Chapter 50 Three Days Until Unification Day
Pages ran through the corridors of the royal castle with messages for the nobles. The maids and servants were busy with their duties. Irregularities were observed in the service quarters. Meetings took place in halls, bedrooms, and gardens. The alliance that supported Olivia occupied a banquet hall where the royal family held small parties.
Esteban: I think the first thing is the military situation.
Marisela interrupted: I have another idea. Where is Olivia?
Esteban: She is in her room in the tower. There are six guards on her floor.
Marisela spoke in a commanding timbre: She needs to be in a more secure room. There are three ways into the tower. With twenty knights, she will be dead. And when will you try to talk to her? She needs to prepare.
Tatiana nodded: Today, it must be today.
Esteban: Okay. I will speak with Captain Pedro after this meeting. He needs to occupy the tower with all his guards. The hundred under his command are loyal. But most of the palace guards are from Colina Alba or are paid by Octavio.
Danilo inquired nervously: Are we on equal footing in the castle?
Esteban replied.: They have twice as much strength as we do. But I hope we will have help by tonight.
Danilo: Is it possible to occupy the royal kitchen? The tower needs food, and it is close.
Tatiana: Good idea. Antonio said they are missing maids in the service quarters.
Marisela: My castle is being prepared in case it is needed. My personal knights will be here this afternoon.
Esteban spoke with little inflection: There is bad news about Puerto Blanco. Their fleet is preparing for war. Their ships are useless against Aurelio, and the large warship was not in port. Lieselota must already know that the king is dead. It is possible she killed him.
Danilo said quickly: She has spies in the castle. She might want to occupy some islands to gain leverage in the negotiations.
Marisela: Or is it possible that she wants to help?
Tatiana: There could be many things. Should we talk to Heinrich and tell him what we know?
Esteban groaned: I do not think so. I can send the three royal warships to block Las Luces. With the three of them defending Las Luces, nothing will be able to pass between the islands.
Danilo: There are one hundred and twenty warriors on these ships, would it be better to use them to defend the castle?
Marisela: Yes, that amount would help here.
Tatiana spoke confidently: We need to know where the ships are, and the islands cannot defend their people and send us soldiers.
Esteban: You are right. I will give the orders right away. We have four Pegasi, right?
Danilo: Yes, Chara will start training today, but I do not want to use her except in case of emergency.
Esteban returned to his commander intonation: I need a Pegasus to send a message to the ships and fly to the most distant islands with a warning. A second one for Puerto Blanco, a third for the Ridges, and the last one to search for the fleet.
Danilo: You write for the ships and the fleet. I can write for Puerto Blanco, and Marisela and Tatiana will write for the Ridges.
Marisela: Good idea, Priest.
Tatiana: I can send Yegor to the nest. It will be a new experience for him. Then I want him to visit his mother. I want to send a message to the mother of young Marco. We need to decide what to do with them.
Esteban: Yes, I know. Everyone writes now.
After half an hour, Yegor was climbing the stairs towards the nest of the Pegasi.
In a large prayer hall, Guillermo, Octavio, Victorino, and Valero held a similar meeting.
Guillermo flatly: Are we safe here?
Victorino placed a map on the altar of prayer to the goddess of the air and the Pegasi. The royal castle was built over nearly three centuries. The central tower and an adjoining building, used by the servants, were the first to be constructed. King Gutierre added two long, connected sections to represent the wings of Pegasus. King Reynaldo the Conqueror added a large building opposite the tower with a vestibule, a large banquet hall, libraries, and rooms to display the great works of art of the kingdom. He also built a large stable with a training field for the Unicorns. Those buildings were known as the horn and tail of the castle.
Valero: My men control the west wing of the castle. The royal guards are concentrated at the horn and the tower. The tail is now neutral. The east wing is controlled by a mix of guards from Colina Verde, Colinas Gemelas, and royal guards.
Guillermo: My servants control the kitchen and most of the rooms they use. If we can control the food and the servants, it is an advantage.
Victorino: Good. When my knights and men-at-arms surround the castle, we can capture the bastard and the rest of the court.
Guillermo: I can offer Olivia some support and get some secrets from the other side.
Octavio: Yes, you are a good liar. What do your spies know?
Guillermo: Yesterday messages were sent to the Islands, Puerto Blanco, and the Ridges. A page watches the nest every hour of the day. The flight direction and return time indicated where they were flying to.
Octavio: We need to control the peninsula and the ports. Marisela seems to support the bastard.
Victorino: We can use the men-at-arms from our castles to attack each port; companies of knights will attack along the main road.
Valero: Well done, my son! I will inherit the throne. What do you want?
Octavio: I want to drink a lot and fuck three maids every day until I die.
Valero laughed: Yes, but a position?
Octavio: Count of Armas. Esteban is too lenient with the peasants.
Valero: Guillermo?
Guillermo: Count of the Ridges and ownership of the land.
Valero: Prince of the Royal Isles, my son?
Victorino: Yes, I can build a new castle on Tortuga Island and have dark grandchildren for you.
Valero: Thank you for your support. Get ready for the meeting tonight.