Chapter 116 Separate but Safe
Isla Oveja.
As they were landing, Floriano was thinking about the last time he had landed on the island. He thought about the hurtful things he had said to his friend and the signs he had never noticed. At some point in the future, he wanted to talk to her about it and make things right.
White Stockings: Start with I am an idiot.
Floriano laughed and braced himself as the hooves struck the ground. They could see dozens of people outside the castle watching them. She ran until they were very close to the group of servants, and her rider untied the ropes and jumped to the ground. The young man was led inside the castle, and the Pegasus was taken to a large stable to see her nestmate.
The rider entered a bedroom and ran over to the bed.
Floriano: Corsino, how are you, shorty?
Corsino: Is that how Big Ears talks to a wounded hero?
He knelt and grabbed him by the shoulder.
Floriano: I am glad you are alive. How is your beautiful Red?
Corsino: Wounded, but less so than me.
Sorcha, standing behind the kneeling man: They both need a few days of rest, but they will be fine soon. Your short friend will have an ugly scar on his leg.
Corsino: Yes, but this maid has taken very good care of me.
Floriano laughed: Forgive him, Lady Sorcha. He has never traveled to the islands and has not studied their nobility very much.
Corsino: Lady?
Sorcha: Yes, those are noble breasts that you have been intensely admiring last night and today.
The two men showed embarrassment.
Sorcha laughed: Do not worry. All men have done it. But most here have a perspective from above.
They both smiled and tried to make eye contact without exception.
Sorcha: Do you have any news about my father, Peador? If you had seen him, you will know.
Floriano: I am sorry. I left early with the Duke of Puerto Blanco. But we believe they headed west of the city with an army.
Sorcha: Fine, I will tell my mother.
When the woman left, Floriano spoke in a whisper: Corsi, well done. The fleet displayed the royal flags.
Corsino: Thank you. I am glad to hear it was a success. Do you want to hear my story? And I also want you to tell me everything that happened at the castle.
The two men who had listened to the stories of the riders of the past now had their own stories to tell.
In the Greenwood.
Golden Arrow was lying down in a patch of soft grass and eating some apples that people had found in the forest. Chara was with the nobles and the army commanders.
Esteban: We need one or two Pegasi here to communicate with Puerto Blanco and Colinas Gemelas. If the fleet arrives and joins the forces of Marisela, we will have two armies to coordinate the attack.
Peador: Unless there are two Pegasi in the sea, pierced by arrows and spears.
Maite: Where is the queen safest? Isla Real does not have many soldiers.
Chara: It is an island. If any ships appear, she has a Pegasus. We can guide her to another island without any problem.
Rodrigo: She is right. If the queen can fly, we can move her whenever necessary.
Esteban: Agreed. We have enough weapons, but not much food. If it were possible to receive more, that would help a great deal. We are hunting, but the area has been heavily hunted for months, and we cannot waste many arrows for that.
Chara: Pegasi are not donkeys. They hate carrying things, except for their riders and a few other people.
The Count: I understand. Could you make a mental list so that the queen can make some decisions?
Chara: Yes, I can listen while Golden Arrow rests a little longer.
The woman listened to the list three times until she was sure she would remember everything.
Isla Real.
The three Pegasi returned after nightfall. They took care of their mounts with the help of the servants. Once the three Pegasi were settled in a nest hastily made by the castle workers, the riders finally went inside. The guests were led to a banquet hall where they found a simple but very pleasant dinner.
Eneko: Dear guests, I apologize for the simplicity of the meal. Many years have passed since this house was as splendid as it used to be.
The Queen: No, my loyal lord. It is more than enough. When I return to the throne, I will resolve the situation here.
Eneko: I suggest we listen to the riders while we eat. But first, one more thing.
The eight-year-old boy got up and took a cup of water mixed with a little ale.
The little lord said: Queen Olivia!
Many voices: Queen Olivia!
Floriano: Lord Heinrich is on board the ship and in command. Five ships are traveling at high speed, and twenty-five are a day or more away. Soon an army will be on the peninsula with Marisela. Corsino and Red Sunrise are on Isla Oveja and are injured. Their injuries are not serious, but it will take them a few days to recover and be able to fly again.
Hernando: We flew over the city. Colina Alba is sending men, horses, and heavy weaponry towards the peninsula. The royal castle is surrounded by an army. There are soldiers in the nest. Colina Verde is gathering a force near the western defensive walls. The peninsula and the ports are embroiled in a battle. It appears that army of the pretender Valero has almost twice as many troops as Colinas Gemelas or will have soon.
Chara: The army is in the cabins of the hunters, near the Greenwood. The count is in command until the queen replaces him. Lord Beñat is doing well. I found a page called Gunther, which is also doing well.
Smiles appeared around the table.
Chara: Captain Rodrigo and the Unicorns saved your army, my queen. They are there and support you unconditionally. He sent a message to Her Majesty. He told me, thank you for saving the heart of a coward.
The queen smiled, and her eyes were a little moist.
Chara: My queen, they have a list of decisions. One or two Pegasi for them to use for communication. A flight north to view the Ridges and the army of Aurelio. A flight over the castle to describe the defenses in detail. If possible, send food and liberate Fortress Island. There are many nobles in the prison who will likely support you with their resources.
Olivia: They ask for much. In the morning, I will decide which ones are possible.
Lupita looked at the queen.
Olivia: Yes. Did you find a boy named Marco?
Chara: No, nobody mentioned him
Later that night, in the room of Volker.
Chara entered silently. She approached the bed and found that he was sound asleep from a remedy. She carefully lay down beside him and hugged him tenderly. She gave him a little kiss on the cheek and closed her eyes.