//------------------------------// // 8 Darkness Flows // Story: Trials of A Princess // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// It is clear to me now; the reason for the ever darkening signs, the inability to speak to the Ancestors. The council does not hear my voice. Many voices clamor in the chamber and I am drowned out. The spirits have turned against us, they cry. I find it difficult to disagree. They now direct their anger against my people. Or perhaps, against The Dreamer and the Lover. — Silverleaf, Cervyderian Shaman *** I’m not afraid to admit that sometimes, I’m bad at keeping track of time. Things tend to occupy my thoughts and distract me. But today I was very aware of every passing minute, because of the total lack of anything to do. Oh, we were provided with food and water flowed into our little cell into a deep basin next to the window. Twilight and I had tried passing the time talking, but we kept falling silent as thoughts of the conclave returned to us. “How do you think it’s progressing?” she asked, poking disinterestedly at the fruit before her. “Dunno,” I murmured from my perch at the window. The lingering effect of whatever the Peryton had done still throbbed in the back of my mind. “They don’t seem to be very forthcoming about what exactly is going on in there.” A knock at the door made me turn from the window as Pine stepped in, an orange coated Virtung doe bearing a tray of steaming pastries in her teal magic. The buck took the tray and set it on the table, nodding at the doe. “How are you two faring?” he asked after the door shut. “Is there anything I can do?” “You could take these rings off,” I snarked. “Be a load off my back.” “Unfortunately,” he sighed. “I’m incapable of removing them. The highest ruling members of our society ordered them placed. If I were to go against their orders, I’d be sharing this room with you with a set of rings of my own.” “They would exact that kind of punishment on you?” Twilight asked. “Surely you have similar punishments under Equestrian law for those that violate your edicts.” “We don’t condemn them to a void!” I snarled before sighing and raising a hoof. “Sorry. I’m just a little testy about being left in the dark about things that could have an impact on my livelihood.” Pine nodded. “I wish I could do something about that, but tomorrow I have to leave for a new assignment.” “They reassigned you without letting you hear the results of your last mission?” Twilight asked. “That’s a little irresponsible, don’t you think?” “I don’t get the luxury of choosing my assignments. I must obey the orders I am given.” He shook his head. “I am sorry, Princesses.” “It’s not your fault, Pine,” Twilight said. “You have responsibilities to attend to. But like Sunset, I just want some information on what’s going on.” “I can say this,” the buck sighed. “The arrival of the Heartmenders has caused an uproar among the Glenn. They haven’t appeared at a convocation in nearly two centuries. Their voice will have great weight in the deliberations.” “I’m afraid they are not interested right now in what I have to say,” came the serene voice of the Peryton Heartmender as she entered. “I’ve been asked to return to the enclave, against the protest of the majority of the gathered Elders. They called a recess for their midday meal.” “What are they saying?” I asked. “The deliberations are not yet begun,” Heartshine said. “There are villages that are mostly unaware of the events that have affected our people. Today seems to be a day of recounting and presenting the evidence.” “And where do we place in these proceedings?” Twilight asked. “It seems that the issue is clouded,” Heartshine sighed. “The Shamans have spoken to the issues, but they are conflicting. Our wisest Shamans here; Silverleaf and Glimmer Sky are finding divining any new information difficult. Their visions are cloudy at best and they cannot answer all the questions concerning your involvement, Princess. Several of our mages are attempting to determine why the source stone reacted to you the way it did.” “They said that another stone had acted in that way before,” I whispered. “In a legend. What happened to them?” Pine and Heartshine lowered their heads. “It was during the early days of the Centaur invasion,” the Peryton whispered. “So many details are lost to the clouds of time. It may only be myth based on a fact. Several hundred years of retelling can distort anything, as the legends of your own Celestia and Luna." “What do you mean?” I asked. “I’m sure you have heard the legends of your rulers have gone to other lands,” Pine said. “That they are nigh gods; immortal, infallible, and omniscient. But I’m sure that you, their students and compatriots, know another side to the story.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I knew what they were referring to, I had even bought into them as a filly. But I knew now, from recent events, that they were just as vulnerable as anypony, just that the threat level — and price — tended to be so much higher. “Tell us the basis anyway,” Twilight soothed. “Maybe we can piece together what happened.” Pine scratched the back of his head just behind his antlers. “It varies from place to place, but it says that while the Centaurs were approaching the Glenn, two powerful mages paired their magic together through one of our stones and managed to block the Centaur’s advance. All that was found afterward was a shattered runestone and a burnt staff.” Heartshine waved a wing in deference. “Among the Heartmenders, we believe that they transcended their physical forms and joined the Ancestors in the attempt. It ended in a victory for our people, but a loss for both Cervyderians and Heartmenders in general. They both serve as examples of sacrifice for the good of the Glenn. It is a large basis of our way of life, and that is why your treatment bothers so many.” “But Dunford seems to be determined to keep us in the dark about everything.” I sighed and stretched my wings. They felt so heavy now that my magic was blocked. “Under every form of law I’ve ever examined, the accused are given the right to face their accusers.” “Yes, but to state the painfully obvious,” Twilight sighed. “We are not dealing with laws we are familiar with. We are bound by our Treaty to respect their customs and laws.” “Does it also demand we be completely hunky dory about it?” “Ladies,” Pine said. “I hesitate to continue your ignorance of our proceedings, but I do need to make preparations for my next mission.” “I will visit when we conclude again for the evening,” Heartshine said as she stood with Pine. “Tell you as much as I can about what happens. You deserve that much at least.” As she approached the door, she stopped and tilted her head. At the same moment, I felt a wave of cold wash over me, causing my skin to crawl. I felt my wings fluff, an instinct I still didn’t fully understand. I saw that Heartshine’s wings had flared as well. “Sunset?” Twilight shot to her hooves. “Ms. Shine? What is it?” “I don’t know,” I whispered, shivering as though standing in a winter’s wind. “Something malevolent attempted to move into the room,” Heartshine said, eyes closed as she turned her head from side to side. “But as soon as it saw we sensed it, it withdrew.” “So, then,” I stammered as the warmth began to spread through me again. “What does it mean?” Heartshine looked at me with a measuring look. “It means that you are more interesting than I had first thought, Princess. I will return this evening.” She gestured at the pastries. “You will need your strength, eat.” Unfortunately, none of the food had any taste anymore.