//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Crown of Eques // by PTBonesbeard //------------------------------// Peatmoss's aching jaw greeted him as he came into wakefulness. The cold of the breeze on his bare coat chilled him. All his possessions were missing. All he had now was the ropes around his forehooves and wings. The floor boards he lay on swayed and jostled as the sound of wheels grinding on stone met his ears. The bandages bound around his muzzle made his face feel tight and swollen. His left wing felt numb pinned under him as it was. So he shifted to get off the bound appendage but started to tumble off the wagon bench he was laying on. Before he fell, a griffin hind paw came up and steadied him. "Oh! You're alive Meadblood. For a while there we thought you were going to skip ahead of us to see your ancestors." Blearily he looked up in confusion. "Was he talking to me?" he thought to himself. He recognized him as the griffin from before with the blue head that had grabbed him in town. He was still wearing his gambeson but his hands were tied. With a little help he got to a sitting position so he could look around. They were in a train of three wagons traveling down a rocky dirt road through a chilly pine forest. The other prisoners were mostly griffins. But he did see a few ponies. A unicorn and pegases stallion, and an earth pony mare. She was gagged and had a vicious glare on her face. The guards escorting them were all griffins in dark red armor. Many of them were walking but a few were flying over the wagons. At the front of the first wagon sat what must have been the guard captain because he wore mostly plate armor. Facing back, he sternly watched over the prisoners with a glare. "Sorry to get you caught up in that ambush. When I saw you laying there on the ground I thought you were one of us. Stormwings don't leave their own behind. and all that." Peat tried to say something but a spike of pain only allowed him to grunt and hold his aching jaw with his bound forehooves. "We tried to tell them you weren't one of us but they didn't care. They got what they wanted." "Stupid Stormwings!" snapped the pegasus tied to the bench beside Peat. "The griffin purse strings were nice and loose till you started this big fuss. If it wasn't for you turkeys, I'd have had that strongbox open and been halfway to Yakistan by now." "Strong words for a purse theif." The Pegasus poked Peat in the side. "Hey you. We don't belong here with them. It's just these Stormwings the royals are after. If we get the chance let's make a break for it." "Heh. Good luck with that." chuckled the griffin. Gesturing to the guards with bows and arrows flying overhead. "Hey. what's with him?" asked the Pegasus gesturing to the other griffin across from him. "What's the deal with that weird hood?" The other griffin was hunched over. The hood on his head was made from a dark brown leather and came down over his eyes with only his orange beak showing. he wore a black cloak with a grey and silver fur collar. "Oh him?" asked the first griffin. "don't you recognize Jarl Balgriff? The True King of the Crown?" The Pegasus looked shocked "Balgriff?! Jarl of Stormhelm? Wait, if you're here, Oh Goddesses! Were are they taking us!" "Were do you think." "Aaa! I gotta get out of here!" The Pegasus jumped to his hooves and yanked desperately at the rope binding him to the wagon. "Hey! Stop that!" shouted a guard and cracked a wip over his head. He flinched and cowered against the bench. The guard hovered there for a few seconds before flitting off down the wagon train. "Celestia. Luna. Goddesses please. not like this." he wimpered "Your better off praying to Tirek and Scorpan for what it's worth. We're a long way from Equestria my friend. Tell me purse theif, where are you from?" "What do you care." Spat the Pegasus through his tears. "When any creature faces death, their last thought should be of home." They sat there in silence for a time before the Pegasus spoke up again. "Bridleville, I'm from Bridleville. My mother and father still live there. I wish I could see them again." After a bit they rounded a bend and at the road stood a stone walled keep dotted with towers. "There's our destination griff's." called one of the guards flapping overhead. Several of the others gave a cheer. "Squirestone." the griffin across from Peatmoss said. "I grew up in a hamlet just down the road from here. Did training drills in the courtyard here. It's funny, but those walls and towers used to make me feel so proud." As they entered the gate and rounded a tower, a white and blue coach flanked by two golden armored earth pony guards was parked by their path. Peatmoss noticed a difference in their golden armor then what he remembered. Instead of the usual blue brocade arming blanket under their plate armor like in Canterlot, they wore mail and gambeson underneath to fill in the gaps of their plate. He had always wondered how they protected all those exposed spots. "Oh look. Looks like one of those snooty equestrian nobles have come to watch the show. If those damned Equestrian imperials kept their muzzles out of our business this war would have gone so much better." "Please help us!" shouted the pegasus at the coach. "We're not rebels! You gotta believe me!" "Shut it pony!" shouted a griffin guard as he smacked the top of the Pegasus's head. "Your headed to the block with the rest of them." The equestrian guardponies didn't even look their way as we passed. "Hey. Why are we stopping." worried the pegasus as the wagons pulled up to a wall. "End of the line." muttered the griffin bowing his head "Up! Come on. On your paws." shouted a guard at the side of the wagon. banging it with his spear. "Linen weave. thief. pegasus." drolled a unicorn guard. He struck a name off a list as they untethered the pegasus from the bench. "Bureaucrats and their damned lists." muttered his fellow passenger. As soon as the rope fell away he bolted strate for the coach. "Don't let them kill me! I'm innocent! I'm innocent!" "Archers!" shouted the guard captain. In the blink of an eye he was turned into a pincushion and he tumbled to a stop a few yards from the coach. As soon as the two pony guards saw Linen charging they pointed their spears at him and kept them there till his body stopped twitching. Peatmoss couldn't believe what just happened in front of him. The pony that had been sitting beside him was dead? And everyone around him just acted like it was no big deal. Except the guard captain stomping up to the one responsible. "Butter fingered feather brain!" he hissed. Bringing his mailed fist down on the guard's helmet. "You're making me look like a fool. If that happens again you'll be on the chop." The guard nodded vigorously as he cowered. Stepping back he waves for them to continue. "Jarl Balgriff" said the unicorn guard striking his name off as they untethered him. "Jarl Balgriff." said the captain as two guards brought him forward gripping his arms tightly. "Some here say you're a griffin of honor. But an honorable griffin doesn't assault his King and rob his people. You started this war. And now I'm going to end it along with the rest of these rebel dogs. And you are going to watch every one of these you lead astray die. What do you have to say about that?" Balgriff just stands there unmoving and silent. The guard captain swings his talons and strikes him across the face scratching his beak and tearing the hood from his head. Slowly Balgriff turns his head back to the captain and glares right into his eyes. The captain stares back for a few seconds then turns away. Waving his talon for them to continue. "Garard of Riverdale" said the unicorn as he was taken off the wagon and marched over to the others. One guard grabed Peat's shoulder and dragged him off the wagon and held him in front of the unicorn. He looks at Peatmoss's face, then his wings and back to the list scanning it quickly. He does it twice even checking the back. "Sir?" he asks, looking at the guard captain. "Captain sir? he asks again poking his flank. "What?" "This one's not on the list." "What do you mean he's not on the list?" he growled. Snatching it from the air and looking it over. "What's the hold up?!" called a board stallion's voice from the coach. "Ah. Nothing sir-your highness. Every thing is under control." "Well get on with it then!" the voice shouts back with an irritated edge. "Forget the list." said the captain to the unicorn. "But captain. we're supposed to" "So you forgot one." he grumbled. crumbling the list up and spearing it on the unicorn's horn. "He goes with the rest." The unicorn eyes the paper ball on his horn. sighs. And walks away dejected as Peat is dragged over and dumped with the rest of the Stormwings. A white griffin dressed in bright blue and white trimed robes walks up to the assembled Stormwings and raises her wings. calling out in a loud voice. "As we commend your spirits to the judgement of the ancestors, may they forgive you for your many sins against the" "Enough of this!" shouts a griffin Stormwing as he shoulders his way to the front. "Flap off you know nothing" he snaps at the robed griffin. "Suit yourself." she replies and gos back to were she came from. "listen to me all of you." he shouts to the guards. "While you all commit this butchery, I go to face my death with honor. For they know the cause for which I die. And it's not for some weak willed hoof licker who defiles the throne today." Then he turned and looked strate at the guard captain. "My ancestors are smiling down on me hoof licker, can you say the same?" The guard captain walks forward and grabs the stormwing and shoves him down to the block. But before the headsman can raise his ax the captain draws his own and brings it down on the griffin's neck. once, twice, thrice. Panting he raises his bloody ax and shouts "Justice!" Many of the other guards answer and shake their weapons in the air. "Go in peace Black Claw." said Garard "As fearless in death, as you were in life." Peatmoss looked in confusion at Garard then back at Black Claw. This was not the honor that he read about in his story books. And certainly not anything to celebrate. It was just a senseless waist of life. "Ya dishonorable swine!" shouted the stormwing mare wearing a quilted coat. She had a reddish tan coat and rusty red mane. At some point she must have wriggled out of her gag. "Are you seeing this?" asked the captain as he waved the bloody ax under Balgriff's beak. "Next prisoner!" called out the captain. Then he extended his ax and pointed strate at Peatmoss. "The pegasus with the face." Suddenly his entire world seemed to fall away and the weight of reality came down on him. Two creatures had died just moments ago. Right in front of him. And now it was his turn. He was so stunned by the thought that he didn't even realize that a guard had dug his talons into his shoulder and was dragging him to the bloody block. His fantasy of adventure had suddenly abandoned him leaving him in the icy grip of reality. He was about to die. Thoughts flew through his mind as his brain went into overdrive making the world seem to slow down. He thought of the house he had grown up in. His Mom and Dad. His three brothers and sisters. He wanted to find a mare friend. The bloody block was in front of him now. The body of Black Claw was dragged away. He was pushed down and laid on the block. He didn't deserve this. Had he been a bad pony? His brain scanned through his memory and came up empty. He had always said please and thank you. Just like mommy taught him. He never called anypony a bad word or hurt anypony. He didn't deserve this! The headsman's ax came to rest on his neck as he took aim. A paw pressed down on his back pinning him to the spot. The sun shone down on him as he looked up. "Celestia, please. What ever I did, forgive me." The sun went dark as a giant black dragon alighted on a guard tower and blotted it out. It's scales were black and glossy. It extended it's wings out and up shading the keep like it was late evening. The archers pointed their arrows up and loosed a forest of shafts. Every one watched as they clattered off doing as much damage as they would a mountain side. With one beat of it's wings it created such a gust it knocked every one to the ground. Peat tumbled onto his back and watched as the dragon roze into the air. Gripping the tower in it's claws the dragon tore it from it's foundation carrying it with him up in the air. With a mighty heave it tossed the dislodged building into the keep. Peatmoss covered his head with his forehooves as stone and mortar rained down. Several large chunks crushed houses and wagons. Every one was running this way and that screaming and yelling. No one seeming to know what direction was safer. "Meadblood! Get too the tower!" he heard someone shouting. He looked up to see Garard looking at him and pointing to the open door of a damaged tower. Needing no second bidding he hobbled for the door. As he got there Balgriff's black talons reached out and grabbed his forearm an pulled him in. He was pushed over to two others laying up against the wall. The one was a disarmed griffin guard nursing a head wound. His helmet sitting beside him had a big dent. The other was the stormwing mare from before. One of her companions, a female griffin was working a crossbow bolt out of her right flank. Another stormwing was looting a dead guard for weapons. Balgriff standing at the door ushered in another stormwing with a bleeding left arm and Garard. "That's all I could find." said Garard panting "Flax and Sparrow didn't make it." "What about Farris and Wilferd?" asked Balgriff "Missing. Couldn't find them." "Alright. Barrow!" Balgriff called over to the one looting. "Up the stairs. let me know if anything interesting happens." Barrow nods and passes him a sword before bounding up the stairs. "Is this you?" Asked Garard to Balgriff. "did you call the dragon?" "If I could do that, this war would have gone much better." answered Balgriff with a chuckle. "But with the way it's going at it, there's going to be a lot fewer butchers by the end of the day." The mare gave a stifled cry of pain as the bolt was removed. "Godwin. How does it look?" asked Balgriff to the griffines tending the mare. "Not good." replied the griffin. "It got her in the bowels. Without immediate surgery, maybe a day." "Fundin?" He asked the one with the wounded arm. "I'm fine. just a scratch." he answered. tying a bandage around his arm. As soon as he finished Fundin turned to Peat and ran his sharp claw across the ropes several times till they parted. "Balgriff." Barrow called from the stairwell. "The dragon keeps circling. He's focusing on the archer guards. If we go now we may slip away." Peat felt hiss wings pop free as Fundin pulled away the ropes binding them. "Then let's get moving." commanded Balgriff motioning to the stairs. "Iron Bloom." said Godwin to the mare. "I don't think you'll be able to" "Sod that." growled Iron Bloom through her gritted teeth. cutting her off with a wave of her hoof. "I ain't dyin on me tail. Take me wit ya." Godwin helps her up and walks her up the stairs. They come up the stairs to a hole broken in the wall. Barrow is there pointing out the way to Balgriff before climbing up to the ledge of the hole and leaping out. He looks back and locks gaze with Iron Bloom. Balgriff looks to say something but Iron bites him off. "Ya ain't leavin me behind damn ya!" she gives a petulant stamp of her hoof and wince. He huffs and nods. "Little ones first then." he said. motioning her and Peat forward. Hobblling up to the ledge she attempts to climb but bites back a cry of pain and falls to a sitting position. "Iron Bloom." he starts again. "Toss me." "What?" "I cana make the jump so ya gonna have ta toss me! Ya black feathered ijet!" Waiting for no further bidding he scooped her up and chucked her out. Hopping up Peat flared his wings and dove after her thru a hole in the roof of a house below. coming to a stumbling landing he found Barrow had been waiting for them and caught her. scrambling out of his arms she stumbled straight into him. Throwing her forehoof over his shoulder she latched herself onto his side. "Dumb feather bed." Iron Bloom grumbled at his side. "Duna know a toss from a chuck." He steadied himself as she panted. "Keep moving" called Barrow as the dragon whooshed overhead. "We'll be right behind you" "Ever run a six hoof race?" she asked "Put yer wing round me and hold tight." Doing as she instructed a sudden feeling swept over him. The way she pressed up against him under his wing felt new and strange. Her soft cheek pressed against his, aggravating the swelling in his jaw. It felt painful but good at the same moment. "Focus Meadblood" Iron said. Giving him an awkward shake to bring him back from his thoughts. "One hoof front a the other." The first few steps were clumsy but he soon found the rhythm to her hopping limp. They skidded and nearly took a tumble when they got to a spot where the floor collapsed to make a ramp too the first floor. Exiting the ruined house they made their way down an alley along the wall when she suddenly pulled up short. "Woe! hold up!" she shouted. Barely a second later a large chunk of stone masonry tore through the roof thatching and thudded into the ground where they had just been going. "Twich a twich" she replied off hoofed to his surprised look. "Through there." she continued. Thrusting her muzzle at another ruined house that was missing it's top half. As they struggled through the ravaged wooden structure her breathing became more labored. Just as they emerged from the wreckage her legs gave out. "Ar Damn this wound! I got a rest." "Hold it right there prisoner!" came a commanding shout. Looking up and about Peat saw the unicorn guard from earlier levitating a crossbow at him. "So you survived. Surrender and come with me, and I'll see you get a proper trial." Peat looked down at Iron Bloom. He could see she was growing pale her face was creased with pain. Looking back at the unicorn he shook his head gesturing to her with his wing. "Please come? She's one of those rebels. And you weren't supposed to be here." he tried again. His stern gaze softening "She's almost dead already." he shook his head again. Moving to stand in front of her and flaring his wings defensively. "Juniper!" Peat looked back over his shoulder to see Garard coming up behind them. "Put it down. It's over." he said gesturing to the burning ruins around them with a sweep of his claw. "nether of us won here, and we're leaving now." Juniper looks them over and then back at the thrashed keep. "No." he shouts back. "I can't stand down and let you escape." Garard stepped forward and closed the distance slowly. "The guard is abandoning the keep. and that dragon could come back at any second." Peatmoss turned his attention back to Iron Bloom. She had rolled onto her side and was gasping and groaning. Her forehooves hugging her middle as she curled into a tight fetal position. "I know my duty and I must stop you." Juniper stuttered and transfers the crossbow to his hooves to steady his aim on the griffin's head. "We both have family we want to see again." Garard closes to three yards. Peatmoss bent down and pulled her padded coat aside to check the wound. He saw her cutie mark was a black chunk of rock. Glowing red and orange. Just in front of her rear leg The bandage Godwin had wrapped was oozing blood and other foul body fluids. "Why does it have to be like this?" Juniper wimpered as Garard loomed over him "Why can't we all just get along?" Gently Garard slowly graspped the bow and pulled it away from him. "Do you know healing spells?" asked Garard as he turned back. Juniper just shook his head as he stared defeated at the ground. Garard made to leave, but paused. "You should go home." he said over his shoulder. Then dashed back to Peat and Iron. Peatmoss looked too him worriedly. "It hurts. Ack. Ancestors it hurts." she groaned. He checked her over quickly but there was nothing he could do. Peat pushed at his shoulder and pointed desperately towards the keep. Garard looked and Juniper was nowhere in site. Confused he looked back at Peat. "What? What's the matter Meadblood?" Peatmoss gave him a questioning look. Then blinked. He looked fearfully back at Iron Bloom. He then raised his hoof high and then brought it down. then brought it up to about half as high and moved it across. Then pointed at the keep. Garard looked at the keep again then back. "You want to bury her?" Peat's eyes pop wide then shook his head. He then held one leg up vertically and one horizontally. Making a cross then pointing at the keep again. "You, don't want to bury her?" Peatmoss smacked his forehead. Snorted. Tapped the bandages on his muzzle then made a wrapping motion with his hooves. "For the last time Meadblood. She's not dead yet!" Peatmoss stamped his hooves on the ground and growled in frustration. Sitting down he raised both hooves in the air and made a bottle shape in the air. He then mimed taking said bottle and drinking it. Then flexing his legs and wings. Garard put his claw to his chin and squinted at Peat in thought. Peat repeated the motions again and again. desperately hoping against hope that Garard would catch on. "E wants ya ta check the keep fer magic potions. Ya feather brained nunkey." groaned Iron Bloom. Peatmoss nodded irritability. Garard smacked his forehead. =============================== Opening the door to the keep they came to a room with straw covering the floor. A wooden portcullis barred the way deeper into the keep. Taking Iron Bloom to a straw pile to the side he laid her down as Peatmoss ran to a chest on the floor and rummaged thru it. "Ack! I think I've taken me last gallop mate." she groaned in pain "Just sit tight Iron Bloom. I think I remember were the infirmary is. Maybe a surgeon or healing potion is still there." Leaving her Garard heads over to the wood portcullis. "Find anything Meadblood?" Peat just turned away from the chest and gave a sad shake of his head. As he inspected the gate Peat kept searching the room. Taking a basket off the table, he checked it and tossed it. Barrel, nothing. Crate, a stick of celery, ba! Then he spotted a small lumpy sack under a chair. Pulling it out, he upended it and three apples tumbled to the floor. "Buck!" he shouted through his bandages. Immediately he regretted it and clamped his hooves to his face. Garard hooked his arms through the gate's lattice and heaved with all his might. It wiggled and rattled in it's channels but resisted his efforts. Glaring at the offending fruits in front of him for not being magic cures, he scoops one up and hurls it against the wall. Rendering it to applesauce. "Heh heh." nickered Iron at his exasperated antics. "Now that there, was a toss." He looked over at her, surprised to see her smiling as she panted in pain. "Come closer Meadblood." she beckoned "Ah need ta have words with ya." taking a seat next to her she continued. Stopping every few words to take a short breath. "Tant right fer a jammy like you ta be trampin about the Crown in naught but yer foalin suit. So when I go, I wants ya take me coat." "What would be the appropriate thing to say? If he could say anything." He thought as he looked down at her coat perplexed. "He'd never been gifted such a personal thing by someone on their death bed. Was this something special or was it purely a practical thing? She didn't know anything about," Just then he realized his mind had been rambling and he turned his attention back to her face. Her eyes were looking into his as if she was reading his thoughts. "No. That was ridiculous." he chided " She's waiting for a response stupid." He nodded in acceptance. A smile flickered on her face then she closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Focusing on pushing down the pain. "It's no use." huffed Garard as he plodded over to sit with them. "It's just too heavy to lift. I'm sorry." "Ack. Don't worry yer pillow stuffin head." She dismissed "Godwin had me pegged fer certain when she wrapped me arss with this scarf." She jerked her right hind leg up and winced. Lowering it back down to rest. "The pain's to much fer me Garard." her voice now verging on a mewl. "If I stay like this till nightfall, I'll go flippin mad!" she gasped as she tightened her hooves over her belly. "Could ya do me one last little favor?" she pleaded to him. Tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. "An take the stopper off me? Let it flow. An let me pass as nature intended." He gave a solemn nod and undid the lower button knots to her coat. Flipping it back, he gently plucked at the bandages. Easily parting the fibers and pulling back the wad to expose the wound. Immediately she gave a sigh of contentment. Her body visibly relaxing as the pressure released. "Ahh. That's the bees. thank ya kindly. Now I can think strate." Then she turned her attention to Peatmoss. looking into his eyes "As I was sayin Meadblood, I know I don't know who you are or were ya come from. But I can see plane as the dawn the measure of yer moxie. You stood up fer me. Willin ta take a bolt ta the nogen over a poxy scrap like me. Or ya just dumb as a stone. HA! But I don't think so. Ya did me a service and I like ye for it. Or maybe I just like that ya know how ta keep yer mouth shut! Ha ha! Too many bucks don't know when ta shut up an let a mare speak." "Ack. But listen to me, yammering me life away. heh heh he." Her laugh turned to a pained cough before continuing. "Listen ta me Meadblood. Whenever ya gets out a this Scorpan damned place an get up ta Gallops hill. Visit Rossvaskr the home of the Mighty Helms. Dona let their rough fashion ah speech put ya off. But tell em I sent ya. An they'll see ya a safe place ta flop." She then went into a bout of coughing before continuing. "Tell em I bequeath my coat to ye cause I don't need it were I'm goin. Sides, it's full a holes" She motions to the stained spot the bolt entered. "An if they give ya hash about it, you tell em ta stuff it! It's my coat an I gives it ta who I likes! An tell that Peabrain! Ta go buck im self!!" she finished with a shout. Her body tencing so much she sits up causing her wound to gush. "Easy there Iron Bloom." cooed Garard as he gently pushed her back down till she relaxed. "Don't go rushing it." "Ack. I'm just about spent." Iron panted from the exertion. "Ah wish I could have a dram of your blood right about now." she said turning to Peatmoss. "Diein is real thirsty work." "As soon as we get the chance I'll pour you out one personally." reassured Garard "Ack. No need ta do a fool thing like that. By the time ya find some proper stock in this foul place, me an old Black Claw will ave drained a hole cask. Ay. We'll have a right knocker of a time." she sighed with a fond smile. "Still. Ah only wish I went in a better way then this." Looking up to the sealing she put her hoof up as if reading out a billboard. "An she died, shoutin an drownin in her own piss an vinegar. Hardly sounds song worthy." "That doesn't sound anything like you." Garard said as he rose to his hind legs and struck a pose like a bard. "The fair mare Iron Bloom, the Undaunted Firebrand. Forged by blue and white. Daughter of Iron Blood and Ever Bloom. Fought with great valor against Dragon kind. In defense of Jarl and True King. Sacrificed all to ignite the pyre of Equestrian incursion." "Ack. Away with ya. Ya do me great kindness ya sky droppin." she said. A flush of joy coming across her face. Then suddenly her countenance brightened as she glanced around looking for something unseen. "Do ya hear that? The horn's finally callin me home. I'll be missing ya but me an Black Claw will be saven ya a cask ta share. Give those Equestrian imperials one good buck fer me would you. fer ye well mates I'm goin home." With that she gave one deep breath then sighed and went peacefully still. Garard placed his claw gently over her he began to mumble something in old ponish. Peatmoss turned and walked out of earshot. Feeling that if he stayed he would be intruding on some ceremony he hadn't earned the right to be a part of. ================================== New perk (Iron Bloom's blessing). When in the company of the Mighty Helms faction, all stats are buffed by +3%