CHAPTER FIFTEEN
HOME AND HEARTH
Water gurgled past the hull, mere inches from where Dray lay in his hammock. He was tired, but relieved; relieved because he was on his way home, but also that he felt that in some way, the family of the riverboat had been saved the inevitable horrors of life under the auspices of Lord Ochre. He could be selfish and say that it was somepony elses problem now, after all, he’d more than done his duty in his time in the army. He’d spent years on the border too, returning home to raise a family and then he’d rushed off once more to fight another war, fighting for his life against an enemy he’d never so much as even spoken to. Dray stared at the planking of the hull and ran his hoof down it. It was old, reliable, and dependable. It did a job and one day, when it was worn out, it would be scrapped and a new one built to replace it. He sighed; it was like a metaphor for his own life.
It was early morning. Lemon was already up and busily engaged in dragging her sleepy foals out of bed, while he snuck in to take advantage of the abundance of hot water, courtesy of the fire imp. It was indeed a useful little creature, not that he ever actually saw it, but hot water…whenever you wanted it! Incredible. He poured some out of the jug into the washbowl and rubbed the steaming flannel over his face. Goddesses have mercy, that felt so good! The curtain behind him provided a level of modesty and he set to, using the water with abandon, revelling in its reenergising warmth.
Dray cleaned himself top to bottom, dumping the used water into the bilge. It was surprising just how black the water was. How long had it been since he’d had a proper wash, let alone a bath? Days, weeks? It was frightening to realise it was so long ago, he simply couldn’t remember. The war with Nightmare Moon had left him, and many of the ponies in the army, in the uncomfortable position of having to wear their armour for days on end. Even then, the chances to wash properly were few and far between. Many had gone lame, the doctors spending an inordinate amount of time treating maladies that many of them had never had in their lives. Some, those from the larger towns, had been hit the hardest. Weakened by softer living standards, it had been too much for them and their bodies had simply…given up. He’d signed too many letters telling parents of the loss of their beloved son, daughter, mother, father, uncle, grandfather…the list went on.
Dray gave his mane a shake and began to towel off, taking the opportunity to run the long bristled brush through his hair. Thank Celestia it was wet! His mother had always berated him for not looking after his mane and tail properly, and if she could see him now, his life wouldn’t be worth living! Fortunately the water helped ease the brush through the tangles, but it didn’t stop it completely from snagging and pulling painfully on the more stubborn knots. As an earth pony, brushing his tail wasn’t particularly easy either and grooming could be a royal pain in the arse. This is where the army ‘buddy’ system came in. Many didn’t take to it at first: the thought of grooming another pony you didn’t know, and sometimes of the same gender, didn’t sit well with many of them. That was where the drill sergeants came in. He grinned to himself remembering some of the looks on the faces of the pampered ponies after being screamed at for asking where the staff were when they ‘needed’ their beds making. Ah, latrine cleaning duties…so many hours of fun for the uninitiated!
“Good morning, Lieutenant, Ma’am”
Cove was already up and slowly eating a bowl of oatmeal. He looked drawn, the dark circles under his eyes an indication of how little sleep the fellow must have had last night. Dray noticed the children were the ones having the most success of dragging the pitiable stallion from his doldrums, their constant pestering finally breaking down the walls he’d thrown up around himself. In some peculiar fashion, Cove had become the unwitting celebrity on the riverboat, both for the foals and, unfortunately, for Lemon. The yellow mare had taken quite a shine to him. Anyway, Dray reasoned, they’d be off the barge in the next couple of days or so and just as well. He didn’t want to be the cause, albeit indirectly, of causing a domestic incident. Up on deck, the morning sun was warming the riverboats timbers along with the pony on the tiller. Goddesses, didn’t Gal ever sleep? Dray reasoned he must have, but then he’d been completely out of it himself for most of the night and had still woken up feeling like a few more hours would have just hit the spot. Anyway, he was up now whether he liked it or not, and he waved a hoof at his new friend in greeting,
“Morning Gal, you’re up and about bright and early.”
The bronze stallion chuckled, “We always are. Lemon and I take shifts and travel through the night.” He shrugged, “I suppose we’ve been working the river that long, that both of us know these waters like the back our hooves. It sure helps give us the edge on the competition.”
“Is there much?” Dray asked. He hadn’t seen many other boats at the dock, and certainly none since last night.
Gal shook his head, “Not these days. Anypony who had any sense got the hell out the capital when they got wind of what happened at River Valley.”
Dray shook his head in wonderment.
“What is it?” Gal asked at his guest’s expression.
“I’m just trying to work out how you know.” Dray raised a hoof apologetically, “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, Gal, but I can’t understand how you know about it already. I suspect you’re not the only one either.”
Gal shrugged, “It’s no secret” he said nonchalantly, “Ochre uses pegasi to relay messages to him. Remember me telling you about Lemon’s gossiping friends?” Dray nodded. “Seems they’ll tell you anything for a cinnamon swirl.”
“The last word in secrecy eh?” The Colonel snorted, “I’d guessed Ochre had using pegasi. I saw one shadowing us on the way to the castle.” He deliberately didn’t mention the one he’d seen only the previous night.
“They should leave you alone now though, right?” Gal said hopefully.
“I don’t see why not,” Dray replied, “After all, he’s got his own way. I’m ‘off the team’ so to speak and he’s got far more important things to do than to harass a poor farmer.”
The bronze stallion opened the lid on a tube and blew, shouting down into it for Duster to ‘feed’ the boiler. Dropping the lid back down, he stretched his back and glanced over at Dray,
“I hope you’re right Dray,” he said with a serious tone, “by the goddesses, I hope you are, for your sake.”
The comment took the Colonel off guard. For a moment, a feeling of cold dread ran through him gripping his heart. What was this? Was he unnerved by Gal’s words? He’d meant them sincerely, certainly, but…there was something else, something behind the words that the boat’s Captain hadn’t intended. Dray walked to the side of the boat and stared out at the trees as they passed by. A kingfisher sitting of its perch watched the peculiar little vessel chugging past. For all its speed, the riverboat wasn’t going to get to its destination for at least another day and then there was at least a full day’s travel from there, at a gallop. But…he wasn’t in a rush, why would he be? Honey was safe, so where the foals. Dray shook his head angrily; it was just his bloody imagination, and being stuck on this damned barge! Damn it all, why wouldn’t it go any faster?!
A hoof on his shoulder made him spin round,
“Dray…I’m sorry my friend, I didn’t mean to…”
The Colonel shook his head, giving the bronze pony what he hoped looked like a sincere smile, “No, there’s nothing to be sorry for, Gal. I’m just anxious to see my family again, that’s all.”
“I understand,” Gal nodded, “Look, I’ll do what I can to get a little extra out the old girl and see if we can’t get there sooner, okay?”
Dray clopped him on the shoulder, “Thank you my friend.”
The Colonel walked to the bow of the riverboat and sank to his haunches. Was he becoming soft in his old age? He looked down at his forelegs. They were scarred, the dark grey coat covering most of them the same as it always had, but if he looked closer, he could see how they all but criss-crossed his hide making him look like a foals noughts and crosses game. Most of these looked old, and there were so many it was only the odd one that still brought back memories of fights, brawls and the goddesses knew how many battles. The border had been the worst of it. Maybe in some way, his father’s untimely death had been a blessing. Dray had been allowed to leave the army, to go home and tend the farm in his father’s stead. And it was there, at the local village chandlers, that he’d met the girl he’d seen working in there since she was a foal. He’d seen her grow, get married, and then tragically lose her husband to the flux during a particularly hot summer. She was still mourning him when Dray walked past the shop one day and saw her for what felt like the first time.
Dray loved candles. The way the flames flickered and danced had always entranced him ever since he’d been a foal. There was something delightfully simple, something ‘earthy’ about them. He’d never been able to put his hoof on it, and probably, many would think he had completely lost his mind, but to hell with them. If he hadn’t called into the shop, he would never have found just how much the two of them had in common. Perhaps if he’d met her earlier he wouldn’t have joined the army, she wouldn’t have married somepony else and they would have had many more years together. Instead, he’d left her, the mare he loved, with two foals while he went off to war. Oh, she knew why, they all knew why: it was to defend Equestria and their home. But why him? Of all ponies, why did it have to be him? Honeysuckle had cried for days, unable to find the words to express how she felt. And then he’d left, left to fight an unknown enemy with an army that consisted of little more than excited children dressed in ceremonial armour. It was all agonisingly predictable; the Legion had cut right through their pitiful ranks like a hot knife through butter.
A brass bucket, surprisingly well polished like most of the metalwork on board, caught Dray’s attention, distracting him from his melancholy thoughts. He lifted the shining thing up and examined his reflection. Even on his muzzle, the scars were frighteningly visible. They’d fade with time of course, but…how would she react? How Honeysuckle had found him attractive in the first place was bordering on miraculous already, but now? Dray put the bucket back down and gave himself a shake. There was no point torturing himself with ifs, buts and maybe’s. He would be home soon enough, and of course, at some point he would have to find some way of ‘dealing’ with the depressed stallion languishing below decks. Still, Dray reasoned as he headed back to the hatchway, with any luck the foals would have either talked the Lieutenant to death by then or pulled him back to the land of the living by little more than the sheer enthusiastic determination of a foal’s spirit. He grinned to himself; by the goddesses, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor bugger!
Life aboard the riverboat plodded along much the same for the rest of the day. Lemon swapped over with Galliard after she’d finished tending to the foals, allowing him a well deserved rest. Charcoal and Duster meanwhile were occupied with cleaning, polishing, and, when time allowed, pestering the life out of poor Lieutenant Cove. All too soon night fell, then morning came around once again; little ever changed on the river.
Dray found himself leaning against the bow, letting his imagination run free. The scenery had altered little on their journey. There were few houses and even fewer ponies. Occasionally they’d see a pegasus flying in the distance, or maybe a griffin? It was hard to tell. He began to wish he’d brought his telescope; at least it would have been something to do! Dray reasoned that it was simply the change of pace, a different perspective on life that Gal and his family had lived with for so long, it was as natural to them as the leaves on the trees. He’d have to get used to a different pace himself now, back to the days of early mornings, late nights, sowing, ploughing, reaping. But, he was an earth pony, and farming was in his blood. Goddesses knew he’d spilled enough of his own on Equestria’s rich soil. He could smell it now, the rich dark earth, the feel of it beneath his hooves; it was just so full of life, he could imagine his father’s excitement when he discovered it and built their farm. Different days they may have been, but farming was farming, and he’d soon get back into the swing of it.
He stretched, giving himself a hard shake. How he’d love to just go and have a roll in all that lush grass beyond the bank, to stretch his legs and have a damned good gallop. This wasn’t the life for him, stuck on the deck of this boat, he wanted his home, the fields, a warm fire next to an equally warm mare. Dray took a deep breath, taking in the fresh air and the hint of woodsmoke. He paused…woodsmoke?
“Dray!”
The Colonel looked over his shoulder at Galliard who was waving to him urgently. As he trotted back, he noticed the bronze pony pushing the long lever forward on the boiler control and felt the vessel begin to slow.
“Whats up?” he asked, looking around for any signs of trouble.
Gal chuckled, “Nothings up, Dray. We’re here.”
“Here?” He looked around perplexed, “But…”
“It’s just around the next bend” Gal laughed, rolling his eyes, “Better get your gear Colonel, and your friend too.”
Drays heart leaped in his chest. This was it, he was back home! Well, nearly, but near enough! All decorum forgotten, he dashed down the steps to the hold and began packing his gear excitedly. Lieutenant Cove, sitting with his now regular audience of Charcoal and Duster, looked up at him quizzically.
“Get your gear, Lieutenant.” Dray called over as he began hastily packing the few items he’d managed to gather, “We’re nearly at Heifer’s Leap.”
Cove furrowed his brow, a look of confusion on his face,
“Heifer’s Leap?”
“Near as we can get to my home Lieutenant” Dray called over his shoulder, “Shake a tail soldier, and that is an order.”
The young officer complied. He still seemed to be quite ‘distant’ at times, but thankfully was a whole lot better now than he had been. Surprisingly the children, as horrendously loud and irritating as foals could be at times, had been just to the ticket to kick him, metaphorically at any rate, up the arse. Dray smiled to himself. Maybe a sound kick in the nuts would have done the miserable sod the power of good too. He finished the last of his packing and noticed the sad look from Lemon Flower who was busy washing up the children’s breakfast dishes. Thank the goddesses that Cove hadn’t responded to the mare’s flirtatious advances as it would have more than likely ended up with them swimming the rest of the way. As it was, the white stallion had occupied himself with strapping his armour to his panniers and saddle packs so he could travel quickly. It was quite an accomplishment too, considering he didn’t have any magic to help him. Interestingly, Dray noted that all of the ponies Ochre had sent to collect him were earth ponies. Didn’t he have any unicorns in his private army? He couldn’t believe it was some form of prejudice, as even Lord Ochre wasn’t that paranoid…or was he? Dray took a swig of water from the pitcher by the sink and topped up his water flasks. Minutes later he was up on deck, just in time to spot the rickety looking jetty of Heifer’s Leap hove into view. His eyes immediately went wide in surprise, what the hell was going on here?
The dock was absolutely crowded with ponies: a seething, heaving mass of equines all pushing their way towards the already heavily overloaded boats to the point where their crews were being forced to shove the frightened creatures back. One or two had already fallen in the water, but rather than swim back to shore, they were attempting to scramble up the sides of the already overloaded boats. The chaotic scene sent shivers down Dray’s spine, his previously buoyant mood souring quickly.
“Ahoy, Captain Galliard!”
An appaloosa mare waved to them from another boat as they approached the dock. Gal waved back, slowing his vessel’s speed and bringing them nearer, but not so close so as to risk the ponies on the dock swamping them. As it was, the desperate looking Equestrians were eyeing the relatively empty deck of the riverboat with a longing born of desperation.
“Ahoy Currants! What’s going on here?” Gal called across.
“Legion’s coming this way,” the spotted mare shouted back, “a lot of ‘em apparently.”
“I thought the Legion had already come through here?” Dray shouted to the other boat’s captain.
The mare nodded, “Aye, they have, only now they’re sending reinforcements, and a lot of ‘em to, or so the rumours say. Folk are scared and wanting to get out of the way before they get here.”
“Where you heading?” Gal called, leaning on the bow, “I wouldn’t head for the castle if I were you.”
Currants shook her head, “Nope, heading east. From there we may strike out for the uncharted territories.”
Gal shrugged, turning to Dray, “Do the Legion pose that much of a threat to simple folk minding their own business, Dray?”
The Colonel rubbed his chin in thought. Did they? In all the time he’d fought them, the Legion had shown little to no interest in those that didn’t threaten them directly. The military precision of Nightmare Moon’s army had been rapid, focussed, and a lot of civilians had barely even noticed they were at war until a group of armed thestral warriors marched past their front doors carrying unfamiliar banners. Dray shook his head,
“No, I don’t believe they do.” He said honestly.
The Captain gave Dray a brief nod and called his wife up on deck. Soon, the two of them began a brief discussion which was rapidly becoming heated. The Colonel quickly decided a tactical withdrawal was in order, and discreetly kept out of the way while he watched one of the now packed riverboats slowly pulling away from the jetty. The crowd had thinned out somewhat, but it was all too clear that there were still far more ponies than space on the existing boats would allow. Several of the refugees had begun shouting over to Galliard’s boat and his empty deck was fast becoming an enticing prospect for the remaining ponies; the very same deck that had suddenly and rather disturbingly, become very quiet. Dray looked round to see Lemon sat on her haunches, her forelegs crossed in a manner that suggested her husband was likely to feel the full fury of her wrath at some point in the very near future. Rolling his eyes, the bronze stallion trotted back to the tiller,
“Dray, I know you want to go home as soon as you can, but I’d appreciate it if you could help us out a little before you do.”
The Colonel adjusted his gear, “Of course, Gal. It’s the least I could do for you, and there’s also the matter of payment.” He began fishing about in his pouch, but Gal reached out a hoof, stopping him,
“No.” He said shaking his head slowly, “Please, it wouldn’t feel right to me. Look, just help me with these buggers and we’ll call it quits, okay?”
Dray didn’t know what to say. He felt a pang of guilt about not paying, but Gal was insistent. He had the money he’d had saved with the army bursar at the castle and it would be more than enough, but…
“If you’re sure, Gal.” he said with a sad smile, “But I won’t forget this. If I can ever repay you or your family, look me up at our farm on the edge of Hockspeth.”
The bronze stallion gave him a wink, “I may just do that.” He motioned to the stowed gangplank, “I’ll take us a little nearer. When we’re ready, lower the plank, but for the goddesses’ sake, don’t let them all rush on board at once.”
Dray nodded.
With a surge of power, the riverboat began to draw nearer to the jetty, a stream of bubbles and steam rising up from the stern until, with a thump, Dray dropped the gangplank into place.
“One at a time!” The Colonel called out in his most authoritative voice, “No pushing or you’ll be going over the side. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
The ponies paused, dozens of pairs of eyes watching him warily, their earlier enthusiasm to come aboard suddenly cooled in the stern gaze from the scarred army veteran. Walking up alongside him carrying his spear, the tall white form of Lieutenant Cove and his distant stare didn’t exactly add much to entice the nervous ponies aboard.
“You can stay here if you want.” Gal shouted, “We’re not staying any longer than we need to, so shift your flanks if you want or stay here, it’s your choice.”
They didn’t need any more encouragement. The first of them gingerly stepped onto the gangplank and with help from Lemon and the foals, was quickly found a place on the deck as the now strangely muted equines filed aboard. Soon, the last of the refugees was settled and the dock became almost eerily quiet. Dray adjusted his gear and turned to the Captain,
“That’s the last of them, Gal. We’ll be heading off now.”
“Thanks Dray,” The Captain smiled, shaking the Colonel’s hoof, “You certainly have a way with ponies, I’ll give you that!”
Lemon walked up to the pair, pushing past the milling ponies and produced a muslin bag of food,
“Here, Duster told me how much you liked these so I’ve made some extra for your journey, Colonel” She nudged Cove shyly, “And some for you too…Lieutenant.”
The pastel yellow mare blushed furiously as she pressed another bag into Cove’s hooves and quickly vanished back into the mass of newcomers, issuing orders and positioning them like so much freight. Dray shook his head in wonder. The next leg of his journey, or rather, the last one, was just about to start and it was with some sadness that he had to bid his new friends farewell. Cove was already halfway across the gangplank as he said his goodbyes to Gal and his family. A few minutes later, in a fountain of churning water, bubbles and steam, the heavily laden riverboat gradually began to pull away from the jetty and head off on its long journey upriver. Charcoal and Duster waved and shouted enthusiastically from the stern, while Galliard bobbed his head and treated the two soldiers to his customary broad grin.
“Come on, Lieutenant”, Dray said happily, giving one final wave as the riverboat gradually disappeared from view, “It’s time to go home.” Flexing his shoulders, Dray headed off up the dusty path towards Hockspeth, the ever quiet Lieutenant following in his wake.
The sun was still high in the sky, its warmth giving light gradually giving way to an ever darkening bank of cloud. Rain came quickly in these parts, drawn to a degree by the nearby mountains, and could easily soak the unwary traveller. Fortunately, Dray had managed to scrounge up some supplies from the castle stores before his rather hasty departure. Clearly word about him hadn’t spread quite as quickly as he’d thought, either that or the stores pony was more sympathetic than he’d let on. Lieutenant Cove’s presence had similarly been useful to allowing them access to the bursar’s office where he’d drawn out all of his back pay and savings - much to the distress of the treasurer. Bits, it appeared, were for saving, not for hoofing out to ponies. ‘Miserable sod’, Dray thought to himself, he was probably the type who sat there all night counting towers of coins by candlelight.
Not far ahead of the two ponies, the land slowly began to change, the low hills eventually giving way to wide rolling grasslands punctuated by scattered trees and hedgerows. It was certainly a quiet place, a land of peace, calm and serenity that Dray hadn’t fully appreciated when he was young and, he had to admit, rather impetuous. Father’s expectation that he would take over the family farm and spend his days there had rankled the young stallion. It threatened to snuff out all of his hopes and dreams, turning him into just another version of his father. Dray had hated the idea, dreading the prospect of endless years of ploughing, sowing and reaping until he passed away from this world leaving nothing but a grave marker to show that he’d ever existed. And so, following some foolishly grandiose notion of glory, he’d enlisted, and where had that got him? The borderlands…
The cooling wind reminded him of the endless winter stationed there and the horrors that were an almost daily occurrence, so much so that after the initial shock of seeing a pony torn apart by one of the beasts that lived in those parts, it had ceased to affect him; at least, on the outside. He gave his mane a shake and snorted loudly. That was the past, it was all in the past, dead and buried like his father. Now, the farm was his, Honeys and his two beautiful foals’. He hadn’t seen them since being called back up, and now, now he was so close he could almost smell the wood smoke from the chimney and the fresh cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. Goddesses, he’d missed all of them so much, but mostly, he’d missed Honeysuckle his beautiful wife. Sure, she wasn’t as young as she once was, but then neither was he, and he was certainly no picture! Scarred by years of hard living and battle, it was finally time to put that all of that behind him and look forward to a future with his loving family. An image of Honey gazing into his eyes as she drew him towards her entered his minds eye. He could still recall how she would kiss him so tenderly, with such love, it made Drays heart respond, adding a spring to his step. A casually kicked stone rattled past him, catching his attention and bringing him out of his happy daydreaming state. He smiled,
“Lieutenant?”
The white stallion lifted his head, “Sir?”
“Do you have any plans? Anywhere you can go from here?”
Cove shook his head.
“You’re most welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to,” Dray continued, “but bear in mind it’s not a big farm so you may have to put up with a little discomfort until we can sort something out for you.”
“Yes, Sir”
Dray shook his head wearily. He’d really have to sort something out alright: the Lieutenant himself.
Cove stopped suddenly, his ears swivelling forward, an intent look on his face,
“Somepony’s coming”.
Training instantly kicked in. Dray and the young Lieutenant quickly looked for cover, hurrying to the thick bushes at the side of the road and hunkered down, keeping as silent as possible. Cove passed Dray his spear and drew his sword, his breathing slowing as he concentrated on the approaching figure. Staring at the pony for a moment, Dray began to wonder why they were doing this; he was going home wasn’t he? What the hell was he doing hiding?!
“Good goddesses, what the hell’s wrong with me?” he muttered and stood up.
“Colonel! Goddess damn it!” Cove hissed, but stayed where he was.
An elderly orange unicorn mare, carrying a basket of apples atop her saddle bags, slowly walked towards them. Old she may be, but certainly not frail by any means. Outdoors life hardened a pony and promoted good health. Dray’s own father had lived a fine long life, at least until his accident, and by the looks of it, this old dame was a lot fitter than he’d initially given her credit for.
“Mornin’” She mumbled, walking past a few steps.
She stopped.
“You’re not young Dray are you? Herald’s boy?” The mare peered back at the Colonel over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing, “By the goddesses…you are!”
Dray shook his head in wonderment as she approached,
“Hello Fair Breeze, how are you?”
She shook her head smiling, “How am I? How are you!” She clopped him on the shoulder, “Look at you! You’re…you’re huge!” She began laughing, “Oh my goodness, Honeysuckle and the children will be overjoyed to see you’re back!” She paused, “You are back, aren’t you? You’re no spring chicken anymore Mister Dray, and you have a family to look after you know. Times are hard enough without stallions swanning off to…”
“Alright! Alright!” Dray laughed, “Please, Fair, I promise you I’m back for good this time!” He shook his mane, “No more fighting and definitely no more wars for this stallion. I’m going to be a good old farm worker like Dad was.”
“Mmhmm” Fair Breeze stared right into his eyes, “You should be too, it’s a good farm that one, young Dray. Honeysuckle has worked hard to keep it going while you’ve been doing…” She waved a hoof, “whatever it is that you blasted young-uns do!”
The old mare raised an eyebrow peering past him, “And you can come out of there too if you’ve finished playing hide and seek.”
Lieutenant Cove pulled himself out of the bushes, his coat covered in twigs and leaves. Giving himself a good shake, he sheathed his sword and cautiously approached.
“You can come nearer you know” Fair said in a calm voice, “I don’t bite.” Her eyes looked him up and down, a wry grin spreading across her face, “Mind you, if I’d been thirty years younger…”
“Fair!” Dray squeaked in surprise.
The orange coated mare batted her eyelids and cast Cove a lustful gaze with her big purple eyes before bursting into raucous laughter, all but rolling on the ground as she shook with merriment,
“Oh don’t be so prudish!” She wiped the tears from her eyes desperately trying to regain some control, “I have had foals you know, and unless you can’t remember, you had a couple of your own too!”
Dray shook his head while the Lieutenant busied himself picking leaves from his coat, and doing anything other than make eye contact with the mare.
“Fair, can you tell me what’s been happening around here while I’ve been gone?” The Colonel asked.
“Well,” She replied scratching her mane, “If’n yer have the ears to listen, then I’d be delighted. Come on, you two big boys can escort me to the turnpike.”
Shouldering Fair Breeze’s bags between them, the three ponies walked along the well trodden road back towards Hockspeth. Things hadn’t changed much from what the old mare said: a few births, a few deaths, but little else of note. The Legion had certainly passed by the village but apart from a few scouts, they hadn’t, as he was relieved to hear, shown any inclination to enter the village itself. In a way he wasn’t surprised, the village held no real tactical importance and by and large, the villagers were fairly apathetic towards anything that happened outside of Hockspeth. That included the dealings of royalty, and especially the war, showing them little more than a passing curiosity. What concerned the people of Hockspeth mostly was the weather; be it too wet, too hot, or even just right, it was always the number one topic of conversation down the local tavern.
Fair Breeze herself came from one of the oldest farms in the area, with numerous sons, daughters and grandfoals to her credit. She also had quite the reputation as a lady who liked stallions too, with the usual rumours doing the rounds about the questionable parentage of several of her offspring. In a small village like Hockspeth, rumours spread like wildfire and everypony there loved nothing better than sticking their muzzles into each others business. Fair Breeze however, didn’t let such a thing as gossip faze her in the slightest and there was more than one embarrassed looking stallion when conversations turned to who her latest flame was. Mind you, that was a good few years ago, reminding Dray just how many years were behind him now too. Goddesses, how he’d wasted his life…
“So, ‘Lieutenant’ was it?” Fair eyed the young stallion as they crossed the small bridge over a bubbling stream.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She giggled, “Oh! He’s very well mannered isn’t he, Dray?” Fair closed her eyes and sighed, “I knew a Lieutenant once, handsome fellow he was too. Such soft hooves…”
“Ahem!” Dray cleared his throat noisily.
Fair laughed, “Tsk! You stallions!” Turning her attention to the Lieutenant once more, she gave him a nudge, “Anypony waiting for you back home?”
“No, Ma’am”
“A pity”, Fair replied raising an eyebrow, “A handsome stallion like you. If you were my fellow I wouldn’t give you a minute’s sleep. I’d be buc…”
Dray nearly choked, “-Fair, please, for the love of Celestia!”
“Oh, poo!” She pouted, “A mare can’t even tease a stallion these days without somepony getting all uppity. And don’t look at me like that, young Dray, I knew your mother you know and you’re not too old to get a bloody good spanking.” She waggled her eyebrows at him suggestively.
Oh goddesses, this wasn’t happening! Dray looked at the Lieutenant for some sort of salvation from the frisky old bugger only to find the object of Fair’s attention standing there with his cheeks virtually glowing. In fact, the white stallion’s whole face had turned bright red and…oh, please no…he was…he was actually giving her that sort of look too! By Celestia’s hairy arse, she was old enough to be his grandmother! Thank goodness Fair was only teasing him or else…
“Lieutenant?” Fair Breeze’s voice was low and dusky.
“Yes, Ma’am?”
“If you…get cold tonight…” She looked away shyly, “I…I’ve got somewhere warm…you know, for you to stay.” Her demeanour was suddenly intensely feminine despite her years, “It’s warm…and soft. There’s good food too.” She smiled at him alluringly and moved in closer, her eyes looking up into his, “On the road into the village, it’s the last turn on the right by the old lightning tree.” She took a breath, “Just…if you get…” Fair Breeze moved her muzzle right next to the rigid stallion’s ear, “…lonely.”
In the next heartbeat, Fair Breeze had recovered her bags of apples and was trotting gamely back off up the road towards home, pausing a moment only to flick her tail suggestively and stick her tongue out at the bewildered soldiers. Dray face hoofed,
“Come on Romeo,” he sighed, “let’s get home before all that blood goes to your head.” “Or other parts…” he muttered under his breath.
Cove stared after the mare before stammering, “Y…yeah…” Giving himself a shake, he broke into a trot to catch up with the Colonel.
The road bent round to the right past the edge of a small wood, the trees rustling in the steadily increasing breeze. Rain would be coming soon, but they didn’t have far to go now fortunately, just over the small footbridge Dray and his father had built together so they didn’t have to keep using the ford, and then…
He stopped. There, ahead of them was a small farmhouse, a thin trickle of wood smoke rising lazily from the chimney, just starting to be whipped around by the wind. The cosy idyllic home sat surrounded by a neatly trimmed hedge with its white painted wicket gate exactly as he’d remember them. It was all as he’d remembered: the windows, the thatch, it was as if he’d never left. The vines growing over the stone walls probably could do with trimming though, and somepony had left the cart out…again! How many times!
A drop of water fell on his muzzle and he looked up,
“Here it comes…” he muttered, and then the rain hit.
“Come on!” Dray shouted at the Lieutenant, and set off full gallop for the gate.
As they approached the gate, a honey coloured mare rushed out of the house followed by two foals sporting clothes baskets. Nimbly, the unicorn mare took down the garments with her magic, shouting instructions to the young ones as the rain began to hammer down around them. In no time at all, the foals had been sent running back into the house, the last basket of laundry floating in front of the mare while she too made for the shelter of the door.
She stopped.
“Hello, love”
The purple glow of magic winked out, sending the basket crashing onto the doorstep.
“Mummy?” A young voice called from the depths of the open doorway, “What’s wrong? What’s…Daddy? DADDY!”
A blur of white and black hurtled up the garden path and threw itself like a wet furry comet into the open forelegs of the Colonel. It was overpowering; the emotional overload carrying him away on a wave of relief and bliss that made him cry helplessly with the sheer joy of being able to be with his family once more. Tears poured down the scarred face of the old warrior, mingling with the heavy drops of rain as he sank to his haunches and hugged his equally tearful foal.
“Polo…Daddy’s home.”
The honey coated mare’s head turned slowly, as if she were frightened that if she looked, if she really saw what she wanted to see, the merest blink or breath could send it away like the barest memory of a dream. Honeysuckle stared at her husband with her deep brown eyes, the one’s he’d gazed into on that cold night so many years ago, when he asked her to marry him. Gingerly, oh so slowly, she began to walk towards him. Her hoofsteps were hesitant, unsure, but he was there, wasn’t he? It was really him? Honeysuckle could see Polo, he was jumping and running about by the grey stallion’s hooves while he himself stood next to somepony she didn’t recognise, but…it was still him.
Honeysuckle held up a hoof, tentatively, slowly, tracing the contours of his face, the scars, the lines, his mouth, muzzle, even his ears. Water dripped from him, making his grey coat darken even more in the now increasing rainstorm. She didn’t speak, letting her eyes say all that needed to be said as she moved closer still. Like some frightened rabbit, the honey coloured mare moved her muzzle alongside Drays, her nose taking in his scent. He could hear her breathing, feel the heat emanating from her as she watched him. Slowly, she brought her lips to his, softly placing them upon him and kissing him as gently as the brush of a spider’s web and as sensitive as a newborn foal. She moved in again, pressing more firmly, reaching a hoof out to his chest and gasping out a loud moan.
Dray and Honeysuckle didn’t notice the Lieutenant shooing Polo into the house and pushing back in a scandalised Dawn Dew who was staring out of the open door at her parents with her mouth hanging wide open. Neither of them cared. The world around them, the rain, the wind, none of it mattered.
Right now, right then…it was their time.