The Merchant

I stood looking up at the hot sun. My gaze followed the bright yellow and orange rays down – which bounced off the ocean. The blue sky above reflected in the sea giving it its look of blue, the depths of the sea made it look more oceanic than most of the oceans that I'd sailed. It was mesmerising to see the ripples in the water as they dispersed when hitting the ships anchored at the harbour. The boats stood tall each one captained by a cutthroat pirate captain or privateer.

I myself am a merchant, at least that's what I have ended up being. The year is 1408 and it's mid-morning and I have arrived to find a man who has seen something most haven't. My tale begins here but the treasure I sought has never been found. I'm from a long line of explorers and merchants and have seen many things on my travels – not only have I seen things, but I have also learned many a skill to aid in my journey.

The men moved the large crates off my ship – each one ready to weigh in and return the manillas they're worth. I brushed down my privateer clothing and tucked my katana to my right side – being left-handed I need to grab it if the need arose. I see the quartermaster – a rounded bearded man – much like the monks I'd seen just a few miles away – standing by the crates looking at their worth.

"I understand there's a man here who trades in rare antiquities?"

He couldn't stop staring at my white holder – where the katana was waiting to be unsheathed.

"Oh yer mean that short smelly, bearded Delphi, yeah 'es ere, just got back with Cap'n Naveed."

The sound of the man was more stereotypical than any pirate I had met so far. He sounded like he'd most likely come from a band of pirates if ever I thought. I had met a few sailors, but this man was something else.

"And where is this Delphi?"

"'E's over at Aurial's tavern – ere you interested in trading the blade?"

The quartermaster's eyes never left my blade, I caressed the handle and felt the ivory it was made from. "No, Captain Naveed is here? I don't see his ship."

"Aye he's over at the tavern, I'd watch yerself 'round him. I see you gotta sword, but can you use it?"

A flash of me unsheathing the blade and attempting to lop the head clean off the quartermaster entered my mind for a moment. But then I would have to deal with the consequences. This port supposedly had quite a reputation for keeping order and I didn't want to be the one to explain how I had taken a man's head clean off.

"Are you listening friend?"

I didn't feel this man saw me as a friend, but I understood who Captain Naveed was – a man causing terror on the seas – he'd claimed many a ship and slaves to boot. I wasn't one for dealing in slaves, but today was an exception. There was one batch of slaves I needed to find.

"Point the way to Aurial's Tavern, would you?"

Making my way through the busying port I could see more ships offloading cargo. The Tavern wasn't too far away as I entered looking at the drunks and salty seamen that littered the establishment. I'd heard that this place was also famous for its collection of fine wines and rum this side of the coast of Guinea. It was also a central hub for information.

One of the courtesans approached me as I held onto my purse, I had the sense that the women here made more from their drunken clients than what Aurial paid them. The establishment was also a brothel – built and founded by the Portuguese landlady Aurial. I asked the lady to grant me an audience with Delphi – I had the manillas to get what was needed.

I pour a drink at the table and watch as the courtesan whispers into the ear of the much-described man told by the quartermaster. At first Delphi thought he was being propositioned but the words of money made his purse twitch and his body reflexes to come over.

We sat discussing what this was about – I didn't feel comfortable doing this, but I did need what I came for.

"So, sir, are you ready to buy?"

I look into the eyes of Delphi, a man who cared not for what he was trading. He just saw them as cargo – not people to whom they may belong.

"The way and the why of all things seldom see the now."

I say my words although lost on Delphi, I turn and look at Aurial, the beautiful buxom blonde woman watching over her tavern – keeping her on things. Not engaging with the troublesome pirates catching respite here. I see Captain Naveed, he had fresh cuts than last I saw. I didn't see his ship out there – so something told me he had acquired another one. This man was ruthless – he'd think nought in trading slaves. That's if he traded them – he was one for killing more than trading. I thought about what I was doing. I never considered myself an irreligious man. And I thought about what I was going to do here – thinking what god would think of me.

"What do you think Saint Peter will say when I reach the gate of the golden travellers?"

"I try not to think of such things, are you interested in what I have to offer."

"You speak of this as though these are mere trinkets, no you treat it as recompense for your actions."

"I'm happy to go elsewhere sir, if you're not wanting to make a trade today."

I didn't want to part with manillas if I didn't have to, but Delphi was not interested in what my latest haul consisted of. I had spices, tea and even explosives. But there was nothing on there he wanted – he just wanted manillas – the horseshoe shaped currency of the Afrikas.

"How much?"

"Eighteen Manillas each, a great price don't you think?"

I had hoped to get to the people of the town before their village was razed and the locals captured to be sold off for slavery. I didn't think it was true, but I needed to find out for myself. Again, I thought about hacking and slashing my way out of here, taking what I came for and freeing the rest – but it would be too obvious that I was only interested in one young man – a man who until recently I didn't even know existed. Now I needed to get him onto my ship.

I stroked my sword hoping a modicum of intimidation would make Delphi change his mind.

"Fifteen each and not a Manilla less." Delphi said hoping I would settle at this price. I of course would pay more but I didn't want anyone suspecting that I knew more about this man than anyone else on this port did – especially not the man who brought them here in the first place.

"I will settle at twelve and I expect each and every one of them to be their worth."

"They are a rare find indeed!"

"What do you mean rare find?"

"Along with Captain Naveed, we've recently travelled from an uncharted island."

Hearing those words made me certain I had found the person I wanted. They'd come from a beautiful land, well preserved. A green eutopia, full of, fruit, wines, salts and wheat. I knew this was not what I arrived to as I saw the villages on fire and the fields had been ravaged. Men were hanging from the trees and women were raped. Some of the villagers were captured and made slaves – Naveed had shown everyone he'd been there.

This spineless morsel watched as Naveed and his men did that to the village. I felt anger brew inside but needed to keep a cool head. I couldn't allow anyone to know what I knew. My thoughts were emitting to the table over the way as I saw Naveed walking over.

His huge frame stomped across the floor and towards my table. The scars on his face showed he'd seen action once or twice. The smell from his bad teeth and stench of the dead lingered in my nostrils. I needed to take this man away from the seas and put him in the ground. The raspy voice barely audible from the scarring on his throat. It seemed someone had tried to kill the man – maybe once or twice.

"Delphi, what have you managed to trade today?"

"What we picked up in Die Tuin van Eden."

I recognised the village named in the language of the Afrika's. I saw Delphi trembling – worried how hard I had driven the price down for the slaves.

"Good, what for? Manillas?"

"Yes captain, twelve for each."

"Twelve is not acceptable, twenty and not one Manilla less."

I was prepared to pay that, but I didn't want to pay that. I was tired of this man and what he stood for. The room started to become silent as the voice of Naveed got louder – as much as it could. I stood up but I was a good three feet smaller than the six foot four inches of a monster that stood before me. The sign of me standing up was an act of aggression towards the captain, and his men could see that as they surrounded me. More and more eyes fixated on me as I needed to decide on what happens next.

"Did you know that when a man attacks god's creation he's actually attacking himself?"

My words fell on deaf ears, as Naveed just laughs at my words. He signals one of his smaller men to attack me. The view of the fist enters my peripheral vision. I had many skills in martial arts and sword tactics – I thought nothing of taking the pirates fist and pushing it back into his face. Causing him to punch himself. I had to tell them "see" as I continued taking the men out one by one.

The aggressive grunt from Captain Naveed was the last noise he ever made as my sword made contact with the captain's head. I watched as it rolled on the ground – a clean cut with little to no blood. It stood looking up at Delphi.

I was a bit concerned what would happen next and didn't want to give Aurial the chance to send her men after me. They'd done no harm to me yet - I left looking at the bodies and destroyed furniture as I walked away with Delphi.

It took some time, but we were in a hurry as the men began walking on board. My quartermaster Nombres helped get things in order. I had asked Delphi to come with us. He mentioned that he'd never seen anything quite like what he saw me do to Captain Naveed and his men – and wanted to help if he could. He stood with me and Nombres as the men boarded.

"As you can see sir, fine young men, strong, able bodied."

"Young!" I said "They're practically children."

Then I saw it with my own eyes, a young man no older than eighteen walked past me. He had the strange markings I had read about – I had heard rumours about – they were staring at me in the face.

"You! What is that on your back?" I had to make it appear as if I didn't know about the strange markings. But Delphi mentioned the men were unable to talk. No thanks to Naveed I presumed. Some had had their tongues removed. Others were just not able to speak.

"Nombres, take him to my cabin – I want a closer look at these markings with Lars."

Delphi looked at me – wondering why I was interested.

"Sir, far be it from me to tell you what to do with your merchandise, but I urge caution. Some of these men are very violent."

"I heard you say these men are from Botswana, the south of Africa – Die Tuin Van Eden."

"Yes, that's right, do you know it?"

"The Garden of Eden."

Delphi looked surprised that I knew of the place, and I did feel a sense of bad luck was on the horizon. I had taken the inhabitants of what I was to believe may have been the Garden of Eden. The feeling of bad luck wasn't just a feeling – as I saw a group of armed men heading towards the ship. Their cutlasses out ready to strike a blow.

"Aurial's men! Prepare to set sail, we're leaving. You get the rest of the men below deck."

We managed to get underway after fighting off just one or two droves of men. They were no match for us – although I did lose one or two of my crew. I sat at my desk with a large chalice of rum staring at the young man before me. Lars my cartographer looked over the markings on the young man's back. I asked him if he'd ever seen anything like this before – to which he replied he had not.

"I have not, I don't think it's complete. This point here doesn't make any sense." He pointed out the outline of what could only be described as a map – but to what I thought. I had heard a tale of a sacred stone that existed on an uncharted island and that the map was hidden in plain sight. I had found the map, but Lars was telling me this is only one half of it.

Speaking the language of the Afrika's I asked the young man who he was? But he didn't reply – his tongue was intact after Lars had pinched the man's cheeks to force it out.

"Lars, that's enough – this young man might be a descendant of God, I want him treated with respect." Lars agreed but the young man scratched at him causing Lars to slap him across the face. Lars begins coughing before me – violently before he collapses on the floor. I fear we may have unleashed something quite miraculous but also very dangerous.

Fifteen days out at sea

I don't think I can continue this voyage; this is my final entry. The bodies of my men are littered around the ship, blood and puss oozing from their faces. I am too unwell to get the ship back on course as it drifts out to sea. Like a ghost ship silently sailing through the misty breadth of the Atlantic Ocean. The young man who boarded the boat with us has yet to be found. This tale is the end and I hope to….

There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.

-Sir Francis Drake

Thank you for reading this first part – I hope you enjoyed it and I would love for you to let me know what you think. In the next part we'll become Nathan Drake set after the events of Uncharted 4 - A Thief's End, but before the Epilogue. He's on holiday with Elena and Cassie but why are they here and what adventure awaits them – will Cassie really know what her parents are like? Join Nathan, Sully, Sam, Elena, Chloe and an evil billionaire with a private army ready to find the treasure everyone is looking for.