Chapter 10 Invasion on Noriphmy
1. Inescapable
2. Infiltration
3. Last and Only Front
4. Deluged Assassin
5. Allegiances
1. ‘Bright, lovely day.’ Yea, now that he thought about it Igneous could really appreciate the outside weather as he strode alongside Navinia who seemed happy just to be in his company, walking down the brick work that guided them through a pleasantly garden area on the far outer parts of the Capital of Noriphmy.
The garden had high grown trees with nice shady canopies that were infested with healthily green vines that some gardener of Noriphmy may have gone through the trouble of laying them from one tree to the next connecting them all in a vast network of green vestigial. The base of each tree was lined with thick green edges which too had flowers of all variety; breed and color, growing at the base of them. The outskirts was bordered with high growing hedges trimmed corner to corner, well kept and tended to as often as possible.
The path they walked was one of many that often times forked off in different directions to give plenty of alternatives routes of travel and in the very center was a lake with a small inflow and outflow leading in and out of the garden all together. The lake was clear as always with fish that swam duly around and ducks and geese that occupied much of their time there. All around ponies and stallions sat walked or just purely enjoyed there time there weather it was with a lover, family or friend. This was a place for the community; never was a political affair settled here.
Igneous could easily admit he too was enjoying his time with her as they idly talked. She seemed exceedingly happy, often times skipping over cracks in the ground playfully kicking her hooves around as she did so. Igneous had already acquired a list of some things she liked and that was nature, reading and self expression amongst other things which Igneous never quite thought was a hobby. However it's not like he didn’t, ‘self express,’ his blade all over a bandit or beast if that's she meant.
For the time however she was just finishing up a story she was telling and it ended with, “and that's why Cachur is…” she got cut off when a little filly ran up to her with a worried face and hooves that didn’t cease to frantically tap the ground in her panicked state. “Ow what is little filly?” she asked politely, lowering her head to her.
“I-my kitty Cappershy, she's stuck in a tree.” she said pointing a hoof in the direction Igneous and Navinia were already planning on heading.
“Aw your little cat got stuck,” she caringly asked. “Where is it?”
“O-over here miss.” she hurriedly ran leading them there.
Navinia turned to Igneous with a smile and said, “Common we can help.”
So Navinia then ran after the filly at a steady pace leaving Igneous to do the same as passers by looked them oddly at their informality, but they allowed it because the pair was young and free. Coming to the base of the tree she pointed upwards saying, “Up there she’s up their.” Then looking up to the cat who seemed to just be relaxing on the branch she said, “Cappershy come down please? I got help for you it's okay now!”
“Is that your cat?” Igneous asked as he arrived on the scene.
“Yes,” she pouted. “But I want the pretty pegasus to get it ‘cause she can fly.”
Igneous felt a little insulted. He could easily get that cat down with a well placed spear. Navinia simply laughed and said, “thank you little one. I’ll get your furry little friend down in no time.” The cat didn’t seem like it wanted to come down and seemed perfectly content with relaxing there forever, however Navinia’s wings began to flutter and she slowly lifted herself into the air coming in closely to carefully handle the little cat in her hooves.
It may have actually been sleeping or ignoring every pony all together because the cat snarled and complained when Navinia wrapped her hooves around it. “Oh stop it you,” she said as she lowered herself back down to the ground carefully handing it off to the happy uplifted filly now smiling with glee as she smothered the cat in tight hugs and covered it with kisses. The cat bore one look on his face as he endured the torment and that was, ‘see what I have to deal with?’ or the other variant, ‘end my suffering.’
“Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou,” she said continuing to squeeze her furry cat.
“It's an honor,” Navinia said. “Really the pleasures all mine.”
“Thats a nice feline you got there,” Igneous said trying to be friendly and polite.
She gasped. “Do you wanna pet him?” She eased that cat forward. If it was complaining before it now took a hostile stance towards the stallion.
He waved a hoof, “no no there's no nee-” The cat lashed out with its clawed paws striking Igneous on the snout of his muzzle. Igneous threw his head pack as his hoof cupped his newly inflicted facial gashes. Instinctively he reached for the hilt of his sword wich his magical grip that wasn’t there.
“Oh Noo!!!” the little filly cried. “Bad Cappershy, bad kitty, bad,” she scolded, the cat not taking it's eyes of Igneous as it continued to hiss at him.
‘Cappershy,’ he thought. Shy being the suffix for cute. However Igneous thought that taffing cat was anything but.
Navinia came to his aid as he held his face low to the ground wincing at the deep precise cuts inflicted on his muzzle. “Igneous are you alright?”
He opened his eyes removing his hoof only for a moment to see it was covered with blood. ‘That taffing cat,’ he thought.
“I'm so sorry,” the filly pleaded. “He didn’t mean it, I swear.”
Igneous nodded his head eyes held shut in grimace, hoof still pressing down. “It's ok, honestly.” ‘how come it's always the smaller cuts that hurt the most?’ he thought. ‘I got my chest cavity torn open by a dafted sword.’
“It's ok,” Navinia said nodding her off. “You can run along now I will take care of him. I promise he will be ok.” The filly offered up a few more apologies while also vouching for that cat at the same time. She then ran off feline in hoof. Rubbing Igneous on the shoulder she said, “It's ok. I’ll take you back to my place and remedy your injuries.” He nodded his head as she led him down the path as he dripped oozing droplets of blood as they walked by, eventually leaving the garden all together as bystanders gave them fleeting glances wondering what must have happened the stallion.
Navinia led him down the streets which consisted mostly of clothing parlors and different fashion designers specializing in separate articles of clothing. On owner of which criticized Igneous’es, ‘basic,’ look for only wearing an emblazoned collar and how some simple hooflings would really tasten up his look. Regardless they kept walking past Igneous still holding his face while Navinia assured him that his look was just fine as neatly trimmed as he was.
The pain in his snout eventually died down and he allowed himself to pull his blood dried, gooey hoof away for a moment before placing it back there in fear he might disgust Navinia. Plus if he did pull it away he also feared he might try rubbing it off on his fur coated chest making him look even worse than he already was.
From what he could gather she was leading him down south of the city where residential homes, if you could call them that, mostly resided following along the border of the capital itself North, west and south all together. However before they reached it they had to travel through some area that specializes in cooking most of which had outside parlors for citizens to sample on certain bits enticing them to enter the restaurant itself.
The smell was savory mind you, but in Igneous’es current condition they weren’t in the mood for food even if there was crisp bread, and cooked food, and whole meals with meat salads, corn and churnin, basically making this place a feasting ground for large groups of ponies which was how these restaurants tended to capitalized. It was all fine, ponies walked by, some sampled other savored but not these two as Navinia held in mind one mission and that was to guide Igneous to her home.
Suddenly a blade flashed in Igneouses field of view and he jolted his head jumping back. Heart beating and heavy in breath he accidentally ran himself into Navinia and when he looked again he saw that his attacker was not an attacker at all but a chief simply chopping meet with a cleaver as ponies gathered with hungered eyes.
“Igneous what's gotten into you?” Navinia asked concern.
Turning his head away he found he had accidentally ripped the dried blood clean from his face and was now bleeding anew. “Nothing I just… Nothings is all,” he said raising his hoof back up to cover the wound stopping the bleeding once again.
“It's ok Igneous honest,” she said kindly quick to forgive. “Let's just keep going. Were almost their.” She continued to guide him down the street but Igneous all the while, didn’t take his eyes off the cleaver. Not until they were well away from the area. Many times he would feel for the hilt of his sword with his magical grip only to keep finding that he was without.
2. The night had passed and like promised Igneous was given a mount. A wooden thing terribly carved and uncomfortable that they strapped his legs to and tied down insuring he couldn’t dismount it. This wooden post more like, was mounted atop a cart and with it they marched onwards as he sat there blindfolded terribly uncomfortable.
He could hear the stomp of hooves the idle chatter of warriors some of which boasted of their strength and skill. Others question what they would even do after they captured and took hold of Noriphmy. It seemed all they longed for was battle with no plans afterwards but Igneous could tell, even if it was hidden behind the illusionary eyes of Quariomy that she had in place to be carried out in her victory. Whatever it might be it still terrified him but maybe he in some way got through to her.
As he they traveled there was a sudden spur amongst the ranks of the Istudians. Then somepony shouted, “He’s been shot!”
Wild thoughts ran through Igneouses head as who it was to be and as he did the Istudian warriors quickly took rank and again he heard the thud of a bolt burying itself into the armor of a target. He struggled against his cords trying to break free, trying to remove the blindfold just to see what was happening but his efforts were in vain.
There was an explosion followed up by wails of a selected warrior. “Overwhelm him!” came another command. He then heard a distant shout to faint to make out but it was furious and full of hatred. It ended when one final statement, again one Igneous couldn’t make out, then suddenly a second explosion rang out.
The next voice he heard was clear this time and a mare cried out, “DRAMIER!!!”
Igneouses heart raced as his head was flooded with thoughts. ‘Dramier? Dramier?!’ He thrashed with the cords tying him down trying now more than ever to escape as he shouted, “Dramier! Dramier Were Are You!!!” But was that the voice of Raillay too? Dramier and Raillay. It couldn’t be. It can’t be. Again and again he called out for there names all the while thrashing about when suddenly he was struck fast and struck hard on the head, most likely by the general himself for being disobedient.
“You choreographed this attack,” Horace stated as the fight completely left Igneous with new bruse and gash over his head which quickly stopped bleeding due some third party light magic. The last things he heard was Horace march off shouting for them to clean the mess up and throw the injured in the medical wagon.
3. They stood in wait egare, on the fritz. Most nervously tapped their hooves on the stone work as they waited. Adridge had ordered whoever was willing to fight into specific order. Earth pony were to hide in buildings and around entrances so that when they get charged they were to flank them with fixed weaponry. Unicorns were meant to be the live target tricking them into thinking the whole line of defence was present.
The pegasus were equipped with leather folds to wrap around their hooves while tying barbed wire to each end so they could wrestle in the skies seriously injuring any Istudious pegasus daring to make a dive while also avoiding their bladed gauntlets or retractable clawed gauntlets.
Their numbers were two hundred in all. Two hundred willing to stay behind, willing to fight. If she remembered correctly the Istudian army numbered about or near one thousand. Well armored, well weaponised and great military discipline. Something these commoners lacked. Simple forgers, miners and family stallions was all they were. They shouldn’t have to fight for their lives like this but, peace is something that has always been hard fought and it will continue so until the end of time.
The armaments of any pony ranged from heavy metal jackets to leather suits meant to protect. While some did have actual armor they kept for many years most didn’t have the prized authentic battlewear, but still, anything would suffice. There were no walls only the remains of a tower that sat in its own rubble long ago having served its purpose.
Lindestic couldn’t fly so Adridge had him stay near her for his safety. The sun began to peek over the western horizon and with it came the sound of marching.
“Wake up my dear prince,” Quariomy said pulling off his blindfold as his cart came to a stop and he slowly came to. He found that the sun was just coming up. He tried calling for her attention but his voice was too faint and if she did hear then she didn’t listen as she continued forward. She walked up to the front line of warriors standing in position well presented in their armor and equipment.
As Igneous looked around he found that he didn’t recognised the surroundings as this was a new area. This wasn’t the landscape of the village they had previously left from this was different altogether. Scenery differences aside Igneous still knew this was the boarder of Noriphmy and just over down the mound was a village. A rural one if he remembered south of the mining village. They must have adjusted corse while he was out making sure to strafe the border increasing their odds of landing upon a village.
Quariomy pushed her way through the ranks and looked down at the village seemingly just beginning to wake up. She shook her head and said, “Igneous my prince I am disappointed in you. It appears you lied to me. I don't take kindly to liars.”
“Quariomy what do you see?” he pleaded. “Tell Me What Do You See Quariomy!”
Still looking over the village Quariomy’s body suddenly jolted and for a moment she stood there unmoving. Then the warriors standing in line would suddenly pull down or summon their shields briefly before hanging them back up and when Quariomy turned around he could see why.
Her armor, strong and reliable. Stuck an arrow protruding outwards. It didn’t pierce her hide nor did it cause her injury yet it was lodge in the plated metal. She looked past her warriors and to Igneous. Pulling the arrow out he looked to her and her gase said it all. “Quariomy,” he pleaded. “They weren’t supposed to know you were coming.” She shook her head. “Quariomy there scared. They just want to protect their home. This was not premeditated I swear. You need to listen.”
Arrows flew overhead fired by the unicorns of Noriphmy all the while the Istudian warriors continued to block them with their shields, lowering and raising them again when needed. The Istudian pegasus circled above ready to dive, and Quariom still gazing at Igneous turned her body sideways crushing the arrow in her magical grip. “General Horace,” she ordered.
Igneous heard a malevolent chuckle from the General as he strides past the tied down Prince flashing a wide evil grin and a scar still bored on his left cheek.
“Quaroimy please, listen,” Igneous cried. She took no notice.
“My princess,” Horace said with a bow.
“General,” she complimented.
Adridge and her fighters continued to wate. She saw them line the hillside that sat westward of the village but none of her fighters were ordered to engage. They were going to wait for the first move of the Istudians. The numbers seemed staggering and some of her comrades shifted nervously while others kept drinking with tear ridden eyes, fearful of what was to come. “Steady, steady,” she would say over and over. Still some vomited at the sight while other caressed family heirlooms in their magical grip, or around their neck with their hooves. Others would marvel at their swords so long ago wielded in battle, only to be wielded once more years later in their dire need on this soon to be infamous morning.
A new factor was introduced as wheel born constructs rolled themselves to the edge of the hill. Long barrel and very heavy looking with a slide that pointed upwards that held cylinder after cylinder five in total each with twenty of those constructs lining the hill. From the distance she could see but with her mind she could not tell what it was.
Those Istudian warriors did not charge instead they waited. For a signal or command? Again with those long barreled wheel born things waited on the hill side. There was a stir in the crowed of Noriphmians. A unicorn broke rank and retreated back, running past Adridge, dropping all his gear, wanting to live another day as he ran for his life far outside the village.
“Steady,” she came again to the now ever increasing nervousness of her peers. She looked again to see a new figure one not decked in armor but wearing cloth lined stealth gear with a cowl. He stood above his warriors unmoving looking to the skies southward.
Quariomy looked down on Horace as he bowed. “Your will is mine my princess,” he said with the greatest of respects. “What now will you have me do?”
“Quariomy Listen! Please!” Igneouses voice rang out as arrows continued to flyby. Some wooden other's dark summons leaving black streaks in their wake as they slowly dissipated through the air.
“You, my loyal battleborn warrior will lead this charge on Noriphmy.”
“No!” Igneous came again trying to intervene through word alone.
“Kill them all. Every battle ready soul alive. Coat your blades in the blood of Noriphmy.” She then turned to the ranks of Istudious. “Today will be a day of reckoning!” she bellowed for all to hear. “Those Noriphmains will know our pain, our sorrow for the many years they left us; abandoned and discarded to Carridain.” The warriors raised their weapons in cheer. “Those many years. The hardships. the trials, the betrayals, set on by them. Set on by the Nation of Noriphmy.”
She pointed by drawing her sword and again the warriors cheered. “Many years they thought we were dead! That we were no more, eradicated from the great valley of Carridain! Brothers and sisters in arms, we have trodden these lands many months, many nights and many seasons. Our salvation is now, the recompense remains at our nation and instead, in its place… Destruction. Fury. Hatred. Anger, and now one that will be set forth this day anew… Bloodshed.” Again they cheered louder and with great might. “General Horace! Lead this charge. Command our weapons lead us to victory though the blood and bone of Istudious. The honor is all yours.”
Igneous tried to yell, tried to retort, only he was gaged by a warrior without word or command. His mouth now full of cotton fold, tied shut, hushing him silent.
“Yes my princes.” Turning to his army he raised a shield. “Warriors! Swords ready!” The warriors of Istudious simultaneously raised/summon a sword pointing it up towards the sky.
Igneous thrashed and shouted but no pony listen, nopony cared.
“Warriors!” he addressed again. “Raise Your Shields!” Again instinctively they raised shields of all type three peaked, and tower shields. “Take Your Stance! Prepare To Charge!" They all fell back into running position. “Battle Signal!” A unicorn fired off two white lights high into the air. “Forward Rank!” One final, fateful word, “Charge!”
Adridge looked to the south. Two signals flew into the air and coming to the realization she immediately she took a combat stance. “Ready Yourselves!” she shouted, her makeshift resistance gingerly and hesitantly pointing their weapons, poorly lined, out of rank.
The unicorn wearing the cowl fired off two of his own and withdrawing a sword he raised it shouting one word so loud even Adridge heard it. It would be the last thing she heard. One word. “Fire.”
Suddenly there was explosions that erupted all over. Houses crumbled, streets erupted, brick masonry shattered and ponies cried out as they became obliterated by multiple blast. The line held for not a second more. The masses turned to panic as volley after deafening volley was fired at the village without end.
“Lindestic!” Adridge called out ponies running by, explosions erupting all around. She laid eyes on him for only a moment then a second later an explosion threw her away, sending the dark armored mare flying through the window of a wooden building.
Weakly she pushed herself up but the building turned to splinters as it erupted from above causing it to fall were as she bursted through the wall opposite from the window saving herself from the ensuing rubble.
She cried out in pain as she hid behind a wall ears ringing, senses dulling. Her dark armor had been torn open though she was largely unhurt only burned. Her cape had left in in the blast and her sword remained under a mound of rubble.
She looked down the street seeing ponies run for their lives as the cobble stones paths erupted and arrows flew in from all directions sticking themselves within the fearful as they retreated killing them dead. She saw two pounding the dirt in retreat only to see one get struck by an arrow. His friend, carrying and loyal as he was, stopped his retreat and began to help him up. Only then did they disappear from the face of Carridian. Wiped away by an explosion that happened upon them.
Reality struck Adridge and all those years of heroism vanished in a blink of an eye. ‘Not like this, not like this, notlikethis, notlikethisnotlikethisnotlikethins.’ She turned to run explosions ringing out, here hearing still nullified. She began crying in fear like a little filly lost in the snow. The way she was so many years ago. She wanted her Torial; mother her father. She wanted to be found and never lost again. But she wasn’t up on that mountain in a fierce blizzard she was on the battlefield, injured and in retreat. She turned a corner just as a heavy metal jacket sailed passed and she tripped over a body of the fallen.
She would have climbed back up and left the injured all together if he hadn't grabbed her and brought her attention back to a grim realization. It was Lindestic. His hide charged by the blast of an explosion, his body sticked with two arrows but still lively. “Help me,” he said. Though she couldn’t hear she could still see the words crawl from his lips.
‘Oh no no nonono.’ The volleys never ceased but she picked him up regardless; weak as she was. Placing him over her back, hind legs on one side fore legs on the other; this smaller mare carrying a stallion. ‘Hold on please.’ she thought as she carried him through a household that was defended by a larger building separating it from the their line of fire.
It was obliterated and the front room soon after just as she ran out the back door struggling under the pegasi's weight. The explosions then ceased but the arrows kept flying. She was almost gone, like the rest who already left all together. It was only them. She ran down the final street one of many that led away from this horrid place and just as she thought her life was assured Lindestic cried out. He was struck by another arrow. “No,” she cried still carrying, him refusing to give in. “Please stop.”
He lined another shot; this unicorn in his excellent accuracy at such a far distance. He let loose on his longbow striking the dark armored, smaller mare in her hind leg causing her to slacken her pace hobbling. Still never giving up. He let loose another time. This arrow striking her in the shoulder missing her friend altogether. She slowed even more but continued to carry on, never dropping, very abandoning her friend. This time however, he summoned a dark arrow. Its properties allowing for a piercing shot. One for the both of them as the duo slowly now made their way to self assured safety.
He pulled back, lined his shot up. One arrow, two targets. Suddenly just as he was about to let lose a final time a blade struck out blocking his shot. “Let them go,” came the cowled Unicorn. “The word will spread. A story will be made of this day. Oh the things they will say. How infamous this day.”
The unicorn lowered his bow letting the dark arrow vanish. He looked to the mining village and like all the rest, for once, took notice. Buildings lay strewn almost no part was without damage far by the border and near in the plaza. Corpses littered the ground but scarce were whole bodies as more parts could be found lying all about. Legs, hooves, entrails. Blood everywhere. It told the story of battlefield innovation and the awe striking ferocity it held.
He was sickened and his colleagues told the same story though unsure, wavering eyes. His ears still rang as the adrenaline sapped away. Each and every warrior stuttered their beliefs for mere moments at the aftermath beheld. “Cannoniers. Move Out!” The cowled unicorn commanded.
The unicorn put up his bow, withdrew a cloth from his safekeeping. With care and gentleness he rubbed it on his face. He felt the warmth, the smell. It was comforting. The last thing he saw of the duo was the smaller mare, still hauling her battle wounded friend as they disappeared into the surrounding woods like all the others who managed to run.
With one final blink any doubt that may have remained was suddenly wiped. He marched forward with the other Istudians falling back into rank. Hearing now returning, cannons rolling. The thunderous power... how beholding.
4. Igneous and Navinia had finally made it back to her, ‘house.’ Formated so because it was practically a mansion but since every residence had a mansion on some degree they might have well been scaled houses. These places had active pumps no doubt powered the many underground rivers that littered littered the ground beneath, renovated by miners and piping all around. The Noriphmy capital sat at one of the more higher elevated places of Caridain though there were easily higher places all around.
Navinia seated him down near the bathroom while she grabbed a tub and filled it with water. He still held his face incase it began bleeding again and he was left to marvel at the size and structure of her household. It was definitely bigger than the Falconers keep no matter what village. Unles it was village Dargazoth. They adored Falconers and built the biggest building dedicated to them and them alone.
Aside from that hers was definitely bigger, though he did begin to wonder where all the servants and maids were. Often times it was commonplace to have a few on hoof encase there were any accidents. Maybe they were simply off today or drinking out back or in the kitchen. The place was decorated in wood despite the outside boasting marble walls and constructs. It looked very classy. The interior was very undecorated, mostly bare with only furniture to lighten the mood and not a single thing plastered in or on the wall itself. There were a few pieces of art, molded and two dimensional, but again the place was mostly bare.
“Here we are,” Navinia said as she pushed a tub out from the bathroom, it being full of water. She position it just in front of Igneous who didn’t speak fearing he might spoil the mood. She was simply too nice for him and he already felt he didn’t belong, but she insisted so it was only to his greatest respects to follow. “Here, come here,” she said taking his head in her hooves. gently lowering his face down into the water.
It was warm and felt good against his fur and raw injured snout. She helped ease his hoof away from the wound exposing it. She first washed his hoof off inside the tub turning the water into a crimson red the more time she took remedied it. She then pulled a rag attached to her hoof by velcro and gently began washing the wound itself, making sure not to reopen it again as she softly stroked his muzzle, back and forth slowly and real easy. ( :X no innuendos)
It was comforting, she was very gentle with him not that he couldn’t endure worse or hasn’t for that matter. For once he was finally able to relax to get away from all the trouble presented to him. All the nobles, all the political arguments, Istudious and the plans set for them, just seemed to vanish when he was with her and she didn’t even know the immense burden she was lifting. Only that she was being kind.
He found himself slowly closing his eyes and leaning into her as she worked half resting letting himself be taken back. A few more minutes later and she put down the bloodied rag tearing it away from the velcro and said, “Okay Igneous your all good now.” He came to and looked cross eyed at his nose and the swollen gash. He raised a hoof which immediately got batted away by Navinia. “Don’t touch it,” she kindly pleaded. “You’ll make it worse.”
He snickered. “I'm sure you know best,” he said with a nod of his head. “Should I help you with the tube?”
“That's very nice of you,” she said as he began to push it back where she had taken it from. She followed him into the bathroom making sure he knew how to handle the removable tube. Seeing as he did, he placed it back over its place holder and began draining it. She then said, “Would you like any food, it's beginning to be very well near supper.”
Shaking his wet hoof off he said, “It wouldn’t be in bad company would it?”
“With you, never,” she said disappearing around the corner leaving him to follow her. She led him down a hall and into the kitchen. This room had big window panes imprinted in the roof giving the area bountiful amounts of natural lighting without the need for candles or glowing stalagmites. The floor in this particular area was marble tile with slightly grey tile every other square.
Navinia began digging through cupboards leaving on the other side of the table while he asked, “Don’t you have some servant that could make something for you?”
Lifting her head up to show a jar of peaches lodged in her mouth she said, “eeh?(Me?)” She dispensed it to the table and as she leaned on her shoulder fiddling with the lid she said, “No, not me. I let all my servants go when my dad left.”
Igneous walked over to the table stealing away the peaches only to unlid the jar himself with his magical help. “Where did he go?” he asked setting it back on the table only to see her disappear down again.
“I don’t know,” she said. Igneous jumped when he heard a thud and a quick little flurry of her wings as she came back up again with a jar of strawberries with a hoof rubbing her head. “I know he is hard at work though. Every month I receive his payment allowing me to live in this place but I never do anything with the money.” Igneous opened the strawberry jar for her. “I make the deposit and buy what I need and the rest waits for him. I don’t know when he will come back.”
She disappeared again but this I’m came up with a bag of a few apples and set them by the other fruits. Igneous could guess this was going to be some sort of fruit salad. He didn’t mind. “What was his profession.”
“Dad?” she said. “He held a position in the royal council in the presence of Kohligan. However when Kohligan left many years ago he also left the council to sort out all the nations assorted problems.” She grabbed a bowl and a knife and cutting board and tapped the table politely signaling Igneous to cut the fruits for her, assuming he knew how of course.
‘Of course I know how,’ he thought taking the kitchen knife in his grasp. He placed a strawberry on cutting edge. As Navinia glanced away he instinctively stabbed the fruit with the tip.
She continued to talk not taking notice and quickly he tossed the ruined fruit aside while she wasn’t looking and resumed cutting. Normally this time. “Now I don’t know how these council meetings work but my father often came home a bit distressed. Always saying how those ‘criminals,’ wanted everything for themselves. He spoke a lot of corruption while Kohligan was away and on the few nights he brought one of his friends over, some of which were also on the council, they would often times storm out hours later while he screamed at them for being so selfish and only wanting more.
“I never really knew what he was on about. His friends and many of his colleagues really liked me for who I am. Small, cute and creative…” it wasn’t too much of a lie but she definitely wasn’t small anymore as she stood about as tall as Igneous. But the creative aspect was never quite revealed to him yet. “They often times smiled at me when father took me to the council sometimes, often times leaving me to sit outside in the halls to the room were they argued.”
“A while passed and while I slept my father must've left. I was older now able to cope with his absence as his friends would often stop by. They helped me situate myself in while he was gone showing me how to live independently. They were so quick to act, they said my father was a great stallion and all but they never told me where he went only that he would come back, always quick to leave soon after.” She paused, perked her ears up and said, “Are you done cutting?”
Igneous snap back to reality as he realized she had stopped talking. “Yes Navinia,” he answered. Just like he had promised the cutting board was lined with cut strawberries, apples and peaches, minus the one slaughtered strawberry of course.
“Perfect,” she excitedly said clopping her hooves together. She dumped them into the bowl letting Igneous carry it out to the patio that overlooked the sprawling capital city of Noriphmy. Plenty of ponies still out and about in the miles of expansive structures and roads.
They ate together sitting opposite from a round stone table with solid stone chairs with a pillow in the seated area. They talked a bit more but Igneous mostly directed it on Navinia who was always happy to speak about herself, never really boasting but really just giving her thoughts and opinions different subjects, likes, dislikes and other assorted things.
“So how about that scare?” she said pointing a hoof at his still slightly swollen muzzle.
He carefully touched it with his hoof and said, “I’ll have to get it purged.”
She looked a little disappointed. “All three streaks? Not even one to remember this day?” He seemed to consider it for a moment. “I think it look good on you. A little dangerous even,” she said with a blush.
“I don’t savor the sight of scares,” he said.
“Complicated backstory?”
“...” he awed. “Yea. Complicated backstory.”
She smiled and giggled at herself. “It's okay. You don't need to explain yourself to me. I already like you for who you are.”
That really struck Igneous in a way he hadn't felt before. Had he really never heard these words of kindness of all his years of being a falconer. He had lived by the sword for so long under an oath of his own, traveling, helping? Had he never taken the time to stop in between bandit strongholds and beastly battles to simply socialize? “And,” he began unevenly. “What is it you like about me?”
“Well,” she tilted her head coyly as running a hoof through her mane as she purposely avoided his gaze. “Your nice, handsome, strong, you listen very well, your polite and can cut fruit.”
“Well, the fruit part, was... easy…” he said failing to come up with an equally complimenting remark. ‘What would Joel had said if he was here,’ he thought. Than immediately thought it was a terrible idea, shunning himself for even thinking such a vulgar thing.
She giggled again. “You're not exactly articulate are you?” His ears flattened in embarrassment. “I didn’t list speech as your defining quality,” she cheered. “You don’t need to be all swooning, you can just keep being you Igneous.”
‘Swooning?’ he thought. ‘Over her? Wait… She can tell?’ Joel always said he would be his wingman, but now more than ever he wished he was here this very moment to push Igneous on retracting any previous stance he may have held to him all togeather.
“But,” she began. “What is it, Exactly you like about me?”
His heart really began to beat now. This was it. He was getting into a relationship with this mare. This was scarier than that one time this one beast wouldn’t die even with half his face missing and mandibles torn. He really wish he had his trusty shield to block any potential hoof in mouth scenarios batting them away with ease and resilience. He swallowed. Hard. That only seemed to amuse Navinia with a smile spreading across her lips. He began to nervously tap his hoof and he said, “I-you. What I like about you… Well, you're very p-pretty.” He was being honest but for some reason the affection just hurt too much. His poor little heart. It just wanted to explode and thrust him into cardiac arrest.
What would the doctors note behold? Awe stricken by love. ‘Shit,’ he thought resorting to Joel’s typical speech. He would have preferred, taff, a common swear in the land of carridain with daft being taff’s past tense variant, but for some reason Joel’s lingo just seemed so fitting. So right. ‘Shit shit shit, what have I gotten myself into.’ Was this mortal danger? It couldn’t be. He was just complimenting the Mare. Just one compliment.
“Are. You, okay? Igneous?” Navinia said looking at him worriedly.
“Um,” He stood up, “Yea I-I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
He began to walk to entrance swaying with every step. “I-I just…” And he fell passing out. This famed Falconer brave at heart strong in mind, who slayed many a foe whether it be beast or bandit. Only now this blade wielding battlefield tyrant was now overcome by the most elusive monstrous colossal of them all. Love. The horror. The Hooorrooor!!!
Time passed and Igneous awoke in the middle of the night in the darkened room. He rubbed his eyes and slowly pushed himself up to see himself lying in a sizable bed cozily covered by a thick bed sheet keeping him very warm. His windows were barred, but it wasn’t anything sinister. It just suited the architecture. He tried standing but his hoof slipped and he fell out of bed with a loud thud and a yelp pulling all the covers down with him.
Quickly he pulled himself up to his hooves and took stock. He was missing his brazen collar but he soon discovered it on the nightstand nearby along with a note. Taking them both he opened it and it read in neat writing, ‘I’m sorry for what I did. I didn’t mean to be so direct. I hope your not mad and that we can continue seeing each other in the days to come. Navinia.’ Immediately Joel jumped into his head and cheered, ‘At Least You Weren’t Friend Zoned!!!’
He shook his head at himself. Could he really not handle just one night, just one Mare. No, he had to apologize for His misconduct. He couldn’t allow this. So deciding to go make things right so he put his collar up and began making his way out the door to his room which must have been the guest bedroom.
He opened it up to a different part of the household he hadn't seen before. There was a hallway that orbited a square room with a wide open canvas high over head letting the night light spill in from above. He advanced outwards for a moment then jumped away at the sight of a sudden attacker.
He looked back and found it was only a suit of armor mounted on a podium. On its back sat a sword sheathed in its scabbard. It wasn’t an attacker and calming down Igneous proceded. Silently he walked into the living space and looked down both ends, left and right. Down to the right was the area he did recognise but down the left was a new area and with doors lining the hallway. Mabie her bedroom was down there and perhaps she was still awake.
So he led himself down the hallway with ears swiveling listening for activity and then he heard it. Fourth door on the left. Carefully he opened it making sure not to creak the door and when he looked inside he found to his dismay that she was fast asleep. Each breath slowly giving rise to her bedsheets. She was at peace. Igneous couldn’t disturb her like this so he closed the door and coming to his final conclusion thought it would be best to leave and come back tomorrow on better circumstances.
He was making his way for the front door when he realized he left his collar laying on the floor in the guest bedroom, so he made his way back without an utterance of a sound as nimble as he was, and when he entered sure enough it was laying on the ground for him.
He picked it up and immediately his facial scar stung like fire out of nowhere. He held his face wincing in pain but as fast at it had come it had left. A slight breeze blew in from the windows, and with it a rose petal. It drifted about landing on Igneouses nose. He shook it off were as it got blown around by the wind again around and around the room until it drifted out of the creek in his door ever so slightly agape. His heart began to beat and a terrible feeling begin to burn within him.
Slowly, quietly he guided himself to the door, wind still blowing crickets seizing their chirping as if they knew what was to come. Pearing outside the faintest of cracks he looked into the living area. For a moment he saw nothing, then like spotting a well hidden white rabbit in snow a dark shadow popped out at him.
A shadowy figure slowly made its way into the living space, sure footed with each step that never made a noise. It stopped coming to the center and it looked to Igneouses room he was hiding. He held his breath. In the moonlight pouring in from above a blade flashed its magnificents for Igneous to gaze upon.
The figure then proceeded towards his room and Igneous back away from the door examining his options. Windows barred no other exits and not a wardrobe to hide in. he didn’t trust his summoning to summon one of his four swords. Two of which were held at the vaults of Noriphmy, the other two sanctioned by the underground rivers of the Hexer fortress.
He could not engage without risking life. So coming to his decision he swiftly pressed his body against the wall to where the door would open. And the door did open, very, very slowly. Igneous did his best to hug the woodwork as tight as he could and out of the corner of his eye he saw the blade protruded ever so slightly from the door itself. It lasted only seconds but the moment seemed to dragon on forever.
His heart beated, he began to sweat but just as he thought all was lost the blade retracted and the door was fell closed away again.
He waited a few moments more before he dare risk his hide peering outwards again. When he did he saw that the shadow was now heading towards the hallway Navinia’s door was in. He opened the first on the left. A simple closet. He opened the first on the right. He was an assassin. Was he here for Navinia? Why?
‘Navinia!!!’ he thought in alarm and immediately he took to his dark magic. ‘A simple sword,’ he told himself as he began to focus. ‘It's just one simple sword. Please, please, please don't fail me now.’
A black mist appeared and began solidifying at the hilt, the source being the binding stone ingraven within. He struggled and tensed and slowly ever so slowly the blade began taking its full form. ‘The hardship of summoning is summoning it to begin with,’ and old voice said. ‘After that the summoned item eats up almost no dark magic there on after only needing the slightest of dark stimulation to keep its life aloft.’
‘Almost.’ The black tinted magic snaked upward the tip began to form, ‘Almost, Almost!” it faltered ever so slightly and with a sigh it vanished altogether. A storm erupted in Igneouses head. ‘One Sword! One Fucking Sword!!!’ again taking to Joel speech. He quickly composed himself, peared outside the door and found the assassin pearing in the third door on the left. ‘Two more.’ the thought rang in his head. Only two more doors before he happens upon the sleeping mare.
He needed a weapon, he couldn’t summon one in time, He Needed A Weapon! ‘The Sword!’ he thought. The sword on the decorative armor. It was his only option. Slowly opening the door he looked back to see him opening the final door before he reached Navinia.
Looking up to the armor he saw the blade sitting in its scabbard and with his magical grip he reached for it best he could. He felt the blade in in his grip and slowly began to pull. To his relief it made no noise, the scabbard must have been fur lined.
Looking down the hall again he saw the assassin walk into Navinias room. ‘No!’ he thought. He didn’t want to give his position away prematurely so he rushed silently as possible to her doorway.
The assassin hadn’t noticed most likely being overtaken by the thrill of the kill seeing his target in sight, right in front of him, sleeping, so very unaware. He came to the doorway sword pointed upward for mobility in these tight quarters. It was a long sword, boasting a feet over Igneouses blade but he didn’t care. He was well practiced.
He peered around the corner, the cowled assassin half way across the room checking every step halting every breath. Igneous closed his eyes, breathed in and breathed out. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest and without a minute more he lunged.
The attacker was too fast he heard the halting of breath right before the engagement. Like a crowed suddenly going silent you don't realize the soft ambience it until it's gone. Igneouses long sword pulverised the wooden panel leaving the attacker to counter attack were as Igneous shifted his body stabbed upward parrying the blade off.
The longsword being too heavy and unbound to him left him wide open so he charged the assassin before he could react, pinning him against his chest with great speed and strength ramming him though the wooden walls of Navinias room stright into the next.
The assassin fell to the ground and Igneous hoofed him in the face making connection with raw skin feeling the crushing blow reverberate up his body as the attacker regretfully dropped his blade in the fore room. Igneous reeled back again but the assassin expected it recovering quickly locking his hoof in a vice grip with his as he brought it down missing just to the left. He raised his right hoof up and hooked Igneous over the left side of his neck pushing him rightwards sending him rolling off of the attacker. The assassin took his opportunity to roll up onto his hooves summoning a short sword with far greater speed than Igneous.
Navinia shrieked in horror and ran for the exit safe from harm. “Get the Royal Guard!” Igneous yelled.
“Oh the royal guard won’t get here in time,” said the cowled assassin.
Igneous raised his long sword struggling with it in his grip as he held it over his head pointed at the attacker. “Why were you trying to kill her? Who Are You!?”
He paused for a moment glanced at the door Navinia ran out of and when he looked to Igneous he ducked out of the way of another attack and moments later was put through the second wall into the living room after trying the same method of counter attack. However this time he rolled away from the plumbing and caught Igneous’es blade just as it scratched at his back.
“Why Are You Trying to Kill Her!” he shouted again.
With swords locked in combat one slip would mean the spill of blood or the collision of crossguards. He yelled, “Navinia is Not My Target!” Igneous faltered at the statement allowing the assassin to redirect the blade away headbutting the Falconer with two words. “You are.”
Igneous recovered arked the blade which got thrown skywards in the parry that ensued. He lashed out with a hoof catching the assassin in the jaw throwing his counter attack off and he stabbed with the longsword downwards catching the darken cotton on the side peacing it and the hide beneath only grazing him but still drawing blood. He rotated the blade on its axis intended for a neckline cut only to be stopped by a round dark summoned target shield.
The assassin rotated then rotated it pinning Ignoeus’es weapon to the ground and lashed out with multiple strikes. Igneous himself bounded backwards grabbing the helm and leggings of the armor as he faced his attacker. “Impressive sword play,” the assassin charmed as he began to circle around Igneous.
“Likewise,” he said refusing to break eye contact as he fiddled with the leggings and helm.
“Contriving a rash plan?”
Equipping the leggings on his four hooves, strapping them into place he said, “essentially.”
“Stalling?”
“Perhaps.” He equipped the helm and tore down the scabbard that lay across the back of the armored doll. “I hope you know I am a well experienced Smith. Former falconer at that too.”
He seemed to beam at himself. “I never been set to hit a falconer before, and you have lasted longer than any. Let me set the record…” he stared him down a little longer.
Igneous poised himself for the engagement. ‘Hycrome tipped, dark summon sword.’ His armor wouldn’t suffice but that was the plan.
A moment more and the assassin leapt out at Igneous arking his sword rightwards and as he did Igneous reared up, angled the scabbard against his left foreleg and bit his tongue. The sword pierced through both scared and armor with ease only becoming imbedded only when it penetrated his skin and pierced his bone. He cried out, ripping both the scabbard and his hoof tearing away the sword from the assassins magical grip.
The assassin became surprised, and in his awe Igneous threw his one good hoof hitting him in the head. He charged him on three legs knocking him to the ground a third time and removing his helm he began savagely beating the assassin on the head with the metal plating not letting up even when the attacker lost the will to defend himself.
He only stopped when Navinia pulled him away frantically telling him to stop and he did only now the floor was covered in blood. Both his and the assassin together as Igneouses leg bled profusely, the assassin laying there struggling to raise even a hoof.
“Igneous You're Bleeding!” she cried as she laid him against one of the pillars that held the roof aloft.
He chuckled raising his good hoof caressing her cheek and saying, “it's nothing new Navinia.” But it was much more serious than his cat scratch.
She ran off again this time into her bedroom where as she quickly came out again holding the entire bed sheet in her mouth dragging it behind her. She kicked the longsword toward Igneous and he took it in his magical grip and began to quickly make short work of the fabric treating strip after strip and applying it to his wound. “T-th-the royal guard?” he said weakly.
“There coming Igneous darling they're coming just stay with me please,” she said tearing strips with her mouth by pressing down on the fabric and pulling. If it wasn’t for the double layers of protection he surely would have been delimbed. It was great that he was able to put so much forethought into such a rash decision.
He had successfully padded his wound over, and over and over but the blood kept on seeping through littering the floor. Looking to the assassin whose mouth was gaped, probably broken Igneous faintly uttered with his loss of blood, “Who sent you?”
The assassin tilted his head, eyes looking dead and he muttered only one word. “Council.”
But what pressed Igneous on more was how he knew Navinia’s name.
5. Clenching his eyes shut as tight as he could, Igneous tried to drown out the sounds of battle. The screams, the cries the agony and all the time Quariomy stood atop the hill gazing downwards at the scene. He so desperately wanted to break away from his cords to do something but he was bound as was his word.
His bodie chilled with every consecutive boom that rang out miles north of him. It was faster than anything he had ever heard. One after the other often times overlapping and never ceasing for a time before breaking back into beats one after the other. And then just like that the explosions all those miles away subsided.
The sounds of war below also began to die down and Igneous found his ties being cut down and he fell to the ground weak. “On your hooves,” commanded a warrior with sword pointed down as he was backed up by three comrades.
He did as he was told, slowly stood and hobbled in the direction their swords pointed them. Quariomy.
“Kneel!” and before he could obey both of his fore legs were knocked down by a rod of iron. He silently cried out but muffled it in the presence of Quariomy who stood above unfazed as she gazed below. “My prince is keeping well?” she asked.
‘Rhetorical.’ he resisted the urge to speak. Then he was hit over the head by the same rod of iron and commanded to answer. “No My Princes!”
She breathed in deeply. She looked saden for some reason Igneous couldn’t quite grasp. “It's okay my Prince. You’ll be keeping well I promise. The day is almost over.” Just then general Horace walked up to her and bowed. “Battle report,” she ordered.
“Yes my Princes. Victory is ours and we have captured what warriors remain.”
Again she took a deep breath and said, “Ask them their age. Line them up accordingly.”
“Yes my Princess,” he bowed again and left shouting orders left and right to do as commanded.
“Come,” she said beckoning to Igneous. “Follow me my prince. Please come.”
“On Your Hooves!” warned the warrior no doubt reeling back the rod as he said so.
Igneous did as commanded sparing himself the affliction of another blow, and obediently he said, “yes my Princess.” Years of Royal academy when he was a colt. They still held strong all these years later.
She walked him to the edge of the township were, just like she ordered, were lined the remaining surviving resistance of Noriphmy’s front and only line. They had been forced to bow on all fours. Some shaking others hid behind a facade of stern courage. “Please sit my Prince,” she said gesturing to the ground.
“Y-yes, m-my, Princess.” He did as told sitting on his haunches feeling the dribble of blood fall from the side of his face from the inflicted blow applied to his head as the blood mixed and ran down his mane.
She walked up to the warrior overlooking the lineup and she asked, “Is this all of them?”
“Yes my Princes this is all of them just as you requested.”
“In age?”
“Precisely in order according to the information given.”
She politely nodded her head to him and walked her way to the front of the line so that she may see them all and speak simultaneously speak clearly to all. “As of this day, Noriphmy stands and enemy. You all, every last one of you, our our enemies.” She began to walk down on side. “Should be executed rightly. The suffering. It's only justice nothing more, hardly less.” Coming to the very end, the younger side she said, “It won’t have to be this way. There is an alternative. No pony this moment must die any longer. Have hear you all your alternative.” She began to walk down the line to the other end. “Renounce your Nationality, your beliefs and your loyalty to Noriphmy. You will be spared the blade and thus granted life. Longer than that which would have been given otherwise. To refuse… is to be executed.” She looked to the warriors as she stopped in the middle of the line. “Start with the elders.”
They nodded and two at a time went to the first elder standing tall and said, “Citizen of Noriphmy. Renounce your nationality, beliefs, and loyalty to Noriphmy. Do so with haste, our patients is wearing thin.”
The eldest one looked up and said, “I refuse.”
“Have you chosen your fate?” Asked the same warrior.
Igneous could feel the rod of iron rest on his head. “No outburst forth longer,” the warrior commanded him.
The eldest again looked up boldness in his eyes and said, “I have.”
“So beit.” he nodded to the warrior standing behind and in one swift motion he angled his sword down and reeled back slitting the throat of the eldest letting him fall limp to the ground slowly dying, slowly suffocating. They immediately walked to the next eldest and said, “Citizen of Noriphmy. Renounce your nationality, beliefs and loyalty to Noriphmy.” The warrior that slit the elders throat then raised his sword above his dying victim. “Do so with haste. Our patients…” With ferocity he brought the blade down ending his life in the blink of an eye. “...Is wearing thin,” he finished.
He jolted his head sideways and said, “never. I have chosen my fate. Let it come to pass.”
“So beit.”
And his life too, was ended in two, swift, motions. On and on they went one after the other each one never yielding, one after the other accepting their fate. It was magnificently brutal as each younger pony jittered in place some crying some completely breaking but none renounced as commanded. Igneous couldn’t bear the sight but the warrior had commanded him to look, to listen, to witness his citizens fall before Istudious.
Finally the warriors came to the last two. The warrior stood before the second and said, “Citizen...”
“KILL ME!!!”
“So beit.”
And another one fell before Istudious.
Finally the youngest one was stood staring at the ground. His dead companions lying side by side just next to him. The warrior raised his sword and like all the others before, brought it crashing down upon the dying fighter, solidifying his fate. The warriors moved to the last youngest fighter. The youngest fighter... being only a colt. His age margining that of the former by years. How could he have stayed behind he didn’t deserve this he was too young. To fragile yet here he was before Istudious challenged to represent his Nation like all the others before.
The warrior stood before him tall and strong, glistening armor and sharpened sword. He lowered his head and this time he spoke the same phrase again only this time he said it with a fatherly tone. “Citizen. Of Noriphmy. Please. Head my word. Renounce your nationality. Your beliefs. Your loyalty. The loyalty held to your beloved, glorious nation. Your young. So scared, so alone. To see your village slaughtered in battle. Brothers in arms, family, friends. All dead. Never to return. Citizen of Norphmy. Renounce your Nationality to Norphmy. Pledge yourself to Istudious. A new family. You won’t be lost. You will never know fear. Citizen. Head my word and renounce your nationality. You need not die today. You need not die this moment, this. Precious, precious moment. Your word is ours,” he said rising tall and strong again. “How do you pledge.”
The colts chin began to tremble, “I-I…”
Igneous, suffering, weeping with tears streaming down his face mixing with the blood that also fell through his mane whispered three words over and over. “Don’t say it. Please, please don’t say it.”
“How do you pledge,” Came the warrior again. A blood riddled sword angling itself below the colts neck as his executor waited for the order. “Your word dear colt.”
He was crying refusing to look anywhere but away. Away from the fallen. Away from the world. Away from his fate. “I~~ I-I,” his words fell to a silent pleading whimper.
“Your word?” The blade now pressing firmly against the colts neck. He didn’t answer. “Final notice.” The colt closed his eyes. The warrior nodded.
“RENOUNCE YOUR NATIONALITY!!!” Igneous cried snapping the tension like a twig as he was now being beaten senseless by his captors.
“Young Colt Your Word!” the warrior shouted.
He finally opened his eyes looking to Igneous then looking to the dead, the battlefield and his village. Overcome with emotion he fell to the ground crying and wailing my Nationality, “I renounce my Nationality.” He continued to cry fallen by those who had fallen dead bleeding into the ground lifeless, while he cried into the ground still very much alive. “I renounce, I renounce, I renounce.”
The warrior smiled withdrawing a sword tapping him on the shoulder as he layed their quivering on the ground. “Tis a good choice young colt. I endow citizenship of Istudious upon thee. Welcome to our glorious army.”
The warriors on Igneous didn’t let up as they took turns one after the other whacking Igneous in the head, bodie and all around in quick rapid succession as he wince and writhed on the ground failing to protect himself.
Quariomy flicked her head in his directions and the beating suddenly ceased. However Igneous didn’t stop moaning and flinching believing he was still being abused by his captors. Quariomy walked up to the crying colt and said, “Young colt. What is your name?” She said her words with genuine care as if she were a mother. “Please. Don’t cry. Tell me what is your name?”
Sniveling head buried in his hooves he said with tear ridden eyes, “Ferethal, its Ferethal.”
“Ferethal? Please Ferethal,” she said, “Stand now. Stand strong.”
He did stand head still pointed downwards in shame still weeping, never subsiding. She guided him to Igneous laying on the ground moaning in pain as he tried in vain to hide himself from this colt. The warrior delivered another blow to Igneous’es exposed underbelly causing Igneous to lose breath and become winded as he rolled on the ground.
“Look at him,” she commanded Ferethal. He did as told only when she wrapped a hoof around his head bidding his chin to look up. “Prince of Noriphmy. Look how weak he is, how sad. Couldn’t bring himself to protect his nation for the life of him. Being so rash so uncaring. Gaze Ferethal,” she said again. “The architect of your suffering.”
Igneous tried to retort. “No,” he sputtered. “I-its not tr-”
He became uppercutted by the iron stick shutting him up for good.
Ferethal flinched at the sight and Quariomy eased him saying, “Don’t be afraid. He can’t cause you suffering now. However you seek vengeance on some degree. Will you take it?” A warrior walked up to Quariomy and exchanged a new item in their magical grip. She then held it for Ferethal and Igneous to see. “Take your revenge. Show him your fury.”
Igneous eyes widen when he saw what Quariomy had handed to the young colt. A cat o’ nine tails. A variation of a wip only this one held on each end serrated metal. Igneouses breath deepened and he found himself being forced to lay on his stomach with his back completely exposed.
“Go on Ferethal.” She urged with a warrior pushing him forward as he held the whip in his magical grip. “Feel the rage, the hatred. It was brought on by him. He is the reason your friends and family lay dead today.” Igneouses head was pinned flat to the ground as Ferethal looked him in the eyes, Igneous being unable to see breathing heavily awaiting the inevitable.
Ferethal gripped the whip tighter. The screams the cries they rang in his head. Tears streamed from his face and with a sudden surge of anger he reeled back and swung the whip down embedding every end into the back of Igneous.
Igneous let out a pain ridden muffled cry as his whole body was pinned down by multiple warriors. Ferethal yanked back pulling pits of skin out blood flying everywhere. A warrior held out a sword for him to halt, they used light magic stopping the severe bleeding. The sword raised the again were as Igneous was inflicted with another wrath of pain as the jagged ends of metal stuck in his back.
The warrior put the same sword down healed him and raised it again. Over and over the same process repeated. Lash after lash less and less skin on his back Igneous feeling every moment as he bawled underneath the restraints of his captors and just as he begun to think he would be whipped to death at the mercy of ash said, “that is all Ferethal. Let down your weapon.”
Ferethal fell back and begun to cry even more so than before.
General Horace marched up to the warriors holding down Igneous and said, “Get him up and back to the medical wagon. I will not have our prince die today.”
With every jolt Igneous let out a weak cry of pain as they but his fore hooves over one another's shoulders dragging his hind legs as they walked him to the back of the lines.
The warriors stood in line. A thousand in all. Not a single casualty, their armor held strong, weapons reliable. Now a thousand and one. The one still crying as he said, “I hate him. I hate him.”
“I know dearest Ferethal,” Quariomy said gently stroking his back as she held him against her armor. “I know. Let us go, the capital of Noriphmy awaits. There be no resistance, I can see it now.” She smiled. “Our story has already been told.”
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Poor Igneous. The guy just can't catch a break.
7559722 Told you he got fucked over five times in one chapter. A cat... HAAHAHAHAH A cat.
7559796 And you did not disappoint. Looking forward to your next story.
7436715 I know this is super late but you may have over looked the prequel... Falconers and the Tomb of Aminus...