//------------------------------// // Chapter 8. Into the Wilderness // Story: Daring Do and the Gryphon's Quest // by De Writer //------------------------------// Chapter 8. Into the wilderness Daring Do laughed, a cheerful tone, after the recent events. The fine gravel of the Royal Road crunching under hoof, she said, “No, I have made a note of it and WILL return at a later date. What we need now is more important. Those First Creation fanatics need to be stopped. “I would rather stop them with facts instead of a war.” Her harness creaking rhythmically as she strode up the road, Grata nodded, her crest lifted in the gesture of understanding. “Doctor Do, I commend you. You are not only an expert in an esoteric field, you are wise, as well. We too, wish to end the grip of the fanatics on our Aeries without bloodshed.” It was late evening when they finally reached the town of Eagle’s Roost. In the dusk, they found an open inn. To the surprise of Grata and Rahak, it was being run by a Gryphon. He greeted them effusively, gesturing toward his substantial timber and stone building, “Welcome to the town of Eagle’s Perch and my modest inn, the Gryphon’s Perch! I am Kraach. What is your need?” Grata responded, “Three things. A safe place to park our cart. A good meal for Rahak and I and something suitable for Doctor Do. After that, we will need rooms for sleeping and a breakfast to see us on our way.” Kraach turned his attention to their cart and his eyes widened. “That cart is Rom work! It will need to be guarded most carefully. The ponies here in Eagle’s Perch are basically pretty honest but they are desperate for good wheel work. “Our town’s wheelwright was killed about six months ago. The farmers in the area are desperate for haulage. They are sharing the carts that still work well, trying to get the harvest in!” Rahak asked, “What happened to the wheelwright and why has he not been replaced?” Kraach’s crest fell in discouragement. “What happened was a blot on the good name of Gryphons everywhere. We got one of those idiot First Creation of the Twin Flames fanatics come to town. “He saw a fine surrey belonging to the Baron in the wheelwright’s shop being fixed. Acting as if he owned the place, he demanded that he be taken on a tour of the town and local sights. “Wheelwright refused because the surrey was not his and it was not yet repaired. “Idiot said that the concerns of the Later Created were of no interest and began to beat the wheelwright with his bare claws to “Teach him to do as his betters demanded.” One of his claws cut the wheelwright’s jugular and he died of it. The commotion drew a crowd who witnessed the murder. They caught the killer and he was turned over to the Empress. She did not listen to his First Created crap. He got the Long Drop Without Honor. “It needs a Baronial Appointment to replace the wheelwright. We have THREE applicants but the Baron has spent all of his time down in Canterlot, instead of paying attention to his Barony.” While he was talking, Kraach led them to the enclosed innyard. He opened a locking storage bay and offered, “This should do to store your cart for the night.” Rahak produced a lock and secured their goods. They all trooped into the Inn. Kraach ordered his staff, “Two Gryphon specials! Make them with the big trout and a side of roast bunny. One Alfalfa Loaf with fried potato on the side! Get the drink orders for our guests!” Afterwards there was a bit of time spent in the taproom, between singing some drinking songs and a few card games, it grew late. Their rooms had spacious nests for the Gryphons and a comfortable, well appointed sleeping stall for Daring Do. Breakfast was equally pleasant. Kraach had noticed at dinner that the Gryphon’s diet of meats did not appear to bother Daring Do. They were all three served breakfast at the same table. When they unlocked their cart’s storage, Daring Do conferenced with Rahak and Grata as they went over their load. Kraach asked in some concern, “Is all well with your things?” Grata nodded, her crest jauntily up. “Yes, good Kraach. All is well. We will be going past the last of the roads today and are preparing for possible difficulties.” She returned to the readjusting of the load. Some of the town ponies who had little else to do watched the unusual sight of a Gryphon pulling a cart while a pony and another Gryphon walked along on either side of it. The morning sun was warming the road, making the shade trees planted along it welcome. They came to the Eagle’s Perch fairground turnoff. The Royal Road ended there. Beyond it, there were only some Baronial roads and farm lanes. Grata noticed the difference at once. “Why is this road so much harder to pull the cart over?” Daring Do replied, “Look closely at the road surface. It is made up of the coarser #3 gravel and not well packed. See the small ruts beginning? Crossing those ruts and the give in this surface from poor packing are why this road is harder to use.” Soon the Baronial road dwindled to a lane with no gravel surface at all. There were occasional gnarled roots rising out of the bare dirt, packed only by intermittent use. In places, leaves were drifted over the surface, lending a loamy scent to the air as the party passed. Daring Do quietly signaled a halt. She took out her rifle and set the twenty round clip into it. She worked the action to chamber a round. Rahak softly asked, “What is it, Doctor Do?” Daring Do pointed to the path ahead of them. “Tracks. Six ponies and a cart with a bad wheel ahead of us. None coming back. Maybe it is a work party but it could be an ambush.” She slung her rifle ready for instant action. Rahak nodded and rummaged his luggage briefly. He strapped on a Gryphon War Knife, a little shorter than a sword, but in skilled claws, about as deadly. The party heard the voices before they got to the end of the lane. As the source of the voices came in sight, it could seen that there were five farmers there, in an assortment of colors from Ugly Green to Barf Brown with a stop at Yuck Yellow. They grinned, showing discolored teeth as Yuck Yellow announced, “Thanks for swapping us that cart for this one! You ain’t leaving here unless you trades carts. Got a paper says you do it and everything.” He held up a paper that was headed, “CONTRACK OF TRADE.” Daring Do replied, “Bad Idea, there. This particular cart will get you five years at labor on the Royal Roads. It is Princess Luna'a personal property.” Hearing a rustle in the brush behind her, Daring Do dropped, shouting, “Down!” Gata dropped where she was, still in harness. Rahak leaped flat, drawing his War Knife. Daring Do turned as she dropped, hitting in prone position, rifle at the ready! The crossbow bolt, a lighter but still dangerous civilian one, passed through the air where Daring Do had been standing seconds before! It slammed into the flank of Ugly Green, who squalled in pain, “Celestia drat you, Charlie! You was supposed to shoot the one in the ugly hat, not me!” Daring Do aimed at the disturbance in the brush which showed where Charlie was reloading his predator control crossbow. Her rifle seemed to roar in the confined area of the turn-around! Charlie screamed in pain and burst out of the brush, falling flat across the still unloaded crossbow! A quiver of dangerous predator killer bolts scattered across the grass and dirt where he lay still. As the others were stopped cold, staring aghast at the unmoving form of their buddy, Rahak leaped. He landed astride Yuck Yellow, slashing with his War Knife! The CONTRACK OF TRADE fell from Yuck Yellow’s grip in two unequal pieces. His forelock gripped and pulled back forcefully, he felt the razor edge drawing a small trickle of blood from his throat. Rahak said softly, “It appears that you have nothing to trade. You need that cart to carry your wounded back to Eagle’s Perch.” “Wounded? Just Morty, there. Charlie been shot!” Rahak pointed out, “He is still breathing. Wounded, not yet dead.” Barf Brown spoke up, “You don’t understand. Our town got not wheelwright, thanks to one like you! We wouldn’t have never done this if we was not in such need.” Grata had got up, still in harness. “Not one like us. A religious fanatic nutcase. The Empress sentenced him to the Long Drop Without Honor. “It is due to another who IS like us, Kraach, that you have survived this blunder. He warned us of the problem. Take your wounded back to town. “The Empire will take account of your Baron’s negligence and not charge you. Your Baron will be required to make that appointment for a new wheelwright.” Barf Brown chuckled sourly, “Never happen. Baron Larbut is messing about in Canterlot. He got to make the appointment.” Grata lifted her crest as she informed him, “I am aware of the issue.” She removed a Magic Net mirror from her under wing bag. Tapping practiced codes with her dexterous claws, she spoke. “Grata here. By order of the Imperial Throne’s Left Wing, I must speak to the Princesses immediately.” The pause was brief. Both Princesses showed in the mirror. “What is it, Grata? What does the Imperial Throne need?” Yuck Yellow, Barf Brown and the rest nearly choked as they realized just how deep the cesspool was that they had jumped into! Grata replied, “The citizens of Eagle’s Perch are suffering from Baron Larbut’s criminal negligence. It has driven them to a criminal assault on the Left Wing of the Imperial Throne and the attempted theft of Princess Luna'a cart, on loan to Doctor Daring Do. “The Empire seeks Justice in this case. There is to be no punishment for the citizens, two of whom are presently wounded. Baron Larbut must leave Canterlot to attend to his Barony. He is not to be allowed to return, until a Royal Audit finds his Barony to be in proper order.” Luna and Celestia both nodded. “Not a problem. It will be as you request. Do you know if they are in need of a Royal Benefice to pay for short term problems? It will be drawn from the Baron’s personal accounts.” Grata looked over at the faulty boards and poor wheels of the cart that the others were loading Charlie and Ugly Green into. “I would say so. The state of all of the rolling equipment in Eagle’s Perch that I saw was from fair to ruinously bad. This is purely due to the Baron’s negligence of his duties to his populace.” Luna nodded briskly. “I am sending a Royal Appointment for the wheelwright. I saw the applications and am familiar with the work of each. The Baron told me that it was not important. That is now overridden. The Sheriff of Eagle’s Perch will receive both instructions and the appointment within the hour.” Grata raised her crest in full respect as she replied, “Thank you, your Highnesses, on behalf of the citizens of Eagle’s Perch and the Empire.” She put the mirror away. Crest set in a smile, she said, “Go now, and thank Kraach. If he had not notified us of the situation, this would have ended quite differently.” As they started to pull their load down the lane, Ugly Green lifted his head above the weathered side boards of the cart and said, “Ma'am, we are sorely ashamed of ourselves. You have showed us what a real just ruler is like. We thanks you.” With Daring Do scouting the way, they forced a way into the wilderness beyond the last of the roads. Once past the vicinity of the cultivated land, the forest opened out some and it was easier, though still not foal’s play. Taking a turn in harness, with Rahak scouting ahead, Daring Do grumbled with good nature, “Wheels are WAY overrated!” She was working the cart over some complex roots, partly hidden by the pine needles that littered the forest floor when she felt the assist of Grata’s shoulder pushing from behind. She commented jokingly, “Thanks. Isn’t this a bit low class for the Left Wing of the Imperial Throne?” With complete seriousness, Grata replied, “If one cannot serve when that is needed, one is not fit to rule at all.”