Read Online Solomon's Throne by Jennings Wright - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennings Wright
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an ornate wooden chest made in Goa by a local craftsman. The chest had a false bottom, but it was perfectly weighted and proportioned, and completely invisible unless you knew the secret. The pouch had been in there, undisturbed, for a year now. Out of sight, if not always out of mind.
Chastity, though. That had also been resolved when he had taken a wife. Isabel Medrado was the daughter of a Portuguese magistrate who had lived in Goa for ten years. Her mother had died shortly after arriving, and she had become indispensable to her father. Joao had met her at a garden party hosted by a fellow trader, and the two had instantly been attracted to each other. This was a new experience for Joao, who, at that time, was mere months from having been a Jesuit priest, and who had never been in the company of a woman alone. Isabel was funny and smart, and, as most women were in the colonies, a strong and confident woman. And she had decided, quite quickly, that becoming the wife of Joao Xavier was very much to her liking.
There had been some moments of discomfort during their courtship, as her father was from a large and well known Lisbon family. It was difficult to come up with a credible reason why he did not know them—the traders all knew each other, and attended the Cathedral together, their children intermarrying. After a moment of panic, Joao had concocted a childhood in the country, attending to an ailing grandmother on an estate. With his obviously healthy purse and his ease with people, the Medrado family had been happy to take him on face value.
After six months, Joao asked Signor Medrado for permission to marry Isabel. The match was approved, and they were wed this past March. Their wedding night was terrifying, exhilarating, shocking, and a joy beyond measure. Father Eduardo hadn’t known such passion existed; he felt more blessed by God than at any time in his life.
Lost in thought, Joao almost missed the doorway. He quickly turned and entered, stopping just inside the door. The oil lanterns were lit, making the corners lost in shadow, but illuminating the large bearded man sitting at the rough table in the center.
“Ah, Signor Xavier. I began to think you were not coming.”
“ Perdao, Senhor. I was detained by my wife’s excellent cooking.” The man laughed, picking up his pewter goblet and bringing it forward as a toast.
“To all women, may God bless them for their many attributes!” He drank deeply. “So what can I do for you this time, senhor ?”
“I am ready to return to Lisbon. I have found an operador local , a local tribesman, who can supply me with cargo. I need a ship, however, that will make the ports that I desire. I have promised to show my new wife the way that I traveled here, as she was but a lass when she arrived herself. I spent much time in several of the ports, and would like a ship that was rather more at my disposal than at the mercy of another’s schedule.”
“But you do not wish to purchase a nau?”
Joao laughed. “I am a fortunate man, senhor , but not that fortunate! I would like to… contraer … contract a ship and its crew. I will fill the hold with my own cargo, and pay the wages and provisions for the journey to Portugal. My only requirement is comfortable accommodation for myself and my wife, and that we make port in several posts that I wish to visit once again. Beyond that, I will make no demands on the captain or his crew, and I will pay a generous bonus should we arrive in Lisbon safe and sound, with our cargo intact.”
The large man thought for a time. “I believe I know such a man. He is the captain of the Santo Antonio de Tanna, and he also happens to own a share of that ship. If he is able to make such an agreement on his own, I think that he will be willing.”
“Is the ship here now, in Goa?” Joao asked.
“She is not here yet, but she is expected any day. I will speak with him when she has returned, and ask him what you want to know. Fortunately
Chastity, though. That had also been resolved when he had taken a wife. Isabel Medrado was the daughter of a Portuguese magistrate who had lived in Goa for ten years. Her mother had died shortly after arriving, and she had become indispensable to her father. Joao had met her at a garden party hosted by a fellow trader, and the two had instantly been attracted to each other. This was a new experience for Joao, who, at that time, was mere months from having been a Jesuit priest, and who had never been in the company of a woman alone. Isabel was funny and smart, and, as most women were in the colonies, a strong and confident woman. And she had decided, quite quickly, that becoming the wife of Joao Xavier was very much to her liking.
There had been some moments of discomfort during their courtship, as her father was from a large and well known Lisbon family. It was difficult to come up with a credible reason why he did not know them—the traders all knew each other, and attended the Cathedral together, their children intermarrying. After a moment of panic, Joao had concocted a childhood in the country, attending to an ailing grandmother on an estate. With his obviously healthy purse and his ease with people, the Medrado family had been happy to take him on face value.
After six months, Joao asked Signor Medrado for permission to marry Isabel. The match was approved, and they were wed this past March. Their wedding night was terrifying, exhilarating, shocking, and a joy beyond measure. Father Eduardo hadn’t known such passion existed; he felt more blessed by God than at any time in his life.
Lost in thought, Joao almost missed the doorway. He quickly turned and entered, stopping just inside the door. The oil lanterns were lit, making the corners lost in shadow, but illuminating the large bearded man sitting at the rough table in the center.
“Ah, Signor Xavier. I began to think you were not coming.”
“ Perdao, Senhor. I was detained by my wife’s excellent cooking.” The man laughed, picking up his pewter goblet and bringing it forward as a toast.
“To all women, may God bless them for their many attributes!” He drank deeply. “So what can I do for you this time, senhor ?”
“I am ready to return to Lisbon. I have found an operador local , a local tribesman, who can supply me with cargo. I need a ship, however, that will make the ports that I desire. I have promised to show my new wife the way that I traveled here, as she was but a lass when she arrived herself. I spent much time in several of the ports, and would like a ship that was rather more at my disposal than at the mercy of another’s schedule.”
“But you do not wish to purchase a nau?”
Joao laughed. “I am a fortunate man, senhor , but not that fortunate! I would like to… contraer … contract a ship and its crew. I will fill the hold with my own cargo, and pay the wages and provisions for the journey to Portugal. My only requirement is comfortable accommodation for myself and my wife, and that we make port in several posts that I wish to visit once again. Beyond that, I will make no demands on the captain or his crew, and I will pay a generous bonus should we arrive in Lisbon safe and sound, with our cargo intact.”
The large man thought for a time. “I believe I know such a man. He is the captain of the Santo Antonio de Tanna, and he also happens to own a share of that ship. If he is able to make such an agreement on his own, I think that he will be willing.”
“Is the ship here now, in Goa?” Joao asked.
“She is not here yet, but she is expected any day. I will speak with him when she has returned, and ask him what you want to know. Fortunately
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