Aztec Eternals

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November 1487, Latitude 22° S, Cape Cross, off the coast of Namibia.

The summer sea breeze in the southern hemisphere blows from the ocean in the west, bringing the moist and salty smell to the sand sea in the east. On the clear sea and sky, flocks of seabirds soar. The albatross spreads its long wings, the red-bellied heron sings, the white pelican flies into the sea, and the flamingo swirls high in the sky.

The sea shone with waves, dolphins circled the moored sailboats, and curious probes looked at them, many people they had never seen before. A few miles away, a ten-meter-long humpback whale jumped out of the water, setting off a splash of water several meters high. These behemoths were at ease, swaying their bodies, spreading their wing-like pectoral fins, and uttering complex and long whispers!

"Tenhosaudades! . . . This is the confidence of the deep sea, like a friend gone. He is tired of life on earth and rests forever in the kingdom of heaven . . time!..."

Dias stood on the coast, looking at the woodcut tombstone in front of him, and chanting in a low voice. He was wearing the noble captain's suit of class, his hair was meticulous, and he just held the captain's cap in his hand. That weathered face, showing the deep melancholy unique to the Portuguese. Then, he closed his eyes and prayed devoutly to the Lord.

At this moment, his mind wandered in the memories of longing, and the hundreds of sailors and crew members behind him became insignificant backgrounds.

Bruno was wearing a captain's uniform, bowed his head, and stood silently behind Dias. He pursed his lips and drew a cross on his forehead. Unspeakable emotions flowed in his heart, but he couldn't speak at all.

"O gracious Virgin! Grant me divine protection, find the way to the east, find the country of Elder John!  …"

After a while, Dias drew the cross and said the last prayer. Then, his expression became cold, and he glanced at Bruno behind him, murderous intent floating in his heart.

"Bruno, I heard about Diogo's death-death mass, the royal knight, you also participated?"

"Yes! Respected royal knight, when the revered captain died, I stood by and prepared olive oil for him... Because of the curse of the devil, the captain coughed up blood for several months, and went to heaven as thin as wood, even thinner than a child. Lighter..."

Bruno was uneasy and replied respectfully. At the end, there were many tears in his eyes, both true and false, but he couldn't even distinguish himself.

"Ok."

Seeing the tearful Bruno, Dias was silent for a moment and nodded slightly. He turned his head and stared at the tombstone of his old friend again, the killing intent in his heart finally pressed down and turned into a long sigh.

"Hey, that's it! I understand your intention... You let him participate in the dying mass and handed over the flagship to him, that's why you chose to forgive... If that's the case, let him go back alive!... Rest in peace, my old friend, Diogo!"

While exploring the depths of the Congo River, Diogo's ship had experienced a rebellion. Although the rebellion was finally quelled and the person responsible was hanged, the tricks in it could not be concealed from the Lisbon court, but it could not be concealed from the equally experienced great navigators. Dias is convinced that the noble knight Bruno must be guilty...

Thinking of this, Dias shook his head slightly. How many of the navigators who can stick to the nautical path are innocent? Whose hands have never been stained with blood? ... Even he, in Fort Elmina, in order to occupy the surrounding gold mines, killed the indigenous tribes... After a moment of recall, Dias bowed his head again and prayed lowly.

"Praise my Father who is in heaven!... The Lord has shown His grace through redemption, throughout the ages and eternity... He has given me the holy sword to cut through all evil, and he has given me light to redeem my blood! ..."

Hearing Dias' chanting, Bruno hurriedly bowed his head and made a devout prayer gesture again, daring not to make a sound.

Following the captain for many years, he has roughly figured out the rules of conduct for the kingdom's seafaring nobles. That is, even if you are ruthless, kill mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and be like a demon, you must be firm in your faith, believe in the light of your soul, and the salvation of the Lord... Don't look at the kindness and kindness of Dias' prayers now, I really want to treat him Killing heart, beheading head, without blinking an eye...

Bruno murmured in his heart, but did not dare to show it on his face. He patiently waited for Dias to finish his prayer before he spoke softly.

"Dear Royal Knight! Captain Diogo's tombstone was temporarily carved out of wood. It's been almost two years, and it's already a bit rotten... Otherwise, the fleet will stop here for two days and carve a stone tablet for the captain. ?"

"Stop for two days, carve a stone tablet..."

Hearing this, Dias pondered for a moment, obviously a little moved. But in the end, he shook his head.

"Forget it. The kingdom will remember the name of Knight Diogo, and remember his piety and dedication. As for his burial place, let him rest in peace without being disturbed by anyone! After all, it is far from the kingdom... "

"Yes, yes...you are right! Praise the Virgin, may the captain rest in peace!..."

"Ok."

Dias nodded, looking at the respectful Bruno, slightly pleasing to the eye.

Last summer, the kingdom's southward exploration fleet returned with news of the navigator Diogo's death and a chart of the African coast extending to 20 degrees south latitude.

After Pope Sixtus IV went to the kingdom of heaven, his nephew Julius della Rovere, after a struggle, still firmly controlled the power of the Holy See and replaced the new Pope Innocent VIII. The various policies of the Holy See continue the tradition of the previous Pope, and the search for the Eastern John Presbyterian Kingdom is always urgent. Valley

King Joao is ambitious and eager to open up new routes. The output of the Elmina gold mine has greatly improved Portugal's finances. The discovery of the Kingdom of Congo also gave the kingdom more incentives. In October last year, King Joao summoned a very trusted descendant of the royal family, the royal knight Dias, appointed him as the leader of the expedition fleet, and issued an order to continue to explore south and find the eastern route.

After nearly a year of preparation, Dias set off from Lisbon in August this year, leading three ocean-going expedition ships to search for the unknown boundaries of the southern continent. Drawing on the experience of the rebellion of Diogo's fleet, he chose two caravels and a cross-sailed supply ship.

The flagship Caravelle, the "San Christovan" that he personally led, carried the most sailors. His brother Pero Dias was in charge of the horizontal sail supply ship loaded with food and water. One of the brothers controls the sailors, the other controls the food and water, and they echo each other to minimize the risk of crew rebellion. As for the last Caravelle sailing ship...

Dias turned around and glanced at Bruno lightly.

The royal family's favorite candidate was actually the noble knight Joao Infante. But unexpectedly, the scholar Martin Beheim, a royal advisor who returned from sea, praised Bruno, the noble knight, and strongly recommended it to the royal family. And Joao Infante's temper is indeed a bit irritable... After repeated deliberation, Dias finally gave this risky opportunity to Bruno who had experience with killing intent.

"Bruno, you are now a glorious captain of the kingdom! I don't care what you were in the past, from today onwards, you must serve the Lord devoutly and serve the kingdom faithfully!... Remember, the Lord, through redemption, has And for eternity, show His grace...do it well, and grace will come upon the earth!"

"...Yes, yes! Dear Royal Knight, I will serve the Lord devoutly, practice His Word, experience His Word... and dedicate my life to the kingdom! I will listen to you on this voyage of!"

Bruno immediately fell to his knees, raised his left hand, and wept devoutly. He heard the forgiveness in Dias's words, and the worries of the past few days were instantly swept away, and there was even joy in his heart. The royal knight in front of him is a big man who has royal blood and is deeply trusted by the king. As long as you get on this thigh...

"Well. Get up!"

Dias looked calm and commanded in a deep voice. Then, he glanced around the waiting sailors and crew, and shouted sharply.

"Navigator Perrault de Arenkel!"

"Yes! Captain."

A shrewd senior sailor, pinning a sharp machete, came out of the sailors and saluted.

"Report latitude!"

"Yes!"

Seamaster Perrault stretched out his hand and took out a volume of books from his bosom. He opened his eyes a few times and reported it loudly.

"Captain, according to the Southern Cross last night, we were between 20-22 degrees south latitude!"

"very good!"

Dias nodded, looked serious, looked at the people around him, and announced loudly.

"The purpose of this voyage is to bypass the border of the southern continent and go to the east to find the mighty Elder John country! Dear royal knight Diogo, has dedicated his life to extending the border of the kingdom's voyage and exploration from the equator. To 20 degrees south latitude! And our exploration of this voyage really starts from here, and it has to extend to 40 degrees south latitude!  …”

"40 degrees south latitude?!"

Hearing this~www.readwn.com~ Bruno froze in his heart. Many sailors also showed fear and raised their heads to speak.

Dias's eyes were like eagles, and with undisguised killing intent, he swept over everyone coldly. The sailors immediately fell silent, not daring to complain at all.

"Very good! The Lord bears witness, you all agree with me! Since there is no objection, then get me on the boat now and set sail south! ... Blessed by Our Lady!"

"Blessed Mother!"

The sailors responded in a low voice, quickly divided into three teams, and went to the three ships. Soon the anchors were retracted, the sails were raised, the flag of the Kingdom of Portugal flew high, and the Caravelle slowly accelerated.

On the vast South Atlantic Ocean, in the long Namibian sand overseas, groups of whales frolic and seabirds sing. This uninhabited sea is so clear at the moment. Between the sea and the sky, there are only three exploring small sailboats, sailing hard to the unknown south against the cold Benguela current!

In front of them is the endless southern continent, and the mysterious sea that has never been known. And behind them is a lonely promontory, a decaying tombstone, and a buried pioneer of the kingdom.