//------------------------------//
// Chapter Thirteen - Cutie Marks 
// Story: Ice Fall 
// by Bluespectre 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER THIRTEEN


 


CUTIE MARKS

 
Dray hefted his pack and lifted his head high before setting off down the main thoroughfare towards the docks. It really was a beautiful evening, with the sun dipping beneath the hills in the distance adding a calming sensation that took the edge off the bitterness in his heart. The smells of the forest too, drifting in on the cooling breeze, made him smile wryly to himself despite how he felt inside. He closed his eyes a moment, letting his hooves guide him, feeling the cobbles beneath them. It was the last time he’d ever be here, in the castle, probably even in the heartlands. Despite the shock of being dismissed, it was a hell of a lot better than what he’d expected.
 
A few steps behind him, the young Lieutenant walked along like the spirit of a soul lost in purgatory. Dray felt for him, but didn’t feel he owed him anything. Cove had gotten himself into this mess simply by talking with him, but it was still his life; the lad needed to decide what he was going to do with himself, for himself. Dray sighed. For all he knew, that sneaky rat Ochre had planned all of this and the Lieutenant coming along could be simply another way of spying on him from afar. He shook his head sadly. Regardless of who was at fault, the Lieutenant was still a soldier and soldiers looked after each other, didn’t they?
 
“Oh, sod it!” he grumbled to himself out loud.
 
Lieutenant Cove looked up, casting him a glance that said all he needed to know about the youthful fellow’s emotional state right then. He was broken, his dreams destroyed through the simple act of asking about his brother. Ochre didn’t care though, he wasn’t bothered about things like family, all he was interested was control and his own selfish interests. He’d also seemed a little ‘unhinged’, Dray thought to himself, a pony who wasn’t far from the edge of insanity, if not teetering on it already. He looked about at the ponies inside the castles walls, the way they acted as if he didn’t exist, nor even spoke to one another. Once, not long ago, this place had been a hive of activity and life, with songs and dancing, street vending, juggling…everything! Now, now it was as if the place were inhabited by ghosts, living ghosts, drifting along in a never changing day to day world of their own design, oblivious to everypony and everything around them. Dray knew then that Ochre, not the Legion, would likely be the death of the Equestria he knew.
 
The two stallions’ hoofsteps echoed along the almost deserted riverfront. The sun was setting now and most ponies would be heading indoors for warmth and safety. There were no more evening parties here, no more dancing by lamplight in the streets. It might not be overt, but Dray had seen this before: the thinly disguised fear that lurked amongst the population. It had in all likelihood been there from the very beginning, those first days of the invasion, striking deeply and unknowingly into hearts that had known only peace for so long a time as anypony could remember.
 
Equestrians had always been a flighty lot of course, by nature more prone to flight than fight, but many were still ready to stand by the side of their fellows when the need arose. Some however, those too old, too weak or too young, had suffered the most when the invasion came. The Legion had simply rolled over them; the shock and impetus of their attack leaving many villages and towns isolated behind enemy lines, not even realising they were at war until Nightmare Moon’s troops walked past their door. These were dark days indeed, and right then, it seemed there was little light left in the world to dare to hope. Dray let out a breath. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad with Nightmare Moon in charge. After all, she was still a princess of Equestria and with Celestia gone, or, he corrected himself, ‘probably gone’, she still help a place in the hearts of many. Dray sighed to himself. It was pointless thinking about things he couldn’t change. He wasn’t an officer any more, he was simply…Dray, the farmer’s son. Perhaps, in some ways, he always had been. He shrugged; his destination lay not far ahead, and from there…home.
 
The trim little wooden house on the edge of the dock was neatly finished in blue and white paint, with an anchor leaning up against the side of the porch. Red flowers sat in what looked like old chimney stacks beside the front door. There was a light on inside and the sound of raised voices. Dray rapped smartly on the door and waited. Eventually the door opened a crack and the shaky voice of the male occupant drifted out,
 
“Can I help you?”
 
“Yes, my good sir” Dray bowed, “My colleague and I have need of transportation.”
 
“Do you know what time it is?” the voice replied.
 
“Around six I would say” Dray smiled, “We need passage sir, and are willing to pay.”
 
There was a snort, “Humph! I should hope so! Hang on I’ll…”
 
A female voice called out from the back of the house, “Dear?”
 
“Just a minute…” the first voice replied and faded away back into the house where an urgent discussion was soon being held. A few minutes later the stallion returned,
 
“What’s your name?”
 
“My name? It’s Dray, and this is Cove, we want…”
 
The door began to close, “-Sorry, I can’t help you. I’m sorry…”
 
“What?!” Dray slammed a hoof against the door, “What do you mean ‘you can’t help us’?”
 
The pony inside peered back through the gap, a tinge of fear in his eyes, “Look, I just can’t! Try to understand, if…if Ochre find’s out I helped you then…”
 
Dray nodded resignedly, “I understand. Forgive me for inconveniencing you sir. I wish you and your lady a good night.”
 
The door closed.
 
“Well” Dray said to nopony in particular, “Guess its Shanks’ pony then. Up for a walk Lieutenant?”
 
Silence.
 
Dray shrugged, “And off we go!”
 
They hadn’t gone very far when a clatter of hooves behind them made Dray spin round. The tiny yellow pegasus foal before him came to a sudden halt and landed, skidding on his haunches.
 
“Here!” he squeaked, “Daddy says to give you this.”
 
Without another word, the foal was back up on his hooves and racing away towards the rear of the blue and white house. In his wake, was a rolled up piece of paper. Unrolling it, Dray read out the hastily written note :
 
Trout Wharf
 
One hour
 
Trout Wharf eh? Dray smiled. Maybe fate had given him a break after all. Still, it was an hour away and regardless of Ochre’s threat, he wanted to get as far away from this place as possible anyway. The longer he stayed, the more he saw, the more the capital of Equestria began to look like a piece of fruit that when you bit into, you found a maggot living at its core. Goddesses forgive him, he’d never been much of a monarchist, but he wished Celestia was back. If ever they needed her, it was now. Instead, they had selfishness, greed and corruption sitting on the throne.
 
Lost in his ruminations, Dray suddenly realised he’d run out of walkway and found himself staring at a large wooden sign hanging from the dock wall. A roughly painted fish sat below the letters proclaiming ‘Trout Wharf’. Good old hooves, had a mind of their own sometimes, Dray thought to himself as he sank to his haunches. The aches and pains from the day’s early start to the emotional turmoil of the last few hours were beginning to take their toll. He wasn’t as young as he had been and by the Goddesses, it had been a long day.
 
The two ex-soldiers sat in the shadow of a lean-to which stank of fish. It was probably used by griffins; those bloody things would eat anything. Come to think of it, it was a shame they hadn’t had that many with them in the army. In fact, most of the griffins he’d seen had sided with Nightmare Moon. As for why, who could say? He noticed Cove looking up and followed his gaze. There, in the scant early evening light, were four ponies trotting towards them, two of them pulling carts laden with gear. They drew closer, until the familiar voice of the fellow from the dockside house called to him in a strained tone,
 
“Don’t just stand there, give me a hoof for Celestia’s sake!”
 
In the gathering darkness, the bronze coloured unicorn stallion nodded towards an inclined wooden pier which lead to a sizeable riverboat. There were lanterns here, but rather unhelpfully, none of them were actually lit and it was hard to see where the pier ended and the water began. The unicorn however didn’t have any such problems, effortlessly grabbing boxes, cases and bags in his magic which he threw hastily into a pile on the deck while Dray helped the mare and foals onboard. Anxiety radiated from the male like a bonfire, not helped by the fact that he kept nervously looking up to stare along the dock. It was infectious too; even Dray found himself looking over his shoulder and checking to see if his sword was free in its scabbard. Horribly, he realised he’d left it in the camp when he’d been ‘collected’ by the Lieutenant and his friends. Fortunately the young officer still had his, but by the state he was in he was unlikely to be of much use in the event of a fight.
 
The riverpony mumbled urgently under his breath, the mare quickly rushing to prepare the vessel for departure while the foals helped their father shift the luggage below decks. He looked up at Dray, his golden eyes flashing in the moonlight,
 
“If you want to come aboard, cast off the mooring lines and jump on quick.”
 
Without another word he went back to work, leaving the Colonel to untie the rope securing the riverboat to the mooring point. Thankfully, the Lieutenant had come out of his malaise at least long enough to untie his end and with a slight slopping sound of water, the boat began to rock freely,
 
“Come on!” The bronze stallion hissed, looking around him like a scared cat.
 
Dray backed up, ready to jump down, and paused. He looked round to see Cover just standing there, the young Lieutenant looking stricken,
 
“Cove!” he hissed, “Come on damn it, get your bones on board!”
 
The young officer stood stock still, his blue eyes wide and staring. He looked utterly lost, the shock of losing everything he’d worked for had simply been too much. To jump aboard the boat was like admitting it had changed…gone forever.
 
Quickly, Dray trotted up to him and gave him a sharp crack across the skull with his hoof, staring him right in the eyes,
 
“Lieutenant Cove, as your superior officer I order you to get onto that boat immediately. MOVE!”
 
Cove shifted, his mouth working silently as the light of awareness slowly began to re-appear in the young officer’s eyes. In an almost mechanical fashion, he backed up and then leaped from the dock, effortlessly clearing the gap and landed neatly on the deck. Dray followed, the alien feel of the vessel moving on the water making him feel immediately queasy. He took a breath and looked up at the sky to re-orientate himself. The stars were coming out high above and…was that a pegasus? Something fast flew across the sky, darting between the clouds and not all that far away either. Pegasi flying at night wasn’t that unusual of course, but there was something about that pony’s flight path and the effortless sweep of their wings that Dray recognised. Cold realisation hit him; it was the same one that he’d noticed shadowing them on the way to the castle. He shook his mane and snorted. They were being watched.
 
“What’s up, are we being followed?” the bronze stallion asked.
 
Dray shook his head, “No”, he lied, “No, I don’t believe so. Please, Master…?”
 
“Sweep Galliard. That’s my wife, Lemon Flower, little one’s are Charcoal and Duster.” His face remained set in grim determination, “Now, no more time for chat. Make yourselves useful and give the children a hoof to get the gear stowed away. After that, just keep out of our way, understand?”
 
“Understood Master Galliard”, Dray replied giving Cove a nudge, “You heard the stallion, Lieutenant, let’s shake a leg.”
 
It didn’t take long. The cases, boxes and other containers of quite clearly hastily assembled belongings looked to be all the family had been able to rescue before their rush to the boat. Dray pushed the last of the boxes into place as the foals tied them down to stop the cargo slipping. The youths were tiny, no higher than his knees, and yet they moved around the boat with an ease born of practice. They’d take after their parents some day, of that there was no doubt. But what was going really on here? He’d have to ask…
 
“Don’t go up on deck, mister” The yellow pegasus foal squeaked in his tiny voice, “Daddy doesn’t like it when he’s getting under way”
 
“Oh, I see” Dray smiled, “I’m Dray and this is Cove by the way. What’s your name shipmate?”
 
The foal smiled, “I’m Duster, and that’s my sister, Charcoal” he nodded towards the dark grey unicorn foal that was busy securing hammocks further along the hold. She glanced back at them a moment with her bright blue eyes and then returned to her work, seemingly disinterested.
 
“You want something to eat?” The young Duster asked, “We’ve got some travel cakes and hard tack. Only water to drink though.”
 
Dray had forgotten just how hungry he was. Neither he nor the Lieutenant had eaten since first light and the mere mention of food set his stomach to growling, even if it was basic fare. Right then, he would be glad of anything. In fairness though, he’d actually managed to wrangle some travel food from the kindly cooks in the castle kitchens, but he was reluctant to dip into his precious supplies when provisions were being offered. He nodded to the foal and pulled up a sack of grain to sit on, motioning the still silent Lieutenant Cove to do the same.
 
Duster trotted over a few minutes later with a plate full of what appeared to be a type of scone, a stack of plain hard tack and a jug of water plus a couple of mugs. He filled the mugs and picked up a scone,
 
“It’s a good idea to have some water first”, Duster said in his squeaky voice, “the scones can scratch a bit as you swallow.”
 
Oh goody! Dray thought to himself as he lifted one of the hard lumpy things from the plate. Looking at it, the ‘food’ being offered would probably make a very useful addition to the army. He could see it now: the pegasi diving down and bombarding the thestrals below with Lemon Flowers’ home baked scones. It would be nothing short of carnage.
 
“What’s funny?” Duster asked giving him a curious look.
 
“Oh, nothing” Dray smiled, “Just wondering how your mum made these scones so delicious.”
 
Duster burst out laughing, his little wings buzzing as he rolled around, shaking with mirth, “Delicious?!” He squeaked trying to catch his breath, “Nopony’s ever called them that before!” The little foal wiped his eyes with a foreleg, “They’re horrible!”
 
Dray raised an eyebrow and shrugged, taking a tentative bite. How bad could they be? He began to chew, eventually even trying to choke the thing down. Duster was right, they really were bloody awful. That said, they’d stave off hunger and that was what was really important. Taste was secondary. Just as well really…
 
The boat creaked around them, the sound of the sloshing water outside amplified by the relatively small interior. In the background however, a strange ‘chugging’ noise seemed to be drifting from behind a door to the rear of the hold: a constant, low beat that drew Dray’s attention. Duster noticed him looking and waved a half eaten scone,
 
“That’s the ‘boiler box’ daddy bought from the wizard. It’s really cool! Do you want to have a look?”
 
The Colonel nodded, swigging another mouthful of water to wash down the scone,
 
“Sure!”
 
Duster trotted over to the door and twisted the handle, pulling it open to reveal a small cupboard like room with a shuddering, steaming ‘thing’ on the floor. It was the most peculiar assemblage of brass pipes, tubes, globes, boxes and goddesses knew what else, Dray had ever seen. The ‘boiler box’ shook, popped, and hissed alarmingly, all the while emitting odd puffs of steam which made the room surprisingly warm. Duster took a long metal hook and used it to pull open a tray on the device. To Dray’s amazement, the little pegasus proceeded to drop two of his mother’s scones onto it and pushed it shut. Pulling a chain hanging from a brass armature of some kind, the device hissed and shuddered even more violently than it had, before settling back down to its more regular shudder.
 
“Have to keep it fed, the wizard told me”, Duster grinned, “It likes mums scones best.”
 
“I can see that!” Dray sputtered, “What is it? I’ve never seem anything like it!”
 
“Oh, the wizard said there’s a fire imp inside that heats the water and the water spins something that moves the ‘propeller’ outside.” Duster nodded to himself knowingly, “That makes the boat go way faster than using sails.” he lifted a lid, pouring some water down into it from a can, “He gets thirsty sometimes too.”
 
“Did you say a fire imp?” Dray stuttered, “I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
 
“They live near Firetop Mountain,” Duster explained, “it’s where a lot of big dragons live. It’s very hot there too, dad says, but the imps don’t like the dragons very much.” He leaned forward conspiratorially, his voice dropping almost a whisper, “I think the dragons eat them!”
 
“So what’s one doing, living in this…thing?” The Colonel asked waving a hoof toward the ‘boiler box’.
 
Duster looked at him like he’d asked why water was wet, “He likes mums scones of course, silly billy.” The small foal rolled his eyes and then closed the door.
 
A familiar stallions voice called down from the hatchway,
 
“Dusty? Can you ask our guests to come up on deck please love?”
 
“Okay, daddy” Duster looked up at Dray with his big eyes, “You’d best go up mister Dray, daddy gets snappy when he’s captaining.”
 
Snappy, eh? Dray thought to himself wryly, “Well then”, he said giving the foal a wide smile, “I’d best see what daddy wants then hadn’t I?”

Nimbly, he climbed the steps onto the deck and found the good captain leaning against the tiller. The unicorn’s eyes were fixed on the wide river ahead, the sparkling water picked out by the moonlight and stars above. He spared Dray a quick glance before returning to his vigil,
 
“Where do want dropping off, Dray?”
 
That was…blunt. Dray gave his back a quick stretch, “I’m heading for Hockspeth, a little village off the…”
 
“-I know where it is.” The captain cut in rudely. A moment later he shook his head, “Look, I’m sorry, I’m just stressed and tired is all. I’ll take you to Heifers Leap, it as near to Hockspeth as I can travel.”
 
Dray nodded, “Thank you, Captain Galliard. Let me know if I can do anything to help around the ship.”
 
The bronze stallion raised an eyebrow, “Will you now?” He chuckled, the first time Dray had seen the pony looking anything other than worried sick, “I may take you up on that offer mister Dray, or should I say, ‘Colonel’ Dray?”
 
“Just Dray will do”, the Colonel replied, “You know who I am?”
 
“Of course,” Galliard replied with a shrug of his shoulders, “you were the army commander weren’t you?”
 
“’Were’ being the operative word.” Dray said sadly, “A difference of opinion with Lord Ochre you could say.”
 
“You are a master of understatement my friend”, Galliard laughed, “I’ll give you that!”
 
“Oh?”
 
“Word gets around quickly at the capital, and the maids at the castle love gossip more than most.” Galliard scratched his nose a moment and motioned to the small box beside him, “Get us a tot each, eh Dray? Could do with something to keep me warm. I guess you could too.”
 
The box contained several items useful for a tillerpony: a set of waterproofs, packs of ships biscuits, a water flask, and a bottle of rum with a couple of collapsible shot cups. Dray passed one to Galliard and nodded his thanks before downing the warming spirit,
 
“Damn, that’s powerful stuff!” He gasped, loudly.
 
Galliard laughed, “Not used to it eh? Try night and day stuck to this thing.”
 
The bronze pony visible relaxed and the two stood quietly for a time watching the river ripple past, while below decks the thrumming of the mysterious device plodded away like the vessels heartbeat.
 
“Gal”
 
Dray raised his eyebrows, “Hmm?”
 
“Call me Gal,” The bronze coated Captain said, “I never did like Galliard. Lemon only calls me that when I’m being told off. My folks did too.”
 
Smiling, Dray nodded, “Of course.” He thought a moment, his curiosity getting the better of him, “Gal, forgive me if i’m being nosey, but the amount of luggage you brought aboard…” He took a breath, “I feel that I’m responsible for bringing misfortune to your door.”
 
Gal adjusted his grip on the tiller and rubbed his eyes, “No” he said solemnly, “We’d already decided to leave, you were only the, er…’catalyst’ we needed to get our flanks in gear.” He shook his head sadly, “Dray, look, I don’t know if you know what’s been happening at the capital since Lord Ochre took over from the princess, but there’s been a lot of disappearances.”
 
“Disappearances?” Dray asked curiously.
 
“Usually ponies who disagree with him” Gal explained, “Got to the point where nopony would say so much as boo to a goose around the place. Soon, folks started to leave, just odd ones at first, but it became increasingly noticeable. That was when the notices started coming around.”
 
Drays ears pricked up, “What notices?”
 
“More threat than notice, really.” Gal shrugged, “Rules, regulations, laws, you name it. Soon it became so complicated, nopony knew whether they were breaking one of those crazy new laws or not. That was when we decided we had to get away. I don’t want my children growing up there, Dray, not when at any minute Lemon or I could…”
 
He didn’t need to say any more. Dear goddesses, Dray thought bitterly, what the hell had that fool Ochre done to their home?
 
“We heard you’d arrived at the castle under guard” Gal said quietly, taking another tot of rum, “Word got round you’d been ‘marked’ by the lord and when you arrived at our house, well…” he paused, “Ochre has eyes and ears everywhere. What the princess was thinking when she let him advise her, I have no idea.”
 
Dray’s ear twitched involuntarily, “Gal, you said I’d been ‘marked’?”
 
“Well, it may only be rumour Dray, after all if he really wanted you dead you wouldn’t be talking to me now, so maybe you’re not.” Gal replied, “But anyway, the folk call somepony ‘marked’ when they started being watched by Ochre’s goons. Like I said earlier, usually they were ponies who’d spoken out against him or upset him in some way and goddesses know there was a long enough list! Anyway, sure enough, they’d start disappearing one by one. Some of ‘em, the smart ones, got the hell out when they realised he was eyeballing them.” Gal waved a hoof in the air, “I think you get the idea.”
 
“Yes…” Dray murmured, “Yes, I think I do.” He sank to his haunches and poured another rum. “So, you think your family was marked too?”
 
“No.” Gal replied yawning, “Lemon worked at the bakers and had her ear to the ground with the castle staff. She didn’t hear our names mentioned, but she heard enough to frighten her, so we decided to leave.” Gal glance up at Dray, “I know it’s off topic, Dray, but…is it true then, about Celestia?”
 
The Colonel sighed and closed his eyes, “What have you heard?”
 
“That she died during the fighting,” Gal said, “killed by that monster, Nightmare Moon. The whole castle was abuzz with it, and I think Ochre liked it that some looked to him as a sort of replacement for her. He certainly didn’t waste any time moving onto the throne.”
 
“I don’t know what to tell you Gal.” Dray said sadly, “The princess fought Nightmare Moon, that’s true, but so far we knew she was winning, at least until a dragon appeared from nowhere and the next thing we knew, she was diving down to the ground behind enemy lines.” He shrugged, “We haven’t seen her since, but whether she’s alive or dead, I wish I could say.”
 
“But the sun still rises,” Gal said, “surely without the princess we’d be in perpetual darkness?”
 
Shrugging, Dray adjusted his cloak, the cold of the evening was starting to make itself felt, “That’s true, Gal, that’s true. I can only hope and pray that she’ll come back some day and restore our home back to the way it was.”
 
“I hope so”, the bronze pony said nodding his head slowly, “I really do.”
 
The dull thudding from below continued, a thing trail of bubbles rising from the stern as the boat moved quietly down the river. Gal reached across and pulled on a lever, and almost instantly, the thudding noise began to slow.
 
“Need to take this bend nice and easy” he said to nopony in particular, “been a few bumps here in the past.”
 
Dray peered over the stern, “Remarkable craft you have, Gal. I’ve never heard of one using fire imps for propulsion before.”
 
“Big mouth been at it again has he?” Gal shook his head, “I don’t suppose it’s much of a secret now, but yes, I traded the boiler box for an map my dad had kept from his seafaring days. I felt a bit guilty selling it to be honest, but when I saw the boiler box, I knew I had to have it.” He shrugged, “You can’t imagine how long it takes to punt up the river when there’s no wind. Besides, all I need to do is keep the imp well fed with Lemon’s goddess awful scones and it’s happy as Larry.”
 
“I noticed.” Dray chuckled.
 
“Tried one did you?” Gal laughed, “For the goddess’s sake, don’t tell Lemon what we do with them, Dray. She thinks we absolutely love them and can’t put them away fast enough!”
 
Dray smirked and shook his head. The Captain was quite the character. “Your secrets safe, Gal.” he said, stretching his hind legs, “Any idea how long the journey may take?”
 
“Few days I reckon,” Gal replied, “I’ve not been that far upriver for a while. I just hope the Legion’s not…you know.”
 
“I don’t think they’re interested in farming communities.” Dray said honestly, “So far they’ve mostly moved on strategic points, military outposts and such like. The goddesses know, we didn’t exactly have that many in the first place.”
 
“I hope you’re right my friend,” Gal said resignedly, “I really do. Lemon and the foals deserve somewhere safe to live, and I don’t give a toss who’s in charge so long as they leave us alone to get on with our lives in peace.”
 
Dray nodded. He couldn’t blame Gal for feeling that way. His young family needed him and he wanted to protect them the best he could. Goddesses knew he’d probably do the same in his situation, but…he hadn’t had he? He’d left her, his beloved wife and children while he answered the call of his country…again. Now, after everything he’d done, he’d been dismissed like so much discarded tat: unwanted and surplus to requirements. Dray took a deep breath and looked up at the stars. They were beautiful tonight; so cold, so distant, and yet somehow eternally enchanting. When you thought about it, when you boiled everything right down to what truly mattered in life, it was family…always family. And now, he was going home.
 
“You boys hungry?”
 
 A pastel yellow mare with a cream and green striped mane and tail trotted up balancing a tray on her back with a selection of what looked like pies, cakes and something steaming in a jug.
 
“Thanks love”, Gal smiled, levitating the tray from her and placing it neatly on the chest beside him, “Get yourself below and keep warm, we’ll be alright.”
 
The mare nodded and gave Dray a slightly furtive smile before vanishing back below decks.
 
“She’s angry with me,” Gal laughed, “Won’t say anything with you here mind, but I’ll catch all sorts of hell when we drop you off.”
 
Dray didn’t know what to say, other than, “Sorry Gal.”
 
The pony laughed even louder, “Don’t be! She’s always angry. Angry at the way Lord Ochre simply took over from Celestia, angry that her friends started disappearing, and then angry that we left.” He looked out over the river wistfully, “But you know, I love her Dray. She’s my life and my world, the mother of our two beautiful foals. How could I stay there and risk all that?”
 
“You couldn’t” Dray answered honestly, “I don’t think you had much choice.”
 
Held in the glow from his magic, Gal lifted the tray, “Here, they’re lentil and leek pies. There’s hot dandelion and burdock in the pitcher. It’s a bit of an acquired taste but I have to say I love the stuff. Bit sweet if you’re not used to it though.”
 
He was right. Taking a mouthful, Dray’s tongue began to tingle, the sweet flavour and floral aroma was unlike anything he’d ever had before. In a strange way it reminded him of home, of sun bathed days in summer whilst working the land with his father. He could feel his emotions stirring, the image of his beloved wife in his minds eye. He caught Gal watching him, a knowing smile on his face.
 
“Good?”
 
“Aye” Dray admitted, “I’ve never had anything like it, Gal. Your own recipe?”
 
“Lemon’s,” He replied, his eyes glinting, ”non-alcoholic of course, but then you don’t want a drunkard piloting your boat do you?”
 
The two chuckled and began tucking into the equally delicious morsels provided by Lemon Flower.
 
“You have any family, Dray?” Gal asked.
 
The Colonel nodded, swallowing another bite of the mouth watering pie,
 
“I do, my wife Honeysuckle and two foals, my boy Polo and daughter Dawn Dew”.
 
Gal smiled, “It’s good to have somepony to come home to. I suppose I’m lucky that mine often travel with me and help out.” He laughed, “Sometimes it’s good to get away for some ‘me’ time of course, but there’s things you can’t do on your own, if you know what I mean.” He gave Dray a knowing wink.
 
The Colonel laughed, “Aye, I’ll admit I’ve missed my Honey a lot these last few months. Army life is no place for a married pony.”
 
Gal nodded, “A dangerous occupation”
 
“It is, although mostly boring.” Dray reasoned with a knowing chuckle, “Standing about all day doesn’t do your hooves any good, I can tell you.”
 
The boat continued along the river; the occasional cry of a fox in the distance or hoot of an owl the only noticeable sounds other than the gurgling of the water and thrum of the boiler box. It had a decidedly calming effect on the soul, Dray thought to himself. He would have liked this life: the freedom, the ability to just simply travel wherever the river took you.
 
“You look all in” Gal said suddenly, clopping Dray on the shoulder, “Get yourself below, and get some sleep. Charcoal should have the hammocks up by now.”
 
“Thanks, Gal.” Dray said rubbing his eyes, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
 
Trotting over to the hatch, Dray descended into the almost blinding light of the hold. Lemon Flower was there, busily trying to wash the crumbs from a struggling yellow foal’s mouth. He had to laugh, Duster’s tiny wings buzzed furiously as he tried to pull away from the flannel’s assault on his face.
 
“Mister Dray?” It was the little grey foal, Charcoal.
 
“Yes, little one?”
 
Her large blue eyes stared up at him, “Do you have a cutie mark?”
 
“Charcoal!” Lemon said irritably, “Don’t ask such rude questions!”
 
“It’s alright ma’am,” Dray replied smiling, “Here, look…”
 
Dray pulled his cloak back to reveal the three barrels emblazoned on his flank.
 
“Cor! Look at that!” Duster exclaimed finally breaking free of his mother, “I’d like that one!”
 
“What about your friend?” the curious Charcoal asked.
 
She trotted over to the Lieutenant who was still sitting where Dray had left him when he went up on deck. The fellow still had that far away look. He had to admit, he was starting to worry about his state of mind. Dray called over to him,
 
“Lieutenant Cove?”
 
The white stallion looked up, his haunted expression wavering slightly.
 
Dray raised an eyebrow, “Let the little ones see your cutie mark will you?”
 
Cove’s lips moved slightly, his eyes blinking as if just waking up. Finally he took in the wide eyed stares of the expectant foals,
 
“I…yes…sure.”
 
Pulling his cloak aside revealed the ornate design on Cove’s flank. Charcoal and Duster rushed round, pushing and shoving each other out of the way to get a closer look.
 
“WOW!” Charcoal squeaked, “Look at that!”
 
“How cool is that!?” Duster gasped, jumping from one side to another in excitement, “If I had that I’d show EVERYPONY!”
 
Dray had to admit, it was unusually elaborate. The colourful image of an island, the blue of the bay and even small palm trees and a sailing ship, all sat there as pretty as a picture.
 
“And…and…you have it on both sides? You do?” Charcoal squeaked excitedly.
 
Cove’s mouth twitched, “I…yes, of course.”
 
He pulled himself to his hooves and showed off his other side. The two foals reached out and began gingerly touching the mark, their eyes all but bulging out of their heads,
 
“I hope we get marks like this!”
 
“Me too!”
 
Lemon trotted over, “Come on you two, leave our guests alone, you’ll be far too excited to sleep at this rate.”
 
“But mum!” Duster complained.
 
“Never mind that, get into bed, now!”
 
Dray couldn’t help but smile at the heart warming scene of the mother packing her overly energetic foals off to their hammocks. He also noticed the way the mare glanced back at the Lieutenant as she went, her cheeks visibly flushing. ‘Some things never change’, he thought to himself wryly. Taking off his cloak, he climbed into his hammock, utterly exhausted. He’d wash up in the morning. Right now he just wanted sleep and to see Honeysuckle and the children. Across the room, the Lieutenant had finally stirred himself into action and, after a few fumbled attempts, managed to climb into his hammock, treating Dray to a full view of his ornate cutie mark as he did so.
 
Dray sniffed, turning over to face the wall. What was wrong with his cutie mark? Nothing wrong with three barrels, it was symbol of strength, endurance and pride. He pulled the blanket over his head, letting out a snort,
 
“Bloody show off…”