//------------------------------// // 110 - Onward to Nidaroats // Story: Age of Kings // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// “So, the beast is dead,” Rake the Red and the rest of his village stood around the now-frozen corpse of the valravn, which looked even more grotesque in the daylight than it had at night. “No more will we have to fear going out after sundown! You foreigners are fierce fighters indeed!” “Aye, and they have earned our trust with the slaying of this powerful monster.” Jarl Goat Gruff stood at the forefront, prodding the valravn’s body with a foot. “As Jarl of Jorgjaflyki, I hereby pledge you our aid.” Emerald Edge’s group cheered behind her, even a groggy Spectrum Song let out a little cheer as she held her head and winced. “I still can’t believe I missed a whole fight,” she groaned. “I could’ve taken it.” “Right…” Honeygold snickered and poked her friend’s forehead playfully. “Ow…” Spectrum moaned. “Please don’t do that, or I’m going to be sick.” Sombra had a clean linen wrap around his arm, courtesy of a wandering pilgrim woman who had just arrived that morning. She claimed to be taking a spiritual journey to the capital of the Frozen North to pay homage to the high kings of old. She had been most helpful in fixing the injuries that Emerald and the others had sustained in the nighttime battle, so nobody said anything against her. The spymaster had also remembered that without Moon Tide, the rest of them had run dry of their healing magic and were unable to heal wounds quickly, so it all worked out in the end. Rake had also taken them to a secluded hot spring, where Emerald took a great deal of time washing the monster blood off her body and attire. She had left her hidden blades with Nightfall so that she could get the sticky valravn fluids out of the mechanisms. It had surely been a great task, but the mage had completed her job nonetheless, though she had looked a little deranged by the time the sky went dark again. By now, Emerald had learnt that the light only stayed out for eight hours or so, which indeed was a very short time. However, she did take into account that it would make sneaking around a lot easier for her and Posey. As Emerald settled down in her bedroll that night, she turned to face the window and saw something greenish blue glowing outside. Her curiosity piqued, she wrapped herself in a warm coat and stepped outside, careful not to disturb anyone else in the dwelling. Setting foot in the snow, Emerald’s eyes widened as she beheld the sky. Trails of bright green, purple, and blue light rippled across the dark canvas of stars, casting their glow on the land below. “The aurora…” Emerald breathed out a cloud of fog in front of her face. It had been ages since she had gotten to see this magical phenomenon. The last time she had seen it was when she was back home in the Crystal Empire. It was magnificent, though she had never known how they were made. She had just assumed it was a flow of magic across the sky, but magic worked differently in this world, so that theory was out the window. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sombra’s voice came from next to her. “It is as though the very heavens are aflame. It is beautiful, in a strange way.” In a whirl of smokey shadows, Sombra materialized beside her, wrapped up in more coats than Emerald. The king’s eyes were wide with wonder, reflecting the northern lights.  “I am reminded of my home in Equestria,” Emerald said, leaning against the door frame. “Every night the auroras light up the sky in the Crystal Empire. It is visible from many places in the land, and Crystal Ponies know that no matter how far they are from friends and family, that when they look up at the sky, they are all viewing the same aurora.” “Amazing indeed. You must feel right at home here, then. Seeing these… ‘ororoas’ again. Do you miss it? Your home. Your kingdom. I have been gone only so recently and I already miss Saddle Arabia.” “More than I can put into words,” Emerald said in a low voice. “I thought it would get easier as time passed… it doesn’t. I miss my home, my princess, and the magic. Coming here is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” “You are a stronger person than I, if you can bear to be separated from your own world for this long,” Sombra sighed. “I never thought that I would ever have to leave Saddle Arabia. I never thought I would have to take the throne so early. Honestly, some part of this still doesn’t seem real to me, and that I sometimes expect to wake up back in Masyaf, with my father.” “Yes, we would all prefer it if the world didn’t have its challenges, wouldn’t we?” Emerald laughed, then looked back at the sky. “Maybe Morn is right. In the world he envisions, there would be no more suffering. No more sadness.” Sombra shook his head. “But the way he walks to have his perfect world goes against everything we stand for.” “Of course. I do not want to live in a world where I cannot act on my own free will. Tis absolutely barbaric to take that away from everyone, even if it would bring worldwide peace. I refuse that idea; the world cannot be ruled by any one person.” “Even if that world is not perfect?” Sombra asked quietly. He folded his arms and gazed up at the serpentine lights in the sky. “Our world may not be ideal, or have much magic, but we humans do the best we can with what we have been given. And I- no, all of us are grateful that someone with as big of a heart as you would come and help us, even though it is not your home.” Emerald felt heat suffuse her cheeks. “Yes, well. I didn’t do it all by myself. You have helped much yourself, King Sombra, with your magical powers.” “I wouldn’t have them if not for your efforts,” Sombra pointed out. “We did not meet on the best of terms, but I would be hard pressed to find someone as noble as you. I’ve come to see that now.” The king pulled his outer coat tighter around himself.  “Tis unfortunate, this situation we find ourselves in…” Emerald sighed and sat back on a barrel outside the house. “All of Canterlot’s knights were much more noble than I was. Even Morn. Things just… changed.” “Living is not breathing, but changing,” Sombra said wisely. “That was something my grandfather used to say. We will change the world for the better, Emerald, and I would be proud to fight alongside you and your companions to see it done.” “Thank you, Sombra.” Emerald looked at the Saddle Arabian king. This Sombra was evidently much different from the tyrant she knew back in Equestria. “Then we shall aid this land and liberate it from Morn’s forces.” “So you… want to know the state of the other holds?” Jarl Goat Gruff asked, leaning on one of his throne’s armrests. “Truth is, I can only tell you what my patrols could find out. Not many people go traveling from hold to hold in this season, so news can be scarce. Unless it’s the capital, of course. As far as we know, only Flankfold has fallen to the enemy, turned to face us. The rest have yet to do anything to help.” “I do not know where that is geographically,” Emerald admitted. Rake the Red rolled out a large map onto the table and pointed with his axe. “Flankfold’s over there,” he tapped his axehead onto a drawing of a walled city in the south. “We are here,” he then tapped a spot to the northeast. “Wowee! You drew all these by yourself?” Parisa pointed at the map from her spot beside the table. “It’s very detailed!” “Of course! My father is a great explorer!” Leaf Rake said with much admiration. “The more detailed the map, the more we know.” “Aye, my boy has said it as it is.” Rake gave his son a slap on the shoulder. “And here is where Nidaroats is.” He traced his finger from Jorgjafylki to the northwest of the Frozen North. “Your Canterlot army has surrounded the capital and we have lost any contact with High King Magnus Rein within the walls. No one has gone in or out in twelve days.” Emerald looked hard at the map. “How many days’ travel is it from here to the capital?” she asked slowly. “On foot or on horseback?” Rake the Red asked. “We have horses.” Light Speckle nodded. “Aye. Then it will be a day’s journey. If you count walking in the dark.” Jarl Gruff looked up at Emerald and the group. “You do not plan on approaching Nidaroats with just so few of you?” “Surely it would help if all your jarls joined our cause…” Nightfall said, then took her snuffbox out from a sleeve. “But you have made it sound unlikely.” “Aye. It will take a lot to convince the jarls to help in this forsaken task, like you have for me.” Jarl Gruff put his hands at his sides. “There is nothing we can do about the siege. The enemy has weapons beyond anything we have the means to fight against. It is only through High King Magnus Rein that the city of Nidaroats has held out this long.” “But surely they will eventually run out of food. The jarls will not go to the aid of their king?” “Not when there is so much at stake.” Jarl Gruff went back to his throne and sat down. “As of now, we cannot face an enemy with such power.” “That is why we have come, Jarl Gruff,” Emerald reasoned. “We helped save Saddle Arabia from Morn’s hands. I daresay we can do it for the Frozen North as well.” “Emerald Edge speaks the truth.” Sombra stepped forward. "You have not seen a warrior like her, I guarantee it.” “Yes, but you Saddle Arabians are different. Surely our horsemen of the north are stronger than you Saddle Arabians.” Sombra ignored the slight and kept talking. “No matter how strong you are, humans cannot stand up to the power that the invading king wields. That is why Emerald is the key to victory.” “I will come with you.” Emerald looked to see who had spoken. It was the traveling pilgrim healer woman. Her amber skin blended in well with the firelight in the hall. “Mayhap I will be of some use to you; besides, I came here to reach the capital and traveling with you seems like the safest way to get there.” The spymaster nodded. The woman was nice enough to heal them, so she was definitely good in their books. “You picked a bad time to return to the Frozen North, traveler.” Jarl Gruff shook his head. “Maybe, but surely you will not let these people go on their own,” the pilgrim said. “Not after what they have done about your monster problem.” The jarl leaned back and rubbed his head. “Aye. Aye, I did promise you help if you took care of the valravn. Very well. Then Jorgjafylki marches with you to Nidaroats, Emerald Edge of Canterlot. You shall have my axe.” Emerald bowed to show her gratitude. “Thank you, Jarl Gruff.” From a room behind the jarl, a steward walked over, carrying an axe over both hands, and he stopped before Emerald and held the weapon out to her. “O-Oh. You meant… an actual axe…” She reached out and took it. It had a wooden handle with steel studs along its shaft, ending in a bearded axe head, decorated with snaking lines. It was surprisingly well balanced, Emerald thought. “That Saddle Arabian sword you have will not serve you as well as the Axe of Jorgjafylki. My axe has seen countless battles and has not lost its edge. It will see to it that your mission is accomplished.” “You’re not trained with an axe, are you, Em?” Spectrum whispered. “I’ll figure it out.” Emerald shrugged and hung the axe on her belt. “Thank you, Jarl Gruff. I will bear this axe with honor.” “As I am sure you will, Emerald Edge the Raven Knight.” Jarl Goat Gruff raised a palm up close to his face. “My scouts will go ahead of you and they will do what they can to get word of your plan to the other holds. Should they agree to come to the aid of Nidaroats, you will have a formidable army behind you. But I am afraid, as you have told me, if the enemy generals leading this army still live, they will not stand a chance.” “Yes,” Emerald said and put her hand to the new weapon at her side. “My group will do what we can to remove Morn’s influence through them.” “Ja, very good, then you will have my patrolmen ride out with you. Rake, would you guide them to Nidaroats?” The shorter horseman clapped a hand to his chest. “I would be honored to lead them there after what they have done.” “Good. As jarl, I will gather our forces here and set out behind you once we are ready. And I do hope the other jarls heed our call, though I cannot say I trust Jarl Stern Counsel to come.” Jarl Gruff muttered something under his breath and spat a wad of saliva to the corner. “Aye, it is hard to get the attention of such a jarl.” Rake motioned to the door. “Come, we shall return to my hut and be ready to set out. Jarl Goat Gruff, I take my leave. Come, Leaf.” As the explorer left, his son trudged on after him, followed by Emerald’s group. According to them, a valravn was no simple monster, and killing one would’ve earned her honor among the other holds as well. Jarl Gruff was hoping that would get them to help out, at least this one time. Having an army behind her would certainly help in driving Morn’s forces back. As their group made their way back to Rake’s home, Emerald hung back, finding the lone pilgrim walking a good distance behind them, apparently not wanting to get too close. “Thank you for your healing aid,” Emerald said to her once she fell back enough. “And what is your name?” “Amber. Amber Fang.” She kicked at the snow as she walked, clearly not used to such terrain, which Emerald had found weird when they first met, along with a handful of other things that helped the spymaster in deducing what was going on. “But… you already know, don’t you, Emerald?” “I only know, because you told me what you really are… Moon Tide.” Emerald smiled at her correct guess. “But do not worry. This secret will stay between us.” “I will learn from this.” The pilgrim pulled down a scarf around her face and Emerald could vaguely make out Moon Tide’s facial structure now. “I am curious. What gave me away?” “Well, for one, you came out of nowhere at just the right time. And you don’t speak their language.” “Yes, it is true…” She laughed and her voice reverted back to that of Moon Tide’s. “I have never traveled this far north, but I am sure in time, perhaps on our journey to the capital, I will pick it up. We changelings are quick to learn.” “So I have heard. Still, tis good to have you with us. Have you learnt anything that might help us in our quest?” Amber Fang shook her head slowly. “No good news, I’m afraid. From the reports on my son’s armies, they have breached the Prance capital of Parrots. The last I heard, they had yet to get into the palace. I do not know if they would’ve succeeded by now, but things are dire there. The rest of his forces are in Docklin, but the mighty queen there has been fighting hard and they have not gained as much ground as they have in the Kingdom of Prance.” "That is troubling news," Emerald mused. "Ordinarily an army stretching itself this thin would not succeed, but with the aid of the artifacts, Morn defies common logic and tactics. It makes him difficult to predict and plan against." “And the Knights of the Round Table. I do not know how he has done it, but the empowerment of their swords have made them undefeated in combat. Well…” Amber pointed at the spymaster. “Except against you.” “And I’ll do it again.” Emerald clenched her fists as she thought about facing the rest of the former brothers-in-arms. She had served with each and every one of them for so long. It was hard to have to end their lives, but if she had to for the sake of Canterlot and the world, then they left her no choice.  “I have no doubt that you will,” Amber said. “You are not the only one who knew them well. I- that is to say, your mage Moon Tide treated many of them before you even arrived in this world. Nevertheless, we must do what we have to in order to save the land from Morn’s madness.” “There is no other way, is there?” Emerald sighed. “Believe me, if I had found one, we wouldn’t still be trying to kill my son.” Amber grabbed her coat tightly around her shoulders. “Nor would he still be on this ridiculous conquest to unite the world under his United Kingdom.” “United Kingdom?” Emerald almost laughed. It sounded a little weird. “Is that what he’s calling his movement now?” “The name represents what he stands for,” Amber said reproachfully. “One kingdom, standing unified under his rule. I do not believe he will be satisfied until he has conquered every other kingdom in the world. I know I would not be, were I in his position.” “A united kingdom?” Emerald looked up to the blue sky. “That would be nice. But I would not want to be controlled by someone else like that. Tis not the right thing to do, no matter how just Morn’s cause is.” “We have both seen firsthand what becomes of the kingdoms Morn takes control of, or tries to,” Amber Fang said. “There is no bright future there. Only fear and tyranny.” Emerald nodded somberly. “I only hope that we can stop his schemes before the damage is irreversible.” “That is right, Emerald. There are people back home that would wish for Canterlot to return to its former glory as well.” Amber looked to the distance, beyond the misty air and mountains. “Come, there is much to be done, but first we must travel to the capital of Nidaroats. And there we will devise a plan to deal with Morn’s Unified here in the Frozen North.” Emerald touched the axe by her side again. There was much to be done and much to learn, but there was no time to lose. They had to proceed to Nidaroats and rally with the high king and his forces, while Jarl Gruff would get word out to the other holds to try and persuade them to come help their king. There were still many ways their plans could fail, but Emerald held on to the hope that their path here was a right one and they would eventually triumph against Morn and his Unified. They had to. For the greater good of the world and Canterlot. And for herself.