Chapter 131 The Calling
Isla Real.
The riders presented themselves to the queen, conveying their news. They were tired, but in good spirits. The priest noticed that the two men were standing slightly behind the woman. He understood that they had chosen a leader. When the Master Rider was not present, they would follow her.
The Queen: Thank you, my brave riders. The kingdom is indebted to...
Chara fell to her knees. The men knelt to look at her. The people who were sitting stood up with great concern.
The priest: Rider, are you well?
The woman had a vacant look in her eyes, but she began to speak.
Chara: Priest, my son, the time has come.
Danilo looked like he was about to fall too, but he managed to stabilize himself by leaning on the table.
Chara: Rider, can you answer the call?
Volker got up with great effort: Yes, I am ready, All-Mother.
Olivia: Please, tell me what is happening?
Danilo: The All-Mother wants us to perform the summoning ritual.
Olivia: Chara, I trusted you with my life. Are you having more visions?
Chara stood up, and her eyes seemed clearer: No, I have her in my mind. She needs to use me now. Please, help her.
The queen looked at her host with a questioning gaze.
Eneko: What do you need?
Danilo: A stick or staff and a clear open space. All those who believe in the cult of Pegasus to bring energy.
The young lord commanded his servants, and an hour later, a large group had gathered in a clearing near the burned-down castle. The sky was clear and the moons shone brightly over the island.
The high priest drew a large circle with a red wooden staff. He marked points on the circle for the head, the four legs, and the tips of the wings. As he worked, the Pegasi drew closer. They could hear the call that was motivating the bipeds.
When he finished his work, he was standing at the tip of one of the wings. Chara walked to the tip of the head. She looked at the queen, who took her place at the tip of the other wing. Hernando and Floriano walked towards the places that represented two hooves. Slowly, Lupita and the duke moved on to other two.
Danilo looked at the female rider and spoke in a language that no one understood. The words sounded more like a melody than a language. He spoke for more than two minutes. The spectators were certain that the lines glowed for an instant.
Volker and White Mask entered the circle, and he mounted him without a saddle. The young man grabbed his mane with both hands and leaned onto his back. He looked at his lover with determined eyes.
Chara: All-Mother, your children are listening. Your brave son will show them the way.
White Mask began running in a circle. As they watched, the Pegasus started running in mid-air as if there were walls extending upward from the circle on the ground. He ran upward in a diagonal curve, higher and higher, until he reached maximum speed.
He began to fly in a wide circle over the island to indicate their location below. He flew at a great height, with his rider clinging on for his life. The cold air chilled their bodies, and the wind resisted them as they flew against the current.
The humans on the ground could only see a small shadow in the air as they crossed paths with the moons. The Pegasi, on the other hand, could see more and were the first to distinguish other shapes in the dark sky.
Snowfall: Pegasi.
Hernando: My beauty sees Pegasi.
Floriano: White Stockings too.
Wulfhelm had eyes like those of his uncle: Three of them, right there.
They all watched as Volker and his Pegasus led them in a line towards the wide road to land. They observed three shadows in the sky: one small, like Little Feather, another the size of Grey Wing, and the last one was larger than anything they had ever seen before. They landed in a strange way, using their wings to form large circles and slow their descent, and their hooves only touched the ground when they were flying very slowly.
Most people could not believe what they were seeing. Some started to get headaches. Many ran to see the wild Pegasi by the light of torches and the moon.
Chara spoke in a voice that was not her own: Open your minds.
She emitted a sound like that of a Pegasus. Her mind transmitted a thought: Be careful, my daughters.
Danilo was the first to receive the thoughts of a Pegasus: I understand you. You are the youngest daughter of the All-Mother from the past.
The Pegasus was the same height as Grey Wing, but her hair and wings were almost black. Her eyes were large and violet. She approached him and thought, Priest, do you have the courage to fly?
Danilo almost cried: Yes.
The duke approached a small Pegasus with a copper-colored mane and dark brown wings. Her eyes were almost black: Do you understand me?
Wulfhem in his mind: Ja.
He gently touched her nose and smiled.
The enormous Pegasus walked in front of a woman and lowered her head to the same level. She had a dark body, with a white neck and head. Her wings were white with dark spots on the tips of the feathers. It was obvious that she was pregnant.
The Pegasus: The daughter I carry in my womb will be the All-Mother. She will need a rider who has always had an open mind and heart. She has chosen you, if you accept her.
Lupita thought and said, But I am no one.
The Pegasus: You were pure at five years old when you first saw me fly at night. And you are still pure now, standing before me. Years ago, I did not understand why I flew over the nest of the bipeds. But now I understand. Do you accept?
Lupita leaned against the large head of the Pegasus and cried with happiness: Yes, yes, yes...
He landed far from the others. He ran silently, drawing on years of practice. He had heard a call. He felt a presence on the island that wanted to connect with him. He could only see with one eye. The other had been damaged by the spur of a Pegasus in his youth.
His right eye was amber, his left was white and red and blind. His body was cream-colored, and his mane and tail were white. His left wing was cream-colored and the other was white. His feathers were dirty and his tail was matted. He was thin, but he had survived for fifty years.
Kerstin approached him without fear. The queen turned and looked at her.
Olivia: Kerstin, be careful! He is a Bad Feather.
Kerstin: No. He is broken, just like me.
The girl began to clean the loose feathers from his wings.
Olivia: Kindness. Treat everyone as if they were your family.
The queen and Little Feather began to help Kerstin and the Pegasus.