La Espada Negra
by Jim Guy
Episode
#311
Part One of Six
Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions and Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended or revenue expected from their use, The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, James Guy.
Beta'd by Shirley and Paula. Gracias Amigas.
Nautical terms used in this story:
Ship's Captain – Does this really need to be explained?
Ship's Master – Normally, this is the person in charge of a merchant ship. For the purposes of this story, the Captain and Ship's Master share responsibility of the ship with the Captain having the last word.
Bosun – Petty Officer in charge of the deck crew, rigging, etc
First Mate – Normally second in command
Gunner – In charge of the gun crew
Jib – A triangular sail bent to a foremast stay
Forecastle (Focs'l) – The section of the upper deck of a ship located at the bow forward of the foremast
Quarterdeck – The deck aft of amidship
Fore stay sail –The sail in the front of the ship
Flying jib – see Jib
Bowsprit – A large spar that projects forward from the forward end of a sailing ship; used to carry sails and support the masts.
Prologue
CRACK! BOOM!
The lightning and thunder rolled through Santa Elena, shaking the adobe buildings as the sheets of rain poured down.
A few miles away, Señorita Maria Teresa Alvarado and her duenna Marta secured the windows in the hacienda. Tessa wrapped her chal (shawl) around her shoulders as Marta lit a fire in the fireplace in the main room. The brilliant flames and heat gently warmed the room.
Tessa walked over to the credenza and pulled out a bottle of cognac, poured the liquid into two glasses and handed one to her trusted friend.
"The fire will warm the house, but I think we need to warm ourselves," said the young Doña as she sipped her drink.
"Tonight is no fit night for man or beast," replied Marta as she sat down on the sofá.
"Or Queens," replied Tessa with a smile.
As the evening wore on, the two women sat and concentrated on their work. Tessa was deftly applying her needle to the canvas as her needlepoint showed the majesty of the distant snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain range to the East. Marta crocheted a blue-dyed wool shawl for the winter.
The slow-moving thunder and lightning moved north throughout the night as the wind whipped the waters of El Océano Pacífico.
CRACK! BOOM!
"Marta, if I didn't know better I would swear Mary Rose was blasting away with her cannon."
"Tessa, just because Mary Rose has saved the Pueblo from several pirate ships is no reason to think of her during a thunderstorm," replied Marta. "How is your needlepoint coming?"
"Very well, actually. I am trying to capture the beauty of Alta California. See?" asked Tessa as she showed the picture to Marta.
"Oh yes, very good," replied Marta. Her needlepoint is as good as her cooking, chuckled Marta to herself.
Putting her needlepoint down, Tessa stood up. "Bastante (enough). I am going to bed," she said, disgusted. "I can't concentrate. Maybe the rain will put me to sleep." She yawned.
Marta put her work aside. "Sounds like a good idea. Yo tengo mucho sueño. (I am very sleepy)."
"Buenos Noches, Marta," said Tessa as she went down the hallway to her room, closed the door behind her and began to undress. She slipped the blouse over her head and slid the skirt and enaguas (underskirt) to the floor. Stepping out of her clothes she picked up and slipped the camisón (nightgown) over her head.
Leaving the clothes in the middle of the floor, she blew out the candle. In the almost pitch-black room she climbed into bed and pulled the manta over her head and quickly drifted into sleep.
Act One
The lightning flashed in the sky as a swell caught the ship in a massive wave. A scream brought the Captain's attention from the Quarterdeck to the writhing form on the Forecastle Deck.
"First Mate, I ordered that no one was to be aloft in this storm."
"Aye, Captain," replied the First Mate. "The Fore Topsail jammed and needed to be released."
"So, now we have lost a member of the crew," replied the Captain.
"Captain Milan," called the Bosun. "We haven't lost a crewmember yet, but we could use a doctor."
"Ship's Master, where are we?" asked Captain Milan.
"We are close to Santa Elena, Captain. Maybe we can find a doctor there."
The Captain left the Quarterdeck and walked across the shifting Main Deck as another wave launched itself across the tiny ship.
"Santa Elena. Santa Elena. Ah yes, the home of the Infamous Colonel Montoya. Well, we will have to lay anchor north of there and go in at night."
"Why?" asked the Bosun. "We haven't raided there before. Hell, we have been together for how many years and we still haven't raided anyone but pirates."
"Bosun, we are buccaneers not pirates," replied Margie. "How many times have I told you to watch your mouth? Just because we are sailors does not mean we have to talk like them."
"I am sorry, Captain."
"It's all right. But this Montoya has a reputation of dealing with pirates. He has defeated several pirate ships, including Ernesto. Besides, I do not wish to accidentally cross swords with Mary Rose. I have heard the Falcon is anchored near there."
"Mary Rose is only one woman."
"A very dangerous one. She makes Anne Bonny and Mary Read look like school girls," replied the Captain.
"You aren't afraid of her are you?" asked the Ship's Master.
"No. She and I traded blade strokes once upon a time, until I saved her life. Then, we became friends. She retired, but I know she will defend Santa Elena."
"How did you meet her?"
"I was on a ship with my husband a few years ago when we were attacked by pirates. I was grabbed and was being carried off by a pirate. Our ship was on fire and the crew was being overwhelmed when another ship approached and attacked the pirate ship. That ship was the Falcon. Mary Rose and her crew beat back the pirates. When Mary Rose boarded, the pirate put me down and went after Mary Rose. I saw a cutlass on the deck and picked it up. I swung and caught the pirate across the back. Mary Rose turned in time to see me attack and she finished the job. She led me to her ship and afterwards took me home. My husband had been killed during the attack."
"Why were you on that ship to begin with?"
"My husband was a former naval officer and became a Captain of a merchant ship. We were sailing from Virginia to England when we were attacked. After I went home, I sailed with my brother-in-law and learned the ways of a ship captain. Guess it is a good thing I did, huh?"
"It is fortunate for all of us that you did," replied the Bosun.
"I guess it is, Angelica. For now, let us batten down the hatches and secure for foul weather running."
"Aye, Captain," replied the Bosun.
A few hours later, La Espada Negra dropped anchor in a cove north of Santa Elena. Several dark-clothed individuals slipped over the side, dropped into a longboat and rowed to shore. Six persons left and one cast off and rowed back to the ship.
Two hours later, the pirates found the Alvarado hacienda and pounded on the door.
"Who the hell is pounding on the door at this hour?' asked Tessa and she and Marta walked from the bedrooms to the front door.
Marta opened the door while Tessa held the candlestick in one hand and a dagger in the other.
Marta was startled to find five masked individuals wearing black clothing, red sashes and armed with cutlasses.
"Who are you?" demanded Tessa.
"Señorita, we need the use of five of your horses. One of our shipmates needs a Doctor," said one of the pirates.
"You may borrow them, but I will pick them out," said Tessa as she led them to the corral. "Why are you masked?"
"In our line of work, it is better if we are not identified too readily," replied the leader.
Tessa told them where to find the Doctor.
"Why are you trusting these pirates?" asked Marta.
"They could have stolen them but instead they knocked and asked politely," replied Tessa.
The pirates were soon mounted bareback and rode towards Santa Elena.
"Are you going to follow them?" asked Marta coming up beside her charge.
"I will wait a bit and then follow. I am sure there are going to be some very surprised soldiers and pirates," laughed Tessa.
The strangers rode into Santa Elena from separate directions. One went straight to Helm's office and slipped into the office through the window.
Helm awoke to find a sharp blade at his neck
"Sorry to awaken you Doctor, but a shipmate needs your help."
"Why is it that masked people always wake me up in the middle of the night?" asked Helm.
"It's probably due to the hours we work," chuckled the masked pirate.
"Tell me of the injuries while I get dressed. How did it happen?"
"She fell from a yardarm and landed on the main deck. We were careful not to move her much."
"She?"
"Our crew is all women. Do you have a problem with that?"
"As long as you don't all carry swords and wear masks," replied Helm as he laughed.
He looked at the masked woman and lack of response.
"You're kidding me."
"Sorry, Doctor," said his visitor. We all carry cutlasses, but we only wear masks when we go into battle."
Helm slapped his head with his hand. "What did I do to deserve this? How many are there of you?"
"Forty women and no men. You will find us very friendly, Doctor."
"I'll bet," he muttered under his breath.
At the sound of gunfire, Helm and the lady pirate ran out of the office. The pirate jumped on the horse and Helm jumped up behind her.
"The Queen of Swords," yelled a soldier as he fired his musket at one of the pirates who crossed the square. The pirate was hit in the shoulder and knocked off her horse while several soldiers surrounded the downed horsewoman.
The soldiers turned as they heard a horse moving fast towards them, the Queen of Swords charged the soldiers and knocked two to the ground. She stopped by the dismounted pirate.
"Get on," she yelled.
Not having to be told twice, the pirate took the Queen's hand and swung up behind her. The Queen raced the opposite direction of where the others had ridden.
Montoya raced out onto the balcony.
"Sergeant, what is happening?" yelled Montoya.
"The Queen of Swords," yelled the Sergeant. "Six of them!"
Montoya looked towards the heavens. "Why me? I have enough problems with one."
The Queen rode quickly, but by a roundabout way to the backdoor of the Alvarado hacienda. Marta heard the Queen ride up but was shocked to see two Queens.
"Madre de Dios, what happened?"
"Marta, she has been shot," said the Queen as her passenger suddenly went limp and fell from Chico's back.
"Quickly, into the house," said Marta.
The two women took the wounded woman into the kitchen and laid her on the table. Marta carefully removed the woman's blouse as Tessa went to change. A few minutes later Tessa returned in a robe and saw that Marta was heating water.
"Tessa, grab the bandages. The wound is clean, but she has lost a lot of blood," said Marta as she stopped the bleeding and bandaged the woman's wound.
"Marta, I have to clean Chico and the blood on the veranda. I will help you move her in a few minutes."
"You take care of Chico while I take care of the veranda," replied Marta as she got a mop and a bucket. Marta quickly filled the bucket and mopped up the blood. By the time Tessa returned from cleaning Chico and her saddle, Marta had finished; Tessa's and the wounded woman's clothes were soaking in cold soapy water.
The two women carried their visitor to the guestroom and put her to bed.
"Now Tessa, tell me what happened?"
"I arrived as our visitors took Doctor Helm and that one got shot. She fell from her horse and was surrounded by soldiers. I got her out but couldn't get the horse. Montoya is sure to be here in the morning."
"Why didn't you save the Doctor?" asked Marta.
"From what I could see, it looked like he was going willingly."
Continue to Part Two
If you have missed any episodes so far, you will find them in the Season Three Archives section .
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