Past Is Prologue: Chapter 11

Esteban's Crew

As you can imagine, politics were never discussed around the dinner table in my household. But I do remember one time when my father, Sergeant Rodrigo Bello, told my brother and me, "Our duty as subjects of Avalor is to the Crown. It doesn't matter who sits on the throne. It is our duty to obey without question, even at the cost of our own lives.

- Private Antonia Bello, former seamstress to Queen Shuriki and Crown Princess Elena, member of the Royal Guard under Queen Elena Castillo Flores, A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina de Torres

Victor held out his hand to assist Olivia from her hiding place in the storage bin, and then stepped back to stand with the others as they all regarded her with shock.

"Well…so…you're probably wondering what I'm doing here," Olivia began awkwardly.

Silence.

The silence stretched on. The apprentice wizard had hoped to stay hidden until they were closer to Nueva Vista.

"I…um…had a theory but I needed to go to Nueva Vista, and I heard this ship was going in that direction. I don't take up much space…"

"Does Mateo know you're here?" Victor demanded.

"Well, no…"

"Do your parents?" Rico Villalobos wanted to know.

"No," she admitted.

"Does anyone know what you were planning?" Don Esteban all but yelled at her.

"I left a note…"

"She left a note." Don Esteban shook his head. "Unbelievable!"

"Look, I know you weren't expecting me…"

"Or anyone else for that matter," the queen's cousin muttered.

"…but I can be useful. After six years of study, I know a spell or two."

"As do all but two people on this ship, including me," Victor said in a severe tone.

"I do not need magic," the Lightning Warrior, Ixlan, said as she punched the palm of her hand.

"I, for one, cannot believe you blatantly disobeyed Mateo like this!" Victor rounded on her. "You are in serious trouble, young lady!"

"So," Olivia began, "did you ask Mateo's permission to go on this journey, Sr. Delgado?" Victor scuffed his feet and looked away. Yeah, that's what Olivia thought.

"Does Señorita Herrera not outrank you, old friend?" Don Esteban cut in smoothly. "It is hardly your place to chide her. As captain of this ship, however," and he turned back to Olivia, "It is mine. What am I to do with you, stowaway?"

"By maritime law, you could throw her overboard and make her swim back to Avalor," Victor suggested helpfully. Everyone just looked at him, except for Ixlan, who nodded sagely. "I didn't say he should, just that he could," the ex-malvago muttered defensively.

"I'm willing to do any chores you may have to pay my way," the young wizard-in-training offered.

"And that is precisely what you will do," Don Esteban said. "You may begin, stowaway, by swabbing the deck." He held up a finger. "And no magic, please."

"You conjure one water elemental and no one ever lets you forget," Olivia said in a mock-rueful tone as she went to fetch mop and bucket.

Don Esteban stopped and turned. "I'd be happy to trade reputations with you," he said drily.

"So would I," Victor growled. They both had a point.

"How about you, gingerbread boy?" Private Bello joked to Lt. Villalobos. "Do you want to trade reputations with her?"

Lt. Villalobos glared at his fellow guard for a moment, and then seemed to consider. "You know what? I'd rather be known for conjuring water monsters than for turning the palace into gingerbread. Sure, I'll swap with you." He winked at Olivia.

She waived her hand and said, "Fama reverso! There, our reputations are now officially swapped." She settled to the task at hand. Olivia's parents were farmers, so she was no stranger to hard work. The guard at least seemed to be okay with her. All three joked with her good-naturedly as she mopped, and Antonia Bello even clasped her on the shoulder and whispered, "Congratulations on your first quest." Far better than Victor, who shook his head and "tsk-tsk"ed her every time she looked at him, or Don Esteban, who pursed his lips in disapproval. That didn't really bother her, though, since Don Esteban looked at everyone like that.

Olivia, in her capacity as "stowaway," was kept busy that day, but she didn't mind since it earned her place on the ship. Nor was she the only one working. Everyone pitched in at Don Esteban's direction; even Ixlan hoisted a heavy sail. At one point while observing the young wizard-in-training quickly learning the task Don Esteban had set her, the Queen's cousin had said, "We'll make a sailor out of you yet, Señorita Herrera." Later Victor was in charge of preparing dinner and Olivia sent to help him; he did most of the actual cooking while Olivia scrubbed pots and pans. Victor soon had his fellow apprentice laughing at his imitations of mutual acquaintances, including Don Esteban, Mateo, and Mateo's mom. Olivia briefly wondered if he had an imitation of her, but decided she really didn't want to know.

By dinnertime, they felt like a crew, even if Don Esteban grumbled a bit about his solitary voyage that now consisted of seven people. Lt. Villalobos seemed most adept at soothing Don Esteban's ruffled feathers, and Private Bello appointed herself the unofficial guardian of the two teenagers on board, and although neither Olivia nor César felt they needed much guardian-ing, both wanted to impress the legendary swordswoman. The Lightening Warrior, annoyingly, had begun to refer to Olivia as "wizardlet," and Olivia strongly suspected Victor. He looked entirely too smug each time it happened. It stung a bit. Olivia had formally studied magic for six years, and was quite accomplished in her own right; but outside of Mateo and the Delgados no one seemed to realize it. Outsiders often assumed that Olivia was the least adept of Mateo's apprentices simply because of her age. It was why she felt she had to prove herself.

In the grander scheme of things, though, it didn't really matter. She was leaving the region of Avalor City for the first time in her life! The apprentice wizard was certain that Duke Cristóbal had magical assistance in escaping from his cell, and if she could examine it, she would be able to figure out who or what was helping him. Then maybe Mateo would finally see her as an asset.

Late afternoon in the Royal Avaloran Palace the Queen and Crown Princess were taking tea in the garden. Elena was so happy to have Isa home even if it was only for a month. It was important to Elena to carve out time for her little sister, despite the craziness of the last few days.

She was surprised to see Mateo approach. He was usually in his laboratory this time of day. He greeted them and then asked, "Have either of you seen Olivia? She's late for her lesson, and that's not like her." Both queen and crown princess shook their heads. "Hm, well I'm sure she'll turn up soon."

As he turned to go Elena said, "Why don't you join us while you're waiting?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude…"

"It's no intrusion." In his own way, Mateo was as dear to Elena as if he were family.

"Besides," Isa piped up, "I want to pick your brain about the chemical process behind the alchemical formula in the Emerald Tablet."

"Ooh," Mateo responded, "that sounds fascinating." Elena moved over slightly so he could perch on the armrest of her chair. Then he thought for a minute. "We might want to discuss that later. It would probably bore Elena."

"Not at all," the queen said. "It will give me the chance to practice nodding sagely while pretending I understand you." She demonstrated nodding sagely, causing both Mateo and Isabel to burst out laughing.

"You seem to have it down," the royal wizard smiled. "What were you discussing before I arrived?"

"Doña Paloma's and Don Julio's wedding," Isa explained, "and all the drama it's causing by being held at the palace."

"That reminds me," Mateo said, and then paused awkwardly. "Elena, I was thinking – maybe I could escort you to the wedding?"

"Don't be silly," the young queen laughed it off. "You and I both already live at the palace, and this is where the wedding will be held. It's not like we have to take a carriage there or something."

"Yeah…I guess you're right," the wizard answered. Suddenly Isa kicked Elena under the table. Elena kicked her back. Maybe Esteban was right! Isa was certainly not behaving like a proper crown princess should, kicking her older sister like that.

She was saved from that uncomfortable situation by the portly middle-aged man in yellow running up to her. Armando to the rescue, again.

"Mateo! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Well, you found me," the young wizard said good-naturedly.

"Olivia left a note for you. It was in her mule cart." The master of the palace handed the letter to Mateo.

Mateo's eyes widened and his face darkened alarmingly. "She did what?!" he exclaimed.

"What is it?" the queen asked. Wordlessly, Mateo handed her the letter. "She did what?!"

"Who did what?" Isa wanted to know.

"Olivia," Mateo said through clenched teeth, "informs me that her talents are best utilized by accompanying Esteban to Nueva Vista."

"There is no way Esteban would allow that. If she did go, she stowed away," Elena mused.

"And she wants me to make sure her mule is safely returned home and her parents are told of her whereabouts." Mateo stood up and began to pace the garden.

"Isabel," the queen turned on her sister, "did you know anything about this?"

"No! She didn't say anything to me."

"Elena," the royal wizard said in a voice that Elena would have described as dangerous if it belonged to anyone but Mateo, "are any of the jaquins around?"

"Skylar and Miggs haven't returned yet. Luna's visiting; last I saw she was taking a siesta on my balcony. It's her day off, though."

"Not anymore!" Mateo stalked off.

"Where are you going?" Elena called after her friend.

"I'm going to find my apprentice."

"Which one?" Mateo had, after all, lost all three of his apprentices.

"My oldest and youngest, of course. I have to wring her little neck."

AN: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine this – a classic ensemble Disney inspirational number, "This Is My Chance." Olivia, Rico, Antonia, and César all sing about how this is their chance to prove themselves; Esteban sings about wanting a chance to get to know the son he never had; Ixlan sings about wanting a chance to fight, since she's been bored at the palace. Victor sings a verse in a minor key about how this is his chance to save his daughter from making the same mistakes he made.