Chapter 8: In Which Our Hero Engages in Espionage
I flop onto my bed and let out a sigh of relief. We spent the morning drafting our letters to the Princess explaining Blueblood's ruling and listing the documentation (or lack thereof) we used as evidence. Blueblood couldn't stop snickering the whole time; he eventually explained to me that as the foremost legal expert in the castle, a matter like this would be passed on to him for approval. He explained, with a great deal of laughter, that we were writing a letter just so that he could mail it off to himself to approve the thing he'd already thought of. Given that we'd been working on this for almost two hours by that point, I was less than amused.
We decided to knock off work early; Blueblood needed to get ready for his date with Ruby so I decided to take the chance to do some sightseeing around town. I bought some “authentic” Saddlefield arts and crafts (almost all mine-themed) as souvenirs. I'm especially fond of the miniature stick of dynamite and the little metal mine cart and pony statuette. Still, I'm pretty tired, and the prospect of a nap before dinner sounds very appealing. So naturally, my door bangs open just as I've gotten comfortable.
Emerald strides in. “Make yourself presentable. We're going to dinner.”
I snort and blearily open one eye. “You really trust Iron and Silver to eat at a restaurant without destroying it or getting thrown out?”
Emerald shakes his head. “They're not coming. They're at a friend's house tonight.” Well, that certainly explained the abnormal lack of noise in the house. “It's just the two of us. We're going to Flip's.”
I sit up. “Look, Emerald, you're a great guy, and I know love has kind of been in the air and all, what with Ruby and Scales, but you're just not really my type, and-”
He snorts. “Not like that. We're going to be keeping an eye on your friend Scales and make sure that there's no funny business.”
I blink in surprise. “That seems kind of... rude. And intrusive. Shouldn't we give them some privacy?”
Emerald snarls. “Then he should have thought of that before he decided to start dating my sister.”
Well, that course of action isn't going anywhere. Sounds like his mind is well and truly made up. Best thing I can do now is try not to get pulled into it. I put on my best winning smile. “Uh, look, Emerald, I get that she's your sister, and you're really close, and I know that I'd want what's best for my sister if I had one, but this really doesn't seem like the sort of thing you need me for. I'm sure you've got it all under control-”
Emerald looms over me, his eyes hard. “He's your friend. I think you should come.” I gulp. I don't think he'd hurt me, but I elect not to push my luck. Those stories about ridiculously overprotective older brothers can't all be fictional, after all...
“Ah-heh, heh. Sure. Let me just, uh... tidy up! Yes! I should really, uh, clean up if we're going out to dinner.”
Emerald narrows his eyes and gives me a scrutinizing glare. “Alright. But I'll be waiting for you at the door.”
Yeah, I'll just bet you will.
I make myself presentable and troop out to the front porch to meet Emerald. He sets off towards town without speaking, and we walk the whole distance in slightly awkward silence. Every so often, he shoots glances over at me, as if to make sure that I haven't run away.
I cheer up a little when we get to Flip's. It actually smells pretty good, like a place that hasn't entirely forgotten its home-cooked comfort food roots despite its attempt to emulate a much fancier restaurant. There are nice tablecloths on all the tables, along with candles in miniature mining lamps. The wood of the booths is worn and somewhat faded, but clean and clearly well-cared for. I peer over Emerald's shoulder as he speaks to the host. Yes, there's Ruby and Blueblood sitting in a booth. I try to make myself as small as possible and conceal myself behind Emerald – not that that's particularly difficult. They don't seem to have noticed us yet, at least.
The host blinks in surprise. “Uh, Mr... Vein, did you say?”
Emerald nods. “That's right, Emerald Vein. Reservation for two.”
The host glances at Emerald, then at me, then down to the paper in front of him. I can see his head twitch, as if he wants to turn and look back towards Blueblood. His mouth opens and works silently for a moment before he composes himself and plasters on a welcoming smile. “Of course, sir. Any particular place you would like to sit?”
“Booth, please.” Emerald rumbles. “And with a view towards that side.” He points his hoof in Ruby and Blueblood's direction. To his credit, the host doesn't even bat an eye. I guess he's just decided that it's best not to question the situation. The host shows us to a table along one wall. Emerald sits and scoots around to face Ruby and Blueblood's table. He grabs a menu and immediately holds it up in front of himself to hide his face. If the whole situation weren't so awkward, I'd be laughing out loud. I'm a little concerned that doing so might upset Emerald's apparently tenuous grasp on reality, however, so I just sit next to him and start perusing the drink section.
“Are you buying?”
He grunts.
I shake my head and smirk. “Take me out to a nice place and you won't even pay.”
He snorts and waves a hoof at me. “Sure. Whatever. Order what you want.” He raises his head a little to peer over the top of the menu before jerking his head back down. I have to stuff a hoof into my mouth to keep myself from losing it.
The waitress prances up to us and gets halfway into her introduction before she notices Emerald and trails off mid-sentence. Unlike the host, she does turn and look back at Ruby, then back at Emerald. I guess that's one downside of living in a small town – no chance anyone won't make the connection. “Uh... would you two like... drinks, or something?”
“Water.” Emerald is still staring intensely at his menu, though its pretty clear he's not reading it.
I smile and look at the waitress. She gives me a full smile back, apparently relieved that someone at this table seems normal. “Could I try the Break Line Berry cocktail?” She nods and scribbles our orders down before swishing off towards the kitchen. I rest my head on a hoof and lazily peruse the menu. Those vegetable kabobs look pretty good, but the mountain spring salad sounds pretty tasty too. I glance over at Emerald, who, so far as I can tell, has not moved aside from peering over his menu like a prairie dog.
“You know, if you keep your forelegs and neck all tense like that, you'll get a cramp.”
“Huh.” Pretty sure nothing I say is having an impact.
“So Emerald, Silver was telling me that she wanted to get her ears pierced.”
“Huh.”
“Hey Emerald, I think I just heard the mine explode.”
“Huh.”
“Hey Emerald, if you don't need me, can I go? Say 'huh' for yes.”
“If you run off, I'll bury you in the deepest mine shaft we have.” Rats. He shoots me a sideways glance. “Thought I wasn't listening?”
I roll my eyes again. “Well it certainly seemed that way. I wasn't kidding about Silver's ears though. She decided to ask me about earring choices yesterday, since apparently I'm an expert on that.”
“I'll talk about it with Ruby.”
I glance upwards and accidentally lock eyes with Ruby. I hurriedly grab my menu and hold it up in front of my face. A little too slow though – I just get a glimpse of her brow starting to furrow in recognition. “Great! Just great! She saw me!” I hiss at Emerald through clenched teeth.
His reply rumbles through the thin plastic of his menu. “Then it's your own fault for not being sneaky!”
“How in the name of Celestia is this my fault? You're the one who dragged me out here! Maybe you should have thought about the fact that I'm not exactly a superspy first, hm?” No reply. The silence stretches on, and I snort and turn back to my menu. “How are the kebabs, by the way? They look pretty good.”
“They're good.”
“Really? You're not just saying that?”
“No, they're pretty good. We usually come here for the twins' birthday.”
“Huh.” I rub my chin. “Yeah, kebabs it is.” We sit in silence for another minute or two until the waitress returns to deliver our drinks and take our order. I order the kebabs. Emerald convinces the waitress to leave the menus with some line about ordering seconds. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to simultaneously hold up my menu and eat without unicorn magic, but I don't think Emerald is giving a lot of thought to that.
While he's ordering, I peer around the side of the menu to get a glimpse of Blueblood's table. Ruby is laughing uproariously and tears are streaming from her eyes, while Blueblood mainly looks perplexed and slightly surprised. I'm not sure if she's laughing at some joke he didn't get or if he accidentally did something funny, and from his look, I don't think he knows either. I jerk my head back behind my menu when it looks like he's about to turn our direction.
I glance over at Emerald. His gaze is so intense, I'm surprised it hasn't bored a hole through the menu already. I sigh. “Look, what's the big deal? I mean, I get it. If I had a sister, I'd want to make sure that some stallion was right for her and keep her from getting hurt, but this is... well, this is kind of creepy, to be honest. So your sister is out on a date. It's not like we're strangers; you know me, you know Scales, we're your friends. What's got you so riled up?”
For a long moment, I think he's not going to answer. Just when I'm preparing myself to spend the rest of the evening in silence, he sighs. “It's the mine. The kids. Everything.”
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye and deadpan my response. “You're going to need to be more specific than that.”
Emerald snorts. “The mine's running out.”
I blink in surprise. “I know. You... told me. You told both of us.”
“And... money's... tighter than we let on.”
I lean over and lower my voice. “Are you guys, you know, in trouble? Do you need-”
Emerald waves a hoof and peers over his menu. I peer around the side of mine and see Blueblood yammering on, probably some inane story about some boring party in Canterlot, and Ruby looks more than a bit bored. I duck back behind my menu when Emerald speaks up again. “Don't be silly. We're not broke or anything. But we don't have enough to buy more land – or at least, not enough for a real mine. Even with Iron and Silver helping, there's just a limit to how many gems two ponies can pull out of the ground. Even with the sale of the mine, we might not have enough.”
“Oh.” I say softly and glance down at the table. “So what are you going to do?”
Emerald shrugs. “Me? I'm a miner. I know my trade, and I'm good at it. I like mining gems, but I could mine something else. I don't mind working for someone else, as long as I get to ply my trade. But Ruby... she was always different. She was always the one eager to help mom and dad, begging them to let her come down in the mine with them. She wanted to be just like them, and I know that she spent years dreaming of the day when she'd take over the mine and carry on the Gemcracker tradition. Not that this is how she'd wanted it, but...”
The waitress brings our food over, and we awkwardly shuffle our menus into a place where they'll mostly stand on their own so that we can eat. After a minute, Emerald looks up from his sandwich. “She's fine with moving. Mining families have to, she knows that as well as everyone. But giving up on running a family business... Working in someone else's mine... It'd crush her. She'd never say it, but I know it would.
“And Emerald and Silver... well, they're not old enough to really work in the mine, but they look up to Ruby so much. They idolize her.”
“Hey, don't sell yourself short.” I elbow him. “They look up to you too.”
“I know, I know.” He chuckles. “But I'm just the solid older brother. I'm the one they trust to check their math homework and who pushes them to clean their rooms. Ruby... they look up to her on a whole other level. After mom and dad died, Ruby... kinda became both. She's the anchor the house revolves around; she's the one they look to for direction, to know what needs to be done.”
“Oh.” I glance down at my kebabs.
“Yeah. Where is this going to go?” I peer over my menu. Ruby is telling a story, gesticulating wildly, and Blueblood is... actually paying rapt attention, his fork held absentmindedly in his telekinesis. He's leaning forward on the edge of his chair, the way he does when he's reading some new judgment or law book. The two of them actually look like they're having... fun. “What kind of future is there in this? I love my sister dearly, but she's not some noblepony who's going to spend all of her time drinking tea and going to functions.” I shudder at the thought of Ruby at a high society party. “We don't belong to that world. We don't fit in there. And what else is there for her in Canterlot? Working in somepony else's mine – assuming, that is, that there are even jobs to be had? And what about Iron and Silver? They'd be crushed without Ruby, and I'm not sure I'm a suitable replacement.”
“Well, it's kind of early to be talking about them moving in together, isn't it?” I say with forced cheer and give him a small smile.
“Or do what? Stay separate, with Ruby here and him all the way in Canterlot? Even by train, that's a ways. On top of that, we've got to deal with our money, not knowing how long we're going to be here, or where we're going to go afterward. What if the only place we can find land is even farther away and harder to reach?”
“Isn't it a little bit early to be declaring this whole thing doomed?” I raise an eyebrow. “I mean, come on, this is their first date. Shouldn't we give them a chance?” I gesture at the couple. Blueblood's leaning on the table, his best winning grin on. Ruby's laughing into her hoof – looks like one of his jokes finally landed.
Emerald snorts and turns back to his food. “I just want to make sure that chance is worth giving.”
“He's a good guy.” I nod earnestly. “Really. He is. Look, when I first met him, I thought I really wasn't going to like him. But he's not bad at all, and now I'm... I'm proud to call him my friend.”
Emerald harrumphs. “Your concern has been noted.” I turn back to my kebabs. We eat in silence for a few minutes, punctuated only by brief glances over and around our menus. Ruby's still eating, but Blueblood's gone. I frown. Bathroom, maybe? Ruby doesn't seem perturbed. I'm about to bite into a roasted tomato when a thought strikes me.
“What about you?”
“Huh?” For once, Emerald seems legitimately flustered. “What about me?”
“Is there someone in your life?” Emerald snorts and starts to turn away. “Hey, come on. I see you around the house all the time. You must have some kind of life outside of the mine.”
Emerald hunches his shoulders and leans in closer to his food. “Why should I tell you?”
“Because I'm a friend, and I'm curious? I guess I was just wondering, considering where we are.” I shrug and pick up one of my kebabs. “And besides, you dragged me all the way out here. I figured you could at least answer a question or two.”
Emerald blows a lock of his mane out of his face and doesn't take his glare off his food. “Fine.”
“Fine what?”
“Sandstorm Slate. She works construction, busy building some big house on the south side of town.”
I elbow him and wiggle my eyebrows. “Eh? Eh? I knew it! Come on, spill the details.”
He rolls his eyes. “It's nothing serious. Whenever we both want a chance to relax, we just get some food and wine and have a long weekend in, and then we go back to our lives.”
“Friends with benefits, eh? You're a smoother operator than I gave you credit for, Emerald.” I give him a soft punch in the foreleg. He snorts, but I can see he's blushing a little. “Come on, was that that bad? I'm not that bad to be around.”
He sighs. “No, I suppose you're not.”
I smirk. “You got that right. And hey, Scales can't be that bad either, right, since he hangs around with me?”
Emerald shoots me a glance, eyes flashing, but I see the corner of his mouth twitch upwards. “Don't push your luck.”
I finish off one of my kebabs. “I'll have to come back here sometime. The food is pretty good.”
“Oh, I quite agree. In fact, I was considering asking if their chef could consider sharing recipes with the castle staff.”
I swallow my mouthful of food abruptly. It lands in my stomach like a rock. I turn, slowly, trying to put off what I know I'm going to see as long as possible. “Oh, uh, hello Scales. Fancy seeing you here.”
Blueblood leans against the side of our booth, idly checking his hooficure. He does not look amused. “Yes, quite a coincidence, isn't it? Especially given that Saddlefield only has one fancy restaurant and that you knew where Ruby and I intended to dine.”
“Well, I know this looks kind of weird, but-”
“I'm not particularly interested in what it looks like, Ink!” He hisses. Blueblood leans in close so that his face is hidden behind our menu wall. “I must admit I'm somewhat confused by your involvement, but that is immaterial right now! What is important is that this comes to an end, as soon as possible.”
“What do you-”
“I mean,” he spits through gritted teeth, “that you should leave. Right now. I would hope that you would respect my privacy,” he turns to Emerald, “and if not mine, then at least respect your sister's.”
Some part of my brain is wondering why Emerald hasn't chimed in to help me defend ourselves, given that it was his idea and all, but that part takes second seat to the part that splutters out “But we haven't even paid yet.”
“I have paid for you.” I blink in surprise. “Why do you think it took so long for me to get here? I spoke to the host about arranging to pay for your bill. He seemed confused by the whole situation, but decided that my money spends just as well as yours.”
“Alright.” I jerk my head around to face Emerald, who's finally decided to enter the conversation. “We'll see ourselves out.”
“Good.” The two of us stand up – I grab a last kebab as I do – and make our way out. Emerald and Blueblood don't look at each other, but as we brush past Blueblood, I hear him mutter something that sounds like “sorry”. We get out as fast as we can without being seen and are soon out under the open night sky. We only get about a block away before I round on Emerald. “What the hay was that? You're so fired up to make sure Scales isn't up to something and then you just leave? And why did you have to drag me into this? If you want to spy on my friend, I can't stop you, but you can at least leave me out of it.”
He nods. “Don't worry. I won't make you do this again.” He sighs and rubs one foreleg awkwardly. “I'm sorry. I guess I just... let myself get carried away and... Well, I'm sorry anyways. Ruby can make her mind about this on her own, she's a big girl. Probably has a better head on her shoulder than I do, judging by tonight. So, uh...” He glances up at me from under his mane. “Is this forgiven?”
“Hey.” I give him a soft punch in the shoulder. “It never happened.”
He gives a small smile. “I'm glad to hear that. I'm going to head back to the house. You coming?”
I shake my head. “No, I think I want to walk around for a bit, get a bit of a break. I'll see you in a little while.”
“Alright. Just don't wake up Iron or Silver when you get in – you have no idea what a nightmare it is to try to get them back to bed.”
I smirk. “Oh, I think I can imagine.” We turn and go our separate ways. I've finished my last kebab when I find my hooves taking me towards the town hall. I shrug. Why not? There's not that many other places to go this late at night other than back to the house. It'll at least give me a few minutes with some quiet. I unlock the door and I'm already in our office when I hear the sound of glass crunching underhoof. I frown. Did somepony accidentally knock over a lamp or something? Then again, I didn't feel any glass underhoof. I feel around for the lamp and find it right in its normal place. A quick strike of a match brings some light into the room – and illuminates a cloaked figure on the other side of the office.
I gape in surprise as the hooded pony swiftly turns back towards me. I only catch a glimpse of blue eyes reflecting the lamplight and a figure bent over a stack of papers on Blueblood's desk before the pony has turned and bolted towards one of the windows. “H-Hey, wait!” I call, darting after the intruder. But before I can make it halfway across the room, the figure leaps for the window, nimbly diving through it and out into the open air. I rush to the window. Even before I get there, the breeze and the reflection of moonlight on jagged edges of glass shows me the source of the crunch from earlier. I stick my head out the window, but the figure is nowhere to be seen, the only trace of its passing the sound of distant hoof beats, rapidly fading away. I gulp and turn back to the office. In the lamplight, I can see that a number of papers are spread across our desks or spilled onto the floor, boxes pulled off of shelves or opened.
This just got a lot more complicated.