Golden candlesticks hung on the four walls of the great hall, displaying the wealth of the Kingdom of Portugal's royal house. Candlelight shimmered, illuminating a vast oil painting of the Virgin until it seemed as though the holy had descended. The Virgin's merciful smile, glowing with human warmth, watched the two men in the hall. This was the latest sacred painting from the city-states of the Apennine Peninsula, completely breaking free of the stiffness and abstraction of traditional icons, making the saints seem vividly alive!
Beneath the Virgin's gaze, Bartolomeu Dias lowered his head and carefully read the precious letter in his hands. This letter had taken more than half a year and traveled over eight thousand li before reaching the court at Sintra, bringing priceless intelligence from the East.
"Your Majesty, whom I revere, your loyal knight-attendant, Pêro da Covilhã, reports to you: For the grace of the Lord, and for the glory of the kingdom, I am about to depart from Cairo and travel to the most important holy place of the crescent moon, the place where, in legend, the holy book first appeared. I have already learned many rumors about India and Seres from passing merchants, and on the coast still farther east, there will be more detailed news of the sea routes!"
"Knight Pêro da Covilhã? It's him!"
At this point, Dias's expression flickered, and he fell into thought. He remembered a young face with Moorish features, both devout and fearless.
"Mm. Little Pêro was born in the kingdom, a man of Beira, and once served the younger brother of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Several years ago, he became my knight-attendant and tended my horses for me. Even after I knighted him, he often still regarded himself as an attendant."
At this, John II smiled.