Chapter 87 Oaths of Service
The stone nest.
The screams of Volker and Chara echoed through the air around the nest and the castle.
Nestor: ...Eight pegasi, nine pegasi...
The Pegasi appeared above the castle, flying like large condors amidst the strong winds. They glided through the air with the humans clinging to their manes with all their might. Everyone shouted with joy and excitement. The male Pegasi were elegant and flew with great beauty.
Nestor: Riders! Who wants to give Folker a dagger?
Hernando: Please, Master Rider. He is like another brother to me.
Floriano: Yes, it must be Ernando.
Many voices expressed their agreement.
Nestor: Move. I want the ceremony to be held when they return. I need to remember the words in his language.
Marcela and her daughter hurried to prepare food and cider. The men rushed to prepare two small nests for the Pegasi. The boys found sweet grasses and salted fish. Elicio and Luis thought they had a chance to become the rider of Little Feather. The place was filled with joy and camaraderie.
A few more minutes passed, and the Pegasi landed in a line with two riders who were cold but ecstatic. They walked towards the nest, and several men approached to help the riders dismount. Volker and Chara embraced with big smiles. The voice of the Master Rider echoed through the air.
Nestor: Flying without a saddle. Accepting a mount without a formal presentation ceremony. Flying without riding clothes. And worst of all... flying without the winged dagger. Chara! Folker! Come here!
The two of them stood in front of their trainer and mentor with big smiles on their faces.
Nestor: Luis, you know a lot about the history of the riders and the Pegasi.
Luis: Yes, Master Rider.
Nestor: Who was the first woman to ride a Pegasus?
Luis beamed: Chara, the bravest woman in the world.
The eighteen-year-old woman wiped the tears from her eyes. More than one man did the same.
Nestor: Folker von Veisse Halle, sprich deinen Eid.
Volker: Mein Pegasus wird fressen, bevor ich es tue. Mein Pegasus wird ein warmes, trockenes Nest haben, bevor ich schlafe. Mein Pegasus wird meine Familie sein. Ich werde ohne Angst fliegen.
Nestor: Who gives Folker his wings?
Hernando approached, fastened the belt around his friend, and tied it. Then, he took his head in his hands and kissed both of his cheeks, following the tradition of his island when a boy becomes a man.
Volker: Danke. Thank you, my friend.
The family in the nest began a celebration for the two new riders. After an hour of drinks and sweets, Nestor whistled.
Nestor: Men, I need four training saddles adapted for the Pegasi, complete with safety ropes. Make sure two of them fit each male properly. Chara, Folker, go to the High Priest and tell him the news. He might have messages for us. You will have to practice flying before you undertake long flights. But I am very proud of you.
Bonita hugged Chara for the fifth time and cried with joy: I want to be exactly like you.
Finally, they ran down the stairs and reached the bridge that connected the nest to the castle. Chara grabbed the arm of Volker and dragged him into the shadows of the small stone room at the bottom of the stairs.
Chara: Folker, this does not have to mean anything. But right now, I want to kiss a man. Can I?
Volker nodded, his eyes wide. The woman touched his shoulders and kissed him softly. She opened her eyes and looked at him with a hesitant smile. He kissed her passionately. After a few more kisses, they both knew that these kisses meant something.
Chara laughed softly: I guess we must go now.
Volker: Yes, I suppose so. You know you are beautiful, right?
Chara, with a red face: No, I look like a boy.
Volker: No, you are beautiful. And I will tell you that every day if I must.
They ran across the bridge and down the stairs of the large tower. When they reached the first floor of the tower, they were stopped by armed guards.
Guard: Where are you going?
Chara: The Master Rider sent us to High Priest Danilo to retrieve any messages he might have, and to tell him that we are now riders of male Pegasi.
The guard showed that he did not care at all: Alright. You can wait around here. The royal court is busy right now. Stay where we can see you.
In the royal banquet hall.
Queen Olivia was seated in a chair at a large table. Count Stephen was seated to her right. The high priests stood on either side of the table, facing seventy-eight men and boys. Esteban whispered in her ear from time to time. He guided her through the ceremony of summoning the royal militia.
Olivia, with all the confidence she could muster: Manuelo of Colina Verde, recite your oath as captain of this militia. When the time for war comes, who will you fight for?
Manuelo knelt on one knee: I will fight for my family, for the people of the kingdom, and for my queen.
Danilo approached and handed him a short sword. Emiliano appeared from the other side and gave him a gold coin with the face of Reynaldo engraved on it. Olivia had refused to use coins depicting her father. The man stepped aside.
Olivia: Who represents the servants?
A short, muscular man stepped forward. He had dark skin and an attractive face.
Man: Gilberto, cook in the royal kitchen. My son Ernando is a rider in the stone nest. I fought on a ship in Puerto Blanco.
Olivia, with a look of respect, asked: Who will you fight for?
Gilberto: For my children, for my wife, and for my queen.
Danilo gave him a spear. Emiliano gave him a bag of silver coins, one for each man. The man approached and stood next to Manuelo.
Olivia: Who represents the pages?
Antonio approached and looked at Danilo with a questioning gaze. The priest whispered something in his ear.
Olivia: Who will you fight for?
Antonio: For Boyarina Tatiana, for my queen, and for Paco, my friend.
Emiliano gave him a short sword. Danilo gave him a bag of coins.
The priest: Give a coin to each page and to young Marco. You are their leader.
Olivia: Marco, come and stand in front of your queen.
Marco did what she told him to do.
Olivia: You are neither a castle servant nor a page. There is no need for you to be here. You are free to leave my castle and return to your family.
Marco: If the queen accepts me, I will fight. I am the bastard son of a whore. The queen can keep her coin. I will fight for my little sister Vega, for my mother, and for Lupe.
Yegor walked over and stood next to the young man.
Yegor: I will fight alongside this warrior.
Gunther appeared alongside Marco: I will fight alongside this warrior.
Esteban: My queen, you have a militia.