The sunset had faded, and the sky had sunk into gloom. The battered great carrack Santa Maria swayed unsteadily, slowly vanishing at the far end of the horizon. Yet only an hour or two later, the clatter of hooves rang out from the dirt road to the east. The galloping grew closer and more urgent, until a squad of more than ten royal cavalrymen charged up the darkened cliff, and the long neighs of reined-in horses split the air.
"Whoa! Whoa!"
Faige, the cavalry captain, stood on the cliff with a cold expression. He rode a man-tall Lusitano warhorse, wore a breastplate stamped with the Portuguese royal emblem, and on his head was a helmet with a blue feather.
He held the reins in one hand, while the other rested on the cavalry sword at his waist. Behind him on the saddle was a knight's seal shield, as well as a lance hung with the royal banner. This costly set of equipment proclaimed his identity beyond all doubt: a knight belonging to the Portuguese royal family. Behind the knight were also two lightly armored Leather Armor retainers with swords and no lances, who were simultaneously managing four or five spare horses, allowing the party to maintain the ability to ride one or two hundred li in a day.
"They're gone... A pack of sly sea rats, bandits who ought to have their heads chopped off!..."
Faige narrowed his eyes and stared for a while at the empty sea, then waved coldly.
"To the village!..."
The squad of cavalry turned their horses and trotted down the hill toward the fishing village. Soon, the silent fishing village erupted into clamor again, accompanied by lit torches and the villagers' terrified cries. After one shrill scream, all the shouting stopped abruptly, leaving only the