Max glared down at the pile of papers on his desk, he was sure they had somehow bred during the day while he’d been asleep. It hadn’t been all that many hours since he’d dragged his tired body up to the bedroom at the top of the tower and finally fallen asleep. The bed up there was comfortable enough, although the room was a little drafty. Still it didn’t seem quite like home.
He stretched and glared at the papers again, they hadn’t gotten any less since he’d last looked at them. Maybe he should go for a quick trot before starting, stretch his legs, maybe drop in on Fragrant again? No, he shook his head, he’d wasted enough time last night, he needed to get back to work if he wanted to ever get things finished. Most of them needed to be on Puissance’s desk by the end of tomorrow.
Sighing, he took his quill in his mouth and started. It seemed like only a few minutes before his ears pricked up as he heard the bell in the corner that Mrs G used to attract him attention if she didn’t want to come up stairs. He had hoped to get a bit longer without interruption but he should see what it was. Probably a visitor, maybe Mellow? Or even Fragrant? He hoped it wasn’t Greengrass, he really didn’t need any more of his pranks.
Taking a moment to smooth down his mane Max opened the door and trotted down the stairs towards Mrs G’s office. He hadn’t made his way through the records room before he could hear voices from below.
“Well, why don’t you get him?” asked an angry sounding masculine voice Max didn’t recognise.
“I rang the bell,” exclaimed Mrs G sounding rather less than pleased as well, “Max is busy at the moment.”
“Well ring it again! Maybe you did it wrong!” Max could almost hear Mrs G’s eyebrow raise, how could you get ringing a bell wrong?
Max peered down the stairs at his visitors a mare and a stallion, to his surprise he recognised the mare, Dawn Chorus of Opelick, the very Baroness Greengrass had mentioned earlier. He hadn’t a clue who the stallion was. The Baroness was a pegasus of around his age although her plump body as well as her curly light green mane gave her a matronly air which made her seem older. She looked more like she should be teaching a class of foals rather than working at court, although maybe the situation wasn’t all that different. Her companion was a short muscular dark grey coated earth pony stallion with a rather pointed muzzle. Battered looking saddlebags packed were papers rested on his sides. “Ah baron,” he said nasally looking up at Max as he made his way down the stairs. “I’m so glad you could join us, your Cud-che-...” he stopped and seemed to search for a word, “creature, told us you were busy.”
“The Baroness and her... creature,” said Mr G glaring at the stallion, “wanted to talk to you about Duke Greengrass. I told them you hadn’t seen him.”
“Ah, that’s not quite right Mrs G,” said Max awkwardly rubbing his neck. “I, um, bumped into him last night after you left.”
“You mean when you said you were going home because you’d done your work?”
“Err, yes, well I had a few things to tidy up.” He gave a bit of a grimace.
“I don’t appreciate being lied to!” exclaimed Mrs G. “Even if it was for a good reason,” she continued more gently.
“Yeah, sorry,” Max doodled a little on the floor with a hoof, “but I thought you deserved a night off.”
“You let her talk to you that way!” exclaimed the stallion in astonishment.
“Mrs G can speak to me however she wants,” said Max bristling, “she’s been at this sort of thing much longer than I have.”
“But surely-” began the stallion.
“This is the baron’s business, Pencil Pusher,” said Dawn Chorus speaking for the first time. Her voice was quiet but carried an air of authority. “Please apologize to him.”
“But-” Pencil caught the baroness’s eye.
“This is the baron’s assistant, we are here to ask for his aid,” said Dawn with a quiet steel.
“Of course,” the stallion bowed slightly, “I am sorry Baron Max.”
“I think it should be Mrs G you apologize to,” said Max.
Pencil’s eyes swung back to his boss with a pleading look. “We are here to ask the baron for a favour, you should apologize.”
The stallion screwed up his muzzle and turned to the older goat. “I, I am sorry I spoke out of turn,” he eventually managed.
“Now baron,” said Dawn turning towards him with a slightly embarrassed smile. “If you’ve spoken to Duke Greengrass I’m sure you’re aware of the slanderous claims he has been making about me.”
“Well, he um, did say that you were a Solartic.” Pencil stiffened his eyes flicking between Dawn and Max.
To Max’s surprise Dawn actually gave a short titter of laughter. “Oh how does he come up with such ideas?” she sighed, “Do I look like a cultist?” she asked turning from one side to another. Max had to admit that she really didn’t fit the normal image of a cloaked mad pony. “I fear I might have inadvertently insulted him. He was, I believe quite friendly with my predecessor, Oplik and Caneighda share a border you know.” In fact Max didn’t, he didn’t really know anything significant about the baroness or her province. “However,” she continued, “once I heard of his reputation, well I couldn’t in good conscience have anything to do with him. Maybe he thought that spreading such lies about me would scare others into working with him?”
Max nodded along, although he had to admit it didn’t seem that slandering other ponies would earn Greengrass many friends. “Maybe,” he said.
“I don’t suppose you know anyway of contacting the Duke, do you?” asked Dawn stepping a little closer. “Maybe if I could talk to him I could sort this whole thing out. I’m even willing to apologize if he thinks I slighted him. I’ve tried his office, and his estate, but he wasn’t at either. Maybe you know some other location he might be found out? Somewhere not commonly known?” She cocked her head to one side eyes wide.
Max was about to mention his meeting last night when something struck him. Why did Dawn even think he knew where Greengrass was? It hadn’t exactly been public and why would she think the duke had a secret hideout? Something didn’t seem right here. He didn’t owe Greengrass anything, but was something be going on between him and the baroness? “Um, no, I really don’t know where he could be,” said Max shaking his head, “Maybe you could make an appointment with his assistant?”
“We’ve talked to her,” said Pencil Pusher, “she hasn’t been very forthcoming about her employer.” He scowled.
Dawn glared at him for a moment before her face softened and she turned back to Max. “Are you sure you don’t know where he might be, a club maybe, or somewhere he might be hanging out in?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t know anything, I’m hardly a friend of his,” said Max starting to feel sweat bead on his brow. Dawn held his gaze for a long moment then turned away.
“Well that is a shame, I guess I will have to try Miss Notary again, maybe she will be more helpful now she has had a bit of time to consider the situation. Still if anything does spring to mind please do contact me Baron. I hope I can prevent the Duke doing anything too rash.”
“Sure, right, yeah,” said Max letting out a breath as the two ponies turned towards the door. As they did Pencil Pusher tripped and staggered a flurry of paperwork bursting from his saddlebags. The assistant cursed and tried to grab as many of the files as possible. Max moved forwards to help him grabbing a fluttering form in his mouth.
“Thank you,” said Pencil accepting the sheets back.
“Here you go,” said Mrs G sweetly passing over a form. Pencil went to grab it but the old goat grabbed it back out of reach. “Well look here,” she said adjusting her glasses and peering at the form. “Well this doesn’t seem right. I see you’ve requested the first-time noble bonus, but you’ve not noted what you’re using the money for...”
“Give me that!” snarled Pencil grabbing the form and shoving it in his bags.
“I guess your creature,” said Mrs G turning to Dawn, “might have a bit more work to do, and so far into budget season as well.” She leaned against the large pile of paperwork in her outbox.
Pencil’s eyes flashed and for a moment it looked like he might charge Mrs G but Dawn, her face dark, shook her head angrily. “My apologies baron, but we really have to go now.”
“Of course,” said Max as the pair turned and left.
“That form really was a mess,” said Mrs G as she sat down again, “lots of money coming in, less going out. Well not going out openly. I wouldn’t be surprised if somepony had their hoof in the till there.”
“Are you sure?” asked Max, “you only looked at it for a few seconds.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me up here,” she said tapping her head, “not yet anyway. Now, what was it that you weren't telling them?”
Max considered keeping quiet for a tiny fraction of a second but a moment's glance from his assistant told him it wouldn’t work. “Well, I got a message last night from Greengrass-” he began then stopped. Greengrass had said that something was up with Dawn Chorus, that she was a traitor he wouldn’t have believed it but she had been acting suspiciously and that assistant. Now Mrs G said there was something up in her accounts. “Is there some way I can find out more about their budget report?” he asked quickly.
“You could check central files, everything should have copies stored there,” said Mrs G after a moment's pause. “But what are you-” Before she could finish Max was already out the door and away. Mrs G sat there for a moment chewing thoughtfully before she shrugged and started on the next form in front of her.
The central stores were absolutely heaving, ponies were constantly running in and out with bundles of forms, it was rather like an ant farm except there didn’t seem to be any queen to keep charge. It took almost half an hour for Max to attract some ponies’ attention and the same length of time again to actually get more or less what he wanted.
He would hardly call himself an expert but he had gotten a fair amount of experience with budgets over the last few weeks and Max could tell that Dawn’s didn’t balance. Lots of money was coming in, she seemed to have applied for almost every grant under the sun but the details on where it was all going seemed sketchy. Maybe he was reading it wrong, maybe the relevant papers hadn’t been filed yet, maybe. Or maybe something was going on here, maybe Greengrass was right, he didn’t know how much weapons would cost but there was a lot of money missing. Even if it wasn’t being channeled to Corona is some way it had to be going somewhere.
“Baron,” came a voice nearby causing Max’s ears to twitch as he looked up from his work.
“Yes?” he asked looking at one of the apparently numberless pages who inhabited the castle. “Hello?”
“Baron Max?” asked the page standing to attention, “You are summoned to the debating chamber, an emergency meeting of court has been called.”
“An emergency? What kind of emergency?” he asked, could Corona have finally decided to attack? Or had some sort of natural disaster occurred?
“Duke Greengrass has requested a vote to initiate an investigation of a fellow court member on the grounds of possible treason,” replied the page looking a little uncomfortable.
Max tried to stop himself face hoofing, what was Greengrass doing now?
Max galloped into the debating chamber, it was already packed with more and more courtiers pouring in at every moment. Most of them didn’t look all that happy about the situation. Greengrass himself was standing on the raised stage at the front of the chamber, apparently discussing the situation with the lord chamberlain. The Duke looked like he’d put some effort into his appearance, his coat and mane were groomed and he was dressed in a smart red jacket, but the bags under his eyes and the occasional twitch of his ears suggested he was stressed by whatever was happening. Max looked around the chamber for a familiar face who might be able to explain what was going on it him, he couldn’t help but smile as he noticed Fragrant surrounded by a small group of her allies. The grin quickly faded as he noticed her face, she looked absolutely furious, her occasional gesture towards the duke on the stage suggested who she wanted to vent her spleen on.
Taking a deep breath and trying to look at least a little happy Max trotted over towards the duchess. “Posey, what’s -” he began.
“My own bill!” she snarled, “he’s using a loophole in my own bill to make fools of us all!”
“What I don’t...” exclaimed Max.
“Sorry Max,” growled Fragrant grinding her teeth for a moment before closing her eyes and letting out a long breath forcing her features into a calmer configuration. “Duke Greengrass has managed to find a loophole in the anti-corruption bill I introduced a few months ago.”
“The page said it was something about starting an investigation into another courtier?” Max’s brow furrowed, “Isn’t that a good thing, if they’re a bad pony?”
“Well yes,” admitted Fragrant, “but normally such investigations can only be started by the Internal Affairs Bureau itself. Anypony can report suspicions, or submit evidence in anonymity, but before anything is publicised the Bureau makes an initial review to prevent courtiers reporting their enemies for malicious purposes.”
“Wasn’t there some way that a courtier could speed it all up? If the situation was potentially dangerous?” Fragrant raised an eyebrow in apparent surprise. “See I did read it,” he said defensively, well he’d skimmed through most of it.
“Yes, sometimes speed can be essential so it was decided that if a courtier was to give up all their power they could put the issue to a single vote of the court. That way we ensured that the regulations wouldn’t be abused, if the accusation turned out to be true then the courtier would no doubt be reinstated by the princess, but if the accusation was false they’d have lost everything.”
“So Greengrass has resigned?” asked Max looking towards the front of the room. Whatever could make Greengrass take such a risk? Did he really know something about corruption in the court, apart from his own?
“That’s just it!” growled Fragrant again, “I didn’t think it through, a courtier can agree to put aside their part in all court functions, all their committees, but their actual rank in the court is bestowed on them by the Princess. Courtiers can’t actually directly resign! If a courtier wants to leave she submits a letter to the princess who will normally accept it as a matter of course, but if she refuses they keep their rank. Greengrass has given up all his official duties, but unless he’s dismissed by the princess he remains a voting member of the court. Of course he’d think up a loophole like that. And of course he’s trying while the princess is away from the city as well!”
“But he’s still lost a lot, hasn’t he? Most of the actual work gets done in committees, and not many decisions come down to a single vote swaying the matter either way.”
“That’s true, but it’s still against the spirit of the thing! He’s got to have some plan, particularly as he’s chosen to indict-”
“My lords and ladies!” came a magically amplified voice from the stage drowning out whatever Fragrant had been about to say. “Thank you for all attending at such short notice, I know this isn’t quite the whole court,” said Greengrass, “but I think we have a quorum.” He turned to the chamberlain who seemed to take a quick headcount before nodding. “Good! Now I have been trying contact many of you about a serious issue for several days now, but most of you have refused to even talk to me, and those who did didn’t believe what I told them.” Greengrass indicated the court with an expansive gesture. “So I’ve had to take extreme measures, maybe go farther than I’d originally planned.” He seemed to consider for a moment. “Anyway, I would like, as is my right, to request that an immediate investigation is carried out by the Internal Affairs Bureau, as well as the Shadowbolts, against that mare!” His hoof shot out to point into the crowd in front of him. “Baroness Dawn Chorus of Opelick.” Whether consciously or not the nearby ponies stepped aside leaving the baroness standing alone with only Pencil Pusher remaining nearby. A look of rage flashed across her face as she looked out at her accuser following by fear as her eyes flicked back and forth around the crowd. “She is a traitor working for Corona herself! I have reason to believe that she and her associates are working to provide weaponry for the Tyrant Sun and may even be threatening the safety of the city!”
There was a moment's silence broken after a moment by the sound of a hoof slowly stomping. “Very nice, Duke. Very theatrical, bravo,” said Viceroy Night Light sarcastically, “and of course before you ask us to condemn one of our own on your word you can of course provide us with evidence to back up your claims?”
Greengrass seemed to deflate a little on the stage. “Unfortunately, I don’t have much in the way of evidence immediately to hoof at the moment. One of my assistants managed to infiltrate her organisation and informed me of her treachery, but we have lost contact, I f-fear for her safety which is why we must act now! Without any further delay!”
“Duke, I don’t understand why you are doing this!” exclaimed Dawn Chorus from the floor, her face now a picture of confusion. “What have I done to cause all this, if I have in some way offended you, I apologize. Your request to court me, well I was flattered of course, but I just don’t feel that way about you! Please don’t humiliate me in this way!”
Muttering spread across the court chamber at this revelation. Max frowned, Dawn hadn’t said anything about Greengrass trying to ask her out when they’d talked earlier. Had she just been too embarrassed to mention it, or was there more going on? The discrepancy in Dawn’s paperwork itched at him again.
“Duke Greengrass,” said Night Light stepping forwards, “I am painfully aware of how easy it is to try and misuse your power to deal with a personal hurt, but this is not the way to do things. I ask that you withdraw your claim immediately!”
“She’s lying!” announced Greengrass looking around the chamber. “I’ve never, I wouldn’t...” he sounded rather flustered. “Archduke Fisher,” he turned to the pony in question, “you are always talking of the need of greater security, surely you understand. Think of the harm a traitor in the court could do. If there is even a one percent chance Baroness Dawn works for Corona surely it should be treated as a certainty?”
The archduke seemed to consider the situation for a moment. “Maybe such an investigation might be warranted,” he finally said, “if she has nothing to hide then she has nothing to fear.”
“This is ridiculous,” said Fragrant. “You are abusing the law, the procedures you are trampling over were designed to deal with actual corruption in the court, not to settle your own petty disputes.”
A wave of cheers started to spread across the chamber at Fragrant’s words. Max could make out beads of sweat starting to form on Greengrass’s flanks, things were apparently not going how he had planned. He chewed on his lip, maybe Fragrant was right and Greengrass was just playing some sort of game, that wouldn’t be anything new. But was there at least some chance he was telling the truth? Talk of treason was extreme even for even him. And there were some things about Dawn which didn’t quite fit as well. Maybe he should talk to Fragrant for a moment.
“Baron Mounty Max!” called Greengrass, “I talked to you about this matter last night, you said about me trying to gain political capital over this matter, well I’ve given up everything now. You know what’s right!” In the crowd nearby Pencil Pusher turned to Max glaring daggers. Dawn Chorus herself continued to look up at Greengrass apparently wiping tears from her eyes with a hoofkerchief.
Max swallowed painfully as it suddenly seemed that every eye was on him. “Well, I guess, I” he stuttered, “I well I don’t trust you all that much but well if you think there is something going on here we should investigate. Yes, I think we should look into the baroness’s affairs a little more, I looked over some of her papers and there’s something off there, I think. If we’re wrong, well I’ll apologize myself.” A little to Max’s surprise his words seemed to send another ripple of discussion around the chamber.
“I think we’ve talked enough,” said Greengrass, “the matter is simple enough, either investigate the Baroness or let her carry out her plan. If I’m wrong, well I’m ruined, but if I’m right then you’ll have helped me save the city, just think how that will help your reputations?”
“You can’t honestly believe Greengrass can you Max?” asked Fragrant as the rest of the chamber started to mumble to each other deciding which way they were going to vote. “I don’t think he could tell the truth if he tried.”
“I’m not sure, we did talk last night and he seemed sincere. Dawn was looking for him earlier, I think something's going on here.”
“Well if there is Greengrass should have reported it via the normal channels not all these theatrics, there is a way to do things, and this isn’t it!”
“Maybe it was really urgent?” suggested Max.
“You know what can go wrong if you try to hurry things,” said Fragrant pointedly.
“I guess...”
“Ladies, Gentlecoats!” bellowed the chamberlain slamming his staff of office on the ground. Slowly the talking around the chamber died down. “Let the voting commence. A simple majority is needed to start an official investigation into the affairs of Baroness Dawn Chorus of Opelick. Votes for indicate the investigation should take place, votes against indicate no such investigation is authorised. Voting will be carried out from lowest rank to the highest. Baron Rubber Stamp to begin.”
“Well normally I’d trust Duke Greengrass about as far as I could throw him, but Baron Max has always seemed a straight shooter. If he thinks an investigation is needed, then I agree. I vote for,” said the court's most junior member.
Max was rather surprised to hear himself used as a justification for voting, surely his word couldn’t hold any real weight, not compared to Fragrant or Night Light. It suddenly hit him how this could ruin his reputation of Dawn did end up being innocent, sweat started to roll down his face. He’d look like a fool, and probably a pawn of Greengrass’s. His hoof tapped nervously on the ground as he waiting for his turn to vote he remembered when he voted first but with all the resignations over the summer it was several dozen ponies before it was his turn and most of them seemed to be following Rubber’s example.
“Baron Mounty Max,” called the Chamberlain shaking Max from his thoughts.
“Oh, right, I vote for.” Concentrating Max tried to keep track of the vote, the whole court wasn't there but it looked like there were almost two hundred nobles were present. They were coming to the end of the barons now and they made up a bit over half of the whole court. He wasn’t sure of the exact count but he was fairly certain the motion was carrying by a fair number. As the voting carried on through the higher ranks the proportion voting for dwindled. It seemed like most of the counts and countesses didn’t believe Greengrass. By the time the dukes were reached almost none of the votes were for the motion.
“Duchess Fragrant Posey,” came the call.
Fragrant gave Max an unreadable look before sighing a little. “I vote for,” she said loudly. “I hope you know what you’re talking about Max,” she whispered. Max did too although the sign of her support did make him smile a little.
With only the few Archdukes and Viceroys above Fragrant the vote quickly came to a close. Archduke Fisher voted for, as did Wallflower, while Nightlight voted against. Puissance was apparently too busy with the budget to appear in person but the member of her family taking her place voted against.
The chamberlain quickly ran through the figures in front of him. “The votes for, one hundred and five, the votes against eighty-two, abstentions four, fifty nobles are not present. The vote carries. The Internal Affairs Bureau is instructed to start an immediate investigation into the affairs of Baroness Dawn Chorus. Baroness, you are not to leave the city without the Bureau’s permission until further notice.”
Max’s glanced over to baroness Dawn, her face seemed to be shifting back and forth between anger and fear as if she wasn’t sure what was going on. Turning back to the front of the court Max saw Greengrass slump a little, but there wasn’t a look of satisfaction on his face, if anything he looked more worried than before the vote had begun. What was going on?
Max had meant to try to talk to Greengrass straight away but he’d been ambushed by Mellow and a group of other barons before he could even leave the council chamber. They seemed quite excited by the fact that the lower ranks of nobles had outvoted the more senior courtiers. They even seemed to consider him some sort of trend setter or leader. Max tried to explain that he’d mostly gone with his gut and he might be wrong about the paperwork, but they told him not to be so humble. By the time he’d managed to extricate himself from that situation he was due in a committee meeting. He’d considered missing it, but it was budget time, and as Fragrant had said he didn’t want to get a reputation of shirking his responsibilities. By the time he was free again it was past midnight.
Max trotted down the corridor towards Greengrass’s office. It was in a rather nice part of the castle but most of the other offices around it seemed to be disused. Was Greengrass really so despised that other courtiers didn’t even want to live near him, despite the prime real estate? Oddly the door was open. The lights were on and the outer office was empty of any inhabitants but papers were scattered everywhere all the drawers on the assistant's desk had been pulled out and their contents strewn everywhere. Pricking up his ears he could make out a shuffling sound from inside. Could something have happened to Greengrass?
Moving on tip hooves Max made his way towards the door at the back of the office, like the main door it was open. Through it he could make out Greengrass’s chambers, it had also been totally trashed, papers and files had been thrown everywhere, it even looked like at least one chair had been smashed. Moving more quickly Max stuck his head into the office, whatever could have happened here? Was Greengrass alright? He was just about to call out when he saw a flicker of movement in his peripheral vision followed by a sharp crack and something smashed into the back of his head driving him to his knees. Blinking to try and ward off the stars which covered his vision he half leapt, half staggered aside to avoid any further blows. His hooves slipped on an errant file and he want tumbling to the ground. Above him a large pony shape loomed weapon raised threatenly. Then it froze for a moment. “Baron Max?” came a familiar voice.
Max shook his head trying to clear his vision. Standing over him was a brown coated earth pony, but not the one he had expected to see. “Greenmeadow?” he asked in surprise.
“What are you doing here?” they both asked at more or less the same time.
“Um, well I was looking for your son,” said Max rubbing the spot on his skull where the older stallion must have hit him with his cane.
“So was I,” said Greenmeadow leaning over to help Max stand, the force almost caused him to overbalance himself. “Some of my associates contacted me with word about what he’d been doing recently. I, well, I was worried he’d do something stupid,” he sighed, “and from what I’ve heard since my train got here, he has. Trying to ruin a mare just because she turned down his advances... I thought I’d raised him better than that.” He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment.
“Well I don’t think that actually happened, Baroness Chorus talked to me earlier and she didn’t mention that, she just wanted to know where he was. It was, well it was a bit suspicious,” said Max as he looked around the room.
“This was all like this when I got here,” explained Greenmeadow, “It’s not like Greengrass to keep the place so messy. I think somepony’s been searching for something, I thought you might be one of them come back to finish the job. Sorry for hitting you,” he said offhandedly, “you shouldn’t sneak up on an old stallion.”
Max rubbed his head again, Greenmeadow certainly didn’t seem all that feeble, particularly with that cane. He shuffled about some of the papers trying to put them in some sort of order, maybe they could figure out if anything was missing. Some of the pages seemed to be stuck together, he peeled them apart to reveal a red liquid. It took him a moment to realise it was blood. “Oh,” he exclaimed.
“What is it?” asked Greenmeadow, taking the pages from Max before he could hide them. The older stallion’s eyes widened and he staggered back. “No!” he exclaimed.
“It might not be Greengrass’s,” said Max, “and it doesn’t look like it’s all that much.” A wave of guilt passed through him, if only he’d trusted Greengrass last night, listened to him, then this might not have happened.
“You’re right,” said Greenmeadow straightening but his face still looked pale through his coat, and his legs seemed to be shaking a little. “We need to find him as quickly as possible. If my son is in trouble we need to help him. I’ve got a... contact he might be able to find him, if he’s still in town.” The stallion turned and started to make for the door.
“Wait! Shouldn’t we tell the guard or something?” asked Max rushing to catch up.
“The guard? Yes, I suppose so but maybe in a bit, my contact he, well he might not be able to follow who did this if there have been too many ponies around. We should at least try him first.”
“Um, ok then,” said Max giving the room a last look around, it didn’t seem right but presumably Greenmeadow knew what he was doing.
“Hurry up boy,” said the older stallion waiting for Max to leave the room before closing the door and hurrying off down the corridor.
To Max’s surprise Greenmeadow lead them to one of the city's shopping districts on the fifth layer. It seemed an odd place for some sort of bounty hunter or detective to be hanging out but Max decided to keep his mouth shut, he didn’t want another smack to his already aching head.
“This is the place,” said Greenmeadow. He sighed. “I’ve certainly missed it since I moved back to Caneighda full time. If only I could meet the old gang under better circumstances.”
Max glanced up, the sign above the door pronounced the place to be ‘The Jasmine Teahouse’. It was a fairly small building sandwiched between a flower shop and an undertaker's, the walls were painted a calming pastel purple. Greenmeadow swung the door open releasing various tantalising fragrances and stepped inside, Max quickly followed. The inside of the cafe was cramped and warm. Numerous tables were placed haphazardly around the room, various elderly members of a wide range of species sat at them in small groups sipping drinks and quietly gossiping. In fact Max did a double take at the variety of life around him, he recognised an elk, a buffalo, a hippogriff and a pair of griffin but there were other species he’d never seen before. Ponies seemed to be in a minority, there were probably less than half a dozen ponies in the whole place, including him and Greenmeadow. Most of the inhabitants seemed to be supremely uninterested in the new arrivals. The only creature who looked up at them was also was youngest, a stallion barely out of colthood, he appeared to Max to be a unicorn, but a second glance suggested he might be one of the dragon blooded ponies from the east. He looked like he’d been in the wars, the flesh around one of his eyes was badly scarred like it has been burnt. After apparently deciding they weren't a threat the creature turned back to a plumper and older member of his species who was apparently greatly enjoying a cup of tea and some sort of board game.
“Are you sure this is right?” asked Max, it certainly didn’t look like the place a tracker would hang out.
“Of course,” said Greenmeadow trotting over to the counter near the back of the cafe. Max followed carefully avoiding colliding with any of the patrons on the way. “Wolfgang,” called Greenmeadow.
“Just a moment,” came a deep voice from behind the counter, a few seconds later a canine head rose from behind the counter and kept rising and rising until it almost reached the roof. “How can I help you?” Max had never seemed a creature like it before, it was easily twice the height of a pony with long drooping ears and folds of skin hanging down from its long muzzle upon which sat a pair of wire framed glasses. Its body stood on two legs with its forelegs, which ended with large paws, resting on the counter. “Greenmeadow?” the creature said its mouth opening in what Max hoped was a smile, “It is good to see you again. I did not know you were in town.”
“I only just arrived,” said Greenmeadow quickly. “I need to call in a favour, it’s my son, I think he’s gotten into some trouble.”
The larger creature nodded. “I’ve heard your son is nothing but trouble, so different from the little pup who would visit with you.” He stared into the distance for a moment.
“Yes, well I think this may be real trouble, he’s gone missing. In his room there was... blood.”
“Whatever you son has gotten mixed up in is no business of mine,” said Wolfgang shaking his shaggy head. “I want a quiet life here, nothing to do with the court and its intrigue. There are few up there who care about us down here these days.”
“Wolfgang,” said Greenmeadow placing a hoof on the dog creatures arm, “You owe me, who loaned you the money to start this place up?”
“That was paid back long ago! Still,” he sighed, “very well, my nose might not be as good as it used to be, but I’ll do what I can to help. But after this we are even!” He turned seeming to notice Max for the first time. “Who is this?” he asked.
“He’s a... colleague of my son,” said Greenmeadow before Max could introduce himself.
“Humm, more trouble then?”
“I don’t mean you any harm,” said Max trying to be friendly. He remembered hearing something about some dog like creatures being found under the palace by the element bearers, they apparently stopped an attack by Corona’s troops. “From what I’ve heard the Diamond Dogs have done nothing but help Equestria.” The temperature around him seemed to drop by several degrees and Max knew he had said something wrong. Wolfgang bristled and loomed over him.
“I am no such thing! I am Cheeroonear, born of Glass Spider, I am no descendant of a seller!” He spat the word and turned to Greenmeadow. “If this is the kind of company your son is keeping maybe it is better if he stays missing!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any offence!” said Max stepping away from the angry figure.
Suddenly an even larger creature rushed towards him. “Baron Max!” it bellowed. “So good to see you again!” To his surprise Max found himself embraced by a large buffalo.
“What? Huh?” muttered Max as he felt the breath being forced from his lungs.
“It’s me Small Hoof!” exclaimed the creature, “You helped me out when I first arrived in the city.” Seeming to realise he was crushing Max the buffalo let get.
“Right, um, yeah, right,” said Max. Truth be told he only vaguely remembered a buffalo passing through his office not long before the gala, but the name didn’t ring a bell.
“This is the pony I was telling you about boss,” said Small Hoof turning to Wolfgang.
“You’re that Baron Max?” asked the Cheeroonear suspiciously.
“Yes,” said Max hopefully, he wasn’t aware of any other baron Max’s in the city.
“Well I guess I should thank you for setting me up with my best barista,” Wolfgang said with a nod his temper apparently cooled for the moment. “And you should tell Gràinne that this month's card games been moved to next week.”
“Gràinne? Mrs G?” asked Max. “You know her?”
“Quite well actually,” said Wolfgang producing a large trench coat and hat which he used to cover himself. “We should go,” he said nodding to Greenmeadow.
Following Max gave a grin, Mrs G was certainly full of surprises.
It took Max a while to be able to sign Wolfgang into the castle, for some reason the guards didn’t seem all that keen to let a gigantic dog creature into the court, but after both Max and Greenmeadow vouched for him they agreed that he could enter for a few hours. They quickly made their way back to Greengrass’s office, Max sort of expected it to already be cordoned off by guards but it didn’t appear that anypony had discovered what had happened yet.
“Can you find him?” asked Greenmeadow anxiously as the three of them entered the office.
“Give me a moment,” said Wolfgang shrugging off his coat and tossing it towards Max. The large creature dropped to all fours and began to sniff. He slowly circled around the room stopping every few moments. “You said there was blood?” he asked after a few minutes.
“This way,” said Max trotting over towards the back office. Wolfgang followed him and repeated the process.
“Well?” asked Greenmeadow.
“There are too many,” said Wolfgang eventually. “At least a dozen ponies in the last day or so, they might be the attackers, or they could be cleaners.”
“You must at least recognise Greengrass? You’ve met him.”
“That was years ago, he was a foal, his scent will have,” he paused, “matured since then.”
“You told me you were the best tracker of your generation, that you followed a week-old trail through a city after heavy rain!” exclaimed Greenmeadow clutching his cane.
“I did!” growled Wolfgang rearing up again. “I was,” he said more gently, “but that was a long time ago, age catches up on all of us, you know.”
“What about the blood?” asked Max trying to stop a fight. “Could you follow that?”
“Maybe, but it may not be Greengrass’s” he turned to Greenmeadow, “likely may not be, if it is one of the attackers we may end up going in the wrong direction if they went to be treated. Do you have anything he’s touched recently?”
“Maybe we could find something in his estate?” suggested Max.
“I checked when I once got into town, the staff said he hasn’t been there for a week or more,” said Greenmeadow.
“How about his garden?”
“His garden?” asked Greenmeadow in surprise.
“There was this place under a warehouse he invited me to, there were all sorts of plants and flowers there.”
“He never told me about that,” said Greenmeadow sagging a little. “We should check there. He always did like his plants, I remember as a colt he used to... never mind,” said Greenmeadow blinking quickly.
“I didn’t know anything about it either until last night,” said Max.
Greenmeadow nodded. “We should try there then.”
“Another trip across town,” complained Wolfgang putting his coat back on, “I guess I could use the exercise.”
As the three of them made their way back through the castle Greenmeadow flagged down a passing page. “You girl,” he said, “tell Captain Vigilant Sentry that there was some sort of incident in Duke Greengrass’s office.”
“Captain who?” asked the younger pony.
“Vigilant Sentry, don’t you know the captain of the guard?”
“Oh, I think he retired a few years back.”
Greenmeadow growled to himself for a moment. “Well tell whoever is in charge now!”
“Yes sir,” said the page before scampering off.
“We better let the professionals start their own work,” explained Greenmeadow, “in case we don’t manage.”
Max was quite glad he remembered the way back to Greengrass’s hideout. The area around it really was like a maze, it was no wonder that nopony else seemed to be aware of it. Even once he’d entered the warehouse he hadn’t been sure it was the right one until he tapped the floor a few times to find the trapdoor. He hadn’t managed to find out how to open it this time and had been forced to kick it until the planks splintered so they could get in. It was only once he’d finished that Greenmeadow had pointed out a thin metal tool leaning against the wall which could have probably have been used to open it with much less effort. That earned him another tap on his head.
The garden itself looked much the same as it had before, the artificial lights were still shining brightly, although a few of the plants were starting to look a little distressed. Presumably nopony had been properly looking after them for a while.
“This is better,” announced Wolfgang sniffing the air. “Not many ponies have been here, but the flowers are confusing the scents. I recognise you baron, and a mare I’ve never met before, she’s been here quite often. I think this one is your son, but it’s not clear.” He sneezed. “All this pollen,” he complained.
Max furrowed his brow, he remembered Greengrass tossing away a hoofkerchief or something last time he was here. He quickly scanned the area until he located the cloth in question. “How about this?” he said holding it up.
Wolfgang grabbed it and held it up to his nose. “Perfect, I recognise this from the office now.”
“I never thought being a baron would mean picking up someponies dirty washing,” joked Max.
“You’d be surprised how much of government work is like that,” muttered Greenmeadow distractedly. “So you can find him now?”
“I believe so, if we return to the castle I think I can pick up the trail. There’s no fooling this,” Wolfgang said tapping his muzzle. “This really takes me back, the thrill of the hunt!” he eagerly bounded up the stairs out of the basement.