Chapter 48 Soldiers and Spies
The stone nest.
Corsino returned to the nest and attended Red Sunrise while she fed. When Hernando and Snowfall landed at the nest, he watched like the others. They went down together to inform Danilo. They were young men, so they had a race and a bet. The two of them stood, breathing and coughing, on the landing, near the rooms of Count Esteban.
Hernando between coughs: Two copper coins, please.
Corsino placed the two small coins in the hand of his younger friend. He turned his hand over and extended his middle finger and moved it in front of the face of the other. They both laughed and coughed a little more.
Corsino inhaled deeply: How can Chara go down the stairs so fast?
Hernando: She weighs almost nothing and has strong legs. Strong and beautiful legs.
Corsino: Pig! She is your sister!
Hernando smiled: Yes, but she has beautiful legs.
Corsino pondered for a second: Yes, true, they are nice. Let us go.
When they arrived at the door, the page announced them and they entered.
The two riders found themselves before the High Priest, the Count of Arms, and a northern warrior in a private room.
Corsino: We flew over the bay and saw twelve warships and hundreds of soldiers boarding the ships.
Danilo wore a thoughtful look: Twelve? Was there a bigger one? Almost twice as big as the others?
Corsino: No, all twelve were similar.
Danilo: Where is the royal ship, the Aloisio?
Esteban wondered out loud: Is it a dangerous ship?
Danilo: Yes, one hundred and fifty crew members, all experienced soldiers, and they can bring one hundred more with weapons and supplies.
Esteban concerned: We must find that ship. If Puerto Blanco is preparing an armed fleet, it is to attack the islands and possibly our port.
Danilo: Yes, Ernando, what did you see?
Hernando: I counted fifteen royal standards and seventeen common standards. Approximately three thousand two hundred horsemen. There were also many wagons, but small ones that moved faster.
Esteban: How many days were they north of the Ridges?
Hernando: Less than four days to go. They will probably arrive in the Ridges the day before Unification Day, perhaps sooner.
Tatiana: And the infantry soldiers?
Hernando: Another day. I counted seventy flags, possibly more.
Esteban: In four days, Aurelio will be at the Ridges, a week of travel from the defensive walls.
Danilo: With more than ten thousand soldiers.
Tatiana spoke in a worried voice: And Puerto Blanco is preparing to invade the islands. We must pressure the royal court to name Olivia as Queen.
Danilo: Riders, your service is important. Tell Nestor to prepare for a lot of work and little notice.
The priest took out a bag and threw it to Corsino, who caught it.
Danilo: A golden unicorn for the riders and a silver crossed spears for each attendee.
Corsino smiled and bowed: Very generous, Lord Priest.
The riders left and ran up the stairs. In the nest, Hernando returned the two copper coins and the middle finger. The friends exchanged more laughter and coughs.
High over the City of Costa Lunas.
Grey Wing approached the nest when the moons were high in the sky, and the city was preparing to sleep. When the lookout whistled and shouted, the attendants rushed forward with torches to light the way along the stone path. Twelve torches illuminated the darkness of the night. The fire showed Grey Wing and her rider the wind direction. She needed to fly precisely, and the attendants had to move in perfect synchronization. A torch that had not been lowered could have caused some feathers to scorch. Marcela and Bonita watched the landing, breathless. With incredible precision, twelve men moved their torches under the stone path, so that they pointed at the ground. For the women, it was a precise dance that ensured a husband and father would return to his family.
Nestor to the attendees: Well done, everyone!
After ten minutes, Nestor dismounted and went down the wooden ladder.
Nestor called out loud: Luis, please take care of my beautiful, fat wife!
Grey Wing, in the mind of the fifty-year-old man: I will fly under a bridge and hit your head, so it falls off.
Nestor even louder: Yes, my love, I love you too. But you are embarrassing me in front of other men.
Grey Wing screeched inside his head: I am going to kick you in the penis.
Néstor: No, no, you are the perfect lover, darling!
Nestor laughed and Grey Wing struck the stones hard with her hoof.
Everyone, except the riders, laughed. They knew that when a Pegasus screamed in their minds, it hurt.
Bonita looked up at her mother in wonder: Why is Papa always so annoying?
Marcela: Some men can only show love by being annoying or through their work.
Bonita: Papa works twelve to fourteen hours some days and almost always makes a fool of himself in front of the family. Does that mean he loves each person very much every day?
Marcela gave a loving smile: Yes. And he is the biggest fool for you and me.
When Nestor approached the nest, Bonita ran towards him and jumped into his arms.
Marcela felt like her heart was the size of the larger moon.
Quarters of the servants late in the night.
Francisco ran out of the rear door near the kitchens and headed for the main road that passed near the castle. There he found a carriage with the flag waving.
Francisco: Colinas Gemelas. One now. Two more if I am in front of the security gate before dawn.
The driver took the coin and held it up to the moonlight. A golden face smiled at him.
Driver: Sir! You will be in front of the door in less than three chimes.
Francisco sat on the wooden bench with an old cushion. The wooden and iron wheels creaked as the coachman whistled and called out the name of his horse.
Driver: Move it, Princess Lady!
Marisela taught her most loyal pages how to move like effective spies. One of the lessons was that a dilapidated-looking carriage is faster than the others if you give its driver enough coins. The page heard the shouts of the driver.
Driver: Leave the road or become the road!
Driver: Whores, if you moved your ass faster, some man might want to fuck you.
Driver: Drunkard! Pee in another street!
Before dawn, Francisco entered the small castle of Colinas Gemelas. Throughout the castle, servants began to sharpen weapons, mend straps on armor and stockpile supplies. Men-at-arms were summoned and knights prayed for strength. The oldest royal house of the realm began preparing for war.