“Are you sure we cannot see the Archmagus?” Magus Sugilite asked me for the seventh time this conversation. “I would not require more than five minutes to make my case to her.”
I did my best to keep my patience in the face of the mare as she tried to bypass me. Mother had kept me close since Shadow’s departure, and she had not been content just letting me keep to mine own devices. Instead, she had assigned me to act as her assistant as she continued her work at the conclave and appointed me to her small office. This amounted to screening through the horde of ponies who wished to meet with her to discuss the hundreds of issues that troubled their minds. Quite a number of ponies had come to Fillydelphia specifically to see Mother and the Lady Protector, and whatever schedule had been made to accommodate them before had been thrown into chaos after the murder of Archmagus Tempus. This was not helped when many ponies wanted to know what was going on with the investigation. I had nearly lost track how many times I had had to turn ponies away after telling them the investigation was ongoing and that the results would be made public in due course.
Sugilite, a magus stationed within Southmarch, was yet another pony who sought an audience with Mother. The problem was that Mother was quite busy with a dozen tasks already, and could not be disturbed but for the most dire of news. I knew her claims that she needed but five minutes were false; anypony who said that just wished to get into the presence of the pony they wanted to speak with, then use that invaluable opportunity to engage in a larger discussion. I had seen such things done in the past, and I knew Mother would be quite vexed with me if I grew weak in the face of such pleas.
“I assure you, I will pass along your concerns about the Diamond Dog raids in the south,” I told her. Sugilite frowned, so I sought to make more reassurances. “I can recommend to her that we send more patrols along the border. This sounds like a task where the Long Patrol would be of use.”
Her features softened and she nodded. “That is all I desire. The slaver runs have become more bold as of late, and ponies in the bordering villages fear for their safety.”
“I gathered as much,” I said with a serene expression, not letting mine irritation over being told this for the seventh time show. “Rest assured, this matter will be brought to her attention and dealt with appropriately.”
Of course, that depended if the soldiers could be spared for such a thing. The growing reiver raids and High King Severus’ enigmatic intentions were a serious concern for the safety of Equestria right now and would thus require the bulk of the Royal Guard’s attention, whereas the Diamond Dog raids were largely a local issue at this point. That would be something to bring up with Shadow later, for she was the one who actually dealt with troop movements, but it was still probably best not to voice those concerns at the moment. It would only make Sugilite stick around to insist on seeing Mother yet again, and I had already spent too much time on this one pony—however valid her worries were. There were others who wished to see Mother with their own matters of varying importance, and I needed to play the part of gatekeeper so that she was not swamped.
Thus, I moved to end the conversation. “You will hear from the Archmagus before the end of the conclave, that I promise.”
Sugilite pursed her lips. “Very well. But time is pressing. Even now there might be more attacks taking place.”
Taking a cue from Mother when she wished to end a meeting, I stepped next to Sugilite and started guiding her to the door. “I understand, and I also plan on bringing this up with Lady Shadow at the next opportunity. The sooner this is brought to her attention the better.”
“You would do that?” she asked as she got moved towards the door. “I wished to speak with her as well, but she has not been available.”
“All in good time,” I said as I finally got her through the door’s threshold. “Consider it a favor to try and expedite this. In fact, it will probably be more efficient this way.” Mother would no doubt have had words with me if I had not made this seem as though I were doing Sugilite a favor. After all, nothing should be made to seem easy if you wanted to seem important.
“Now how about you try and enjoy the conclave?” I suggested. “I am sure the cooks are preparing something in the kitchens, so feel free to relax while I deal with this matter.”
Finally, I got the mare to leave. And as had been the case since I had took my station, yet another pony entered immediately after her. Though to my surprise, instead of being yet another supplicant, ‘twas Morning carrying a small dish of cookies. Morning closed the door behind her before giving me a friendly smile. “Having fun?”
I shook my head. “‘Fun’ is not the word I would use for this work. It is tedious, long, and I do not feel like I am accomplishing much of note.”
Morning frowned for a moment. “That was sarcasm, Midnight.”
I blinked slowly. “It was? I had thought it a question.”
“Yes.” She cleared her throat and placed the tray of cookies in front of me. “In any case, I wanted to check up on thee. How art thou?”
I huffed and sat down behind the desk, doing my best to ignore the aches gained from my battle with Moonwatch the previous night. “Mother has me filtering through those seeking an audience with her. There are a great many questions and much confusion over the status of the conclave, Tempus' murder, and Lady Shadow’s actions. Besides those issues, there are a great many things ponies wish to bring to Mother’s attention: threats that need dealing with, matters of budgets and research, political schemes, and so forth. Mother wishes me to keep the bulk of them away from her while she addresses other matters.”
Morning sat opposite of me. “One of the more important tasks thou canst have.”
I tilted my head. “You think so?”
Morning nodded. “The one who controls access to a leader has no small portion of that leader's power. In order to see her they have to convince thee to let them pass. There have been ponies that have gathered great power for themselves through such jobs.”
That took me aback. I had not really seen it that way; it made sense, but ‘tween my disappointment over not getting to join Shadow and Mother’s recent treatment the full implications of what I was doing had not impressed themselves upon me. In truth, I had thought this nothing more than a kind of punishment, or merely something to keep me busy while Mother dealt with more important matters. The fact that I had been excluded from every meeting Mother had participated in since Shadow had departed only further served to make me feel like I had been exiled. Still, ‘twas hard to dismiss the idea that my current position was one of power, if one dependant upon Mother.
“Yes, I suppose that is true,” I grudgingly admitted.
“But you don't seem interested in that.”
I frowned as I considered the reasons for my disquiet. “Probably because my heart was set on assisting Shadow with hunting the warlocks.” Shadow had departed along with Archmagus Mossy Banks, Archmagus Bracing Rime, and Dame White Knight, as well as several of her warriors and other reliable magi such as Sidereal. They had gone to the barracks, but according to the message she had sent back to the castle they had only met a token resistance of some undead guardians.
It seemed that the warlocks had abandoned the barracks, though Shadow had noted they at least found evidence of where Hidden and his cult had fled. Mother had not deigned to tell me where that might be during the brief period where she had told me the contents of the message sent to her, no doubt because she worried I would sneak away to try and join the hunt. Now Shadow and the others were hunting Hidden, and I knew not where or when they might return. ‘Twas frustrating.
“Ah.” Morning nodded. “You don't like being in the rear while others fight?”
“Aye, that is the case.” I huffed and picked up one of the cookies to fiddle with. “‘Tis unsettling to me. Both because I am not aiding them, and because I am not sure what the warlocks are plotting.”
Morning cocked an eyebrow. “What dost thou mean?”
“I am not sure the warlocks have shown all that they intend to do,” I explained. “We now know that they murdered Tempus. But why? And why do things in the manner they did? ‘Twas sloppily done, and put us on their tracks. Why did they break into the Archmagus’ tower to start with? Why did they steal those documents? Why modify Daylight’s memory? What was there that warranted the great risk they put themselves in?”
Morning frowned deeply and she only spoke with reluctance. “Mayhaps they...” She stopped herself and shook her head. “No, Midnight, put it from thy mind. Thy part in this is over. Thou hast done enough already.”
I crossed my legs over my chest. “I do not see how I could while the warlocks remain free.”
Morning glowered at me. “How about where thou destroyed multiple homes and places of business in thy battle with Moonwatch, or tortured a prisoner?”
The accusations made me turn my gaze from her. “Ah.”
Morning let out a long breath. “Midnight, thou must realize when ‘tis time to stop. Many ponies are frightened by what has happened, and Topaz is demanding to question thee as a result. It has caused no small trouble for thy mother, as the pressure against her has only increased as a result of that battle. Some of the rumors I have heard e’en question if thou art of sound mind.”
“I did not mean to harm anypony,” I insisted. “Other than the warlocks, that is. The buildings were ... I lost my composure at the sight of Moonwatch, as Stalwart has already pointed out to me.”
The hard look Morning had been giving me softened and she started rubbing my back with a hoof. “I understand, even if not everypony else does. As soon as Shadow deals with these warlocks everything will be made right again, or at least as right as they can be. Trust in them and abide for now.”
I let out a huff. “I do not like standing around and doing nothing.”
“That is what we both did during the war,” Morning pointed out.
The unpleasant memories of the Lunar Rebellion returned to the surface. Of ponies going off to war, how fewer had returned, of the waiting, the fretting, of grieving family, friends, how I was forced to watch Mother go into battle and knew not if she would return this time, and how I had nearly been used as a sacrifice in a bid for the rebels to win the war. “And I found that time extremely unpleasant.”
“We all did.” Morning let out a long sigh. “I can understand disliking it. But I suppose I had an entire war and lifetime to accustom myself to it. I am no battle mage.”
I tilted my head. “Is that something you regret?”
She shook her head. “The vast majority of the time, no. I like enchantment, and making new and useful objects. However...”
Morning fell into silence, and I moved to the other side of the desk to sit next to her. “What troubles you?”
Morning wrapped a leg around me to draw me close. “My husband died because of Hidden Facts. And now my son is among those who hunt him.”
Mine ears wilted. “Then 'twould seem you have far more reason to complain than myself.” Damnation, now I felt guilty for my sulking over my wounded pride whilst Morning was fretting over her son.
“Aye, but complaining and lamenting my fate achieves nothing.” She rested her head on top of mine. “In truth, ‘twas no small relief to know that thou wert not going with Shadow as well. Bad enough that a mother should have to worry about one of her children going to battle, much less two.”
“No, I suppose not.” I hunched my shoulders, for I had not considered how mine actions might affect Morning. It would never be mine intention to hurt her in any manner, but no doubt everything I had been up to had caused her even more worries. And she must have fretted upon hearing of my battle with Moonwatch. I wondered what Mother must have first thought upon hearing about the battle. Had she been worried at all? Maybe had a bit of pride? Or had she merely been unhappy with me and the trouble I had caused her?
Morning frowned deeply. “I can do nothing except believe in them. Pity I do not have thy mother’s strength.”
“Most ponies do not. Even I seem to fall far short.” That was a bitter medicine to swallow. Would I ever measure up to her, or would I forever fall short of her expectations? “What would you do with that strength if you had it?”
“I have buried a husband. I would not bury a child as well.” Morning squeezed me tighter. “And I would make a world where none ever needed to.”
I shifted to look up at her. “That would be extremely difficult to achieve, for several reasons.”
“I know.” Morning shrugged. “But if I had unlimited power...”
“But alas, we do not possess such power.” Indeed, I too wished for greater power for myself. With such power I could smite my and Equestria’s enemies, and make Mother pleased with me. There was so much good I could do; instead I was so very terribly limited by my constraints.
“No, we do not.” Morning frowned in contemplation, and when she spoke ‘twas half to herself. “Although ... perhaps when thou art free, we might discuss a few possibilities.”
I blinked slowly as I studied Morning’s suddenly stoney features. “Possibilities?”
“For how to keep those we love safe.”
Before I could inquire further, there was a sudden insistent knock on the door. I glowered at the door and the interruption to our discussion. “‘Twould seem that somepony is growing impatient with the wait.”
Morning sighed as she rubbed her brow. “Such are the hazards of power. Everypony wishes to see you and none like to wait.”
I stood and made my way to the door. “Let me see if this is actually something of importance or not.”
I opened the door and saw a pony with whom I had only been introduced to in the past. Minty Breeze was a magus belonging to Mother’s faction. She appeared to be perhaps a little younger than Morning, and had a lime-green coat with a dual-blue and white mane.
She flashed me a smile that was tight at the edges. “Magus Midnight, Magus Morning, I apologize for being brief with you, but I have a crisis that requires the Archmagus' immediate attention.”
I could not help but frown, for I had heard that a half dozen times already today. But where the others had merely said that to try and grab my attention or had overstated their importance, there was something different in Minty’s continence. There was a reluctant stiffness to her movements as opposed to the self-assurance or business like approach of the others.
“What is the problem?” I asked. “I fear that Mother is quite busy and cannot be disturbed.”
“I trust it must be important if you brought it to our attention,” Morning added.
Minty drew in a deep breath before bringing herself to speak. “I am afraid that Magus Guild and Magus Jasper are having another row of it—some foolish thing about seating arrangements or somesuch. You know how it is with them; one of them believes the other slighted them in some manner, and then it escalates into a great drama for all to see.”
I nodded. “Aye, I remember hearing of them nearly coming to blows several times in the past. They have even dueled one another a couple of times if I recall correctly.”
“Indeed so, and now they are threatening to duel one another yet again,” Minty stated. “I managed to keep them from going straight to the dueling ground, but we need Sunbeam to mediate 'tween them again to keep them from killing one another.”
So that was the issue. Guild and Jasper were both influential senior magi in their own rights. The problem was that they had a well-known rivalry with one another that had existed since they were apprentices. Since Mother required both of their support to maintain her power, it usually fell upon her shoulders to negotiate ‘tween them to keep the various flare-ups from becoming a major incident that might split her power base.
The problem was that Mother might very well be too busy to do so, for she was meeting with several important magi right now. Many within the conclave had become quite perturbed when Shadow had left Fillydelphia along with two archmagi, and all without any official word on why they had suddenly departed. Thus Mother was even now trying to assure them that all was well, and that nothing drastic needed to be done like a formal inquest being made or for the conclave to proceed to decide on who shall become the next Archmagus of Eastmarch. Interrupting her right now could have drastic consequences on the conclave as well as the hunt for Hidden.
Morning let out a resigned sigh. “Now of all times?” She shook her head. “The both of them need a sharp thump on the head. And in her current mood, thy mother might deliver far worse.”
“Mmm, true. Doubly so if her meeting is disrupted.” I looked at the door that Mother was on the other side of. “Mother will not enjoy being interrupted right now.”
Minty let out a huff. “Well somepony has to talk sense into them. All I have been able to do is get them to stop long enough to get Sunbeam. If nothing is done within the hour there will be a duel.” She frowned as she took my measure. “Though if Sunbeam is unavailable, it might also work if somepony with her authority were to speak with them.”
I thought over the proposal. Mother would not like it if I left on an errand, but she would like me interrupting her even less. She had even instructed me to deal with anything that wasn’t a true crisis. While Guild and Jasper’s feud was a serious affair, ‘twas hardly an emergency, especially if I dealt with the matter in a quick and decisive manner.
“I can assist in this,” I told her. “Mother has gotten them to see reason plenty of times before, and there is no reason I cannot do the same.”
“I'm sure between the two of us we could talk some sense into them.” Morning smiled dryly as she stood. “If nothing else, we can always put the fear of thy mother into them.”
“Likely so.” Minty stiffened as Morning approached the door. “Though I would hardly require you to come, Morning. I am sure Midnight can handle this herself.”
Morning raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason I should not come?”
Minty shook her head and quickly said, “Hardly, I just did not wish to put upon you if 'tis unnecessary.”
“I might as well help see to the matter,” Morning said icily. “Midnight and I can speak with each of them separately and keep them from feeding off of one another.”
I nodded. “And I would appreciate Morning's help.” Her experience at these types of negotiations could prove invaluable to me. It certainly seemed a better way to treat her than leaving her here to fret.
“Very well then.” Minty turned and opened the door. “Follow me.”
As we crossed the threshold I nodded to Stalwart, who had been stationed just outside the door. I had sent Subtle on an errant earlier from which she had not yet returned, and I had not seen Emeraude since Shadow and I had told her that we did not require making a deal with her. “Sergeant, would you come along? It seems we have a duel to prevent.”
“I see.” Stalwart fell in step with us. “Over what, if I may ask?”
“Probably something greatly foolish to anypony but the participants.”
Stalwart stifled a pained groan. As was the case with most warriors, he had little tolerance for such politics. “I hope 'tis at least near a tree so that we might foalsit in the shade.”
“I doubt we will be so lucky,” Morning said.
Magus Minty led us into another section of Castle Arcana. Soon we found ourselves being escorted to one of the castle’s towers. Minty opened the door to the surprisingly dark interior.
“They are inside,” she explained.
But instead of finding two eternally quarreling magi, we were faced with far different company. Duke Chivalrous stepped out from the shadows to give us a leering grin. “Ah, so good of you to join us.”
In addition to the Duke, there were a dozen armed ponies dressed in the colors of House Line spread about the tower. Most were positioned on the floor with us, though a few held crossbows up on the staircase above us. ‘Twas not difficult to guess that we had not stumbled upon Chivalrous by chance.
I glared at Minty out of the corner of my eye. “What perfidy is this?”
Morning frowned at Minty’s back. “Explain. Now.”
Minty did not have the dignity to look at us as she spoke in all but a whisper. “Please forgive me, but I have owed House Line a great favor since before the war, and 'tis a debt I must repay.”
Chivalrous’ smile was smug as he withdrew his sword. “And thou mayest consider thy debt paid, Minty.”
Stalwart stepped ‘tween me and Chivalrous. “I hope it was worth your head.”
My jaw clenched, for we had indeed been led into an ambush. What type of debt did House Line hold over her? Whatever it might be, discovering the truth would have to wait until we were out of danger. “Get out,” I spat. “Consider thyself lucky if I deign to forget this betrayal.”
In truth, I had no intention of forgiving or forgetting what Minty had done here, but ‘twould not do to put her back to the wall just then. As it was we were badly outnumbered, and magic would be our only way to even the scales. No sense driving Minty to the point she would desire to defend Chivalrous out of fear for her life. Her reckoning could wait until after I was done with the fool before me.
Minty half-mumbled a final apology before she skulked out of the tower, leaving us alone with the Duke and his soldiers. Even if Chivalrous had chosen the ground for a battle, I was determined not to show him an ounce of fear. So I addressed him with all the contempt I held for him. “And what sort of damned foolish idea has gotten into thy head this time?”
Chivalrous tsked as he shook his head. “So crude and uncultured. Doubtless the product of thy base heritage and low breeding. Fortunately, we are not to be burdened with that any longer. Consider thyself under arrest.”
I snorted. “Arrest? For what?”
“For destruction of property and assault,” he stated cooly. “Magus Topaz and several other magi wish to question thee over what has happened. For my part, ‘tis my hope that thou wilt be promptly tossed into a jail cell and executed soon afterwards. ‘Tis what thou deservest.”
I was not about to let myself be arrested by Chivalrous. He was at least as likely to slit my throat when he had me at his mercy as take me to Topaz. No doubt he would sleep easy at night giving everyone the excuse that I had ‘resisted arrest’ or ‘attempted to flee’ and been forced to kill me to keep me from ‘escaping’.
I sniffed derisively. “I do not recognize thine authority. If thou wishest to place me under arrest then take it up with the Grand Vizier—and if that is not to thy liking, go find Her Highness and bring thy issues up with her. I am sure she will see such a distinguished pony as thyself. See thee and then repudiate thee for thy foolishness. In the nicest of terms, of course. For she is ever polite even when faced with the greatest imbeciles Equestria has yet produced.”
Stalwart spread his wing blades and eyed the guards flanking their master. “You should stand down, sir. You might yet walk away alive.”
Chivalrous tightened his grip on his sword. “Fool. Dost thou think I have not secured my flank ere I moved against thee?”
“I would not put it past thee,” I mocked. “Thy behavior has been quite foolish thus far, and
I do not believe thou hast the wits to learn from past mistakes.”
Morning frowned deeply at the Duke. “Think very carefully about whether you truly wish to do this, Chivalrous. I am sure you remember how well it ended for your family the last time they made a move against Sunbeam Sparkle's daughter.”
I nodded in agreement. “I remember well. It resulted in much fire and death.”
Chivalrous’ lips curled in an ugly smile. “Ah, yes, run and hide behind thy mother's skirts.”
I ground my teeth together. “I hide from nopony. But can the same be said of thee? If thou wishest a duel, I will gladly grant it to thee. I have need of venting my spleen.” And ‘twould be a pleasure to wipe that smirk from his face. Not to mention I much preferred my chances of beating Chivalrous in a duel than a brawl with him and all his guards. Especially when I preferred Morning to be out of danger.
The Duke’s smile widened. “Well then, why not? I shall name my champion and enjoy watching her destroy thee.”
I scoffed. “What fool would be thy champion?”
“Why, you already know her,” he stated. “The future Archmagus of the Eastern March, Gleaming Topaz.”
I was momentarily taken aback at that announcement. Locking horns with one of the most senior and capable battle magi in Equestria was a very different prospect than the one I had envisioned. “...oh.”