The group continued along the road south until they reached the northern edge of a fairly decent sized village. There were multiple fields of grain and a apricot orchards. The breeze was coming done from the mountains that were now just becoming visible to the south of the town. "If those are the mountains then does that mean that were close to the boarder yet?" Dusk looked up at the snow capped peaks that were just barely visible in the early crisp morning air.
"No not quite," Red answered as they walked down the cobble stone streets between the farms and orchards. "The boarder is further into those mountains. With a large town on either side of the boarder. This town's produce and trade actually benefit substantially from being this close to the boarder."
"Do you think that Golden Bricks will be willing to listen to us about not going to war. What arguments should I even use, if he's only in self-defense he should be entirely against any war efforts shouldn't he?"
"He's for a strong army believing strength is the best deterrent, and no he's completely fine with fighting a hard and aggressive defensive war. Though I've sent him letters about the bat colony he's excited about the prospects of further international trade believing it to be a net positive in a none shooting solution."
"So even if there is a war my people will be safe."
"I wish I could say yes but no." Red Wine answers as they make their way into the town of Baume. The cobble streets widened up as small shops and houses were now on either side of them. Many of the stores were already open and the town was slowly coming alive.
"What do you mean no?"
"If Slo amasses their army near your colony. We will of course act in kind."
"What?!"
"Then any move the colony makes to either appeal or evacuate could be seen as a hostile action and they could be slaughtered." Escutcheon says. "You have to see that this entire premise is flawed."
"What? They can't we don't want to fight we just want to live and let live. Why is it that hard?" Dusk stops in the middle of the road tears already streaming down her eyes. Turkeylegs quickly picked up the bat filly and put her on its back as a small crowd started to gather at the small scene. "We just want to live in peace."
"I know Dusk calm down it's fine we'll make sure that, that, happens." Escutcheon patted her while trying to keep the large bird from pecking at the crowd.
"That's why we're doing this now to stop such a catastrophe from happening."
"Is something wrong?" A dark grey unicorn stallion asks coming up to the group. He was easily in his fifties, and wore a very fashionable dress suit.
"She's a little concerned about the possibility of war." Red Wine answered. "I wasn't expecting for you to be out and about. I glad we met you we were heading to your estate."
"And I wasn't expecting you to arrive so soon, or to be traveling with a bat pony. I take it she's with the delegation from the colony from the DMZ?"
"She's actually with me, or rather she's with Escutcheon and Atlas."
"Oh." He says a little saddened. "Well I'm sure she would still be willing to tell me more about her colony." He brightens up. "Well come with me I'll personally escort you to my estate. We have a small feast set up for your arrival." Golden Bricks lead the five of them through the town. Every street was made of high quality cobblestone. The main street, that lead to Golden Brick's estate which was a large mansion in the center of town, was lined with nothing but the highest quality shops. "Welcome to the Brick Estate." Golden said as he lead them though the front gate and into a large plaza and garden that seemed to be used as a public gathering place.
"This town has a lot of ponies in it." Escutcheon looked around it's almost as big as Marine."
"Well I'm glad that you think so. I've done my best to bring ponies here and to keep the trade routes open between Tivi and Slo." He looked around. "I've been accused of doing it out of selfish means, and I suppose that with all the wealth it could be seen that way, but I honestly believe that if we could trade with Slo we could make a strong trading tie and not a heritage of war. I've sent several merchants to your colony in a hope to meet a delegate from your people in hopes that they could act as a second front in my peace efforts." His butler opened the door for them. "And were war brings only death, trade brings all of this." He waves his hoof to the city all around them.
"It's nice. So why is it my people are in danger?"
"Because war breads revenge. We can talk about that inside." He nodded to his butler who closed the door behind them, as he led the group to a small study. There were several dozen bookcases loaded down with books breaching every topic from war stratigies to political theories, there were several desk with very ornate kerosene lamps, and seven yellow cushioned chairs arranged in a half circle. "The feast isn't quite ready yet. But I assure you you will greatly enjoy it, but until then. Please, let's talk."