Moura, Portugal 1483.
Isabel sat at the edge of the bed, her eyes downcast, her face stoic. The wounds were bleeding, perhaps, she didn't know. She could see her hands from the corner of the her eye, scratches and cuts decorating them like the tapestries made by the Italian masters, the scars were hidden but not less painful. The tears were unshed, the last of them for there were no more tears to shed. A caress across her back send shivers down her body.
"What happened dear cousin? Didn't enjoy it" Joanna's voice was filled with a mocking pity. Indeed she had no remorse to what she had done, Isabel understood that early, as Joanna began talking about her life in Castile and Portugal, how it took the very spirit away from her and how her rightful throne was usurped. Isabel could particularly understand the last one, even acknowledge it for the more she spend time with her cousin, the more she saw her uncle, the late king of Castile. The ringing of the church bells disrupted the moment between the cousins.
"Hmmm... It is time for you to run off" Joanna said as she herself got up. Just as Isabel was about to leave the hell hole, she found herself yanked towards Joanna. "I beard you are leaving soon.... I will miss you... Dear cousin" the sinister whisper crept up and down Isabel's spine and she ran as fast as she could, stopping only when she was a considerable distance from Joanna.
*************************
Antonio sighed heavily as he finished his inspection. Walking back to the palace, he counted the money given to him by the Jew, a rather good amount for his part time work. A few more years and he would have successfully saved enough to go back home. As he entered the castle, the Indian saw the young infante, 14 year old Dom Manuel practising his sword in private, his form much better than last, as Antonio remembered it. Yet the infante looked distracted, his mind was not with the sword.
"Good afternoon infante!" Antonio bowed before the boy.
"Antonio, you shoudn't! Atleast not when we are alone.... you know I consider you my friend?" Infante Manuel put his sword aside and greeted the man in his late forties.
Antonio smiled. He was brought to Portugal about twenty years ago as a young man, and sold to the Duchess of Viseu as a gift on the occasion of the birth of the infante. It wouldn't be a lie to consider Antonio having watched Manuel grow up, from a child fed from the breast to a young infante of 14, a scion of the Avís dynasty.
"I consider it my honour infante, to have befriended the very king of Portugal" Antonio said.
"Antonio!...." Manuel exclaimed before speaking in hushed voices, "you must not speak of it so carelessly and loudly, if someone hears us we all shall loose our heads"
"Yes yes...forgive me" Antonio apologised. He was the only person outside the duke's family to know of the late king Alfonso's alleged prophecy.
"Do u think uncle was right?" Manuel suddenly asked the Indian.
Antonio furrowed his brow. He knew many things, things not yet known to the europeans. He had mastery over practices these people would love to have a taste of but deem heretic as soon as it's use subsided to them. But most importantly Antonio knew how to speak, when to speak, what to say to whom and when.
"Maybe infante....maybe" he answered.
"You actually believe that?..... that I the youngest son of the younger brother with a strong healthy brother and nephew shall be able to actually inherit Portugal?"
"Forgive me infante but there are many who inherit the throne without the luck of being born to a specific father.. or mother"
"No no... I cannot do what you are suggesting! Never..." Manuel looked at Antonio wide eye.
"Oh infante you are too virtuous to do that I believe you" Antonio patted Manuel's back. Manuel smiled.
"We really shoudn't talk of these matters so openly. I fear for our lives after João's death" Manuel made a sign of the cross, Antonio followed suit.
"You think it was the king's doing?"
"I do not explicitly want to believe that. The king is my cousin and treats me like his own son after my father's demise and Diego's parting....but I have heard Diego talk to mother alot about how the King fears us...fears our power, especially me" Manuel looked at Antonio in a helpless manner.
Antonio felt pity for the boy. Here he was, growing up to be a man without his father and older brother's guidance.
"And João's death....he was in good health...and I remember Leanor talk about how the King hoped that Magdalena shall give birth to a daughter. That how he showed Mariana with gifts after she was born....how he arranged Digeo's married so quickly to João's daughter....it feels rather hasty on the king's part"
"It does...but let's change the topic...you didn't seem focused when practising your sword...your fears consuming you?" Antonio asked hoping to sooth the boy.
"Oh nothing" Manuel turned away and blushed, it did not escape Antonio's eyes.
"Really...infante you can share anything you want with me...but I think I should not disturb you regarding this matter" Antonio smiled and began to walk away only to be stopped by Manuel.
"Antonio wait... I have a... I mean some questions" Manuel exclaimed.
"Yes my lord, how may I help" Antonio smiled.
"Umm...is it..like some serious illness...like, when you see some person...and suddenly like everything feels, beautiful...and it feels like something is rolling in your stomach and your mouth feels dry?"
"Hmmm....not serious and definitely not an illness. But contagious!" Antonio joked, "It comes from a person... who is this person who is making you feel this infante"
"Uhh... she's innocent, she doesn't deliberately do this...she's very good, so beautiful...her eyes..." his words vanished as the infante talked about this mystery person.
"I prefer a name infante.... I promise your secret shall be safe with me"
"Her name..." Manuel gulped and cleared his throat, "...Isabel " he whispered.
"The kitchen girl?"
"No no....the umm" Manuel blushed and looked down "the Castillian infanta".
"The infanta!.... Dios mio infante... you have a good choice"
"But she's betrothed to my nephew....moreover she deserves to be a queen...and I have no idea whether I shall rule a county or a monastery......"
"It is not inappropriate infante to admire one of God's finest creations" Antonio stated calmly, "moreover I think god heard our conversations because look" he pointed towards the infanta sitting alone underneath a fig tree, deprived of her ladies companionship.
Manuel rushed forward and greeted her. "Infanta...." he bowed gracefully "How has your day been"
Isabel tensed on hearing the questions. She couldn't tell anyone about what happen. Forcing a smile she replied "I have had a good day.... unfortunate that the master has a terrible tooth ache...fortunately I am allowed a leave from the Latin lessons!"
"God graces us in different manners" Manuel laughed.
A silence followed. The two cousins looked at each other. Both realised that the surroundings seemed very beautiful suddenly, the flowers bloomed and their fragrance filled the air, the wind itself blew slowly but enough to remove the strands in front of Isabel's eyes such that her eyes were directly looking into Manuel's. She found a certain kind of peace their, a hope that her future was safe. She smiled.
Watching the infanta smile, Manuel cleared his throat loudly and broke the silence. "I heard that you were leaving in a few months" he asked
Isabel nodded, "I will...but I shall continue to write"
"I would eagerly wait for your letters" Manuel said. Somehow he knew he would, that he would keep each and every letter to himself. Read them again and again and again till he breathed his last.
The silence spoke for sometime. This time the infanta broke it.
"I am a bit worried about Niño...that after I go..." Isabel wondered worriedly
"I shall take care of them do not worry" Manuel assured her "under my care their dynasty shall flourish as much as ours!"
"Oh Manuel thank you" Isabel gleamed and suddenly wrapped her hands around Manuel in a hug. Manuel felt his heart race and cheeks turn bright red. His hands moved by themselves and embraced the infanta. Isabel let go of Manuel and smiled brightly. "You are the best man I have ever met" Isabel said, "when I become the Queen, I shall make sure that you are my knight...my best knight" She exclaimed.
Manuel stepped by, his head was feeling very dizzy. "And I promise that when I become your knight, non shall even look at her highness with an evil eye" he proclaimed with a hand over his heart which was beating heavily.
This time the silence was stuffed with something unknown to both of them, something that made them both feel safe, in the other's company.
"You are very beautiful" Manuel's words shocked him, but Isabel simply laughed.
"And I find you very handsome" She replied, "but I must go now, else your Mother shall look for me" saying so she dashed away.
"So infante....enjoyed the moment" Antonio arrived suddenly and found Manuel with his hands raised, eyes half open, lips curved in a smile.
"I guess you did" Antonio laughed, "It isn't everyday that one gets to love the most beautiful girl in the kingdom by themselves!"
