Joel took second watch at what might have been twelve o'clock at night. Mace had told him to keep an eye out for monsters, bandit ponies or just anything unfavorable. As much as he would had liked to sleep, the cool night air and bright night sky was actually very comforting in a wakeful kind of way. As he took watch against a tree he began to look at the night sky and couldn't help but notice that there were no constellations that he recognised. At least none from back on earth. No big or little dipper, no orion's belt not the north star or even the Pegasus constellation ironically. There was a moon but it was about the whitest thing that could ever be and looked just a bit bigger.
Things were much different here and he thought he could have just been on a completely different planet maybe even galaxy at that. But if it was then why were the main inhabitants a species of animal that could be found on Earth. Not only that but even the trees and all of the wild life he saw could be found on Earth. This is what kept him thinking during most of his watch. His attention however was dragged away when he heard a twig snap.
He was about to go check it out when Hilliph appeared almost out of know were saying, “Keeping the night close?”
Joel jumped at his sudden appearance and said, “you guys need to stop sneaking up on me like that.”
He said, “I will take the third watch. You can go rest now Joel.” he walked passed him and to where he was just sitting.
“I don't think my shift is over yet,” Joel respectfully protested.
He sat down and said, “I don’t need much sleep to last the day, I'll be fine. I've been keeping the fire going so it should be warm.”
“Well thanks then,” Joel turned but then remembered the twig snapping. “There uh. There was a sound out in the night. There could be something.”
Hilliph simply said, “Oh it's probably nothing. Could’ve just been some very strong wing.”
“What do you mean?” Joel asked, “How could wind have broken a solid object?”
Hilliph then said, “Joel I know that you have not been a Falconer long. Infact this may be your second day, but as a Falconer you got to be on your guard at all times, because anything can happen, and now that we have the Gekies Getuies trailing us it makes our situation even more dangerous. But when we say it was strong wind it's a polite way of saying don't worry about it,” His sword shifted slightly up out of its sheath as he held it in his magical grip displaying the blade for Joel to see. He continued saying, “Because whatever it is, I will take care of it.” He slid it the sword back safely into its scabbard.
“You're right,” he said. “This is my second day and I don't even know what I'm doing. I don't even know why i'm here.”
“No pony ever gets to were there at without a few coincidences. Life is unexpected and in fact it would be unusual if nothing out of the ordinary ever happened.” Joel was enamored by what he had to say. This entire thing had been the works of one huge coincidence, or was it even one? He didn’t know for sure. “What ever got you here i'm sure it was for a good reason. A purpose you might say.”
“I don't even know what mine is.”
Hilliph laughed a little, “some never do, but we all still have one. Right now you're needed here. Now sit and listen,” Hilliph said in a quiet voice. “I'm sure our visitor will reveal himself yet.”
Joel nodded and quietly sat back down. He saw that Hilliph was using his ears to listen flicking them left and right, tuning into whatever might have made the noise. There would be a lot to sift through amongst all the crickets, rustling leaves grasped by the wind and a number of other soft noises that blended in. A snapping twig however wasn't a soft ambient sound. So it would probably be much easier than expected.
Joel listened in also trying to pinpoint its location trying out his new ears. For a few quiet minutes Joel hadn’t moved until Hilliph whispered saying, “did you hear that?”
He hadn’t.
Hilliph silently opened up his bag that hung over his back and levitated a wooden bottle, uncorked it and poured a liquidy red substance onto the ground. Joel watched as it got soaked up into the ground. Hilliph said, “You know Joel, a Falconer is always in peril.” The ground where the liquid was poured onto it started to morph into what looked like a long skinny snake with no head. After it formed, it then slithered away into the bushes and out of sight. “But if you come prepared and stick together in close bond as a treo,” he looked over a patch of bushes the snake slithered for Hilliph finished saying, “then you will never have to bid this world farewell.” There then was a rustling and then a panicked muffled scream. Hilliph then stood up and said, “Looks like we caught our spy. Let's go. He is in need of our company.”
Joel quickly followed after him and asked, “What did you do? How did you catch him like that?”
Keeping pace with his stride he simply said, “There is an alchemy technique I have been studying.” They walked over to a bush where they found a stallion with all four hooves tied by the long snake of dirt. There was also a clod covering his mouth so Joel guessed that it splitted off from the peace of the headless dirt snake.
The stallion had a helmet cap that concealed his face covering the front of his muzzle to the back of his nape. It was black and dark green, and gave him two horns just between his ears. He was breathing heavily through his snout with frustration and anger fumigating from his eyes from having been caught. “Who is this,” Joel asked.
“He is a Gekies Getuies spy. He could be after the book which is the only lead there is on the Hexers fortress.” Hilliph took the dirt clod wrapped around the spies hooves and hoisted him into the air floating just above the ground with his main running through the grass as they took him to camp. Dropping him on his side near the fire all three of the falconers woke up immediately to the disturbance. Hillph said, “Looks like we have a spy every one.”
Opening her eyes, Kara slowly eased herself up while asking, “Spy? I spy for who?”
“A spy for the Gekies Getuies.The helmet cap is how they distinguish themselves,” he answered.
Hilliph let the dirt fall from the stallion's mouth. He coughed and spat and said, “I won't talk.”
“We’ve been there befor,” Mace said as he deployed his crossbows if happened to be needed.
Igneous lifted himself drawing his sword, spinning it about for effect. He then said, “I will not tolerate an incursion by some lucrative cult or whatever you consider yourselves to be.” He held the tip of his blade firmly against the side of the spies neck pointing down ready to plunge itself into his flesh if necessary. Igneous asked, “How many more of you are there? Tell me or I will cut you a new wound and you will die were you lie now.”
Struggling with the dirt bind he said, “There are no more, I was chosen to go alone.”
“And how many are coming,” Igneous said as he slowly circled him blade hovering still over the Gekie. The stallion didn’t answer and Igneous let the sword slip down and back giving the spy a deep flesh wound on the back of his neck.
“Whoa Igneous,” Joel took a few steps forward and was about to intervene but Igneous, fast as he was and quick to react, drew another blade pointed it Joel holding it at jugular level. “Hey!” he shouted in anger.
Hilliph said, “Stay back Joel.” Mace nodded at Joel to take Hilliphs advice, and when Igneous saw that he had backed down he flipped the sword back into its sheath with great speed and proficiency. Almost robotic to say the least.
The spy resisted the strong urge to scream but you could tell just by looking at him that he was in pain. A great deal of pain, not only from the blood but the look on his face. Igneous returned the sword back to its previous position above the side of his neck and said, “Unless you're willing to die for what ever believe you bound yourself to then I suggest you talk.”
The spy still laying on the ground unable to move because of the dirt said, “Then do it. My purpose has been fulfilled, and I’m no longer needed to rome the Carridian lands.”
“I’ll have it your way,” he rested the blade just against his neck and said, “You will rome in agony.” The spy closed his eyes as he prepared for the worst.
Just befor he witnessed Igneous deliver the leathal blow Joel shouted saying, “Stop! You're just going to kill him?”
Kara said, “We have to. He is a threat.”
“But this isn’t right. This is cold blooded.”
“And what kind of world do you think we live in Joel.” she asked. “You think it's just an endless dream where every ponies is happy and there's no care whatsoever. If so then you're mistaken. He may have killed innocents. We have done this before, it's for the better. Don't interven.”
“He does not look like a bandit.” It was a weak argument but it was all he had. He couldn’t just see some guy get killed off like this.
“Do you even know who the Gekies Getuies are.” Hilliph asked, “They work in the shadows making deals, bribing, blackmailing, and whatever else to achieve whatever goal they set. They will kill if they have to.” He paused for a moment then added, “and now our mission could be in jeopardy. They know we have the book containing vital information on the location of the Hexer fortress and the most powerful light magic in Carridian. Imagine what they will do, what they will be capable of if they get that magic. We Joel. We just can't let it happen.”
Joel knew that they were right, that this single quest could mean their world, but he couldn’t just watch someone die. He was never able to, “I'm not going to watch you guys just kill him.”
“We have to Joel,” Igneous said barely even making eye contact. “I'm sorry for pointing my sword at you but I won't let you compromise this mission.”
“I understand.” he answered. “If you're going to kill then him I won't watch,” He turned around giving the condemned prisoner one last look before he walked into the woods holding his head low. “I'm sorry,” he said to himself. “There are just somethings I can't do. Hard to witness old stranger.”
For a moment he was alone then a voice from behind, Maces, said, “do what?”
Joel looked back surprised and said solemnly, “Nothing Mace. Just thinking out loud,” he mumbled in remembrance.
Mace sat down beside him and said, “I know we only met you a few days ago and that you barely even know us.” Joel didn’t answer instead looked the other way. “I know adjusting can be hard but it's what us Falconers must do.”
“I'm not a Falconer, I might as well just go back alone.”
“If you do that you will get lost, not to mention the Gekie G’s that you will run into, or even monsters. Basically… at this point... it's too dangerous to go alone.”
"A little too on the nose there Mace," Joel offered up.
Mace was just a bit of light enjoyment. He continued saying, “When all is said and done and your life is over, wouldn’t it be great to have no regrets. To have done everything you wanted and fulfilled every promise you ever made.”
“That sounds like a nice ending.”
“It is,” he reassured, “and if you come with us that's one less regret you will have to carry with you. You will know that you’ve ventured the lands of Carridian braved the hexer fortress and retrieved the strongest magic in all of Carridian. All while combatting the formidable colt… the Gekie Getuies.” he with dramatic effect raising his hooves up to the sky in feeling. Then looking to him with a grin he said, “now how does that sound?”
“Admittedly,” he began. “Pretty bad ass.” But then reality set back in and the situation he now found himself in. “Still I can’t just watch someone die and I can't take there life.” He said weakly. “there was nothing I could do.” he said as he began inadvertently withdrawing to his past, “Seeing someone you love slowly die right in front of you while you are incapable of doing anything is the worst thing I ever had to go through.”
“I bet it, but look Joel. This is what makes you. They way you value others lives even though they may seem irredeemable isn’t a weakness, and although it couldn’t help tonight I'm sure that later in your life it will make the difference.”
“Did I kill that guy on the mountain?”Joel asked.
“No, Igneous did. He may seem like a hot head but there is more to him than you know. More than I know myself. What he does is for the good of us. He may not show it but he does care deeply for his team. We got six days and I'm sure you will get to know him more and begin to understand as you fall on his good side and likewise to you.” Mace looked back, and said. “It's done. Now come on, your part of this team.”
Joel slowly stood up and when he turned around there was no body but the ground where it was looked a lot more lose. Hilliph had used Alchemy to bury him after the deed was done. They began to move because they didn’t want the Gekies Getuies to catch them. They ventured till dawn surpassed the afternoon that came and finally succumbed to night that very same day. They all kept silent for that entire day of travel. When the opportunity for rest did come, as tired as Joel was, he took the first watch.
That night he looked up at the clear night sky and to the stars he had become a stranger to. That night he thought of how much he would rather be back on earth, and even though Hilliph has said he had a purpose, Joel still didn’t know what it was. He didn’t on earth and was convinced he didn’t now.