Chapter 126 Discoveries
The city of Costa Lunas.
In a large city, news spread in various ways. News from the castle was announced aloud by official messengers who used horns or bells to attract attention. Then, people passed the information on. But news from a respected man sometimes traveled faster than that of a messenger. Fausto was respected by everyone who knew him. The rumors spread throughout the inns, markets and shops. The king had executed Clemente, the priest of stories and songs. The man who was the most famous rider in the kingdom was hanged from the nest. The people were angry.
In the Greenwood.
Many people were watching the large Pegasus with gray wings and a huge fish in her mouth. This was the largest one she had caught that morning.
Grey Wing saw her rider on the ground: I need to land.
Nestor thought to her: Yes, you need to save your wings to travel to Puerto Blanco.
She landed carefully and ran towards the people to deliver her prey.
Nestor: Cut a large piece for her. She needs strength.
Esteban approached the rider and took him by the shoulders: Master rider, you are a savior.
Nestor: The river delta is a short flight from here, and there are many large fish there. I think she could do the same thing every morning.
Esteban: If we can feed our army, there is hope.
Isla Oveja.
Red Sunrise was in a field near the castle. Her rider was standing next to the tall, curvaceous woman.
Sorcha: I do not think you are ready.
Corsino: My queen needs her Pegasi. And I need to redeem myself.
Sorcha: I have heard those words from other men. Many of them died.
Corsino: Please, help me.
The woman and two others helped him mount. When he was secure, she gestured for him to lean his face towards her. He leaned closer as if he were listening to a whisper. She jumped up a little and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
Sorcha: Good luck.
Corsino straightened up in the saddle and smiled with surprise: Thank you, my lady.
Red Sunrise: Ready, my rider? Or do you want a kiss from me too?
Corsino laughed: I am ready, my red goddess.
The flight was not long, but they took off and landed safely. Afterward, their wounds were slightly open, but were not bleeding much. The rider dismounted with assistance and walked alongside the gigantic redheaded woman.
Sorcha: You are brave but stupid.
Corsino: You are beautiful but rude.
The woman took his arm and placed it around her waist.
In the Greenwood.
The people were very excited to see the gray Pegasus take off to the north to deliver a message to the Duchess in Puerto Blanco. They were just starting to resume their tasks when many shouted.
Voices: Pegasi!
The three were flying in a line. Snowfall broke the air for the others. The male was at the end of the line to conserve energy. They landed together in a display of beauty and power. The riders dismounted to cheers. Chara walked with the two men behind and on either side of her.
Chara: We carried as much food as we could.
Manuelo: All help is welcome. Thank you, Riders.
Hernando: The queen wants us to fly here every day before flying to other places. Her army will be fed as long as we can fly.
Floriano: Chara will stay here to exchange messages. We will fly immediately to the peninsula.
The man guided her towards the camp while the pages unloaded the bags of food from the saddles. The two Pegasi took off towards the east in less than half an hour.
Deeper into the forest.
Emiliano was walking with Captain Rodrigo to see if there were any animals in the traps they had set. The priest had insisted on helping him because a nobleman had told him that he needed to be involved in some kind of work instead of playing in the forest. The two men were kneeling, and the captain was able to show the priest how to build a trap.
Rodrigo: Priest, do not move. Something or someone is watching us.
Emiliano: Are you sure?
The captain: Yes. I think it is behind me. Without making any sudden movements, look over my left shoulder. Tell me if there is an animal or a man there.
The priest slowly raised his gaze in the indicated direction without moving his head. Rodrigo slowly placed his hand on his sword and prepared to move. The knight was surprised and confused when the other man smiled broadly.
The priest: Please, do not move until I tell you to.
Rodrigo was looking at something so strange that he could not believe it. The man removed his belt with the dagger attached and tied it around his head, with the dagger positioned on his forehead, pointing towards the sky. Then, he took his scarf and tied it to his regular belt, at the level of his buttocks.
The captain: Are you mad?
Emiliano: Possibly, but I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am going to take it.
As he watched, the priest crawled on all fours to his side. He raised his left hand and gently stroked the ground three times. He moved his head slowly from left to right, with the dagger pointing towards the ground.
Emiliano whispered with a big smile: Yes, yes. Captain, do not stand up, but slowly turn on your knee.
Rodrigo was certain that the priest had lost his mind, but he did what the other man had asked.
The knight whispered: Tits of the Goddess.
Near a tree stood a wild Unicorn. He was smaller than the war Unicorns. His coat was a mixture of gray and white. His mane and tail were dark gray. His eyes were bright blue, and the horn was white.
Emiliano: Touch the ground with your left hand like I did, lower your head and move exactly like me.
The two performed the gestures almost in unison and watched as the unicorn responded with the same movements.
Emiliano spoke with great emotion in his voice: We have told him that we do not want to harm him. He has told us the same.
Rodrigo: He is young. Look at his horn. He is between twenty and thirty years old, no more.
Emiliano: I am going to talk to him.
The captain watched as the priest performed strange movements on all fours. He now understood that the dagger represented a horn and the scarf a tail, which the priest moved with his hips and sometimes with one hand.
Emiliano: He understands me. And I understand most of what he says. There are some gestures he makes sometimes that I do not understand... wait...
The man moved his dagger up and down twice and then struck his right hand against his left hand twice. The unicorn moved a little closer and moved its horn up and down once, and its right hoof struck the left one twice quickly, producing a clicking sound.
The priest laughed: That is his name! He is called Hoof Click.