Chapter 158 Demands
The camp of the royal army.
The captain entered the tent of his commander. Behind him stood two captains from Colina Alba. They seemed somewhat nervous. Their armor showed battle marks, and they had sustained some injuries.
Captain Diego: My count. I believe you should listen to these men.
Aurelio: Fine. What kind of story do you have?
The captains spoke for almost thirty minutes. Finally, they had recounted everything that had happened in the fight for the royal castle and the battles for succession in Costa Lunas. The count asked them for details on many matters and sent them to fetch food and wine and to take up positions with his knights. The high-ranking captains were summoned before their commander.
Aurelio: While we were traveling from the north, the throne changed hands: from the girl to Count Valero, and then back again to the bastard. There is an army from Puerto Blanco located in Costa Lunas along with the army of the little Queen Olivia. After two battles for the throne, there are hundreds dead and wounded. The unicorns also suffered losses. However, they are using Pegasi as aerial scouts, which is arguably more dangerous than unicorns. Thoughts?
Pasqual: Puerto Blanco can no longer defend itself much. We destroyed twelve or more companies of its soldiers. If there are more than a thousand knights and soldiers in the city, how many are there in the cities around White Hall?
Tomás: Yes. But the armies of the queen are weak and tired now. If we spend the winter in Puerto Blanco, they will be stronger too.
Diego: This army is tired too. And now there is less food. There were some animals on the nearby farms, but we eat a lot every day.
Tomás: If those captains were close to the truth, they would have fewer than a thousand mounted. If we count each unicorn as three, we will still have more than twice their number on horseback. If they fight in open field, we will defeat them. If they defend the walls, we have enough companies to attack all six gates with force.
Pasqual: Three or four days to Puerto Blanco, an easy fight, and we will have food, wine, women, and by spring, recruits. We can look for the sick who did not arrive. They will be healthy after winter too.
Aurelio thought as he watched his most trusted captains: Fine. I will send messengers to the queen to demand her surrender. If she refuses, we will attack the city. My moment has arrived.
The three of them: Of course, my count.
The Count: Pasqual, you are the best at strategy. Tomorrow morning, tell me how they will attack if they fight in the field. Think about how to kill the unicorns. Diego, get ready to break down the gates. Tomás, how are the preparations for the Pegasi going?
The youngest captain: Yesterday we tested the machines. The range is more than double that of a ballista, and the missiles fly in a wide circle. We can reload faster as well.
Aurelio: How do you know how to build these machines?
Tomás: My great-grandfather kept some drawings that Edgardo used to build those machines in the past. He was a page to the prince. I studied those drawings with my father when I was young.
Aurelio smiled: Have dinner and get ready for tomorrow. I need to write a love letter to the bastard queen.
The royal castle.
Antonio personally handed the parchment to the queen. They both smiled faintly when their hands touched. It was a pleasant feeling after so much sadness and fear. But her expression changed when he spoke.
The royal page: This is a message from Count Aurelio. It arrived at the gate of the king and was quickly taken to the castle. A messenger awaits a reply at the gate.
The Queen: Please summon my royal court. We can assemble here.
The young man wanted to embrace her, but he bowed and left.
Half an hour later, the six adults were seated in the royal chambers with the fifteen-year-old queen. The parchment lay on the elegant table, still sealed.
Olivia: I did not have the courage to open it. Priest Danilo, can you read it?
The man took the parchment and broke the seal. He opened it and read in an emotionless voice.
Danilo: Olivia, the claimant to the throne. A single battle will cost the lives of many innocents. If war drags on beyond one battle, thousands will die. All of that will not change the outcome. I offer a chance for peace for the kingdom and its future. Name me King, and you can be princess of the islands or of Puerto Blanco. You can reign as you wish. I promise you will be able to retain your supporters in your new position. If you refuse, the blood of many will be on your hands.
Everyone was silent for a few moments. Many eyes were on the queen as she pondered what she had heard.
Marisela: The count is an expert at lying. He guessed that you are worried about the dead and that you are afraid there might be more.
Heinrich: Yes, he is offering you the chance to save lives and flee the throne to a safe, distant place. He is trying to use your fear and your kindness against you.
Danilo: Lieselota did the same thing to us.
Esteban: You know you cannot believe any of his promises, do you not?
Olivia spoke softly: Yes. Everyone has told me what kind of man he is. Please tell me what will happen to us if he wins.
Marisela: Execution for all of us. But he will probably rape you and me first.
The Queen: I must decide between death for many and for us, and many and possibly for us in the end.
Peador: Yes. Those are the demands of the throne. You never have to worry about food, drink, or money. But sometimes you must make decisions for tens of thousands of people.
Olivia: Emiliano, do you have anything to say?
The priest: Unicorns are the noblest animals in the world. They serve you. You are the queen and you take care of your people. If I must die to support you, I am comfortable with that.
Olivia: I do not know what to say in the answer.
Esteban: Write to him that he will receive your reply at dawn from a representative of the throne. He will know it is a ruse and a tactic to stall. But it will buy us some time to prepare.
The encampment.
The messenger returned as quickly as he could. The horse was nearly dead from running so much. The count opened the parchment.
Aurelio, smiling: They are going to fight. Good. Tell Pasqual he has an appointment at dawn. Flag of peace. We prepare for battle.