The Past Is Prologue
Chapter 10: Journeys
The day Queen Shuriki was toppled I was still a cadet in the Royal Guard. Rumors that the lost princess had returned were already rampant in the barracks. Our commander came in and ordered all of us to prepare to defend the palace. "From what?" I asked. That's when we first heard about the "malcontents" and jaquins, led by a claimant to the throne, who were marching on the palace while singing. Another guard asked how heavily armed they were, and that's when we heard they were mostly unarmed. Well, I had been born into a military family and had been raised to one day join the Guard. I'd been taught to follow orders without question. But we were being ordered to attack unarmed Avaloran subjects. I realized I just couldn't do it. I threw down my sword and left the barracks. Not one guardsman tried to stop me. I met up with Gabe (Note: General Gabriel Núñez under Queen Elena Castillo Flores, a cadet during the reign of Queen Shuriki) who was doing the same thing I was. We were soon joined by others in the Guard, and united with the other citizens of Avaloran City. It was the first time I'd ever sung with a group. I joined the Guard because I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. I felt that for the first time when I marched behind Princess Elena. (Note: It is estimated that between one third to one half of the guardsmen stationed within Avalor City abandoned their posts and joined the march on the palace.)
-Lt. Ricardo Villalobos, A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina de Torres
Naomi thought this might be her favorite time of day – just her and her three best friends, in the smaller private royal dining room, in front of the remains of a delicious breakfast which Naomi wouldn't have to clean up, and before they all scattered to their various duties. Today they'd been joined by Esteban and Isa, but the queen's cousin had taken the young inventor for a walk in the garden, no doubt to tell her about the cannonball Naomi's mom had fired across the bow of their lives yesterday. The chancellor figured she should probably let the boys in on the secret, only she wasn't sure if it was her secret or Elena's to tell.
She looked at Elena, who gestured to her. This caught the attention of both Gabe and Mateo, who turned expectantly to her.
"So," she began awkwardly. Might as well jump into it. "I met my brother yesterday."
"Wait, you have a brother?" Gabe asked in a shocked tone. "Since when?"
"Since my whole life," Naomi responded drily. "Only I just found out about it yesterday."
"Huh," Gabe said thoughtfully. "I didn't think Daniel was the type."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naomi demanded.
Gabe floundered for a minute. "Well, you know, if you have a brother it means your father cheated," he faltered as he noticed Naomi glowering at him, "doesn't it?"
"It most certainly does not," she answered hotly. "David is my mother's son, not my father's, and she had him before she met my dad, so there was no cheating involved!"
"I stand corrected," Gabe hastened to assure her.
"So, how did you meet your brother?" Mateo broke in.
"Long story short, but basically my mom told Esteban and me he was in town."
"Why Esteban?" Gabe wanted to know. He was quick.
"Yeah, that's part of that long story. Esteban's my brother's dad."
The surprise on the boys' faces was almost comical. Ruefully, Naomi had to admit that she'd never thought she'd say that sentence.
Mateo was the first to break the silence. "Esteban and Scarlett had a baby together? How could that even happen?"
Gabe was the first to chime in. "Oh, buddy. Do I need to explain the facts of life to you? You see, when a man and a woman…" Mateo lobbed a concha at his head, which Gabe caught and then ate. Naomi tried not to laugh.
"It was a surprise to all of us," Elena said. "Including Esteban."
Naomi was going to continue her tale when Armando came rushing in. "Forgive the intrusion, your grace, but there is someone here to speak to you."
The "your grace" caught Naomi's attention. If Armando was alone or with someone from the palace he would have said "Elena" instead.
The master of the palace continued. "This man says his boat was commandeered by the royal apprentice wizard last night and wants to know when it will be returned. Not having it cuts into his livelihood."
Everyone turned to Mateo, who shrugged his shoulders. Carla. Had to be Carla.
"Begging your pardon, your grace," the fisherman at Armando's elbow spoke up. "I don't mean to interfere with official royal business, but I do need my boat back."
"Of course you do," Elena assured him. "Could you tell us exactly what happened?"
"It was towards sunset, and this young woman walked up to my boat and said she was the royal wizard apprentice. She didn't have on wizard robes, just a typical dress, but she did have a drum wand so I figured she was telling the truth. She said she needed my boat because of a magical emergency but would have it back by dawn. Well, she didn't, so I came here."
"I didn't even know Carla knew how to sail," Gabe murmured in Naomi's ear. He'd come to the same conclusion she had.
The fisherman heard and said, "That's why she had a Norberg sailor with her. Naomi drew in her breath. Carla had dragged David into this?
"I am truly sorry you were involved in this matter," Elena apologized.
The fisherman drew himself up. "I am proud to serve Avalor, your grace! Only, I do need my boat back."
"Of course. Until then, perhaps the crown can compensate you for your trouble." Elena turned to her chancellor.
Naomi calculated how much a fisherman might be expected to make on a good day, and multiplied that by six. "24 maravedis should do it."
The fisherman's eyes widened. Naomi knew the amount was generous, but she felt bad that he'd lost his boat, even if it was only temporary. When they got a hold of Carla she could pay the crown back.
"Armando," the queen said, "could you take this man to the Treasurer's office to see he is adequately compensated?"
"Of course, your grace," Armando replied.
"Avalor thanks you for your service," Elena smiled at the fisherman, dazzling him as only Elena could. Dazed, he allowed himself to be led off by Armando.
As soon as they'd left, all eyes turned towards Mateo. "Hey, don't look at me! I didn't know Carla was planning to steal a boat!"
Exasperated, Naomi snapped, "It's your job to keep the Delgados in line! It's why Elena allowed them to become your apprentices in the first place!"
"And here I thought it was so they could learn magic from me," the royal wizard muttered. But from the way he looked down Naomi knew he understood.
Victor and Carla Delgado had been enemies of the realm for years. It had taken Ash Delgado's betrayal of them both to cause Carla, and then Victor, to turn to Elena to offer their services to the crown to make up for the evil they'd done. When Elena agreed to pardon them in exchange for their help in the upcoming war with Ash, Mateo's first act was to strip them of their malvago powers. His second was to offer to teach them good magic. It was an arrangement that worked well for everyone. Victor and Carla could gain respectability and become assets for Avalor rather than enemies, and Mateo could keep an eye on them and stop them if they reverted to their evil ways.
The only problem was that Mateo was too kind for the job. While Victor at least seemed grateful to the royal wizard, neither Delgado seemed to fear him. Usually, Naomi appreciated Mateo's thoughtfulness and empathy, but Carla's little stunt was exactly the sort of thing Mateo was supposed to prevent! And if Carla had dragged David into her scheme, as it seemed she did…
Okay, so maybe Naomi wasn't being as objective as she should be. C'mon, Noams, think objectively.
"Do we actually know it was Carla?" the chancellor blurted.
"Well, I doubt it was Olivia," Gabe joked.
"I mean, anyone could have said they were 'the royal wizard apprentice.' It doesn't mean they were telling the truth. Elena, could you go get your scepter?"
"You mean I can use farsight?" Elena said excitedly. "I'll be right back." She raced from the room in an unqueenly fashion.
Shortly after Elena's coronation, she and Naomi had a heart-to-heart talk about Elena's (over)use of her scepter's farsight power. They both agreed that it really wasn't fair to use it on people without their permission, except in specific rare situations. Elena had promised to check with Naomi (both Mateo and Gabe were far too likely to go along with whatever the queen suggested) before resorting to it. As far as Naomi knew, Elena had kept her promise. There was nothing to actually stop her from doing whatever she wanted, of course, but Elena had a keen sense of justice and wanted Naomi to keep her honest. The chancellor had certainly told the queen "no" enough times.
Elena all but bounced into the room (disturbingly resembling Flo for a moment), pointed her scepter towards the center of the room, and declared in a ringing voice, "Show me Carla Delgado!"
Naomi could never get over the sheer uncanniness of farsight. It was as if a window appeared in midair over the dining table. Sure enough, there was Carla, on a boat, with David. They were at the helm and David appeared to be teaching Carla how to sail. The sound of their laughter could be heard clearly in the dining room. Naomi was struck by how happy they seemed.
Gabe observed, "Well, it's clearly Carla and she's clearly on a boat. If only we knew where the boat was heading."
"We can guess that," Elena replied quietly. "No doubt David wants revenge for his foster parents' death."
"Wait, David, as in your brother David?" Mateo asked Naomi.
When she nodded, Gabe added, "What do you mean 'revenge for his foster-parents' death'?"
"Yeah, that's the rest of that long story I mentioned," Naomi replied. "When Duke Cristóbal escaped he killed the couple who raised David."
Gabe let out a low whistle. "This is more tangled than one of Armando's puppet shows."
"He looks so much like abuelo," Elena whispered. Naomi realized Elena had never met her cousin's son. Come to think of it, he did look a little like Francisco.
"I agree," Esteban's voice sounded quietly behind them, startling the four friends. They hadn't heard him enter. He was staring intently at David. With Elena's concentration broken, the image vanished.
"Cousin! I didn't see you there."
"Forgive me, my queen. I did not intend to sneak up on you. I realized I'd left my pocket watch here earlier," Esteban went to retrieve the object, "and saw the image of…of Davíd."
"It's good you're here. You have a right to know what's going on," Elena told him.
"Let's see. Rumors are all over the palace that Carla Delgado has stolen a boat. From your scepter it is obvious that for some reason Davíd is with her, and I have no doubt that speculation about his heritage is likewise on the lips of every servant here." Esteban inclined his head towards the servants surreptitiously clearing the table. Naomi struck her own forehead. She should have suggested they go to the council room to use the scepter. The ex-chancellor saw his successor's consternation and smiled wryly. "If more than two know a secret it cannot stay contained. The rumors were going to fly no matter what you did."
"Sorry about that," Naomi apologized to both Elena and Esteban. "How would you like to handle this?"
The queen thought for a moment. "Our immediate concern is getting Carla, David, and that blasted boat back to Avalor City. We'll need to send someone after them…"
"I shall go," Esteban declared. "I am an excellent sailor, and none of you can be spared. That is… if you have no objections, my queen."
"None whatsoever, cousin. I think it's an excellent idea. Gabe, can you assign a guard to go with Esteban…?"
"No," Esteban replied a bit too forcefully. "None of the guards can be spared. They're needed to protect you and Isa."
"I want you protected, too, primo." Then Elena's eyes narrowed. "Or are you worried for some other reason?"
Esteban looked at Elena almost pleadingly. "I don't want Davíd arrested. He's been through so much in such a short time."
Elena put her hand on his arm. "I have no intention of arresting either David or Carla at this point, although I will expect them to pay restitution. And Mateo will need to hold his apprentice to task for what she's done."
Mateo quipped, "I'll make sure to add a lesson about how not to steal a boat." Elena laughed but Naomi shook her head. She had tremendous respect for the royal wizard's magical prowess, but he just did not inspire fear, even (or especially) when he should.
"So it's settled," Elena said. "Esteban, you can go and fetch David and Carla back. Good luck and be careful."
As Esteban went off, Mateo suddenly groaned. When his friends turned to him in alarm, he explained, "I just realized - I'm the one who will have to tell Victor!"
Esteban travelled lightly as he headed to the sailboat that had once been his, and might still be, although he hadn't set foot on it since his exile. He wore a small satchel containing bare essentials – a change of clothes, two pairs of dry socks, a toothbrush, hairbrush, razor, and moustache comb. He also had with him the Staff of Takaína and wore the jacket he hadn't put on in over two years. A sorcerous garment, it provided some protection from falls and magical attacks.
Mateo had once tried to explain to Esteban what had happened when the latter had fallen into the Well of Takaína. In essence, he had become a magical object, the second person in all recorded magical history to do so, after his cousin Elena. Typically, a trained wizard would use the magic of one crystal to shape powerful magical objects. Human beings weren't meant to enter the well. If Esteban had any clue about magic, he could have shaped his abilities in any way he wished. Instead, as he was fleeing when he fell in the magical well, he gained the powers of teleportation.
He'd put away both staff and jacket when Elena had forgiven him. He'd told Elena he'd gotten rid of them, which wasn't technically a lie, since he never specified how. He'd hidden them away in the palace, just in case, but hoped he'd never have to use them again. Now that he was setting off to save his son, though, he wanted every tool he had at his disposal.
Esteban was almost to his ship when he heard a sound that made his blood run cold.
"El Segundo!"
No. No!
He turned to see Victor Delgado stride purposely towards him.
"What do you want?" Esteban asked coldly.
"Is that any way to treat an old friend?" Victor smiled that fake smile of his, but in his eyes burned the old anger. "I hear I should congratulate you. A son, after all these years! A shame that the boy grew up without his father. But then, you never do take responsibility for your actions, do you?"
Esteban contemplated teleporting Victor into the bay, but suspected Queen Elena might not approve. "So you tracked me down to mock me, having nothing better to do with your time. You'll never change."
"I'm here," Victor growled, "for my daughter. Talk at the palace has it that your son," he poked Esteban in the chest, "has run off with my daughter, and that you're going after them. I must say, your son does take after you in one respect; things get difficult, he runs away."
"Like I did with your wife?" Esteban thought he would never tire of saying that to Victor. It made the man turn such a lovely shade of purple.
The ex-malvago turned apprentice wizard (at his age!) struggled to get himself under control. "I'm coming with you."
"You most certainly are not!"
"Look," Victor struggled to remain polite, "you may know sailing, but once you land, what then? How do you expect to find our children? And once you do, how will you convince them to return to Avalor City? I know Carla. I know how she thinks. Like it or not, you need me right now, and I need you."
"I don't like it!" Esteban glared at Victor.
"Neither do I!" Victor glared back.
Esteban let out a frustrated sigh. "Very well," he told his childhood friend, "you may come, but remember, you are on my boat and I am the captain."
"Of course, mi capitán." Victor was all smiles again.
I'm going to regret this, thought Esteban, as the two enemies boarded the boat.
An hour later, as Elena and Naomi were working in the council room, Mateo came in.
"Have either of you seen Victor? He hasn't shown up for his lesson yet."
Queen and Chancellor looked at each other and then shook their heads. "Lost another apprentice?" Naomi joked.
At that moment, Armando came rushing in. "Elena!" he called out in his usual frantic way. Seeing Mateo, the master of the palace added, "Oh, good. You're here, too. You need to hear this."
That did not sound good, thought Naomi. The queen and the royal wizard were needed? What new catastrophe had struck now?
"Don Esteban was seen sailing away from the port," Armando breathlessly said.
"With my knowledge and blessing," Elena responded calmly. "Esteban might choose to remain at the palace, but he's free to go wherever he wishes."
"But is it a good idea for him to travel alone with Victor Delgado?"
"What?" Elena, Mateo, and Naomi blurted simultaneously.
Armando continued, "Esteban Flores and Victor Delgado were seen arguing at the port, and then both got on a boat together. I thought you should know."
"Victor probably wants to go after Carla," Mateo said. "But how did he know any of it?"
"Rumors fly pretty fast around the palace," the chancellor pointed out glumly. "I should have insisted on sending a guard with Esteban. They'll kill each other."
"Maybe not," mused Elena. "I have an idea."
"And I'm going back to my lab to prepare Olivia's lesson for this afternoon," Mateo announced. "At least I still have one good apprentice."
Less than two hours into the voyage, and Esteban was ready to keelhaul Victor. Bad enough that the man was useless, self-serving, and downright treacherous, but the bane of Esteban's existence absolutely loved to hear himself talk. And while the former jewel thief and malvago held the queen's cousin in as much contempt as the latter felt for the former, Esteban was the only other person on the boat and so Victor didn't give him a moment's peace.
At that moment Esteban was at the helm, doing his level best to ignore Victor's incessant babbling. So when Victor asked, "What are those creatures?" while looking up at the sky, Esteban felt no reason to answer. It wasn't until Victor said, "They're too large to be birds," that Esteban finally looked up.
"Are those jaquins?" he said. "This far out to sea?" Indeed they were, and as they approached Esteban noticed riders. But who?
The jaquins were definitely heading for the small ship. From their coloring he could tell that one was Skylar and the other…the father of those little jaquins who were so fond of Isa. So he didn't use his staff to prevent them from landing on the deck.
"Watch it, Miggs!" Skylar said to the other as the flying cats tried to find room on the narrow deck. Lt. Rico Villalobos, Private Antonia Bello, the Lightening Warrior Ixlan, and a youth dressed in the uniform of a guard Esteban didn't recognize dismounted.
"What is the meaning of this?" Esteban demanded. It was his ship after all.
"Sir!"Lt. Villalobos stepped forth. "I have a message from the Queen." He handed the message to Esteban, who had come down from the helm to deal with these unexpected guests. Esteban read the letter and sighed.
"The queen wishes us both luck in our endeavor," he said to Victor, "and believes it would be best if we had some assistance."
"In other words, she wants referees to keep us from fighting," Victor replied in a dry tone.
"Which is completely unnecessary!" Esteban protested.
Ixlan, in her characteristic monotone, said, "I agree. There is no need for a fight since we all know the wizard would win."
"Thank you, Ixlan," Victor beamed. Esteban just rolled his eyes.
"Elena really thought we needed four babysitters?" he asked in frustration.
Lt. Villalobos spoke up. "The queen thought you could use two extra pairs of hands. I brought César here because he needs to log in more hours. He's a guard in training. Antonia just wanted to bring a date."
Private Bello shot him a dirty look. "Ixlan has never been to Nueva Vista before, and…"
"And I am bored in the palace. I am a warrior, and wish to go where danger is," Ixlan interrupted. "And I want to see Antonia in action."
"Of course you are the captain of this expedition," Lt. Villalobos said in a placating tone. It had been a long time since anyone had seen a need to placate Esteban. "We will help you in any way that you see fit."
Skylar spoke up. "You can all sort this out among yourselves. We have a long flight back to Avalor City." With that he and Miggs launched themselves into the air and flew away.
Well, Esteban would just have to make the best of it. "Victor, make yourself useful and stow the packs of our new passengers in the cargo bin."
Victor, for once, did as he was bidden, and sauntered over to the cargo bin and opened the door. He gasped, and then slammed the door shut again. "You have a pest on board, El Segundo."
"I know that, but have decided to allow you to stay," Esteban answered. Some small creature had obviously climbed aboard and Victor was too incompetent to deal with it. Esteban strode forth to handle the situation, only to stop and stare in shock when Victor slowly opened the door again.
There in the cargo bin sat the youngest and oldest apprentice of the royal master wizard Mateo de Alva. Olivia Herrera looked up at everyone.
"¿Hola?"
AN: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine a tropical beat as the servants of the palace sing, "Have you heard, have you heard, have you heard the news?"