Chapter 152 Counting the Lost
Pegasi ridge.
After returning to the nest, White Stockings flew almost immediately towards Puerto Blanco. She landed easily on the clear path after her landings in the woods, on uneven ground among bushes and trees. The knight of the air expected to see a pony to ride, but there was not one.
Floriano: Is there a pony that can take me to the castle?
A young man: No, all the animals that serve the castle are with the army. Most of the other animals are too. Do you have a message for the duke?
The rider: Yes. It is from the queen, and it is very important.
The young man: The duke will be flying very soon. We are preparing his Pegasus. Could you help us? We do not know much about Pegasus saddles. You are a royal rider, are you not?
Floriano: Yes, for almost four years. Well, I can teach you how to treat these beautiful animals.
They approached two other young men who were trying to place a saddle on the copper haired Pegasus in the wooden nest. The young wild mount was nervous and squirmed when they tried to fasten the saddle to her.
Floriano: Did the duke give her a name?
Another young man: Yes, Kardinal because of her red hair.
Floriano spoke in soft words he knew from the local language: Kardinal, beautiful, powerful.
The mind of White Stockings received images from the mind of the young Pegasus.
Kardinal: Fear. Bipeds smell bad. They understand nothing.
White Stockings: Relax, sister. My rider is like a brother from your nest. He understands us. Let him help you.
After a few minutes, they placed the saddle on her and everything was secured. The little Pegasus was calmer and more confident. The attendants looked at Floriano with respect that surprised him.
A voice sounded from the great door of the nest: Well done, knight. I regret the state of our nest. The knights of my mother discovered that the master of the nest and some of the attendants were spies for the herald Guillermo. Their heads are impaled facing the sea so that Meeresgott may witness their wickedness. These young men know little, but they are loyal.
The rider turned and immediately knelt: Duke Vulfhelm. I have a message from the queen for you.
The young nobleman took the parchment and read it. He looked the rider in the eye and spoke in a determined tone.
Wulfhelm: I am glad the queen is on the throne and that the kingdom is under her control. We are trying to help her remain there.
Floriano: I need to return to the castle with your advice and answer.
The duke: I understand. Fly with me to my army. You can tell the queen exactly what we are doing for her. Our army has lost over fifteen hundred men, and hundreds are permanently wounded or lost somewhere. I assume there are more dead and wounded in the battle there. I hope they have delayed the army of Aurelio long enough to help. Before this ends, those numbers will become far worse.
Floriano: My brother from the nest is looking for his army. We can fly there and I can see everything the count needs.
The two Pegasi took flight together. They flew southeast, toward an old road that connected Puerto Blanco with Costa Lunas. An army of more than a thousand men and three thousand animals advanced purposefully along the road. Some animals lay abandoned behind them, exhausted from the relentless movement. The duke and the knight landed in a clearing near the front of the army. They rode their Pegasi to find the twelve knights of Wiesse Halle.
Wulfhelm spoke immediately when they were close to them: Where are we?
The oldest knight: We will cross the old bridge and the river tomorrow night. Afterward, we can travel directly to Costa Lunas or east to find the flank of his army. When we arrive, we will be tired, but we will be able to fight.
Wulfhelm: Thank you, Knight. Rider, please tell the queen and the count that they will receive our forces in less than three days.
Floriano: Who guards your cities and your castle?
The Duke: No one. All our soldiers are at the service of the Queen.
In the quarters of the servants.
Corsino looked at the guard, who seemed to be twice his height, in the eye: I am a knight who received his title from the queen herself. If you wish, we can discuss this in front of Her Majesty.
Guard: I want to help you, but the orders are to keep the prisoners here until a captain or the count can decide who will be free and who is a criminal.
The rider: The captain told me that the attendants and servants of the nest were arrested by the traitor. This scroll has their names on it, and it seems they were all in this area. I need to find them on the orders of the Master Rider.
Another guard: Show me the parchment.
The short man showed him the list he had obtained from a captain. The expression of the guard saddened.
Guard: The line under the name means the punishment had already been decided. They were hanged. Many were hanged who lived in the nest.
The dark-skinned man remained silent. Elicio and Luis line below their names. Fifteen-year-old boys. Every assistant and servant, line below their name. The whole family. Marcela, the mother of the nest, line below her name. Bonita, light of the hearts of the nest, line below her name.
Corsino spoke as if in a dream: The traitor killed our family. He killed a little girl...
A wounded guard approached. He was still wearing a blood-stained tabard. He stared at the ground as if frightened by the gazes of other men.
The guard spoke timidly: Sir, I was one of the guards here while the king... the traitor was on the throne. Captain Dante took many men and boys to be hanged, but I do not believe he took any girls.
Corsino grabbed him: Do you know if there is a girl here in the cells? She is ten years old. She and her mother used to live in the nest with the Pegasi.
The guard: Yes, she and a woman who I believe is her mother are in a room. They are alive. No orders were ever given for them or any other woman.
The knight: Take me to them now!
The first guard: Sir, you need...
Corsino drew his winged dagger and pointed it at the big man: Take me to them or draw a weapon and fight me!
The guards knew the punishment for wounding a knight of the castle. They nodded and led him to a locked room that served as a prison.
When they opened the door, the little girl smiled: Corsi!