Chapter 153 The Bastard Queen
The royal court.
The queen entered the room and sat down. The six men and one woman bowed and sat down as well. There were no servants in the room. The doors were closed, with groups of royal guards standing in the corridor. The two priests served the wine.
Olivia: Before we begin, I understand there are wonderful things happening in my court. Countess Marisela, Count Heinrich, congratulations.
Each person raised a glass to toast a wedding and the health of a baby: To the future!
The couple held hands and smiled. After a few minutes of enjoying this happy moment, the queen looked toward the table, her voice filled with concern.
Olivia: I need to understand everything that is happening. Count Esteban, please.
Esteban: Of course, my queen. Colina Verde is under our control. The soldiers there will join the army near the defensive walls this morning. The armies of Puerto Blanco and Colinas Gemelas have surrounded Colina Alba Castle. The soldiers from the islands and the lesser noble houses arrived at the castle today with Lady Marisela.
The Queen: And what are we to do about Colina Alba?
The Count of War: We will present the terms of surrender to the Lady as soon as we can. If she sees two hundred Blue Knights alongside our forces, I believe she will do the right thing.
Olivia: Fine. What do we know from the Pegasus messengers?
Danilo: The army of Aurelio will be in position to attack the city in two days. There is a small army from Puerto Blanco traveling along the old road to Costa Lunas. Hopefully, they will arrive in three days. North of Aurelio, there is an army under the command of Lady Tatiana. They will travel day and night to locate his supply wagons and attack them. The objective is to draw some of their forces away from the city.
The Queen: Who can tell me how many soldiers there are on each side? I want to know if I need to make decisions.
Peador: Thank you for inviting me, my queen. I have an account from our captains and the rider who scouted the army of Aurelio this morning. Aurelio has twenty-seven companies of knights and cavalry. He has...
Marisela: Forgive me, lord, but she needs to understand things like you do. My queen, a cavalry company consists of eighty to just over one hundred mounted soldiers. The knights are similar. They have good armor and well-made weapons. An infantry company consists of one hundred to one hundred and fifty men with less resistant armor and useful but inferior weapons. The companies of archers and crossbowmen consist of fifty or sixty men. They are equipped with light armor and basic weapons, in addition to their bows or crossbows. The Unicorns form companies of fifty men and animals. They possess the best armor and weapons.
The young woman smiled: Thank you, I need your advice at this table.
The giant lord: Yes, understood. Twenty-seven companies, about two thousand seven hundred mounted soldiers. With them there are fifteen companies of crossbowmen, nine hundred. The rider believes there are a little over forty companies of soldiers, between four thousand and four thousand five hundred.
Olivia had big, frightened eyes: Eight thousand soldiers.
Heinrich: Yes, my queen. But their quality is not equal. Many of the soldiers are newer and fight worse than the veterans. The army of the warrior Tatiana destroyed almost two thousand at the crossroads.
Danilo: Yes, but they were sick from the poisoned wine. It is a good thing he does not have them anymore, but these companies were very weak.
The Queen: I understand a little. And our side?
Peador: Four companies of Unicorns with seasoned knights, two hundred. Ten companies of archers from Puerto Blanco, almost five hundred, and they are very dangerous. Six companies of crossbowmen from various armies, three hundred and fifty. The cavalry is limited; we believe we can field eight hundred on the battlefield. In all, soldiers number twenty-eight companies, or almost three thousand.
Olivia: Less than five thousand.
Esteban: If we count on the forces of Colina Alba, they are three companies of trained knights and possibly five hundred more experienced soldiers. If they decide to defend their lands and not surrender, part of our army must protect the area between them and the castle.
The queen: We need them.
Marisela: Yes. With them and a thousand from the north and just as many from the northwest, we have closer to the same strength.
Esteban: The strategy depends on whether we have the soldiers from Colina Alba. Without them, we need to defend the walls and defensive gates. They do not have enough food or supplies for a long war if we defend.
Heinrich: But if Aurelio decides to march on Puerto Blanco, he will easily capture the cities. He will have ample food and supplies, and he could reinforce his army with militiamen. He could use their families as hostages to extract help from the men who remain there. It was a common practice before the revolt.
Olivia: Understood. By tonight we will know if we have their soldiers. How many died and how many were seriously wounded in the two battles against Valero?
Marisela: My personal maid has a friend who is a Sister of Shadow. They believe there are over a thousand dead in the royal castle. Hundreds more in the other two castles, possibly sixteen hundred in total. Perhaps a thousand wounded across all locations. They need help.
The queen looked as though she was about to cry, but she spoke: High Priests, please send messages to all the noble houses in the city and on the estates. By order of the queen, all the Sisters of Shadow, all the priests, and all the servants who know how to heal the wounded must come to the royal castle. We will pay them well for their help.
Emiliano spoke for the first time: My queen, there is a matter of coin. We can raise a great deal from the noble houses, but that takes time. Valero used much of the royal coinage to pay debts to his supporters. The people and the army need food, and we cannot use soldiers to take it from the farms. There is no time. We can make promises but...
Olivia interrupted: Lord Emiliano, your dagger please.
The man drew his dagger and offered it to her. The young woman used it to remove a gem from the arm of her chair. She returned the dagger and offered the gem.
The Queen: How much is that worth? There are thirty on this chair. There are many on the chairs in the royal chambers. How many are there in the castle?
Emiliano: Three thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight. But that is only in the areas I have visited. I like to count things.
Olivia: Take all the gems in the castle and every silver spoon. My army and my people will have food, drink, and everything they need. I am a bastard, but I will reign like a mother to my people.