//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: At the gates // Story: Sword and Sorcery // by CCC //------------------------------// City of Cimmura, southern gate Heavy clouds moved in, and a light drizzle began to fall as the delegation approached the city gates. “I don't think much of your weather team.” said Dash. “Or possibly, they don't think much of us, I'm not sure which.” “Weather team?” asked Sparhawk. “Yeah, the guys who started the drizzle.” She edged a bit closer to Twilight, who was creating a small forcefield as an umbrella. “Nobody started it.” said Sparhawk. “Rain just happens when it does.” His horse, Faran, ignored the entire conversation and only stopped on reaching the gate. “Ah, Prince Sparhawk!” said the gatekeeper with a smile. “Back again, I see?” “That's rather dangerous, isn't it?” asked Aphrael. “Messing around with the weather, I mean. It tends to have knock-on effects on weather in other places.” “Yes, I've got some guests to meet my wife.” said Sparhawk, nodding at the four ponies and the dragon. “Could you send a messenger ahead to let her know that they're... well...” “There's pegasi in the other places, too.” said Dash, shrugging. “We've got schedules and stuff. Quotas to meet. I could clear out this drizzle in ten seconds flat if you like.” “You're a prince?” asked Pinkie. Both conversations halted immediately as a lot of mystified eyes turned to Pinkie. “...what?” asked Twilight. “Oh, he's a prince, apparently.” said Pinkie, pointing one hoof at Sparhawk. “I was trying to talk in purple, but it came out a bit too pink.” “Talk in purple?” asked Aphrael. “Yeah, like you and your friends do.” said Pinkie. “You talk in purple to each other.” There was a brief moment of silence as several of the Elenians tried to understand Pinkie. “Words... don't have colour.” said Aphrael, after a bit. “Of course they do!” said Pinkie. “I'll get the shade right in a bit, I'm sure.” Sparhawk turned back to the gate guard and said, in a low voice, “That messenger, neighbour? Four of our guests are ponies, and one is apparently a miniature dragon. I'm sure my wife would appreciate a warning.” “Are you sure it'll be safe?” asked the gate guard. “If I wasn't,” said Sparhawk, firmly, “I wouldn't be bringing them anywhere near my wife.” * * * City of Cimmura, northern gate The Great and Powerful Trixie was in a powerfully bad mood by the time she reached the city gates. A brewer's wagon left the gate as she approached – pulled by oxen and loaded with beer barrels – and she resolved to try once again to make a good impression. She called out a cheery greeting to the oxen, who ignored her and plodded on regardless – the creature riding the wagon(1) groaned and rubbed at his head, but otherwise ignored her. ...well, it was an improvement on running away, at least. Trixie marched up to the gate, which most people leaving seemed to pass through without being stopped; but as she approached, a guard stepped forward and levelled a pike(2) at her. “Talor?” he asked, without taking his eyes off Trixie. “Do you see the same thing as I see?” “Um... maybe?” replied the other guard, eyeing Trixie warily. “Hello!” said Trixie, careful to make no sudden movements in the presence of weaponry (but at the same time, another form of caution had her looking for escape routes and preparing a smoke cloud spell). “I don't seem to speak your language, does anyone here speak Equestrian?” “A... small blue horse that sounds almost like it's talking?” said the first guard, hesitantly. “Yes, I see the same thing.” said the second guard, slightly relieved. “What on earth are we supposed to do about it?” Trixie looked hopefully at the two guards. The guards looked back at her. “Send word to the palace?” suggested the first guard. “And tell them what?” asked the second. “If we tell them we saw a bright blue unicorn out here we'll get in trouble for drinking on duty.” “We could bring it with us...” tried the first guard. “Are you crazy?” said the second. “Then we'll get in trouble for letting a potentially dangerous creature into the city!” “Then what can we do?” asked the first guard. “I think we should just chase it away and then forget about it.” suggested the second. (1) The brewer's assistant, who had imbibed a little too much of his master's product the previous evening and was thus less surprised than he might have been to see a bright blue unicorn. (2) The weapon, not the fish.