Chapter 174 Shifting Winds
The nest.
The winds were stronger over the city, and the ash was perceptible to everyone. Grey Wing, Snowfall, and White Stockings landed on the stone path, one after another.
Néstor pulled the cloth down from his face and shouted: More bags! They get scared every time we fly over them!
A servant: We do not have enough for all the bags.
Floriano: Put copper coins in the bags if necessary! We are going to kill every one of them!
A section of the wall on a steep hill.
Rows of unicorns leaped over the wall, rising higher into the air than five men. They landed on a hill, crossed the valley at full speed, and leaped onto another hill, one almost as high. In less than ten minutes, they had gathered in two groups, gazing at the Pegasi in the air. Before them stood the priest and his wild unicorn.
Emiliano: Why are there not any soldiers attacking near here?
Esteban: Because only an idiot would attack while climbing that hill. No one would reach the wall with arrows flying. But if we are spotted, they might send knights after us.
The priest and his Unicorn began to make gestures and emit sounds in the language of Unicorns. The man spoke the words that the gestures signified shortly thereafter.
Emiliano: This leap is going to be painful. The distance is long. It could cost you months of your life. Afterward, rest for a moment: eat and drink your supplies.
The Unicorns and the men weighed the seriousness. In some of their gazes, there was doubt.
Suddenly, many knights shouted in surprise: Pegasi!
Heads turned toward the sky, above the walls. They watched as the Pegasi attacked the towers and the soldiers. Some of them cheered as the towers fell. The captain of the knights spotted a sudden opportunity.
Rodrigo: Men! The soldiers fight for our Queen! The knights fight for our Queen! Even the Pegasi of the mountains fight for Queen Olivia! There is a man who calls himself King! Our duty is to kill him for our Queen!
The humans and the Unicorns seemed more prepared to fight. And their moment had arrived.
Pedro: Look at that!
In the distance, they spotted the great black Pegasus. Beneath it, a very long yellow ribbon descended toward a pasture. The priest and his unicorn made quick gestures to the large group of Blue Knights. Then, they ran to the side.
Two rows of fifty advanced in a staggered formation, so that everyone could see. As they moved swiftly, they leaped high into the air and gazed out at the distant meadow. They vanished at the very peak of their jump.
The priest approached the count: Esteban, understand that the oldest unicorns could die because of this leap.
Esteban pointed at the riderless unicorns: Yes, I think they know.
While waiting for the signal from their landing field, the riderless Unicorns passed by Azure Death, one by one. They gently brushed their horns against his.
Emiliano: There are no drawings of that movement.
The Count: Yes, but I do not need to understand a language to recognize respect.
Pedro: I see it!
The blue ribbon of the queen fell slowly toward a rather flat area, near the battle between the warriors and the soldiers. Thirty-four Unicorns and sixteen men leaped with magic. Only a wild Unicorn from the Greenwood and a man from a common family remained on the hill, near the center of a great battle.
At the Gate of Hunters.
When the armored turtle and several towers were pushed on their sides, the soldiers attempted to fall back with their companies, while arrows, spears, and two wild Pegasi pursued them. In one section of the wall, a tall, red-haired woman stood with a large mace, shouting.
Sorcha: Open the gates! We can destroy them! Islands! Colina Verde! Death to the traitors!
Men worked to remove the timber and stones that reinforced the massive gates. As they threw them wide open, hundreds of men and a few women from the islands, stormed through, with blood on their minds. They attacked the groups of retreating soldiers. The Lady of Isla Oveja and the giants of her people crushed the men with their maces. Soldiers who had been enemies barely days before fought shoulder to shoulder. They cut a path of bodies and blood through the soldiers of Aurelio.
The western flank.
The young duke soared through the skies once more. His arrows became a nightmare for the captains and sergeants of the companies attempting to regroup their army.
On the ground, soldiers bearing green and white shields advanced with vigor in their third attack of the day. Soon, their lines made contact with the soldiers of the queen. Together, they formed an L-shaped line and attacked groups of enemies in unison.
In an observation tower near the walls.
Heinrich stood atop the wooden tower, observing every detail of the battle. His eyes swept across the field from east to west. Two minutes later, he descended the ladder and approached a group of captains clad in the colors of their houses.
The Count: We must charge their lines! Sound the horns to rally every knight and mounted soldier capable of fighting!
Felipe remained seated, his bandages soaked in blood: They still outnumber us by more than two to one in mounted troops. I cannot ride, and I do not want my men to be sacrificed in a futile attack.
Severo: He is right. The siege is breaking. They have suffered numerous casualties. But there were fifteen hundred spears in the fields that did not fight yet today.
Heinrich: I have seen armies break in battle. That army is about to crumble. If we destroy the center of their cavalry lines, they will flee.
Dark-eyed men looked into the blue eyes of a soldier like themselves. They raised their horns.
The fields north of the city.
Six companies of men, bearing the colors of five noble houses, formed three lines facing deep lines of fourteen companies bearing the colors of the army of Aurelio. Both sides advanced rapidly toward one another before charging. No arrows streaked across the skies above the lines. The crossbowmen of the queen were fighting battles in many places near the walls. The crossbowmen of the Northern army took cover behind whatever shelter they could find. They had seen too many of their friends fall, their skulls shattered by attacks from the sky.
Had the sun not been obscured by clouds of ash, the knights clad in red, silver, and gold would have been able to see the shadows of the Pegasi in the air, above them. The cries of the men and horses were the first proof of their presence. Stones broke bones. Nails pierced muscles with the same force as arrows. Copper and silver coins rained down upon heads from such a height that some men died before falling from their horses.
Heinrich raised a spear into the air and shouted: Angriff!
Severo: Charge!