Falconers and the Embers of Nations

by MadDonut

Chapter 8 The Champion

For the first time he had escaped her and she leaned up against the wooden wall of a household to protect her backside while she collected herself. This Falconer. How very talented. She had not seen him use any form of magic and still even with her greater speed and few summons she still can’t out do him. How very rare it was to see such an aggressive fight last more than two minutes, it astonished her.

His fighting style was alien to her. He wielded two swords connected at the hilt along with a shield and her stolen sword he held in between his teeth. The many times that thing scratched her armor, it was a mistake to lose it but it's comes at a great loss to lose a summon hence why she chose to salvage it from immediate combat instead. He was well trained, no doubt, and sparing of how many objects he would lift at once. But only two? Surly he was holding back just as she was. Must explain why why he faints some attacks.

Holding back but still winded. However she would quickly accumulate her stamina and locate Igneous and beat him out once and for all. Her warriors needed sanctuary and closure. She hated to see them so lost and just the thought of having them witness her defeat… it just won't happen.
For now she wielded her dark longsword and existing straight sword she salvaged after the initial engagement. The road she occupied was clear along with the houses and buildings across from it. If not for herself than for Istudious itself.

Just as she was about to peel off the woodwork a blade pierced the wooden wall just above her and not a moment later a shield shattered the wall to splinters. When the wall collapsed he look to see Quariomy had retreated to the far side of the road.. Taking a deep breath she said, “I'm impressed, you're very light on your hooves.”

He did not bother answering as he still held the blade she dropped in his mouth. He sorely wished he had some sort of ranged attack because hauling all of this equipment over the battlefield was a burden but then again it's what he lived by. Tilting the shield on its side he was able to see Quariomy herself as he began spinning his double edge sword above his head.

Not letting his guard down he began to circle around her thinking of his next approach. He could not take any risk he wouldn't bother putting his skill to the test at summoning his lost swords as he still felt incapable of it. He had a fine defence and very good offence and changing his tactics now came with very high risk with a comparatively low reward.

If he kept this effort up sooner or later he would win out, so long as she does not enact any light or alchemy magic. Or just excessive dark magic.

He lounged for an attack and she darted out of the way avoiding a windmill of attacks. Keeping his shield to her he attacked again and again she retreated back. He repeated this process two more times before he came to the realization that she was just going to run him dead. Frustrated he spat out the sword and said, “Is that it? Is this the power of Istudious? Bound to cowardliness? Where is your chivalry? Courage? Fight!”

Staring her down as she stood down the street with warriors and their walls far behind she said, “tis a tactic but to fight? To be unrelenting? I can. And if you so wish then let there be no further word.” He watched as a mist began to form and to his horror took the shape of an exceedingly large great bow she held flat above her head with a great arrow matching in size being drawn back. “Dark magic,” she said as she fired her first shot.

Abandoning the stolen sword he dived out of the way seeing the ground just next to him erupt at the massive collision of the great arrow hitting it. Another discharge of the bow and Igneous sent himself running into the shelter of another wooden building just as pieces of the wall shattered at another shot fired.

He looked to the entrance to see if she might follow but to his utter surprise another shot pierced the wall behind him giving him little time to roll out of the way. He raised his shield having no other alternatives to act and upon impact the dark summon great arrow pierced halfway through knocking the shield out of Igneouses area of influence and crashing through the wall on the far other side of the building.

He now only held his two swords which he eagerly disconnected from one another just as another shot came in from a different direction which he swiftly dodged. With splinters flying everywhere the already terrible structural degradation of the building was beginning to deteriorate even worse. Not only that but it was clear that from the fourth shot she was darting around the building fring very accurate blind shots at him.

With another wood splintering great arrow flying nearly missing Igneous and smashing a bearing load to nothing causing the building to collapse. With one great lunge he jumped out the front opening just as the debris came crashing down only to find his armor charged by a large war hammer that sent him flying down the street and lose concousnes.

How hard it's been. The arguing with the nobles the constant debates over resource management and repadative arguments that ran round and round only to find themselves back where they started. Thinking they could overwhelm the young prince with extensive terminologies and long explanations on exactly nothing. If it wasn’t for Maces fathers assistants reminding Igneous that they were merely advisors and that anything he says goes without question then none of the preparations he set would have begun.

It wasn’t without hard work still and again he found that when dealing with ponies they always hold on thing in mind. To covet and protect, to covet and steal, to covet and kill and to covet on conquer anything in sight. How trivial he found it all only wanting more, only protecting your small mound of fire, embracing its warmth only to find it's just not enough and eventually become consumed entirely by the items and ideals of which they own and hold far too dear.

Igneous never wanted much but just this little idea that he could help in a much greater way… and they just never saw it. To his bore he found they would often time look down on him. No wonder he escaped, ‘this place is shackling.’ he would often times think.

But then on his off times his mind would wonder and far away he would find himself. Back in Carridian back in the fortress the traitor, his father, his friends, the scares the emotions. It all came crashing in and he felt naked without his armor and insufficient without his weapons. The hoof steps of the manny as they walked idly by the constant chatter of the civilians it all felt like a torrent of white noise and he felt terrified.

“Are… You okay?” said a concerned voice tearing him away from his consuming stupor.

Looking up he found just who had felt so concerned as to ask. It was a pegasus mare finely dressed but could be considered none outstandish considered the crowed they were amidst. Going unclothed would garner more attention in this state anyways. Finding his voice but still lacking the proper tongue to speak his first word he clumsily said, “urm fine. Fine, I'm fine.” For Igneous all he wore was a metal collar which curved in an elegant patern like an inlustration of a priteen flowervine, however it was purly for style and not meant for protection.
This mare had come up to him from even as they were surrounded by other ponies. Igneous was sitting at a table outside of a shop ‘enjoying’ the shade and a soft drink going about his day when he had a subconscious episode. With the same concern she said, “Are you sure you look very i'll.”

Rubbing his forehead with his hoof he said, “I'm sorry, I'm fine. Truely.”

Clearly seeing he wasn’t she spread a wing and softly rubbing it on his face she said, “What's this?” Igneous hadn't even noticed himself but when she pulled her wing back there on her delicate little feather was a single glistening tear drop. “Your crying?”

Quickly he rubbed both eyes wiping away anything that might have remained and said, “I'm so sorry it's not like me, really. I should go now, sorry.”

He began to walk away leaving his drink and as he pushed past small crowds of the elite and past a group idle royal guards who seemed to be drinking he heard the same mare call back, “wait.”
When she caught up to him she stopped him with a wing. “I'm really sorry,” he said again turning to her.

“Why do you keep apologizing?” she asked. The question threw him off guard and before he could answer she said, “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

Clearing his throat he said, “Sorry I…” Him saying it again caused her to giggle and he said, “I’ll stop.”

“No, please don’t, I find it very favorable,” she replied. “It's just that not many ponies round here do apologise.”

“It’s always he said she said?”

“Exactly, Erm… sort of...” Looking at this stallion again she found that he was still a little distraught. Nervous or uneasy. It could have been her sudden pressants but she didn’t just want to be known as a stranger, especially after him being so nice. It would only be kind to repay this little debt. “May I ask, what is your name?” She found it took him some time to find his answer but when he did she couldn’t help but smile, “You mean like a rock?”

His ears flattened with slight embarrassment and he mildly said, “yes…”

“I didn’t mean to cause you and your drink any bother, ‘Igneous,’ but would it be fine if accompany you on another? As friends of course. Please?” She herself wasn’t quite sure how to ask and was nervous he would say no having only just met her a minute ago but to her surprise he actually agreed.

“Let me walk you back,” he said leading her back down the path and through the crowds he previously led her through. Finding his table with his drink still rested there she sat down after he pulled the seat out for her and he took his soon after.

Igneous wasn’t sure how to go about this situation having already recognised it was a date. He’d never done this before, what was he supposed to talk about. This was probably the first moment he found himself completely socially awkward not knowing where to start or where to go. That could come mostly because of his situation but what is he to say? That he is a falconer? That he is the prince of Noriphmy? He didn't want to overwhelm her, but acting as a gawking mute wouldn't help either...

...So he had to go somewhere with the conversation. Perhaps he would wait for her to spark a topic and then fly off from there going on a myriad of topics gleefully bounding across the sky and eventually ending on the disagreement of politics or something. Not quite where he wanted to go but if anything he knew not to start of with the word, ‘so.’

She said, “I didn’t mean to bother you I hope this is not a chore.”

‘What did Joel mean by fishing?’ “It's not,” he said waving a hoof. “You may have actually saved me from my own self.”

“What do you mean?”

“It's complicated,” he answered. “All I will say is thanks.”

“Were you always like this? Whats wrong?”

“No not every day,” he said forgetting to make eye contact. “But I have been for a long long time. When I was a little more than just a colt, but a colt nonetheless.”

“What happened?” she asked worriedly. Then raising her hooves to her mouth she said, “Did your mother die?” When Igneous looked back up to her and she saw the look in his eyes knew, she was hitting on a sensitive subject. “It's my turn to apologize, I did mean to…”

Finding it easier to speak he said, “it's not your fault. It's only natural to be curious.”

As many ponies walked through the street paying no attention to the two she said, “We don't need to talk if it makes you feel all the more comfortable,” she said. “It's a glorious day,” she said raising her hooves to the sky as she looked up. Igneous could see her outlining the sun with her hooves and she said, “beautiful, beautiful sunlight. How refreshing. We can simply enjoy each others company making it all the better,” she said looking back down to him. “That is if you don’t have any other place to be?”

Thinking as he looked down at the table he said, “Not any place I would, ‘rather,’ be.” It's not like he would like to be silently persecuted by the nobles. “Today is as good as any,” he said.

Igneous then got nudged by a passerby who didn’t seem to care all that much and when she saw his mild frustration she asked, “not fond of crowds?”

“As beautiful a day it is... yea, not exactly.”

“We can go to my place,” she said happily. “Its very quiet, I prommis. None of this hustle and bustle and business of the streets. Please?” She said giving him one pleading look.

He couldn’t help but smile at her juvenile self and he said, “You’ve been too kind. It would be very rude of me not too.”

“Thank you so very much,” she said as they both stood up. “I hate being alone on such brilliant days like today.”

“It's the least I can do,” he said as he followed closely by as they walked down the road together passing shops and ponies of all kind. But then one though passed his mind and he asked, “I’m sorry but I never got your name.”

Turning her head with a smile she said, “it's my bad. I never said. My name is Navinnia.”

He should have guessed since it's common amongst the high boasting to indow there fillies with a name that ended in an ‘ia’ meaning great or significant beauty. Even though her parents may have felt supreem at the time it was still her name and Igneous could easily admit it was very fitting for her.

To be briefly absent from this short life of torment was all Igneous really wanted, but alas he was in dire straights and you can’t just fall asleep and forget the problems of the world. To solve them one first needs to wake up. Igneous opened his eyes to find himself lying on his side surrounded by buildings torchered by the elements and looking past the mound he laid his eyes on Quoriomy who seemed to be head of her war hammer which was as bulky as the head of an ox and she said, “Hm, what a shame. I expected to hit you with the spiked end of my hammer. Instead I summoned the flathead into existence first.” Rotating it in the air so that her swing matched that of the spiked end she said, “no matter I will fix my mistake.”

Igneous at this point found his armor where he had been hit was loose suggesting sirous crackage. Not yet broken but should not be tested against a simple blade all the same. He was weaponless and as he looked around he found he double edged sword lay between him and Quariomy who was slowly marching up to him.

Unable to fully pick himself up due to his sustained injuries he still attempted to scramble to his weapons even as his hooves poorly gripped and slid through the mud as he tried to heave himself forward causing pain but not on the same caliber of that when he stood. “Oh Igneous,” she said as she calmly walked forward paying little attention to his desperate play. “I thought my victory would be won through superior power. Instead I find myself sorely disappointed.” She was closing in on his sword much more efficiently than his weakened body was. “Instead today was won through creative play.”

Igneous felt the blades presents within his area of influence and when he went to lift it he found Quariomy hoof press boldly down upon the blade pinning it beneath her weight. Looking up to her he weakly grinned and said, “are you going to kill me?”

Without a word she simply smiled and before all the warriors present she raised her war hammer high into the air and brought the spiked end down on Igneous. In that moment every warrior cheered drowning out the cries of his peers as the spike penetrated the strong side of his armor gouging down deep into his flesh. He let out a cry of pain as Quariomy violently heaved it out of his fleshy hold and took a new stance over him.

As Igneous heaved heaved in pain his face was bashed sideways by the flat end of her hammer and as he raised his hooves in a futile effort to block the next attack the same flathead easily broke through hitting him again and again all the while the warriors roared in excitement and the display of Quariomys viciousness towards him.

Barely able to move he watched as she winded up one last blow and landed it in the center of his chest bursting the armor he wore shattering it to the land and sending him a short distance away breathless, but still alive.

He felt raw and deathly and when Quariomy stood above him again she lowered her head to the barely conscious Igneous she said, “Son of Kohligan… to think you were an imposter.” Barely registering a small tug on the back of his neck Quariomy salvaged a bright red gem imbued with a now broken necklace and holding it high into the air in her magical grip she shouted, “Son of Kohligan! Prince... of Noriphmy!!!” Another roar from the warriors who were now slowly gathering around she looked back down to Igneous with the sights on this new found gem and said, “How will you dare decree? Life or death.” With barely even an utterance from the brutally beaten, bloodsoaked, broken and bruised Igneous, Quariomy heard and salvaged her answer. Loudly announcing she said, “The prince dares to decree death on the battlefield.” Letting the hammer vanish leaving only the long sword she balanced on her back she said, “To the brave and noble warriors of Istudious how wilt thou decree thy fate of our fair prince of Noriphmy?” Raising her sword high above Igneous pointed upwards she said, “Life?” Then pointing it down aimed to spear the prince she asked, “or death? Raise your weaponry in those who are in favor.”

Through the upheaval of cheers and thunderous voices each warrior raised a weapon weather it was blunted, bladed or speared. As they aligned their answers as the pegasus circled around the poll was final.

Igneous hardly able to move and short of breath saw Quariomy lower her blade but not for the blood of him but instead for relief as it soon vanished away and instantly he knew the results of his fate. “Life,” Quariomy shouted and as she looked down to Igneous and evil grin she said, “We will make it fitting for a prince. Bind him!” she ordered and Igneous instantly found himself being thrown into a world of pain as the warriors were careless to cause him pain as they wrapped cords around his hooves and silencing his cries of pain tying his mouth fast and shut only paying slight attention to his wound stopping the bleeding but not the pain. Never the pain.

Marching up to a small group of warriors staving off the small group of Falconers she said, “the skirmish is won. Go my now and tell Noriphmy of our conquest and bring forth the might of Noriphmy and its armies of blood. Again I must say we… don't kill messengers. You have one day. I am very impatent.”

Author's Note:

I should admit Quariomy was a failed attempt at spelling Qumoray but I liked the way it looked so I kept it while also pronouncing it wrong. How do you even pronounce it? Qua-r-oh-me?�� Thats difficult.
Oh yea SHIT, IGNEOUS, WHY!?!?!?! ;#;

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

The plot synopsis is way to long. You have to shorten it, I barely understood what was happening there.