Chapter 47 Coins of the Realm
Isla Oveja.
Peador was the lord of Isla Oveja. He was the largest man south of the Ridges. He had pale red hair and bright green eyes. The inhabitants of this island were descendants of a northern tribe that migrated south five centuries ago. When the kingdom of Costa Lunas invaded the islands, the native population was almost completely exterminated by royal soldiers. The survivors were enslaved. The king chose the tribal chief, an ancestor of Peador, to lead his people to this island. The tribe became isolated on the island. They supplied the kingdom with wool, meat, and soldiers. They kept thousands of sheep, but few members of the original tribe remained.
When Peador was young, he served as a page in the royal castle alongside Nestor. Peador looked at the sky and the tremendous Pegasus approaching. Almost everyone was outside to see her. Grey Wing glided down a dirt road and landed with ease.
Peador called out loudly: Do you need help, old man?
Nestor untied the safety ropes and used one to lower himself to the ground. He approached his friend and offered him a message bag.
Nestor smiled: You are fatter than you were three years ago.
Peador: You are shorter and your head has no wool.
Nestor: Hair. City men do not breed with sheep like you and your giants.
The huge man laughed and hugged Nestor warmly, lifting him up like a child.
Peador set him back down: I have an open bottle of firemouth in the house if you want it.
Nestor: Yes, goddess, yes.
While Grey Wing rested with Luis tending to her, they went inside to drink and chat.
Peador asked: Do you know what the message says?
Nestor reponded: No. But I have delivered four messages from the Count of Arms to four islands inhabited by people who hate the dead king.
The mirthful giant opened it and read slowly.
Peador exhaled wearily: The count asked me to return to court to support the daughter of the king as our queen.
Nestor: What do you think?
Peador finished his first shot of firemouth: I think there will be war. Esteban is a good man. If he sides with the bastard, I will have to go to the royal castle. But I will not go alone.
Court banquet hall.
The royal court gathered. Esteban brought Captain Pedro and ten royal guards. Valero and Octavio each brought six armed knights. Marisela was accompanied by four knights. Emiliano carried a book in case they started shouting. He was always calmer with a book.
Guillermo coughed to draw attention: Are we ready?
The other members nodded. The herald lifted a leather bag and shook it to show that it contained coins. He opened the bag and took out the first coin he found.
Guillermo in a calm voice: Double Wings. High Priest Danilo, please speak first.
Danilo took the coin in his hand and held it while he spoke.
Danilo: I propose that Olivia of Costa Lunas ascend to the throne as queen. She is of royal blood by Aloisio, Reynaldo and Gutierre. She has blood from Puerto Blanco and with the wisdom of our royal court she will succeed. With her, we can gain the support of the duchess against Aurelio.
The priest placed the coin in front of him, near the center of the table.
Guillermo took out the next coin. One side had a wheat stalk, the other a scythe.
Guillermo: Bread and blade. Count Octavio of Colina Verde.
Octavio spoke in hoarse low tones: The bastard will be weak, and Aurelio will attack immediately. With a girl on the throne, Puerto Blanco, the North, and the Ridges will rebel. Aurelio will burn all the cities of the kingdom to restore order and secure the throne. Count Valero is our solution. With a warrior defending the city, Aurelio will fail, and the kingdom will be strong again.
The old man placed his coin on the table near Valero.
The next coin had a shield on one side and a spear on the other.
Guillermo: The warrior. Count Valero of Colina Alba and of Costa Lunas.
Valero took the coin and placed it next to the one put down by Octavio without saying a word.
The fourth coin depicted a unicorn and a war helmet.
Guillermo: Hooves and helmet. High Priest Emiliano.
Emiliano, holding the coin in his hand: The kingdom has already had two queens. A third one should be fine.
He placed the coin next to the one from the other priest.
The next one showed a ship and two hills. Guillermo did not use the words people used for that coin. The name ship and tits was not used in front of Marisela.
Marisela took the coin and turned it over in her hand for a minute.
Marisela: One of those queens was my ancestor. In the books, her name appears as Pilar the Great. Those words were written by men just like the ones in this room.
The woman placed her coin on top of the other two to support Olivia.
Guillermo took out the other two and offered Esteban one, depicting a castle and a sword, a golden tower. In his hand, he held another with the face of Reynaldo and a feather crossed by a horn.
Guillermo: Count Esteban of Colina Verde, please speak before me.
Esteban nearly growled his words: Blood is blood. A queen with warriors is the same as a king.
Esteban placed the coin next to three others to support Olivia.
Guillermo: The court is very divided. I propose that we invite the lower-ranking members to a meeting tomorrow. Seven bells of the evening?
He placed his coin near the coins to support Valero, but not next to them. He showed support for Valero but indicated he could be swayed.
They expressed their agreement and continued with the affairs of the kingdom.
The herald gathered the coins and put them in the leather bag. As each one fell in, it struck the others sounding like weapons clashing against shields.