Chapter 142 By Order of the Queen
In a cabin of pages and servants.
Pedro: Page Antonio. I believe we will soon depart to attack the city. I want you to stay behind and lead the militia to protect the queen, the nobles, and the women.
Antonio smiled: And Juana.
The captain smiled: Yes, and Juana. Choose some boys to command groups of pages or squires. Patrol the forest and glades. Protect against spies, predators, or anything else. The queen will have six royal guards. But all other men over the age of fifteen will go with the army.
The page bowed: Frieder, Yegor, and Gunther. I trust them.
Pedro: Are you sure about Gunther?
Antonio: Yes. He killed an armed boy to save Frieder. The fear disappeared from his eyes that night. He understands why we fight.
Pedro: Fine. Someday you will be captain of the guard, or a knight if you prefer. If I did not need a commander here, I would want you in battle.
The young man already had a very attractive face, like a younger version of the man opposite him. He accepted a spear and listened to his instructions.
The captain: The safety of the queen comes first. The nobles, second. The servants, last. We will ask the queen to fly to the island on her Pegasus when we leave. But she will refuse. I think she trusts you.
Antonio: I think so.
Pedro: If there is danger to her, convince her to flee.
Antonio: Of course. I will protect her with my life.
The captain brought his face very close to the face of the page: I do not want you to die defending her. I want you to put her on the Pegasus if necessary.
Antonio: Yes, Captain.
Pedro: Never forget that a good monarch is worth more than a thousand soldiers. Hope is the best sword a good man could have.
In a large clearing in the forest.
The queen stood before hundreds of knights and squires. She looked at them all. In her mind, she imagined each man dying for her. Her hands trembled slightly. Her voice sounded neither confident nor steady. She longed to hide away in her small room with her books and Monika.
Olivia: Knights, squires, nobles. To perform unicorn magic, you must sacrifice part of your life. I cannot ask you to do so. I understand that each of you will act out of loyalty and duty. But the Count is confident that we can win without using magic.
Peador: My queen. I was not at the court of your father because I usually speak the truth without thinking about titles or respect. Please ask any man here why they would sacrifice part of their life or their entire life for you.
The young woman looked at Esteban and Rodrigo and received nods of approval. She spoke with a little more confidence.
The queen pointed to a young squire: Come here, please.
The young man stood before her and bowed: My queen.
Olivia: How old are you?
Squire: Sixteen, Your Majesty
Olivia: Why are you offering your life for me?
Squire: I have three younger sisters. I believe the castle will be safer for them with you on the throne.
The queen dismissed the young man and asked the same question to others she chose.
A young knight: My girlfriend is a seamstress at the castle. She thinks I am brave and strong. The night we fought for you was the first time I ever felt that way.
An elderly knight: For twenty years I served a coward peacefully. I fought for that same coward during the Puerto Blanco rebellion. I do not fear dying in battle. I fear never fighting for someone worthy of my blood.
The queen listened to six others. She thought of Marco and Lupita. She thought of Kerstin and Yegor. She thought of Gunther and Frieder. Finally, she remained silent for a few minutes.
Olivia: Count Esteban. When can we begin the attack?
Esteban: We will be ready when the sun touches Colina Alba.
The Queen: Send a message to Colinas Gemelas. Use magic only when necessary but use it.
The count looked at his commanders: Captains, when the sun shines on the western fields of the south gate and the gate of hunters, I want the army of Valero to see their nightmares.
Within minutes, the soldiers and servants were moving like a swarm of ants. Weapons, armor, and animals were being prepared. Prayers were said, oaths of love were sworn, and promises were made. Around many bonfires, pages and servants made wooden horns with ropes to wear on heads.
Gray Wing took off and flew east. Nestor carried a leather case with a message and maps. She flew far from the walls so that no one in the city could see her.
Colinas Gemelas Castle.
The lookouts gazed at the sky, searching for the Pegasi returning from their observation flights. When they saw only a shadow in the sky, they feared something bad had happened. But when the figure drew closer, they knew it was not one of the males.
Grey Wing flew directly over the castle at a very low altitude. She circled until people waved torches to signal him to come closer. The Master Rider took his satchel off his shoulder and waited for the thought of his Pegasus.
The case hit the front door with a dull thud. A servant rushed to his countess with it. The mark on the messenger bag was of great importance.
When she was alone with a group of confidantes, Marisela read: By order of Queen Olivia, the armies of Costa Lunas will launch attacks against the traitor Valero to restore the queen to her throne. They begin one hour before dawn.
They placed maps on the large table, and everyone looked at the symbols and notes for the plan of the Count of War.
Marisela: Do you want to capture Colina Verde for food and wealth?
Severo: It seems so, but there are strange things.
Felipe: Yes. He wants us to advance north and then shift the attack west. We could attack west immediately, and they would not notice us until we were much closer.
Sigard: He wants us to be seen. The attack on the west has another purpose.
Heinrich: Yes. They will attack the gates here and here from the west and south. We will attack Colina Verde from the east. They will have to send more forces to the castle and the gates.
Marisela: The soldiers would come from the royal castle. And the Unicorns?
Patricia: Your pardon, my Countess.
The maid placed a finger on a gate in the northwest defensive wall of the royal castle.
Patricia: How long would it take a unicorn to travel this distance?
The four men smiled and looked at her with expressions of surprise.
The woman also smiled: My best friend spends a lot of time with soldiers. She explains things to me.
Marisela: For Queen Olivia.
The others: For Queen Olivia.