Chapter 115 Searchers
Above the Greenwood.
The voice of the All-Mother had fallen silent after the previous night. Chara thought it was so they could connect more, or perhaps she could not keep her completely present in her mind. She had a headache last night and did not sleep well due to very vivid dreams. She felt that the rest of her short life would be similar.
Golden Arrow had flown a little slower to conserve energy. While they were flying over the sea, she tried to communicate to him several images that he needed to find. They began to understand some things, but the words he knew belonged to a language she did not speak.
Chara showed an image that depicted a piece of burning wood: Fire.
Golden Arrow projected the same image: Dead wood coming back to life.
The woman felt confused, but if he understood that they needed to look for the smoke from the fires, that was enough.
The next image showed armed human beings in large groups: Army.
The Pegasus displayed the same image: Danger.
Chara said in a low voice: You are right, in a way.
She thought of images of men in guard uniforms, smiling. And then of men in tabards of Valero, with angry expressions.
Chara spoke and thought: Friends, enemies.
The Pegasus thought about the knights of Puerto Blanco: Friends?
Chara: Yes!
The next image showed the soldiers firing their crossbows at the Pegasi last night: Enemies?
Chara: Yes, but you did not see this.
Golden Arrow: My brother.
She understood. The brother of her Pegasus had told all the others about it last night.
As they flew over the vast forest, the Pegasus and the woman focused on searching for signs of human presence.
The edges of the Greenwood.
The scouts searched in many directions to the west of the city of Costa Lunas. All of them, except two, found nothing of importance. They both saw smoke coming from numerous fires near the forest. One returned immediately. The other decided to get closer.
The man dismounted and walked cautiously towards the campfires. He had experience approaching armies without being seen. He was on one knee counting soldiers and horses when he heard a sound behind him.
Azure Death looked at the biped with his old eyes. He had participated in more wars than any other person or animal in the world. He knew that a man without a tabard or banner, who was hiding, represented a danger.
The man turned and stared into those large blue eyes. The horn pierced his chest as if it were made of butter. The man tried to scream, but when his heart was destroyed, no sound came out of his mouth. The Unicorn lifted his body and trotted towards the knights.
When Rodrigo looked at Azure Death, he smiled and said: What have you caught, great-grandfather?
It was customary for knights to refer to a Unicorn using a familial title in relation to their own mount. The old unicorn lowered its head and gave the body a powerful kick, sending it tumbling to the ground.
The captain approached and looked at the body: A scout from Valero.
The man took an apple from his bag and tossed it into the air near the blood-covered head. The Unicorn caught it without difficulty and began to eat it with relish.
Rodrigo approached the Count and shouted to two knights: Search the surrounding area, I think there is a horse waiting for its rider.
Esteban turned to look at him: What happened?
Rodrigo: Azure Death killed a scout from Valero. They probably know we are here.
The count: Yes. If you kill four scouts, it means you did not find the fifth one.
Rodrigo: Do you want Unicorn patrols or soldiers?
Esteban: Both. Pedro can find you some scouts. He was part of a group of scouts in the past.
Rodrigo: Fine. Count, I behaved like a ass towards you and your wife.
Esteban nodded and smiled: Yes, but I acted similarly to you and your husband...
The captain laughed: If I do not tell this crude joke to Cobalt Storm, you will not tell mine to your wife either, will you?
Esteban laughed: Agreed.
In the air.
Golden Arrow pushed an image of smoke rising among the trees: Rauch.
Chara guessed the word the Pegasus was thinking of: Smoke.
She thought only of the smoke and the image of it: Rauch?
The Pegasus moved its ears up and forward and thought: Ja!
The woman knew that this word meant the same as yes and that the position of the ears indicated attention and interest.
Chara: I hope it is them. Fly lower so I can see them.
It took three sets of images for him to understand it. He descended slowly, being vigilant for any movement of the objects that were approaching. He did not see any. After a few minutes, they saw people moving in the clearings between the trees. Many people.
Chara thought of a vest worn by the royal guards.
The Pegasus showed in his mind that there were many of them.
Chara sent him a very clear message: Fly low.
He did what she wanted, and she started whistling loudly. Many faces turned upwards to gaze at the Pegasus. Shouts were heard, and people waved their clothes as if they were flags. She waved her hand.
Chara: Find a good place to land and circle around three times above it.
Golden Arrow: Suchen Sie sich good Landeplatz und fliegen Sie three Kreise darum herum.
The woman thought deeply for a moment and then pushed a series of images forward.
Golden Arrow: Yes!
He searched for a short time, circled the area three times, and observed some bipedal creatures running in that direction. He landed happily because his wings were very tired.
In the forest.
Pedro was a soldier. But his eyes were like those of an eagle. He saw the movement in the sky before they descended. He had seen what one man was capable of doing to another in war for a few coins. He did not believe in goddesses or gods. He believed in two pure things in the world. One was the woman he wanted to marry, and the other was her sister. He shouted at his guards to follow him. But this sight brought joy.
In the clearing.
The Pegasus landed and came to a quick stop. The woman noticed that he was breathing faster than normal. She felt tightness in her lungs. She shared a little of his pain.
Many people entered the clearing. The captain ran towards them.
Pedro: Rider!
Chara: Captain Hand-Pedro!
When she dismounted from the Pegasus, the man embraced her and lifted her into his arms.
Pedro: Is the queen safe?
The woman responded when he lowered her to the ground: She is on the royal island with the duke, the high priest, and others.
A boy came over and asked: Excuse me, is there a girl named Kerstin on the island?
Chara: Yes! She is fine.
Gunther ran towards her and hugged her.