Chapter 55 Betrayal
The office of Chamberlain Bartolo and the Steward Hector.
Guillermo began: Lords, we have a decision to make. Do we want the bastard daughter, Count Valero, or Count Aurelio?
Hector: With that bastard, it is possible to manipulate her.
Guillermo: Yes, but now Esteban and his wife have her. With them and the priests, I do not think our influence will be much.
Bartolo wheezed: Valero is a man who likes rules. And the gold behind him belongs to Octavio. A man who wants every copper coin counted and remembered.
Hector: Yes, our own pouches will be lessened under the rule of these men.
Guillermo: So, Aurelio then?
Bartolo: If there is plenty of wine and the maids have large tits, Aurelio will not bother us.
Hector queried: Yes. But can we support him directly at the meeting?
Guillermo: No. You two will support Valero against Olivia. I will remain neutral when necessary, or I will support one or the other to divide the royal court between the two. While the nobles are divided, Aurelio will march further south each day.
Hector wondered: Does the count even know about the death of our king?
Guillermo: Soon. In two days, my spies in the Ridges will know. I know Aurelio is marching toward there now.
Bartolo: How can you know that?
Guillermo smiled: I have a spy among the riders. When he walks the stone path looking for dangers to the Pegasi, he drops messages in a clearing at the end of the path. A loyal page found one last night and brought it to me. The riders are virtuous, but he has a family. His parents live very well thanks to my support. They were both my servants in the past. I bought the son through his parents.
Hector: How much time do we need?
Guillermo: Until Unification Day. Aurelio will know a day in advance and will be able to gather more soldiers from the Ridges and will arrive in our city in a week or less. With a week of preparation, it does not matter who is on the throne. Aurelio will win the throne. And we will receive rewards from the new king.
Bartolo licked his lips: Yes. Would it be possible to ask King Aurelio for the wild woman as a reward? I want to have that bitch tied to my bed so I can fuck her every night.
Hector laughed: Can I have a night, friend?
Bartolo snorted: Yes, my friend, we can use her the first night together. I would love to hear that whore scream with my cock inside her.
Guillermo sternly: Boys. Work comes first. I have a list of pages I want in the corridors near Count Esteban and the bitch.
Hector looked at the herald squarely: Are you the one who has my maids imprisoned?
Guillermo: Yes. I control the servants of some members of the royal court and those I do not trust. Rumors from the castle only reach me.
The herald raised a glass of wine, and the others did the same.
The three of them: King Aurelio!
The great tower.
Esteban and Tatiana accompanied Danilo downstairs. The little man cried from time to time. Esteban remained silent out of sadness. Tatiana remained silent out of respect for her husband. They approached the bedroom where Clemente was.
Esteban: I want to speak with the priests. Please look after the children while I decide what to do with the traitors.
Tatiana: Of course.
The warrior walked sadly toward her room. She had never loved Danilo, but she knew her husband was heartbroken.
Esteban entered the room and pushed the priest inside.
Esteban: Sit down. You are going to tell me what I do not know. If you do not change my mind, your punishment will be execution
Clemente: Me or him?
Esteban: Shut up old man! Danilo, speak.
Danilo spoke as neutrally as he could: Lieselota discovered that Heinreich and Marisela were in love. She used this connection to form an alliance against the king. Marisela used our secret to control me. She sent her son to the royal castle so that he would be here when the king died.
Esteban: Who killed the king?
Danilo: I do not know. She told me what was necessary. Supporting Olivia was my idea.
Esteban: How does the duchess intend to fight against Aurelio?
Danilo replied sadly: I do not know. Heinrich probably knows. I am sorry, I only acted to save us.
Esteban spat his words: It is possible you have killed everyone in this castle.
Over the sea southwest of the reoyal castle.
Grey Wing spotted the lighthouses in the distance. She adjusted her course slightly to follow a straight line toward the northernmost island.
Grey Wing: I see them now. The first one in a few minutes.
Nestor shouted: Luis, she saw the island. Prepare the first bag to throw.
Luis spoke into his ear: Yes, Master Rider. Tell me when.
After a few minutes, the lighthouse keepers looked at the Pegasus and the white flag. They called other men, and six of them formed a circle at the top of the lighthouse, holding a rope net.
Grey Wing: Choose one.
Nestor smiled: The short guard with long hair.
Grey wing: One biped, two bipeds, three bipeds, now.
Nestor: Now!
Luis held the leather bag by the rope strap and looked at the right wing of the Pegasus. A few feathers shifted slightly to initiate a turn. He opened his hand and the rope with the bag fell through the air toward the net. The bag fell for just over two seconds and landed in the net in front of the short, long-haired man.
Grey Wing: Perfect!
Nestor to both: Well done!
The delivery to the other lighthouse was practically the same. The three of them formed a team capable of dropping a message into a bucket of water.
In the castles, the guards cleaned the ballistae and applied fresh grease to the moving parts. Weapons were sharpened, armor was repaired. Soldiers prayed while drinking ale. The message announced that war would break out in a few days. Two small castles with a combined company of fifty men and three warships against the fleet of Puerto Blanco.