After a bumpy journey, the team finally arrived at Blackstone Town at dusk. The silhouette of the town looked exceptionally peaceful under the setting sun. Since the news hadn't spread yet, there weren't many onlookers at the entrance.
The knights, familiar with the routine, led the Pegasi into a pre-prepared, spacious, and reinforced temporary stable within the town. The most important thing was to get them settled; as for the issue of taming them, with "Moonlight" around, a lot of trouble would be saved.
After removing the saddles and tending to the warhorses, Leylo walked into the temporarily requisitioned council chamber and saw a familiar figure. Barrett stood there, travel-worn with a hint of fatigue on his face, but his eyes were unusually bright. He had clearly just returned as well.
"My Lord!" Barrett greeted Leylo immediately upon his entrance.
"Barrett, you're back," Leylo nodded, his gaze sweeping behind the veteran.
Standing there was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in plain linen clothes with a small cloth backpack over his shoulder. He looked somewhat restrained, his eyes curiously taking in his surroundings. When he saw Leylo, he lowered his head slightly with a touch of awe.
"Mission accomplished, My Lord," Barrett stepped aside to introduce him. "This is Karl, the most talented apprentice of Master Balin. When I found him, he was helping a nearby lord repair a broken alchemy crossbow. I explained our intentions and conditions, and he was very willing to develop his career here in Blackstone Town."
"Karl greets the Lord," the young man stepped forward and bowed slightly. His voice was nervous, but his articulation was clear.
"Welcome, Karl," Leylo studied the youth. A disciple of Master Balin was exactly the "timely rain" he needed. "It's been a long journey. Barrett, you've done a great service this time."
"You flatter me, My Lord," Barrett smiled. "It is an honor to share your burdens. By the way, My Lord, your excursion..." He noticed the faint neighing from outside and the irrepressible excitement on the knights' faces.
"We captured eighteen Pegasi," Leylo said succinctly, but the weight of those words stunned both Barrett and Karl.
"Eighteen?!" Barrett's eyes widened. Karl also looked up in shock, his gaze toward Leylo filled with even more disbelief and admiration. Even as an alchemy apprentice, he understood what eighteen Pegasi signified.
"Yes, we had decent luck," Leylo didn't over-embellish. "Ed, go settle the Pegasi first. Find reliable hands to watch them; don't let anything go wrong."
"Yes, My Lord!" Ed complied and left to make arrangements.
Leylo turned back to Karl, his tone softening. "Karl, Blackstone Town is currently rebuilding and lacks many things. I trust Master Balin's standards, and I believe you won't disappoint me."
"Please rest assured, My Lord! As long as there are materials and tools, I will do my absolute best!" Karl nodded vigorously. His tension faded, replaced by an eager excitement. Working under such a bold lord who could capture a herd of Pegasi was a rare opportunity.
"Very well," Leylo said. "Barrett, take Karl to settle in first. There are basic materials and tools in the town warehouse; take him to look, and give me a list of whatever is missing. As for compensation, it will be as we agreed—if anything, higher."
The next morning.
Just as dawn broke, a commotion broke out at the temporary stables. After a night's rest, the newly captured Pegasi had regained their energy. Their bound wings flapped futilely, and their hooves struck the reinforced wooden fences with dull thuds. The guards, who hadn't slept all night, were on high alert.
Leylo and Barrett stood outside the stables. "It seems they haven't accepted reality yet," Barrett noted, crossing his arms. Taming a wild horse was hard enough, let alone a creature that could soar through the skies.
Leylo showed no concern. He looked to his side. "Moonlight, it's your turn."
The air rippled, and a petite figure appeared silently beside Leylo. Moonlight yawned and rubbed its sleepy eyes, appearing slightly annoyed at being woken up. It glanced at the Pegasi and wrinkled its nose in disdain.
"The usual—three roasted geese," Leylo said.
Moonlight's eyes lit up instantly. It held up three fingers and shook them. Leylo nodded but clarified: "Three geese per Pegasus. Eighteen in total."
Moonlight nodded with satisfaction, patting its non-existent pocket as if already possessing fifty-four roasted geese. It marched toward the stable with short legs. The guards opened the gates nervously.
Moonlight leaped onto the fence, looking down at the agitated herd. It cleared its throat and let out an "Awooo!"
The struggling Pegasi instantly froze as if hit by a binding spell. They turned their heads uneasily toward the tiny figure on the fence, their eyes filled with instinctive dread. Moonlight, satisfied with the effect, waved a furry little fist. It hopped down, yawned again, and looked expectantly at Leylo, stretching out a paw.
"I know, I know. You'll get yours," Leylo sighed, signaling servants to bring the first three plump roasted geese. Three down, fifty-one on an installment plan.
Leylo turned to Barrett. "The most difficult step is solved. Now, how to turn these Pegasi into a fighting force is up to you, Instructor Barrett."
Barrett took a deep breath and nodded, his gaze becoming sharp. "Mission guaranteed, My Lord!"
In the clearing outside town, the knights were assembled. Barrett stood before them, his usual casualness replaced by military solemnity. The knights' eyes shone with excitement. To ride a Pegasus and fight in the sky—that was every knight's dream!