The crew returned fire with the Monquistador crossbowmen, and the swivel gunners fired grapeshot, metal canisters filled with musket balls at the Monquistadors.
"Secure the aft lines! Tie off the bow!" Rena shouted. I drew my sword. "I'm going with the boarding party."
As the boarding party assembled on the main deck, I led the charge to the Monquistan frigate, and we jumped off the Aquila's railings onto the deck of the Monquistan frigate.
I parried an attack from a Monquistador and punched him in the face, and I slammed the back of a Monquistador's helmet as he cornered one of my crewmembers.
The crewmember nodded his thanks and ran off to support the others. I pulled out my pistol and stunned a crossbowman trying to reload, and deflected an attack from another Monquistador.
As the battle went on, most of the Monquistadors were defeated, and the captain of the Monquistan frigate stepped forward with a white handkerchief on his halberd. We held a brief parlay aboard the Monquistan frigate's deck, where we agreed that in exchange for sparing their lives and supplies, my crew could help themselves to the cargo of the defeated Monquistadors.
We loaded the Aquila with the silk that Fernando Sastre wanted, along with other precious cargoes aboard the Monquistan frigate. We then set sail for Puerto Mico, leaving the Monquistan frigate to begin repairs.
As we made port at Puerto Mico in the later afternoon and left the men to their merrymaking, I and my trusted associates met with Fernando Sastre at his shop with the silk.
"Ah, here is the silk. No doubt my competitors will miss it dearly." Fernando Sastre said, chuckling.
"I took the liberty of making the suit while you were gone. It will fit, don't worry. I delivered it to the governor's palace. The Majordomo has it."
I nodded. "Thank you, Sastre."
We walked up to the governor's palace, where the Majordomo was waiting for us.
"You must be here for your suit. It certainly took you long enough. Here it is." The Majordomo said as he handed me a parcel. He directed me to a room where I could change, and as I was done, the Majordomo entered.
"You look… marvelous. My cousin Sastre the tailor has done you proud. You're ready to see the governor now. You may proceed upstairs." The Majordomo said as he looked at me.
"Good luck, and do try to behave yourself – I can dress you properly, but I fear I'll never make a Monquistan out of you." The Majordomo said as he opened the door for me.
I hesitantly stepped out into the great hall, where the others nearly fell out of their seats.
"Well, Captain, you certainly look, uh, well… you look…" Ratbeard said, struggling to compliment my jester outfit, complete with a bright yellow multi-pointed hat with bells.
"Ridiculous, Captain. You look ridiculous. Those monkeys are making a monkey out of you!" Bonnie Anne said bluntly.
"Thank you for being honest, Bonnie." I said. "I'm going to see the governor. I'll see you all later."
I walked up the stairs to the governor's office, where a Monkey wearing fancy blue clothes was standing atop a mahogany desk.
"Greetings, Matthew. You're very bold, to come here wearing last year's fashion. You've come all the way from…" The governor said.
"I'm from Skull Island, sir." I answered.
"What are you, a pirate?" The governor asked. I nodded slowly as I handed him a letter Captain Avery had given me a few days before we went to retrieve Ratbeard's things.
"I'm here to negotiate a trade agreement between Skull Island and Monquista." I said.
"Captain Avery wants a treaty with Skull Island? How fascinating. I shall give it all due interest and respect." The governor said.
"I also have something for you, as a gesture of peace." I said.
"You have a gift? I'm honored." The governor asked as I handed him the Monkey Chalice, made of gold.
"This Chalice is… very fine, I'm sure." The governor said in a thinly veiled attempt to be polite.
"But isn't it an heirloom of your family, Governor Ortega?" I asked, confused.
"Ah, I see now – you were expecting to see Governor Ortega. I am Governor Medina. I fear Governor Ortega was declared a traitor to the realm and sealed in a dark pit. I'm so sorry." The governor said as he nodded, finally understanding.
"It has been most pleasant speaking with you, but my duties demand my attention. I shall consider your treaty closely – the Majordomo will have my answer." The governor said with false politeness
I nodded as I walked out of the office. That treaty's never to get signed.
As I entered the great hall, the Majordomo was waiting for me, though I already knew what the answer was going to be. "The governor said you had his answer."
The Majordomo nodded. "His Excellency is too polite to directly refuse, but I assure you, he will never sign your treaty. His answer is no."
"Then we came all this way for nothing." Rena groaned.
"Your gift was… an embarrassment, to say the least. But there may be something else you can offer in return for signing your treaty." The Majordomo said as he hopped onto his desk and leaned close to me in a confidential manner.
"I know who you are: you're the pirate who robbed the Presidio, yes? There are some who could make good use of your boldness and cunning." The Majordomo said in a loud whisper.
"Seek out Bishop Hidalgo in the cathedral. He may have an offer that will interest you. But for pity's sake, don't go dressed like that!" The Majordomo said, laughing.
"Of course I wouldn't!" I said. After I had quickly changed back into my old clothes, we went to the cathedral, and it stood out from the rest of the buildings in Puerto Mico apart from the governor's palace, which was saying a lot.
We entered the cathedral, where alone in the cathedral, a Monkey wearing the red robes of a bishop was praying at the altar. As we approached, the bishop stood up and turned to face us. He had a serious, yet gentle face.
"Welcome to this holy place, my children. I trust you are not here to pray? We have much to speak of."