VOYAGERS! - The Voyager Chronicles
DISCOVERIES - BOOK 1
(The First New Adventure)
By DA Daugherty (VoyagersFan)
October 2006 (Revised 05/2009)
Previous disclaimers apply
Chapter 6 - URGENT BUSINESS
The next day, the Queen and her consorts were gathered inside the Great Hall discussing plans for the upcoming Royal Ball. The Queen loved such social events as this, as it was a widely known fact throughout the whole of the Royal Court. At this moment, Her Majesty was in a jovial mood and the hall was filled with laughter and gaiety. She had summoned The Royal Seamstress to her side and was now being fitted for a new gown to wear to the event.
As Luis arrived for his upcoming meeting with the Queen, the Royal Secretary met him just outside the door of the Great Hall.
"Good morning." Luis said warmly. "Can you tell me where I am, with regard to the schedule of audiences today?"
"Her Majesty pretty much has a full day ahead of her." She replied. "She is meeting with the Royal Seamstress at the moment."
"Ahh! Yes…I had almost forgotten about the Royal Ball."
"If you don't mind waiting, you are next on her schedule." She said.
"Ma'am, it's Her Majesty we are speaking of. I don't mind waiting at all." Luis said humbly.
"If you would sir, please be seated and I will come for you when she is ready."
As the Royal Secretary walked away to take care of other business, Luis took a seat just outside the doors to the Great Hall and waited patiently for her return.
An hour passed. Inside the Great Hall, Her Majesty the Queen had completed her meeting with the Royal Seamstress and had dismissed her. Waiving her scepter to one side, she turned to the Royal Secretary and commanded thus, "I will see the Royal Treasurer now, please have him attend us."
The Royal Secretary proceeded through the doors of the Great Hall into the waiting area to summon the Royal Treasurer.
"Her Majesty will see you now. Come!" She said as she motioned for Luis to follow.
Luis walked through the large doors of the Great Hall, then, slowly and humbly approached the Queen.
"Your Majesty." Luis said as he prostrated himself before her.
"Arise, my dear Luis." The Queen commanded. "What brings you to request an audience today?"
"Your Majesty, I am here to discuss some urgent business with you."
"Is it concerning the matters which we discussed yesterday?" She asked.
"No, Your Majesty." Luis replied most humbly. "This is about a different matter altogether."
"We are listening…please do enlighten us."
Luis began to tell her of his meeting with Columbus. He explained Columbus's theories in great detail and the benefits of proving them. The Queen sat and listened with look of curiosity on her face. After he had finished, the Queen responded.
"We see. So you believe this voyage to be a worthwhile venture for the Royal Court?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. If his theories are proven correct, we as a country will gain much from the voyage. Also, the Royal coffers will be in much better shape than they are today, especially after the war with the Moors. All that I ask of you Your Majesty is to grant Columbus and his assistants an audience with you. Let them explain their intentions further as well as the end result on the Royal Court if they are successful."
The Queen sat silent for a moment as she pondered Luis' statements.
"My dear Luis, please summon your friend Columbus to attend us tomorrow morning. We will listen to what he has to say and weigh its merits. Afterward, we will decide whether or not to authorize funding for the voyage."
The Queen again waived her scepter. "You may now go." She commanded.
Before he had reached the door the Queen spoke once more. "Oh, one more thing, my dear Luis."
Luis stopped in his tracks and bowed as he turned to face her.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He replied.
"I hope you will be able to join us at the upcoming Royal Ball."
"Most certainly, Your Majesty! I would dare not miss such a joyous event."
"We look forward to seeing you there." She replied.
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty." Luis said as he bowed once again, turned and slowly walked from the Great Hall. He went back to his office and summoned his apprentice for another task.
"Lad, I need you to take a message to Columbus. You do know where Columbus and his friends are staying, don't you?"
"Yes, Columbus lives in an apartment over near the marketplace." The apprentice replied.
"That's right. Please take this message to him and his friends. I'm sure they will be pleased when they hear this good news."
"I'm on my way sir."
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An hour or so later at Columbus' apartment, the crazy explorer was again sitting at his desk, compass in hand as he attempted to chart a course across an old map of the world. Without warning there came a knock at the door. He put down his compass, got up from his desk and walked toward the door.
"Come..." Columbus said. The Treasurer's apprentice burst through the door and almost knocked the explorer to the floor.
"Mr. Columbus!" The apprentice exclaimed as he gasped for air.
"Yes Lad, what is it?" Columbus asked. Realizing the boy was quite spent from his travels; he took hold of him and assisted him to a nearby chair.
Bogg and Jeff were sitting at the table in the middle of the room, going over the maps and documents with a fine-toothed comb when they noticed the lad.
"Bogg!" Jeff whispered as he poked his partner on the arm. "Look, it's the Treasurer's apprentice."
"Yea kid. It must be a message from the Treasurer."
"I hope it's some good news." Jeff said.
"I do too."
Once the apprentice had gotten his breath, he began to explain his reason for being there.
"Mr. Columbus, the Treasurer sent me to deliver a message to you." He then handed the letter to Columbus.
Columbus opened the letter and began to read it as he walked over to the table where Bogg and Jeff were sitting.
"Gentlemen, the Queen wishes to see us tomorrow morning to discuss my theories."
"That's great!!" The two Voyagers exclaimed in unison.
"Lad, I thank you for all your efforts to bring this letter to me." Columbus urged. "Please sit and rest for a moment."
"Thank you kindly sir, but, I must leave now. That is, if I expect to make it back to the Treasurer's office before dark."
The apprentice sprung up and made his way through the door and set off on his journey back home. Columbus closed the door behind him and turned to face the two Voyagers.
"Well, we are almost there. It's almost a success and I have the two of you to thank for the progress so far."
"Thanks are not necessary." Bogg replied. "We're here to help and as you said earlier, the war is not yet over. There are a few battles yet to be won before that happens."
"Jeff, maybe it's time for you and I to leave. Chris has much he needs to do to prepare for tomorrow's meeting. Also, we need to get some food and a good night's sleep to prepare for our long ride."
"Oh yea, mules!" Jeff said with some sarcasm. "Like you just had to remind me."
"Like you said, it builds character!" Bogg said as he nodded and grinned.
"Yea, I remember. Remind me never to say anything like that again."
"C'mon, kid." Bogg grabbed Jeff by the shoulders and pushed him toward the door.
"Chris, the kid and I will be back in the morning. Good afternoon to you."
"Good afternoon to you both."