Speckled Band stood outside the study door for a moment, wrestling with his courage. He didn't want to press forward -couldn't- knowing full and well what lay beyond. Yet, how could he turn away and hope to come back later? The sellswords were at his back, watching him with keen eyes that saw far too much.
Enough, he told himself. You're acting like a colt who’s about to walk in on mommy and daddy. You're a soldier, damn it!
One shaky breath later, and Speckled Band still hadn't found the steel to face what lay ahead. However, that didn't stop him from reaching out and turning the doorknob. Where courage failed, duty took over.
Under normal circumstances the Corporal would have knocked and waited to be called in. These were not normal circumstances, and he figured the Captain would understand.
The study was immaculate as always: a marble floor polished till it shone like fine china, volumes of old text cradled in ivory shelves, and a lavish gemstone desk near the width of a stagecoach.
Speckled Band, with his mottled colored coat, always felt like a blemish when in the study. His unease was forgotten as he laid eyes on the fuming princess pacing before the great desk. Tired eyes ringed with dark circles shot daggers at the stallion slumped over the armchair across from her.
“Can we not at least discuss this, Shiny?” the princess asked, her tone somewhere between pleading and demanding. “Celestia needs to know that things have gotten worse, that we can't even send out a supply train without fear of it being attacked!”
Princess Cadence batted away a few threads of mismatched mane that had fallen in her face, but remained indignant and unmoved. Speckled Band had seen that look before, and not just from the fair princess. Echoes of his mother ordering him to clean his room drifted from memories long forgotten.
How can a mare make a stallion feel so guilty and so worthless at the same time? Then, a bit more sardonically, he thought, Woe is us, woe is our injustice.
The figure lifted it’s head, and spoke in a voice nearly hoarse. “I hear you, Cadance, I really do. But I'm telling you that… that it isn't possible…”
Princess Cadence appeared as if she had just been struck. “Not possible? How's that not possible? Send a letter, tell her what’s happening! I know it won't just solve everything, but maybe she'll at least send some troops from the Guard-”
“What Guard, Cadence?” The shell seated at the desk was lit with energy anew, though not the kind Cadence had been hoping for. “I’m telling you, there's no Guard left to deploy. Most are stationed in Detrot and Manehattan, trying their best to keep the peace. Ponies are scared and hurting each other in the mainland.”
“Ponies are scared and hurting each other here! Just look to the west! You heard what Snow Dew said. Bandits are all but picking those small hold towns dry! How long until those criminals get brave enough to try the Crystal Empire? Until it they try to hurt the ponies we swore to protect?”
“Maybe a year, if reports are to be believed. From what we've heard, the attacks have started to get rather bold lately.”
Princess Cadence took a step towards the desk. Desperation was written in fine letters across the mare’s fair features. Desperation and agitation. It was not a look Speckled Band was used to seeing on the usually composed noble pony.
“And do you believe those reports, Shining Armor?”
The Captain sighed. “I believe it'll happen sooner.”
“Then why not ask Canterlot for help? Why keep quiet?”
“That's what I'm trying to make you understand, love. The Guard is spread too thin, the Scholars never see farther than their libraries, and all of the noble houses are afraid of losing their silver spoons the moment they leave their cities.
“We don't have the might to ease the smallholders. Right now, however, Equestria needs to focus its resources on strengthening itself for when things finally come to head, not wasting itself on a bandaid solution.”
“Bandaid solution?” The princess actually seemed offended by this. “I can't believe you-”
Speckled Band would have cursed himself had he only the time. Yes, in the heat of their argument the royal couple had failed to notice Speckled’s sudden intrusion. They even missed the light *click* of the door closing softly behind him. It was by some ungodly force, much like how parents knew the face of a guilty child, that Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor detected Speckled Band as he stepped forward. The Corporal refused to let himself shrivel as two sets of eyes turned upon him.
Speckled Band cleared his throat. “My apologies, your majesties, I didn't mean to intrude, but I… knew you were waiting for me, Captain.”
The Corporal hoped -hoped against hope, in fact- that he saw a hint of gratitude in Shining Armor’s smile as he nodded. “That’s right, I'd nearly forgot. Cadence, I-”
“Don't.” The single word seemed to cut through the Captain’s resolve like a saber.
The anger and desperation in the princess’s expression had melted, making way for something that neither Shining Armor nor Speckled Band were prepared for: sorrow. Tears did not fall -a princess would never cry before a soldier- but they still glistened in Cadence’s eyes, nevertheless.
“I know you have things that need your attention,” Cadence continued, both stallions relieved to hear the softening of her tone. “Heck, we both do. But I'm not done with this, not by far. I’ll see you tonight, dear, if you don't sleep here again…”
With that she started off, only stopping when Shining Armor called her name. She paused and turned to him, now standing where Speckled Band had when he snuck into the study. It seemed as if the couple was miles apart as they looked at one another.
“I understand why you're worried, honey. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't… but, I ask that you at least think about what I said right now. Think about it before you do something hasty, okay?”
How odd the two of them looked in that moment. Shining Armor was smiling encouragingly, though the smile appeared thin and worn on his tired face. Meanwhile, Cadence’s face remained a stonewall, shielding the pain that was there only moments before. How Speckled Band missed the tenderness that Princess Cadence was known and beloved for.
“I'll think about it,” was all Cadence said before spinning about-face. The door lit up with her magic as it opened and she let herself out.
Speckled Band watched wordlessly, mouth agape, until the door had slammed shut behind the princess. Once alone with his superior, he found his tongue no longer glued to the roof of his mouth.
“Forgive me, sir,” Speckled Band said quickly, “The private stationed outside said it was bad, but… well, I wasn't expecting this…”
Captain Shining Armor did not say much for the next few minutes. He only rubbed at his temples and drew in great, calming breathes.
“It’s quite alright, Corporal. Celestia forgive me for saying this, but I'm glad you came when you did. Though I hate to see Cadence leave in a huff, something tells me we would be back and forth at each other for hours. Now, you tell me what that would have solved.”
Speckled Band shrugged. “I guess… nothing?”
“Nothing indeed, except that maybe the bed would be that much colder tonight…”
Shining Armor’s chin dipped low to his chest, as he were simply nodding off. The captain was exhausted, and yet, the haunted look in his eyes suggested sleep would be the farthest thing from Shining Armor’s grasp. Speckled Band would've given all of his strength, every ounce, if only to lend it to his mentor.
Perhaps sensing this, the pony behind the desk straightened himself. When Shining Armor raised his head once more, Speckled Band could see that there was still plenty of fight in the buck after all. The proof was the resolve in his smile.
“Well, I’m assuming that Quill is with you then,” he asked, glad to have a change in topic.
Speckled Band nodded. “Yes, sir, and his daughter too.”
There was a flicker in the Captain’s eyes. Perhaps Quill, with his ever invasive eyes, could have identified what that brief flush of emotion was. Speckled Band, on the other hand, could not.
“Well, my friend,” that smile grew, “Wouldn't you say we’ve left them waiting long enough?”
“Yes, sir. I'll fetch them right away.”
“Thank you, Corporal.”
****
When the knob to the study turned, Quill had been expecting the Corporal to step back out. Hell, Shining Armor seemed more likely than the pink head that poked out, or the lithe, pink body that followed.
“Your Highness, what a pleasure!” Cadence froze at Quill’s greeting, looking like a deer caught in a spotlight. Perhaps the gazes of a feathered killer and his murderous protege felt like a spotlight to the usually gentle princess. She was not used to keeping company with such a stock.
Despite her surprise, however, Cadence never forgot her manners. Those wide eyes became soft and the corners of her mouth turned upward into something that passed as a smile. Quill had to give her credit, had he been anyone else then maybe she would've fooled him. If nothing else, at least I can trust pony royalty to lie properly.
Cadence returned his greeting with all the warmth of a summer breeze. “Sir Quill! What a pleasure it is to see you again!” Point proven. “And your daughter as well…”
That smile twitched, fighting so hard not to falter. The princess tried her damndest not to look twice at the filly, lest her displeasure show.
Quill didn't blame her discomfort. He's heard the grisly tales floating around about his angel. Though he truly believed that she was simply misunderstood by soldiers far inferior than she, Speira did tend to live up to the expectations of those brutal stories.
“I'm guessing you two are my husband's four o’clock?”
“That’s right, your highness.” Then, quickly, Quill added, “I hope we didn't interrupt anything? I know royal business is hard enough without a couple of dusty drifters mucking it up.”
Cadence waved the statement off, as if it was the farthest thing from the truth. “Of course not! In fact, your timing couldn't be more perfect. We just finished discussing a few details about our traveling accommodations to the Landsmeet.”
From the way the regal alicorn’s feathers were ruffled, Quill doubted that very much. Likely she and Shining Armor were discussing something heatedly.
Or maybe they were having a nice rut on the royal desk, Quills thought scolding to himself. Whatever it is, it's no business of yours.
“That’s good to hear,” Quill said, despite himself. “It's rumoured this Landsmeet is going to be quite the occasion, one for the history books.”
Cadence nodded, but already Quill could tell her mind was elsewhere. “I've heard much of the same. And though I'd love to talk more on the matter, I'm sorry to say that I'm leaving one meeting for another. I really must be going.”
“Please,” Quill took a step sideways, Speira following suit, “Don't let us keep you. I'm more than sure business will put us in each other's way again. Perhaps then we might palaver some more.”
Though Cadence still smiled warmly, Quill could tell in the shift of her posture that that hadn't sat well with her at all.
“Yes… how I do look forward to that…”
A few more pleasantries were exchanged: a bow from the sellswords, a nod of gratitude from Cadence, and then a quick fair-thee-well.
Quill and Speira watched after her for a moment, the sound of her hooves echoing like rolling thunder in that tight crystal funnel, before they turned to each other at last.
“She doesn't like us, does she, papa?”
Quill’s beak clicked a few times as he searched his daughter’s face. The older sellsword had to admit that he was quite impressed when he found only a wall staring up at him.
“Yes, my dear,” he finally answered, “It appears so.”
“It’s me, isn't it? I noticed how she kept glancing at me, but wouldn't really look me in the eyes. I make her uncomfortable, I think.”
There was still nothing in that young, sweet face of hers. The girl learns quickly. I haven't lied to her yet, so why stop now?
“I think so too, though I’m sure I'm not exactly a sweet summer dream for such a lovely princess… tell me, are you offended my dear?”
Speira shrugged. “I don't really care, papa, I was just curious. The looks she gave me are no worse than the ones the soldiers give us.” She thought for a moment, then added. “She's better, in fact. At least she acts nice to you.”
There was a brief swell of pride, but Quill swallowed it. Instead, he nodded.
“Just remember, Speira, that disdain hidden is much more unpredictable than that presented openly… however, I can't see Cadence having enough meanness in her for disdain.”
Speira said “Yes, papa,” and nothing more.
A minute passed, a minute spent in total silence, when the door opened once more. A familiar head poked out, no longer wearing the helm that it had donned for the past hour.
“The Captain's ready for you,” Speckled Band said, looking horribly young with his long, azure mane now flowing freely. “Please, come in.”
A mane that long should drive a commanding officer insane, Quill thought.
The mercenary glanced at Speira -saw that she was already looking up at him expectantly- then moved forward to lead the way.
****
The air smelt of marital dispute. Quill could pick up that odor anywhere. Nothing left a room smelling like despair and anguish than an angry wife.
As the three of them entered the study, they found Shining Armor not at his desk. At the opposite side of the room was a wingback chair seated behind a coffee table. Positioned on either side of the table were three of the chair’s siblings.
“Wonderful evening, Sir Grimfeathers,” Shining Armor said. He was the first to actually greet them that day with earnest enthusiasm. “And a good evening to you too, young miss. How lovely you look today.”
Speira gulped and glanced away. Despite the obvious wear and tear of his office, the Captain was still quite the dashing specimen of a pony. It seemed that not even cold-blooded fillies were immune to the killer charm of a prince.
“A wonderful evening, indeed, your highness,” Quill said back.
“Please, how many times do I have to tell you that you don't need to call me ‘highness’?”
“Probably as many times as I've said not to call me ‘sir’ or ‘Grimfeathers’.”
The two shared a laugh. How good that laugh felt to the tired soldiers, how cleansing. It was as if one’s sinuses had been cleansed after a long, agonizing summer.
Still smiling, Shining Armor motioned to the chairs opposite of him. “Please, sit. There's many things we need to discuss.”
The mercenaries, nary a look between the two, did as they were bade.