//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: The Crown of Eques // by PTBonesbeard //------------------------------// It was late morning by the time Night Time Wishes arrived, riding atop Ricky Ticky's cart. After saying goodbye and promising to come see his show sometime later, she made her way up the road leading to the Gallops Hill main gate. As she trotted up over the drawbridge and through the gate, she heard snippets of conversation from the ponies coming the other way. Something about a Skeever attack on the crops, and an attempted robbery in the market. Wishes had read about the invasive verminous rodents, but had never seen one in her time at University O M. But the mention of a real, open air market, filled with exotic goods from all around Crown, thrilled her. Though the University's stipend she had packed in her bag wasn't much, she was confident a few wise purchases of some basic alchemy ingredients could get her started on earning more money. Her bag had been stuffed with bundles of flowers and herbs she had telekinetically picked from the roadside as she rode on Rickey's cart. Red, purple, and blue mountain flowers. Lavender, tundra cotton, and even a few pairs of various butterfly wings. A good supply of base ingredients, but an alembic, and a mortar and pestle would be essential to start. However, for the more expensive potions she could brew, she would have to save up for some specialty equipment. As she entered the city, she spotted a blacksmith's shop and was reminded she would need a few utensils for her set. So she went to the shop's door and pushes on it to enter, but finds it locked. 'Strange.' she thought to herself. 'Closed at this hour? Whoever runs this place sure isn't a very good business pony.' Snorting in disappointment, she turns and heads up the main street. "Excuse me Miss." comes a call from behind. She stops and looks back to see a pony in a quilted coat, sash, and fur hat, cantering up to talk to her. "I'm sorry to bother you but, I got one look at you, and just had to come over and find out what brings a charming young mare like you too Gallops Hill?" "I, uh. oh! I'm on a quest from the University of Magnus." she stammers. Not sure why he would be interested in her. "The University you say!" he fawns. "My! I knew the moment I saw you, I thought for sure this unicorn of Noble stature is certain to be a pony of note. But for you to have come all this way from Los Monokeros! I so sadly underestimated you." He then bowed low, doffing his fur hat as he did. "Why, allow me, Crystal Decanter, the great pleasure to welcome you to our rude, but humble town. If there is anything I, Crystal Decanter, can do to make your visit more comfortable, then please let me know." he finishes with an almost pleading smile up at her. Wishes felt her cheeks get hot as she gave him an embarrassed grin. Stunned by the heaps of gentile mannerisms he laid on her. "Oh, thank you. But, no services are needed. I'm just, headed to the local market to buy a few essentials. there's no need to trouble-" "Oh of course." he interrupted. Just as his smile threatened to faulter. "I should have known. A savvy business pony like yourself wouldn't want to bother with the simple commoner ponies." "Now wait. I didn't-" "No no. I know what you must be thinking." he interrupted again. Placing his hat back on his head. "But allow me to reassure you. The pony who stands before you is no common field-hoof. For I, Crystal Decanter, am pleased to inform you, that I am infact, a Noble Thane." Wishes was at a loss for words. "Indeed." he answers her silence. "Shocking to hear, I'm sure. How could an Earthpony climb so high, you may ask, as to be recognized as a member of the Jarl's Court? Well I can assure you, it wasn't easy. I had to work hard to earn my way to the top from nothing. And now I oversee one of the largest farms outside the wall. Fertile Furrow Farm. Perhaps you've heard of it? A very profitable business. Why, not a day goes bye that the Jarl doesn't ask me for advice on crop futures. After all I am the most respected member of the Gallops Planter's Guild." "You don't say." "Yes. Oh! But where are my manners. A Unicorn Lady as fare as yourself, must have vast holdings of your own. A prominent position in Los Monokeros? I dare too ask?" "I'm, actually just a student there. My name is Nighttime Wishes. You see, My Master, Arch Mage Wyvernwax sent me here to speak with the Jarl about solving the Windigo problem." "I, see." "He is quite convinced that I will be able to find the Harolds of Rainbow here in town. I have been trained in Both ponish and Griff, I have proficiency in the schools of Alteration, Destruction, Restoration, and enchantment magic. But my real passion is for Alchemy and, it's many, useful..." She trails off as she notices his eyes glazed over in disinterest. despite the sagging smile now pasted on his face. "Yes. Very fasenating. Mis, er." "Wishes." "Right. If you're set on seeing the Jarl, do remember to mention my name. It very well may help you get an audience. Good day." He turns to go, but pauses and looks back. "Oh, and just in case you haven't heard, the guard caught a winged skeever in the district. So if I were you, I'd make sure your purse strings are extra tight." With that, he canters away. Waving his ribbon wrapped tail in his wake. 'Winged Skeever?' she thought to herself. She'd never read about any such rodents having the ability of flight. Except for some squirrels. 'Maybe I missed that chapter.' she thought as she pushes up the brim of her hat to glance skyward. 'Perhaps he was talking about a local variant of rodent.' At that thought, Wishes rechecked her bag's buckles. just in case. There wasn't any sense in testing fate after all. Continuing up the street, Wishes finds the market. It was smaller than she had imagined. Most stalls sold produce of some form or another. One even advertised, 'Ug,' Meat. Large cuts that sat on platters, or hung on iron hooks. At least, she could imagine, none of it was pony. She hoped. Giving that one a wide berth, she looks from one too another. When, out of the corner of her eye, she sees a flash of wings. Whipping her head around, expecting to have to dodge a diving, winged rat, she sees a brown and green pony. With wings? She blinks in astonishment. Wishes had never seen a real Pegasus before. She watches as he trots confidently over to a vegetable stall and starts chatting up the mare behind the counter. His brown wings, unlike the griffins she'd seen before, were smaller, and well proportioned to his athletic body shape. Soft and downy, as compared to a Griffin's, who are large and ridgid. Looking him over, Wishes felt an unexplainable interest towards him. There was something about the pony that gave her a feeling that drew her eye. A feeling that was hard to describe. What was it? Something familiar. Like when she studied alongside Swirlypop. A desire to draw closer? To stand by his side, like... 'Ga! Wishes! What are you thinking?!' she internally berates herself as she realizes she had been gawking. Glancing around the scattered shoppers to see if anypony had seen, she wonders to the next stall. Trying to comprehend the new feeling as she idly looks over the jewelry display. Her attention is pulled back when she hears a little foal's roar. Looking over, she sees a small filly grappling with the Pegasus as he struggles playfully against her. Then collapsing as she stands atop him victoriously. Wishes can't help but nicker at the absurdity of the scene. Her mind begins to wonder again, as she turns back and stares off into space across the stall's counter. Thinking what it might feel like to have wings on her back. The freedom to simply spread her wings and leave the ground and all it's problems behind. To be able to fly away from any strife. To relax on a cloud and let time go bye. Memory of the view she saw as she was carried into the sky earlier this morning came to mind. 'I'd like to see those stupid shadow monsters try to get me when I can just hover out of reach of them, and blast them with any spell I choose.' She gave a low snicker at the thought of their frustration. "Ahem." Wishes blinks in confusion at the elderly pony standing on the other side of the counter that was addressing her. "Can I help you?" the pony asks. eyeing her with a worried look. Suddenly Wishes realizes that she'd been staring a hole in the shopkeeper's head for the past few minutes, with a suspicious grin on her face. "Oh! Hi! I'm, was..." 'Smooth Wishes. Real smooth.' she thought to herself. 'Now you sound as dumb as you look.' Shaking the thought from her head, she starts over. "I'm just looking, for..." her mind races in embarrassment, looking down at the array of precious metals on display. Thankfully, her brain throws her a bone, in the form of a memory of her last dream walk with Swirlypop. "Awesanium! I'm looking for a piece of awesanium. Do you have any?" she asks with a disarming smile. "Awesanium?" the pony asks in confusion. "Miss. You do realize that kind of metal is as rare as dragon tears." "What? You don't have any?" "Lady. That stuff was rare back in the second era. You're more likely to find a fork made of sapient pearwood nowadays." "Huh. I had no idea. I remember my master had a pocket watch made out of the stuff." "Well he must have been a rich pony indeed. If I had even a speck of it, it would be locked up and hidden away. They say the very smell of it can draw dragons from miles around." "I think you may be exaggerating a little bit." says Wishes deadpanning. "Master Wyvernwax's little dragon friend never batted an eye at it." "Well then it probably wasn't the real thing then. I've never even seen the stuff before. All I know is rumors. However. If it's rare metal you're after. I've heard of a place you can find a piece of Stubranium." "Pfft." puffs Wishes in disinterest. "That stuff is next to useless. Even after refining it, it never stays in the shape you want it to be in. Even dragons can't digest the stuff." "Oh well." says the shopkeeper Shrugging. "Sorry. No awesanium today." Disappointed, Wishes looks away and sees the pegasus was gone. Glancing around, then up in the air hoping to spot him, but sadly he's nowhere in sight. But she is hartened by the sight of an Apothecary shop on the edge of the plaza. The Hagraven's Cauldron. Stepping through the door and closing it behind her, she takes a deep breath. Breathing in the familiar smells and scents of the myriad of ingredients and components of the alchemical variety. Walking along the shelves, Wishes nearly drools at the vast supply displayed around the room. "Wait! Is that? It can't be." Stooping, she telekinetically picks up a fleshy digit. She gives it a sniff. Then, looking around to ensure nopony's watching, she gives it a lick. "It is! Plenty fresh too." she whispers to herself. Her eyes shimmering with delight. "An Anon's toe! With this I can make... But only if they have, ah!" She snatches up a bright orange strand of thin, branching tendrils. "Creepcluster. Excellent. Now I just need..." She looks over the shop's stock. "Come on. They've got to have some... Ah!" Triumphantly she picks up a head of wheat. "Oh, if only they knew what I can do with these." she whispers. Making evil, scheming horse noises. Glancing around the empty shop, Wishes clutches the gathered ingredients to her chest as she wonders over to the alchemy supplies. After a few minutes of looking over what is available, she ends up selecting a small, travel size alembic set, and mortar and pestle. Trotting happily over to the counter, she sets her things out and looks around for the shop owner. seeing the door behind the counter ajar, she leans over to see through as she pulls it open with her telekinesis. "Hello? Anypony in there?" In the other room sits a light-green and yellow filly at an alchemy set, with her back to the doorway. "Oh! A customer." the pony says in surprise, looking over her shoulder. "Excuse me miss. I was just so-" As she turns to face Wishes, her tail sweeps over the table she was sitting at, bumping a round flask and sending it rolling twords the edge. "Oh no!" she gasps as it tumbles over, on it's way too the floor. But in an instant, Wishes grabs it with her telekinesis, saving it. "Whoa! That was close." says Wishes as she floats it up to the filly's surprised but grateful face. "Thank you so much." the filly sighs in relief. Setting it back in place and backing away, before turning to Wishes. "Sorry about not noticing you sooner, Miss..." "Nighttime Wishes. And it's no problem." "Well Miss Wishes, welcome to Hagravens Cauldron. My name is Mountain Flower. Did you find everything you needed?" Wishes just nods and pushes her things forward. "Wonderful. Now let's see." Mountain Flower quickly hoofs through the items, tallying them up. "My. These are some premium ingredients. Are you very familiar with Alchemy?" "Of course. Mixing and brewing is a passion of mine. I was trained out in Magnus University. Along with the rest of my magic studies. I'm planning on staying here in Gallops Hill till at least the end of the year. So I just need some basic equipment." "I see. And you'll only need these few ingredients? Can I interest you in anything else?" "No. I picked a bunch of things along the road as I traveled. These three are for a potion I perfected when I was still learning." "Very well. All together it comes to three hundred and eighty crowns." "Three hundred and eighty!" exclaims Wishes. Banging her hooves on the counter. Causing Mountain Flower to flinch. "That's too expensive!" "I'm sorry Miss Wishes." she squeaks meekly. sinking behind the counter. "But those alembics aren't easy to make. Especially the small ones. If you get the large one instead, it'll be forty crowns less." Suddenly Wishes understood why the Alchemy teacher, Mr Green, always flipped when one of the students broke a flask, or melted down a burner. "Aw. I really wanted this one." Wishes Whines. Resting her chin on the countertop to stare at it longingly. "It's just soo cute." "I'm sorry Miss." Flower says apologetically. Rising again. "But I'm afraid cuteness has a big pricetag." "How much is it by itself?" she asks with hopeful eyes. "Two forty." Flower braces herself for another outburst. But Wishes just groans sadly "All I have is two ten." "I'm sorry. Then it's the big one for you, or nothing." "I guess I'll just take the ingredients and the mortar." Wishes sighs. Pulling out her purse to pay. Then a strange vapor wafts past her nose. "Hey. Is something burning?" she asks as she sniffs at the air. Flower's eyes go wide and she whips her head around to look back into the room behind her. Leaning to look around the Earthpony, Wishes sees a flask, suspended over a burner, boiling over. "No-no-no!" cries Flower in despair. Snatching up a pair of tongs in her teeth and yanking the burner out from under it, extinguishing the flame. Slipping on a pair of leather hoof-guards, she picks up the flask and moves it to a short tripod to cool. "What is it your brewing? If you don't mind me asking." "Trying to brew is more like it." Flower responds in a huff. "A family outside of town came down with a bad case of the Trots. They bought up all my stock of Curative potions. I've been trying to brew up some replacements, but I'm beginning to think I've been bamboozled. The ingredients I bought recently have something rong with them. "A disease cure? That's Mudcrab Chitin and Vampire Dust." "Yes. But... Vampire Dust is hard to come-by. For the longest time I've been substituting it with feathers, Bat Wool, and some Chard Skeever-hide scrapings." "Ah. Mareimacro. Worm Queen." states Wishes. Proudly recalling the book's Author and title that Flower was referencing. "That's right. By the Great Creator's Bones! You have been well trained. "Oh heh. It is, a passion of mine." says Wishes sheepishly. Rubbing at the back of her head, after realizing how nerdy she must sound. "I've read every book on Alchemy, and ingredients. Some cook books too. Oh! Maybe I can lend a hoof at solving your problem, and you could maybe give me a discount?" she asks hopefully. "Hmm, well..." Mountain Flower muses. Rubbing thoughtfully at her chin as she glares in annoyance at the darkened sludge left in the cooling flask. "I suppose it'll be worth it. I really am at the end of my rope. It's probably not wise to waste anymore ingredients tossing mashed potatoes at the wall..." Coming to a conclusion, she nods and trots back to Wishes. "Ok. If you solve my problem, I'll give you a discount on the Alembic. Deal?" Wishes nods back in determination. Clopping her hoof to Flower's and shaking. "Deal!" Trotting around the counter, she approaches the workstation and looks over the gathered ingredients while Flower watches. Picking up the Skeever hide, she holds it up to her ear and flexes it. "The Skeever hide sounds well chard through." "Yes. I did it myself." Assures Mountain Flower as Wishes gives it a lick. Smacking her lips and finding no issues. "It's the feathers I'm most concerned about. Normally I get them from Ironblood, the blacksmith up the hill, or Waxed String, the Fletcher out of Jaegervale. But Ironblood is old, and the ones he gives me are not very potent anymore. And Wax isn't do to come and trade till fall." Finding the feathers she mentioned, Wishes picks up a few and looks them over. Immediately she recognizes that shade of brown. "These are from that Pegasus." she mutters to herself as she turns them around in her magic. "I believe you're right." affirms Flower. "I bought these from Nobby Knee, who says he got them from that Pegasus that's new in town. He actually came in my shop about an hour ago. But left again before I could ask him for some in more decent shape then these." As she said, the feathers before her were damaged and bent. "Hm. They look in rough shape, but I don't think it will effect their potency." Bringing it up to her muzzle, she gives it a lick and bulks at the strange taste. "Oh yeah." she coughs. Rubbing the strong taste off her tongue with the back of her hoof. "Definitely potent. No problems there." "That's what I thought. but I can't shake the feeling that there's something else at work in them." "Have you tried a purity test on them? It might solidify the contaminants." "Uh, I don't know what you're talking about." Flower says in confusion. "Oh! Right." apologizes Wishes. "I forgot you're an Earthpony. It's a spell that can condense the different effects into layers. So they can be skimmed off, creating a purer potion." Casting about the workstation, Wishes shows her as she lets her watch over her shoulder. Pulling out a mortar and pestle and Wiping it down to ensure it's clean, Wishes takes a feather and grinds it up to a powder. Picking out a clean beaker, she puts in an ounce of water, a gram of the powdered feather, and a drop of solvent. Lifting it up in her magic, she swishes it around till the liquid gose clear. Bringing it down to just under her muzzle, she closes her eyes and takes a careful sniff. The solution's effects appear in her mind as four colors. However, unlike other times Wishes tried it, a fifth effect appears. "Humm. There's definitely something else here." "I knew it!" growls Mountain Flower. "I just can't trust Knobby. He must have contaminated it with something. Probably sloshed some of his Mead on it or something to make it seem extra good." "I don't think so." mused Wishes. "This fifth thing is unlike anything I've ever smelled. Let me try the spell and see what comes out." Closing her eyes, then focusing her magic on the solution, she casts her purifier spell. Imagining barriers pushing apart the five. "By the ancients in Dreamland Castle!" She hears Mountain Flower gasp. Opening her eyes, Wishes looks in astonishment as the four separate as usual, but it's accompanied by a prismatic light. It swirls around the solution a few times before solidifying into a glittering speck at the bottom of the beaker. "I've never seen anything like that. What is it?" Flower asks as she steps closer to get a better look. "I'm not sure." Wishes answers dumbly. Setting the beaker down on the table, she focuses on the speck to pick it up. But in a flash of colors, she feels the floor drop suddenly out from under her. Pictures flash through her mind at lightning speed. Three ponies standing in deep snow singing as winter storm blew around them. A huge Windigo wareing a crown. A giant pony with wings and a horn, glittering in red blue and yellow. A red and black centaur with a pair of big curving horns in mid-roar. Three stone coffins being carried by a crowd of ponies in black and orange armor. A golden wing being held aloft by brown hooves... "Wishes! Miss Wishes please answer me!" She blinks a few times as the images fade away into the mist of her mind. "Wha! Huh!" she stammers as her sight is filled with Mountain Flower's distraught face standing over her. "Thank merciful Scorpan you're back." She cries. Hugging her. "Wha? What happened? What are you talking about?" Wishes asks in confusion. Rubbing at her temple as what feels like a nail jabs her brain. "I, I think you were having a seizure or something." Flower explained. Wiping her eyes on the back of her hoof. "As soon as you tried to pick up that, piece, of stuff in the beaker, there was an explosion of color and you collapsed like a stack of rocks." Wishes followed the point of her hoof to the beaker on the table. Shakily she got up to take a closer look at it as Flower went on. "You just started thrashing around on the floor. Your Eyes and mouth shining with light. It scared me half to death. I thought you might've been possessed or something." "It, what ever it is, must have some crazy magical qualities." Wishes meused aloud. "I don't think it's enchanted or anything." she tries in vane to remember exactly what she had seen. But the images evaporated like smoke on a breeze. "Whatever it is, I don't think it's worth messing around with." warns Flower with a uneasy look. " But I'm just an Alchemist, not a wizard." Wishes looks hard at the metallic flake sitting at the bottom of the beaker, but no explanation comes to her. "Well whatever it is, we know how to get rid of it." Taking an extractor syphon, Wishes collects the purified layer of Curative extract and floats it over to Mountain Flower. Taking the offered solution, she puts a drop on her hoof, and gives it a taste. "By the gods! That's pure!" she remarks with a big grin. Then, after a few seconds. "My mouth is on fire." She immediately rushes over to a convenient bucket of water and takes a few gulps to extinguish it. Wishes went on to process the rest of the feathers. Once done, she had a bead about the size of a pinhead of the mystery material. It looked metallic in nature, maybe a blacksmith could recognize it. The mystery of it's identity gnawed at her, but ultimately, she knew she shouldn't mess around with it till she found someone who might understand it's magical properties. So, in the meantime, she put it in a little jar for safekeeping. In thanks for the valuable, purified extract, Mountain Flower gave her the Alembic. With Wishes's promise to assist her again if she ever had need of her helpful magic skills. With her alchemic hunger satisfied, Wishes felt the need for brunch. So she said goodbye to Mountain Flower and left the shop. Trotting across the corner of the plaza up to the tavern to get some much needed food. The tavern, the Prancing Mare, was a charming little Alehouse with a scattering of patrons, tables, and chairs. But the nice warm fire burning at the center of the room drew her to it, too warm her chilled body. Sitting at it's side, she stared into the flames lovingly. It's relaxing warm glow returning life to her numb forehooves as she held them out. 'By the gods I've missed you.' Wishes thought to the warmth of the fire. 'I almost forgot how cozy you are.' She had learned her lesson about frivolously using her magic to constantly stay comfortable. But It puzzled her how, that in the University she never seemed to run out of magic reserves. But upon leaving, she found her magic pool emptied out far too quickly. 'Perhaps there was some magical buffing effect that surrounds the University that I had unconsciously benefited from.' she thought. 'I'm going to have to keep track of my magic use I guess. I wonder if Master-' "Excuse me my-lady." someone addresses her. Wrecking her train of thought. She turns her head and sees a pink unicorn mare with a blue mane. Is there anything I can get for you? Food, drink, a bed for the night?" "Oh yes. Food and drink would do wonderfully. What's on the menu?" The pink unicorn smiles in delight and hoofs her a paper with a list of food items. "While you look over our menu, what would you like to drink? We've got hot spiced apple juice ready. Or, if you'd prefer something sweeter, we have a new drink from the far south called hot cocoa." "The hot apple juice sounds great for now. Thanks." "lovely choice. I'll bring it out right away." The unicorn trots off as Wishes looks over the menu. Growing hungrier at the variety of food. Honey nut treats, oatmeal raisin cookies, spiced fruit cake, honeycomb brittle, apple cabbage stew, grilled leeks and potatoes, boiled cream treats, snowberry tarts. It was all so delicious sounding. After a few minutes, the unicorn returns with her hot beverage and took her order. Settling in to a nearby chair at a small table, she slowly sipped at the hot sweet drink. Filling her with a warmth as good as any warming spell. Taking out a roll of paper and charcoal pencil, she gently scratches out her thoughts, and things she has yet to do. 'Let's see. I'll need to buy an inkpot and quill sometime when I get an income started. And once I find out where I'm going to be staying for the rest of my quest, I'll need to set-up an Alchemy station to process these ingredients into potions for sale. Go up to the Jarl's Keep and introduce myself. Get access to their historical records and find out all about the Rainbow War-' Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the image of the red, blue, and yellow winged unicorn that she had seen earlier. She stared off into the distance as she tries to recall the rest of that brief vision. But it iludes her. Shaking her head, Wishes returns to her paper. '-Rainbow Warrior. The Harolds. And the song they have to sing.' Suddenly her train of thought is interrupted again as the image of the three ponies comes to mind. She gives a snort of annoyance at the interruption. Pulling out the jar with the unknown metal inside, she gives it a little shake in frustration. "If you're trying to tell me something, just come right out and say it!" she growls in a whisper. But with no response from the indifferent material, she sighs and packs it away again. Picking up her pencil again, she tries to think of what else she needs to do. "Here's your order ma,aaam" Wishes looks up just in time to see a tumbling platter of food. It hits her in her side and bounces off. "I'm Soo sorry" says the unicorn that had been carrying the platter. She was a tall, blue unicorn mare with short cut, pink mane and tail. She cowers on the floor as Wishes looks sadly down at the yummy looking food scattered around the floor at her hooves. "Sapphire! What have you done?" says the mare from earlier as she comes rushing over. "Don't just lay there! Go fetch a bucket of water and a towel! Now!" "Ye-yes mom." whimpers the server as she scampers away, nearly tumbling over a bench on her way. "Many apologies ma'am." begs the pink unicorn as she quickly gathers up the mess in her magic. "Please forgive my assistant. She's new and doesn't know properly how to do her job. I'll bring another order right away. No charge. Before Wishes could say anything, the innkeeper ran off. Brushing the bits and crumbs off herself, she turns back to her paper and sees it dampened from the apple juice that had been knocked over in the storm. She lifts it up and dumps the liquid off but was annoyed at the sight of her writing smearing. Then, the clumsy unicorn returns and Wishes watches defensively as the blue mare clunks the basin of water on the floor in exhaustion. Hoofing Wishes a clean towel and keeping her head down as she cleans the table and floor. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry my-Lady." She whimpers over and over as she works. "It's fine." she mutters back. "It'll probably wash out." Trying to ignore the penitent mare, Wishes uses the towel to dry the table and paper. Then wiping at the smears on her clothes. Pulling out a clean paper, she rewrites her previous words. After a few minutes the clumsy server disappears and a new platter of food is set on the table. Packing away her paperwork, she can hardly suppress a giggle of delight as she tucks in to the fresh food. Not even half way through her meal, she is interrupted by a tan and brown colt slipping into the chair across from her. Caught off guard by the intrusion, she quickly wipes a hoof across her muzzle to ensure it's free of crumbs before addressing him. "Hello?" she asks. Eyeing him as he casually strums a lute laying over his lap. "Is there something I can do for you?" "Oh no, it's not what you can do for me. It's what I can do for you. Oh radiant sapphire one." he returns silkily as he watches her through lidded eyes. "My name is Oatmeal. But my admirers call me Oaty." "A-huh?" she answers with a deadpan. Suspicious at his tone. "And you are? My azure beauty." he asks after a few seconds. Continuing to strum out soft cords on his instrument. "Hungry." she answers bluntly. Picking up her honeynut skewer in her magic, pulling the last ball off and popping it in her mouth. "Haha ha." he chuckles playfully as he leans back in his chair disarmingly. "I mean your name, not your appetite. Miss..." he trails off as he allows his eyes to drift down her. "Wishes." she says curtly. Tugging her robe closed. "Wishes. Wishes." he says ponderingly. Lulling his head back as his eyes drift across the ceiling and rafters looking for inspiration. Plucking out a few random notes. "No. There must be more." he concludes. Looking back to her. "There's got to be more to it than just Wishes. My magical, curly-maned angel." "Nighttime Wishes." she finally huffs with a roll of her eyes. "And if you don't mind, I'm too hungry to talk at the moment. So..." "By all means. Don't stop on my account. Please, go on and sate your appetite. While smooth Oaty sates your soul." She gives him a sideways look of discomfort before continuing to eat. With a brush of his hoof across the strings of his lute, he begins to sing a limerick. "I sing you a song of Night-wishes. She is oh so fond of sweet dishes. She may think I'm an oaf, for working my loaf, but I'll bake it in her oven with sweet kisses." He finishes with a cord. Upon hearing the last line of the song, she stops eating and stares at him. "Ah. Stunned speechless I see. I don't mean to brag, But I tend to have that effect on the fillies." he says with a grin as he plucks out a few more notes. "Has my dulcet word craft earned me a kiss from the fair blue mare?" She takes a breath to admonish him, but pauses to think her answer over carefully before voicing her offense. "E-hem. Sir? What exactly are you implying?" she asks in a careful, even tone. "I thought my intentions were clear." he answers with a grin. Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he leans forward over the table. "Life in Crown can be short. You don't want to die a virgin do you?." At that, she tightens her lips in a frown. "Come on and give me a little kiss." She answers his offered cheek by leaning forward and swinging her hoof with a slap to it. He stares wide-eyed for a few seconds before the grin returns to his face. "I see how it is." he says knowingly. Putting a hoof to his reddening cheek. "You've got a powerful bout of steam under your tail. Don't you?" Wishes's mouth hangs open, aghast at his brash accusation. He nikkers slyly as he gets to his hooves. "Well, if you feel the urge to let some off, you know where to find me." Turning, he flags his tail as he trots off. Wishes snaps her head away in angry embarrassment. Having her appetite completely ruined by Oatmeal's rude innuendo, she packs away the rest of her meal. Trotting back out into the street, she heads up the stairs towards the Jarl's Keep. Fuming all the way. Her mind, a-fluster with anger as she rambles incoherently to herself under her breath. The beauty of the flowers and plants of the garden around the pale, leafless tree going completely unnoticed as she passes. "You there! Lady!" "WHAT!" Wishes shouts at the pony in a faded blue robe who called to her. Her face a mask of rage as her horn sparks dangerously. "Ah, uh, nothing. Nevermind!" he stutters out before bolting away in terror. Immediately realizing her unwarranted snap, she calls after him. "No wait! I'm sorry. I didn't, mean, to..." But her efforts were in vain as he disappears down the street. "Oh, great job Wishes." she admonishes herself. Plopping her rear on the stone tile paving and rubbing at her face. "You let some stupid pony get under your skin a make you act the foal." Looking over to where the pony had been standing, she sees the two statues of the brother gods, Tirek and Scorpan. With a sigh, she walks over and places a hoof upon the alter before the shrine at the base of Tirek's statue. It depicts two iron bull horns pointing skywards. Bowing her head, she prays. "Oh great lord Tirek. God of power. I ask that you grant me the strength to lead the Heralds to defeat the windigo king and his minions." She looks up at the stone centaur for a few seconds before turning and stepping over to his brother's shrine to do the same. It depicts a triangle with two circles and a diamond shape on it's face, and a circular cut out of it's top point. Placing her hoof on the alter, she prays. "Kind lord Scorpan. God of compassion. I ask you to grant me patience to forgive those who rong me." Feeling a boost to her spirit, she continues on up the winding stairs to the Keep's entrance. * * * Peatmoss, ambling slowly down the street from Rossvaskr, weaving his way through the garden where he had met Crystal Springs. 'Well, that was a bust.' he thought to himself. 'At least I got some decent armor.' He glanced back over himself. Stretching out his wings experimentally, he feels the weight along with the rattle and scrapes of the metal. It felt heavy and awkward. Definitely something he needed to get used to. Spotting a guard eyeing him warily, he gives an apologetic grin and folds his wings back up and trots on down the stairs back towards the market. Business it seems to have picked up as a new crowd of colts and stallions have flooded in 'fresh' from the fields. Peat is forced to jump aside as a herd of foals stampede up the stairs. Laughing and shouting as they carry on playing. Oblivious to any adults in their path. After they pass, he feels his stomach give a hungry grumble. So he heads towards the tavern, drawn by the smell of the cooking fires. Perhaps sencing his hunger, the shop keeper of a meat stand calls out to him. Boasting the freshness of his stock and holding out a fish by the tail. Forcing a polite grin on his face, Peatmoss shakes his head as he passes on. The memory of the soup he had gotten from Garard's sister coming to mind. Entering the Prancing Mare, he finds it bustling with patrons. Laughing and talking to one-another about their day over drinks and snacks. Weaving his way carefully to the bar, he orders a grilled vegetable combo with extra grain on the side, and a Mead called Blackberry's reserve. It's a stiff, dry drink, with not nearly enough sweetness for his taste. After quickly chowing down his meal, he casually sips on his drink as his eyes wonder around the room. He spots on the wall, close to the front door, a message board filled with various notes and announcements. He is about to look away when one catches his eye. A hoof written paper with crooked letters and bad spelling. BOUNTY 200 cr. Pegasus for Merdr. Brown coat, Green mane. See Mr Evergreen, Blacksmith. Riverdale. Quickly and as casually as he can, he trots over. Looking around to check if anypony is watching him, he swipes it off the board and hastily stuffs it down the collar of his armor. Finding an open seat at one of the tables against the wall, he sits down as he recognizes the colt across the table. The same colt who had greeted him earlier that morning on the edge of the market. "Well hello." greets the colt with a neighborly smile. "I see you survived the Jarl's Court alright. Unless you broke out of prison. Heh!" Peatmoss just chuckles nervously. Not sure how serious he was being. The bounty note tucked in his armor feeling hot against his chest. "Yeah. I just explained everything to him, and he let me off with a warning." "I can see that. Did you get a chance to tell him your crazy story?" "Yeah." answers Peat as he rummages around in his pack and pulls out the silver broach. "He actually gave me this pin for it." "Ah! A commendation from the Jarl!" the colt said in approval as Peat pinned it too the chest of his new armor. "I had a feeling that Wheatsheaf was exaggerating. He's one of those ponies who spend too much time in the dirt to know how to treat normal ponies. Cheers!" he finishes. Raising his mug in salute. "I can't argue with that." replies Peat as he raises his stoneware bottle to meet the colt's mug before taking a swig. "Yes. Once you've been around Gallops for a few years, you'll get to know who's who. My name's Surehoof Warhorse. My family is one of the two largest families in Gallops Hold. The other being the Snowmanes. There's something of a feud going on between us, but it's not something I've any interest in." "Pleased to meet you. I'm Peatmoss. I'm new to Crown like I said." "Welcome. I'm a general laborer. I've been helping with building the new grain silos until recently. We've run short on timber, so work is slow untill we get another shipment from Riverdale. What do you do?" "Hum. Well, on my way from Squirestone, I've done a few odd jobs along the way to the city. Yesterday afternoon I helped Burnished Bronze at her forge. Came up to audition at Rossvaskr today for a job there, but they're not to welcoming at the moment. Was hoping they would have a place I could sleep for the night. Burnished Bronze offered to put me up, but she's got some personal trouble she's dealing with. And I don't want to intrude." "You can always rent a mat in here for cheap. If you're not picky about communal sleeping. Now and again you may fall asleep by somepony who likes to snuggle, but generally you won't be bothered unless somepony is a loud snorer. But if you got the gold, you can get a private room with a nice bed." Peatmoss nods as he takes another sip, feeling a goofy kind of feeling coming over him as he watches the Bard Oatmeal prancing around the hall. Strumming away at his lute and singing a song about some stallion getting his head chopped off by a warrior mare. When his song comes to an end, he plops down on a bench beside a blue and white mare sitting at the fireside. It takes him a few seconds to remember her. Spring Dew, the mare from the vegetable stand he talked with earlier that day. Upon noticing Oatmeal's intrusion, she gives him a sideways frown before returning to her drink. Ignoring him as he inches closer to her. "There he goes again." says Surehoof with a sigh as he watches Oatmeal's antics along with Peat. "He's had his eye on Spring Dew ever since her late husband died two winters ago. But he can't seem to take no for an answer." No matter how far she tries to slide away from him, Oatmeal scooches closer. Leaning towards her making kissy faces as he does. "Why doesn't anypony do something about him?" asks Peat. "Aw, he's not doing any real harm. Sure he's being a creepy nuisance. But he's not breaking any rules. Besides, I think Miss Dew can hoof him if he tries anything." Peatmoss tries to go back to enjoying the atmosphere of murmuring conversation, but when he looks back at the two, he sees Oatmeal putting his forleg around her. She tries to push him away, her expression only of loathing at his touch. With that, Peatmoss is driven to action. Finishing off his cup in one swig, he gets up and marches strait over in mead-fueled boldness. He taps Oatmeal none too gently on his shoulder with a hoof to get his attention. "What!" Oatmeal snaps as he turns to Peat and glares. "What do you want skyskeever?" "She's not interested. Can't you see?" "Like a wind-drifter like you knows anything about courtship. All the mares want some Oatmeal. Spring Dew here and I have known each-other all our lives and I don't want her to miss out on a good opportunity. She's just got a case of cold hooves right now." "Buck you!" retorts Spring Dew as she takes the opportunity of Oat's temporary distraction to squirm out from under his forehoof. "Like my late husband's farm doesn't have anything to do with it. I've already got two foals to look after. I don't need a third. And Like I told you before." she goes on with a haughty look. "If you're set on marrying me, you're going to have to drop the lute and learn to play the hoe. You do-nothing layabout." she finishes in a low grumble into her mug as she takes a drink. "Aw. You don't mean that." he says as he puts his leg over her withers again. "The Prancing Mare needs her Bard. What would she be without her music?" "No problem." says Peat. With boldness born of the Mead in his belly, he hooks Oat's lute and plucks it from his hoof. "I could fill in till they find a new one." He brushes his hoof across the strings to strum a dull cord. "Hey! Give that back you thief!" At Oatmeal's shout, many of the patrons around the room turn their attention on Peat, and he freezes up. A moment of clarity coming back at realization of what he had just done. "Give me back my Matilda before you scratch her! Or I'm calling the Guard!" he shouts. Springing off the bench. The tavern falls silent as more ponies turn toward the commotion. "What's the matter, Smooth Oaty?" asks Spring with a smug look after a few seconds. Saving Peat. "You afraid he'll be better then you?" "N-no!" he stammers in annoyance. His face reddening with anger. "That's my lute. I'm the Bard. And he stole it!" "Come on Oatmeal. He's just borrowing it for a few minutes. Let him give it a try. I'm sure he can't be that much worse then you." "That's not the point." he starts to rebut, but Spring cuts him off. "You need to take a break, and we could get a chance to hear something new?" She looks around at the crowd for confirmation. Many nodding or raising their cups. "Go on Peatmoss. Sing us a song from Equestria." Thinking quickly, a Sea shanty he remembers pops into his head and he clumsily strums along as he sings out. Fear and adrenaline at messing up fueling his hooves. Whiskey is the life of mares! Whiskey, Honey! Whiskey is the life of mares! Whiskey for, me Honey-o! I'll drink Whiskey when I can! Whiskey, Honey! I'll drink Whiskey from an ole tin can! Whiskey for, me Honey-o! By the end of the second verse, others around the hall began to join in. Belting out the last familiar repeating line along with him. Whiskey gave me a broken nose! Whiskey, Honey! Whiskey made me pawn my clothes! Whiskey for, me Honey-o! Whiskey drove me around the horn! Whiskey, Honey! Twas many a month that I was gone! Whiskey for me, Honey-o! I thought I heard the old Mare say! Whiskey, Honey! I treat my crew in a decent way! Whiskey for, me Honey-o! A glass of grog for every pone! Whiskey, Honey! And a bottle for the shanty-pone! Whiskey for me, Honey-o! The patrons cheer as he finishes. Stomping their hooves and banging their mugs in appreciation. "Alright! Alright!" shouts Oatmeal as the applause subsides. "Now give it back." "Only if you accept Spring Dew's decision and leave her alone." states Peat holding up the lute. Boldness returning at his successful song. "Screw you cloud humper!" he snaps. "Then hit the road. Ground pounder." says Peat back. Sticking out his tongue at Oatmeal. Getting a round of chuckles from the other ponies. "Arg! I don't need to take that from you!" Without warning, Oatmeal springs forward and hoofs him in the face. Stumbling back in surprise at the unexpected attack, Peatmoss blinks as he becomes loosely aware of a tug at the lute. Causing him to subconsciously tighten his grip with his one hoof and focus on Oatmeal. With both his forehooves wrapped around it Oatmeal struggles to wrench it from Peat's grasp. And Peat, stunned at the pathetic attempt, just watches him for a few seconds. "Wow Oats." says Peat with a nikker. "How do you expect to properly care for a mare and foals if you're this weak?" The on-lookers laugh at the comment. Easily twisting it out of Oatmeal's grip, he holds it up out of his reach. "Well? What's it going to be? Are you going to leave Miss Dew alone or what?" "Screw you Fogstalker!" Oatmeal shouts as he lunges and headbutts Peat in the gut. Knocking him onto his back. The lute hits the floor with a clang and slides away under a nearby table. As he scrambles after it, Peatmoss grabs his hindhoof and yanks him back. Taking inspiration from Axhaft"s tussle with Buckler, he jumps on top of Oatmeal and puts him in a headlock. "Ack! leggo!" he gags. flailing his hooves un-effectively from his position beneath Peatmoss. "Not until Miss Dew gets your answer." after a few seconds of useless squirming, Oatmeal concedes with a huff of exhaustion. "Alright already! I will. Now let me go." Hulling him up, he turns him to face Spring Dew, who watches with great amusement. "Go on. Tell her you're sorry and you're not going to bother her anymore." Oatmeal murmures out a low, half-hearted apology. "What's that?" asks Spring Dew. Cocking her head and squinting. "I'm sorry for miff mumble mumble mumble." "I swear I think I hear somepony trying to talk. But they're mouth is full of Tundra cotton." she says. Looking around in fane confusion. Wiggling a hoof in her ear. The other ponies around nicker as Oatmeal scowls. "I'm Sorry for Bothering you. And will stop chasing your tail! Now, Buckin let me go!" Peat allows him to wriggle free. He picks up his lute, and stalks off in a sulk as the others jeer. Turning to go back to his seat, he finds Miss Dew has stepped up to his side. "What is your name? I don't recall if you have said it to me yet." "It's Peatmoss ma'am. And I don't think I did. Sorry." He raises his hoof to her in greeting. But to his surprise, she grabs it and thrusts it up in the air. "Cheers to Peat Moss! Hurrah!" she shouts. Causing everypony to cry "Hurrah!" back. He feels his face get hot in unease at everypony's attention. When the crowd went back to their own conversations, Spring Dew released him and she sat back down on the bench. "Tell me about yourself Peatmoss. I would like to hear about where you come from." she says as she pats the empty spot beside her. Taking the gesture to be an invitation, he awkwardly stepped over the bench and sat down beside her. Not used to fillies taking an interest in him. He begins by telling her about the place he grew up. About his family and job before he left home. Spring Dew listening with interest. "Wow. And you left all that to come here. One of the most dangerous places in the world. What were you thinking?" "Well, I already visited the islands of the tropics years ago. I didn't run into any trouble doing that, so I figured going up north wouldn't be any different." "Is that so?" she asks. cocking her head with a grin. "And how long have you been in Crown?" "A few days now. And as you probably know, it's been a rough few days." "Really? I would've thought since you have wings, it would be easy." "So did I. But flying up here is almost three times as hard compared to down south. My friend Garard said it was because of the lighter air. Something like that." He goes on to tell her about his unfortunate run-in with Balgriff and his griffins, and the numerous encounters he had coming to Gallops Hill. She bought him a Mead, in thanks for his story and offered a toast in memory of Ironbloom's passing. To which he excepted. "It sounds about what I expected if I ever put a thought to travel." Dew says as she looked into the fire. "Not that home life has been all that much better. The night's have felt colder and emptier ever since my husband's passing. "How did he die? If you don't mind me asking?" "A couple winters ago, we had a pack of wolves roaming out of the forest. One night they tried to break in to the house. My husband had me take the foals up to the loft for safety, and he held them off as long as he could. By the time they gave up the attack, he was too badly hurt for me to save. Cabbage Blossom and her husband helped me fix up the house so they couldn't get in again. And Ironbloom hunted down the beasts and made sure they never hurt another pony ever again. She was a good pony." "I'm glad to see you and your foals survived." Dew nods and smiles. "My foals, Pine and Turnips have been the reason I can get up every morning." Then Spring Dew chuckles. "That way you played with her at market was really adorable." "Glad to do it." Peat says with a smile. "Foals are always fun to play with. Their joy is always so infectious for me." "If only their father could see little Turnips and Pine now." she mused after a few minutes of staring into the fire. " He'd be so proud." As he thought about the sadness of her family's tragedy, a song surfaces from his memory, and he begins to hum the tune aloud. After a few minutes of humming the song several times, he notices Spring Dew looking at him and he stops in embarrassment. "Don't stop. It sounds lovely." she said. Looking into his eyes. Peatmoss gave a sheepish look before clearing his throat and singing the song. "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. We sing this song, to honor them, as we remember days gone by." "For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by." “For family, not here my dear, having journeyed far and wide. We raise a toast, to honour them, to remember days gone by,” "For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by." As he sang, many around begin to join their voices to the simple tune In a chorus of music. "So here's a hoof, my trusted friend. And here's your hoof in mine. We drink this cup, to remember friends, and the joys of days gone by." "For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by." "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. We drink this cup of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by." "For the sake of days gone by, my dear. For the sake of days gone by. We toast this cup, of kindness yet, as we remember days gone by." "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind. We sing this song, to honor them, as we remember days gone by." Not soon after Peatmoss had finished his song, a group of griffins sitting together at a table begin a new song. "Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown; Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree; With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee." Between them on the table is a large trophy cup like wooden bowl. Guilded in silver with four horn handles around it. One of them stands up as he sings the first verse. Holding the bowl aloft "Here's to our Jarl, and to his right ear, gods send us our master a prosperous year. As prosperous a year as e'er did we see, With our wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee." As the others sang the Chorus, he takes a drink and sets it back in the center of the table, and another takes it up to sing the next verse. "Here's to the Captain and to his right cheek Pray send us our master a good piece of beef. As good a piece of beef that may we all see. With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee." "Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown; Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree; With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee." "So here is to Gallops and to her great hold. Gods send us our master a good crop so bold. A good crop so bold that we may all see, with the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee." "Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown. Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree. With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee." "Here's to the mares, and to their bright eyes. Gods send us our mistresses good apple pies. As good apple pies as e'er did we see, With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee." "Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown. Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree. With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee." The last of the four griffins rose and lead the others in a prosession around the room as he belted out the next verse. "Come griffin, come pony, give a bowl of the best. Then hope we your soul, in heaven may rest. But if you do draw us a bowl of the small. Then down shall go server, bowl and all." "Was-sail! Was-sail! all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown; Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree; With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink with thee." As they made a circuit around the room, they offered the bowl to any who would drink. Upon tasting the drink, Peatmoss found it to be a sweet, spiced apple ale, with a light applesauce texture. After partaking in the drink he was compelled to join the prosession as it made it's way out into the cold plaza. Where they danced and sang. Raising their voices in the night. From there, the evening faded into a blur of laughter, and revelry. * * * Meanwhile, up in the Jarl's keep, Nighttime Wishes delved deeply into the chaotic piles of books and records in what she had been told was where the Court Mage's living quarters were supposed to be. Her frustration and despair built as she explored deeper and deeper into the disorderly room. Finding no respite for her questions in the papers and dusty scrolls stacked haphazardly to the ceiling. With no apparent form of organization whatsoever. Apparently the Court Mage had disappeared several weeks ago researching the very subject she was currently engaged in. And since no one knew were he had gone to, she was given leave to take his place till he could be found. She almost felt like a cave explorer, tiphoofing along narrow pathways between the stacks of literature. Imagining herself using a pickaxe to pull out volumes of compacted texts like gems from the walls. Her candlelight spell, contained in a magic lantern floating just over her head. Desperately searching for answers to the many problems she felt laying heavily on her withers. Spotting a potential source of leather bound knowledge near the bottom of one stack, she pulled on it with her magic and it came free with effort. Brushing away the dust on the cover, she cracked it open and read the title page. "Commentaries on the Hoof-an-Claw Concordent." she read aloud. 'Hm. Na. I don't think this will help.' Never the less, she flips through the pages. Failing to take notice of the sound of shifting parchment. Looking up just in time to receive a face full of toppling literature. After a few seconds of silence, Wishes burst from the new settling heap. Spitting out a scroll that had seemingly taken her mouth, that she had opened in fright, as an escape from it's plane of apocrypha. "Whoever, (cough) this Secretfire was." she said after a brief coughing at gasping fit. "Court Mage or not. He clearly had no sense of organization!" At first she had been hesitant to change anything. Thinking there might be a method to the look of madness a first glance might entail. But after that near premature entombment, she was convinced trying to navigate this deathtrap would drive her loopy. So, with a snort she shoved a clear spot open on the floor and began sorting through it peacemeal. Then maybe some god of order might be appeased and grant her a boon. Clearing a bank of shelves of trinkets and nicknaks, she sorted out the papers. Much of the surface layer was recent records of crop yields and trade imports and exports. Weather changes month by month and construction labor expenses. It was mildly diverting to see the inner workings of the Hold's infrastructure, But the issue pertaining to the Windigo's return sadly eluded her. Leaving Wishes feeling as if she was tending to a problem that any housemaid could deal with. And well beneath her skills as a aspiring Mage. After a few hours of sorting, she cleared enough space to discover some furniture, but no relevant information about the Windigos. Between coughing on dust and disturbed dirt of ages past, she cought herself glancing too her bag of alchemy supplies left laying by the door. Longing to set it up and start producing fun potions and elixirs. But she knew it was a distraction and the Windigo problem could not be cured like a simple ailment. 'Or maybe...' Wishes muses. "No." she reprimands herself. "Stay focused. Everypony is counting on you to find a solution. Don't lose sight of your goal. Master Wyvernwax chose you for this. You can't let him down." she finished with a determined tone. But with only a fleeting hope that maybe somewhere, buried in the seemingly unsurmountable heap of parchment, was an answer to the problem. Turning to look up out the window at the moon and stars in the night sky, Wishes gives an unspoken prayer to the gods for aid. But of course, no answer was given back. After another hour her eyes began to droop, and she lost the will to recharge the lantern. disappointed by her lack of progress on the subject of her search, she wearily collapses onto a cushioned bench she had managed to uncover in the mess. Wishes feels the need to cry in despair, but was too tired for even that. She stares up at the ceiling as the candlelight spell fades. Then, in the quiet of the room, the sounds of merriment outside reached her ears. Sitting up, she turns to the small window in the wall above the bench. Pushing it open, she leans on the sill and listens for some time as a chorus of voices in song drifts up from the hillside below. Though the night air has a chill to it, she feels a warmth fill her from the music and voices in harmony. And before she realizes it, she drifts into sleep.