Letter Home

Disclaimers: The characters from the Queen of Swords are copyright to Fireworks Productions and Paramount. No copyright infringement is intended or revenue expected from their use. The story plot and other characters are copyright to the author, James Guy.

Synopsis: Letter from a man along way from home.

5 May 1820

Dear Mama and Papa:

I write this letter in the hopes that you are well. It has been a long time since I left our home in Madrid to join the forces aligned to destroy the tyranny that had plagued our beloved Spain. I had no idea that that decision would lead me around the world.

The war has been over for a long time and I found myself in El Presidio de San Francisco.

It is much different in the presidio than Madrid. There are many hills and great expanses of sand near the coast. Our presidio over looks the entrance to a large bay, which is shrouded in fog during the winter.

In clear weather, I could climb to the bluffs and watch as the great whales swam into the bay, there massive tails flipping in the air like the wave of a hand waving hello or saying goodbye. Mama, I can’t tell you how thrilled I feel when I see them.

Other times, I am able to walk the sands of the beach near some rocks that always seem to be covered with a noisy moving brown cover. It really is, as the brown skin of thousands of seals barking and moving to catch the rays of the sun is a sight to behold.

For all its beauty, El Pueblo de San Francisco is a hell. It has been three years since anyone in the garrison has been paid. Many men have deserted, sometimes to be tracked and found while others have never been found when they disappeared into the great valley of Alta California. I was on the last supply ship to arrive at the presidio.

I have often thought back to my boyhood days as the third son of a Don in Madrid. Papa always said that I would never be able to run the horse rancho like my two brothers, Roberto and Francisco. Papa also taught me to be the best that I can be and to do what I needed to do. It was this spirit that led me to join the Army.

Papa, I hate to say it but in a way you were wrong. Because I was able to attend school and even University, I am probably the most educated enlisted man at the Presidio. Being raised to take care of horses, learning to love to read and write has given me an inspiration to learn. It has paid off.

Three months ago, a Colonel from a small pueblo south of Monterey came to the Presidio to find a few good men who were willing to go with him. The entire garrison was in formation and the Colonel picked only one man. Me.

I am now a soldier in the garrison of El Pueblo de Santa Elena.

Colonel Luis Montoya is a stern commander but he has been fair with me. My uniform had so many patches; it appeared to be more patches than uniform. My boots had worn out. The only three things that were in good condition were my musket, my sword that Papa gave me, and my bible.

Colonel Montoya took care of me. I was given a new uniform and boots. Three weeks after my arrival, I heard a noise in the stables and went to investigate. I found a mare in labor and was in trouble. I did what Papa would have done and helped the mare deliver her foal. I didn’t know that Colonel Montoya had been watching and was impressed. He offered me, the new soldier, the opportunity to care for his horse, Salan and I have been given the mare and foal.

Due to my new duties, I have the honor of exercising the Colonel’s horse. I have been able to go to the coast, which is a few miles away and when I do not have duties, I find myself there often, listening to the soothing sound of the ocean. I have gone there even at night, just to be alone.

In Santa Elena there is a bandita they call La Reina de Espades. People think of her as an angel who fights injustice, while Colonel Montoya says she is a scourge, since most of the Queen’s activities appear to be against the Colonel. I have not had to fight her, but I have seen her and have heard from the other soldiers that she is very good with a sword.

A few nights ago, I was taking solace on the beach. I had picketed my horse and walked a down the beach to a small cove. The moon was bright, but I was against the embankment and could not be seen by anyone even if they were five feet from me.

As I lay there listening to the waves, I heard the soft sounds of feet on the sand. I looked up to see the Queen, walking on the beach and leading her horse, which is a beautiful animal. I had my rifle and had a choice of shooting her or attacking her with my sword. I have always felt that my short time with Maestro Torres gave me the edge in my battle with the French.

As I said I had two choices both of which would give me one thousand reales and a promotion. What was I to do, Mama? At that range I could not miss her. Then I remembered that both you and Papa taught me to respect women. Papa taught me that shooting someone in the back or unarmed was the mark of a coward.

I waited until she came directly in front of me and then she stopped and looked out to the sea.

"It is a fine night, isn’t it?" I said to the Queen. I swear she jumped five feet in the air. She whirled with her sword in hand. She is one of the fastest people using a sword that I have ever seen. Senor Torres had a new student at the academy just before I left, who was fast. The Queen is even faster.

She had her sword out. "Come out of the shadows," she said and I did. I came out with my sword sheathed and my rifle in one hand, not ready to shoot.

"Why did you not shoot me?" she asked.

"I don’t shoot people in the back, especially one as beautiful as you," I replied.

Papa, you also taught me to be truthful and charming.

The Queen must have felt that I was not a threat because she sheathed her sword. We began to talk about the sea, the need for solace. We started walking and found that we had a common love for the sea, horses, a good blade and literature. She is obviously a cultured lady and I think she was surprised that not only did a common soldier know how to read but could converse about many works of art. We walked and talked for two hours. We were three miles from my horse, so she did something that I would not have thought possible. She had me climb up behind her and she took me to her horse.

I find myself blushing as I write this, Mama, but the smell of her perfume and having my arms around her waist has done something to me. I will never fight her. I think I am in love.

In this pueblo there is also an English Doctor. He is obviously a former military man. The passion he has for saving lives can only be one that has been learned by staring Death in the face. Thank God that I learned English as the Doctor has loaned me several books in English. We have also talked several times and I think he is grateful for the opportunity to converse in his own language.

When my days of a soldier are over, I will not be returning home. I plan on exploring the great valley inland. I hear there is a large lake called Los Tulares and the images that I receive tell me that this is where I need to be.

Give my love to Roberto and Francisco and their families. All my love to you.

Your loving son,

Jaime Guido Alvarado

Sergeant

Garrison de El Pueblo de Santa Elena

Alta California

Nueva Espana