//------------------------------// // In Which First Impressions Are Made // Story: Stormsinger // by Airstream //------------------------------// The parlor of the house was used rather infrequently, due to the lack of visitors most guests received. Legal counsel was usually taken in an upstairs office, and most ponies unfortunate enough to be detained in the house were considered to be dangerous enough that not many volunteered their time to be alone in the same room with them. That being said, the household staff kept it just as conspicuously clean and ready for use as the rest of the house, if not more so. After all, most guests in any proper House were entertained in the parlor first, and impressions were everything. All of this was lost on Cobblestone, who was currently in the middle of a rather tense silence with the Lady across the table from her, who was smiling pleasantly as she sipped from a cup of tea. Thankfully, conversation was being forestalled by Charity, who was busying herself with the last pieces of lunch and their arrangement on the table, along with the tea set that she had seemingly produced from nowhere and apropos of nothing, as if it had been pulled from her apron, or perhaps the skirts of her dress. This brief reprieve was not to last, however. “That seems to be the last of that,” Charity said brightly, “Is there anything else I can get for you, Lady Hedera?” Lady Hedera smiled indulgently. “No, thank you, Charity. You’ve done admirably.” Charity beamed at this faint praise before turning to Cobblestone. “And you, Miss Cobblestone?” Cobblestone shook her head mutely, her hoof clamped around the teacup to stop the delicate china from rattling. She swallowed. “No, thank you, Charity,” she managed to get out. The Pegasus bowed her head respectfully. “I’ll leave you two alone, then,” she said. “The bell by the sideboard is there if you need anything, ring and I’ll come quickly.” “Thank you, Charity,” Lady Hedera said lightly, “But I think we’ll be just fine. You may go.” The young mare said not a word more, backing out of the parlor and sliding the door shut behind her, leaving the two visitors alone in the room together. Cobblestone maintained her silence, choosing only to sip at her tea as she had seen Lady Hedera do a moment ago. Nervously, she felt herself wishing for Hob by her side, if only as a means of distraction from the mare who was calmly regarding her from across the small table in a manner that reminded her unpleasantly of her old employer. “So,” Lady Hedera began, “Cobblestone. How have you been? Comfortable, I hope?” “I’ve no complaints, Lady Hedera,” Cobblestone said. “Aside from being confined, that is.” The older mare nodded understandingly before gesturing to the table. “Please, take some food. You have to be bored silly of the same thing every day. It’s all fresh, from the sandwiches to the fruit.” Cobblestone thought fast. What was safe and what was not? She seized upon a solution. “I wouldn’t presume to eat without your company, Milady. Or before you had begun your meal.” Lady Hedera smiled at her, seemingly pleased. “So polite! Though you’re being awfully formal with me. I’ve brought the food for you, dear, so you needn’t worry about offending me. Go ahead, take what you want!” Cobblestone bowed her head as she had seen Charity do, hoping to borrow some of the Pegasus’s demure nature. “I insist, ma’am. After you.” The Lady’s smile slipped a notch before reasserting itself, so quickly that it might not have happened at all. “You’re being awfully cautious, Cobblestone. Is something worrying you?” “No, Lady Hedera,” Cobblestone said, “Just trying to be polite.” “You don’t trust me?” Lady Hedera asked her. She chuckled upon seeing Cobblestone’s expression of alarm. “Oh, you don’t! Well, we shall simply have to fix that! I have a solution, if you’re willing to listen.” Cobblestone said nothing, merely choosing to nod her head as she fought back a blush that was inexplicably asserting itself across her face. Once again, Lady Hedera gestured to the food in front of her. “Pick what you want from what’s available. I’ll do the same, and take a bite of each to show you that nothing’s wrong with the food. Will that satisfy you?” The burn across Cobblestone’s face intensified as she nodded, ceding defeat. “Yes, Lady Hedera.” She mechanically began to pull food onto the plate in front of her, ending up with two half-sandwiches, a small bunch of grapes, and a sliced peach, a delicacy she hadn’t had since two summers ago. As she watched, Lady Hedera selected two more sandwiches, along with grapes, a peach, and a small puff pastry. Cobblestone watched as she took a small, precise bite of each, chewing quietly and thoroughly before setting each item of food back down. She took a small sip of tea to wash it down before raising a napkin to her lips and dabbing delicately. Thus refreshed, she turned to Cobblestone. “Will that satisfy you, dear?” she asked, her voice full of humor and good cheer, her eyes sparkling. The young thief nodded. “I suppose,” she replied. “Then dig in. I insist!” Lady Hedera said. Cobblestone did as she was asked, raising the peach to her lips before taking a small nibble of the fruit. Her eyes widened. It was delicious. Suddenly her stomach roared with hunger, and it was all she could do not to shove the rest of the thing in her mouth all at once. With an enormous effort, she set the fruit back down, wiping her lips with the napkin by her side. “It’s very good,” she said quietly. “Thank you.” “Of course,” Lady Hedera said, “And you’re quite welcome.” They sat in somewhat more companionable silence after that, lost as they were in the truly excellent food in front of them. Cobblestone had never tasted such fare in her life, such luxuries as white bread and fresh fruit being rarities at best in her previous line of work. It took a titanic amount of will not to exclaim with pleasure as she tried each piece of food on her plate, keeping her face as neutral as she could under the circumstances. At last, the meal was finished, and both ponies set their plates to the side as they concluded their lunch. “How was it?” Lady Hedera asked. “Would you like more?” Cobblestone fervently wished for more, but forced herself to shake her head. “No,” she said levelly, “Thank you.” The blatant lie wasn’t lost on Lady Hedera, but she let it go, the very picture of magnanimity. She picked up her tea, sipping at it once more. “So, Cobblestone,” she inquired sweetly, “Why are you here?” Cobblestone was nonplussed. “Ma’am? I thought you knew.” Lady Hedera shook her head. “Not at all, dear. I routinely make stops like this, it’s fairly well known. I take it you’re not from our fair city of Starfall?” “No, Lady Hedera,” Cobblestone said, “I’m from Crescent City.” The Earth pony noble nodded her head thoughtfully. “I thought it might be from somewhere near there,” she said, “You’ve a bit of an accent. Not that that’s bad, of course!” she said, seeing the look on Cobblestone’s face, “I simply mean to say it’s noticeable. Quite charming, actually.” Again, Cobblestone felt herself blushing like a filly. What was wrong with her? She never blushed! Lady Hedera continued speaking. “I tour minor’s prisons and houses like this looking for ponies who would be suited for work in a noble house in the position of a servant. I know many young ponies who turn to a life of crime do so because they have no other recourse, and many of the ponies that are ‘trained’ in the prisons or rehabilitation centers have difficulty finding work elsewhere. So, I find those who seem amenable to the idea of working in a noble house and offer them training and an indentured contract.” She took a sip of tea, draining her cup before continuing. “Now , there are certain ponies who would rather not take the contract, and others who would like to but don’t possess the necessary qualities for work, or have a history of violence or antisocial behavior, and so on. Much as I would like to help them, I lack the resources to address their needs, and so I instead help them by setting up boardinghouses for freshly released prisoners and other services. Those who do meet my criteria, however, are trained in my House and often find work with many other Houses for the remainder of their contracts, and sometimes beyond.” Cobblestone frowned. “You don’t keep them on as your own servants?” “No,” Lady Hedera said, “Not many. Most go to other houses, including the Regia. Many choose to stay on as paid servants after their contract expires, and by all accounts everypony is happy with the arrangement when they do.” “Forgive me for saying this,” Cobblestone said, “But why are you doing this? What profit do you turn from it?” The Lady smiled. “You’re rather cynical for one so young,” she said, “But you’re right. I do make a profit. As most of my servants are indentured, I have little in the way of expenses when it comes to salary. Most contracts stipulate a small payment for services, and I stick to the lowest denominator after paying for bed, board, and upkeep. It seems fair, seeing as my House also pays for training and the exclusive right to visit these ponies and forge contracts with them. I also make a fair amount when I sell off the contracts of those ponies.” “But how long is a contract?” Cobblestone asked. “Usually around ten years plus the time necessary for their incarceration,” Lady Hedera said. “My training lasts for about three of those years, and it’s fairly intensive. I’m nowhere near as pleasant to those I train as I am being to you.” “Why is that?” “To prepare them for a master or mistress that may be stricter than others. Some Houses, especially the older ones, still use corporeal punishment to discipline failure,” Lady Hedera said. “It’s for their own good.” Cobblestone’s brow furrowed. “And you’ve come here to see if I’m the kind of pony who would be suited for that kind of work?” Lady Hedera nodded. “You’d need to be the crème de la crème. Not just another Jane Doe, as it were. And I must say that I am rather impressed with you so far. You’ve exhibited poise, politeness, and a singular amount of courage. In fact, were you not currently incarcerated here, I would have pegged you as simply another commoner, albeit a well-behaved one. This brings me to the original question about why you’re here.” Cobblestone felt an irrational surge of pride at being complemented by the pony in front of her, coupled with an intense desire to impress her. She halted the deluge of words that were about to spill from her mouth, instead attempting to see what it was her conversational partner was looking for. Hob’s words echoed in her ears. This pony was not to be trusted, despite all of the kindness she showed. When did I start listening to Hob? Cobblestone wondered. “I’m not really sure it’s my place to say,” Cobblestone demurred, using her best vocabulary in retaliation, “The circumstances surrounding my arrest were a bit delicate.” The noblemare smiled encouragingly. “It’s alright, dear. I understand if you don’t want to incriminate yourself, that’s a very wise move. I simply wish to know why you’re here, what you were arrested for. The particulars can stay with you.” Cobblestone thought long and hard about how to phrase what came next. She didn’t want to volunteer any more information than she needed to, but holding too much back could prove just as bad in the long run, serving to pique Lady Hedera’s interest and leading to more personal questions. “I was arrested for theft,” Cobblestone said, “I broke into the inn where Lady Serale was staying and attempted to rob her. I’m being held here while awaiting a trial by Lady Everstar. It was bad luck on her part and mine, I didn’t know she was royalty and I was caught pretty easily.” Lady Hedera’s eyes widened. “You attempted to rob Lady Serale? I’m surprised she didn’t fry you on the spot.” “What do you mean by that?” Cobblestone asked. Lady Hedera leaned in close. “You mustn’t think me a gossip,” she said, “But Lady Serale has a reputation for being…less than social at the best of times. She doesn’t appear in Court often, but she has a reputation for being quick to anger.” “I wouldn’t know about that,” Cobblestone lied, “It was Magus Libra who ended up detaining me. I was brought upriver with their guard, and only ever spoke with Lady Serale a few times.” “I can see the Magus took a personal interest in you,” Lady Hedera said. “You must have given her some trouble!” Again Cobblestone was perplexed. “How can you tell?” she asked. “Your pendant, dear,” Lady Hedera said, “As somepony intimately familiar with the penal system, I’ve come to recognize a restraint pendant when I see it. High grade, too. You’ve got a gift, it would seem. Have you had any formal training?” Cobblestone shook her head. “No. I grew up on the streets, I never had any education.” Lady Hedera nodded thoughtfully. “Well, I can certainly understand that. Did Magus Libra speak to you about it?” “Yes. She said if I showed signs of reformation, she would see if she could find somepony for me to apprentice under,” Cobblestone said. “I’m not sure how to feel about that, to be honest. I never considered the possibility of becoming a mage.” “Well, the training is difficult, and oftentimes you’d be competing with other apprentices for favor,” Lady Hedera said. “There are a number of ponies who don’t make it through an apprenticeship at all. But the knowledge is valuable, to be sure. I certainly hope you become a mage, dear. You strike me as a pony that knows the value of power.” Cobblestone frowned. “I’d have thought you’d want me to try and become a servant.” Lady Hedera gave the barest of shrugs. “A servant’s life isn’t incredibly exciting compared to that of a mage, my dear. But yes, if it turns out that you are unable to become a mage, whether it is because you lack a teacher or cannot complete your apprenticeship, I would very much like to have you as a student of mine. Despite your…rough edges, I think you’d make a fine servant. I like you, Cobblestone.” Again, Cobblestone flushed at the praise. She bowed her head almost unconsciously. “Thank you, ma’am.” The clock on the wall chimed, and Lady Hedera looked at it in surprise. “Goodness, two o’clock already? Time flies when you’re having fun, I suppose. I hope you’ll forgive me, Cobblestone, I have some ponies to meet in an hour.” Cobblestone blinked, looking at the clock. She could have sworn it was noon when they had begun talking. Lady Hedera rung the bell, and a moment later, Charity’s head appeared in the door. “You called, Milady?” “Yes,” Lady Hedera replied, “I’m afraid I have to return home, Charity. Would you be so good as to walk me out?” “Of course, Lady Hedera,” Charity replied, “It would be my pleasure.” Lady Hedera rose from her chair, extending a hoof towards Cobblestone. “It was a joy speaking with you, Cobblestone,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I sincerely hope to speak with you again. Best of luck in your upcoming trial!” Cobblestone shook her head dazedly, standing and taking Lady Hedera’s hoof in her own. “The pleasure was mine, Lady Hedera,” she replied. “Thank you for taking time out of your day to visit me.” “I’ll leave the rest of the lunch with you,” Lady Hedera said, “And I’ll send somepony by to pick up the basket in the next few days. Please, enjoy the food. I know how meals here can get a bit boring.” Cobblestone said nothing, choosing merely to bow her head as Charity and Lady Hedera left the room, the door to the parlor sliding shut behind them. A sinking feeling made its home in her chest. She’d lost at least an hour of time, and hadn’t the slightest clue as to where it had gone, or where it had been taken from. And why had she been grinning like a vapid idiot anytime Lady Hedera said anything remotely nice about her? She had been too easily put at ease by a few kind words and a basket of fruit and bread. That could have gone better, Hob said as he leapt onto the couch behind her. She had you wrapped around her hoof from the moment you touched the tea. “I checked the tea,” Cobblestone said quietly. It wouldn’t do to have Lady Hedera or Charity hear her talking to a cat. The sugar bowl and the cream as well? Hob inquired. Cobblestone’s heart skipped a beat. She’d taken her tea with sugar, and a healthy bit of it at that. Lady Hedera had taken hers plain. I suppose it wouldn’t have mattered, Hob said. She got what she came here for without any help from the sugar. “Like what?” Cobblestone murmured. She knows you know the Lady Serale. That and where you’re from, and what your plans are for the future. And admit it, you were a little bit charmed by her attitude. “She’s a charming pony,” Cobblestone replied. “Were you here the whole time?” Hob’s tail twitched irritably. Of course not. I came in when the maid opened the parlor doors. I was listening from the stairs though, under the pretext of a nap. “Just the pretext of a nap. Sure.” Impudent child, Hob said. Were I not bound to protect thee, I would filet you and crunch on your bones. “Bold words for a small cat,” Cobblestone said. Hob glared at her reproachfully. Surely you cannot be so dense as to think me a simple housecat. Cobblestone grinned. “Of course not. I think of you as an annoying housecat.” Hob’s ears flattened in exasperation. You are incorrigible. Regardless, I would be on guard from here to the point of the trial. Lady Hedera will surely have you watched. “How?” Cobblestone asked. “I’m behind guards and walls and a dozen different enchantments I’m sure nopony told me about.” Fifteen, actually. Some of them quite nasty. Hob said, curling up beside her. Besides, she has no need to bypass these walls. Her eyes and ears are already inside. One of them served you tea. Sir Vino Hedera, Eldest of the House, fourth in his line to bear the title, and most recent of Sir Ironhide’s squires, was late. Not incredibly late, he had been told to report to the Commandant-In-Chief’s office by three o’clock, but the fact remained that it was approaching three fifteen, and he was still late, a crime that could be seen as rude in the circles of the nobility, but a transgression that bordered on the unforgiveable among those ponies who chose a martial lifestyle. It was because of his inexcusable lateness that he was beginning to panic, though he knew where he was supposed to go and who to speak to once he arrived in the Regia. The well-built Earth pony hadn’t quite broken into a panicked gallop yet, but his trot was a good deal quicker than it needed to be, and the fact that the floors here were polished to a reflective sheen only exacerbated the wide corners he was taking at an unhealthy speed. Already he had nearly collided with several aides, an unfortunate private who was mopping the floors, and a suit of antique armor. Contributing to his high speed was the hefty pack on his back, spattered with mud and wobbling menacingly whenever he made a sharp turn. Rounding yet another corner, he took the second staircase he came to at a healthy clip, mounting the stairs two at a time and praying that the Commandant hadn’t left yet. Reaching the top of the stairs, he made a right turn, noticing that the click of his hooves on the stone floors had been replaced by the muffled thud of hoofsteps on carpet. It was then that he knew he was close to his destination, and sure enough, there at the end of the hallway was a simple wooden door with a pane of frosted glass set in the window, with words etched in the bottom. Captain Roughshod, Commandant-in-Chief, Court Guard. Taking a deep breath, Vino composed himself, wiping the sweat from his brow and straightening the pack on his back before raising his hoof and knocking three times at the door. “Enter!” a rich, low voice called, and Vino did as instructed, pushing the door open and stepping inside the Commandant’s office. The office was well-appointed and excruciatingly clean, the wooden shelves that covered the walls shining with polish and adorned with various citations for bravery and merit as well as old weapons, pictures of long-disappeared regiments, and a bafflingly large array of awards from at least a dozen different military orders across the Kingdom. The floor was wood, covered only partially by a large carpet covered in various constellations and depictions of warriors and battles long since passed. Two chairs sat in front of an imposing wooden desk, claw-footed and engraved with the seal of the Kingdom. Behind the desk were two flags, the flag of the Court Guard, and Lady Everstar’s personal banner. These only served to accentuate, rather than distract from, the stallion behind the desk. “Vino Hedera!” the uniformed stallion said with delight as he turned his chair to look at him. “It’s good to see you made it in one piece!” Captain Roughshod was every bit as incredible as the stories surrounding him claimed, Vino thought. His one green eye gleamed with cutting wit and good health, shining brightly in contrast to his spotless white coat and his close-cropped, blonde mane. The patch over his other eye was well-oiled leather, embossed with a six-pointed star that had been placed there by Lady Everstar herself. His uniform was spotless, though the top button on his jacket remained unbuttoned, lending him an air of relaxed, roguish charm. Vino stopped directly before the rug on which the chairs rested and snapped a crisp salute, which Captain Roughshod returned. “I apologize for my lateness, sir,” he said, his voice strong, “I was detained for longer than I had thought I would be at the city gates.” The Captain waved a dismissive hoof. “That’s quite alright, Sir Vino,” he said. “I’d nothing scheduled for the rest of the afternoon as it was. It’s not every day one of Old Ironhide’s squires gets assigned to my Guard.” He glanced at the pack on Vino’s back. “That looks heavy,” he said, “Set it down and take a seat. Don’t mind the mud; we’ve got cleaners for a reason.” Vino did as he was told, setting his bag down and sitting in the chair to his left. Captain Roughshod’s horn lit up, closing the door behind him and leaving the two of them alone to speak privately. “Sir Ironhide’s told me you show quite a bit of promise as a cavalier,” he began conversationally, “And if half of what he’s told me is true, I’m inclined to agree with him. First in bladed weapons, third in rifles, third in pistols, second in hoof-to-hoof, and first in field survival out of twenty students! It’s an impressive record, to be sure.” “Thank you, sir,” Vino said. The older stallion smiled and nodded. “I’m glad you got assigned here, to tell you the truth. As it turns out, we’re looking for talented new soldiers and officers right now. Rumor has it there’s going to be a need for them sooner rather than later.” Vino frowned. “How do you mean, sir?” The unicorn leaned back in his chair. “There’s been movement on the border between the Evening Kingdom and the Celestial Empire. Forces are being moved, defenses strengthened, everything points to an inevitable conclusion. I’ve received orders to begin running my ponies through exercises, and to review leadership among the regiments assigned to the Regia.” “You’re talking about war?” Vino asked. “Between us and the Celestials?” Captain Roughshod nodded. “Hopefully it can be prevented. Talks are still open between our countries, after all. But there’s always the possibility. And that’s not the only part, though it’s certainly the bigger or the two issues.” “What would the second one be, sir?” Vino asked. “Lady Everstar has seen fit to begin forming a personal Guard for her daughter,” Captain Roughshod said. “Just got the paperwork this morning. Anywhere from thirty to fifty, depending on the need. I’ve been given orders to begin sorting through ponies who would fit well into such an organization.” Vino said nothing, choosing instead to ponder the situation. A war? The last one had been nearly a hundred years ago, and the conflict had been relatively minor, according to his teacher of military history. They were still repairing the damage done between the two nations even now. If the army at its current size were to go to war with the Celestial Empire, the conflict would be larger than any seen since the Evening Rebellion. And why would the daughter of Lady Everstar require a personal Guard? She had hardly left the Regia at all before her journey last year, and even then she had only departed with the Court Mage. If she had returned, why had there suddenly been a need for a Guard of her own? Surely she would only need a ceremonial guard, if that. “Regardless of the unusual circumstances,” the Captain said, “I’m certainly glad to have you as part of the Guard. There’re several openings for low-level command positions available, most of them being instructor positions for new recruits.” Vino shook his head clear of distractions. “My apologies, sir. What were those positions, again?” The Captain smiled. “There are three. The first opening is for a quartermaster in the South Quadrant, helping to supply new recruits with their uniforms. Three days of work per week, one of which is filling out requisitions for new equipment to keep stocks up. The second is a rifle coach for the sharpshooters, a slot which you are qualified for. Six days of work, five hours per day out on the range and another hour drilling cleaning procedures with the soldiers. The last is an open duty, meaning you’d be assigned to whichever Guard unit needed an officer for certain periods of time.” He opened a drawer in his desk, withdrawing paperwork and laying it on the desk. “You could spend some time on Throne Room duty, or you’d be assigned to Nightwatch for two weeks. It’s mostly a mixed bag depending on where you’re needed. If it turns out you’re a natural at a certain type of work, I could see about having you permanently assigned there. Questions?” Vino nodded. “Which would you recommend, sir?” Captain Roughshod’s eye widened. “Well, let’s see… quartermaster probably wouldn’t make much use of your talents. If you enjoy shooting, the sharpshooter coach would be a good fit for you, though it can get repetitive. Honestly, I’d probably pick open duty. Varied work, lots of opportunities, you’d see a lot of things most ponies wouldn’t see at all.” “Then that’s the one I’ll take, sir.” Vino said. “I want to learn as much about the Guard as I can, and help wherever I’m needed.” The Captain nodded. “A good choice, Sir Vino. While assigned to the position of open duty, you would be awarded the rank of lieutenant, which puts you a good deal above most of the other junior officers, while still having you subordinate to those running the stations you’d be assigned to. I’ll have a packet sent along to your quarters with the details.” “Thank you, sir,” Vino said. “I’ll be sure to read it thoroughly.” “I hope you don’t mind,” the Captain said, “I’ve taken the liberty of giving you a few days to settle in before you’re assigned. It will give you time to familiarize yourself with some of the Regia, as well as giving you a chance to rest after your journey. Seventy miles is a healthy distance to travel in just three days, especially on hoof.” He put some of the papers back in the desk, taking the ones that remained and bundling them up in a neat pile. “I’d also recommend you apply for potential assignment to the Guard. If my suspicions are correct, then Lady Serale may do some more traveling in the near future. Not only would you be taken along with her, I’d rest better knowing somepony with your skills and disposition were assigned to help protect her from any potential harm.” Vino frowned. “I don’t follow, sir.” “I mean that if the Evening Kingdom and the Celestial Empire are truly moving towards war, I could see Lady Serale being sent on a diplomatic mission in the future. She’s been traveling before, perhaps her mother will want her sent out again to engage in peace talks. From all accounts, she’s a formidable political opponent,” Roughshod said. “And besides, it’s a grand opportunity to be part of an entirely new branch of service. Were I you, I’d jump on the opportunity to join up.” “Do you really think Lady Everstar would do that, sir?” Vino asked. “Send her daughter into a hostile nation like that? There’s certainly no love lost between Lady Everstar and Celestia.” Captain Roughshod shrugged. “I don’t know, Sir Vino. I’d imagine Lady Serale could defend herself. Be that as it may, though…I’d rather we be safe than sorry.” Charity smiled and hummed to herself as she prepared the table for the evening meal. It had been so very good to see Lady Hedera again, to show her that all of the time and effort she had put into her training was paying off. And to think that Cobblestone might have the same opportunity as well! She hoped that the young thief would make something of herself, really she did. She eyed the vial on the top shelf, and the clear liquid inside. Her smile slipped few notches, and she felt the smallest pangs of regret at what that vial meant. Perhaps Cobblestone wasn’t the bright young mare she had thought her to be. At least, that was what Lady Hedera claimed, and as she had learned over and over in the past, Lady Hedera always knew best. Her instructions were very clear. If Lady Serale were to visit, she was to smile and do her best to serve them both in any way necessary to ensure their comfort. After the Lady had left, she was to slip the contents of the vial into Cobblestone’s meal. It was odorless, tasteless, and dissolved quickly without a trace in any food or drink, provided she mixed it well. It was unfortunate, Charity thought, that Cobblestone was deemed so dangerous as to warrant her own death. But the young Pegasus took comfort in the fact that the poison wouldn’t activate until Cobblestone was asleep, and her death would be quite painless. To anypony else, it would appear like she had simply died of complications brought on by her lack of health. The clock by the stove chimed, reminding Charity to set the water to boil for the evening’s potatoes. She turned the burner on, watching the flame spring to life before she turned back to her potatoes. She hummed a calming song to herself as she peeled, taking pleasure in the simple task. It all came down to the little things, she thought. The little things really did make life much easier.