Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs

As they set off down the river, Berto gives Solimar lessons on river safety, including what to do if she falls overboard, and how to follow his paddling instructions. Berto’s father taught him to understand the complexities of rivers and waterfalls. His father wanted to pioneer a way to get water to their valley and transport their pomegranate harvest to Puerto Rivera. People thought Berto’s father’s ideas were farfetched, but Berto’s mother, Magdalena, always had faith in him and Berto, which is why Berto named his raft after her. Berto tried to convince neighboring kingdoms to help him enact his father’s ideas, but they rejected him.

Solimar also wants to make changes to her kingdom and wishes there were a safe transportation system down the river. Fast-moving water carries them swiftly towards the String of Pearls, a series of rapids. Solimar insists that Berto can depend on her to follow his directions. They make it successfully through the first three rapids and into quiet water. Solimar tells Berto about María and the hostages at home. They camp for the evening. The next day they face another set of rapids, a series of rocks called the Devil’s Teeth, and the caves.

Unable to sleep, Solimar wakes early and takes Berto’s binoculars to scout the river ahead. From atop a hill, she sees “the gate,” a narrow river passage between boulders; the Devil’s Teeth, sharp rocks sticking out of the rushing water; and a turbulent confluence beyond with the right side leading to the deadly Leap of Angels, and the left to the cave entrance. Solimar suns the rebozo and hears the chanting. Some butterflies detach from the shawl and fly away. She follows their flight back upriver and sees four of Aveno’s guards, sleeping, and two canoes tied to the riverbank, one holding her quinceañera gown and old boots.

Solimar wakes Berto, explaining they are being pursued and must leave immediately. She has already scouted the river. Berto trusts her assessment. The Devil’s Teeth are treacherous. Zarita falls into the water. Lázaro goes after her. The raft slides up a rock face. Berto falls off, shouting for Solimar to hold on. Solimar and the raft are pulled towards the waterfall until a wave pushes her towards the cave entrance. She grounds on a sandbar and pulls the raft out of sight. She panics briefly. Lázaro appears, followed by Berto carrying Zarita. Solimar helps Berto into the cave. La Magdalena is damaged, but Berto can fix it.

The group enters the watery tunnel. Zarita now wears a life vest that Berto made for her. Lázaro watches ahead for danger. They marvel at the clarity of the water and at fantastic stalagmite and stalactite formations. Guards at the tunnel entrance offer help, shouting for them to turn around, but Solimar knows it is a trap. The tunnel grows dark, and their progress is slow as the raft hits underwater ledges.

They follow Berto’s father’s rhyming directions until they reach a cavern with three branching tunnels. Sunshine enters from a crack above them. They cannot use their voices as the directions dictate, fearing the guards would find them. Solimar recalls Doña Flor telling her that the butterflies trusted her with their magic. She moves into the sun and allows Berto to ask her where the three tunnels go. They choose the one that ends in a cavern with bats, which implies an outside opening. They hide the raft and climb boulders up to a ledge. A smooth, water-covered rock flume leads down. Lázaro and Zarita slide down first to make sure it is safe, followed excitedly by Berto and fearfully by Solimar.

Solimar plunges into a lagoon, emerging to cheers from Zarita and Lázaro. Berto is right behind. They are in a beautiful cavern colored in many shades of blue. A passage leads out into the sunlight. Solimar understands that the caves could be a passageway to Puerto Rivera for goods coming down the river. Berto, teary, agrees, saying it would need work, but that ultimately his father was right. The group emerges from the cavern into a sunny afternoon. Climbing a nearby hill, they see Puerto Rivera ahead. Ships fill the harbor. The tents of El Gran Mercado populate a distant field. They hike towards the city. Solimar worries that they look conspicuous. Berto agrees. At a nearby farm, Berto “borrows” some clothes from a clothesline, some boots, and some food. Solimar’s father will reimburse the farmer. Solimar is glad that the clothes are boys’ outfits because they will help disguise her. Aveno’s guards will be looking for a princess, not a boy. The group hides in the woods when it gets dark.