Chapter 104 Choices
In a large room in the east wing.
Esteban looked at four men and four boys.
The Count: Manuelo?
Manuelo: All the narrow passageways are blocked with whatever was nearby and with men armed with spears and shields.
Esteban: I want armed pages on every staircase. Help the nobles, the maidservants, and everyone we can to get closer to the east door.
The man nodded and looked at the boys: Notify the royal militia so they can do their duty. If anyone sees enemies, they should shout for help.
Esteban: Pedro?
The captain: They are heading towards the tower. Victorino is wounded, but it is probably not serious. The soldiers and knights are organizing themselves for an attack. The corridor on each floor is blocked, and they will have to pay a lot to be able to move forward.
The count turned his head towards the enormous man from Isla Oveja.
Peador: There are soldiers at the first-floor windows to protect against attacks from the sides. We can hold out for a long time, but when the enemy advances towards the stairs in the east wing, our position will be weakened.
Esteban: Captain?
Rodrigo: Do you want to know the truth?
Esteban: Please.
Rodrigo: We can win this battle. But afterwards, the queen would be left without an army. Now we have the stables, and there are hundreds of horses and many carriages ready. If we start now, we can evacuate an army along with the nobles and the servants.
Esteban: Does anyone know if the queen is safe?
Pedro: She is running towards the nest. If they can fly, she will be able to escape to many places.
Esteban: Fine. Where are we running to?
Rodrigo: Through the gate of hunters. There are many camps and some cabins to the west, near the Greenwood. The hunters have abandoned the area for the winter. We can organize our forces to seize the throne from Valero or Aurelio. We have the Unicorns and the Pegasi.
Esteban had never lost a battle. He had never run away. The two people he loved were not with him.
Esteban: Let us begin our escape to the Greenwood.
In the nest.
Chara ran to the side of each woman to help them. They were not used to the hundreds of steps that led to the nest. Finally, they reached the top.
Marcela and Bonita were waiting for them.
Marcela: Breathe, my queen. When you finish coughing, drink some water.
Olivia had gone up and down many of the stairs in the castle, as had the maid, Kerstin. Lupita was about to throw up because she had never seen many stairs before this week. The three of them needed a few minutes to recover.
Chara: Folker, the Count of Puerto Blanco, and the priest are following us.
Marcela: How many people need to fly?
Olivia coughed: The duke, the priest, Lupita, Kerstin, and I.
Marcela: Goddess! Elicio, Luis, come here.
The two young people ran along the paths towards their mother of the air.
Marcela: Run down the stairs and help the priest and the coun-duke.
Both: Yes, Mamacela.
The two of them hurried down the stairs. Marcela carefully guided them to the other side of the nest. It was raining heavily, and they had to shout to be heard. Little Bonita was waiting near the entrance to greet the others.
Marcela: Nestor, my love! The queen is here!
The Master Rider approached and looked at the queen. He bowed quickly.
Nestor: We have saddles for three people and a new Pegasus in case she accepts one of you.
Olivia: There are five.
Nestor: My queen, there are limits. The males can accompany them, but they cannot carry anyone else.
Lupita: I am not important. Olivia, you are the queen.
Olivia: No... Goddess... no.
The queen put her hands to her head. She fell to her knees. She screamed in pain. Chara was the first to understand what had happened.
The rider: Queen, open your mind. The young one is trying to communicate with you.
Olivia looked at her and tried to calm down. She quieted her mind.
Olivia: I can see us. But my eyes are looking in this direction.
They heard many men shouting: Little Feather! Little Feather!
The little Pegasus jumped from one path to another and approached the group of bipedal creatures.
Little Feather: Do you understand me?
Olivia spoke in her own voice: Yes. I see myself on top of her, in the saddle.
Chara: Little Feather, you rejected me because your rider is the queen.
In her mind, she received an answer: Yes, my daughter was waiting for another woman. You can guide them to a safe place.
Chara: My queen, where are we going?
Olivia looked at the faces with confusion and an expression of helplessness.
Nestor: If she is nearby, they will find her. An island. It must be close by and...Isla Real! Riders! Chara on Golden Arrow first, the queen on Little Feather second. Chara, Guide them to Isla Real. We will follow you when we can.
Olivia: Please, save my friends. Please.
Nestor: My queen... I will try. You must leave.
On the high bridge.
Danilo ran between the two young men. They grabbed him by the arms and dragged him along the stony path in the rain. The duke moved at the same pace as the rider. They entered the open room on the other side of the bridge. The priest stopped and almost fell.
Danilo: Two minutes, please.
Wulfhelm: It will not do any good if he falls down the stairs.
Volker: Ja.
The young man looked at the place that had given him so much happiness just hours earlier that same day. Now he felt fear and hopelessness. The two young men waited, counting the seconds.
On the stairs of the tower.
The thirty soldiers wore leather armor and carried a heavy load of weapons. But the captain had said that the king would grant a title to the man who killed or captured the queen.
A noble title, a house with land and servants. It was the dream of many soldiers. They were closer to achieving it than at any other time in their lives. They went up the stairs very quickly.
The east wing.
Gunther and Frieder were standing on either side of the large door at the end of the east wing.
They helped the nobles and servants get out of the castle and into the carriages. Frieder had a little blood on his shirt, but he insisted on helping.
Gunther: Sarcedote Emiliano, follow me.
Emiliano: Thank you, thank you. You are always very kind.
Frieder helped a short, dark-skinned woman down the wet stairs. She was different from anyone the young man had ever met. The woman spoke in a strange language and touched his forehead and heart. He was hoping it would be a blessing.
Juana and Alicia waited in rooms along with other servants while the nobles were led outside.
They no longer had a noble patron. Rumors circulated that the maids, lacking nobles, would not be leaving.