Tap, tap, tap.
The clatter of hooves rang along the long bluestone road, drifting north. Bartolomeu Dias rode his horse through the thin winter snow of the Iberian Peninsula, bright sunlight gleaming on the coastline behind him. Beneath him, the carefully bred Lusitano warhorse stood more than 1.6 meters tall, making his figure seem especially imposing. Beside him, the royal cavalry rode in disciplined silence, maintaining a fixed formation even at a gallop.
Fifty li of good road took only an hour or two on warhorses. A few quarters of an hour later, the surrounding villages gradually thinned, nobles' estates came faintly into view, and the ancient Pena Palace lay only a few miles away.
Only then did Bartolomeu Dias come back from his thoughts. He quickened his horse slightly and drew level with the two court knights leading the way.
"Praise the Lord! Esteemed court knight Eminio, I have only just returned from the sea. Has anything important happened in the kingdom?"
At those words, court knight Eminio's expression stirred. He looked at the royal steward, who had grown thinner by a whole circle, then thought of His Majesty's delighted reaction yesterday when he received the steward's letter. Only then did he smile and answer.
"May the Holy Mother protect us! Esteemed royal steward, Knight Bartolomeu Dias. These past few months, His Majesty has been in fine spirits. The kingdom's Prince Afonso has already been formally betrothed to Princess Isabella. This wedding, witnessed by the Pope, has been set for a little over a year from now—the spring after next!"
"Oh? Prince Afonso and Princess Isabella have already fixed the wedding date? Truly, may the Holy Mother protect us!"
Hearing the good news, Bartolomeu Dias also showed a smile. Prince Afonso was King John II's beloved only son and