//------------------------------// // 112 - A Whisper of Equestria // Story: Age of Kings // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// “You are going to climb… this?” Sombra looked at the top of the wall from the bottom as he tied his horse to an old broken post. “It is a rather high climb.” “We can manage,” Posey said and slung her bow over her back. “How goes the battle at the gates?” Emerald asked as she searched the wall for indents and footholds. “There is a lot of rubble in the way of the Canterlot army’s advance,” Nightfall informed them as she looked through her spyglass. “And just as in Sadde Arabia, the two sides are trading arrow volleys. Though the defenders are pouring pots of boiling water down onto the enemy.” “And don’t forget the siege weapons Morn’s Unified are using. How did they even get them here? Wheels are no good for traversing snow.” “They would have to push snow out of the way.” Rake threw a piece of debris from his beard. “They had done so since landing at Flankfold. They would have to move slower, but here they are anyway.” Everyone ducked slightly as another catapult rocked the walls. “I will first scout the top of the wall. Perhaps I could get some of the insiders to help.” With that said, Sombra disappeared in a ball of smoke and snaked up the wall. Meanwhile the rest of the group waited at the foot of the wall. It was a sturdy wall, Emerald thought. Old for sure, but very solid and dense. Definitely more stalwart than the walls of Canterlot had been. The tree roots at the gate reminded her of the druids’ attack, which had ruined a lot of Canterlot’s walls, allowing for outsiders to invade them in their time of weakness. She wondered if they had finished completely fixing the walls of Canterlot or if the project had been abandoned in the wake of Morn’s crusade. “Here, Em. I’ve found a good spot.” Posey waved her over, then she stepped back. Rushing forward, Posey ran up the side of the wall a few steps, then grabbed ahold of a piece of stone slightly jutting out of the wall. From there, she reached up to a crack above and hauled herself up, before finding another spot to reach. Emerald did as Posey had done, her greaves clanking off the stone as she grabbed that first piece of stone. “Come on. We can do it too.” Spectrum Song nudged Streak and ran at the wall. She kicked against the wall and tried to run up it, but instead she just smashed her face into the surface and fell back. “Ow… Maybe not.” “Wait here,” Emerald instructed. “We will drop a ladder or something similar once we secure a safe spot to embark.” “There must be a better way…” Nightfall told Light Speckle. “Perhaps a mechanism to launch a rope to the top of the wall for easier climbing. Wrist mounted, like the hidden blades. I should invent one.” “Impractical,” Speckle shook her head. “Imagine the vast amounts of rope one would have to cart around with them.” “I could store it in the gauntlet.” Nightfall tapped the back of her arm. “It could prove useful one day.” “Not a bad idea.” Amber Fang joined in. “But what if it was not on the wrist, but perhaps a device on its own. That way you could store more rope than needed. Just in case.” There was a clatter from the top of the wall and a ladder made of rope and planks of wood was thrown down, unfurling until it came just short of hitting the ground. “That did not take long,” Spectrum remarked as she began to haul herself up the wall using the ladder. “Not the kind of ladder I was expectin’, but it works.” Rake nodded and allowed Emerald’s companions to head up first. Once all members of the party had scaled the wall, Posey rolled the ladder up and placed it next to one of the machicolations. “There was nobody watching this section of the wall,” Posey said. “My guess would be that they are all occupied at the front end of the city and cannot spare anyone to stand guard here.” “Makes sense,” Rake said as he hefted his axe and looked around to see if there was anyone still around. “No point watching over a spot that won’t see any action. But reckless. They are fortunate the enemy has not tried what we have done.” As soon as the words left his lips, a flaming projectile smashed into a nearby building with a boom. “They’ll not get far with those,” one of Rake’s companions observed. “Maybe in the smaller holds they would work, but here in Nidaroats, all the buildings are made from solid stone. Fire is pretty useless against them.” “Useless fire or no. Those projectiles will do enough damage here.” Amber pointed to the building, whose roof collapsed. There was a whistle of wind, and darkness gathered beside them as the king of Saddle Arabia reappeared. “They have not gotten far. We can still get to the castle before they do, if we move now.” “Follow me,” Rake instructed. “I know the layout of the city better than most. I was the one who first put it down on a map.” With a patter of shoes on stone, they moved off quickly, running through narrow streets and thoroughfares that were devoid of people. As they passed the houses, Emerald saw more than one set of frightened faces peer back out at them. “It won’t be safe for them to stay here, since the outer walls have fallen.” Emerald stopped, unable to just leave all these people here, defenseless. “Can you get them to the high king’s stronghold?” “You are Canterlotian. They would not trust you.” Rake turned to his fellow townsfolk and barked to them in Northern. They nodded back to him and they scattered, going to different houses to knock on the doors. “The others will do what they can. I will take you to the castle.” “Right.” Emerald nodded. That was a good idea. “Let us move.” While Rake’s men set about seeing to the civilians, Emerald and the other questors hurried on, with Emerald and Rake at the front. Suddenly, there was a shout and Sombra tackled Emerald and Rake forward, at the same time sending a wave of shadows to push the others backwards.  And not a moment too soon. A flaming projectile smashed into the road between both groups, exploding in a storm of wood and flame and making the whole ground shake. The path was set on fire, with no way through. “Go on, you three!” Posey called through the fire. “We’ll find a way around, don’t worry about us! I’ll keep them safe.” “Right. Come on. This way.” Rake waved for Emerald and Sombra to follow. The spymaster looked back to her friends one more time, then turned to run after them. She trusted Posey and her abilities. She would keep the rest of them safe. “Come, Emerald. We must get to the high king.” Sombra beckoned for her to come. With enough time wasted, the three of them headed for the center of the city, bypassing house after house, some of which had burning roofs or broken walls. Emerald had seen a sight too many like this ever since leaving Canterlot, with Morn’s conquest coming all the way here. He didn’t realize how many lives he was ruining for his global order. Emerald had hoped he would realize that one day, but she had long given up on that hope. She was going to stop Morn, whether it meant killing him or not. It was what she had to do, it was her duty to this world that had taken her in. Soon, the sounds of fighting reached Emerald’s ears. The clash of steel on steel was unmistakable, as were the shouts of warriors meeting in battle. Morn’s men had already entered Nidaroats. She reached for her scimitar in her right hand and drew Jarl Gruff’s axe with her left. The weapon still felt unfamiliar to her fingers, but she remembered how easily this weapon could cut through a troll’s hide. It would certainly prove effective in combat, unskilled or not. “Will the others be safe? With the fight coming to them, I mean.” Sombra drew his own scimitar. “If needed, I can go back and aid them. You and Rake can continue on to the castle.” “I am sure they will all be fine.” Rake patted on their backs with his beefy hands and ushered them forward. “Come. We must see how the high king fares in this siege. I do hope nothing bad has befallen him.” Another building burst into flames and stone and wooden shards as a catapult projectile smashed through it on their left, but Emerald and her companions managed to get through that unscathed. More people ran out of the buildings here, some sporting burns and cuts, but Rake ordered them towards the castle, unable to do much else for them at this point. Seeing one of their own kinsmen with Emerald and Sombra, they were less dubious of the command and proceeded along. In no time, there were plenty of people running past Emerald, Sombra and Rake, all of them women and children. The former pegasus figured the men here were all out there fighting Morn’s forces back. These Frozen North horsemen were strong, she would give them that, but she didn’t know how they would fare against one of the Knights of the Round Table, or worse, Morn himself. “Castle Sleipnir. We are almost there.” Rake pointed to the large stone structure ahead. It had pointy blue roofs over each tower, and there were banners of what looked like reindeer heads and fire hanging down from the main building. A splendid piece of architecture, Emerald thought, which would hopefully stand another day. The castle was surrounded by another wall and a moat, with guards by the drawbridge beckoning for the townsfolk to enter its premises. So far, the battle had not yet arrived this far in, and that was good, though Morn’s Unified were already on their way. “Inside, swiftly,” Rake said as he ushered them across the drawbridge. The guardsmen standing sentinel gave Emerald and Sombra wary looks, but one of them seemed to recognize Rake and waved him through with a grunt and a wave of his battleaxe. Rake gave them a quick explanation, then followed behind his new friends through the courtyard. “So, what do you think? The king’s castle.” “Truthfully, I was expecting something… grander.” Sombra waved a hand. “My palace in Saddle Arabia is much more refined and I daresay unique.” Rake shrugged as they passed under the castle gate. “I suppose I will have to see it for myself one day. I shall gain audience with the high king. I shan’t be long.” Emerald and Sombra were left in the castle foyer, with the bleating and crying of citizens all around them. The floor was made of wood, and there were those same banners hanging off the walls depicting the emblem of Nidaroats. Guards and servants rushed back and forth, seeing to the needs of the people.  “A terrible thing, war.” Sombra shook his head in disgust. “See what it does to your people? Morn has no right to do this to them. No right.” “You don’t have to tell me that again.” Emerald watched as a mother soothed a younger girl. “That’s why we’re here. To stop him.” Some of the townsfolk looked at them as they stood there, with some casting evil eyes towards Emerald. She didn’t blame them. Morn was giving all Canterlotians a bad name. It was going to be hard to repair relationships after this, but they would have to. “Good news.” Rake came back, rubbing his hands together. “High King Magnus has agreed to an audience with you. He has his doubts about someone from Canterlot, so I suppose you will have to prove him wrong.” “Not another trust quest.” Emerald ran a hand along her face. “Well, I suppose hunting another valravn would be easier than facing Morn’s army alone.” Rake chuckled. “Then come. We have wasted enough time as it is. The king does not like to wait.” As Rake led Emerald and Sombra towards the throne room, the former began to feel a tingling sensation in her fingertips. It almost felt like the same feeling she had experienced when she had found the true nature of the Holy Grail. The sensation of home, her real home. Equestria. There is something else at play here. Emerald realized as she walked. The trio soon arrived in a cavernous room that was richly decorated with thick carpets, soaring banners, and stone effigies of tall, bearded men wearing crowns. As she walked past each one, guessing that these were all statues of past kings, the feeling of home was getting stronger, and it was starting to put thoughts into Emerald’s head. It cannot be. Could it…? Past all that were giant iron doors, flanked by more guards, who pushed them open. Inside, the throne room was decorated with splendid blue drapes and banners, also sporting the insignia of Nidaroats, and there was a lit bonfire in the middle, which cast its light across the whole room. Tables were positioned along the sides, where more horsemen sat at, and at the very end was a much larger table with only a single man sitting behind it.  A helmet with several curved horns pointed up around its radius sat on the table by his beefy hands, and next to it was a grey haired man, eyeing the newcomers with narrowed eyes. Emerald could guess who she was looking at. All the while, the feeling of home was getting stronger, but she still did not know where it was coming from. “I introduce you to High King Magnus Rein of the Frozen North.” Rake gestured to their leader. “Slayer of the mighty Thorndrum, Uniter of the Great Clans!” “So, the king from across the mountains and a lady of Canterlot. The Raven Knight herself, slayer of the valravn...” The high king’s voice was low and deep, yet loud and resounding. “You have come to my kingdom at a tumultuous time.” “You seem very well informed,” Emerald said, bowing. Sombra remained upright, as he was of equal station to Magnus. “I did not think word of our deeds had reached this part of the world yet.” “Word gets around the holds fast.” The high king held up a scroll in one hand. “I have heard of your deeds from Jarl Goat Gruff. He trusts you, so I suppose I will hear what you have come to say.” “We have traveled to this land to lend our support in your battle against the United Kingdom,” Emerald started. “Having repelled them from Saddle Arabia, my group and I have made it our quest to drive out these invaders wherever they may be.” “Do you call two people a group?” High King Magnus asked, looking at Sombra. “The rest of us were separated earlier,” Sombra told him. “They are still out there, hopefully staying safe.” “Yes. The enemy has breached our outer walls.” Magnus stood and flicked his cape aside. In that instant, Emerald spotted something gold and silver, vibrating and convulsing at his belt and immediately, she knew just what she had been feeling all this time, and she was right. Magnus looked at his weapon quizzically and brandished the axe at his side. It had a single blade, straight at the top and curved at the bottom, and it was now crackling with light, forcing him to drop it. “What is this…?” Magnus raised a hand to his face to protect his grey beard from the sparks. And just as quickly as it had begun, it all stopped and the axe now rested on the ground, unmoving. “The axe…” Sombra whispered to Emerald. “It is of your world.” “Yes.” The spymaster nodded. “High King Magnus, you will not believe me, but that axe is from another world. More specifically, the world I come from.” “Another world? Your world?” The king almost laughed. “Are you jesting, woman?” “That is why it shook as it did. It resonated with me. These weapons, created by our great Star Swirl the Bearded, were meant for my kind, Equestrians.” Emerald stepped a little closer. “These weapons were sent to your world, because they were too powerful for any one pony to use.” “One pony? Now this is madness.” Magnus picked up the axe and held it out to the fire light for them to see. “This is Hel, the legendary axe passed down to me by our patron saint, Snowman. He had crafted it in the very depths of Helheim itself, hence its name. With this, I am decreed as the one true king of the Frozen North.” Emerald had heard this story before, but from a different king in a different time. She was willing to bet that it wasn’t the actual truth either. After all, she knew the reality of where these weapons come from. “I could show you. If I could just hold your axe for a while.” Emerald reached a hand out, but three vikings stepped forward and drew their axes and swords. Magnus waved a hand and the three of them backed off. “Aye, no, this axe is what makes my word law over this land. It is not for you to take from me. While Jarl Gruff trusts you, you have not earned mine, Raven Knight.” “But if I could just hold it, I will show you-” “The axe is not yours.” The high king’s voice boomed around the hall as he put it close to his mouth, almost like it was amplifying his voice. The ground under Emerald’s feet shook and the bonfire grew smaller, casting longer shadows across the room, making it suddenly feel less safe. “We apologize, your majesty.” Sombra held her to steady her. “Emerald, keep it together. There will be another way. We don’t want to end up on the king’s bad side.” “Yes, yes. I am sorry.” She sighed. “High King Magnus, I apologize. I was ahead of myself. Yes, your words speak sense. I will prove to you that we are here to help.” “Or perhaps not…” a voice said behind the two of them. Emerald and Sombra turned to see a large Northerner standing there, a dented helmet in one hand. The spymaster had not met many from the Frozen North, so she remembered this one, even though it had already been about five years since she had seen him in Canterlot. “Stronghorn,” Emerald said. “From the tournament.” “Aye, that is I.” The warrior placed his helmet on a nearby table. “And you are Emerald Edge of Canterlot. No one could ever forget those glittering locks on your head, could they? Your brethren outside have laid siege to our land. How do we know you are not with them?” “Her eyes,” Sombra gestured to his own. “All of Morn’s army has golden eyes that shine like candles. Emerald’s eyes do not glow like theirs.” “Ah, so you have met my thane, Stronghorn the Tough.” Magnus raised a hand to welcome him back. “He has been on the front, defending our capital from your people.” “And I regret to inform you, High King Magnus, the front has been lost.” The bulky man breathed out and sat down. A maid walked by and handed him a flagon. “The Canterlot army has arrived at our castle walls. Jarl Goat Gruff’s men have done what they can to lead civilians here, but I am afraid many have been lost out there.” “It is only a matter of time. We have to fight back.” Magnus held the axe tightly in his hand. “So these invaders, you mentioned their golden eyes. It is true you do not possess them like they do. We can see them from miles away. But how do we know you speak the truth about that?” “Canterlot does not mean to attack you,” Emerald tried to explain. “All this is one man’s will. A man named Morn Dread, who has turned the power of Excalibur on the world. That is how he also takes control of your people, High King Magnus. Many are thrall under his power. We are not.” “And he had also tried to take my kingdom,” Sombra added and stepped forward. “But we stopped him. We ensured that my land would not fall under his control. And we aim to aid yours in fighting him off. Let us help you.” “How noble of you to journey all the way here to help another kingdom in need.” Magnus ran a hand along his axe’s head. “Very well. For now, I shall choose to believe you. But…” Emerald and Sombra looked at each other. She never did like ‘buts’. Magnus began walking around the table he was at. “I would first like to test your might. To see if you are worthy in the field of battle. I will see your resolve.” Emerald was going to accept, but Sombra stretched a hand out in front of her. “Sombra? We need to do this.” “Yes. I know.” He looked to the high king. “I accept your challenge, your majesty. I, Sombra, king of Saddle Arabia, will be your opponent.”