Chapter 169 The Fallen and the Lost
The Camp of refugees from the Ridges.
The group had gradually made its way toward their homes in the cities near the great lake. When the tremendous roar occurred, everyone looked toward the southeast. A minute later, they saw a column of smoke rising into the air as massive as the mountain from which it emerged. Fear spread among the families as swiftly as the smoke in the air. The leaders sought Oleg to hear his wisdom.
Oleg: It is a volcano...a great volcano. When they erupt, they always signify changes in the world. The changes are a mixture of the bad and the good, like life.
Isla Real.
On the island, the people were much the same, and they gathered in search of the young master of the house. The clever boy summoned the people to the front of his mansion. When his people stood before him, the young man spoke with wisdom unusual for his age.
Eneko: The sound came from a volcano. This signified the birth of a new All-Mother. Great changes are taking place. They will be felt in every corner of the realm. Keep your faith in the Queen. She will guide us through these difficult times.
After the announcement, the priest asked him: Do you still hear the thoughts of the Pegasus?
Eneko: Yes. The voice is new: it is a blend of many voices. And the strongest message is strange. It consists of images of boys lost in the mountains, searching for their families. It is as if she were calling out to many minds.
Costa Lunas.
The sound spread rapidly through the city. Many were frightened; some showed curiosity; and the majority prayed. For some, it was a good reason to dedicate words of love to their families and their lovers. For others, it was a good reason to drink more. The priests tried to explain what had happened. The guards who were not stationed on the walls or at the defensive gates attempted to control fear and disorder. In the quarters of hunters, the militia, under the command of Fausto and Birgit, began to organize into a unified group.
The encampment of Aurelio.
The soldiers were searching the fields for the dead and wounded. They stopped in unison when they heard the sound. After a brief discussion, they returned to their macabre tasks. The captains and the Count were gathered together.
Diego: What was that?
Aurelio smiled: The sound of the victory of our Pasqual.
The men laughed. Most of the faces were new. Young captains had taken the place of the dead. Like the others, they had fair skin, black hair, and beards, examples of the perfect man of Costa Lunas.
Pasqual: It was a volcano in the mountains. I hope it killed more Pegasi than poor Tomás did.
Aurelio: Yes, his death was terrible. Tell me the situation now.
Diego sighed: The wagons finally arrived. We have less than half of our provisions. They were attacked by a tribe of warriors that had been following us. They described a huge man and a woman who fought with ferocity.
Aurelio: Arkady and Tatiana?
The Captain: I think so.
The Count: There are many horses that are dead or wounded. Cut the meat from them and cook it. Diego, select three companies of knights and a thousand soldiers to travel north tomorrow. I want the Bear and the Puma dead.
The captain nodded: It is an honor, my king.
Pasqual: We are using the shields and armor of the dead and wounded to construct protective cover for assault on the gates tomorrow. I believe we can attack the three gates on the north side, as well as target several vulnerable points along the walls. We have sufficient mounted troops to strike at whichever point is breached.
Aurelio: Three? Were our losses that great?
The Captain: Yes. I believe there are a thousand soldiers who can no longer fight. The mounted soldiers lost more than three hundred, and the Unicorns destroyed three of our best companies of knights.
Aurelio: God of the Greenwood! And them?
Pasqual: I believe they suffered similar damage and seventy-one Unicorns slain. I counted more than eighty blue tabards among the dead, including the giant sheepfucker. We still have numbers.
Aurelio: Fine. Tomorrow I will win the throne.
The Royal Court.
The queen observed the men around her table. Each one, except for the priests, wore bandages. She looked with sad eyes at the new woman. With great emotion, she spoke directly to her.
Olivia: Lady Sorcha, I cannot express the sorrow I feel at the loss of your father. He was an important supporter and member of my court. Perhaps you might take his place in this group?
The daughter: My father was a warrior. His death was brave. My family will be proud. Yes, I can serve you. But I want to fight in the defense of the city.
The queen nodded: The sound from before the meeting, it was a volcano, was it not?
Danilo: Yes, they are enormous volcanoes in the Pegasus Mountains. There are historical records of major eruptions from them. I think this one was incredible.
Olivia: Count, tell me how the battle went and where we are.
Esteban: They anticipated my strategy. We fell straight into a trap. Our casualties were numerous. They laid out our dead and wounded in the fields for us to retrieve. The Count still holds this honor in his heart.
The young queen, in a low voice: Do you know how many?
The count hesitated. The other men looked at one another. Finally, the blond count spoke.
Heinrich: The death toll stands at six hundred, and with the critically wounded, it will exceed eight hundred by morning. We believe there are a thousand or more wounded who will be unable to fight.
Tears fell from the eyes of the queen as Marisela held her.
In the mountains.
The four Pegasi fled after the eruption, when the air filled with ash and soot. The skies began to darken with the dense smoke from the volcano. Breathing became difficult during part of the journey. Finally, they found a large plateau where they were able to land safely to rest. The humans dismounted to embrace and share their warmth. The Pegasi protected the new All-Mother.
The seven perceived her thoughts as a blend of voices from the All-Mothers of the past; some, in fact, sounded familiar to two of the humans. Chara heard the voice of the Pegasus that dwelt within her mind. Lupita heard the Pegasus that had served as her mount for a brief time, so recently lost.
Mother of All: We can rest and perhaps sleep here tonight. I know we are hungry and weak. But we must return to the human nest. But we will not return alone.
The first to land near the plateau had red hair and yellow wings. He was filthy and bore many poorly healed wounds. He carried an animal in his mouth for the new All-Mother. As night fell, many had landed, Bad Feathers from various mountains: the lost sons of the family of Pegasi.