Flock seemed to be growing weaker. He did not show it much, but Daring Do had learned to be perceptive to weaknesses of both her allies and her enemies. Whatever sort of injury it was, it did not manifest completely. Flock still walked with his head held high and proudly. Yet there was a look of pain and distance in his already sickly eyes, and his motion was becoming even more jerky and awkward.
“Stop,” she said at last. “You need to rest. You’re sick.”
“I don’t need to rest,” protested Flock. “What I need is to get to the Hand of Doom. You saw the path they’re burning here, doing what we should have done in the first place. With that level of conviction, they’re probably already here.”
Daring Do raised an eyebrow. “You think they already have the Hand of Doom?”
“No,” said Flock, after a moment. “I think we would know that. This whole thing draws power from the Hand. If it were removed, moving would be both far easier and far colder.”
Daring Do sat down and leaned against the cold, smooth stone. “Really. So the Hand powers this place. Why?”
“You had access to the same stone piece I did. Did you not read?”
“Forgive me if I had to take the abridged version.”
Flock sighed. It was a painful, ragged sound. “What they were trying to do was…complicated.”
“We have time.”
“No we don’t.”
“Yes we do.”
Flock growled at her. “Fine. I don’t actually know what their intention was with the Hand. Only that it is heavily integrated into the systems around us.”
“Meaning that all this is the weapon, not the Hand itself.”
“It’s much more than a weapon, stop being a fool. And of course not. You haven’t figured that out yet?”
“Figured what out?”
“That this is all containment.” He gestured to the facility around them. “To keep it from waking up long enough for them to attempt to control it. But they didn’t understand what it is. If they had known, they would never have built this place. No matter how desperate they became.”
“I think they understood. In the end, they understood.”
“By then it was too late.” Flock stared out into the facility. “And it might be too late again.”
“And this is why I work alone.”
Flock turned his head toward her suddenly. His nearly avian eyes glared at her. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m leading you directly to the Hand.”
“And setting off every trap you can on the way.”
Flock’s eyes narrowed. “What are you implying?”
“That you’re trying to sabotage me? That you don’t actually want me to get to the Hand.”
“I could attack you right now and tear the feathers from- -”
“But then you would have nopony to protect you. You can’t attack us when we’re in a group because we’re too strong, and you can’t attack me alone because you’re weak without that dial. Let me guess. Every time you transform, it puts a massive strain on your body, doesn’t it?”
“I’m a living creature. I need rest from time to time. Is that so wrong?”
“Now you’re trying to change the subject. You won’t admit that I’m right.”
“Because if you were, it would be a moot point. We still need to work together anyway. I’m sure you’ve worked with individuals you cannot trust before. You seem like the kind of pony who has that kind of poor taste.”
Daring Do groaned. “Of course. Add an insult, then turn it back on me. Combine that with the endless vague gloominess, and you’re a perfect wizard.”
“I am a wizard. What do you expect?”
“But do you all have to be like this? Every wizard I’ve ever met. Probably even all the way back to Starswirl. Or Clover the Clever.”
Flock’s lip twisted involuntarily at the mention of the second name. Although he did not address it, his reaction confirmed exactly what Daring Do had begun to suspect.
“Starswirl was a charlatan obsessed with licking the boots of his precious false-goddesses,” snapped Flock. “And the other one was a brute completely devoid of vision.”
“How would you know? There’s no way you’re old enough.”
“As long as my crows keep laying eggs, I will persist within their bloodlines. I don’t bother with your petty views of mortality. Something I’m sure you’re quite familiar with, being so close to the grave yourself.”
Daring Do’s eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”
“No. I called you old.”
Daring Do stood up. “Fine. You’re rested long enough. Forward.”
Flock stared at her, looking concerned. “But what about the traps?”
“Yeah. I know. You go first. Find them.”
“But I can’t see them without the dial.”
“Yes. Hence why you’re going first.”
Flock glared at him. “I can see the reason nopony ever loved you,” he said, turning sharply.
Daring Do did not bother to comment.