At the home of Luis de Santángel, December 25th, 1492.
The dining room of Luis's house in Barcelona was imbued with the warm aroma of baked bread, beef, and spiced wine, a welcoming refuge from the tension of the royal audiences. Christopher Columbus, seated across from Luis, felt the candlelight dancing on the stone walls, casting shadows that seemed to reflect the ambitions and fears consuming him.
The meeting with the Catholic Monarchs had been a whirlwind of questions and skepticism, but here, with Luis, he could speak candidly. Their alliance was clear: Columbus longed to explore further west, still dreaming of the East Indies, while Luis, with his merchant's mind, saw the Suaza Kingdom as a source of wealth and knowledge. The conversation flowed easily, but Columbus felt the weight of what was at stake: a bridge between worlds that could raise him to glory or sink him into oblivion.
Luis, leaning back in his chair, took a sip of wine and smiled.
"Columbus, let us set aside the court's tensions and the subjects of the Inquisition... Tell me, what goods could we trade with this Suaza Kingdom? What riches do they bring?"
Columbus delved into his memories of Dawn City, the bustle of its markets, the vibrant colors of its textiles.
"There are jewels of gold and emeralds, precious stones that gleam with a purity unlike any seen in Europe. Exotic crops, like the ones I brought back, that grow in arid lands. Fine fabrics, dyes that do not fade in the sun…" He paused, his face lighting up with an almost childlike enthusiasm. "But, Luis, what impressed me the most was the food. Dishes so rich that palace banquets pale in comparison."
Luis raised an eyebrow, his smile turning skeptical. "The food? Are you not exaggerating, Columbus?"
Columbus felt a blush rise to his cheeks, but his voice was firm. "I do not exaggerate. It was the best I have ever eaten. Flavors that awaken the soul, fruits that retain their freshness for weeks. It is not just sustenance; it is... art."
Luis laughed, but his curiosity did not wane. "And their trade? Do they use coins?"
Columbus reached into his pouch and pulled out three coins, placing them on the table with a clink. One of gold, with a sun on one side and a moon on the other; one of silver, with a mountain and waves; and one of bronze, with a corn plant and a pickaxe.
"These are their coins," he said, watching as Luis took them, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Luis turned the gold coin in the light, examining it carefully. Then, with a small knife, he scraped the edge, checking its purity.
"It is purer than our own," he murmured, impressed. "The minting technique is flawless. This is not the work of savages."
Columbus nodded, his mind wandering to the Suaza ships, their cannons, and Chuta's wisdom. "They are not, Luis. They are a people who seem to be on par with us, but of whom we still know so little."
Three weeks later, January 14th, 1493.
The port of Palos de la Frontera was a hive of activity. The air smelled of salt and dried fish, and gulls screeched over the masts of the anchored ships. Columbus, accompanied by Apqua and Hernando de Talavera, disembarked with a mixture of relief and anticipation.
Luis de Santángel awaited them on the dock, his elegant figure standing out among the sailors and merchants.
"Columbus! Apqua, Señor Talavera!" he exclaimed, shaking their hands. "Come, I have rented a mansion to discuss the next steps."
The mansion, a stone structure overlooking the port, was filled with the scent of polished wood and dried herbs. In a torch-lit hall, the four men sat around a table covered with maps and scrolls. Apqua, with his white tunic and the symbol of the moon over the sun, seemed thinner, his face reflecting his distaste for Spanish food. Columbus noticed but remained silent, knowing that the Suaza customs clashed with those of Europe.
Luis spoke, his voice vibrant.
"After your expedition, Columbus, the Pinzón brothers and the sailors organized a market here. The Suaza foods—fruits, spices, breads—sold at astronomical prices. The nobles are clamoring for more, and the poor are scavenging for crumbs. It has generated unprecedented anticipation."
Columbus was not surprised; he had tasted those flavors. Apqua, with a slight nod, said: "It is great news that they like our food, but I do not understand why you would raise the prices."
"It is only out of curiosity, Apqua. On the other hand…" Luis continued, addressing Apqua. "I informed the captain of your ship about the Catholic Monarchs' preliminary decision. He replied that more trade ships will soon arrive at this port with goods."
Apqua nodded. "Young Chuta has arranged it so. We are ready to share."
Then, Luis released a piece of news that made Columbus raise his eyebrows. "The Portuguese crown agreed to sell an island in the Cape Verde archipelago to the Suaza Kingdom for a fortune in gold. They are already building a town there."
Columbus exchanged a glance with Talavera, his expression saying, 'I told you so'. He had seen the speed with which the Suaza had built Dawn City; an island was no challenge for them.
But Luis, his brow furrowed, added: "What concerns me is not the island, but that Portugal is already involved. They will want a share of the trade, Columbus."
Columbus felt a knot in his stomach. Portugal, with its armada and ambition, could complicate the exclusivity that the Catholic Monarchs sought. Apqua, in silence, watched with eyes that seemed to read every nuance of the conversation. Columbus knew the envoy would report everything to Chuta, and the idea of a diplomatic game between European and Suaza kingdoms filled him with intrigue.
"We must act quickly," he said, his voice low but firm. "If Portugal gets ahead, we will lose the advantage."
Luis nodded, drumming his fingers on the table. "We will work together, Columbus. But we must be cautious. Torquemada is already muttering about heresies. He is still watching Granada from a distance and may not pay attention to this deal, but if the capitulation of Granada curbs his thirst for conversion, he may unload his anger on the Suaza… We cannot allow the Inquisition to hinder this."
Columbus felt a chill at the thought of the Grand Inquisitor. The alliance with the Suaza was an opportunity, but also a minefield. As the light of dusk filtered through the windows, painting the hall in orange tones, Columbus knew that his dream of exploring the west depended on navigating not just seas, but the intrigues of two worlds that were just beginning to understand each other.
One week later, January 21st, 1493.
The port of Palos de la Frontera buzzed with the hustle of sailors unloading goods and the screeching of gulls hovering over the masts. Christopher Columbus, standing on the dock, felt the salty air cling to his skin, mixed with the scent of dried fish and damp wood. At his side, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, the Great Captain, observed a fleet of anchored Suaza ships with a frown.
They were Tequendama-class, according to Apqua, with their elegant hulls and golden and silver sails marked with the moon over the sun. They carried goods from Isla Vínculo, now the property of the Suaza Kingdom, and their presence was an imposing reminder of the reality that Columbus had tried to convey to the court.
Gonzalo, who weeks earlier had doubted his accounts, had traveled to Palos to verify the truth with his own eyes. Now, his face reflected a mixture of dismay and admiration.
"They are unlike anything we know," Gonzalo murmured, his voice grave as he studied a Tequendama. "They seem to be from historical records, but finer, more resilient… and those cannons."
Columbus nodded, remembering his first encounter with a Suaza ship, faster than any European vessel and armed with artillery that could reduce his fleet to splinters. Gonzalo pointed to the ship, which remained at a distance in the open sea, on guard.
"When we informed their captain about the Crown's preliminary decision, he thanked us and sailed away as if the wind itself carried him. I have never seen anything like it."
Columbus felt a knot in his stomach. The speed and power of the Suaza ships not only impressed him, but filled him with a caution he could not ignore.
"What will you do now, Señor Gonzalo?" Columbus asked, turning to the captain.
Gonzalo crossed his arms, his ceremonial armor clinking. "I will stay for the initial conversations, Columbus. But my place is in Naples, fighting for control. The seas are not my field… Someone else will replace me, though I do not know who. Besides, the Portuguese are here, and I do not want to deal with their intrigues for long."
Columbus raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A change of heart? I thought you wanted to confront the Suaza."
Gonzalo let out a bitter laugh. "I am a man of land and swords, not of ships and cannons. This kingdom… is a challenge I do not understand."
His candor surprised Columbus, but it also gave him a glimpse of hope; perhaps the Crown would send someone more diplomatic.
The next day, January 22nd, 1493.
In the mansion Luis de Santángel had rented, the air smelled of polished wood and burnt herbs, an echo of the Suaza customs that Apqua had brought with him. Columbus, Gonzalo, and Luis met with two Portuguese men: Juan Cortizos, a merchant with a shrewd gaze, and Friar Juan Álvares, a cleric with a severe face.
The greetings were formal, but tense, with translators used more out of pride than necessity.
Gonzalo, with his direct tone, opened the conversation. "Gentlemen, what are your intentions with these Suaza, your new 'allies'?"
Cortizos, adjusting his embroidered cape, responded calmly. "Purely commercial. We sold an island with no Portuguese settlements, and we will soon go to negotiate directly with them at Isla Vínculo."
Columbus and Luis exchanged a worried glance. Portugal had already made a move, and the exclusivity that the Spanish Crown sought was in jeopardy. Gonzalo, with a mind for land strategies, intervened. "The Spanish Crown financed the expedition that discovered the Suaza… Our alliance gives us preference."
Cortizos and Álvares laughed discreetly.
"By purchasing the island, the Suaza have drawn closer to us," said Cortizos. "They are already selling products to the Kingdom of Portugal."
Luis frowned; the information was just as he had expected. They were already trading with Portugal and would surely become very greedy for their commerce.
"We could travel to Isla Vínculo together and negotiate as allies," Luis offered, looking at the Portuguese envoys.
Cortizos nodded, though his eyes dripped with caution. "We accept, but Portugal will not withdraw from commerce with this kingdom."
Columbus felt the tension in the air, like a rope about to snap. The Suaza, with their cunning, were weaving a web that pitted Spain and Portugal against each other.
Two weeks later, February 6th, 1493.
Four ships—two Spanish and two Portuguese—docked at the port of Isla Vínculo. The dock, built with a solidity that impressed Columbus, was a testament to the Suaza's capability. The port workers, in light tunics and with precise gestures, guided the ships with an efficiency that contrasted with the chaos of Palos. Upon disembarking, Columbus noticed the firmness of the ground beneath his feet, a work that surpassed European ports.
A man greeted them, dressed in fine white linen clothes, adorned with emerald and gold jewelry that reflected a different culture. To everyone's surprise, he spoke in clear Spanish.
"Welcome to Isla Vínculo. I am Chewa, in charge of trade and politics for the Suaza Kingdom. I hope that our kingdoms will be friends."
Columbus, flanked by Luis and Gonzalo, felt a mix of relief and caution. Chewa, with his serene demeanor and eyes that seemed to read every intention, was a formidable adversary in diplomacy.
"Señor Chewa," Columbus said respectfully, "it is an honor. We bring the will of the Catholic Monarchs to forge ties."
Chewa smiled, inviting them into a mansion of stone and wood, its walls decorated with maps and Suaza symbols.
"Please, come in. Young Chuta wishes for these lands to be a bridge, not a battlefield."
His words were kind, but Columbus detected a subtle warning. As they walked, he observed the nascent town: houses lined up, a bustling market, and a port that already housed more Tequendama. The speed with which the Suaza had transformed the island took his breath away, confirming his accounts to the court.
In the mansion, seated around a table with exotic fruits and corn wine, the conversation began. Luis, with his commercial shrewdness, took the floor. "Señor Chewa, the Suaza goods have caused a sensation in Palos. What more can you offer?"
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Second part, which continues the previous chapter.
I won't say much more. I'll just add that there are records of Spain's internal politics, but they aren't reliable or there are many versions. For example, why would Gonzalo attend a meeting if there are people more closely related to the meeting, or perhaps even more important.
Well, actually, almost all the characters are real, part of Spanish history. So, obviously, I'll try to include them.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: Capitulations were the only way for a person to explore new lands. With this contract, the crown obtained the real power of the territory, while the envoys or explorers only received titles based on the success of their explorations.
P.S.: I've changed some of the dates in the time jumps because they were quite incorrect.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future. (Chapter 83)
#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.]