Chapter 53 Battle Plans
Over Blasser Hafen.
Floriano had thought about Chara during the trip to Puerto Blanco. He knew better than anyone how much she wanted to be a rider.
White Stockings: My sister is young and may need more time to accept her.
Floriano: Why did you know immediately?
White Stockings: We do not know why we accept bipeds. You are ridiculous and useless. But the All-Mother sent her daughters to serve with the bipeds in the past. Only the All-Mothers know why.
Floriano: The Master Rider teaches that the First Priest performed a magical incantation named the Calling. The Pegasi arrived after this ritual.
White Stockings: Lies. The bipeds believe their fake magic affects my family.
Floriano: Is it a coincidence that a priest of the Goddess of Air performed magic and the Pegasi appeared on the same night?
White Stockings: Want to know how close I can fly to a tree?
Floriano: No, my beautiful girl.
White Stockings landed smoothly on the wide dirt road. The ground crew was efficient and friendly as always.
After a pony ride and a long walk, Floriano found himself face to face with the Duchess of Puerto Blanco, Lieselota. She was surrounded by twelve knights in black and gold armor. They carried tall spears with broad blades and looked at the young man with stern eyes. He offered the message with the deepest reverence.
Lieselota spoke in a low hoarse voice: Thank you, messenger. Please enjoy the hospitality of my kitchen while I write my reply.
After the young man left, a door opened and several men entered the throne room.
Lieselota more robustly: Our friend at the royal castle has sent us a message from Count Esteban. They want to place the bastard daughter on the throne. They are offering my son the title of duke and succession by blood. In addition, a reduction in royal taxes for six years, until he comes of age.
An elderly man: That is a good offer. Is there a hidden message?
Lieselota: Yes, they know about the fleet, but they have not seen the royal ship yet. How are our preparations going?
A knight: When the royal army arrives, we will be able to attack the flank with a force of five hundred knights and almost two thousand men-at-arms. If we manage to delay the army for two or three days, the force on the ships could capture the castle and your son will be crowned king.
Lieselota: If Vulfhelm is the king, he could defend the defensive walls while we defend our land. The royal army would need food and supplies. The Ridges will be unable to sustain Aurelio through the winter. When his soldiers are starving, they will not fight for him. I will respond to the Count by offering my support to the daughter and requesting the necessary actions for my nobles to take measures against Count Aurelio.
In the quarters of the commoner servants.
Yegor entered the corridor the familiar corridor. He was surprised to see two older pages with short swords blocking the entrance. The young man walked towards the entrance as usual, and a page moved in front of him.
Jaime pushed his voice lower: Entry to this area is prohibited, mongrel.
Yegor hesitantly: My mother lives in this area and I want to see her.
Jaime: I have orders, filthy savage. Leave if you do not want a beating.
Yegor gripped his dagger, but both grasped the hilts of their swords. Yegor knew that against two swordsmen, only a great warrior could win with a single dagger. The young man withdrew down the corridor and returned to the chambers of the count. Yegor looked for Gunther, the brother of his best friend. He found him with the burly young man, Marco.
Yegor: Where are the lady and the count?
Gunther: They are in the royal chambers. What do you need?
Yegor: There is a problem. I tried to visit my mother, but the royal pages stopped me. They said the area is restricted.
Gunther spoke with concern: Yes, strange things are happening. The nobles are deciding who will be king, and war is possible.
Marco lowered the volume of his speech: Yegor, do you remember what we talked about?
Yegor: Yes. You want to leave the castle with your friend.
Marco: Yes. The lady sent my mother a message with ten silver coins. That is roughly equal to one royal gold coin. When a criminal is arrested and killed for a serious crime, the guards give a gold coin to his mother. It is a tradition from a very old king.
Gunther: Frieder told me about this once.
Yegor: But the lady is good.
Gunther: Yes, but it is possible. They are prisoners, the priest said so.
Marco: Yegor, you need help with visiting your mother. Gunther, what do you want to do about the man who sent your sister to the royal chamber to be raped?
Gunther with a flash in his eyes: I want to cut his throat.
Marco: Yegor, what do you want to do with the pages who are keeping your mother prisoner?
The expression on the face of the young redhead reflected only anger.
Marco: I can help you with both. The pages have swords and daggers, but how many of them know how to fight? I have been fighting for my mother and my bread since I was six. Yegor, you are a northern warrior, yes? Gunther, you said your friend Frieder is taller and bigger than me, right?
Gunther: Yes, he is as strong as an adult. And I know some other pages who may help.
Yegor: Yes, we will help each other. For Marco and Lupe, freedom. For Gunther and me, the death of the pig. And let us free my mother and the others.
Gunther: What time? I need to talk to Frieder and the others. There are things in the stable we can use as weapons.
Yegor: The nobles will gather for one hour at seven. The count said this in front of me. I understand a little from lip movements when people speak. They always return to their rooms afterward to drink. I know where Hector lives.
Gunther: I can wait under the windows to help you escape. I will ask the others to wait near a guarded entrance with weapons. I am good at moving around the castle unseen.
Yegor: The Steward will die first, just the three of us. Then we can fight the pages with the others.
Marco: They will kill you for that, you know that.
Gunther: It is possible. But a man of honor would sacrifice himself to defend a woman.
Yegor: Or to bring her justice..
Marco: Half past seven bells?
The two young men nodded.