Chapter 6
It had been three days since they had left Cadiz, and although many things had changed, there was one thing that remained constant: Raphael's complaints. Raphael Santiago, the new addition to the group, hadn't stopped complaining about the situation in which they were immersed. He had been whining day and night about being virtually dragged into his own grave.
At first Alec had actually sympathized with him because he understood fear and hesitation better than anyone, but after three days of listening to the same song, he had started to lose his patience. He was well aware of the danger they all were in and he certainly didn't need a constant reminder.
In the past few days he had heard all sorts of explanations as to why Raphael couldn't care less about Alec's brother and Magnus's obsession with the Danube, and to this point, the story was just repetitive. There were over three hundred nautical miles separating Cadiz from Cartagena—a three or four day trip by sea—and although they were about to arrive, Raphael still seemed to have no rest about the matter, and Alec had to get away from him, or else he was going to kill him. Well, not really, but at least try to.
Alec's options were limited. There were very few places on the ship where he could hide, there was the storage room and the armory, but he didn't want to be enclosed for hours, so his only other option was the crow's nest. It was the highest point of the ship and used mainly as a lookout point. Men were sent there as punishment, but Alec didn't care. He needed a place where he could get away from all the drama, so he sent down the man Ragnor had assigned there the night before, and took his place.
The day was slipping away and the sun was about to set, so Alec just sat there and pleased with the sudden silence, contemplated what he loved the most in the world: the sea. The color of the water was so dark in that part of the Mediterranean that it was like watching the sun setting on a floating night sky. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't realize that someone was now sitting next to him.
"You mind some company?" Magnus asked.
Alec jumped a bit surprised, but immediately shook his head. He really didn't mind the company. In fact, of all the people in the crew, with Magnus was with whom he felt more comfortable. Deep down he knew he shouldn't, because being comfortable with someone meant trusting them to some extent, but he couldn't help it, despite everything, he liked Magnus.
"Did you really volunteer yourself to be up here?" Magnus asked bemused.
Alec chuckled. "I did...I wanted a place to escape from Raphael." He confessed. "I know he's going to help us and all, but I just can't hear him complaining any longer. He's driving me insane. Is he ever going to stop? Because if not, then I'm going to stay here permanently."
Magnus laughed. "Well, he will shut up about it eventually. That is, when he has something else to do rather than complain."
"Or make fun of you." Alec added. He had noticed how Raphael and Ragnor seemed to particularly enjoy playing the game of 'let's make fun of Magnus in any way we can.'
"You noticed." Magnus said, and Alec just nodded. "It doesn't bother me—not anymore. I'm kind of used to it at this point. Ever since those two met, they discovered that the one thing they had in common was how much they loved criticizing me, so they've done it ever since."
Alec smiled. "I understand why he doesn't want to be here, I really do. He's afraid of dying or losing Ragnor. This rescue mission is going to costs us many men, but I can't let myself feel guilty about it, you know? At least not until we have rescued my brother and you have your ship back."
"All men here didn't come against their will, Alexander, even Raphael. He's here because he wants to be here. He could have easily convinced Ragnor to stay with him in Cadiz, so don't let his dramatic display fool you. He's just whining because that's what the Santiago do best."
"You mentioned his mother when we arrived to Cadiz, do you know her?"
"Yes, she was the one who asked me to help him more than ten years ago. He was just a dumb teenager who was making all the wrong decisions. He was hanging out with a gang with a really bad reputation, so I showed him a different way."
"You made him a pirate."
"No, I made him a man. He later decided to become one of us." Magnus said. "But anyway, I taught him what his father hadn't taught him and showed him a few of my tricks. I wanted him to become a merchant or something, but well, he eventually found his way to the sea."
"How old is he?" Alec asked curiously. He guessed Raphael had no more than twenty-three, but he could be wrong. When the man spoke he showed more maturity than any other twenty-something man. He sounded like an old man trapped inside a young body.
"Twenty-seven."
"He looks young for his age." Alec said.
"Yeah, but I look younger." Magnus joked. "Come on, let's go." He said.
"Where?"
"To Cartagena." Magnus said. "We reached the coast about an hour ago, but we won't be making port in the city. I don't know if I told you, but Cartagena is a major Clave city, so we'll use one of the long boats to get to the port and avoid getting caught."
"That's why you said Valentine wouldn't dare to set foot here."
"Aye...it's too risky." Magnus said, "Now, let's go! The sun is almost down."
Alec hadn't realized that the sun was almost completely hidden under the horizon. "And, what about the crew?"
"They will stay here waiting for us. We'll go get what we came for and be back here before dawn." Magnus said.
"I-I...yeah, okay, but...why me and not Ragnor or Raphael?"
"First, because you, I can tolerate. When Raphael is in the mood he's been these past days, he can be a real pain in the ass and not the good kind of pain." He said winking, and Alec was very grateful for the lack of light because that last comment had sent some blood to his cheeks. "And I need Ragnor to stay here to make sure the ship is safe, like I said, Cartagena is a city controlled by the Clave, so I think you know what their policy against pirates is."
"Not very friendly." Alec agreed. "So, we're going just the two of us?"
"Yes, it's easier that way. No one will suspect anything if they just see two men, the problem is when we arrive in large groups."
"Okay." Alec nodded. "And, where is the book hidden?"
"In a church, obviously." Magnus said. "In the same church where we found it for the second time, just not where other people can find it. Getting it won't be hard, the real challenge will be to take it with us. Like I told you, the silent brothers are very fond of their books, and it's not going to be the only one we're going to take with us. If we want to find the island, we will need books of history and geography, plus a detailed map. Fortunately for us, they have everything we need."
"We're not going to ask them to give them to us, are we?" Alec asked, although he already knew the answer.
"No, Alexander. We're going to take them without them noticing."
"Steal them." Alec said.
"It's the same."
Alec took a deep breath. It was a bit surprising how easily now he agreed to do bad things. "And, how are we going to do it?"
Magnus winked. "Don't worry, Alexander. I already have a plan." He said, making his way down the crow's nest.
Alec took one last look at the now completely dark landscape and descended too. The faster they got that book, the faster he would know where to find his brother.
o-o-o-o-o
After half an hour of sailing the long boat, Magnus and Alec were ready to make their big entrance to the city. Magnus's plan was easy, they would say to anyone in their paths that pirates had attacked their ship and that unfortunately, they were the last two survivors. Then, they would go to the old church to ask for help and a place to spend the night. If things went as expected, they would wait until the monks were completely asleep to go get the book and the other things they needed.
"Nobody is going to believe us." Alec pointed out. "We look like the pirates who attacked the ship and not the other way around. Plus, you're still wearing your hat. Sailors don't wear hats, only captains."
"Good point." Magnus said. "Then we'll just change a bit the story. We were sailing the Mediterranean when we were ambushed by pirates, you are the brave sailor who fought alongside his captain until the very end. Since I won't hurt myself to provide realism to the lie, we can also pretend that I was already sick and the battle left me on the verge of death." He suggested.
Alec seemed to be meditating the idea. "I'm not good at lying." He confessed.
"Well, neither am I, but we have no other option."
It was obvious in the way that Alec was looking at Magnus that he didn't believe that the pirate wasn't a good liar and Magnus found that offensive. Not all pirates were liars, some were 'omitters' of the truth—there was a difference.
"Fine." Alec said.
Magnus skirted the boat until they reached the port and being careful not to draw much attention, they moored it at the far end of one of the docks. They descended and immediately, Magnus put an arm around Alec's shoulders, making the boy jump clearly surprised by the action.
"What are you doing?" Alec asked.
"I'm sick and on the verge of death, remember?" Magnus said. "Now, Alexander, be good and help your poor captain to get to that church. We have to make this believable."
Alec didn't say a word and just started walking toward the church, following Magnus's instructions. It was not far from the shore, but it was well hidden from prying eyes. The silent brothers had always been a very secretive sect and that hadn't changed over the years.
"That's the church." Magnus pointed to a small church. "And that's the monastery." He added. "Since it's late, I guess that the church must be closed, so let's knock on the monastery."
"And, how are we going to get into the church?"
"The monastery and the church are connected, Alexander." Magnus said, approaching the old wooden door. "Ready?"
Alec nodded and knocked the door in a very desperate way. Magnus was surprised for a second, Alec was really trying to get into his role of worried sailor.
"Don't over-" Magnus was saying, but had to close his mouth when the door opened and a tall, old man came out. He was wearing nightclothes and in his hand, he carried a candlelight.
"Buenas noches ¿Qué puedo hacer por ustedes?" He asked in a deep and quite intimidating tone. Magnus was not familiar with the new silent brothers, but they all always had the same look and spoke perfect Spanish.
"I-hmmm," Alec said. "We-"
"Oh, English." The silent brother said. "Don't worry, I speak the language of the British crown. What can I do for you?"
"Oh, thank God! We're here to ask for a place to spend the night." Alec said in a very distressed tone. Magnus was playing his role of disoriented and very sick captain. "Some pirates attacked my captain's ship and left us there to die. We managed to escape, but my captain is very sick and I can't leave him in the cold, he could die. I don't know anyone in town and some people at the docks told me to come here. They said you could help us."
"What happened to him?" The silent brother asked, looking at Magnus with a worried expression.
Magnus faked a coughing fit just for the sake of dramatization.
"We are not sure." Alec lied. He was better at this than he gave himself credit for. "He started to feel sick a few days ago. We were going to see a doctor when we made port in...Valencia, but we never made it. We were attacked even before arriving here. The battle wore him down a lot and I fear for his life."
"Oh, poor you. Those pirates are always destroying everything in their path, but do not worry, here you can stay for the night. Tomorrow we can help you get a doctor for your captain. Please, come inside." The silent brother said, opening the door wide for them to enter.
"Thank you so much, sir." Alec said, still pretending to help Magnus to walk.
"Don't worry, young man." The silent brother said. "You're a good sailor, that much I can tell. I'm sure your captain is very proud of you."
They silently followed the man who led them through the narrow hallways of the monastery until they reached a door located at the end of a very long corridor.
"You can rest in here." The silent brother said. "I'm afraid I can't offer you anything else tonight, but tomorrow you'll both have some food and all the help you can get. Rest assured, men of the sea."
"Thank you." Alec said, helping Magnus to get into bed. "We really appreciate it."
The silent brother gave them one last smile and closed the door behind him. The moment Magnus was sure that the brother couldn't hear them, he started to laugh uncontrollably.
"Blimey, Alexander!" He exclaimed. "You're better at this than you think. I almost thought I was really sick and you were worried about my well-being."
"I feel so bad." Alec said, covering his face with his hands. "The brother was very kind to us, how can we do this to him?"
"Alexander…" Magnus said, approaching the man. He really looked guilty.
"Don't you feel a little bad?" Alec asked.
"No," Magnus said sincerely, "doing these kind of things is part of being a pirate. Sometimes you have to lie and use people for your own good."
"Well, that's selfish."
"Humans are selfish, Alexander," Magnus said, "...even you. You want your brother back, right? And you're doing anything in your power to get him. I hate to break it to you, but that's an act of selfishness."
Magnus saw that Alec was deliberately avoiding his gaze. There wasn't much light in the room, just the moonlight peeking through the window, but still in the dark, Magnus could make Alec's profile perfectly.
"It's not a bad thing," Magnus said, "sometimes you have to be selfish to be selfless."
They stayed in silence for God knows how long until Alec seemed more relaxed. Then Magnus stood up and started to walk around to room trying to find a candle and some matches.
"Aha!" He exclaimed when he found them. "Now, let's go!"
"So soon?" Alec asked surprised. "I thought we would wait a bit more."
"There's no need, Alexander. The Silent Brothers go to bed very, very early. Their days always start before dawn, so we need to hurry. The book is in the church, but the map we need and the other books are here, so we better move. I remember where the main office is, so we will start there. The library must be somewhere there too, so, let's go!"
Magnus lit the single candle he had found and opened the door, carefully making his way out the room with Alec trailing right behind him. They walked in silence through the cold and deserted halls of the monastery until they reached the office.
"This is it." Magnus announced, grabbing the handle and trying to open it, but the door was locked. "Well, shite! It's locked. We'll have to look for the keys."
"Not necessarily." Alec said, kneeling in front of the door and analyzing the lock. "It's a simple lock, with the right amount of force applied to the latch and the deadbolt, the door will open." He said, taking his sword and proceeding to majestically open the door.
"Where did you learn to do that?" Magnus asked very surprised.
"Back home," he said, "my brother taught me."
They entered the room and Magnus immediately pointed to the opposite wall, where a beautiful and very detailed map was hanging.
"That's the map?" Alec asked.
Magnus nodded. "I'll take it down, you check the books." He said. There was a large bookshelf and some books scattered on the desk.
Magnus walked to the wall and took the map, folding it so that they could take it with them.
"Anything useful?" Magnus asked Alec. The boy was checking the books by the desk.
"No," Alec shook his head, "all the books in here are novels."
Magnus approached him. Alec was holding a red book with golden letters. "I used to love that one." Magnus said, recognizing the book. "I was a bit of a romantic back in my teens and that was my favorite." He confessed. "But come on, let's go. We have to look for more books and get to the church. We better hurry."
o-o-o-o-o
Alec was carrying his own weight in books. They had practically ransacked the library and taken with them every book they had considered necessary. Now they were finally on their way to the church and Alec felt more anxious than before. Magnus had said that the book was safe, but Alec still needed to see it with his own eyes to believe it was true. Cartagena could be a city protected by the Clave, but Valentine had been taunting the Clave for years, so until they had the book in their hands, Alec was going to breathe again.
"This must take us to the south transept." Magnus said, when they crossed the last door that would lead them to the church.
The interior of the church, though dimly lit by candles, was very impressive. It wasn't a very large church to be considered a cathedral, but it was large enough to leave Alec breathless.
"Follow me, is over here." Magnus said, walking toward the sanctuary and around the altar.
There were small chapels with saints and angels everywhere. Magnus was walking toward the one on the right side, the one that displayed an angel with folded wings and a sword in his hands.
"Is that?" Alec asked, not quite believing what he was seeing.
"The very same. Raziel meet Alexander, Alexander...Raziel, the Angel of Secrets." Magnus said, moving the statue and revealing a hole under its base.
"It's hidden there!" Alec pointed out.
"Yes," Magnus said, reaching into the hole and pulling out the book, "the Angel is looking after this little gem too."
It was a very old book, with a leather cover and golden letters. It looked worn and damaged by time. Magnus opened it, and Alec realized that its pages were completely yellowed, another effect of time.
"Is that?"
"Yes." Magnus said with a smile. He was flipping through the pages. "Here." He added, pointing to the title of one of the pages. "See? El Tesoro del Ángel…the Angel's Treasure."
Alec couldn't believe his own eyes. It was true. The book was real. Now they only had to translate it to finally know where Valentine was. "Then, let's go!" He exclaimed.
"No, wait." Magnus said, closing the book and putting it safely inside one of the sacks they were carrying. "There's something else I want."
"What?"
Magnus didn't reply and just walked to the altar and took a pair of chalices.
"Really?" Alec asked bemused. This man was so odd.
"What?" Magnus protested. "I always wanted one of these."
Alec rolled his eyes, but said nothing more. He had no time to try to understand the oddities of this man. They had to run if they didn't want to get caught.
"Let's just go, okay?"
Magnus nodded, and together they walked to the north transept of the church where there was a second door that according to Magnus would take them to the back street of the church; the door opened from the inside so there was no need for them to force the lock or anything.
Once outside, they both looked at each other and smiled. They had successfully stolen the book they needed to hunt Valentine, and not only that, but they had gotten a lot of things that would help them locate the island.
"Well, Alexander." Magnus said. "We have to add this little adventure to your list of misdeeds. You stole from your own father, helped a man out of prison, helped steal a ship from the Clave, traveled with fugitive pirates, lied to a silent brother in his own face to break into his sacred monastery and to top it all, you stole from his church. You're a really bad egg."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are, darling, but it's okay. We all are. No judgment here." Magnus said. "Now, come on! We have to reach the Avenger before the sun is out. We don't want the Silent Brothers to notify the Clave of our presence."
"They're going to do it anyway."
"I know, but when they do, you and I, my dear Alexander, will be very, very far away from here."
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