Day 19: Griffonstone
The Griffonstone Guildhall was opulent, as griffon buildings went. Mosaic tile floors in black and white stone lined the corridors, with wooden molding intricately carved with motifs of leaves, nuts, and berries. On every wall hung vibrant tapestries, untouched by dust or time, depicting important moments in griffon history: the fall of King Guto, the finding of the Idol of Boreas, the siege of Trottingham Keep, the burning of the Ebon Aerie.
Starlight and Trixie found Guildmaster Graham – a stout, muscular griffon with feathers the color of tilled soil – within the guildhall library, leaning over a spread of open books and loose papers, having an animated discussion with an amethyst crystal mare and a slate grey earth pony stallion. All conversation ceased as Starlight and Trixie approached.
“Ah, Miss Glimmer,” The guildmaster rumbled, a kind smile on his beak. “So good to see you up and about. How are you feeling?”
“A little shaky,” Starlight said as she returned the smile. “I feel better the more I move around, though.”
“Excellent, excellent.” Guildmaster Graham turned to the crystal pony. “Doctor Dawning, would you kindly?”
“Of course.” Doctor Dawning pulled out a cushioned chair from the table and gestured to it with her hoof. “Have a seat, dear. Let’s take a look under those bandages.”
A quick examination showed that, while mildly dehydrated, Starlight was recovering nicely. Doctor Dawning concluded by saying, “I’d rather you stay another night for observation just to be safe, but I understand you two are on a bit of a tight schedule.”
“That’s correct,” Trixie said with a nod.
Guildmaster Graham cleared his throat. “Right, then. Ordinarily, we Artificers do this sort of thing with a bit more pomp and circumstance, but frankly, we have things that need doing and so do you. So—” he grabbed a thin wooden box from atop a stack of books “—on behalf of our fallen comrade, the Artificer Guild would like to award you this for your service.” He passed the box to Starlight, then solemnly bowed along with the two ponies behind him.
Starlight opened the box to find a small silver pendant on a length of silver chain, stamped with a copper lily. She found it difficult to swallow past the sudden thickness in her throat.
“That medallion marks you as a friend of the Artificer Guild,” Guildmaster Graham said as he straightened. “Show it to any Artificer on your journey, and they will be happy to lend you aid as they are able.”
The earth pony stallion nodded to Starlight. “Stig was a friend to all o' us. That ye’d go tae such lengths tae save ’im speaks worlds.”
Starlight bowed in return. “Thank you.” She didn’t trust herself to speak further.
Trixie bowed as well. “Thank you so much for your hospitality, too!”
“Always happy to help a friend.” Guildmaster Graham grinned once more, then stepped back to the table. “Now, we’d best get back to it, and so should you. Be safe on your travels!”
Starlight and Trixie waved farewell to the Artificers, passed through a darkened foyer, and stepped into the stark, sunny streets of Griffonstone. They blinked against the sudden brightness, and stood for a moment to let their vision adjust.
“Oh,” Trixie said, “when Gretchen sent me off to fetch some scones, I took the opportunity to sell off that concertina as well.” She levitated a roll of banknotes from the carpet bag to Starlight’s saddlebags.
“Good,” Starlight replied. “We spent almost everything we had left to speed up the Hoofaestus. How much did we make?”
Trixie grinned. “Nearly a thousand bits, which should be plenty to get us down the mountain and all the way to Suet. C’mon, if we hurry I bet we can make it to Featherfall before nightfall.”
As the mares walked at a brisk pace through the packed dirt byways towards the southern market square, Starlight looked around, bemused. “Y’know, Griffonstone isn’t what I thought it would be, considering the stories Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie told me.”
“I know, right?” Trixie shook her head. “This place isn’t nearly the dump it was when I was here last.”
Starlight bit back a snarky reply as she continued surveying the city. Indeed, amidst the main background noises that could be heard above the rising marketplace chatter were the hammering of nails through shingles and saws carving through wood. On nearly every street they passed there was either a new construction project or a renovation of some sort in progress. Many buildings were still in sorry shape, with sagging roofs or partially collapsed walls, but it was clear there was a concerted effort being made to rebuild.
They entered the market square, and again, what Starlight saw did not gel with her now tattered assumptions. “I thought most griffons were supposed to be antisocial jerks.”
Trixie snorted. “They are.” She looked around and sighed. “Or, at least, they used to be…”
Griffons throughout the square conducted their businesses not with clenched talons, but open gestures. The smattering of conversation Starlight’s ears picked up on, rather than screamed epithets, were amicable discussions about prices, local politics, and the weather. Small flocks of griffons flitted about, laughing or chattering amongst themselves. They carried themselves with a sense of purpose – and, perhaps, pride.
As they approached the south end of both the square and the city, Trixie asked, “What do you suppose happened here?”
Starlight shrugged. “Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, maybe? It’s been years since they’ve been through here.”
Trixie rolled her eyes. “Right. Because a pair of mares can make that much of a difference.”
“Hey, if even half the reports I’ve read concerning the Cutie Map are true, they can.” Starlight smiled as she bumped into Trixie sidelong. “Don’t knock it.”
“Hmpf.” Trixie failed at hiding a smile of her own as she turned down a shady, cramped alley.
The alley opened to a small clearing at the edge of the plateau Griffonstone sat upon. Trixie stopped before the sole structure in the clearing, a large blue and white striped tent. “Well, here we are.” She raised her voice. “Hello? Crank? Shank? I’m back sooner than I thought I’d be!”
Starlight couldn’t contain a snicker. “Crank and Shank?”
Trixie shrugged. “They’re brothers. Inventors, too, they said they could–”
An oily voice came from within the tent. “Well well well, brother of mine, it appears our wayward traveler has returned!”
A second, even slicker voice replied, “Indeed, brother, and with her companion as well! Let us introduce ourselves.”
Starlight’s jaw fell as a pair of tall, lemon yellow unicorn stallions with matching glistening jet-black manes sidled out from beneath the blue and white canvas.
“Welcome, young filly!” The mustachioed stallion nodded to his nearly identical brother. “He’s Crank.”
The clean-shaven stallion nodded back. “He’s Shank!”
In unison, they cried, “And we’re the world-famous Crank-Shank Brothers, traveling Artificers nonpareil!”