Chapter 134 The Cost of Service
In a small cabin.
The Master Rider: Thank you for your time, Duke Vulfhelm.
The Duke: Of course.
Nestor: My last message was for your city. For your mother. I witnessed her ritual of returning to the sea.
The young man remained motionless and silent. A few tears fell from his eyes. His breathing was ragged. He felt alone.
Finally, he spoke: Was the ritual good?
Nestor: Yes, the ritual was beautiful and powerful. Thousands of people sang as she made her way towards the God of the Sea. They also sang about a new future.
Wulfhelm: Yes. This refers to me. I want to be alone for a while, please.
The rider and the servants departed. The lord of Weisse Halle, almost fifteen years old, collapsed to the ground and wept for the death of his mother. He feared the future and the role he would have to play in it.
Near a small fire.
Pedro: Sweet One, I think you have something on your mind.
Juana and her sister exchanged a glance. The man had not had time for her in the last few days. The initial joy he felt at sharing a meal with his intended transformed into a feeling of anxiety.
Alicia: Who is Lupita?
Juana: Magpie!
The man pushed the food aside. He looked at them with eyes full of guilt and fear.
The captain: She is a woman from the streets of Limners. I have visited her once a month for eleven months. I paid her to teach me a few things. If you want, we can break our promise to marry. It is a matter of your honor.
Juana: Alicia told me everything the woman said. The woman promised that you never did that act. Why did you go to her?
The man looked at the ground: The women in the castle are always talking about me. They say things that my guards and I overhear. They think I am the man of fantasies. Before Lupe, I knew nothing about love or physical intimacy. She taught me things for you, things you would probably like.
Alicia: She told me that you never touched her. She only explained and showed you a few things.
Pedro: Yes. But it is a horrible thing to do. I was afraid of disappointing you.
The man began to remove the ring made of silk cord from the ring finger of his left hand. The woman took his hands in hers. A similar ring adorned the ring finger of her right hand.
Juana: Pedro, I still want to marry you. It is important that you did not lie to me about her. It is important to know the reason why you did something so incredibly stupid.
Pedro: But...
The woman: My captain, you must fight in a war, or perhaps two. Look me in the eyes and promise me you will return to my side. I do not care if you know anything about relationships or not. We will have a whole lifetime to discover those things together.
The man: I must leave soon to go fight. I do not want to go, but it is my duty. I will come back to you. I will dedicate my entire life to proving my love for you.
They kissed with great passion while the sister looked at the forest and tried not to laugh out of embarrassment.
In the forest.
Emiliano: His name is Hoof Click.
Olivia: Are you saying that you can move from one place to another almost instantly by riding a unicorn?
Emiliano: I have already done it once. We want to try it over a longer distance.
Esteban: Yes. If it is only possible over a short distance, it is not very useful. But if it is over a long distance, with armed knights...
Olivia: That would be dangerous in a war.
Rodrigo: Yes. We are very dangerous now. If we can get close to the castle without fighting, it will be an advantage.
The priest seemed more confident: My queen, I have spoken with him about some matters, and I have learned things. They need to see the place clearly, and elements such as the trees and the humans that stand between the two places are dangerous.
Olivia: Can you talk to him?
The other two men smiled as the priest demonstrated the language of the unicorns. The young woman giggled.
The great unicorn Azure Death approached the queen. He lowered his horn to the ground and struck twice with his left hoof. He rose up on his hind legs and pointed his horn at the small woman.
Emiliano smiled broadly: He said you are strong and that he will serve you.
She smiled happily: Thank you, priest. I want to learn this language when we have time.
Esteban: Are you ready, Emiliano?
The man jumped onto the back of the unicorn and prepared for the jump: Yes. Do you see that big tree over there? I think he understands that I want to move there with magic.
Rodrigo: This distance is greater than the effective range of the crossbows or bows they use. A line of archers is more dangerous to us than a group of knights.
Olivia: Fine. I need to look at the tree, correct?
The count nodded: Rodrigo will observe him and the unicorn. I will observe the space between them and the tree.
The captain: Yes, and Azure Death will be watching what he does.
The unicorn began to run at great speed after taking only a few steps. The priest was pressing his body against the back of the animal with his eyes closed. They crossed the land as if it were flying. He leaped into the air, rising higher than a tall man, and they disappeared.
Olivia screamed in surprise. The men quickly turned their heads to see the unicorn and the priest far from their previous position.
Olivia: Goddess!
Rodrigo: Emiliano! Well done!
Esteban: Green God!
The unicorn turned around and ran slowly towards them. When they were closer, the onlookers noticed strange things. The priest seemed to be in pain, but he was smiling.
The captain: Look at the hooves, they are different, like...
Esteban: Emiliano, your face!
The three of them looked at his face as he touched it.
Emiliano spoke with confusion: I have a beard.
Olivia: Yes, and you have longer hair.
The three of them: What happened?
Emiliano: I do not know exactly. It was instantaneous. But afterwards I felt pain in my muscles. And I am hungry!
Rodrigo took an apple out of his bag and threw it to the man. The unicorn caught it and ate it quickly.
Esteban: He is hungry too. Dismount, I have some bread.
After eating and answering many questions, the priest remained silent for a while.
Emiliano: I know what happened. True magic always demands sacrifice. My beard is maybe a week and a half old.
Rodrigo: The hooves and mane have grown as if a week or two have passed.
The priest spoke in a low voice: To move through his magic, the magic consumes a part of your life.