//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14 
// Story: YogLabs: Quest for the Golden Horseshoe 
// by Prisoner 24601 
//------------------------------//

	Archaenon and Sjin walked towards the mountain. The human had to admit, it was a little unsettling being led in seclusion to the mountain by a pony he had never met, but he accepted it. The stallion did not look threatening. And his intentions seemed honest: he was looking for a son.

When they had both reached a good distance, neither saying a word to the other, Archaenon led Sjin to a ledge overlooking the camp. When Sjin finally stood beside him, Archaenon looked down with him, and said, in his deep, commanding voice, "Is it all yours?"

Sjin was taken aback by the question. This had nothing to do with this pony's son. "well, em..." He was also confused by how to answer. Was it? "Not exactly. I co-own it."

Archaenon though it over. "It is a glorious army you co-command, then, Sir."

Sjin was still confused, "T-thank you. But why do you ask me these questions, Archaenon."

Archaenon looked at him, and spoke. "Let me tell you a story. A lord walked one day, and he was approached by another. The other claimed to be a great warrior, and demanded the Lord bow before him. Do you know what the lord said?"

Sjin looked at him, still confused. "What did he say?"

Archaenon looked at the camp, "'And who are you,' the Proud Lord said, 'That I must bow so low? Only a man of different coat, that's all the truth I know.' The man replied, "In Coat of Gold, or Coat of Red, the Lion still has claws. And mine are long, and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours.' And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that lord of Castamare. But now the rains weep over his hall, with no one there to hear. With not a soul to hear."

Sjin was even more confused. "I don't understand."

Archaenon turned to Sjin, "You see, the lord ignored the great warriors demands, thinking himself better. He let Pride take him over, and he ignored the man who was indeed a great warrior. And so the warrior, offended, besieged his town of Castamare, killed his people, and burned his hall to the ground. And the lord? What do you think happened to him?"

Sjin was beginning to understand the moral of the story, but he did not know how it applied to him. "Did the lord die?"

Archaenon chuckled. "The warrior took great pleasure in rending the lord's head from his shoulders. He was right, his claws were long and sharp as the lord of Castamare's. And what is the lesson?"

Sjin thought it over, "Heed warnings, lest they be from friend or foe, and do not let Pride get between you and doing what is right for your people?"

Archaenon nodded. He waited for more moments of tenuous silence. He then looks at Sjin and says, "Would you let Pride come between you and your people."

Sjin was taken aback yet again. "What?!" He asked.

Archaenon looked into Sjin's eyes. "If you were approached by a prideful warrior would you laugh in his face and declare yourself better, or would you bow?"

Sjin became hostile. "Are you threatening me, Archaenon?"

Archaenon laughed maniacally. "Sjin, my boy, if I wanted you dead, I'd have done it a long time ago."

Sjin looked at him, "So what do you want?"

Archaenon looked at him with stubborn eyes, "To know if you would laugh in his face, or bow?!"

Sjin thought, "I would bow." He nodded with certainty.

Archaenon smiled and nodded, "You make me proud, Paul."

Sjin froze. "I'm sorry?"

Archaenon looked at him. "You make me proud."

Sjin shook his head, "No. Not that. My name..."

Archaenon chuckled to himself, "Yes. Do you not know your name?"

Sjin nodded, still dumbfounded. "I know it, but... You do too."

Archaenon stared Sjin in the eyes as revelation began to finally dawn on him. Archaenon continued to stare deep into his eyes, and Sjin could do nothing but stare back, a small tear welling up in his eye. Archaenon smiled, "Of course I do... I gave it to you."

Sjin smiled, as the tears ran down his face, "Dad..."

Archaenon wrapped his hooved around Sjin, "My son..."