Age of Kings

by A bag of plums

45 - Artifact Hunting

“Ah, what a lovely day,” Emerald Edge remarked.

And true to her word, the day was lovely. The sky was a clear blue, with a few wisps of cloud painted across it like cream in a cup of tea. The air was crisp and clean, without the slight taste of smoke that Canterlot’s air tended to have. Sitting atop Foxtrot, Emerald surveyed the land from the peak of the hill that she and Sir Prancelot were currently occupying.

“We are getting close to Docklin,” Sir Prancelot said pensively. “Exactly where the rumors have led us.”

“Yes,” Emerald said simply. They had already been traveling for three days, seeing as Docklin was not within the kingdom of Canterlot. It was a good distance away from King Dawn Saber’s territory and likely won’t be as welcoming.

Two weeks ago, Emerald had been enjoying a dinner with Jewel Pin at the Drifting Stallion, when one particular travelling storyteller began a tale that caught Emerald’s attention. He had been talking about a mythical spear in the northern lands near Docklin, an artifact of great power.

“Docklin,” Prancelot said, narrowing his eyes. “Duchan and his cadre of druids are from Docklin. It is almost certain that we will meet more of them here. Be wary, Lady Emerald.”

Emerald nodded. Her previous run ins with druids had left her with a distaste for them and their magics. Now she was about to step into their homeland. She loosened Amore in its sheath.

“Sir Prancelot,” she said casually. “You have been a knight longer than I have. Did you ever come to Docklin before?”

“Once, when I accompanied King Dawn Saber on a diplomatic mission here. Relations with the druids were less strained back then. We could negotiate with them. Not the case any more. At least not with Duchan.”

“Have they made any progress with the interrogations?” Emerald asked as they continued to ride toward the large town of Docklin. Both the town and the province were named Docklin, which Emerald found a touch confusing. Perhaps people here lacked imagination.

“Now, remember,” Prancelot said sternly. “We may be Knights of the Round Table, but surely people here have heard of our struggle against Duchan. It is possible we may not have such a warm welcome.”

“Oh.” Emerald hadn’t thought of that.

Nevertheless, the two knights approached the town of Docklin at a rapid pace, watching as the walls grew in size and loomed over the lush grassy fields that seemed to make up the province.

There were four men with swords dressed in a combination of mail and cloth armor standing by the main gate. They had a combination of swords, spears, and maces. One of them, presumably the captain, caught eye of the two knights and pointed. The rest of the men held their weapons ready, not quite in a threatening manner, but in a way that said that they were not to be trifled with.

“Hail, travelers,” the captain raised his hand in greeting. “What brings you to Docklin?”

Emerald gave the guard a smile, remembering to make a good first impression. “We are King Dawn Saber’s knights, and we are following a rumor of a magical spear. We are looking for a place to stay the night, as well as somewhere to stable our horses.”

“Oh. You’ll want the wayfarer’s house then. Follow the main street to the town square, then look for the Crowing Rooster. Stables are right next to it, they will take care of your steeds for a few bits. Ah, but I did not get your names. I’m Cosantoir, second captain of the Docklin guard.”

“The is Lady Emerald Edge, and my name is Sir Prancelot. Thank you for your welcome, Cosantoir.”

One of the other guards pulled the huge doors open and let the two knights in.

Here we go. Emerald thought.

---

The first thing that Emerald noticed when she and Prancelot rode into Docklin was how bright everything was. In a stark contrast to the grey stone walls of Docklin’s exterior, the insides were almost offensively cheery. Banners of every color hung from ropes that crisscrossed the roofs of the two-storey buildings, whose walls were also painted with striking colors.

There was a loud buzz of townsfolk talking and moving, and while the streets were far from empty, Prancelot and Emerald had no trouble getting their horses through. In a short time, the Crowing Rooster came into view, a large inn with a sign of a cock crowing hanging off the side. And just like the guard at the door had said, next to it was a stable with two other horses lodged there.

Prancelot rode up to the stables and dismounted. A purple bearded man in an apron hurried over.

“Are you the stablemaster?” Prancelot asked.

“Nay, good sir. That be my uncle. I’m just watching the stables till he gets back from buying more horse feed.”

“I see,” Prancelot said good-naturedly. “Well, how much would it cost to stable two horses for the night?”

“That would be twenty bits, good sir,” the bearded man said after doing some counting on his fingers.

Sir Prancelot handed over the bits, and their two horses were led away into the stables.

“Now that we’ve seen to our steeds, we should get ourselves inside the inn. We can begin our search for the spear tomorrow,” he said, pushing open the door to the wayfarer’s house.

Inside, a handsome fire blazed in the fire pit, accompanied by a small group of bards in the corner who were playing a soft, soothing melody. A few of the customers near the door looked up from their drinks at the two armored newcomers, but soon returned to their flagons.

Prancelot and Emerald approached the bar.

“Landlord!” Prancelot called. A short tan man with an impressive handlebar moustache hurried over to them.

“What can I get you?” the landlord asked.

“Two flagons of your best ale, a meat pie for me, and some washed vegetables for my partner. And we will want a room to stay for the night.”

The landlord bobbed his bald head. “Coming right up, sir knight.”

As they sat down to wait for their dinner, Emerald looked around the inn. It seemed a lot more orderly than the Drifting Stallion back in Canterlot. The whole place looked very serene and festive, with groups of people laughing and talking as the bards played their music. It was very soothing.

“You know, inns are a great place to pick up rumors,” Prancelot said. “Although I bet we would be a lot less distinctive if we weren’t wearing our armor.”

“Maybe the landlord knows something,” Emerald said hopefully.

“Aye, he probably does, but that kind of information won’t come for free. We’ll have to pay him.”

“What, with bits?” Emerald asked. Being a Knight of the Round Table, her pay was rather good, so coinage wasn’t much of a problem with her, at least not now.

“Bits perhaps, but most landlords and bartenders will expect a trade. One secret for another, if you will.”

“Hmm…” Emerald said.

Not too much longer, the landlord returned, carrying two flagons of brown ale and two plates. One had a piping hot mince pie on it, while the other was piled high with greens.

“Ah, thank you, landlord,” Prancelot said.

“You need anything else, just let me know.” The landlord tapped the side of his nose and winked, then went off to serve another customer.

The two knights looked at each other, then dug into their dinners hungrily. Having eaten nothing but bread and cheese on the way to Docklin, Emerald was especially grateful for the fresh vegetables on her plate. The ale was just as good as the stock in Canterlot Castle’s kitchens, and while she would never admit it to anyone, she had sometimes sneaked in there for a drink or two after an especially tiring day of knight work.

In no time at all, both Emerald and Prancelot finished their meals, scraping the plates clean.

“Ahh. Now that was rather nice, wouldn’t you agree?” Prancelot grinned at Emerald.

“Yes,” Emerald said happily. In part, she was glad she was a knight, for getting to travel the land and sample its food was one of the bonuses she often forgot to count in. She made a note in her head that the Crowing Rooster was now one of her top rated taverns. Unfortunately, it had to be all the way in Docklin.

The landlord came back to collect the plates and flagons. He was just about to leave when Emerald tapped him on the arm.

“Landlord,” she asked. “Forgive the intrusion, but I have a question about Docklin, and I was wondering if you had the answer.”

A wry smile crept over the landlord’s face. “Well, now, I might know a thing or two,” he said. “What do you want to know?”

Emerald lowered her voice. “We are on the search for a magical item,” she said, simplifying it for the landlord’s benefit. “A spear, to be precise. We have it on good authority that it is in the province of Docklin somewhere. I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”

The landlord regarded the question carefully. Then he picked up a mug and began to clean it with a rag, moving the cloth in circles around the mouth of the cup.

“I could help you about that,” he said in a low voice. “But know that this information does not come without a price.”

Emerald nodded and took five bits from her coinpurse and slid them across the bar. “How about now?”

“Well, my memory’s clearing up a bit,” he said. “Maybe with a little more… economic motivation I could tell you what you want.”

Another five bits joined the first.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” the landlord swept the bits into his pocket. “I know of this spear you’re looking for. The Scarlet Lance, it’s called, or by its proper name, the Gae Dearg. It’s said that the spear can stop magic from working. Last I heard, it was in the hands of a knight called Saker. He used to roam the lands, fighting evil druids, but those days are long gone. Druids seem to have up and left, so there’s no one left to fight. Saker’s probably at his hideout in the Knight’s Passage, if you want to see him.”

“Knight’s Passage, is it?” Prancelot chimed in. “And where might this be?” He, too, slid over a few coins. But the landlord pushed them back.

“I’m not charging you for information that any shmuck off the streets could tell you,” the landlord said piously. “Knight’s Passage is this valley about two leagues east of this town. It’s an enchanted place full of moving trees and fearsome beasts. Saker and his men have a hideout deep in there.”

“Why thank you, landlord,” Emerald smiled. “You’ve been very helpful.”

“Always a pleasure to help a lady,” he grunted. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got hungry customers to feed. Your room is the third on the right, second floor. Number fifteen.” And then he hurried off.

“Well,” Emerald said. “That was a good ten bits well spent.”

Prancelot nodded. “Aye. Now we know where to look. What do you say we get some sleep and then head off the Knight’s Passage first thing tomorrow?”

---

If there was one thing that Emerald could find to complain about in the Crowing Rooster, it was the beds. They were lumpy and full of straw, and the room was unbearably stuffy until she opened the window. And then she closed it again for the Docklin nights were chilly and windy. She was glad to awaken to the sun shining through the shutters.

Prancelot seemed to still be asleep. Emerald crept over to him. He was muttering something in his sleep, almost inaudibly so. The former pegasus leaned over her partner’s head and listened.

“No… Sunlight… won’t let them… taken… oh, Princess Sunlight…”

So he was dreaming about Queen Sunlight Radiance. Obviously he knew her from earlier days, but clearly she held a special place in the knight’s heart if he still had dreams about her.

Not wanting to delay their search for the Gae Dearg, Emerald gently shook Prancelot awake.

“Wha-? Oh. It’s you, Emerald. I was having this awful dream.” He sat up and rubbed his face with his hands. “What time is it?”

As if in reply, a guard walked past under the window, ringing a bell and shouting, “Eight bells, and all’s well!”

“Eight already!” Prancelot exclaimed. “I have delayed us! Quick, let us be dressed and be on our way to Knight’s Passage.”

Sir Prancelot was true to his word. In no time at all, he and Emerald had gotten back into their armor, eaten a small breakfast downstairs (which was far emptier than it had been last night) and were on their way to the stables after paying the landlord. They found their horses sequestered inside, munching on hay and oats. Saddling up, the two knights paid the stablemaster and were quickly galloping east of Docklin town. The sun shone radiantly and dispelled the nighttime chill, and Emerald almost began to feel merry. The wind blew in her hair and the leagues melted away before them. After what seemed like only twenty minutes, she and Prancelot found themselves staring at a thickly wooded area. After tying their horses to a sturdy tree, the knights walked up to the forest’s edge and peered in.

“Well, this must be it. Knight’s Passage.”

There was a crooked wooden sign on the outskirts of the forest. It read: “Do not enter, beasts within.”

“Huh.” Emerald said. She looked around. “I don’t see any beasts.”

“That’s because they’re all deeper in,” a man’s voice said. Prancelot and Emerald whipped around, setting their eyes on a trio of people in dark brown hooded robes, with pouches and satchels hanging from their belts.

“Druids!” Emerald exclaimed, drawing Amore. Beside her, Prancelot did the same with Arondight.

“Woah, woah, woah, hold on here!” the closest druid said, holding up his hands and waving them. “We don’t mean you any harm. We’re not here to cause any trouble.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Prancelot muttered.

“It’s the truth!” another one of the druids exclaimed. She had long, dark hair that her hood couldn’t hide. “We’re here looking for the Gae Dearg. It’s the only way we can stop Duchan!”

“Wait.” Emerald blinked and lowered Amore. “Did you just say Duchan?”

“Yes. He used to work here in Docklin, until he started using dark magic to try and take over the land.”

“What happened?” Prancelot didn’t lower his sword, but the expression on his face grew less hostile.

“Well, it’s like this,” the lead druid said. The guards caught wind of his uprising and the baron had him banished. We heard he was stirring up mischief in Canterlot, so we decided to get the Gae Dearg to stop him once and for all.”

“But why you?” Emerald asked. “Why not the town guard?”

“Ah, I’m afraid that’s mostly our fault,” the third druid spoke up. He was taller than the other two, but walked with a slight hunch that made him roughly their height. “We used to be in the same clan as he, but we didn’t stop him when he began delving into dark magic. Duchan and his brood are our responsibility, even after we expelled him from the clan. After we get the Gae Dearg, we will journey to Canterlot and defeat him, once and for all.”

Prancelot and Emerald exchanged glances.

“Uh, I don’t know if you know this, but Duchan has been caught by the knights of King Dawn Saber,” Emerald explained. “He’s not a threat anymore.”

“Did you kill him?” the female druid asked.

“N-No,” Emerald said, taken aback by the bluntness of the question.

“No! He’s too dangerous to be left alive!” the tall druid said, wringing his robes in his hands. “Putting him in a dungeon won’t stop him forever. That’s why we need the Gae Dearg.”

“What a surprise,” Sir Prancelot said. “We’re after the Gae Dearg as well.”

“Are you?” the lead druid said, perking up. “Why don’t we work together? Is this your first time in these woods?” Both knights nodded. “Then you will need a guide to get you through the valley. We know the way to the spear, but we aren’t any match for the beasts within. Perhaps you can help in that regard.”

Sir Prancelot let Arondight drop to his side. He looked at Emerald, who looked back at him. “Could work. And these druids seem friendly enough.”

“All right then,” Emerald agreed. “We shall work together to get the Gae Dearg. But on one condition. We get to use it first.”

This didn’t seem to trouble the druids unduly. “That’s fine,” the lead druid said. “Well, let’s go. If we start now, we’ll get there before midday.”

Following the trio of magicians, the two knights delved into Knight’s Passage.

---

It was tough going at first. The group pushed through bushes, brambles, and other undergrowth. More than once Emerald almost tripped on a tree root. But as the five of them kept walking, the path became easier and easier to follow.

“This is the path that Saker and his men usually take to their hideout,” the female druid explained. “Of course, it’s not used very much now. It’s been almost a decade since there were any evil druids to fight.”

“I see,” Emerald said, bending down to bypass a tree branch.

“So why do you want the Gae Dearg?” The druid asked after a few more minutes. “Are you fighting Duchan’s group too?”

“We are,” the former pegasus confirmed. “But I want the Gae Dearg for another reason. I need it to break a spell back in Canterlot. My quest depends on it.”

“Oh. Well, I hope it works out for you.”

The druid didn’t seem interested in just what the spell she intended to break was. Emerald was more than a little surprised. She was used to the mages back in Canterlot being curious about practically everything, but it seemed like these druids at least knew how to mind their own business. In some ways she liked that, while in other ways she had kind of been looking forward to explaining herself.

There was a rustling in the undergrowth to the left. Emerald and Prancelot immediately readied their swords just in time for a huge wolf to come stalking out of the bushes. Its feet were the size of bucklers, and its head was bigger than a horse’s.

The two knights held their blades up, making sure the wolf could see them. The beast’s mouth opened, dripping with saliva around its dagger-like teeth. Then it sniffed at the air.

There was a tense moment as the wolf and the knights stared each other down.

Then the wolf snuffled at the ground and retreated back into the shrubbery.

Only after five minutes had passed did Emerald relax.

“Good thing that wolf didn’t attack us,” she said, relieved. “I wasn’t looking forward to fighting something that big.”

Sir Prancelot nodded in agreement. “I didn’t know wolves could get that big…”

“In Knight’s Passage, you must learn to expect the unexpected.” the tall druid said sagely.

“Why yes indeed,” a man’s voice said from behind them.

The entire party turned around, looking for the owner of the voice. To their surprise, the gigantic wolf was there, as well as a man in tarnished plate armor. His skin was a dull orange, and he had a grey beard that reached down to his sternum. But most importantly, in his right hand he held a long, red spear.

“You’re the first people in a long while to have come this far in,” the man said with a smile. He patted the wolf’s neck. “Abbot here’s been watching you since you first entered Knight’s Passage. My name is Saker, and I am the guardian of these woods.”

Saker! Emerald thought with a thrill. But that must mean… she eyed the red spear. If that was really Gae Dearg, then she had to find some way to take it from the other knight.

“Well, come on then,” Saker said, beckoning them with his free hand. “You didn’t come this far just to talk to an old knight, did you? I know what you’re here for.” He held up his red spear. “You’re here for the Gae Dearg. To be honest, I was starting to lose hope that anyone would ever come along.”

“What do you mean, sir knight?” Prancelot asked.

Saker sighed, stroking his beard. “Look, lad. My days as a knight are over. There be no bad druids left in Docklin to do battle with, and I’ve grown old and tired of fighting. All I wanted before I retired was to pass on my spear to someone worthy. And you lot seem like good candidates.”

“We do?” the lead druid asked.

“Aye, and you’ve already passed the first test,” Saker said. The humongous wolf turned its head to lick the old knight. “Anyone who doesn’t just run from Abbot must have a stout heart and nerves of steel, which proves you’ve got the mettle to use the Gae Dearg.”

“Alright then, what’s the second test?” the female druid asked.

Sake scratched his head. “Well to be honest, I didn’t think anyone would get this far. So I don’t really have a second or third test.”

“Should we leave you to think of one?” Emerald asked.

“Nay, lass. I do not wish to linger on knighthood any longer. It will cut into my retirement time. So here you are, the spear is yours. May you bear it well.”

Saker presented the group with the Gae Dearg. Her nerves tingling with excitement, Emerald reached out to take it. This could be it. With two artifacts, especially one used for breaking spells, she might actually be on her way home to Equestria! Her hands trembling slightly, Emerald gripped the Gae Dearg and took it from Saker’s grasp. The three druids looked on curiously.

Immediately Emerald could tell something was wrong. Unlike Excalibur, the shield, or the staff, the Gae Dearg didn’t resonate with her at all. And she didn’t sprout pony ears and wings. The former pegasus hefted the spear in her grip. It felt like pretty much any other spear that she had handled back in Canterlot.

“You must be kidding me…” Emerald muttered, shaking the spear as if doing so would activate some kind of magic. It remained a normal, albeit red-painted spear.

“Well, Emerald?” Prancelot asked eagerly. “Is it an artifact?”

“No,” Emerald said quietly, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. She had wasted four days looking for a fake. The three druids and Saker were still watching her, so she put on a fake smile and bowed to the older knight.

“Thank you, Sir Saker. We will put the Gae Dearg to good use, we assure you. Have a good retirement.”

Emerald’s mood continued to lower as their group trekked back to the forest’s edge. How could she have been so stupid? Civilians were naturally superstitious, and she had walked right into a waste of time, all because she had been so eager to get home.

I must be more homesick than I thought. Emerald stewed.

Her foul mood continued even after they made it to the edge of Knight’s Passage.

“Well, I guess this is where we part ways,” the tall druid said. “Good luck with your, ah, quest, knights.”

The three druids began to walk away.

“Hey! Wait!”

The druids stopped, looking back at Emerald, who sprinted up to them with the Gae Dearg.

“You know, on second thought, I do not really need this for my quest. You can have it.”

“Y-You mean it?” the lead druid exclaimed, reaching out for the red spear.

“Yes,” Emerald said with a nod. “Take it. You can probably put it to better use than me anyway.”

The druid held the spear tightly, gratitude all over his face.

“Oh, thank you, lady knight. With this, we are one step closer to stopping Duchan and his clan. You have our eternal gratitude, Lady…?”

“Emerald. Emerald Edge,” Emerald said.

“My name is Scath Caol,” the lead druid explained. “And these two are Mort and Tara. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that we’ll meet again someday. But we have to get back to the rest of our clan, now that we have the Gae Dearg. We will sing songs of your generosity, Lady Emerald.”

The three druids waved goodbye to the two knights, who waved back until the druids were out of sight.

Prancelot laid a hand on Emerald’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry that we couldn’t get what we came for.”

Emerald took a deep breath and sighed. “That’s all right, Sir Prancelot. We might not have what we came for, but we’ve won us some friends today, and more friends are always better. For now, what I really want is a drink.”

“Back to the Crowing Rooster then?” Prancelot laughed.

His good mood was infectious, and Emerald found herself chuckling as well.

“Lead the way.”

---

Comments

[Jaxxon Markus Citadel]

So the spear wasn't a magical artifact. Make sense I suppose, not every rumor and fairy tale is going to turn out to be true. Still, at least we found out that not all druids are bad.

[Marcthelightspark2004]

This was good.

[MoonlightRift]

Unfortunate, but the first real time (that I can recall) that a rumor wasn't true, and I have a feeling there'll be more of those by the end of this.