Chapter 162 The Future of the Kingdom
In the air over Costa Lunas Bay.
Grey Wing flew high over the island. Nestor took a simple bag filled with sand, holding it by a sturdy rope. In his mind, he received a powerful thought.
The Pegasus: Now!
The man let go of the rope, and the bag fell for ten seconds. Upon striking the rocks of the small island, the bag exploded, and sand shot out in all directions.
From a small boat, a man raised a pole bearing a black flag. The signal indicated that the sack had struck the target zone. Snowfall and Hernando flew over the island, and their sack met with a black flag. White Stockings and Floriano were next. Their sack landed exactly on the target.
Néstor raised his hand, traced a wide circle, and quickly pointed toward the nest. The three Pegasi turned and flew toward the nest to land. While they were at the nest, eating, the riders positioned themselves before Count Heinrich and several soldiers from Puerto Blanco.
Néstor: Count, the last two passes were three direct hits.
Heinrich: Good. Prepare for the attack. I must run down those damn stairs to rejoin my company.
The soldiers began opening wooden crates filled with straw and soft fabrics. They removed the top layers of fabric and straw until the riders could see the contents. The men carefully tied ropes to these objects.
The fields north of Costa Lunas.
The sun was behind the mountains when the soldiers on each side woke up.
Within the city, three defensive gates remained open. To the east, knights and soldiers clad in red and yellow, the colors of dawn, stood in formation; the House of Colina Alba, along with a few noble houses loyal to it, fielded a force of just over a thousand men.
In the west, the soldiers of Colina Verde wore russet and amber tabards, representing the wheat fields that surrounded the hill. The knights and soldiers of the Royal Islands were clad in blue and red, the waters surrounding the islands and the fire of the small volcanoes that formed them. Between the two of them, they counted a little over eleven hundred.
In the center, the Army of Puerto Blanco, the knights and soldiers from Colinas Gemelas and various noble houses of the kingdom numbered three thousand. The fair-haired knights were clad in black and gold. Their soldiers wore bright green and white. The men with black hair and beards were clad in sea-green and white, like the foam of the waves.
Castle and city guards, along with the royal militia, were stationed at the gates and defensive walls. They constituted the final line of defense. Furthermore, they stood ready to cover the retreat that had been planned by the Count of War.
Finally, the Blue Knights, with their war Unicorns, set out through the central gate. They numbered just over two hundred. They were a vision of blue and silver. Steel plates, mail, and stout leather covered every possible part of their bodies, but still leaving room to move freely.
The knights of the royal army of Aurelio wore red, with silver and gold details. The colors were chosen by King Aloisio, who had declared that his army would bring blood to his enemies and wealth to the kingdom. The soldiers were clad in silver and red, and the projectile troops were clad in red and gold.
To the east and the west, the Count dispatched five hundred knights and mounted soldiers, along with eight-hundred foot soldiers and two hundred crossbowmen. In the center, they formed lines of fifteen hundred mounted soldiers. On either side of them were positioned a thousand soldiers and hundreds of men with crossbows. In every part of the field, they held a numerical superiority.
Behind each of the three zones stood knights and crossbowmen, positioned to respond if their formations were penetrated. To the west, standards marked the command of Diego, Knight of Banners, to the east, the standards of the Knight of Banners, Tomás.
In the center rose the standards of Aurelio himself, Count of War of the late King Aloisio. The standards of the Knight of Banners Pasqual were beside them. Each of these forces was equal in power to the Blue Knights, should a battle be fought between them.
A field between the two armies.
Captain Rodrigo and Cobalt Storm walked slowly toward an area where there was no place to conceal an ambush. He carried a spear with a red flag and waited.
Captain Pasqual rode an enormous horse, clad in heavy, sturdy armor. In his hand, he held a spear bearing a red standard.
Rodrigo: We are under a flag of peace. I will not commit any act of aggression during this meeting.
Pasqual: We are under a flag of peace. I will not initiate any act of violence during this meeting.
The Captain in Blue: Queen Olivia offers these terms: Aurelio and every captain of his army of traitors must lay down their arms and surrender to be arrested and punished by the Throne. The soldiers and knights may lay down their arms, receive a payment of one silver coin, and be granted the opportunity to serve in the army of the Queen. They must swear allegiance to her and to the Count of War Esteban. If they no longer wish to fight, they will receive five copper coins and their freedom.
The Captain in Red: The Bastard has two hundred Unicorns and some mosquitoes above. Aside from that, she commands a mixed army, with many men wounded after fighting against Valero. She does not have enough mounted soldiers to match us. We hold numerical superiority in every category. We are a single army that fought against the savages of the North. You cannot win.
Rodrigo smiled: How long will your provisions last? What was the breakfast of these soldiers? A bit of stale bread and half a cup of beer? Ham and mutton abounded this morning in our halls. When the battle begins, our stomachs will be full. They will be full tonight and in the morning.
Pasqual smiled in an unsettling way: Full stomachs do not increase the number of hands wielding swords. I have never met the bastard queen. Is she beautiful? Have her breasts grown in yet? The Count is going to organize a game of dice to decide who will take her little flower.
The man with the scarred face: What news is there from the North? Are some soldiers missing? Your count does not know why the companies of the sick did not arrive, does he?
The man with the confident face showed a moment of hesitation: Very well. If we meet in battle, it will be an honor to fight against you.
Rodrigo: Peace breaks when we are in our lines.
Pasqual: Agreed.