//------------------------------// // Chapter 8. // Story: The Desert Prince // by Sparky Brony //------------------------------// “Ghaliya! If you will not be a lady of the court, begone from my sight.” Turning her head, she looks up at him, her ears still laid back as her tail thrashes behind her, “What is uncalled for is for this piece of crowbait scrub to pay for my abduction. He is the one who has said being out in the sand is dangerous.” Turning to face Sargon she lowers her voice, “You are the one who has been trying to keep me from continuing in my job.” She sneers at Sargon, “And on this trip, which you had counseled me not to take, my caravan is attacked! And I am abducted!” Spreading her forelegs as she faces him, she lowers her head bearing her teeth as she snorts out, “And what do I hear from the Djinn himself? He boasts that he was being paid for this as part of a deal.” Sargon snorts almost laughing before tossing his mane, “Oh, great leader, you must not be too angry at Sayyadina Ghaliya for her actions in your court or judge her to harshly,” He smiles slyly. “After all, what she went through a traumatic incident, she’s likely in denial over what happened during her capture. Unable to cope with the stress of what happened.” Shaking his head slowly he sighs and starts walking back and forth. “She is still young, and not versed in the ways of the world. If we look at the evidence, however, we could argue, quite convincingly I might add, that her companion here may just be the patron of said Djinn. Turning towards the Padishah, Sargon bows deeply, “Consider for a moment that anything she heard was likely disinformation. Why after all, would the Djinn even say such things in her ear shot if he planned on letting her go, or turning her over to me?” The Padishah asks, “What are you trying to say?” He turns around in front of me, flipping his tail into my face, getting me to snort and forcing me to take a step back as he faces Ghaliya, “Think about it, Ki was there when you were abducted. He but up a fight, but was it real or simply for show? Look at this pony,” he says with almost tangible disgust, “the one who took you. And yet now, he travels with her as he returns you? She is a criminal, and yet she is not restrained in any way, not a prisoner or even showing injury. So, what are we to assume?” “What I can see is, given what we know here, Ki is the one who arranged your abduction, so he could be your savior. It is a pony plot to gain favor with the throne. And what of said djinn? You accuse me, yet do not provide evidence that I’ve paid him. Bring him here so we may hear him.” “He’s sealed in stone,” I say dryly, “He was far to much of a threat to the kingdom to be left free.” “So you say. It is rather convenient for you both, my lady. Were you there when that was done? Did you witness this? Or where you merely told this and then shown some object that was claimed to be him?” “Well. No, I wasn’t, but…” “And yet he came to retrieve you. Not one of your banu, not a soldier of your father, not a kinshorse, none from your caravan, him and his griffin mercenary. I’m sure he’s being well compensated.” “I have not been!” I yell. “But you were paid by Ghaliya herself for your services, as was the griffin who just happened to show up within days of you. And how much were you both paid? As well you have been in our city for months now, ample time to have built up your wealth with a healthy start from her. And that’s assuming you were not sent money by the Equestrian courts. Or do you still claim to have no allegiance or ties to ponies like this.” With a hoof he motions almost dismissively at Dawn. I know my eyes are wide, I can feel the muscles quivering in shock. I glance down at Dawn, then back up at Sargon. “I didn’t pay for her abduction! How can you even suggest that? Add to that I have no allegiance to Equestria, I’ve never even been there.” The Padishah yells, “Freehorse Ki! Rab Sargon! As I said to Ghaliya, I said to you. Order in my presence!” “Yes, your grace,” we both say. “You found her. You befriended the one who did the deed. You allegedly fought the Djinn, and now he’s unavailable to be questioned about who paid him.” “Makes sense, yes, but it is without evidence.” Ghaliya stands. “You were not there, Sargon I felt the entire cavern shake as he battled the djinn. There was no quarter given, and the djinn lost, his screams of agony shaking the walls. Entombed in stone for all time. No, he was frantic to find me. The look on his face when he found me tells me that he was desperate to save me. What exactly did you do to retrieve me?” The dark stallion puts a hoof to his chest. “You wound me so. I had troops out looking for you. And once they found you, I would have led them to rescue you.” “I told you what I had found on investigating in the city!” I shout. Only to have Ghaliya place a hoof on my withers. “You assert you had nothing to do with my abduction?” She says levelly. “While I will admit that you experiencing the truth of how dangerous the sand can be is helpful to my cause. I would not, I could not facilitate that by nefarious means, Bibi sayaddina Ghaliya bint Hashim al-Khaybari.” “Then find me the culprit. They will feel the sting of true justice.” He opens his mouth, only to have her override him. “Ki was not the culprit. If you want to try to make a case against him, you will have to present clear and convincing evidence.” He subsides for a moment before brightening. “I will hire the best thief catchers and investigators, we will get to the bottom of this.” Ghaliya nods before turning away. Only to be brought back by the Padishah's voice. “We must not play favoritism when it comes to justice, my niece. The pony unicorn that did the deed must face justice herself.” Dawn squares her shoulders and takes a deep breath. “My agreement with the Mistress was that I shall bear responsibility for the actions of my band as well as myself. I was their leader, I was the one paid. Any judgement shall fall on my withers, not on theirs.” The Padishah smiles. “Those are quite reasonable requests young mare. I will hold with my niece's decision in that respect.” She turns to look at me, then at Ghaliya before turning back to the Padishah and bowing. “I was paid to kidnap your niece though I did my best to limit casualties. My actions were not political, it was simply a job at the time. For this I plead guilty and I submit myself for your justice, and punishment. Meeting Ki has reminded me of things I had forgotten. So, I only ask that you understand, there was no malice or evil intent.” Padishah Kaspar sits back, running a hoof along his long moustache. “My mercy may be quite hard to come by when the subject of your…job...” His eyes flick from the unicorn to me, then to Ghaliya, then back to Dawn before continuing. “Is my niece.” He stands up on all fours. “I have long tolerated mercenaries to operate within my borders because sometimes they are useful to have around, but my patience for your activities is not infinite.” He stands there for a time, his eyes steady as he looks at the unicorn, who continues bowed to him, her breathing deep and regular, her eyes sparking defiance as she watches him from her lowered position. Finally he clops his hooves together once, loud enough to cause all of us to jump. “I cannot go easy on you, as a member of the Royal Family was your target. So, my ruling is thus. You shall be fined in the amount of one thousand gold crowns. You shall be subject to one hundred lashes before sundown tomorrow. And, you shall be barred from operating as a mercenary for a period of five years. And during that time, you are to stay within my harem as a serving mare. I pray that this will teach you to be a decent mare.” “Hare!?” I whisper-gasp to Ghaliya. “He’s going to-“ “It just means part of the house where the females live. But a bondsmare is obligated to serve the bed if ordered.” Ghaliya says softly, directed at me. Dawn lowers her head, trembling a little, as she gulps, “Yes, my liege. I have done your family, your house, your kingdom, a great dishonor. I have sworn to Ghaliya and Ki though, that I would repay that misdeed.” “Then it is done.” He looks at Ghaliya. “You will want to retire for the evening, my niece?” Two guards step close as Ghaliya offers an encouraging smile at Dawn before nodding to her uncle. She walks slowly away as Sargon snorts before whirling away and cantering off. The Padishah, however, walks up next to me, he tosses his head, indicating I should join him. I adjust my wings under my robes a bit and move to walk next to him. We exit the throne room and turn to head down the hall. After a few minutes of walking in silence, he looks over at me. “You are interested in her.” I try to keep myself from reacting, but my ears betray me by flicking back and forth. He chuckles, “No dishonor in being interested in her. She is attractive, intelligent, driven.” His eyes flick towards me. “And that drive has made her wealthy in her own right. She started with nothing. My brother refused to assist her in creating her own business, he said it was too dangerous. But she persevered, she would not quit doing what she loved. Bargaining is in her blood, was she a pony, her mark would likely be coins and merchant scales. She has an indomitable spirit that I can see why one such as you is attracted.” We turn off into another hallway, and he stops, turning to look at me as I follow suit. He looks at me for a long moment, then he sighs. “She is not, however, a pony and I cannot have my niece marrying a pony. You are a nice fellow, to be sure, and powerful no doubt. I am happy to offer my shade and water to you. But you cannot marry my niece. She belongs to Sargon, It is a matter of family honor and duty.” I fight to keep myself from growling. “I’m not out to marry, or even curry favor with her. I am interested in her but I do not know why. The problem is, even without me, I doubt Sargon will have her. She belongs to herself.” That gets a rich laugh, “Oh, to be sure. I know she is quite independent. But don’t misunderstand my words, young stallion, she is not, cannot, be yours. She has obligations to her family, to her society and culture. She will marry Sargon and prosper even further. She will settle down from her wild ways and become a mother, she will do what is expected of her.” “What if she doesn’t want that?” I shake my head slowly, “She is wild and free. A spirit like that shouldn’t be broken. “Don’t be silly, Ki. Of course she wants a family. She wants what will be best for her, her family, and her future. Not running around outside the safety of the city walls.” He stands up and leads me to continue walking through the palace. “You must understand this, Ki. Unlike ponies, life for our kind is about service, to family, to community.” “What about to ourselves?” I ask, ruffling my wings slightly. “In serving others, we serve our needs as well. You can love her. I can see that you do. But her responsibilities make that love impossible for her to return. Do not worry, she will be happy in the end, loving Sargon and her eventual foals. He is a good stallion for her, fierce, loyal, and strong. Her foals will be strong and beautiful. Maybe one day one of them may ascend to the throne. I’ve only had one colt in my time. Life is always uncertain, and other parts of my family may be asked to take up this mantle I bear. Oh, and before I forget, for returning her to me, you have earned my thanks. I know I cannot give you her, but there are numerous other mares of the household, free and bonded, who need husbands. If you can pledge either a dowry or service, I could see you wedded before the moon cycles again. If you seek a bondsmare for your service, say the word and I will let you have any, no matter how lovely or dear.” We get to a door. It’s mine. He reaches out and opens the door for me. “Sleep well, Ki. Remember, you are a guest in my home.” Looking back at the mark on my hip, I let out a weak sigh, “I wonder if for the ponies, the marks are an expression of serving themselves, honoring who they are.” As the door closes behind me, I turn back to look at the closed door. I know I’m a guest, and from what I’ve been told, my guest right is for as long as I wish to stay. But what to do about Ghaliya. Do I love her? Assuming the void and lighting my horn is second nature to me now, I pull off my robes and toss them aside as I crawl into the comfortable bed. “She doesn’t have a mark, none of them do, but does that mean they have to give up who they are for the greater good?” I bring up the covers as I try to quell my mind. What am I going to do about her? She occupies my thoughts walking and sleeping. Just a matter of hours ago, I was desperate to save her. Then I found her, and my life was righted by her being there. Can I be happy without her in my life? When she marries that stallion. My thoughts fuzz as I finally let sleep take me. --- A soft knock on the door jerks me from my slumber. I jerk my head up and glance around. It’s morning. I shake my head and crawl out of bed. I walk over and light my horn to open the door. Even mundane things are getting to be second nature with my magic. A smiling face greets me. “Ghaliya!” She turns a bit to the side and puffs out her chest a bit. “None other.” She looks around. Her ears flicking back and forth as though she’s conflicted about what she’s about to say. “They decided to carry out the mercenary's punishment this morning. As we brought her in, we should witness it.” A hundred lashes? I withdraw a bit, my ears flicking back and forth. Ghaliya moves a step closer. “Are you upset? Do you think the punishment too harsh?” That gets me to shake my head. “Don’t you?” She stops for a moment. “The spell I was under really didn’t allow me to wake up until I was sealed in that chamber by the djinn. But as far as I know, she treated me ethically. I don’t have any personal animus towards her. Though had she succeeded in getting Hadi as well, I think my feelings would be far different. But what about you? She fought you, injured you. Wouldn’t you want to watch her face justice?” “My injuries?” my mind flashes back, watching the mare's rear hooves hurtle at me in slow motion. Flying through the air after that devastating buck. Then I remember the blood leaking from her wounds, from her nose. “She took injury as well. She also defied her boss, refused to fight me again, refused to kill.” Ghaliya snorts. “Those were the cost of doing business. She must have had a skilled healer in her group to fix her up after getting a musket ball to the barrel. And I know you did everything in your power to stop her.” She leans forward, pushing my head up with hers. “Any Saddelian pony of regard can watch a punishment without flinching.” I nod, despite my roiling stomach. “A duty to serve,” I say softly. Then I shake my head. I remember something said about duty. Closing my eyes for a moment I recite the line, “One painful duty fulfilled makes the next plainer and easier.” But who said it? She glances at my robes piled on the floor. I find myself blushing as I pick them up and deposit them in the bath before retrieving a new set. In moments I’m dressed and follow her from my room. Ghaliya leads me through the palace and before long we are on a balcony. She leans close. “This is the traitor’s court, where punishment is meted out.” As we watch, the pony is slowly walked out to the center of the court, where a large pole is stuck into the flagstones. Her forelegs are bound by a large piece of wood, and the wood is drawn up to hang on a hook, leaving her extended with her rear hooves barely touching the ground. I squint my eyes, there is something on her horn, likely to prevent her using magic. As the work is finished, a horse with long purple robes takes a step forward. “At the direction of the Padishah of all of Saddle Arabia, this mare has admitted guilt in the crime of abduction of one of the royal family. Her punishment of one hundred lashes is to be performed immediately. Then she is to be turned over to the Padishah’s grace for confinement within his house’s haren.” Another horse steps forward, a large whip held in his mouth. I stand at the half wall of the balcony, frozen, as the horse moves his head with a practiced motion. *Crack* I gasp, I didn’t even see the tip of the whip impact her, but bright red shows on the vivid blue fur of her back. She jerks in her restraint, but nothing more. *Crack* She jerks again, and another rend appears in her flesh. *Crack* I take a step back, I can’t watch this anymore. The unicorn doesn’t make a sound as I hear more cracks. I turn my head away, closing my eyes, but every time I hear another crack, I find myself flinching *Crack* I’m nuzzled softly, getting me to look up. Ghaliya is standing next to me, as close as possible with her side up against mine. “You okay, Ki?” I sniff and flinch as another crack reaches my ears. “I don’t remember ever seeing anything like that. It’s horrible.” She lifts my head with her snout. “Ki, this is justice, had I been seriously harmed or if Hadi had been harmed, her punishment would likely have been death. And you would be seeing her head ending up in a basket. For what she did, I think her punishment is rather light.” That gets a shudder from me. “Light.” I repeat after her. Then I shake my head, and flinch as another crack reaches my ears. “Come on, Ki. We should be there when she is released.” I nod and follow slowly as Ghaliya leads the way, in a matter of seconds, we’ve descended a set of stairs and we emerge as the pony is being let down from her restraints. The horse doing the lashes walks to the side of the courtyard, taking a cloth to clean his whip. Though the metallic smell of the blood fills my nose. Dawn lies there when the restraint is removed. She’s alive but probably wishing she wasn’t. I shudder as I step close, making sure to keep away from her blood splattered all over. One of the guards comes over and works on her horn, and the black ring on it comes loose, he retrieves it and comes over to Ghaliya, standing at attention. He nods back at the unicorn. “You are instructed to take her to your uncle, my lady.” He moves off. Ghaliya takes a step forward. “Dawn, can you stand?” Dawn moans. She slowly brings a hoof up to work her jaw, as though she had only not cried out due to clenching it. After she’s able to open and close her mouth a few times, she shakily putts a hoof slowly, deliberately, on the ground and pushes. She slowly rises, groaning more before she turns to face Ghaliya. “I can stand.” She says thickly. “If you wish, I believe Ki can carry you to the infirmary.” “Oh, no, no, no. I’ll start my time as a bondsmare for his Eminence.” “You can’t do that.” Dawn stands up straighter, wincing in pain. “If you wish, my life belongs to you and him for the next five years. I’m guessing you will wish to use my skills as a mercenary, a soldier, to provide security for your caravan? I will be a bondsmare. I will even serve your bed at your pleasure.” “You are perceptive. But I cannot have such an injured pony work for me.” I interrupt. “But she’s forbidden from that.” Ghaliya laughs, “Exactly. I heard the rumor you were promised a slave mare on my way to you. So, what you’re going to do is tell the Padishah you want this one to be yours. She can’t be a mercenary if we aren’t paying her.” She flexes her body, yelping a bit. “Yeah, might need a few days, Your Grace. I wish Sparks was here right now. Ouch.” “Sparks?” I say. She turns to look at me. “One of my best friends in the entire world, her name is Sparkling Purity. She’s a unicorn, and the best healer you would ever meet.” She looks down. “She is one of my band that I’m protecting.” She brings up a hoof and rubs her horn. “They didn’t need to put the magic suppressor on. My honor held me, kept me from escaping. But your fiancé insisted.” She directs a pointed look at Ghaliya. “He doesn’t like ponies very much. Ghaliya growls softly, “He’d better find the djinn's patron quickly.” The unicorn takes a step, only to nearly fall flat on her face, only quick thinking by me keeps her from planting her face into the flagstones of the court. I fashion my magical field as a sort of bed for her to lay on, far less intimate than simply picking her up. Her head stays down as we walk through the palace, Ghaliya leading the way. Shortly we are at a door that Ghaliya pushes open, she trots through the anteroom before directing me to deposit the unicorn on the bed. She leads me from the bedroom before leaning close. I ask, “Why are you taking a risk in employing her?” “Not employing her, owning her. Why is that so hard for you to understand?” “I don’t know its just such an alien concept I guess,” I huff softly and shake my head. “What do you think will happen to her if she languishes in my uncle’s harem for years? Warrior skills and strength perish like dates fallen to the sand. In your service, will be able to use her skills and continue to be paid for her time. But also you need a teacher. It’s clear to myself and Bijan that your magic is not served by continued teaching from him. He is able to teach you the basics, how to concentrate, how to access your magic, how to control and contain your abilities, some of the spells that are common between very different magic users. But the finer points, the specific spells, how to fight, how to think on your hooves, and a million other things that neither of us can conceptualize.” She glances at the closed door before looking back at me. “She is a mage, a quite powerful one if she were able to best you with you not being trained in the way of unicorns. For better or worse, she was a student at the Princess’ school. She can help you, and I hope she will. And that reminds me, you’ll be learning the ways of the sword and the arquebus. You nearly have died more than once; I see no reason to believe the days ahead will be any more peaceful.” “I’m no teacher,” Dawn says, limping towards us. I didn't hear the door open. “Dawns Shimmer, you need to be in bed. I’ve sent for your wounds to be bound so you can heal.” She pushes the door open further. “I don’t like staying in bed, I want to be doing, and you talking right outside the door lets me know you are talking about me.” Ghaliya snorts. “I was simply informing Ki here…” “That he needs a teacher. Yeah, I know.” She looks up at me, the grimace on her face doesn’t seem to be directed at me, though. “Ki, you do need a teacher. Mistress is right when she tells you that there are limits to what the horses can do to teach you. Like it or not, you are a pony, with your own unique magic. You need training.” She slowly turns her head to Ghaliya, then back to me. “And I guess I’m here to do the job.” She takes a step then winces. She looks back at her shredded back. “Though I think a few days to heal would be in order.” Ghaliya stomps a hoof, “Then you get back in that bed, and let yourself be tended to.” She glances back as some palace servants make their way into the room, bags on them bulging. “You will have a lot of work to do in the near future.” Dawn nods. Then she turns and looks at me, planting her hooves no matter the pain. "I saw you there when they started to whip me. I saw you walk away." I snort. "It was something didn't feel right about watching, I don't have the stomach for it." "Some ponies draw strength from their belief in Celestia, from the unwavering power she commands. The moment you walked away I realized how much pain you were in. That gave me strength. I couldn't cry out because I knew it would hurt you more. For you I had to be strong." "For me?" "For the Desert Prince." *** Nothing really happens for more than a month. Dawn being either unconscious or in too much pain to do much but eat, or so Ghaliya is telling me. It’s the harem, so non-mahram males aren’t permitted. Ghaliya is paying her debt of gratitude and bringing her bread, water, and vegetables. It’s not nice fare; the Padishah is spoiling her and won’t stop asking about when her back will be healthy enough to be “covered”. Can’t say I blame him. She is in excellent physical condition when she’s not bleeding everywhere with her back torn open! After about five weeks, Ghaliya has started making ‘ask about taking her into your service’ noises my way. The Padishah has been starting to pay her visits in the evening, and according to Ghaliya, the harem isn’t sleeping so soundly as it once did thanks to the midnight duets. Some other members are complaining that the summer nights are unduly cold. I approach the Padishah just after he has taken his exercise. I greet him. “Good morning, your grace.” “Good morning, Ki. Is there anything I can do for you?” I have to swallow my trepidation, Ghaliya’s insistent words are ringing through my head. “I have thought about your offer from the night of Ghaliya’s rescue.” Though sweaty, the stallion leans forward. “Have you? For as few as ten years in my service, you could be wed to Lady Fatihah bint Dawood. She is not the youngest mare, but has bled for fewer than nine years. She is spirited like Ghaliya and a great diplomat. Her father also controls the only oasis between here and the Gold Straits… He will rejoice when I suggest this match.” I have to frown and reject him. “My dear Padishah, I am not asking for a wife, I am asking to take a bondsmare.” He sighs, “Very well. Would you like a tour of the household harem, or is there one whose reputation already reaches you?” “Yes, actually, I want Dawn Shimmer.” “Dawn Shimmer, but why? You two are of one race; surely her belly will swell in your house… Would you rather not one who will remain sleek no matter how many nights pass?” I gulp, trying not to betray myself, but the idea of taking a slave, even if they are called something else, as a bed toy just doesn’t sit well with my stomach, “No, your grace, I want her. You see, I owe her my life, too. She saved my life against that djinn with that trick using the musket. She will be confined to my person service for the same term, and I will pay her back by making an honest mare out of her.” The Padishah is chewing this over furiously in his mind. He is acting like a foal trying to hang onto a favorite toy. He cannot escape his promise, however. “Very well, I shall have her sent to your quarters tonight. I think you will find her most pleasing when her rear hooves are planted just so and her necklace jingles” “Thank you.” The Padishah kept his word. That night, Dawn found herself in my quarters. At first, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of Dawn sharing my bed. But Ghaliya had said it was normal. I may not be the best at reading the body language of the horses, but she actually seemed happy that Dawn would be staying in my service as well as hers. The Padishah wasn’t lying about her talents, either. That night, thought sweaty, I slept very warmly. I am worried that my neighbors were awakened, though. *** I wish I could say that she had come through her ordeal unscathed. There are huge scars all over her back, but I can’t say the Padishah’s healer hasn’t done fine work on her, considering she didn’t get any infections. In that time she has been able to gather the thousand crowns of gold to pay her fine. And even more good news, Ghaliya’s caravan has arrived back home. Guerina had taken a message to Farris from Ghaliya, letting him know she has been retrieved, and is doing well. Though the griffon has been busy with her normal job, I haven’t seen much of her in weeks. Dawn growls, “Have you learned nothing?” “What?” I snort. “I have learned what they’ve been able to teach me.” She sniffs dismissively. “Called to magic is not the same as inborn magic.” “Bijan has said something about it. He has said that he is one of few that were born with the ability inborn.” Her eyes widen. “That is truly a rare ability. Perhaps I should teach him as well. It’s all well and good that he’s given you some idea of how to control your magic. But gears?” She tosses the box of the gears to the ground. “Puzzles?” Another box spills along the ground. “Seriously? Those are foal lessons, to teach basic control. You are an alicorn, Ki, this is beneath you.” "Can't spell fundamentals without fun." I mutter. She shudders, her eyes closed. Then she stops and looks up at me. "One of my hardest teachers said that to me enough to make me hear it in my sleep." My horn lights as I gather what has spilled and right the boxes. “I needed that training, Dawn.” I growl. “I knew absolutely nothing about this horn on my head. Bijan helped me access the magic, and it was enough to help with defeating the djinn.” She snorts. “Yeah, but without your access to your special talent, the growing of life, he would have killed you. You can do shields, I’ll give you that, but you are wasteful of your magic when you do them.” I look down. “Not as wasteful as the first time.” I mutter. “You are learning more in bed too.” I find my face flushing crimson. “Do you really have to say that out loud?” She giggles. Sometimes, she simply ties my head up in knots, flirty when we are alone, a tough teacher when we are working. “Ki, this is normal. And it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve lifted my tail for business rather than pleasure.” I frown. “Is that business or pleasure?” She stops for a moment. Her eyes turned inward. “For Kaspar, it was business, pure and simple. I belonged to him. I did what he wished, he seems to think by topping me, he’s getting the upper hoof with Celestia, given my past. Some parts of Equestria are good trading partners. But at times he wants to expand that, expand his reach. But the horses here are afraid of her, of the power she represents. Remember, she controls the sun and the moon.” She sighs. “But for you.” Her smile returns, and becomes sultry. “You are both. I have to, because I am now your bondsmare, though I also am indebted to Ghaliya. But also, it is a pleasure, I want to. Whatever mare you end up making your wife will be a very happy mare.” Visions of Ghaliya flash through my head, then my conversation with the Padishah follows. She notices my ears droop. She comes up and puts a comforting hoof on my withers. “Don’t worry, Ki. While Ghaliya is off limits for you, there are a lot of mares here in the City of Gardens. Or you can visit Equestria, there are quite a few more mares than stallions, I think you could find some nice mares in some of the towns and cities. They wouldn’t mind herding with an alicorn.” I shudder. “I don’t know.” She slams a hoof onto the stone of the courtyard. “Well, I do. And we are taking our time with your training. Let’s get back to it.” She taps her hoof impatiently on the stone of the courtyard we are working in, on the other side of the palace from the Traitor’s court. She finally lets out an explosive breath of air. “I can teach you, Ki. I really can. But we are not going to be doing foals exercises, we are going to get into magical theory, we are going to get into the math, and the more cerebral part of the magic of our world. Your cutie mark is actually amazing, Ki. There is even an art to understanding those.” She reaches out and touches my mark. “The world, protected by a set of wings. Your talents have everything to do with life, with protection. As it is, you are going to find it nearly impossible to deliberately kill your opponent.” “Is that wrong?” She stops for a long moment, finally her face softens. “No, Ki. It isn’t. It’s quite admirable that you have all of that power, and will find it hard to kill. But there are times where killing will be necessary. When your life, or the life of somepony else, hangs in the balance. You may need to end a life. That is something mercenaries find out. That is something soldiers find out. That is something you must understand.” I look down. “I’ll learn what you teach, Dawn. But I don’t want to kill.” Her hoof gently pushes my chin up to face her. “And I want to not have a back full of scars.” I pull back. “Fine. Just don’t expect it out of me.” “I can’t promise that. And with luck, you won’t need to get into that kind of situation. I’ve tried to avoid them myself, if not just for my own peace of mind. As I told you, I wasn’t paid to kill you. And while I got you out of the fight. I could have used my magic to kill you, you were helpless. But I didn’t. I had my honor, my own standards. No matter what, I’m still a pony.” I look up at her. “What does it mean to be a pony?” That gets her to stop, looking at me thoughtfully. “What does it mean to be a pony? You know philosophers and great thinkers for thousands of years have tried to answer that question, Ki.” She shakes her head. “I don’t think I can answer that question for you. I’m more of a doer, than a thinker.” “Just try to answer, for me.” She walks back and forth. “We are ponies, we are pledged to our land, to Celestia, to life and growth. We control the world around us. Pegasi make the weather in Equestria, we make it rain, we control the seasons. Earth ponies work the soil, they till the food, they are the craftsponies, the entertainers of our world. They are the strength of family, of heart. And then we have the unicorns. We are the magical component, unicorns are the shortest lived of all the ponies, a typical earth pony will live twice as long as a unicorn. We don’t have the raw strength that they do. We don’t have flight like the pegasi, but we do have magic, we can affect the world around us in ways that no other tribe can. Before Celestia, we moved the sun and moon. We made life possible on this world. We have been doing that for as long as we’ve existed.” Taking a deep breath she looks up at the sky, “To be a pony is to be a creature of magic, tied to the world, yet caring for it. Our mark give us purpose and help guide us, it is something unique to each of us but at the same time binds us all together. To be a pony is a life of song, of friendship, of community.” I narrow my eyes. “What happened before there were unicorns?” She whirls around at me. “How in the buck would I know? I’m a mage, a pretty damned good one. I handle a business, even though some might disagree with how my business operates, many do call out against mercenaries while at the same time paying me under the table to do their dirty work. I treat my fighters right. I treat my friends right. I try to be the best I can be.” I cock my head to the side. “So? How did you end up here? Would think a good mercenary would make good money in Equestria.” That gets a bark of a laugh from Dawn. “Ponies don’t typically fight. I would starve if I stayed there. I could work in Klugetown, or some of the other outlying areas. I’ve lifted my tail for gold before; that actually was my plan before events took me to Saddle Arabia. But the power that Celestia represents prevents most who would challenge Equestria. I mean if you want to overthrow the one who is responsible for days and nights, go ahead. It's your funeral. Celestia has had to come to the forefront only occasionally, and every pony will help her, and I mean every pony will support her. And her Royal Guard is a force to be feared. Everyone outside Equestria knows you don’t mess with Equestria. And the ponies live in peace.” The look on her face changes. “I wasn’t cut out for the royal guard. I quit her school. I found a few good fighters, moved around a bit before settling in Saddle Arabia, though I didn’t spend much time in the City of Gardens, it’s pretty peaceful here as well. But when the money was offered for Ghaliya, I couldn’t say no.” Ghaliya steps forward from where she’s been watching. “How much was offered?” Dawn looks at me, then up at Ghaliya. “Twenty-five thousand.” That gets Ghaliya to blink. “I know that a crown prince has been abducted for less. And I’m not in the line of succession.” She looks at me. “That is a lot of money, Ki. Someone wanted me really bad.” She sighs. “That does point to Sargon, he has the money for something like that.” “I don’t know. You’ve told me some of your income. A few good caravans to the Father of Gazelles can net that much profit, right?” Ghaliya nods. I look up at her. “So, any of your rivals have the funds for something like that? Adding in what Dawn got, and probably what the Djinn was able to garner. It’s a pretty good chunk of crowns.” “Yeah.” She sighs, “Some even larger companies that I’ve taken their routes have been rather upset that a mare has taken their income sources. I just don’t see them sinking a few months of their profits just to get me. Were they hoping I would be killed?” I shake my head. “I don’t think so. How many of them would be happy for you to marry Sargon and settle down, let him control your company?” She growls. “Too many of them.” She looks up. A palace servant is trotting into the courtyard. She bows. “My Lady, Lord Sargon has compelled me to find you with haste. You need to come with me.” She looks at Dawn and myself. “The ponies are also invited to join in.” Ghaliya frowns. “What is happening?” The servant smiles. “The culprit behind your abduction has been found.”