Year 11 of the SuaChie Calendar, Sixth Month. Dawn City, Stone Manor.
A week after the tense meeting with the two friars, the pressure had eased slightly. Hernando de Talavera, the Spaniard, remained a constant and vehement presence, like a hawk that accepts no "no" for an answer.
However, something pleasantly surprised me: Friar Thomas Wolsey, the Englishman, had demonstrated a genuine curiosity. He had set aside insistence to attempt to understand the Kingdom's religion from an external and analytical perspective.
This allowed me to receive a detailed report from Tachiua, the Bishop of Dawn City, with whom Thomas had conversed at length.
"The religion of these Europeans, Young Leader, is an admirable structure," Tachiua reported to me, with that reflective calm that distinguishes him. "It is founded upon rigorous moral norms and values. It is not a faith of complex ritual, as some of ours are, but of strict rules that govern everything from their marriages to their commerce. Their scriptures, which they call the Bible, are a remarkable attempt to record the origins of the world and the creation of all that is known."
I already knew all of this. Both I and many other important members of the Kingdom's religion already had access to copies of the Bible that had reached us indirectly through Apqua and the Shadows. But I was impressed by the speed with which our own Priests and Bishops, led by Tachiua, had managed to understand and synthesize such an alien faith in so little time.
"But we found discrepancies," Tachiua continued, thoughtfully furrowing his brow. "Certain events in their origin story and some narratives are, from our perspective, illogical or incongruous with the reality we know. Friar Thomas attributes them to 'manifestations of the Catholic God,' which leaves even more questions unanswered. It is the classic response of faith to the inexplicable."
The most interesting observation came next. Tachiua is an acute observer of human nature.
"What surprises me the most, Young Leader, is the hypocrisy. When contrasting what we have learned of European society—through the reports of Chewa, the men of Zasaba, and the information gleaned from their own books and records—with what is written in their Bible, the behavior of their important personages; kings, nobles, priests, and merchants, is a blatant contradiction."
I nodded. The message was one of charity and care, but the reality was one of constant exploitation and war.
"We spoke of it," Tachiua said. "The messages their God sent them many years ago demand they look after their own people, but in truth, it is what they do the least. They seem to live at the margins of their own moral precepts."
Nevertheless, Tachiua offered a balance. "I must say that, while they are ignored divine messages, they strike me as very good messages, and among the clearest we have recorded from the known religions in the Great Quyca. Except, perhaps, for our Kingdom's spiritualist religions, which manifest almost direct and incredible connections with our ancestors and protective spirits. There is no need for a book there, only for faith and experience."
Finally, Tachiua mentioned the warning. "Friar Thomas attempted to understand the plurality of religions in our Kingdom and was courteous in his exposition, yet he was not convinced. He still maintains his strong beliefs and occasionally comments on their greatness, and indirectly disqualifies the Kingdom's religion, though he does so with subtlety."
Tachiua's insight was a gift. Now we not only knew the creed but also the moral weakness of its leaders, and we knew that Thomas was a diplomat, not a blind fanatic, unlike Hernando.
Four months later, 10th Month of the 11th Year of the SuaChie Calendar.
Almost a year after Columbus's first arrival in the Great Quyca, the navigator once again set foot in Dawn City. This time, without the initial discomfort, and without the need for a naval escort. There was an air of familiarity and purpose in his return.
I accepted his request for a meeting immediately. We met in one of the more austere meeting rooms in the Stone Manor.
Columbus, with his European customs, greeted me with an elaborate courtesy that included a deep bow.
"Welcome, Admiral," I said, with a slight smile, speaking in fluent and clear Castilian. "But I ask you to be less formal. Time has passed, and we are now... old acquaintances."
"Young Leader, your grace and benevolence honor me," Columbus replied, attempting to use a few words in the Chibcha language that he vaguely remembered.
"Do not trouble yourself, Admiral," I gently cut him off. "I have had free time. I have learned your Castilian, and also Portuguese and English, to facilitate communication with the European envoys."
Surprise crossed his face, an instant recognition of my intellectual power. Then, I got straight to the point.
"Admiral Columbus, the greetings are sufficient. What is the true reason for your urgent visit?"
Columbus straightened up, formality returning to his bearing.
"I have come with a request for permissions, Young Leader... Permissions for exploration along the coasts of your vast territory. Our objective is clear: to find a route, a passage, to the other side of the continent. We wish to sail towards the Indies by the West, and the Earth, as we know, must yield a way."
My eyes narrowed.
The key question had been launched. I was surprised he knew so much. If he had only touched the islands.
How had he deduced the existence of the Sunset Ocean?
"How do you know so much about what exists beyond these coasts?" I inquired directly, my tone authoritative. "As I understand it, you and the other envoys have only visited the islands or, at most, Great River City."
Columbus leaned in, his voice dropping to a diplomatic tone that sounded practiced.
"I conferred with Rodrigo de Escobedo, Young Leader. The scribe who remained in your city during the first exploration. He informed me... Rodrigo was taken to your Chancellor Chesua's Great River City to continue his 'studies' of Suaza culture. He studied in your school, and there he learned something astonishing: that the Suaza Kingdom knows of another ocean to the west."
Escobedo! My mind internally groaned. I had completely forgotten about him. I had been so meticulous in controlling Columbus and the official envoys that I underestimated the curiosity of a simple scribe immersed in our culture. The irony was painful: the best Suaza weapon, education, had been the source of the information leak.
"Although it is not truly considered a leak, as this knowledge is of free access," I thought, trying to lessen the guilt I felt for the oversight.
"Your information is correct, Admiral," I confirmed, earning a look of immense hope. "We know the other ocean. It is real, it is vast, and it is rough."
The hope in his eyes shone like a lighthouse.
"Then, is there a passage? A strait?"
I slowly shook my head, maintaining control of my expression.
"The ocean exists. But there is no access from one side to the other except by land, Admiral... It is an immense wall. The main rivers open to our sea in the East, but they do not connect with the West. The mountains and the immense land interpose themselves."
Columbus's face shifted from hope to frustration with the speed of a sailboat struck by a sudden gust of wind.
This is better than I could have planned, I thought.
My lie, though demoralizing for him, might help me slightly curb the attempt at total exploration. By knowing that the Great Ocean exists, they will continue to search, but if I tell them the geography is a wall, my only task is to guide them where I deem convenient.
Furthermore, the real key lay in my own infrastructure. The Suaza settlements we have strategically established along all the important rivers of the east coast, including the Suaza Strait at the southern tip, would become an indirect concealment of the precious passage.
They will look for the strait in the North, in the Center, anywhere but in the icy South where our outposts already control it. Columbus and his cartographers will follow their maps and their hopes, while we secure control of the world's most vital route.
"Admiral," I said, breaking the silence. "I will permit your exploration, but only under Suaza supervision. The Kingdom does not fear ambition, but it fears imprudence. The Great Quyca is not only our kingdom. It is a continent, and the Suaza civilization is not the only one here."
Columbus looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. "What do you mean, Young Leader? Imprudence on our part?"
"Precisely," I replied, my tone now humble and pedagogical, like a professor explaining the immensity of a new map. "There are other cultures on this continent, some as vast and organized as our kingdom. Some of these maintain bonds of friendship with the Suaza Kingdom, though maintaining their independence. There are also others that are great kingdoms and prefer solitude. If you travel without knowledge or without a safe-conduct, your destiny could be perdition or an avoidable conflict."
Here I mixed truth with a little deception, I thought with satisfaction. I sought to magnify the vastness of the Great Quyca, limit the European perception of a single foreign kingdom, and at the same time advance relations that did not yet exist with peoples of the Northern Quyca and the Southern Quyca. The latter would give me the perfect excuse to intervene or assist if necessary, or simply to deny passage to the European vessels under the excuse of the "sovereignty of friendly kingdoms."
Columbus's face, which had gone from hope to disappointment in a matter of minutes, now showed obvious surprise at the revelation of a plurality of continental nations.
"But... if it is such an immense wall, and there are other powerful kingdoms lurking," Columbus asked, his voice almost a whisper, "then is the route to the other ocean impossible?"
I leaned forward, lowering my voice to create an atmosphere of shared secret. "There is another option, Admiral. One that only the deep knowledge of the geography, a knowledge that the gods delivered to us, has allowed us to discover important routes."
The hope in his eyes reignited. His adventurous spirit could not be extinguished by a simple wall of earth.
"Which option, Young Leader? Speak, please."
"While there are extremely extensive sections where the land becomes an impregnable wall, we have found sections where the distance between the oceans is very short, with stretches that can be traveled by ship across great lakes and rivers, and only a short section of land to reach the other side."
Internally, I analyzed the genius of my own proposal. I was going to use the Nicaragua Transit Route, a path that in the future would be used even before the construction of the Panama Canal.
This route, perfect for concealing the existence of the Suaza Strait, began at the mouth of a river on the coast of the Sea of Floating Isles (the future Caribbean Sea), and then led to the Great Lake Coapolcan (Lake Nicaragua). Then, upon reaching the end of the lake, there was only a land route of about twenty kilometers to the Sunset Ocean (Pacific).
Columbus became visibly excited by the news, gently striking the table with a closed fist. "Is it real? Is this... is it true?"
"It is real, Admiral. Completely... The route begins here," I pointed to an approximate spot on the map I had taken from among the room's documents. "We have found this route and are already working to improve it. We are making modifications at the river mouth so that medium-draft vessels can enter without a problem. The navigation time across the river and the lake is estimated at one day, perhaps less if it is not heavily trafficked. And the land route is short, barely a few hours by carriage, if we have the conveyances ready."
Relief flooded Columbus's face. At least it was possible to see the other side of the continent without having to circle thousands of kilometers in the freezing south that he so feared. However, his expression turned somber again. I could read his disappointment: seeing the other ocean was not the same as exploring it. Most likely, he believed that if he managed to reach the Pacific coast, there would be no ships available to continue the exploration.
I laughed internally at the man's abrupt mood swings. He felt like a child who is promised a gift only to be given half of it, a scenario he repeated several times.
"Do you think we will not have ships to explore it? Do you think the Suaza Kingdom has no ambition for the Sunset Ocean?" I asked in a playful tone, using the name we internally gave to the Pacific. "I assure you, Admiral, that we have first-generation Tequendama vessels sailing those coasts, awaiting orders to explore the sea."
A visible, radiant, and complete joy appeared on Columbus's face. I had clearly suggested to him that the exploration of the other ocean was possible, but that it was entirely in the hands of the Suaza Kingdom. His state of mind returned to anxiety. The control was not his.
I decided not to play with him anymore. It was time to be a benevolent leader and present the proposal that had formed in my mind during the conversation: to transform an inevitable European infiltration into a Suaza diplomatic expedition in which they would also participate.
"Admiral," I said, my tone turning serious and diplomatic. "The Suaza Kingdom is not selfish. This is a discovery route that we would like to share, not to be controlled by one nation, but so that a new era of exploration may begin. Allow me to propose an alliance."
Columbus listened with bated breath.
"It would be of great pleasure for the Suaza Kingdom to make this a friendly and cooperative exploration with the friendly kingdoms of Europe. Your Spain, Portugal, and also England. The Kingdom receives you with open arms. We will provide the route, the ships on the other side, and the knowledge for the transit. Your kingdoms will provide the exploration resources and complementary technology. We wish to develop a friendship where both sides need each other and mutual respect exists."
Columbus jumped up, forgetting all formality.
"That is a brilliant idea, Young Leader! An incredible vision for the future!" he exclaimed, ecstatic with emotion. "I will personally take charge of convincing Spain to participate. We will contribute resources, cartographers, and competent men for the expedition. And if necessary, I myself will attempt to finance a part of the enterprise."
I was pleased that everything was turning out so well. Naturally, everything was aligning to benefit the Kingdom. It was a momentary peace, I knew, but we gained time, resources, and, above all, legitimacy.
"I am glad for your enthusiasm, Admiral," I said as I stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. "Thanks to your initial cooperation, we have been able to establish friendly relations with previously unknown kingdoms. The Suaza Kingdom honors friendship and service. Therefore, the Kingdom will give you several compensations for your valuable collaboration."
Columbus looked at me with an expression of astonishment and expectation.
"First, you may choose between a significant sum of gold and jewels from the Suaza Treasury, or a first-generation Tequendama vessel, though the latter could only be delivered in a couple of years, when the shipyards can meet the demand. Furthermore, exploration permits in the Kingdom's name, which would grant you unique diplomatic protection on this continent... And finally, I offer you the opportunity to become a Citizen of the Suaza Kingdom, which includes the acquisition of land in the Great Quyca."
Columbus was visibly surprised by the volume of the gift and the proposals. The ship or the gold were attractive, and the exploration permits under Suaza protection were a true treasure for an explorer. Although he did not seem to have much desire for the citizenship—his loyalty to the Crown of Castile was deep—the offer placed him in a situation desired by two kingdoms.
"Think carefully, Admiral. Tomorrow we will continue with the planning. Have a good rest."
One month later, 11th Month of the 11th Year of the SuaChie Calendar.
The echo of the negotiation with Columbus had already dissipated. Great decisions are not celebrated with feasts, but with the solitary reading of reports in a quiet study.
I was reading a direct report from Menasuca, our agent and friend in Texcoco. My mind was no longer on the ocean, but on the high and restless plateau of the Northern Quyca.
The report mentioned how the Tlaxcaltecas had achieved a crucial political movement: one of the lesser lordships to the east of their territory, traditionally within the orbit of the Mexicas, had joined their federation against the control of the Triple Alliance. With the inclusion of this lordship, Tlaxcalteca territory now had direct access to the sea, which was a huge strategic victory. At the same time, this had allowed for growing and direct commerce with the Suaza Kingdom, which was already being noticed in the commercial volume of the islands.
"Menasuca considers it a 'victory,'" I thought. "And it is. Access to the sea gives them power and gives us a secure entry point to the heart of the conflict these cultures are experiencing."
However, the report ended with a note of warning. While the idea of the Tlaxcaltecas joining the Suaza Kingdom had taken a backseat due to this local victory, the Mexicas had not remained idle.
"The serpent is reacting," I murmured.
Menasuca's report concluded that the Mexicas, using their own diplomacy based on coercion and religion, and even some economic benefits, had made their own move, uniting several extra lordships to the territory of their alliance. It was a subtle counter-strike, securing their borders and their control over the tributes.
The war of kingdoms on the continent, a political game of chess, was intensifying. My plan for a cooperative European exploration seemed a trivial distraction compared to the urgency of securing peace or, if that was not possible, securing the Kingdom's presence in the Northern Quyca.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone
New chapter! Before we talk about it, I want to let you know, since I don't think I already did, that I uploaded a supplementary chapter last week summarizing the events of the novel.
This is much easier to understand for those who have been reading it for a while and also avoids spoilers for new readers.
In this chapter, we begin the large time jumps. This isn't because there aren't important events, but because they are secondary compared to what will happen in the future, or because they can be explained from Chuta's perspective.
At the same time, I've already created a solid enough foundation to move the story forward without plot holes seriously affecting future events. I've already developed subplots, historical facts, and the foundation of the kingdom.
UFD: Aside from the route mentioned in the chapter and several sections of Panama, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico was historically considered a potential route for crossing from one ocean to another. The land distance between the Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic) and the Pacific Ocean is approximately 200 kilometers at its narrowest point, making it the second narrowest isthmus in the Americas.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 89)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 33) (INTERMITTENT)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 13) (INTERMITTENT)
You can find them on my profile.]