The Atlantic wind blew with force, whipping the sails of the Santa María as Christopher Columbus watched the horizon from the deck. The three ships of his fleet—the Santa María, the Niña, and the Pinta—sailed in formation, escorted by a single vessel from the Suaza Kingdom, a ship that seemed to glide over the water with an almost supernatural grace.
Sogeking's fleet, the captain of the Suaza navy, had withdrawn hours earlier, leaving only this one ship as the emissary of the young leader Chuta. Columbus, with the gaze of a seasoned navigator, could not tear his eyes away from the vessel.
It was sleek, with three masts that combined square and triangular sails, painted with the distinctive symbol of a silver moon over a golden sun. He had noticed, during the voyage, that this ship was holding back, sailing at the same pace as his slow caravels.
But its design, with elegant lines and a reinforced hull, suggested a speed that could leave even the Tequendama—the fastest ships he had ever seen from the Suaza Kingdom—behind. If the Tequendama already outmatched his Santa María, this mysterious vessel could disappear over the horizon before they could even aim their cannons.
Columbus, his hands clasped behind his back, studied the compartments distributed across the two decks of the Suaza ship. Each one, he suspected, concealed a cannon, and the total number—perhaps two dozen or more—far exceeded the armament of any fleet of the Catholic Monarchs.
A single one of these ships could sink a dozen European vessels, not with soldiers boarding in hand-to-hand combat, as was tradition, but with a rain of artillery that would change the rules of naval warfare.
The idea filled him with admiration, but also with caution. If the European kingdoms adopted this tactic, the fleets of Castile and Aragon would become obsolete, forgotten at the bottom of the ocean.
"This is not just a new kingdom," he thought, "it is a harbinger of a world we are not prepared to face."
Originally, Columbus had planned to stop in Lisbon for resupply, but the abundant provisions provided by the Suaza—dried fruits, smoked fish, bread that kept its flavor—made the stop unnecessary.
He decided, instead, to pass near the port of Lisbon, proudly flying the flags of Castile and Aragon. But he was not alone; the Suaza vessel sailed alongside him, its imposing presence attracting gazes from the coast.
Portuguese fishermen and merchants, open-mouthed, pointed at the foreign ship, whispering among themselves. Columbus felt a pang of pride mixed with envy; his feat was monumental, but this ship was stealing the attention.
Days later.
The fleet arrived at the port of Palos de la Frontera. The pier was crowded with nobles, priests, and the curious, all anxious to see the navigator who had challenged the ocean. Columbus disembarked, flanked by Apqua, Chuta's emissary, a man with a serene face, light armor, and distinctive clothing from his kingdom, which contrasted with the heavy European garments.
As they walked through the cobblestone streets of Palos, the citizens crowded together, admiring the exotic fabrics, emerald jewels, and colorful feathers that Columbus had brought. The nobles, with their embroidered capes, watched with a mix of curiosity and envy, whispering about the unknown treasures.
Apqua, walking beside him, observed the stone houses and the ox-drawn carts.
"It is a beautiful city," he commented, his voice soft, but with an accent that betrayed his foreign origin.
Columbus, puffing out his chest, responded with pride: "These cities are hundreds of years old, Apqua. They are the heart of our history."
Apqua nodded, but his gaze swept the streets with an expression Columbus couldn't quite decipher.
"It's surprising. Although, in Dawn City, we build something very basic in months, hopefully, in the future, we can raise cities like this..." the emissary said, pausing before adding subtly: "Perhaps you should review how you manage waste and people's hygiene."
The comment struck Columbus like a cold wind.
He, who had grown accustomed to the daily baths imposed by the Suaza customs, felt ashamed as he recalled European practices. In Castile, bathing was seen as unnecessary, even unhealthy, and the streets of Palos were full of mud and refuse. Incapable of responding, he changed the subject.
"And the Suaza ship? It has not docked."
Apqua smiled slightly. "It will stay at sea for a few days and will return to pick us up. But we need your kingdoms' flags to avoid being attacked."
Columbus understood immediately. A single mistake could trigger a conflict with this powerful kingdom.
"Martín," he called to Martín Alonso Pinzón, who was supervising the disembarkation. "Give the flags of Castile and Aragon to the emissary. Make sure they are protected." Martín nodded, though his furrowed brow revealed his distrust of the foreigners.
After a day of rest in Palos, Columbus organized a retinue toward Barcelona. He wanted to present his discovery with all the pomp it deserved, showing the treasures and Apqua to the nobles. Without, however, his desire to undertake another voyage pressed him, so he quickened his pace, stopping only in key cities.
One month later.
Barcelona welcomed them with an explosion of jubilation. The streets were packed, with citizens waving handkerchiefs and shouting his name. Columbus, his chest swollen with pride, advanced slowly toward the Royal Major Palace, where the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, awaited him.
Apqua walked beside him, his exotic figure attracting curious glances. However, beneath his pride, Columbus felt a shadow of shame. The greatness of his discovery was not that impressive. He had hoped to return with power, but he had only returned as a messenger, and he feared that the monarchs would not understand the magnitude of what he had found.
"Lord Columbus," Apqua said, breaking the silence as they approached the palace, "your people celebrate with fervor. But will they understand what our kingdom means?"
Columbus looked at him, searching for words. "I hope so, Apqua. My task is to convince them that you are allies, not enemies." Internally, he knew that the alliance with the Suaza Kingdom could change the destiny of Europe, but he also feared that his ambition might unleash something he couldn't control.
As the palace doors opened, Columbus took a deep breath, ready to present a new world to his monarchs.
In the Royal Major Palace, Barcelona.
The air in the Royal Major Palace was thick, charged with the aroma of candle wax and the muted murmur of the gathered court. Christopher Columbus, escorted by palace assistants, passed through a stone corridor adorned with tapestries narrating the glories of Castile and Aragon. The assistants, with serious faces and embroidered capes, led him to a separate room, where they handed him noble attire: a doublet of dark blue velvet, impeccable breeches, and a cape with golden trim.
While they tidied him up, adjusting his collar and smoothing out wrinkles, Columbus felt the weight of the occasion. This was not just any audience; it was the moment to present a new world to the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, and with it, the possibility of an alliance that could change history. However, his mind was not only on the monarchs but also on Apqua, the emissary of the Suaza Kingdom, and on how their actions could shape the future.
While Columbus was being prepared, Apqua and the other Suaza representatives were taken to an auxiliary hall. The inspection they were subjected to was exhaustive: gloved hands checked every fold of their light tunics, looking for weapons, poisons, or any suspicious object.
Apqua, with his leather armor and iron plates, endured the scrutiny with a calm that hid his discomfort. The palace assistants, with glances full of distrust toward these foreigners with bronze skin and strange customs, acted with rudeness, their movements abrupt and their words sharp. Columbus was not present, but one of his trusted men, Juan de la Cosa, watched from a corner, trying to mediate.
"Treat them with respect," Juan insisted, his voice tense. "They are emissaries of a powerful kingdom." But the assistants, blinded by prejudice, ignored his pleas. Juan, who had seen the Suaza fleet and its cannons, felt a knot in his stomach; a single misstep could provoke a reaction that Europe was not prepared to face. Or so they thought.
Half an hour later.
Columbus, now dressed with the elegance of a nobleman, met with Apqua in a corridor leading to the Tinell Hall. The light from the stained-glass windows painted the floor with colors, but the atmosphere was tense.
Columbus, turning to show off his attire, smiled and said: "What do you think, Apqua? Do I comply with court etiquette?"
Apqua, in his white tunic and the symbol of the moon over the sun on his chest, looked at him with a neutral expression.
"It is adequate, Lord Columbus," he replied, his tone polite but distant. "It reflects the greatness of your people."
Columbus noticed the coldness in his voice, and before he could ask, Juan de la Cosa approached and whispered in his ear: "They treated them rudely, Christopher. They searched them as if they were thieves. They are not happy." A shiver ran down Columbus's spine. He knew that Apqua's mood could influence the decisions of Chuta, the young leader of the Suaza Kingdom, whose mind was as sharp as a sword.
"Apqua," he said, bowing slightly, "I apologize for any lack of courtesy. It is the customs of the court; they do not reflect my will. And surely not the monarchs' either."
Apqua inclined his head, his face impassive. "No problem, Lord Columbus. I understand." His tone remained neutral, and Columbus didn't know whether to worry or take his words at face value. Before he could inquire further, the herald of the Tinell Hall announced their entry with a resounding shout.
The doors opened, and Columbus advanced with pomp, his cape waving behind him. Apqua followed, his stride firm and his gaze sweeping over the gathered nobles, evaluating them with a calm that contrasted with the ostentation of the court.
The Tinell Hall was a spectacle of grandeur: Gothic columns, gleaming tapestries, and an elevated throne where Isabella and Ferdinand awaited. Columbus knelt before them, his heart beating with a mix of pride and nervousness. Apqua, a step back, imitated his gesture, though with a stiffness that suggested he was not accustomed to such formalities.
Isabella, in her crimson dress and a crown that gleamed under the light, rose, her clear voice resounding in the hall. "Don Cristóbal Colón, you have returned with news of a new world. Share your discoveries with us."
Columbus stood up, signaling to an assistant to bring the objects covered with fine cloths. With a theatrical gesture, he lifted the first cloth, revealing an Aztec jewel sent by Chuta as a gift. The gold gleamed, engraved with intricate shapes that drew gasps from the court.
"A present from the lands beyond the ocean for Your Majesties," Columbus announced, watching as the nobles leaned in for a better look.
Then he uncovered a tropical fruit, still fresh thanks to Suaza preservation techniques, and the murmur grew. Finally, he lifted the cloth from a bronze cage that held an exotic bird, its green and red feathers shining like a rainbow. The nobles approached, fascinated, while Ferdinand and Isabella descended from the throne to inspect the objects up close, their faces full of curiosity.
Solemnly, Isabella spoke: "Don Cristóbal, for your bravery, we confer upon you all the promised titles: Admiral of the Ocean Sea, Governor... and Viceroy of the discovered territories."
The court applauded, but Columbus felt a pang of discomfort.
When Isabella noticed his expression, she raised an eyebrow. "What troubles you, Admiral?"
He bowed his head, thanking her first.
"Your Majesties, I am honored. But I cannot accept the title of Viceroy. The lands I found are not virgin; they are inhabited by a powerful kingdom, the Suaza Kingdom."
Murmurs filled the hall. Ferdinand frowned, while Isabella looked at him with disbelief.
"A kingdom?" she asked. "Why did you not seek unoccupied lands for a settlement?"
Columbus took a deep breath, handing a sealed letter to the royal guard.
"This letter, written by the scribe, Rodrigo de Escobedo, from Dawn City, details my encounter." The guard checked the letter for dangers before passing it to Ferdinand, who opened it carefully.
As the king read, Columbus continued: "The Suaza Kingdom is powerful, with cities, fleets, and a wisdom that rivals our own... Allow me to present their emissary, Apqua."
Apqua stepped forward, bowing with a learned grace.
"Your Majesties," he said in clear Spanish, though with a slight accent, "the Suaza Kingdom greets the Catholic Monarchs and seeks peace." The court fell silent, the nobles observing the foreigner with a mix of astonishment and caution.
Columbus, by his side, felt the weight of history turning at that moment, knowing that the alliance he proposed could redefine the world... or destroy it if not handled with care.
In the Tinell Hall, Royal Major Palace.
The hall with its high Gothic columns and tapestries narrating the conquests of Castile, vibrated with an expectant silence. The light from the stained-glass windows projected colored mosaics onto the stone floor, while Christopher Columbus, dressed in a blue velvet doublet, felt the weight of the court's gazes.
Before him, the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, occupied their elevated thrones, their faces serious but lit by a curiosity they could not hide. By his side, Apqua, the emissary of the Suaza Kingdom, stood erect, his white clothing with the symbol of the moon over the sun contrasting with the ostentatious garments of the nobles.
Columbus noticed that the monarchs had barely registered Apqua's presence at the beginning, captivated by the exotic gifts: a gleaming jewel from the kingdom, a tropical fruit still fresh, and a bird with iridescent feathers in a bronze cage.
But now, everyone's attention was on the foreigner, whose bronzed skin and clothes of unknown designs defied everything Europe knew, even the styles of the distant Ottoman Empire.
Isabella, with her crown gleaming under the light, broke the silence. "Lord Apqua, we appreciate your presence and the generosity of your people." Her voice was clear, but laden with caution. Ferdinand, by her side, nodded, his eyes evaluating the emissary with a mix of fascination and distrust.
Apqua inclined his head, his Spanish fluid, but with an accent that recalled his origin. "Your Majesties, it is an honor. The Young Chuta, our guide, sends these gifts as a token of our will to be partners, not rivals." His tone was serene, but firm, and Columbus felt a shiver; Apqua's ability to navigate the etiquette of a foreign court was another testament to the power of the Suaza Kingdom.
Columbus seized the moment to speak. "Your Majesties, these gifts are but a show of friendship from the Suaza Kingdom. Their leader, the Young Chuta, possesses a vision that unites diverse peoples. His goal is peace and trade. In general, they are a peaceful kingdom, but one that has the strength to defend itself."
He paused, measuring his words, then continued: "When we met on the high seas, their ships surrounded us with a precision I had never seen. Their cannons, more numerous and larger than ours, could have sunk our fleet before we fired a single shot."
The hall erupted in murmurs. The nobles, with their embroidered capes and ceremonial swords, exchanged glances of disbelief. Then, a robust man, with a face weathered by years of campaigns, stood up. Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the Great Captain, spoke with a thunderous voice.
"Admiral Columbus, how is it possible that you did not take action against these Indians! Are you not a navigator of Castile? You should have claimed those lands in the name of Your Majesties."
Columbus felt a pang of guilt, but he stood firm.
"Captain Gonzalo, I did not face simple savages," Columbus said with poorly disguised anger. "Their ships were superior in number and power. One of them, larger than my Santa María, maneuvered with a speed our caravels could not equal. Another, lighter, could have left us behind effortlessly. Their artillery does not depend on boarding, as ours does, but on cannons that could reduce a fleet to splinters."
Gonzalo frowned, unconvinced. "Our armada is the glory of Europe. No pagan kingdom can match it!"
Before Columbus could reply, Ferdinand raised a hand, silencing the captain.
"The letter from your scribe, Rodrigo de Escobedo, corroborates your words, Columbus," he said, holding the parchment. He turned to Apqua, who had listened in silence, his face impassive. "Is there anything else your leader has sent, Lord Apqua?"
Apqua nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. We have brought seeds of crops that thrive in cold lands, capable of alleviating hunger in difficult environments. They are a gift for your people, if you wish to accept them."
The hall buzzed with new murmurs. The nobles discussed the opportunities: more productive lands, trade with an unknown kingdom, but also the dangers of trusting such advanced foreigners.
Isabella, with a thoughtful look, dismissed Apqua.
"You will be treated as an honored guest, Lord Apqua. You will have our answer soon." Apqua bowed, his farewell formal but laden with intent. "Our ships will arrive at Ribeira Grande, as the Portuguese call it. We hope to build bridges, not walls." With that, he left the hall, leaving a heavy silence.
The monarchs turned to Columbus, their questions sharp.
"Tell us about their ships," Ferdinand demanded. "How dangerous are they? What is this kingdom's attitude toward us?"
Columbus responded in detail, describing the golden and silver sails, the cannons that surpassed the Europeans in number and power, and Chuta's calculated hospitality, which mixed generosity with military deterrence.
"They do not seek war, but they are prepared for it," he explained. "Their city, Dawn City, was built in months, something that our cities take years to achieve. Their hygiene and organization surpass ours."
Gonzalo intervened again, his voice filled with frustration.
"If they are so powerful, we could use their strength to conquer North Africa." Another captain added: "Or to reinforce our position against France in Rome."
Isabella raised a hand, silencing the voices.
"We will trade with caution," she decreed. "Gonzalo, you will travel to the islands under the Portuguese crown to verify this information. Don Cristóbal, you will be our foreign emissary, consul of the Catholic Monarchs to this Suaza Kingdom." She paused, her gaze shrewd. "But we want this trade, if it is beneficial, to be exclusive to Castile and Aragon."
Columbus bowed his head but intervened cautiously.
"Your Majesties, the Kingdom of Portugal already knows the Suaza," Columbus commented, remembering his walk-in front of Lisbon. "Soon, all of Europe will know."
The monarchs exchanged a glance, aware that the world they knew was about to change. Columbus, with a heart divided between pride and uncertainty, knew that his role as a bridge between two worlds had only just begun.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
It took me a while, but it's because the chapter is so long and I had to make some revisions.
Columbus has a meeting with the monarchs, and Apqua, a new character who won't appear much, at least for now, begins "friendly" conversations with the Catholic kingdoms.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: Columbus took almost a month to travel from the port of Palos de la Frontera to the palace of the monarchs, all to spread the news of his triumphant and astonishing return. This time, it only took a little while.
By the way, there's a map in the comments; it shows the North African kingdoms in 1492.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 82)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis. (Chapter 29)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 9) (PAUSED)
You can find them on my profile.]