Auriga and Scrimshaw had traveled to a small town outside Irkalla. It was a pitch-black night as they sat together in an inn.
“Remind me again why we’re meeting with peasants, Auri?” Scrimshaw asked.
“Although the Sword has a strong presence in Irkalla, it does not exist in the countryside,” Auriga explained. “ When the time comes, ponies will have to rise up in those rural areas as well as in the city. Some level of coordination between us will be necessary.”
“Do you know anything about these two?” Scrimshaw glanced nervously around the inn to see if their contacts had arrived.
“Only that they are the leaders of the two largest peasant communities in Ganzir, and that we share the same goal,” Auriga said. Scrimshaw nudged her her and pointed urgently to the inn’s entrance.
The inn door opened and a griffon stepped inside. Auriga went stiff as he walked towards their table. He sat down wordlessly across from her.
“I’m sorry,” Scrimshaw said, “that spot is for-”
“Jacquerie,” The griffon extended his claw towards Auriga. “I assume you are representatives of the Sword.”
Her skin crawled looking at the open claw, but there was no avoiding it. Auriga extended her hoof cautiously. Jacquerie took it in his claw. It was a strange feeling; she shuddered internally, pulling away after a single shake.
“Yes,” Auriga said, wiping her hoof on her collar. Jacquerie shook Scrimshaw’s hoof while she introduced them.
A green earth pony sat down next to Jacquerie, having entered the inn shortly after him.
“I am Verdant Cade. It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said, nodding at Auriga and Scrimshaw.
Auriga put both her hooves on the table and leaned forward.
“I was led to believe we have a common cause, so I must ask,” Auriga tried to phrase it delicately. “Why are you opposed to Griffonstone?” Verdant took a breath, but Jacquerie had already begun to respond.
“You’ve heard of the blight, have you not?” Jacquerie made a grand sweeping motion with his arm, before making a fist. “Towns and villages are starving across Ganzir, all the while the common pony is oppressed.” He pointed emphatically at Scrimshaw. “This land must come out from under Griffonstone to be free. And, Boreas willing, one day it will.” Verdant winced at the mention of Boreas.
“Are you saying you have no… fondness for Griffonstone?” asked Auriga.
“Absolutely none,” affirmed Jacquerie. “I lived in Griffonstone for years, long enough to know that it is a corrupt monstrosity. In fact, the common griffon in Griffonstone is just as neglected as the common pony in Ganzir.”
Unlikely
“In that case, it seems our interests are aligned,” said Auriga. “I trust that when the time to strike comes, we shall act as one.” Jacquerie nodded, but Verdant raised her hoof, clearly annoyed.
“I am afraid my friend has neglected to make clear that he speaks only for the peasants of Neighneveh.” Verdant closed her eyes. “However, in this we are in agreement, and the peasants of Emare will aid in this struggle.”
More allies for the fight, but when will the time come?