Captain Meadow started as Honey approached at a march his tent. He had been readying a drink but quickly stashed it away and saluted stiffly. Her face had not moved, and she saluted in turn. ‘Captain Meadow,’ she said.
‘Yes, ma’am?’
‘I am very disappointed.’
‘Ma’am?’
‘You face a charge of perverting the course of justice.’
Meadow blinked. He opened his mouth and closed it. ‘I – don’t,’ he spluttered. ‘But – who’s charging me?’
‘I am,’ said Honey flatly. ‘That is, I will be unless you explain right now why you thought you could hide that, on your watch, Major Masterduke wandered into the enemy and promptly blasted three of them.’ Meadow gathered himself. He cleared his throat and stood a little straighter. ‘Do you deny it?’ added Honey. He shook his head.
‘No, ma’am. What you say is true.’
Honey glared at him. ‘Explain yourself, and leave out no detail.’
Meadow nodded and began: ‘Major Masterduke had just arrived to inspect the company’s firepower, and I wanted to give him a good impression of us.’ He paused and licked his lips. ‘Later, on the dunes, I ordered action against some thralls. They outnumbered us, and we retreated. Those ponies died –’ His brow furrowed; his voice grew more strained. ‘They died – because I wanted to look good,’ he finished, staring at the floor. ‘I was ashamed. I didn’t want to cause Major Masterduke any more trouble.’
‘So you covered for him,’ said Honey, glaring. Meadow met her eye and nodded curtly.
‘I did, ma’am.’
‘Do you have any idea how much trouble your report has caused?’ she snapped. ‘I’m here on your word, and you are a liar. What else shall I discount?’
Meadow stiffened but did not back down. ‘I did not lie, ma’am, only omitted. Everything else I reported as it happened.’
‘“Omitted”,’ repeated Honey. ‘“Only” omitted.’ She watched him closely. ‘I do not omit, Captain. My report to Colonel Tango will include this – at worst, your duplicity. At best, your incompetence.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘I said to leave out no detail. How did you find out about Major Masterduke’s escapade?’
‘Sorry, ma’am,’ continued Meadow. ‘I received the report from Private Starburst the following morning. He had joined the Major on the dunes.’
‘Tell me exactly what he told you.’
Meadow bit his lip. ‘I can’t remember exactly, ma’am, but I shall tell you as best I can. He said he had tried to stop the Major from walking out. Three Sombre Officers intercepted them. Private Starburst simulated a seizure, and the Major killed them with a single spell.’
‘He killed them?’
‘Yes, ma’am, but one survived. They left him, wounded, in a fissure.’
Honey waited, but Meadow had finished. ‘Don’t you find any of that strange?’ she prompted.
‘No, ma’am.’
‘Why not?’
‘Major Masterduke is very capable, ma’am.’
‘He’s a spellmaker, not a spellcaster,’ remarked Honey.
Meadow raised a brow and added, ‘He showed during the skirmish that he was capable with standard-issue.’
‘Three Sombre Officers with a single spell goes beyond standard-issue.’ Honey stared at Meadow. ‘Go now and bring Major Masterduke here. Tell him I must see him. Approach him normally. If he refuses, return at once and tell me.’
Meadow blinked, saluted and trotted without another word toward the mouth of the cave, to Masterduke’s tent.
Masterduke’s jaw was tightly clenched, his mouth stuck in a half-smile. His eyes flicked from target to target. Honey watched him as he and Meadow neared. Her eyes were flints. They bored into Masterduke’s on his approach. Eventually, he traded the tents, crates and rock for a look at her. Their gazes locked together like lovers’. Meadow glanced briefly at both majors, cleared his throat and looked away. ‘Major Masterduke for you, ma’am,’ he said. Honey nodded.
‘Thank you. You may leave us, Captain.’ Meadow left, and Masterduke stayed. He greeted her with neither a salute nor a word, only their long, unbroken stare. Honey kept it, motionless. Soon Masterduke’s tight smile widened.
‘Major,’ he said, nodding.
‘Are you Solitaire?’ Honey levelled at him. Masterduke shifted slightly, then grinned. He rubbed his chin.
‘I’d love to say I was, Major. Truly, I’d love to say I was. But, unfortunately, no – Solitaire? I am not he.’
Honey nodded. ‘I thought you’d say that.’ Masterduke chuckled.
‘Then why ask? No, don’t tell me. Is this what, idiomatically, we could call “clutching at straws”? Your investigation suffers, so you change tack. And how! “Am I Solitaire”. As I said, if only I were. Yes. If only.’
Honey remained unmoved. ‘Who said it was an investigation?’
‘Colonel Comet,’ said Masterduke, ‘though it’s painfully obvious. At this point, you have badgered half of the regiment.’
‘That’s an exaggeration,’ said Honey. ‘I’ve asked some ponies some questions, some of which have involved Solitaire directly.’
Masterduke shrugged as if to say, ‘So?’
‘Are you Solitaire?’ she asked again. Masterduke frowned.
‘I answered you already.’
‘Answer me again. Are you Solitaire?’
‘I don’t like playing games, Major.’
‘Are you Solitaire?’
‘No.’
‘No,’ repeated Honey.
‘No,’ said Masterduke.
‘Are you prepared to swear to that?’
‘I swear it.’
‘Are you prepared to swear to that in front of a jury?’
Masterduke snorted. He licked his teeth, stared at Honey, then smiled. ‘Of course I would be happy to swear it in front of a jury. I told you. I am not he.’
Honey nodded again. ‘I think you are a liar.’
Masterduke’s smile grew to its largest since he had travelled to the frontier. ‘Why would you think that?’ he said. ‘Why would I lie? What’s in it for me?’
‘Since you ask,’ said Major Honey. She wasn’t smiling, yet the corners of her mouth had twisted slightly. ‘I’ll tell you.
‘No one had seen, heard or spoken the name “Solitaire” until you arrived here. A skirmish that you were involved in led to a retreat, during which Captain Meadow observed uncharacteristic behaviour from its thralls – that they had stopped firing for reasons unknown. The day his report was filed, you told four ponies – Sergeant Smoothtooth, Private Ivy, Lance Corporal Sweet and Private Starburst – that not only did you see these thralls stop but that a pony, “Solitaire”, had stopped them. This was the first mention of the name, which, when we spoke, you referred to as “legendary”, yet no one recognises it outside this regiment. You lied, or you know something. There is only your word that Solitaire was present on the dunes and involved in the action. You introduced the notion that he is a secret of the spellmaking industry, which has since been deemed false. You introduced the notion that he resides in the dunes, for which there is no evidence whatsoever. There are witnesses who would swear to each count. The whole business stems from you or leads to your encounter with the thralls, for which you are the only accessible source of information. Throughout the affair, your behaviour has been questionable. You have both shown and acted with contempt for military authority and procedure and, regarding the matter of Solitaire, a serious matter, have been accused by multiple witnesses of dissembling. Additionally, you are said to have attacked three Sombre Officers with a single spell, almost certainly unregulated – killing two – after irresponsibly flouting field guidelines and needlessly risking your life and others’. This is more than enough to merit a full-scale investigation and a consequent court martial for, at the very least, conduct unbecoming the character of an officer.’
Throughout the monologue, Masterduke had snorted, smiled and shaken his head. At its end he chuckled, yet his words cut like knives. ‘I have given everything to the military,’ he said to Honey’s eyes. ‘My mind, my spells, my industry. This is war, Major, not a parade. Have I stumbled on a rule or two? Of course. Have I been a model soldier? How could I? I, an academic, a scientist? I do what I can and have done so – if I may say myself – admirably, to the best of my ability.’
‘Are you Solitaire?’ said Honey.
‘No.’
‘Are you Solitaire?’ she repeated. Masterduke’s eyes narrowed. The smile was long gone.
‘I have answered you enough,’ he breathed.
‘I will see to it that you are charged.’
‘Charged?’ sneered Masterduke. ‘With what? “Conduct unbecoming”? The words apply to one pony in three. If you wish to waste your time, who am I to deny you? Charge me! It will bring me peace of mind, at least, away from the front, where I toil to bring you the very spells Sombra has learned to fear!’
‘You smell of guilt, Major.’
Masterduke guffawed. ‘Do I, indeed!’
‘Yes.’
‘And you think my scent will convince a jury?’
‘No, I’m simply telling you.’
‘And I’m telling you,’ snapped Masterduke, ‘I am not Solitaire!’
‘I think you are.’
‘Then you’re a fool.’
‘Maybe. You are very angry.’
‘Angry?’ Masterduke snorted again. ‘Of course I’m angry!’
‘Why?’
‘Because ungrateful ponies grate on me,’ he hissed. ‘Because I have wasted my time and energy, and you want to steal more of it.’
‘No,’ said Honey. ‘I want the truth.’
‘Then take it! Take it and go!’ Masterduke turned and made to depart.
‘Are you Solitaire?’ came Honey’s voice once more, flat and steady. Masterduke span around, glared at her one last time and left, eyelid twitching. Honey watched him. ‘On the stand you’d pass,’ she muttered. ‘This calls for something else.’
Colonel Tango’s office was as she had left it. The schooner swam on a pencil sea. The green cabinet stood on the grey carpet. The Colonel himself was scowling at her through steepled hooves. After her encounter with Masterduke, Honey had returned immediately to headquarters. There she’d had several details confirmed. Colonel Spruce did not receive written reports from the spellmaker and had displayed confusion at the idea of his friend’s being mixed up in a military investigation. No spells capable of simultaneously putting down three ponies had been declared by R&D or approved by military standards. Further additional inquiry into ‘Solitaire’ had unearthed no new information, so Major Masterduke remained the sole primary source. She had explained all this to Colonel Tango. Then she said she had confronted him and, effectively, threatened him with a court martial.
‘Where do you get the gall to adopt the role of prosecutor?’ he snarled at her. ‘Your task was to get in there and discover what happened to the helmets! Not only have you failed to find anything solid, you have accused to his face a pony invaluable to the war effort of intention to pervert the course of justice!’
‘I did not, sir. I simply told him the facts, my suspicions and that I believe he is due a trial.’
‘Oh, you believe it, do you? Don’t you dare presume to suggest ever again the course of action my office will take!’
‘Sir, with respect, it is of great importance to the investigation.’
‘Is it, indeed! Look at me before we continue. From this moment on, you will not exceed your orders. I’ll hear you say it, Major!’
‘From this moment on, I will not exceed my orders.’
‘You shock me to the end! Now, about Masterduke – as it happens, I agree. Likely, he will face charges put forth by the legal corps. That is not my concern, nor is it yours. I want to know who stopped the thralls and how.’
‘I think he did.’
‘You “think”,’ scoffed Colonel Tango.
‘I do.’
‘Where is your evidence?’
‘I have witnesses who would confirm that Masterduke precipitated Solitaire after the skirmish.’
‘I don’t care who “precipitated” Solitaire! Who is he?’
‘I am convinced it is Major Masterduke.’
‘Convinced! You astound me!’ Colonel Tango thumped his desk with a hoof and shook his head vigorously. ‘I send you on your reputation for rigour, your skills in gathering evidence, and you come back to me with this!’
‘Feelings are evidence too, sir,’ said Honey.
‘Feelings! Am I going mad here? Pray tell! How have you concluded that Major Masterduke is Solitaire?’
‘At the very least, sir, I have found that he is the source of the rumours and, barring the thralls themselves, the sole witness of the event in question. For these reasons alone, he merits further investigation.’
‘How have you concluded that he is Solitaire?’ repeated Tango.
‘He is a deeply unpleasant pony,’ said Honey. ‘He is a liar. He dissembles constantly. He is an egotist so cares only for himself. Each word he has spoken to me drips with deceit. He is the source of Solitaire, yet he denies it. He was perfectly placed to give a detailed account of the event, yet he withholds it and filibusters relentlessly. His manner suggests concealed megalomania, disregard for ponies’ welfare and, most of all, the will and ability to perpetuate a character through which to glorify himself with none of the personal risk.’
Colonel Tango sighed, closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. ‘Sir,’ said Honey. He held up a hoof. ‘Sir,’ she pressed. ‘It is evidence of a lesser sort, I know, which is why I want to return at once to gather the other kind – hard evidence in the form of a confession.’ Colonel Tango snorted.
‘Confession!’ he spluttered, smiling and shaking his head. His smile fell at the sight of Honey’s face, taught and fervent. ‘What in Celestia’s name makes you think he’ll give you one?’
‘He is a coward,’ said Honey simply. ‘He can be successfully intimidated.’
Colonel Tango’s eyes narrowed. He glared at her. She met his gaze. He steepled his hooves again. ‘You really are certain. This could end in tears, but the fact is you’re right about one thing: Masterduke is the only lead we have. I doubt much good will come of it, yet the possibility alone is worth the effort. We must be sure.’ He sighed. ‘You want to “intimidate” him.’
‘I do, sir.’
‘And what did you have in mind?’
‘First, sir, I will require a prop.’
‘A prop?’
‘An order for his arrest – valid, signed by you – on suspicion of failure to disclose information vital to the welfare of personnel,’ she said, ‘or any such charge.’ Tango’s frown deepened. ‘Then,’ she continued, ‘I require an independent squad of soldiers to make the arrest.’
‘You want command of a squad?’
‘Temporary command, sir. It’s window dressing, a show of force to unnerve him.’
‘Don’t push your luck, Major. The order, maybe, but soldiers –’
‘Sir, it must appear crystal clear that I have been authorised to bring him to justice.’
Tango sighed deeply. ‘A warrant and a squad with which to arrest him. Anything else?’
‘Yes. Captain Meadow should face a charge of per—’ She stopped herself. She waited. After a minute, with a long sigh, Colonel Tango pulled toward himself a stack of embossed sheets and wrote down the orders. He signed each with a flourish.
‘You will know by the end of this,’ he told her, ‘exactly how much or how little Major Masterduke knows about mind-control magic. You understand?’
‘Yes, sir. I understand.’
‘Dismissed.’
But Honey did not leave. ‘Actually, sir, there is one more thing.’
‘Don’t you think you’re pushing this?’ growled Tango.
‘I need a pardon for him too. Something that looks like it, at least.’
‘No.’
‘Sir!’
‘No!’
‘Sir, we must have something to show him, a reward, a light at the end of the tunnel – something to make him feel safe, immune.’ Her voice had risen higher; she had spoken quickly, imploringly. Tango’s next sigh came with a nod and another signature. Major Honey stood and saluted. ‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Get to it,’ said Tango.
‘Right away, sir.’ Smiling freely, Honey saluted again and left, the papers clutched safely in her mouth.