Notes:
Flashbacks
Thoughts
Scene/time changes.
Hopefully this chapter will make more sense than the last one.
"This could be our destiny, our fate."
"Miguel if I believed in fate I wouldn't be playing with loaded dice."
Tulio slowly cracked open his eyes, squinting against the sunlight. He groaned and sat expecting to see Miguel at the other end of the boat but only a horse greeted him. His eyes widened as the event s of the previous night came rushing back. The boat falling. The horse plummeting down. The waves crashing into the rowboat. Tulio groaned and buried his head in his hands, what was he going to do? How on earth am I going to cope? I've never been apart from Miguel for long. A whiney and a lick brought him back to the present. He patted Altivo's nose.
"Guess it's just you and me now Altivo."
Altivo neighed in response.
"We're too far away now to row back to Spain, horse, at least I think we are."
Tulio reached out for the oars and frowned. Picking it up Tulio sighed. It was that stupid map. A bit wet but still clear enough to follow. Well I suppose I could go. It's what Miguel would have…no would do. Tulio shook his head. Miguel couldn't be dead he didn't have any proof. Yet a sarcastic voice in his head replied. For all you know he could be. Tulio scowled. I'm going to remain positive. Miguel is not dead. The sarcastic voice didn't reply and Tulio started rowing. I wonder what's happened to Miguel. It feels weird without him prattling on about something or other. Tulio felt tears come to his eyes he shook his head angrily. Guys don't cry. He remembered his father telling him at one point. But Tulio couldn't help it. He felt like he'd lost not only his best friend but also his brother. Altivo nudged his leg and Tulio broke out of his thoughts and wiped away his tears. Be strong. You might see him again.
He reached over Altivo for the supplies that had made it and hungrily took a bite out of his bread but left the water well alone. I'm going to have to ration. Who knows how long I'll be out here…and the horse is going to need feeding too. He thought looking at the horse, who was currently drinking the seawater.
"ALTIVO! NO YOU DUMB HORSE!!"
Cortes' ship.
Meanwhile Miguel was lying unconscious in a cell with Orion (the dog) keeping a close watch on him.
Orion yawned, those idiots had tried to throw the poor human overboard. Orion could never understand humans, they were an extremely weird species and that was not including walking around on two paws. But this human was different…and it was moving. Orion got up and licked its face causing it to wake completely.
"Hey! Quit it." It mumbled.
Orion sat down and cocked her head in amusement as it glared at her. Humans can be so funny at times. I think this could be the start of a friendship.
Miguel wiped his face and looked at the chocolate brown Labrador, who merely looked back. He patted the floor next to him and the dog came and sat down. Miguel looked at the tag on her collar. Orion, ships dog. He scratched her behind the ears and she wagged her tail in appreciation.
Miguel looked around the small room he was in where am I? He got up and limped to the cell door. Looks like a ships cell. Miguel sat back down. A pair of heavy boots were thudding down the passage and a large man came into view. He was tall and bald and he was carrying a set of keys. He unlocked the door and dragged Miguel out Orion started barking wildly. He glared at her and she shut up, cowering.
"The Captain wants to see ye." He scowled at Miguel wondering why Cortes didn't just throw him overboard along with the dumb mutt.
Miguel pulled himself up and limped to the door followed by Orion. He was grabbed roughly by the collar and dragged to Cortes' cabin. The bald man pushed Miguel into the cabin.
"Here he is captain."
Cortes looked up from his paperwork. "Thank you. Get back out on deck.
The man saluted and closed the door behind him. Miguel looked anxiously at Cortes. Orion whined and nudged his hand.
"There is no need to look so worried Miguel." he said kindly. He waved his hand to the seat in front of his desk. "Sit."
Miguel hesitated then sat down, Orion followed protectively behind. As Cortes finished his paperwork Miguel took a good look around the cabin. It was big with two windows on the left and right walls and one large one behind Cortes. It wasn't furnished luxuriously but it clearly showed that Cortes was either well off or didn't spend his money readily. Miguel was brought back to the present by Cortes locking his papers in a box on his desk. Cortes studied him for a few moments then stood up.
"I have a proposition for you Miguel. You follow that friend of yours and I will give you part of my profits from this expedition." he glanced at Miguel who looked unfazed.
"What friend sir? I why should I follow them?"
It was a good thing for Cortes that he had his back to Miguel otherwise Miguel would have seen the mixture of emotions that crossed Cortes' face. So he cannot remember, this could be used to my advantage. I'll get him to track his friend down then I will kill them both and take the gold. Cortes turned to face Miguel with a smile on his face.
"Well done Miguel! You have passed the test!"
By now Miguel was thoroughly confused. Test? What test? Who is he and who is this friend he's talking about? "Test?"
Cortes sighed sadly. He turned to Miguel with a sad look on his face. "You suffered a head injury and a thief named Tulio convinced you to join him." his face darkened. "I thought you lost to us." his face lit up. "but now you have returned."
Miguel frowned slightly, there was something not quite right about this. All his instincts told him not to trust this man.
Seeing the look on Miguel's face Cortes sighed heavily. "I see that he has persuaded you well. Trust me Miguel, I mean you no harm." he looked down at Orion "Even your dog remembers you."
Miguel looked at Orion. That's true. She does seem very close to me. he doubts began to fade. Perhaps he's telling the truth.
Seeing Miguel's doubts fade, Cortes smiled and went for the kill. "Miguel Tulio has used you for his own gain. He tricked you into a life of crime. He is a wanted man and we must bring him to justice."
Miguel considered this then looked up at Cortes. "What do I have to do?
Tulio
Tulio lay on his back looking at the sky and feeling depressed. Even Altivo was looking down in the dumps. Tulio sighed which was returned by the horse.
"This is it Altivo. A week at sea and still no land."
Altivo neighed tiredly in reply. Tulio sat back up and took up his oars until he realised that there was green in front of him. Since when was the sky… "LAND!!"
Tulio jumped out of the boat, followed by Altivo who trotted off to the grass while Tulio dragged the boat in and began dancing around. He dropped down, out of breath.
Tulio took in his surroundings as he caught his breath. The beach was on the edge of what looked , to Tulio, like a forest. There was a stream leading inland to his left and a pile of rocks which resembled a birds head. Tulio frowned and pulled out the map from his pocket. He looked back at the rocks, then the map, then the stream, then the map and back up again.
"Nombre de dios." he muttered. A smile crept across his face. "Altivo!" he whistled the horse over "Guess where we're going."
Tulio looked at the map and back up again. "A rock. We came all this way…for a rock?" he sighed and mounted Altivo. "Come on boy, we're outta here." he turned to leave but his path was blocked by a native. Strange. I didn't see any settlements. "Um…I was just about to leave, so if you would just…"
The native bowed. "My Lord, you have finally arrived."
Tulio stared back at him. "Err…yeah."
"I am your high-priest, Tzekel Kan. Allow me to lead the way to our city."
Tulio and Altivo followed him through a waterfall and into a boat. It wasn't long before a glittering golden light met their eyes. As they came out of the tunnel the city emerged.
Tulio gaped. El Dorado! Look at all this gold.
Tzekel Kan smiled proudly. "Impressive my Lord?"
Tulio nodded. "Very." he noticed the people looking at him in awe. He frowned Why are they looking at me like that? he looked around but they avoided his gaze. Wait! Tzekel Kan called me Lord. I'll have to find out more.
The boat docked and they stepped into the parting crowd with the high-priest leading the way. They reached the steps of a temple.
"I expect you will want to rest after your long journey my Lord?"
"Um…yeah that would be nice."
Tzekel Kan bowed. "Allow me."
He led the way to the top of the temple. I'm going to need a weeks worth of rests after this. Thought Tulio in exhaustion. He was bowed in.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
And Tulio was alone. He looked around and sighed. "Miguel would've loved this Altivo."
The horse neighed sadly. Tulio sighed and paced around the room not knowing that he was been watched.
Chel watched him from the shadows. First she had been afraid, thinking that he really was a God. But watching now she could see that he was only human, and alone. He and this… Miguel. They must have been close. He needs someone to talk to. She approached the bed where he was sitting and sat down next to him.
"I know what it's like to loose someone close to you. Miguel must have been special."
Tulio jumped and turned to face her. He calmed down when he saw her sympathy. Looks like someone around here has some sense. He buried his head in his hands. Chel placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You want to talk about it? It does help."
"He was my best friend, more like my brother really. I've never been away from him for long…" he stopped trying to hold back the tears. Chel shushed him and held him.
Beyond the curtain the chief listened. Best give them some peace. He turned away and left.
Several miles away Miguel sat thinking over what Cortes had said. I don't trust him. he frowned Something in his story doesn't feel right. He scratched Orion behind the ears. I'll go along with his plan though. Maybe this Tulio knows something.
So there you have it. Chapter 2. Yeah. I need to go and plot the other chapter.
Does anyone know the name of the chief?
I WILL UPDATE!!
Everyone drags friend from shadows meet my Beta reader Loz. Sobs I don't know where I 'd be without her. EVERYONE THANK HER!!!
Hope you enjoyed this very late chapter!
Nooka