Chapter 105 Missed Opportunities
The stone nest.
Olivia had imagined flying on the back of a Pegasus for most of her life. In her imagination, the sun was shining brightly high in the sky, which was blue and clear. Now, the sky was covered with clouds, thunder, and lightning. The rain was a little lighter, but the wind was stronger and changed direction every ten seconds.
Nestor: My queen, watch Chara. When it is your turn, do the same. The ropes will keep you in the saddle. Use this rope to pull yourself closer to her shoulders when she is ready to jump. You will not be able to fall unless she falls.
Olivia: I understand. I have images of her flying in the middle of a storm.
Floriano: Yes! She flew in the middle of a storm. She is very strong for her age. She is the daughter of the matriarch of the nest.
Golden Arrow in the mind of her rider: Ready, my beautiful rider?
Chara thought to him and shouted: Ready!
The stone path had no flag bearers. The men were burdened with other duties, and with the changing rain and wind, the flags would have been of no use.
Golden Arrow leaped a distance equivalent to twice the length of its own body and landed on the path, running with long strides. When he lowered his head to increase speed, Chara leaned her body until her head touched his neck. She was covered by his wings, which he kept pressed against his body.
Chara felt every step of the Pegasus on the stone path. She noticed how they became longer and stronger. The leap from the end of the path was a feeling of fear mixed with joy.
Olivia watched as the Pegasus leaped through the air. It was visible when the lightning illuminated the sky and invisible between the flashes. She watched as he began to fall below the path and disappeared into the darkness.
Nestor shouted into the wind: One Pegasus, two Pegasi, three Pegasi, four Pegasi, five Pegasi, six Pegasi, seven Pegasi, eight Pegasi...
Hernando: I cannot see anything.
Floriano: He is small. He is hard to see.
In the mind of every rider and every Pegasus, a thought appeared. It was the voice of Chara mixed with another voice.
Chara: We are strong. We are a family. Fly, my daughters!
Nestor: My queen, Little Feather, are you ready?
Olivia received in her mind the image of the Pegasus with her wings spread and her head held high in the air.
Olivia: Ready!
Little Feather ran with short but very fast steps. She was frightened, but she had heard the voice of the All-Mother. She would not let down her rider or her family. She did not understand many of the words of those bipedal creatures. But she knew that queen meant the matriarch of the bipeds. The biped she was carrying was like her mother.
Olivia watched the head of the Pegasus moving lower and pulled on the rope, burying her face in her wet mane and clinging on with all the strength of her small body.
Little Feather took a great leap into the air, just like her mother. She spread her wings and let herself be carried by the wind, but she spun sideways and began to fall toward the dark ground below.
In the main hallway.
Manuelo and Peador had gathered the militia and many soldiers in a banquet hall.
Manuelo: Pages, on both floors, move from west to east. Open all the doors of all the rooms and look for people. Help anyone who needs it. Afterward, close all the doors of all the rooms. It will take them a long time to search through the rooms. When you close the main door, make an X on the wall in the main hallway. The soldiers will know that the rooms are clear as they retreat.
Peador: If you see a useful weapon, take it. Bowmen, choose rooms on the main floor with windows. Hide near the window. When they open the door, fire a bolt and jump out the window. I want two more crossbows positioned outside the windows. When they appear in the window, kill them. Protect the windows until you cannot anymore.
Near the building where the servants live.
Rodrigo opened the door and entered, followed by some soldiers. Behind them came many servants of the nobility.
Rodrigo: I want the carts to be full of food, wine, and ale. We have about an hour before they organize themselves for the attack. Take everything that we can eat. If you see a rat, kill it so we can cook it later.
The servants ran through the kitchens and pantries and gathered everything up. The squires formed a line of covered wagons and helped load the supplies.
Groups of ten Unicorns ran between the buildings and attacked all the soldiers who were near their lines. Several rows of royal guards blocked the outer doors to prevent the soldiers inside the castle from disrupting them. Any soldier who was brave enough, or perhaps too afraid of his captain, to attempt an exit was attacked with spears and battle axes.
In the rooms of Valero.
The captain entered the room. His armor was stained with blood in several places. He had bandages on one shoulder and one leg. He was only putting weight on his right leg.
Valero: Where are we?
Captain: We have completely secured the tower and the main entrances. We are advancing through the two floors of the east wing, but progress is slow. The soldiers are organizing themselves to attack the forces outside. They control the quarters of the servants and the stables. They possess almost all the horses and all of the unicorns. If our forces venture into an open area, they will annihilate us.
Octavio: Where are our knights and our cavalry?
Valero: Preparing to attack the peninsula and the forces of Marisela.
Octavio: And the queen?
Captain: Nobody knows where she is. Some men are running towards the nest to look for her there. The royal chambers were empty.
Valero and Octavio remained deep in thought for a few minutes.
Octavio: Send a messenger to the commander of the knights. They will use soldiers and cavalry to block the peninsula and prevent Marisela from escaping by land. Attack the ports to prevent her from escaping by ship.
Valero: Tell him to send six hundred knights to the castle to attack the enemy forces from the rear. They should kill the riders, but not the unicorns. I want a formation of crossbowmen in front of the nest. If they see any movement, they should shoot the Pegasi.
Captain: Very well, my king.
Valero: Ah, how is my son?
Captain: He has been injured, but it is not serious. He will lead the final attack against them.
Valero: Good. Tell him that no one escapes. I want the heads of her supporters.