The endless war was no more, now only solely queen ruled over the Calradia. The price was costly, but the queen destiny had yet ended where she wandered into the land that harmony can be shone.
After years of warfare, the crimson queen now had successfully claims the throne of all Calradians and sealed the eternity peace toward the land that knows no rest. The cost paid with an act of murder, fraud, betrayal did not escape the mind of the empress, who grows colder and colder - distance herself from human being and her past.
Deep inside her mind, a wish for undone the act was still shining. The wish later leaded herself into the land where no man had been there before and her redemption had begun.
"Mount & blade : Warband" and "My little pony : Friendship is magic" crossover. All right reserves to an owner of both game and animation.
It was a raining day. A train had arrived at the Canterlot station and left every pony on their destination. Slowly, everypony not one of the passengers is unfamiliar. They glared at the strange figure in a ragged hood beside a pale purple pony, Starlight. The pupil knew what ponies are thinking, but did not know how to explain them all there.
"Come on, I can do this." Starlight said to herself, then said to the crowd, "Um, good evening everypony! How it's going? Don't worry about my best friend here. She is absolutely normal! See! Her name is miss... errr."
"Falcon." Starlight's friend said coldly.
"Yes, Falcon!" Starlight said, felt unsure, "I know she doesn't look like a falcon or anything, but we are in the middle of important... thingy and we need to go now. Can you pony make way for us- please?"
Ponies started to crowd around Falcon, but she walked pass and headed toward the exist nevertheless. Her coldness questioned many ponies. Starlight nervously laughed, followed Falcon afterward.
"You should say hello at least." Starlight whispered, put on her umbrella.
"Not now," Falcon said. "We have no time to waste."
"What kind of business do you have to discuss with princesses, Falcon?" Starlight questioned. "I know it might be really important, but I don't understand why it have to be princess Celestia, not Twilight..."
Starlight galloped to keep up with Falcon. Canterlot Ponies on the rainy street and in the sky were staring at the duo, whispered to each other.
"Do you mind me for talking and sticking with you all the time?" Starlight asked.
Falcon chuckled, said, "No."
Starlight tiled her head. Falcon showed no interest in a further conversation and focused on heading toward the castle.
"You should tell me something. Maybe I can help." Starlight suggested.
Falcon answered nothing. Some fillies and colts tried to get closer to Falcon, but later were taken away by their parents. Starlight noticed Falcon is slightly smiled at the young ponies who try to give a reason to the adults.
The duo arrived at a gate. Castle guards greeted and let them in the castle of celestial princesses. The white structure appealed Falcon, which reminded Starlight when her strange friend had been in Manehattan. They walked through a luxury corridor and stopped in front of a door of the throne room where two guards are waiting for their arrival.
"Here is the throne room." Starlight said. "Behave yourself, okay?"
"Aye." Falcon replied.
The guards opened the throne doors. Falcon took off her hood and disarmed herself, put her hood and sword beside the door, but her belongings were later taken by a maid pony who volunteers to keep them. Falcon accepted, then entered the throne room with Starlight.
The court was crowded with elite ponies. Princess Celestia was sitting on the throne with princess Luna beside her. The moon princess was quite bored and sleepy. Everypony was silent as soon as Starlight and Falcon walked in. Everypony glared at the duo who stand in front of the throne. Princess Celestia stood up and greeted Falcon first.
"Greeting, my honor visitor." Celestia said, "My name is Celestia. Here is my sister, Luna" Luna slightly bowed. Celestia continues "Luna and I are a princess of this land, along with princess Cadence and Twilight. We're happy to see you here in Canterlot and hope your journey in Equestria is delightful so far."
Elite ponies in the throne room whispered to each other, but quickly shut it when Falcon said, "It's an honor to see you here in the court too, my princess, but the reason why I'm here is not a mere wandering... I come here to delivering a message."
Celestia noticed Falcon have a scroll with her. Falcon rolled the scroll down and reveal what is inside.
Everyone but Celestia were confused. The scroll turned out to be a ragged burned yellow hawk banner. Falcon thrown it on the floor. Luna got a close look on the banner. Starlight was unsure what Falcon is trying to say.
"I am the last sultana of Sarranid Sultanate." Falcon announced, "My sultanate had fallen and this is my only banner I can save before the fallen of Bariyye."
Elite ponies were fussing. Celestia was quite shocked. Falcon continued, "And this city might be next."
Elite ponies talked louder, felt offenced. Luna frowned. Starlight was confused at the situation around her.
"How did you know?" Celestia asked.
Falcon walked closer to princess Celestia, "The prove is out there in the frozen land - the Calradian Empire..." Falcon said, "The empire is leaded by a ruthless empress, who is responsible to the end of my reign. She has successfully established a colony not too far away from this continent. Sooner or later, the empress will discover this realm and her army will descend upon you..."
Celestia stared at Falcon. She did not budge. Falcon continued, "But the vile empress has yet known the existence of this land, and this is your only change to stop her future scheme. Together with your subjects, you must prepare your forces and drive her out of the frozen land once and for all!"
Elite ponies discussed, talked about the solution. Celestia frowned, thought carefully about the situation. Luna shook here head, nudged her older sister.
"Sister, what should we do!?" Luna said. "This matter is outrage! We must seek the truth in the instant!"
"We shall see it." Celestia said, "If you told the truth, we might still have a change to prevent a conflict." Celestia stared at Falcon, said, "However, Falcon is my honor guest . She will be safe with me."
Falcon nodded. Everypony in the room sudden went silent. Starlight tried to compute what is going on, but failed.
"I would like to end our meeting right here. Everypony, you may leave now." Celestia said.
Elite ponies went out the room. They muttered about everything they heard moment ago. Princess Celestia looked at Falcon closely, noticed her visitor somewhat resembles to Tirek, but with two legs, brown skin, have no horn and much more elegant.
"So," Celestia said, "who is the Calradia empress?"
"My old friend..." Falcon said, " and my enemy."
Princess Celestia closed her eye slowly, considered the claim.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Falcon." Celestia said, "Here under my reign, I promise your safety and harmony." Celestia spread her wings and folded them slowly. She said, "Now, I must beg my leave. Starlight, please help and assist our guest. As she is a royalty as mine, she deserves a well hospitality."
"Yes, my princess" Starlight replied.
Celestia smiled before she left with her sister. Starlight told Falcon to follow her. The duo briefly glanced through windows at castle guards below. They tried to shield journalists out of the castle, which made Starlight felt upset. She insisted Falcon not to look at the scene, but her friend did it otherwise secretly.
They arrived at their room. The same room Starlight used to stay since her visiting last time. The pupil had been worried about the bed, but it had turned out maids already made a bed for her friend. Falcon's belongings were put beside her bed and everything had been prepared for her. Starlight told Falcon to make herself at home, showed the way of each room in the castle. The former sultana slightly smiled before she left the room to the bathroom. Starlight felt relief as the day had ended quite well.
Starlight turned to a dancing Twilight music box. She looked around, before talked to an enchanted music box - shaped like princess Twilight.
"Twilight." Starlight whispered, "Twilight!"
"Oh, hi." the music box replied, "Sorry, is everything okay?"
"Yes, I guess." Starlight whispered.
"What did you mean 'I guess'?" Twilight asked.
"By the way, she have already been here in Canterlot. Again, she's human, right?" Starlight whispered.
"I guess so." the music box said, "Anyway, I'm glad you two made it. So, Starlight, did she say anything this time?"
"A lot, I can't connect all of her word." Starlight said, "I believe she said a mean empress has taken her -well- realm and the same empress might go after the Equestria." Starlight said. "She warned us about a potential war between us and the empire."
"My goodness!" the music box said, "Are you kidding me?"
"No, Twilight, I know all 'evil empress' thingy sound silly, but there is a possibility." Starlight said.
"Of course, it is!" the music box said, "It had been awhile we have Falcon here. It wasn't a big deal until now."
"I know." Starlight said, "Oh, almost forgot - Falcon said she is a... sultana? Twilight, what's sultana?"
"Sultana?" the music box said, "You mean, she's a royalty somewhere near Saddle Arabia? This need a serious research! I need to find a book about this."
"I want to know, too. If you find anything, please let me know." Starlight said.
"Sure thing." the music box said, "Girl, there are so many research needed to be done at the moment. Starlight, keep talking to Falcon, okay?"
"Of course." Starlight said.
"Okay, see you later!" the music box said.
Starlight sighed, jumped to the bed and tried not to think about paperworks that have to be done tomorrow. Starlight wanted to go to sleep, but changed her mind after and headed to the bathroom.
Cold wind blew against a colony of the northern land. The city was thrived with people and merchants who seek for their fortune. They fished, traded and explored land where no man had come before. The colony looked grim, but everyone was fairly well-fed, contracted with the frozen arid around where nothing can live and grow.
The colony was overseen by a castle where a maiden is looking from a balcony. She worn a winter male clothes and a chain mail, fiddled with her short bow. She was knew as 'Ariel' - the name that strikes a heart of all Calradians.
Frozen breeze softly lifted her hair. Ariel was the owner of this colony, as well as the rest of the kingdom of Calradia with her vassals. She touched the bowstrings, looked at the city below aimlessly and thought about a news she has recently got. She had waited, and slowly realized there was no benefit for doing so further.
"Ma'am?" Ariel flinched as one of her companion is talking behind, "May I speak?"
Ariel closed her eyes. "Aye." She said.
"Our scouts got nothing from exploring." the companion said, "What is your command?"
Ariel turned back, looked at her companion. "Ymira," Arial said, "Follow me."
Ymira went after her mistress. They arrived at a meeting room where five Ariel's companions, knights and supervisors had been waiting. The atmosphere of the situation kept everyone silent. Bunduk, an ace knight and Ariel's right-hand man, spoke to his mistress first.
"Sister," Bunduk said. "We're here as your order."
Yrima indicated the men to sit down. They complied, talked quietly.
"Silence." Ariel commanded.
Everyone followed the order. Ymira sweated. Ariel glanced at her men and said,
"I know we just arrived, but I'm afraid the break is over." Ariel said, "Marnid."
"Aye, ma'am." Marnid replied.
"The economy of Calradia has gone plummet lately." Ariel said. "You know the root of the problem?"
"Of course, ma'am." Marnid replied. "Our realm has been known for a long savage war within and become a bandit's heaven and merchant's hell. Merchants outside the realm have avoided to get in our territory to evade Nordic pirates and Khergit raiders. Establishing patrols and cutting down tariffs is the best way to solve the problem in short term, but in long term, a good trading reputation of our nation and a colonization will surely restore this country to its former glory."
"Good," Ariel said. "The patrol regiments have already been established to watch out brigands and our tax has been cut down. But, how far as our trading reputation and colony go?"
Marnid cleared his throat. "Recently, Nordic merchants has successfully created a trade route between this colony and the main Calradia." Marnid said, "This will make this colony grow for awhile, but this monopoly need to be push further to keep a flow of prosperity toward this frozen arid."
Ariel nodded. Marnid said, "If we can not find anything useful more than fish and fur, we might have to go home."
The empress lowered her head, thought carefully about her next move. "So be it, then." Ariel said, "I will lead the exploration myself. Bunduk, Firentis, I will revoke your rank as a commander of colonists and appointed somebody else to take you back in my command. Artimenner, Marnid, Borcha, I revoke your rank in the colony - you all must work with me from now on."
"As your command, sister." Bunduk and Firentis said.
"Your wish is my command, boss." Borcha said.
"As your wish, Captain." Artimenner said.
"Aye, ma'am." Marnid said.
"The meeting is over, dismiss." Ariel said.
Ariel's men bowed, then left. Ariel indicated Ymira and her companions to follow her.
Ariel and her companions put on their armor and got on their Charger battle horse. The empress and her companions worn a winter red coat of plates, gauntlets, Swadian plated boots and winged great helmet. Only Marnid worn a winter red mail with surcoat, gauntlets, mail chausses and spiked helmet. Ariel assigned one of her man to carry her order to appoint officers of the colony, then set off with Swadian knights, her companions and her men. The cavalry were decorated with Ariel's banners and flags - a sign of united Calradia with a black lion on a red cloth. The banners and flags swayed along a cold breeze. The troops was elegant and lordly, however, fairly dreadful. Townsmen avoided looking at their mistress even Ariel tried to greet them.
The troops left the city and headed toward the frozen sea where the exploration will begin. Bunbuk looked at his captain. He wanted to ask her something, but he decided to keep it for himself.
A candle inside a dim room was swayed along breeze from a castle window. A servant brought a plate of fruits and placed it on a wooden table. The servant bowed to lords, then left the room. A lord on a chair picked an apple and sighed.
"I know Ariel is pretty bold." the noble said, "But 'reckless' would be fitted her more."
"But her departure is a good news." another lord said, "The colony will bring us wealth."
"She's already dead man since she has stepped out Calradia." the third lord said, "Or I would say, a dead lady."
"There are many people suited to be Calradia emperor, but unfortunately." the first lord said, "The empress need to stay in her empire to keep it safe, but she has chosen to leave it. To be fair, she's not even a royalty or a Calradian to begin with. A Swadian army just simply put her in the throne and they wouldn't listen to anyone."
"But the army is belonged to her." the second lord said.
"I know." the third lord said, "And there is nothing we can do."
Strong wind blew in the room and put out the candle. The third lord went to pick up the candle. He lit it with a lantern nearby and put it back. Other lords talked quietly about their political and patrician business.
"May heaven safe the queen..." the third lord said.
The third lord chuckled and left. Wind blew in again and put off both lantern and candle. A smoke floated up toward an Ariel's banner above and created a skull on the banner lion.
Starlight had showed Falcon around Canterlot castle. The pupil found out her friend is not good with magic for unknown reason. After the tour was over, She had an order from princess Celestia to bring Falcon to princess Twilight tomorrow. Starlight told this to the forth princess and she promptly agreed to have Falcon visiting her place.
Since their first met, Starlight found Falcon to be a very interesting human. Falcon was smart, elegant and strong, similar to royalty. Starlight had no doubt about Falcon's origin, but her intention was still unknown.
Starlight packed her saddlepacks, prepared for her next trip. The former villain glanced at Falcon. She was reading a book about Unicorn glyph. Starlight knew Twilight will get along with Falcon very well.
Checked her belonging for the last time, Starlight was ready to go back to Ponyville with her new human friend.
Princess Twilight searched from book to book in her library. She had been looking for any clue related to Falcon and Calradia. The sultana'a claim was unbelievable, but she wanted to know the truth.
The Cutie map had also been bugging Twilight a lot in her sense. The map had sent Starlight to Equestria border first. She found Falcon and brought her to the celestial princess and everything just happened.
Twilight felt lost. She double-checked her books, but nothing had been found. The forth princess hit her head against a shelves, admitted there is no benefit from searching her own library. She looked at a children book on a table as the only sign of her hope. Twilight levitated it up and read it briefly.
Starlight watched Falcon practicing her bow in a barrack of the castle. The sultana was surprisingly good with any weapon known to Equestrian. Falcon shot her arrow. It hit right in the spot on a target. Her pony challenger jaw hit the ground, shook his head and waved his hoof. He walked away and complained to his fellow royal guard he should not underestimate Falcon in the first place.
"Marvelous!" Starlight said, "I can not believe you can do that without magic. Look, all arrows just landed there in the middle. No shot has been missed."
"Thank." Falcon said, fiddled with a bit she got from betting. She had plenty more in a pouch, "I've learned archery through my entire life. This is just benefit."
Starlight grinned. She remembered Twilight word and decided to pursue their goal. "Falcon." Starlight said.
"Aye." Falcon replied.
"As your last challenger is already defeated." Starlight said, "May I competed you in a bow contest?"
Falcon narrowed her eyes, stared at Starlight. "You want to bet too?" Falcon said.
Starlight smiled. "I will." the pupil said, "But, with no bit."
A bow and a quiver were levitated with Starlight magic. They floated around the unicorn like a puppet. "As you are an honor guest of princesses and a friend of mine, I found you to be fairly cold toward us all." Starlight said, aimlessly drew with her hoof on the ground. "I know I'm not actually your friend or anything, but if I win this contest - can I win your friendship?"
Falcon tiled her head. "Then what's happen if you lose?" Falcon asked.
Starlight panicked. "I... well, I will buy you some tea?" Starlight said, sweated.
The unicorn locked herself to Falcon, avoided to be suspicious. Starlight felt relief as Falcon raised her bow and prepare for a bow contest with her. The unicorn stretched herself, aimed at the target, which had been replaced with a new one.
"First of all, no cheating." Falcon said, "I don't know what kind of sorcery you have, but everything must be followed the rule of bow contest in this barrack."
"You know it right, young mare!" one of the guard yelled at Starlight. Pony guards around started to look at the contest.
Starlight frowned. The unicorn had no problem to follow the traditional rule of bow contesting. She raised her bow up and quickly found it is harder than it look even with her magic. Falcon shot first, the arrow landed preciously on her target. Starlight took her turn. She aimed as precious as she could, but her arrow betrayed her right in the spot.
The contest continued. Falcon managed to hit her target like nothing, unlike Starlight. She tried to figure out how to aim and ended up wasting her shot with testing arrow. Some pony guards shook their head, knew the contest is already be decided at the start. When both of them have only one arrow left, Starlight only manage to hit three out of ten on the target - no bull eyes, the result was overwhelming.
Starlight lowered her head, but decided to fight to the end. "come on, I got this!" Starlight thought. She focused on her target, nearly broke her bow. She prayed her arrow will hit the target. She released the string. The arrow flied across a field, landed on the target, but no bulls eye.
"It's over." Starlight said, lowered her head. Her bow and arrow hit the ground as well as her hope. The unicorn was about to ask what tea Falcon would like, but she quickly noticed Falcon had yet filed her arrow. The sultana grinned, dropped her bow and quiver. Starlight was confused.
"The result is here." Falcon said, "I forfeit."
Falcon took her sword, put on her hood and headed to the exist. Everypony there had the same feeling as Starlight. The unicorn stared blankly at her friend before picked up her saddlebags and kept up with her and asked.
"Does this mean..." Starlight said.
"Yes," Falcon said, "you don't have to buy me a tea."
"Oh, that's right..." Starlight said.
"But one more," Falcon added, "I accept your fellowship."
"You will!" Starlight beamed.
"Aye," Falcon said, "but remember, friend should respect each other. Even we are friend, you should not insist an answer we do not want to say. So, please remind that."
"...Okay." Starlight said.
The duo left the barrack, talked about their next destination at Ponyville. Falcon agreed to share her bits from the contest with Starlight to buy a ticket to the village.
Ariel's troops had arrived at a frozen shore. She stared at her fleet waiting for her command and readies to move at any moment. The empress commanded her troops to go aboard the ship, spread her command the fleet will move out soon. Her men followed the order with little hesitating. They got on the boats with everything they need while Ariel got in her boat with her horse. She stared at the horizon where her fleet will head to. It was covered in frozen mist, blocked her visual what is behind.
The time was here, Ariel commanded the fleet to move forward, headed to the mist. The longboats sailed off the frozen shore and headed toward the unknown. Many people there feared what is behind the mist, but the order of the empress was much more fearful.
The fleet kept heading north as Ariel's wish. The mist was getting closer and closer.
The fleet sailed closer to a giant snowy mist. It lined across near the horizon, threatened anyone to stay away, however yet failed to stop Ariel and her fleet. Her longship leaded the way, dared the mysterious cold sea into the hiding horizon. Ariel stood at the front and looked forward. She was waited to see and proven what is behind the edge of the earth.
"Ma'am," her companion said, "Our fleet fears this sea might be the end of us all. They wish to go no further."
Ariel turned back, looked at the old engineer, "Did she go this way?"
"Please, ma'am..." Artimenner said.
"Artimenner, did she head this way?" Ariel asked.
"As our scout said, then yes." Artimenner said.
Ariel nodded and looked at the mist. Artimenner said, "But she is probably no longer."
"With no body, I am not convincing." Ariel said, "She must still be somewhere beyond here."
Artimenner knew there is no point to continue his persuasion. He stopped. Ariel said, "This sea is cursed, but nothing can stop us. We shall be the first kind to broke its charm."
The old engineer slowly nodded. The fleet sailed even more closer to the mist and eventually be consumed by it. The longships stayed closed to each other, avoided to be lost in an unknown territory. Many people started to pray, hoped there is nothing more than the mist. Rowers kept pushing the ship forward, guided by their commander who held the fleet together.
A stress moment had passed when the mist fading away. Ariel men could not hold back their cheer when they firstly saw another frozen shore faraway. Artimenner felt relief. The mist was nothing more than a show.
"Ma'am, we made it!" Artimenner said, "Ma'am?"
Ariel stared at the shore for a moment and turned back to Artimenner. The old man dropped his smile ans stepped away when he had witnessed what is happened to the empress.
Starlight sat in the train with Falcon. They had been heading toward Ponyville to visit Twilight. The unicorn believed she is going to be happy to see Falcon there.
With bits from Falcon, they had a little problem to worry about the snack. The sultana was kind enough to effort a snack for fillies and colts in the same bogie. Luckily for them, the royal guards had really underestimated Falcon which made them broke. Starlight had to admit herself she had never seen anypony as skillful as Falcon and as many as bits in a single day before. The unicorn stared at the sultana. She quickly noticed it.
"What's the matter, Starlight?" Falcon asked.
"...Well, Falcon," Starlight said, "I just would like to say I had misjudged you - a bit."
Falcon chuckled, said, "It's nothing. You can misjudged me."
"And, by the way," Starlight said, "Will the Calradia army ever show up? I know you are not a bad person and all, but is this possible invasion just... too much."
Falcon paused, looked at her hand and fiddled with a coin. "I know." Falcon said, "I might not understand your realm clearly, but I can assume you barely have a war here, is it not?"
Starlight nodded, Falcon continued, "Then that explain everything. The land that distance from a conflict will weaken their army and military. Their subjects will be soft. I do not care if you are human or not, but the prosperity of your land is depending on your forces and power. To told the truth, I can not imagine how this land ever last for a night."
"By the power of magic," Starlight said, "And friendship."
Falcon stared at Starlight. The unicorn felt stress as the sultana pieced through her with her eye, but flinched when Falcon laughed politely and patted on the unicorn head.
"I like you." Falcon said, "It is certain the magic that keep this realm grows."
Starlight did not know if Falcon was being satire or not. The train kept heading south and Ponyville started to be visible from their bogie.
Artimenner stared at Ariel and Ariel stared at him. Everyone on the fleet looked at each other, noticed something is changed. Ariel had turned into a living painting of herself. She looked mostly the same, but much more gentler and colorful. The empress looked at herself and her men, surprised what the mist had changed them into something unbelievable.
"Everybody, listen up!" Ariel commanded as she heard a panic among her men, "This is not a time for admiring your new look. Fleet, make haste to the shore, now!"
The fleet complied her command. They sailed toward the shore and headed to the south, which used to be their north. They hugged the coastal line and flowed along a current. The sky, the sea, the coast, everything was vivid and active like an animated painting. Several hours passed, the frozen shore had slowly replaced with a lively and colorful grassland and forest. Everyone in the fleet was amazed how such promising land is not too faraway from their frozen arid colony. Ariel looked in the sky. The sun was nearly set. She looked at the shore and raised her banner up.
"Fleet, into the beach!" Ariel commanded.
Longships headed toward the shore and landed safely. Ariel jumped down from the ship with her banner while everyone loaded everything they needed to place an encampment. The empress looked around, flagged her banner on the new founded land. The banner danced along a warm breeze. Ariel breathed in the air she had been missed for a month.
Ariel whistled, called her mount to the banner. The horse headed toward its owner, embraced with Ariel for a moment. The empress petted him for a moment, then swiftly mounted him and explored a land nearby.
The land was flashy, but fertilized and unoccupied. The sky were dried in red as evening had come. Ariel carefully thought, frowned. Her six mounted companions, thirty Swadian knight and a mounted banner carrier later joined her and waited for her command.
"Royal guards here, waiting for your command." Bunduk reported.
"Where is my Khergit scouts?" Ariel asked.
"They are on their way and will returned with everything about this land, sister." Bunduk said.
"Splendid." Ariel said, drew her sword, "Royal guards, followed me."
The troops followed their mistress deep into the continent. The grassland preferred a cavalry, greatly aided their exploration. They ventured deeper and deeper, searched for any civilization within. For a moment, they thought they are the first people who ever landed on this continent, but soon this was proven wrong.
"Whoa..." Bunduk said.
A huge farmland and orchard stretched across the grassland were in front of them. The fruits and vegetables are fresh, healthy and various. Beside several kinds of fruit, cabbages, wheat, there were other vegetable they had yet seen before. However, what is astonished them most was what is near the horizon.
Pillars that rose up to the heaven stood up challenging the nature, defied any knowledge and sense ever known to mankind. A golden colossus horse head set on the top of the pillar, declaring the mighty of its own architecture. Knights and companions were completely stunned. It took Ariel for a moment before she came back to her sense.
"Cavalry," Ariel command, felt unsettled, "Watch your guard."
The royal guards kept their sword in touch. Bunduk said, "Stay safe, sister. We shall be on guard."
Ariel nodded. She looked at the pillars as the night settled down. "Stick together." Ariel said. "Follow my lead."
