Celestia sneezed, then made a sound and held a hoof against her snout while stuffing the other into a box of tissues. Tirek watched her likeness sneeze again, and Celestia was certain she glimpsed a smile.
‘Still sick, I see,’ said Tirek. ‘Colds these days. They never leave.’
‘I thought it had passed!’
‘Thought wrong, then, didn’t you?’ said Luna, grinning. ‘And I can’t say I’m all that bothered. You get petulant when under the weather these days, and it’s pretty fun to watch you sweat. I’m joking, Sister!’ she added as Celestia opened her mouth to protest. ‘Only joking!’
Cadence, at least, had the decency to look sympathetic. ‘We should be there with you. There’s nothing worse than being by yourself when you’re ill.’
Celestia smiled weakly. ‘I appreciate the gesture.’ Her smile quickly faltered, however, for there was no mistaking Tirek’s toothy grin.
‘What?’ she snapped.
‘Oh, nothing. I merely find it ironic that you should fall so blatantly ill at such a time. Karmic, in fact. It’s comeuppance for your mistreatment of yours truly.’
Luna laughed, then hastily added, ‘Sorry, Sister, sorry.’ She composed herself. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I feel for you and everything – but wouldn’t it be funny if there was just a grain of truth to that?’
Celestia harrumphed. Luna laughed once more.
‘You think it’s funny, Luna,’ said Celestia, ‘but really, it isn’t. I hurt all over – wings, hooves, flank. I’m in a lot of pain, with lots to do. Saddle Arabian delegates first thing tomorrow morning, for example. And when I’m not bandying words with them, I’ve PR responsibilities to think about – some sort of sporting event in which I’m expected to participate mildly, and that’s just around the corner. And I can’t – not like this, anyway. But I must.’ She paused, sighing. ‘See? Not funny at all.’
‘Actually,’ said Tirek, ‘it’s –’
‘Shut it!’ hissed Celestia, and Tirek fell silent. ‘Now, I think it’s high time you had your tonic. Then we can leave.’
As the foremost DAG poured Tirek’s tonic, Cadence turned to Celestia.
‘You can’t possibly expect yourself to take all of that on!’ she exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern. ‘Look at the state you’re in! You’ll only damage yourself, Tia, and I won’t have that. Don’t you worry,’ she continued as Celestia tried to interrupt. ‘I’ll fly in first thing and sort everything out. I daresay the Saddle Arabians can spend their morning arguing just as unsuccessfully with me as they would with anypony else.’
‘Thank you, Cadence,’ said Celestia, yielding rather gladly. ‘You’re very kind.’
Cadence beamed. Tirek pulled a face.
‘Did someone crack the sweet tap?’ he asked. ‘Since when did you lot get so sappy?’
He drained his tankard, belched, then smacked his lips. Celestia looked him up and down, then sighed with disappointment. Luna grinned.
‘Eight days, no change!’ she said. ‘In fact, the only pony who’s displaying any sort of symptoms is you, Sister mine!’ She giggled. ‘Perhaps it is karma!’
Celestia rubbed her eyes and muttered, ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Bed,’ said Cadence firmly, clapping her hooves together. ‘Come on, Tia, up we go.’
‘Yes, yes. I’m on it.’
‘Ladies,’ said Tirek, nodding.
‘Tirek,’ they said in unison before pulling out of T-Kam.