Chapter 79 Rider Floriano
Over the royal islands.
White Stockings set off with Floriano and nine sacks containing messages. She flew southwest first to the Islas de luz and then to Isla Piedras. When he dropped the messages, they were not as perfect as those of Luis, in fact landed in the water and another in a tree. But all three islands received the news. The islands of Oveja, Rica, Tortuga, and Pájaro were aligned from west to east. The servants on these islands outlined much larger targets for him. After the fourth island, White Stockings turned northwest to fly over Royal Island. They delivered the bag when the sun was already low on the horizon.
White Stockings: Rider, I need to land on the last island. I do not think it is safe to continue.
Floriano thoght with shae: It is my fault. My pride in you sometimes causes problems.
White Stockings: No. My pride was to blame. I did not want to disappoint my rider or the All-Mother.
Floriano: Do not worry. We can land and rest for a few hours and we will fly again before dawn. You are strong and beautiful.
White Stockings: You are very intelligent.
They landed in an open field on the outskirts of the prison and the small town nearby.
White Stockings trotted up toward the small castle. Floriano was surprised that only one guard approached. The other visible guards barely looked their way. In many places, the arrival of a Pegasus would have caused excitement and even joy. The armed man did not smile as he looked at the rider.
Guard: Why are you here, boy?
Floriano in his most manly voice: I have a message from the royal castle about the new queen.
Guard appeared annoyed: Queen? Who?
Floriano: Queen Olivia. The daughter of the late king.
Guard: I have never heard of her. Anyway, give me the bag. The priest can read it if he wants. The lord of the island is at the royal castle with the other nobles.
The rider threw the bag to him, and the guard turned around to return to the castle.
Floriano called to his back: Guard, I need a place for her to rest for a few hours. Also, food and drink for us, please.
The man did not turn around: There is a small lake to the south and plenty of grass for you both to eat. Pegasus fuckers eat grass too, do they not?
The guard seemed very amused at himself. The young man could not believe what he had heard. The Pegasus did not understand most of the words, but the hostility was easy to understand. The image she created out of certain words was very disturbing to her rider.
Floriano thought to her: If I could, I would punch him for that.
White Stockings: You could hit him, but I think he will beat you to death.
Floriano: Yes, I know. That is why I cannot hit him.
White Stockings: Think what you mean. That is why you are not going to hit him. But you could.
The young man laughed softly: Yes. Do you want to visit a small lake?
White Stockings: I hope there are fish.
She ran south along a dirt road that ended between a manor house and a lake with fairly clear water. She stopped so that her rider could untie the ropes and dismount. She approached the edge of the lake slowly and silently. The keen eyes of the Pegasus scanned the water, searching for the small bubbles that indicated a fish was near the surface. She was a hunter now. Catching a fish like this was a serious matter to a Pegasus.
White Stockings to her rider: Wait...silence...wait...
A female voice started them both: Can I pet your Pegasus?
Floriano turned to look at a woman slightly older than him. She was wearing a dress shorter than any he had ever seen before, and her nipples were clearly visible through the fabric. He tried to lift his eyes from them but did not find the will.
White Stockings was startled by the noise and failed to catch the fish, catching a mouthful of mud instead. She spat it out and used the water to wash the awful taste out of her mouth.
Floriano: Yes! Oh, if she wants you to. She can understand my thoughts and I can understand hers.
White Stockings: I will kick her over that nest there.
Floriano thought to her: She has not done you any harm.
Floriano to the woman: If you speak to her kindly, perhaps you can stroke her neck. They enjoy praise, but they are picky with humans.
Woman: If she does not want my caresses, maybe you do?
The Pegasus had seen bipeds like this before. As with her sisters, she enjoyed observing the bipeds below the stone nest. The biped showed signs of being ready to mate, but her scent indicated otherwise.
Floriano stammered: Oh, yes. Yes, oh.
Woman bluntly: Two silver coins, three if you want wine. And one more if you want something special.
She licked her lips in a way that Floriano did not want to like, but he liked it anyway.
Floriano: Oh no! No, I am sorry, but no.
Woman: Are you sure? Five copper coins for something quick?
The man blushed intensely and finally stopped staring at her nipples. He looked into her eyes and found sadness, despair, and not a single trace of happiness.
Floriano in the mind of the Pegasus: Peace. You are not going to hurt her because she did not hurt you.
The visibly dejected woman turned around and began walking back to the brothel.
White Stockings: Honesty. Earn your food with what you are able to do.
The young man took the bag he received from the Herald and walked quickly to come alongside the woman.
Floriano in the mind of his companion: Kindness. Treat each other as if you were family.
The rider to the woman: I did not earn these coins. They belong to a man I believe is evil. They are yours if you will take them.
Woman: What do you want for these? I am not concerned with the origen of my coins.
Floriano: Nothing. The bag is yours.
As the young man walked back towards his Pegasus, the woman watched him from behind with confusion.
Woman: Thank you, sir.
White Stockings: There are reasons I never want to disappoint you.