Chapter 57 Journeys and Secrets
Over the western edge of the Greenwood.
Red Sunrise and Corsino were flying over the coast southwest of Costa Lunas.. The sun was falling lower on the horizon, and they had encountered some clouds. Neither could see as far or as well.
Red Sunrise: I have not seen any ships for a long time.
Corsino with concern: Yes, neither have I. How are your wings?
Red Sunrise: Tired. We must return to the nest soon. If we fly much further south, I may not be able to return the full distance.
Corsino: I understand. I am very hungry and tired as well. Let us go to the nest, my Red-iant one.
Red Sunrise: Idiot. These clouds are the first part of a large storm. It is forming in the northwest. Soon will be a day where flying will be difficult.
Corsino: I will advise the Master Rider.
Red Sunrise: There are things in your mind you hide from the other bipeds.
Corsino: Yes. It is difficult to explain. We need more than food to survive. The other riders would not understand. I do it for my family.
Red Sunrise: They are all your family, if bipeds realized this, your world would be better. We do not share your thoughts except in a time of danger. But I sense what you are doing causing pain in your heart.
Corsino: We call that guilt.
Further south in the great sea.
The Shark Fin was traveling with its sails full. Strong winds from behind had pushed the warship to maximum speed. They had begun to round the coast into the sea that contained the Royal Islands. Captain Sigard was sailing a dangerous route to save time. The invasion plan was his design. If he failed the duchess, their people would suffer the wrath of the new king. He earned his position through loyalty and ability. Like almost everyone in Puerto Blanco, he had lost loved ones after rebellion led by Duke Reinhardt. Revenge had lived in his heart for a dozen years. He like many had sworn his steel and blood to the Duchess after the failed revolt. This ship had been designed for this purpose. Soon he would show that her faith in him was not misplaced.
Sigard shouted down to his crew: Stahl und Blut.
Over three hundred voices: Stahl und Blut.
The eastern port of the peninsula of Colinas Gemelas.
The four ships: the Horned Ram, the Ghost Castle, the Wooden Turtle and the Golden Eagle, arrived at the harbor just as the bell rang five of the day. Each carried a noble from their island answering a call from Count Esteban. Three of the representatives disembarked with armed personal escorts and servants. Peador disembarked his ship with fifty armed warriors. Peador bought twelve horses at a stable near the port. The twelve moved through the main roads toward the royal castle as quickly as they dared push the steeds. Behind the horses marched a company of warriors in leather and steel armor, carrying large maces and enormous sheathed swords on their backs. The servants walked quickly to keep up. Fifty heavuly armed men with red or blond hair marching through the broad streets attracted lots of attention.
The four nobles and personal guards arrived at the royal palace before the seven evening bells rang. They dismounted as quickly as possible and entered the royal castle after years of absence. Peador carried his mace, made of an oak shaft and an iron top shaped like the head of a ram. Maite, from Isla Tortuga, the high priestess of the Mistress of the Sea, almost ran to keep up with the tremendous strides of the man. Just like their gaits, their skin tones could not have been more different. She was as dark as strong tea. He was as pink as the dolphins that inhabit the delta of the River of Lynxes. Beñat and Andoni walked a little behind the woman. Andoni was from Isla Pájaro and had darker skin and hair. Beñat, from Royal Island, was almost white, with short, black hair and beard. They crossed the wide vestibule towards the grand entrance that led to the main hall, towards the great central tower. Any servant who saw them cleared the way quickly.
Peador boomed at the first palace guard he saw: Guard, where is Count Esteban?
Guard: The royal court is assembled. I assume he is there.
Peador looked down at him: Where is the royal court gathered?
Guard hesitated: I think they are in the room next to the throne room.
Peador: Thank you. Find a page and tell him to prepare four rooms for nobles, another four for servants, and one large room for my fifty personal attendants. Tell the page that I have a bag of old coins with me and I will reward he and his compatriots. We will need food and plenty of drink.
Guard spoke with some confusion: When will these attendants arrive? We will need time to complete thes instructions.
Peador laughed: Just listen and you will know when they are arriving. I suggest you all move quickly, as they will be in no mood to wait when they arrive.
The towering man began walking toward the main corridor on the right. The other nobles followed him with faint smiles. The collection of nobles walked with purpose. When a friend called for Peador, he had never considered not answering the need.
The expressions of the royal guard reflected a mixture of confusion, surprise, and uncertainty. It was clear they had been nobles but no one who saw them remembered them or their banners. The guards and pages talked for half an hour about the strange arrival while servants scurried to male arrangements.
Finally, everyone in the great entry hall heard the sound of fifty ram horns blaring in the evening and the sounds of leather boots on stone pathes. The descendants of the Tribe of the Bison had returned to the mainland to fight if needed.