Don Ramon after washing himself, putting on suitable clothes and expensive perfume to cover the smell of the docks. He fusses with his hair until it is just so." First impressions are everything", he says , to his two footmen as they repack his chest and prepare to leave. "Santa Madre de Dios what have you gotten me into Uncle", Don Ramon thinks as he once again becomes the spoiled Noble he is pretending to be in order to maintain his cover with the Secret College.   The smell of the docks and the sea hit him full on as he exits the lower levels of the ship and he feels the gentle sway as the waves lap against the hull. He places his plumed hat atop his head, then almost immediately removes it and bows as The Lady Kirkland makes her appearance, then places it back atop his head. "She is a comely, woman though I must say I do know a seamstress or two that could update her wardrobe and makeup, but then she doesn't seem to care for such things. A shame really. She has such good cheek bones and jaw structure. She is quite intelligent, I've noticed and she doesn't carry that sword and rifle for looks. I don't yet know what to make of her or Pedro. He is quiet and I think he can use those knives for more than surgery, well being a medic of sorts I would hope he knows his way around a knife. He too is intelligent and both are more than they seem. I will be watching", he thinks to himself as he smiles brightly and throws his hand up in greeting to Pedro as he and The Lady Kirkland come forward to meet him.   "Ah! Hello Senora Pedro! A beautiful day. A stroll would be nice I think and I can have my footmen find a suitable carriage for us." He motions to his footmen. Take this coin and procure for us a carriage worthy of my companions and myself. Oh! and a bottle of good wine". He looks at his two companions, " white or red"? Before they can answer he looks as thought he has an ah ha moment and turns back to the footmen. "Yes, yes of course! The red! very good very good! anything less would be barbaric!" About the item you have," he looks around as if people are watching them," I think I will let you and the Lady Kirkland decide its fate. I'm here for the adventure."

I stretch luxuriously as I slowly wake in the morning. Based upon the sounds I hear from above we have arrived at our destination. It is time to figure out how much trust I can put in the two others I was adventuring with. A doctor is always handy to have around, and he appears to be an intelligent one as well. There are hidden depths there and he also seems determined to be obtuse. I never had the intention of keeping the amulet. The Contessa hired us to find it and we did. I just hope that the drawings I have made of both sides of the amulet as well as the cave where we found it will prove beneficial. I feel that there is more to that story and I want to know the whole story. So much of the past is hidden - or erased! -and it deserves to be told to all.   "Oh, well. I can't solve it laying around." I dress and gather my supplies. I wonder if the other two would be interested in taking a food break somewhere private and talking in depth about what we think the amulet means, how it got to that island, who designed and built that hiding place. There is a potential of so much information and I know that the others might have seen, noticed, or intuited different things than I did. A growl of frustration escapes from my lips and I stop and take a deep breath and re-center myself on my goals. Knowledge above all.   I do a quick check around the room where I have been staying - it is handy to be the only female on board a ship sometimes. Especially when an extraordinarily rich lady is paying the bills. I do wonder if I can entice the Contessa to pay for me to do more research on the amulet. There has to be a reason she was looking for it in the first place. Another avenue to investigate and one that would also benefit from the opinions of the other two. Yes, I have everything and that includes all of my notes and drawings from this trip. It is so very important to take good notes.   I bustle out of my cabin to head upstairs and there is Don Ramon - the fop to end all fops. I do have to wonder how he can stand to be in the same room with his ego. That must be very crowded. He gives me a quick calculating look and I pause momentarily. Have I misjudged him? No, I don't think so as he begins prattling about carriages and wine. WINE! I nod politely to Senor Sangre as we slowly and carefully disembark. That would be embarrassing to slip and fall now after all of the other adventures we have had. I do a quick weapons check and then begin the necessary watch for thieves. I do not understand why people think humanity being crushed together is for the best. I am sure that once we truly understand what our past has to teach us we will know that small groups working harmoniously and having leadership pass from person to person so no one can be all powerful or controlling will prove to be the only workable society.   I shrug off my deep thoughts and smile. "While I do agree Senor Sangre that the amulet should be returned to the Contessa. I am wishing for a chance to discuss it thoroughly with both of you. I am sure that between us we can devise a much more comprehensive report for her. There is also the chance that by combining our knowledge, we can provide the Contessa with an opportunity to engage our services for her next planned adventure." Then I turn to Senor Ramon and smile slightly, "Perhaps I would be better served to trust you in the matter of wines. I am not one who has had much experience and truly prefer other drinks if I have the choice."

" Ahh, I understand" Don Ramon says to the Lady Kirkland as we wander forward, " It is a bit early for wine yet." Nodding he turns to his Footmen with a flourish of his hands, "the Lady Kirkland has expressed an interest in morning tea," He hands them more coin, " Tea, wine, some of those little biscuits things and a light Picnic lunch for our travels with the carriage. Thank you my good fellows." He then smiles brightly at his two new companions as though he is very pleased with these arrangements.

Tomas bows to Don Ramon, leaving Jose Angel to work with the carriage driver to get Don Ramon's trunk onto the back of the carriage. A short time later he comes back with a basket of food and drink that he places inside the carriage before taking his position on one of the footpegs on the back of the carriage.

             

Pedro claims to be "only a doctor", but anyone that can hold their own in a dangerous situation is more than just anything. Except maybe the fop. I am 95% sure he is just a fop - admittedly one that also seems to be handy in a fight. I am beginning to think that I am a total innocent in the ways of the world and should just go back to my homeland and focus on researching the various ruins that are there. BUT   I was invited to that party by the Contessa. She then sent the three of us on that trip and that was not either easy or cheap. Pedro seems to think that the Contessa would not engage us for more work, but there was truly no reason to engage us for that last job. I am sure that she has other scholars, doctors, and even fops at her beck and call to do her bidding.   I enter the carriage with the others and notice the doctor casting his gaze around our surroundings before he enters the carriage. He does appear worried about something. I settle comfortably into the smooth leather facing forward and hear my stomach rumble. Maybe Don Ramon does have a point about some food on this trip back to the Contessa's. I grab a biscuit and some tea and nibble while I watch Pedro pull the amulet from his bag and begin to do the translations. He then asks me to confirm his translation of one section and I lean forward to focus on the area he is working on.

Don Ramon smiles brightly as he seats himself in the in the backward facing seat with the Lady Kirkland across and to the left of him. Happily helping himself to the morning tea and biscuits. He watches the two as they discern the markings on the amulet. He will see if he can read any of it, but it's not his main concern mostly he keeps an eye behind them and on his footmen on the sides outside of the carriage encase they signal that they are being followed. " I do love a good Carriage ride in the Country", making idle chitchat not to give away that he is on guard. Out the window to Tomas," Watch for a suitable area for a quick lunch break as we travel, por favor. It looks to be a fine day for a picnic", He says, to his companions.

Yes.

         

"I do understand the intellectual need to understand things when you first read them," I say quietly trying very hard to keep my tone from sounding patronizing, "but perhaps we do not actually have enough information currently to be able to 'read' the amulet. I think that more study is required as we need to know - and understand- where this medallion came from. I do not think it has been on that island for hundreds of years - maybe decades, but not hundreds. My hope is that the Contessa will allow us the opportunity - and her patronage - to continue our investigation into this very interesting historical piece. I am also very interested in who else was trying to discover it. We must not forget the party and what lead to our initial voyage. I honestly think I have more questions than can be answered in a decade of study." I suddenly realize I have been sermonizing and shut my mouth. I probably look embarrassed, but I am not. I do not think women should be seen and not heard and I am not of the opinion that I am a great beauty anyway.   I glance at the others to see how they took my little sermon - that will be a good indication of whether they will make good companions for what I forsee being a very long journey.

Having nothing of use to add to this philosophical debate about flying land and the phase of the rising and setting sun (at least to Don Ramon that is what it sounded like). Don Ramon will cover a yawn by pretending to wipe his mouth after consuming his refreshment with his at the ready handkerchief. "Oh, I see you are very passionate about your work Lady Kirkland and might I say the rose in your cheeks plus the fire in your eyes she is quite becoming. No?" I look inquiringly over at Pedro and smile. Before turning back to the window watching along the road as we make our way toward the Contessa's Estate.