Chapter 103 Strength
Outside the royal castle.
Sixteen captains from Colina Alba and Colina Verde led their companies of one hundred men-at-arms each, drawing ever closer to the royal castle. When the guards fired their crossbows, they returned fire with three times as many bolts. They fired through all the windows. They were trying to kill anyone who was in the east wing or the tower.
The rain increased and the winds were strong and cold. Amidst the thunder, a different sound was heard. Two hundred and one war unicorns appeared behind the lines of the army of Valero.
Only some of the knights threw their spears. But every man saw another fall with a spear deeply embedded in his chest or stomach. Their eyes also saw enormous unicorns charging towards them with more spears held high. Brave men would have stayed and used their spears to kill many unicorns and their axes to kill the knights.
Few of them were brave. Hundreds of men ran west, seeking the safety of the other soldiers. Hundreds more retreated to their initial positions, moving even further away from the castle. Some simply fled.
Azure Death ran after some of the groups, making angry sounds. He knocked some of them to the ground and broke their ribs with his large hooves. Every man who looked into those blue eyes understood why the late King Gutierre used death in the name of his Unicorn.
Rodrigo jumped from his saddle and ran towards the large door. The soldiers opened it, and the knight approached the giant redhead.
Rodrigo: I need to speak with the queen or the count. There is a decision that I cannot make.
Peador grabbed the captain by the shoulders and smiled: Follow me!
In a banquet hall.
Valero and Octavio were eating generous portions of food. They were drinking wine and waiting for the announcement of the victory.
Valero: The rain will slow down progress, but my son is brilliant. He has a mind like that of the Conqueror.
Octavio: I hope his cock works better.
The two counts laughed. A captain entered the room and bowed.
Captain: The Blue Knights have left the stables.
Valero: What are they doing?
Captain: Some headed to the common stables. Others took the road to the northwest. Most marched towards the east wing.
Octavio: Do you know who they are fighting for?
Valero interrupted: If they were fighting for me, one of them would be standing in front of us.
On the tower staircase.
The three knights drew their swords. They did not have enough room to use their axes or maces. They thought that two boys and a thin man would not be able to stop them.
Volker and Wulfhelm shouted: Stahl und Blut.
The hands of the knights moved very slowly. Volker brandished his dagger and slashed one of the knights across his eyes and nose. The man dropped his sword and covered his face with his hands. He tried to back away, but fell down the stairs to the ground.
Wulfhelm had learned swordsmanship from his uncle. He pointed his sword towards the ground and moved it upwards with great speed and force. The tip of the weapon lifted part of the armor, and the duke pushed it at the exact moment his clothing was exposed. The sword penetrated between two ribs, and the man let out a guttural sound. The young man withdrew his sword and blocked an attack aimed at Volker.
Danilo finally made his move. His dagger struck the forearm of the knight and was deflected by the chainmail.
Volker lunged forward, attempting to stab the other man in the neck. His chainmail protected him, but his courage was beginning to falter.
The young men moved with great speed. His friends were wounded and lying on the ground. His only order was to ring a bell. The knight retreated, defending himself with his sword against three attackers. When he had created some separation, he fled. One of the knights was blind and the other was dying from a hemorrhage in his lungs.
Danilo: Let us go. The magic does not last long.
On the high bridge.
Chara stopped. The three women were breathing heavily.
Chara: Rest a minute. Then, cross the bridge. When you are on the other side, I will run over there.
Lupita: Thank you.
Chara was breathing easily: Do not speak, simply breathe.
Three young women nodded and took a deep breath. The rain was coming in through the sides of the bridge. The rider contemplated the scene that until now had only been a dream.
On the second floor of the tower.
The knights use tables as shields to protect their leader as they made their way to the royal chambers.
The son of Valero sat down on a bench and two knights examined his wound.
Knight: This is not serious.
Victorino: I know. Where is the queen?
Knight: I do not know. There was no one here. She is on the first floor of the tower or on an upper floor.
Victorino: Have thirty men go up the stairs and thirty men go down the main staircase. Bring me the queen, dead or alive.
On the first floor of the tower.
Pedro approached the Count and the two frightened pages.
The captain: Count, we must get out of the tower. They will soon come down the stairs in large numbers.
Esteban looked at the fighting and nodded.
The Count: Block the corridor. Consolidate our position. I want to speak with the commanders in the east wing as soon as possible.
The high bridge.
Chara watched the three girls crossing the bridge. Her head ached, just like the first time she tried to accept the thoughts of her Pegasus.
In her mind and in other minds further away: Daughters, help the bipeds. We will need them in the future. The three races need each other.
Chara almost lost consciousness when the voices responded: We understand, All-Mother.
The rider began to understand that very faint voices were echoing in her mind, as if they were coming from a great distance. Hundreds of voices. Voices of Pegasi.
She started running across the bridge: Your daughter can hear you, Mother.
The nest.
Six Pegasi left their dry nests to stand in the rain and the cold.
The family of the air was under the roofs of the nest, watching many people moving around the castle.
Nestor, Hernando and Floriano stared into the distance. Each of them received the same message in their minds.
The Master Rider: Saddles for all the Pegasi, including Little Feather. Double saddles for the large ones and new saddles for the three small ones.
Marcela: Flying during a storm? That is madness.
Nestor: Listen. It is a powerful voice. It is like...
Bonita: I can hear her. It is the voice of the All-Mother.
Nestor: Boys! Get ready!
They ran along wet wooden paths, braving the strong winds. No one in the nest remembered that voice, except for Grey Wing. She had been a small Pegasus the last time she felt that presence in her mind.
Grey Wing began to cry with happiness.