Chapter I: Rolling Out the Red Carpet
The smell of incense and chamomile wafted through the air, scenting the room in a sort of frilly way. Cavalier disliked it. It was meant to put one at ease, and he hated being at ease. To him, it was the same as being complacent. And in his line of work, being complacent meant being dead. Being dead was something he was not particularly fond of. However, Princess Celestia's chambers always smelt of tea and lavender incense, so he had to deal with it.
The armored stallion sat on a red velvet cushion in front of a large, crackling fireplace. He sat directly opposite another cushion which a certain princess of the sun had taken residence upon. She was sipping out of a tiny white cup that bore her cutie mark, a blazing sun. He could smell the scent of the liquid oozing from the piece of porcelain. How her majesty could stand the stuff he'd never know. He had his own cup, untouched. He thought about drinking just a few sips so as not to appear rude, but as he leaned in to drink some, his nostrils warned him that it would be a bad idea. As much as he thought not drinking would be rude, Cavalier was also very sure that gagging would be even more so.
“Hello again, marshal. I thank you for coming on such short notice,” Princess Celestia said, her soothing voice easing his frayed nerves. Nopony else ever had that effect on him. It was like her very presence could allow you to think more clearly, and her voice washed over him like running water.
“Of course, your highness,” Cavalier said in a gruff voice, “I came as soon as I could.”
“And I thank you for that. There are some very pressing matters I would like to discuss,” the monarch said, taking another delicate sip from her cup, “It involves the lord of Cicero, duke Puissant.”
“I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the place, or the duke.”
Princess Celestia seemed genuinely surprised. “You mean to say you've never heard of Cicero?”
Cavalier shook his head. “No, your grace. This is the first I've heard of it.”
“I suppose that is not too far-fetched. Cicero is a city to the north, just at the border of Equestrian territory. They used to be a part of the Crystal Empire, a long time ago. Much like Roam, they were merely an outpost at the far-flung reaches of the empire. Now, it is a bustling city filled with all sorts of inhabitants.
“As for why I have called you here, I have a new task for you, marshal. Cicero has recently been hit by a string of... murders. They have all been political, as the evidence would suggest. I would like you to go to Cicero and investigate. The duke fears for his life.”
“I'm sorry your highness, but...” Cavalier started, somewhat hesitant with his next words, “should this not be a job for the duke's soldiers? If they're a republic, I don't see how this involves us.”
Celestia nodded, as if she knew exactly what he would say. “Puissant's guards have been trying to apprehend the culprit for well over three months now, with no success. Even his famed inquisitors have been met with only questions and no answers. The duke lacks anyone suited for the job. Therefore, I offered the services of Equestria.” Celestia stood from her cushion and trotted to her balcony, the white drapes flowing around her. Cavalier stood as well and followed her out. From their vantage point, the two overlooked the entirety of Canterlot and far beyond. Cavalier saw the Everfree forest stretching far to the south. Nearby was the small village of Ponyville. The horizon was dotted with several mountains, painted blackish-brown against the fading orange of the sky as the sun set in the distance.
“You see, the duke is a staunch ally of ours. He is an old friend, regardless of whichever territory he belongs to. You could say this job is a favor.”
Cavalier understood. Protecting your friends was important. He could agree with that. “But that's not all there is to it, is it.”
“No, you are right. There is more,” Celestia's voice took on a far more serious tone. “If the duke falls prey to this unknown assassin, then many lives would be threatened. Puissant is heir-less. This means that if he were to die, then the seat of Cicero would go to his sister. I know his sister, and what she's like. Hellia despises Luna and I. She believes we lord our control of the sun and moon over all others. She is wrong. But that would not stop her from gathering allies to attack us. She would not win, but many lives would be lost. I cannot allow this to happen.”
“Alright, I believe I now understand the importance of this,” Cavalier said, watching the ponies of Canterlot scurry about. “But princess, if I may? Why me? I'm no detective. I'm a soldier. I'd probably have just as much luck as the duke's men.”
Celestia smiled at this, and turned her eyes to him. “You have too little faith in your own abilities, marshal. I know you are up to this task. I would not have chosen you for this mission if I did not believe there was another more suited to the job.”
Cavalier was struck dumb by the comment. The princess really had that much faith in him? He knew he was highly esteemed, but not this much. He had always viewed Celestia as sort of a second mother, and praise from her was worth more than all the gold in the world to him.
“I- thank you, princess. I promise I won't let you down.”
“I know you won't. Now, everything else you need to know is in your orders. Commander Ebonsteel will have them ready for you. Good luck, field marshal.”
Cavalier cantered briskly through the empty back streets of Canterlot. The moon had risen in the short time between his departure from the castle and now. It emanated a cool glow, lighting his way in the dark alleyway. He was almost to the sky barracks by now, where Commander Ebonsteel was waiting with his documents. He turned the corner and came upon just what he was looking for. The pale white walls reflected the moon's shimmering light, giving the whole building a ghost-like appearance. He trotted up to the front gate, where a pair of Luna's own Sarosian soldiers, their bat-like wings folded neatly against their cold gray armor. As he approached, they took notice of his armor and stood even straighter than before, if that was even possible. He nodded at them both as they pushed open the doors for him. Rank certainly did have its privileges.
The sky barracks was where the majority of the pegasi and Sarosian guards took residence in. It was also where the royal guard sky chariots were, which was the reason why he was here. The train didn't travel all the way to Cicero. He passed a pair of pegasi soldiers, who saluted immediately upon seeing him. He returned the gesture loosely, and continued on his way. He managed to find the stairs up to the roof, where Commander Ebonsteel most likely was. He plodded up the flight of stairs, passing a Sarosian on the way. He must not have ever seen a unicorn in the sky barracks, because he gave Cavalier a curious look as he passed by.
Eventually, the marshal arrived at the door to the roof. He pushed it open and stepped out into the cool night air. As expected, Ebonsteel stood off in the distance next to a pair of Sarosians, strapping themselves into the harnesses of a black sky chariot. He stuck out like a sore hoof, being a white-coated pegasi amongst an assortment of grey and blue sarosians.
“Good to see you again Steel,” Cavalier called out as he approached. Ebonsteel glanced to his right, and spotting Cavalier, smiled.
“Ah, Cav, you old diamond dog! It's good to see you again. How's the leg doing?” He replied, giving the marshal a firm hoof shake.
“The tendons are still a little sensitive.”
“What are you talking about, tendons? That thing's made of metal and magic. There are no tendons anymore.”
“It was a joke, Ebon.”
“Oh.”
They stood in silence as the two bat-esque ponies finished harnessing themselves. One was a somewhat large chap with an eye patch, whilst the other was a much more lithe mare who seemed out of place as a long-distance chariot puller. The big fellow glanced over at them and nodded as affirmation that the two were ready for takeoff.
“Well my friend, I wish you luck in your endeavor. I hear Cicero is not what it once was these days. Oh, almost forgot, bugger all. Here's all the intel you'll need, bundled up into one neat little package. You can thank me for that later.” Ebonsteel withdrew a large, slightly yellow scroll from the folds of his cloak and hoofed it over to Cavalier. The marshal took a brief look at it before stowing it in his saddlebag.
“Thanks, might make for some good light reading on the way,” Cavalier said, trotting towards the sky chariot. “Anyway, I better be off. Don't want to keep the psychopaths waiting, now do we?”
“Ha, no, that we don't,” Ebonsteel chuckled, taking a step back. “Good luck mate, I'm sure you'll have an interesting tale or two when you get back.”
“Yeah, if I come back,” Cavalier snorted, “we'll see. Goodbye, Ebon.”
The two sarosians took that as their cue to leave, unfurling their wings and galloping towards the edge of a wall. At the last possible moment when it seemed like they weren't picking up enough speed and they would all plummet helplessly to their deaths, the chariot picked up off the stone and began treading air, held aloft somewhat magically by the two ponies dragging it behind them.
He personally had no clue how far Cicero was from Canterlot or how long the ride would take, so he settled in and unraveled the roll of parchment.
Dear Cavalier,
Within the confines of this scroll is what little knowledge we have acquired concerning the recent assassinations of political figures in the northern city of Cicero. Herein is also several key details of its ruler, Duke Puissant, and many other prominent ponies that it might be wise to watch for reasons quite obvious.
First of all, Cicero is highly renowned for having an extremely low crime rate, mostly due to the duke's veritable small army of enforcers known quite simply as the Inquisitors. They are brutal, efficient, and highly loyal to their leaders. You may recognize some of their tactics and thought-processes as being similar to our own here in Canterlot. While many of their means would not be tolerable, this does not mean that their way of thinking might be altogether abandoned and mistrusted. There is still much we might learn from them, if not combat and defense-wise. They answer only to the duke himself and their commander, who happens to be Puissant's sister, Hellia. If I have not already spoken to you about Hellia's disposition to Equestria as a whole in person, than I shall state it here. She would like nothing more than to see Luna and I dethroned and her own rule begin. I have seen many would-be tyrants become blind to all else but their lust for personal power. Hellia has the makings of such a tyrant. And in her position of power within Cicero's intrigues, I would suggest you watch your step around her, and do not rule her out among your potential suspects.
Besides the inquisitors, there is still the common city guard. Unlike the prestigious ranks of the inquisitors, the guard recruits straight from the populace. They are heavily funded by the nobility and the duke, but I would still be cautious when dealing with them. They are notorious for being easily bribed, and whomever is committing these heinous acts will no doubt be able to place the guards within their pocket. You have been warned. As for the nobility themselves, I would recommend keeping an eye on any you come across that might be harboring an ulterior motive. Many of them would stand to gain from the elimination of other nobles, or even the duke himself. But I am certain I do not need to tell you of all ponies about the dangers of fraternizing with high-born, do I?
The common folk are the ones you should be the least worried about. Under Puissant's rule, the ponies of Cicero have enjoyed a time of prosperity, and many of them would be at a severe disadvantage were he to be removed from power, especially at a time such as now. Do not be afraid to rely on beggars as a source of information. They are the eyes and ears of the city. Carry a few extra coins though, as they will no doubt attempt to wrangle as many bits as they can out of you.
There is also the matter of Duke Puissant himself. If he is still the same pony as I remember all those years ago, he is actually very likeable in a somewhat neurotic way. His charm is undeniable, but be wary of him all the same. He was sometimes known to fly into a rage if things did not go perfectly to his plans. I can only hope he has grown out of this as the years have gone by. Nevertheless, be cautious around him, for he is rather unpredictable.
As for the assassin or assassins, I would first look for motive. If the motivation is personal, merely look to who would gain from each individual death. That should be your first clue. If the answer to that question appears inconclusive, then ask around. Be warned, this killer has eliminated at least seven members of the local senate in the past three weeks, the elected officials that decide on smaller matters that are too trivial for the duke's attention. One piece of advice. Be a detective. Get into trouble. Go looking in the places you would least expect.
And one more thing. I would recommend acquiring a partner. Someone who you know you can trust. One who would be familiar with the terrain would be best. One who could most certainly point you in the right direction. Other than that, I have no more advice. I trust you to accomplish your mission with the utmost capability, Sir Cavalier.
With warmest regards,
Princess Celestia
Cavalier finished the scroll with a reaffirming nod to nopony in particular. If anything, he now had the groundwork to build from in his investigation. Contrary to popular belief, this would not be his first rodeo, so to speak. From what he could tell, he wouldn't have to worry about criminals in Cicero over-much. Moreover, he would have to keep a look out for the authorities. It would certainly keep him on the tips of his hooves, that was for sure.
Finding a partner though, that might be the tricky part. It was true, an extra set of eyes and hooves always did come in handy. In fact, he couldn't remember a time when somepony didn't have his back. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be a trustworthy soul in Cicero that had access to the upper-echelons of the societal ladder. He'd have to look elsewhere.
Finding that the short read had not exhausted his time on the chariot, Cavalier decided to entertain himself with a small puzzle box that he just could not conquer, even after years of attempted solving.
Cavalier had worked endlessly on that puzzle box, mix-matching different parts in a vain attempt at unlocking the blasted thing's secrets, although he secretly delighted in the challenge it gave him. As his grandfather often told him, a sharp mind is the key to survival. However, his long-sought-after mastery of the cube would have to wait, as just off in the distance, beyond shadow and fog, he saw the vaguest outline of a looming city-scape, with the ocean glistening under the moonlight directly to its left. It could only be one thing. His destination, the city of Cicero.
As the vapor parted, it allowed him a much grander view of the city itself. The city looked to be cobbled out of sandstone, and the bright lights emanating from the massive structures gave it all a surreal feeling, somewhat akin to Canterlot's own brilliant array of lights. His sky chariot made for the tallest of the towering buildings, to what he could only assume to be Puissant's castle. It seems that they had finally made it. While he was not particularly keen on greeting the denizens, it was an unfortunate inevitability. The yellowish-brown stone of the tower met wheel, and the three Equestrians touched down in Cicero.
There were several ponies standing watch, spread out on the terrace. Their pointed helmets shadowed their faces from view, and they each clutched a massive spear. Judging from the red tabbards that adorned them, Cavalier assumed these to be the inquisitors he had heard about. Which meant that he had been expected. Cavalier jumped out of the sky chariot and proceeded towards the stairs leading up to the entrance. An inquisitor stepped in his path. His spear sat at an aggressive angle on his shoulder, as if he might attack the marshal at any given moment. The darkness of the night shrouded the majority of his face, but he seemed almost angry.
“Stop right there. State your name and business here,” the stallion said in a gruff voice. Several other inquisitors took a few tentative steps forward. Cavalier noticed their positioning. They were surrounding him.
“I am Sir Cavalier, marshal of Equestria. I have been sent at the behest of Princess Celestia to look into a string of recent murders. I would appreciate it if you told your lord Puissant that I have arrived.”
“I was not told of any of this,” the inquisitor hissed.
“I'm sorry, but it's not my problem if your superiors think that's above your pay grade.”
“Why you–” the inquisitor began, but was suddenly interrupted.
“Sergeant, stand down!” a voice barked from the top of the stairs. The inquisitor before Cavalier noticeably flinched, and backed away from the marshal. “All of you, disperse. This knight is a guest of Duke Puissant, and I will not have you treating guests in such a foul manner.”
“Y-yes, captain,” the sergeant stammered out.
The pony that the voice belonged to descended the stairs at a surprising speed, the clank of armor sounding with each step. Out of the shadow stepped a mare clad in massive steel armor. Her ember mane partially covered one of her emerald eyes, which looked out at him with a burning intensity.
“Now, allow me to welcome you to Cicero properly. My name is Hellia, commander of the inquisitor forces here in Cicero, and sister of Duke Puissant. I am assuming that you are the investigator sent her from Canterlot, yes?”
Cavalier nodded. “Yes, I am. Sir Cavalier, marshal of Equestria. I understand that you've been having trouble with an assassin?”
Hellia scoffed. “'trouble' would be an overstatement. Seven members of the senate have been killed recently, but we'll find this rogue in due time. Forgive me sir knight, but I think your presence here is rather pointless.”
“And what makes you say that?” Cavalier said, arching an eyebrow.
“Beg pardon, but I really don't need some foreign investigator getting in our way. You'd only slow us down.”
“I see.” One of the sarosians stepped up next to Cavalier.
“Sorry to interrupt sir, but will you be needing anything else before we depart?” she asked.
“No, thank you. I'll be fine from here on out,” he answered, glancing at her.
“Alright then, if that's what you...” her voice trailed off, as if she were otherwise preoccupied with something else. “Is that–?” she said before one of her wings flapped up surprisingly in front of Cavalier's face.
“What are you–” he started to say, before a steel tipped bolt sliced through her wing, stopping a mere half-inch in front of the knight's unprotected face. The sarosian screamed in pain before dropping to the ground. Cavalier turned his attention to where she had been looking not moments before, and he spotted a shadowy figure on the roof of the tower. Its profile matched that of an equine shape, although enshrouded by a cloak. Upon being spotted, the figure disappeared behind a nearby statue of a gargoyle.
“Bloody Tartarus!” Captain Hellia cursed, “sergeant, gather everyone you can! Find that pony! I don't care if you have to turn the whole castle over, I want that assassin found!”
“Yes, captain!” the inquisitor responded. “Alright everypony, you heard the lady!! Let's move!” Almost every guard galloped into the castle, save one that stayed at Hellia's gesture.
“You there. Take these three to the hospital wing,” she said, gesturing at Cavalier and the two sarosians. “She's in need of medical attention badly.”
It was true. The mare was clutching her leathery wing tightly. There was a thick trickle of blood seeping from the wound the arrow had left.
“I'm f-fine. I can manage,” she said, trying to put on a brave face.
“No, you're not,” her fellow sarosian said. “We've been over this before. You're not invincible, despite what you may believe. Now come on, I'll carry you there.”
“No,” Cavalier said, stepping in. “I'll do it. I need you to get back to Canterlot. Tell the Princess what just transpired. She needs to be ready to send assistance at the drop of a hat.” The eye-patched stallion seemed hesitant at leaving his comrade behind, but he decided that it probably wasn't best to argue with a marshal, so he nodded and took off into the air in the direction of Canterlot. Cavalier looked back to the mare lying on the ground. “Come here, I'll carry you there.” He stooped down to his knees and lifted her up and onto his back, careful not to touch her wing. “Alright, let's go.”
A full gallop and twenty minutes later, Cavalier found himself in a pristine white room, watching over the bat-winged equine resting in one of the many beds in the infirmary. Her wing was heavily bandaged, tinged slightly red.
“I don't see why I have to be put up in this bed for two days,” she complained, prodding the wing with a hoof. “It was just one arrow. It didn't even hurt that much. This is stupid.”
“Complain all you want, it won't get you anywhere,” Cavalier said.
“Yeah, I know. But still. I hate being cooped up.”
“I'll bet,” Cavalier chuckled. “Say, what's your name?” The sarosian seemed surprised.
“My name? It's Eventide. Why?”
“Well Eventide, you remind me of another pony. She acted a lot like you did. Hated being stuck in one place for too long. Always wanted to be out flying. I just thought it was a funny coincidence.”
“What was her name?” Eventide asked.
“It's ironic, really. Her name was Sunbeam, sort of an antonym to your own, don't you think?”
Eventide was surprised, to say the least. Yes, it was a very coincidental antonym, she thought. But that's all it probably was. A coincidence.
“You speak of her in the past tense. Did something happen?” Eventide asked quite curiously. Something was nagging at her to find out what happened to this mare. Cavalier's face suddenly took on a very somber look.
“It's a... very long story. I'll tell you about it some other time.” Needless to say, Eventide was very disappointed at this response. It seemed that her curiosity would have to be satiated another time. “Now, if you're all settled here, I'll need to be seeing Duke Puissant. Don't want to keep him waiting. I'll come visit you soon, see how you're doing.” Eventide nodded. It seemed the sensible thing to do, especially after what just transpired. As Cavalier made his way to the door, he suddenly stopped.
“I'm sorry, how rude of me. I never even thanked you for saving my life, did I?” Eventide shook her head. It was true, she had saved his life. While she wanted to capitalize on that fact during the entire conversation, she thought it would have also been rude to mention it. “It's just that, well... When you've been in enough life or death situations as I have, you tend to forget the little things like politeness. In either case, thank you Eventide, for saving my life.”
“Think nothing of it, sir,” she said with a smile. “Just doing my job.” Cavalier nodded in agreement, and departed through the door, passing a nurse on his way out.
“Was that your friend?” she asked Eventide, placing a plate of food on the bedside table.
“No, not a friend,” the sarosian answered, “well, not a friend yet.”
Cavalier cantered briskly through the halls of Duke Puissant's fortress. He had only stopped for directions to the main hall once and the servant hadn't really given him high-quality directions, and so he had soon found himself somewhat lost. Thankfully, another servant, this one much more helpful, managed to point him in the right way. He moved quickly up to a large set of double doors, hewn from oak and fitted in iron castings. A pair of inquisitors barred the way with their massive spears. However, upon seeing his golden armor iconic to Celestia's warriors, they seemed to be put more on edge, but they parted for him nonetheless.
As the twin oak doors slowly groaned apart, Cavalier could faintly make out the sound of voices arguing. One male, one female. There was a sort of impassioned bitterness in the tone of the female, whilst the male had a clamorous authoritative sound to it, as if its speaker was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted. It turned out that the two voices belonged to the captain of the inquisitors Hellia, and her brother Puissant, respectively. They seemed to be arguing about Cavalier, which didn't surprise him very much.
“...telling you, he shouldn't be here. We don't need her interference,” Hellia said, venom dripping in her voice. She stood nearby Puissant's throne, a menacing grimace on her face.
“And I'm telling you, if Princess Celestia is concerned about the rising situation here, then by all means, let her send a single knight. What's one more pair of eyes on the search?” Puissant said, lounging back in his throne, looking quite agitated.
“There is no situation, as you would put it,” Hellia countered, “my inquisitors and I have this whole assailant business firmly in hoof. We'll catch the culprit soon enough. Why, no doubt my troops are currently on the tail of the attacker as we speak, after their most recent attempt on that knight's life.”
“Dear sister, you seem to forget who wears the crown,” Puissant said, his voice rising with discernible anger. “If I say we are going to allow this emissary from Equestria into our city, then we will do just that.”
“And you, dear brother, seem to forget just who is in charge of your protection,” Hellia said, her own voice becoming distressed with anger. “This knight just poses another possible security risk, another anomaly on the grid.”
“You've become much too paranoid sister, it's not healthy for you. And besides, I believe our guest would like to speak with us.”
Both of them turned their attention to Cavalier, who stood several feet away, rather awkwardly. Deciding it best to show proper respect in a foreign land, he bowed.
“Oh, stand up, stand up. I can't be bothered with all that bowing business,” Puissant said, waving Cavalier up. “I deal with that day in, day out. It's really quite tiresome. Now, welcome sir knight, welcome. I hope I can at least give you a better reception than the one you received on the landing terrace.”
“I haven't been shot at yet, so there's an improvement already,” Cavalier joked, standing up straight.
Puissant laughed. “Ha, I like him already! Now, as you've no doubt heard, we've been recently struck with a series of rather ghastly attacks, presumably all orchestrated by a single assassin. I am under the impression that you have been sent to deal with the situation, yes?”
“And I've told you, there is no 'situation,'” Hellia interjected, casting a glance at the duke.
“Oh really? One pony murdering in cold blood seven different senators all in a matter of weeks? I'd say that warrants the term 'situation,' if you ask me,” Puissant retorted, glaring daggers at her. “This stallion will stay here to perform his investigation. That is the final say on the matter. Now, sir... what did you say your name was again?”
“I didn't. My name is Sir Cavalier, marshal in Princess Celestia's retinue,” the gold-clad pony answered, nodding his head.
“Oh-ho! Cavalier, is it? My goodness, we've got a real celebrity here! Aren't you that same fellow who quelled a group of dragons not too long ago? Yes, I'm sure of it in fact. Well, good on you, fair knight. That was the talk of the city for a while. 'Single knight takes on twenty blood-thirsty dragons and lives to tell the tale.' Mighty fine show.” Cavalier smiled. Ponies tended to exaggerate.
“I'm sorry to disappoint you, my lord, but it wasn't twenty. It was more like five. And a few of them weren't all that blood-thirsty. Just a bit miffed, that's all.”
“Ah, but you killed them, didn't you?” Cavalier's smile slowly turned to a frown. Blood-shed always left a sour taste in his mouth.
“Only one. He was the leader. Fiery fellow he was. Powerful temper.”
“Well, the truth isn't exactly what I imagined, but still. Good on you sir knight. Taking on five dragons. It's an honor to meet a real-life dragonslayer. You will be welcome in these halls anytime. However, if you'll permit me to change the subject, I understand one of your compatriots is in the infirmary?”
Cavalier nodded and was about to speak, but Hellia answered for him.
“Yes, one of the night brigade. Those bat-looking ones, you remember,” she said with an air of indifference.
“You don't say? Well, that's an interesting tid-bit. Hasn't been a sarosian in these walls in decades. Be nice to meet him.”
“Her,” Hellia corrected.
“Right, yes. Her.”
“Apologies for interrupting, but it's very late. Is there somewhere I could stay for the time being?” Cavalier interceded.
“Hmm?” Puissant mumbled. “Oh, yes! Of course, Sir Cavalier. You must be exhausted from your flight. I'll be sure to have one of the help show you to one of our guest suites. Is there anything in particular you'd like?” Cavalier thought about it for a moment.
“Do you have anything with a study? I'll need somewhere to write.”
“Of course, of course, anything you like. As I have already said before, you are an honored guest, and you shall be treated as one! Oh, and one more thing,” Puissant added, as Cavalier started to turn away. “Remember to always take two steps to the left, and try to look at it from a different angle.”
Both Hellia and Cavalier looked rather confused at this remark. Puissant smiled.
“You'll know what I mean.”
Chapter II: First Contact
The sun's light poured in from the windows of the small, white room of the infirmary. Eventide fidgeted in her bed, extremely anxious. She wanted so badly to get out of this bed, this room, this cast, and to soar through the skies, free and unrestricted. Unfortunately, taking an arrow in the wing has a way of denying you things like flight. At least she wasn't alone, she thought. Cavalier sat next to her in a chair, reading over something on a scroll. She had no idea what it was but it was obviously important. He still managed to keep up a conversation though, reading and talking at the same time.
“So. How long have you been in the night guard?” he asked, eyes glue to the piece of parchment in his hooves.
“Just a few years,” Eventide answered, sipping from a cup of water. “Nowhere near as long as your record. And not nearly as interesting.”
“Frankly, I sort of envy you,” Cavalier commented, “while I wouldn't want to change anything I've done, sometimes I wish I had had a more simple life. Instead, I get this.”
“Do you wish you hadn't ended up joining the guard?”
“Not at all. It was probably the best decision of my life,” Cavalier said emphatically, “It just gets very stressful and taxing at times. Not to mention dangerous.”
Eventide laughed. “Hah, I'll bet. You know, there are lots of stories about the marshals. All of them exciting, and probably a bit exaggerated. There are quite a few about you.”
“I wouldn't doubt it,” Cavalier said, waving his hoof dismissively. “Word tends to spread fast of my antics. And they're not altogether true.”
“For example, I heard you have a mechanical leg.” Cavalier looked up.
“Well, that's actually true.”
“What happened? All anyone knows is that you went off to the Griffon territories and you came back minus a limb.”
“I'm afraid that's classified,” Cavalier said reluctantly. He was unstrapping the golden metal plates on his right leg and placing them next to the chair. Eventide rolled her eyes.
“Oh come off it. You just don't want to tell me, don't you? Trying to retain that air of mystery or something, am I right?”
“No, it's legitimately classified,” Cavalier retorted, taking his boot off his hoof. All that was left was an elastic sleeve covering the leg. Cavalier peeled the covering away, revealing a silvery-gray metallic plating, with a long tendril-like wire snaking throughout the leg. Eventide looked at it with mixed horror and fascination.
“Does it hurt?” she asked, mesmerized by the gray, glinting metal. She reached out to touch it, but her hoof coiled away. “It's so cold.”
“No, it doesn't hurt,” Cavalier shrugged, “I can barely feel it. Sort of a tingling sensation, like when your leg falls asleep, but more subdued. It's difficult to explain.”
“Whose idea was it to give you a replacement leg?” she asked, eying it with a cool fascination.
“Princess Luna, actually,” Cavalier said, adjusting a shard of metal jutting from the appendage. “She thought it would be a good idea. Mentioned somepony named Omnius. Probably their invention, or something. I didn't ask.”
“What's that little gem in there? Does it hold some significance?” Eventide pointed out the ruby embedded in his joint.
“Oh, yes. That. I guess you could say it does. But not any more, really. It's purpose now is sort of a strength enhancer. In addition to increasing the amount of energy being fed into the leg, allowing it to move, it increases my own magical prowess. Long time ago it used to have...consequences, but now it's only beneficial.”
“It's a shiny magic rock then?”
“Yes. A shiny magic rock.”
“Good to know.”
Cavalier began strapping the plates of armor back onto his leg and once done, they sat in silence for a while, neither knowing how to continue the conversation until Eventide perked up.
“So, any progress on finding our attacker?” she asked hopefully. Cavalier sighed in a very frustrated tone.
“No. There's little to no clues in regards to the whereabouts or identity of our mystery culprit. Whoever they are, they've covered their tracks well. A little too well, if you ask me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Meaning that they know what they're doing. Whoever it is, they're highly professional. This means that they might be hired by someone, or a part of a much larger organization.”
“That's troubling news.”
“Indeed.” Cavalier glanced at a nearby clock. “Oh shoot, I have to go. Puissant's asked for my presence. No idea what he wants. Who knows? Maybe he has a lead for me.”
“Well, good luck,” Eventide said, smiling. The marshal returned the smile.
“Thanks. If you like, I can come by later.” Eventide gave the appearance of thinking about the proposal for a while, although she made up her mind almost instantly.
“Sure. I'd like that.”
“Then it's a deal.”
“...And that's how I managed to get it stuck in a watermelon.”
These were the first words Cavalier heard when he walked into the throne room. Puissant was there, an extremely bored expression on his face. There was another pony as well, dressed in extravagant garments. From the look of her, she was nobility. Probably here trying to cozy up to the duke. Upon poking his face in, Puissant's expression noticeably lightened.
“If your lordship would listen to another of my tales, there was this one time where I ended up in a well, dressed as a brick with toothpaste in my hair.” Puissant grimaced.
“Another time, my friend. I'm afraid I have more pressing matters to attend to,” he said, waving her off. She suddenly became concerned, glancing over at Cavalier.
“Are you sure?” she asked hopefully, “I'm sure I could think of something to-”
“Begone.” The mare flinched.
“Yes, my lord.” She slinked out of the room, casting a seething glare at the marshal on her way out, as if he had completely ruined some plan of hers. He ignored her and trotted towards the throne. Puissant seemed eager to speak to him.
“Ah, marshal, a pleasure to see you again! Tell me, how are your accommodations? Everything to your liking, I hope?” Cavalier nodded. Puissant clapped his hooves together, satisfied. “Good, good. I'm pleased to know you're settling in well. And how is your compatriot doing? The one in the medical wing?”
“She seems to be doing well, all things considered.”
“Oh quite, quite,” Puissant nodded, stepping down from his throne. He descended down the steps to come face to face with Cavalier. Well, face to chest. While Puissant was the size of the average stallion, Cavalier stood a full head above him. “Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I requested you here. My sister wishes to speak to you. I believe she's finally agreed to allow your assistance in her investigation.”
“Good news then.”
“But that's not all I called you here for.” Puissant began walking towards one of the balconies at the side of his throne room, and he gestured for the marshal to follow. A pair of silk curtains flowed in the mid-afternoon breeze, gently twirling around the two as they stepped onto the balcony. Puissant glanced around, as if he was about to divulge a terrible crime he had committed and he wanted to make sure no one would hear him. He glanced back to Cavalier, apparently satisfied that nopony was around to overhear.
“There is a small matter that I... well. I apologize for being so forward, but there is quite literally no one else I can trust with this.”
“...Sir?” Cavalier questioned dubiously. He wasn't sure he was going to like what he was about to hear.
“I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but have you ever heard of Cirque de la Luna?”
Cavalier did not know what he was speaking of, but he perked up visibly at the mention of Luna. He wondered if it had any connection with a certain Princess of the Night.
“I'm not sure. Refresh my memory.”
“Why, it's only the most splendid circus in all of Equestria!” Puissant exclaimed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, and even a five year old should know it. “Amazing acrobatics, fire dancers, exotic creatures, lively music, humor; why, it's an astounding sight, one everypony should see at least once. They only ever come to Cicero every five years or so.”
“What about the name?” Cavalier asked, “Does it have to do with...?”
“Of course!” Puissant practically yelled, his voice booming out into the open air. “The entire act is dedicated to her highness! Cirque de la Luna is all about Princess Luna. You see, the legend goes that the Cirque has been around for over a thousand years, before her majesty was banished into the moon. Quite a commitment, wouldn't you say?”
“Indeed,” Cavalier muttered, eyes pointed to the distance, towards the sun high in the air.
“Anyway, I wanted to ask you a favor. It involves the cirque, and myself. Can I count on your help?”
“Well, first I'd have to know what the favor is.” a large grin spread across Puissant's face.
“Have I ever told you I like you? You're a smart fellow, I'll give you that. Never accept a job until you know the details. Good on you. As for the details, it's actually quite simple,” Puissant trotted over to the edge of the balcony, and got up on his hind hooves and leaned against the guard rail. He looked at the sun for a moment as well, before turning his gaze back to Cavalier.
“I want you to go in my place.” Cavalier's expression was blank, as if waiting for him to say more. When Puissant made no notion to continue, the marshal's face scrunched up in confusion.
“That's it?”
“That's it.”
“It seems fairly... well. Simple. For lack of a better term.” the duke chuckled.
“Of course it is. I did say it would be simple. I want you to go in my place to the cirque. I'm afraid I simply cannot go. If I were to attend, I would undoubtedly attract the attention of my would-be killer, that is, if he or she doesn't already know I'll be there.”
“But then, why send me in your place at all? Unless...”
“...Unless you were going to catch this culprit, yes,” Puissant finished his sentence for him. “It's only logical. They'll see that I'm not there, and will in all likelihood be angry that I slipped between their hooves. But when they see you, well. I'm sure they'll decide it wasn't all a wasted effort after all. They already seem to dislike you, so you'll be a prime target.
“Now, before you get all indignant on me, I am not sending you into pointless danger or trying to have you killed. Don't give me that look, I know that's what you were thinking. The point is, I'm not fighter. Not at all. I'd have no chance protecting myself from this assassin, even with my inquisitors at my side. You on the other hoof...”
Cavalier began to see the duke's point. The assassin would indeed be unhappy to find that the duke would not be present for the performance. But upon seeing the marshal there, they might not be too unhappy, finding an excellent target in place of the duke. And he had a fair chance at defending himself this time. He would know the attack would probably be coming. No sneaky crossbow bolts when he least expected it.
“You've got a deal, your lordship,” Cavalier agreed, clasping the duke's hoof with one of his own.
“Very good, very good,” Puissant said, beaming, “Now, under no circumstances are you to tell anyone that I am not attending. Not even any of my guards, and especially not my sister. I can't afford to trust anypony at a time like this. You understand that, don't you?” Cavalier nodded. He certainly could.
“Understood. Is there anything else I should know before I go?” the marshal asked.
“Yes, actually. Make sure to wear something classy. No offense, your armor is very nice and all, but it might send the wrong message. After all, when you're trying to bait someone out, you don't want to look armed to the teeth.” Cavalier reluctantly nodded. “Oh, and another thing. The circus is in two days. Before heading off, I'd like you to report back here so I know you're alright before you go.” Cavalier made to exit the balcony until Puissant spoke up again.
“Oh, and one last thing. Almost forgot, silly me. You can bring one guest along with you, if you so wish. I understand,” Puissant added slyly at the end, “that your fellow guard is getting out of the medical wing tomorrow. You might consider taking her, if you like.”
“I'll uh, keep that in mind,” Cavalier said, making to leave. “Thank you for the talk, lord Puissant.” He waved the knight off.
“Yes, think nothing of it. And remember, not a word.”
Cavalier left the balcony behind, watching the duke as he left. Unfortunately, he wasn't paying attention to what was in front of him, and he bumped into something hard and unmoving. Thinking he had just accidentally bumped into a support pillar and made himself look like an idiot, he turned around to face whatever it was he had smacked into. To his surprise, it wasn't a pillar, but a pony. Hellia looked at him, a curious look in her eye and a smirk plastered across her face.
“Oh, hello captain, didn't see you standing there,” he said quickly, trying to cover up his mistake.
“I figured as much, what with the walking into me and what not,” she said jokingly.
“Sorry about that.”
“Think nothing of it. I was actually just on my way to speak with you,” she said, motioning for him to walk with her. They set off at a slow trot, side by side.
“Yes, your brother told me as much,” Cavalier replied stiffly, glancing around at the room and pretended to be interested in the architecture.
“I'm sure,” Hellia said dryly, as if the mere mention of Puissant put her on edge. Cavalier took the chance to take a look at her armor. It was rather spartan, keeping to a simple look very average among her inquisitors. And yet it looked more heavily armored than the average set, with a more elaborate crest on the breastplate. It also lacked the signature red tabbard of the inquisitors, and she instead substituted a red sash across her chest. He noticed that despite being so authoritative and militaristic, she wasn't all that bulky. Instead, she was very slim in figure, making him wonder how she held up that heavy armor. She almost caught him looking before he turned his gaze forward again at the last second. He hoped she hadn't noticed.
“What I wished to speak with you about is actually a matter I thought you would be very interested in, considering that you are now officially a part of this investigation,” she said, leading him down a side passage. It panned out into a lush garden, filled with all sorts of exotic specimens of plants and animals. It wasn't as extensive as the Canterlot Royal Gardens of course, but it was still very impressive. She stopped in the middle of the garden, next to a water fountain. Cavalier looked up and was surprised to find that the room was indeed open air, and the sun shone down on them. Cavalier noticed that Hellia seemed to be irritated by its glaring presence, no doubt suffering from the heat in her heavy armor. Cavalier never had a problem with that. The sun never seemed to make him sweat or be tired. Instead, it invigorated him, making him feel stronger the longer he stood in its rays. Another benefit of being a Champion of the Sun.
“I thought you didn't want me on this case in the first place,” Cavalier mentioned. Hellia sat her self on a nearby white marble bench. The marshal followed suit.
“To be honest, I didn't,” the inquisitor captain said bluntly, turning her eyes to her reflection in the water of the fountain. “At first, I figured you would be no more than a nuisance, more meddling of-” she stopped herself mid-sentence. She looked back at the stallion next to her. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. It's just... I'm not particularly on good terms with your ruler.” Cavalier remembered what she thought of the Princess. He couldn't help himself, but his expression turned to a cold, hard demeanor. He didn't mean to, but he always became defensive of Celestia. He came to look upon her as his adoptive mother. And no one likes someone else bad-mouthing their mum.
“Go on,” Cavalier said, his voice tinged with a bit of cold reservation.
“Please don't be upset. I just want you to give me a chance to speak before you write me off,” she asked, not pleading precisely, but still holding a small amount of desperation in her tone. Everyone deserves a second chance, so Cavalier thought. And he hadn't even given her the first one yet.
“Very well. I'll hear you out,” his voice and muscles relaxing from the tension that had built up unconsciously. Hellia nodded gratefully.
“I know I'm not coming off with the best case here. But as I was saying, I didn't want you here in the first place. But I've been thinking on it for a while, and I did some research.”
“What kind of research?” Cavalier asked, genuinely curious.
“Well, research on you,” she said in a matter-of-fact way. Needless to say, the marshal was surprised.
“Me? Why me?”
“Well, not specifically on you,” she added thoughtfully, “more leaning towards the marshals as a whole. When you first introduced yourself as such, I didn't know what level of respect to treat you with. I had no idea exactly what a marshal was. After all, I tend to stay away from some information concerning Equestrians. No offense.”
“Continue.”
“I read that you were the best of the best, hoof-picked by the Princess herself. I decided that somepony like that would be quite good to have on our side. And from speaking with you, I can tell that you're very loyal to your friends.”
“If you're trying to flatter me, I'm afraid it won't work,” Cavalier stated bluntly.
“You misjudge me. This is no flattery. I'm saying that I value loyalty, and those who also value loyalty? I can work with that.”
“Well, I'm glad that you approve of my presence. But I'm sure that there's something more important to tell me than your approval.”
Hellia's face considerably hardened. Her eyes darted back and forth, as if searching his face for some hint of emotion, trying to elicit just what he was thinking. She wouldn't find anything. Canterlot taught her soldiers well. She shifted uncomfortably in her armor for a moment, but then put herself at ease. She appeared to have come to terms with whatever it was she was thinking.
“My inquisitors, the ones chasing your assailant last night? They managed to track their movements to an abandoned warehouse on the docks. There was nowhere for them to go. The place was isolated from all other buildings nearby, and my troops had the place surrounded. There was no possible escape.”
“And let me guess,” Cavalier started, knowing where she was going with this, “they escaped.” Hellia nodded.
“Yes. We don't know how. We should have already caught the culprit and ended this whole farce right then and there. Instead, they vanished. I was planning on going down there myself to scan the scene for any hint at where they might have gone, but one of my lieutenants suggested asking you to search instead. Might make you feel more a part of the search.”
Cavalier thought about this. Yes, she was right. It was a good chance for him to become more involved, and would put his hooves-on approach to better use than sitting about in the castle all day. There was also the added benefit of this being a metaphorical olive branch from Hellia to himself. Probably a means to make up for a few of the things she said yesterday. Of course, as Princess Celestia had said, he couldn't rule her out of the potential suspect list just yet. She practically dominated that list, being the only one to actually be on it. It could all be a plot to get him alone, far away from anypony else, surrounded by her inquisitors, who were often mentioned to be so loyal. And if it were a trap, what would become of Eventide in the infirmary? Would they send her back to the Princess, telling her he had been swallowed up by Cicero's underworld? No, if the sarosian returned with such news about him, he knew what Celestia's response would be. She valued her subjects too much, and would turn the city upside down looking for him, friends with the duke or no. Who knows, he might even help her.
But what if Hellia didn't let Eventide leave? Could his disappearance effectively mean hers too? It could easily be pinned on another attack by the mysterious assassin, coming back to finish what they started last night. But this could be his only chance to get at the killer if his jaunt at the circus didn't pay off. He had to trust the Princess and believe that he could do this. If it was a trap, he'd have to do his best to get out of it.
“Alright, I'll do it,” Cavalier affirmed. Hellia visibly relaxed.
“Good. If you find anything worth noting, let the lieutenant on site know,” she said, getting up from the bench. Cavalier stood as well.
“I'll catch you later then,” the marshal said, making to go past her, but she stepped in the way.
“Before you go, I'd just like to say once again that I'm sorry I didn't make the best first impression on you. I know we have our differences, but I'm hoping we can put those aside for the sake of the investigation. Are you with me on that?” Hellia extended her hoof to shake. Cavalier looked at it for a moment, pondering his response.
He took her hoof in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He didn't say anything, but she smiled. She let go of his hoof and moved aside for him to pass.
Cavalier pushed open the door gently, trying to make as little noise as possible. Sarosians usually slept during the day, so he wasn't sure if Eventide was asleep or not.
As the case would have it, his caution was unwarranted. Sure enough, she was awake and busy reading a book. From where he stood, he could barely make out the title on the crimson-colored cover: Proper Flight Mechanics of the Airborne Equine. Probably still aching to get outside and fly. He knocked twice on the door, announcing his presence. Eventide glanced up from the book at him, and her expression brightened.
“Oh, hello again boss. Fancy seeing you again so soon,” she said, placing a bookmark between the pages of her book and setting it aside. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Just checking in again, seeing how you're doing,” he said, walking in and closing the door behind him. “How are you feeling?”
“Very stiff,” was her answer, as she shifted uncomfortably in the bed. As he sat down, she looked him up and down with a critical eye, as if trying to wean some miniscule detail from him. “The doc says I'll be out tomorrow, but the flying will have to wait for a bit longer.” Her voice had a tinge of anxiety. Cavalier didn't have wings, but he thought not being able to fly was the same as not being able to do magic. It was intrinsic to his very being, and without it, he just wasn't the same.
“That's actually what I came to talk to you about, among other things,” he said, looking her straight in the eye. She sighed.
“Alright, let's hear it. You look all serious.”
“Well, have you heard of Cirque de la Luna?”
“Of course. Who hasn't?” Cavalier did not answer.
“Well, they're in town in a couple days. I've received an invitation of sorts, and they told me I could bring a guest.” he let that sit for a moment, as it sank in. Eventide's face lit up at the realization of what he was saying.
“You don't mean- you want me to- are you serious?!” she exploded. If she hadn't been restricted to the bed, she'd probably have jumped into the air at the notion. Cavalier nodded, smiling.
“Yes, I'm asking if you'd like to go. Only if you want to, that is.”
“You're kidding. You're kidding, right?” she said, raising an eyebrow, “of course I want to go! It's every sarosian's dream to go Cirque de la Luna! There's so many things to see– It's the most amazing thing in the world! I would love to go!” The marshal grinned. She certainly was ecstatic about the whole endeavor. Which made what he was about to say next all the more difficult.
“Now, there's one condition,” he said warningly, the smile dropping from his face. Her expression noticeably soured, a frantic undertone taking over.
“Oh no.”
“Relax, it's nothing requiring you to jump hoops,” he assured her, “I just want to be sure of something.”
“And what's that?” she asked, curiosity creeping in.
“That you're safe,” he said, giving her an entirely serious look, “I'm going to follow up on a lead on our mystery killer. But it might be a trap. Before I went, I wanted to come here and give you the invitation, but also to warn you. If something happens to me, then I have no doubt that this plot will certainly entail you coming to harm, and I can't allow that. You're here in the first place due to my carelessness, and I won't be responsible for something happening to you. So I want you to be careful. If someone besides the doctor or the nurse you're familiar with comes in, expect the worst and be prepared to protect yourself. Can you promise me that?”
Eventide was hit by the full realization of what was going on. She hadn't ever been intended to be here; only her quick thinking and bad luck had done that. She knew next to nothing about the marshal's mission, and only now with what he had told her did she realize that what was transpiring was more dangerous than she could have thought. And if she was in danger... she'd have to listen to her superior if she wanted to make it out of this alive.
“I promise,” she said, nodding her head. Cavalier watched her for a moment, before nodding in return, satisfied.
“Alright, that'll have to do for now,” he said, getting up from his seat. “I'll be back in two hours, at the latest. If I'm not, then you have to get out of here and get a message to the Princess, letting her know what happened.” He said the last part in a strange way, as if it wasn't the first time he had said those words.
“Where are you going?” she asked, leaning forward in the bed as he went to leave. He turned back to her, opening the door.
“To a warehouse. The captain of the inquisitors pointed me there as the last known location of the pony who shot you.”
“And you think it's a trap.”
“Eeyup.”
“And you're going to go anyway.” Cavalier gave her a smile that wasn't all that reassuring.
“That's the plan.”
As he neared the front gates leading out into the city from the castle, Cavalier stopped to take one last look at the inside. This might be that last time he ever saw it, if luck wasn't on his side today. He thought about the duke, and how he wouldn't be here to help him if it turned out this was a one way trip. He thought about Hellia, and if she really was plotting against her brother. He thought about Celestia, and what she might be thinking right now. Probably preparing whatever countermeasures were necessary in case he failed. He knew she probably hated the fact that she had to do such a thing when he was in all likelihood still alive and well, but he didn't blame her for being prepared. And he knew she had faith in him. Just the thought of that gave him a second wind, and he turned to exit the castle.
The two guards noticed him trotting towards them and they pushed the two massive red doors open, letting a blinding burst of sunlight stream into the room. Cavalier covered his eyes, surprised that the castle was so dark inside that his eyes had to adjust to the light. After a few moments, he deemed it safe to uncover his eyes. He stepped past the two guards and into the outside world.
He came to find he was now on a long stone bridge, floating above a great expansive cavern. The marshal peered over the side and tried to see the bottom, but it was far too dark to see. He wondered where it went, or if it was just as it looked like: a big empty hole that went nowhere. He also couldn't help but think how many poor unfortunate souls had fallen, or even been pushed off the bridge, and had ended up in that deep, dark pit. He turned his gaze away from the cavern below, and instead focused it on the cityscape before him.
It was ginormous. Monolithic towers soared into the sky, peaking just above the clouds. Buildings spread as far as they could, crashing against the shores of the ocean and ending in a number of harbors dotted across the edge of the water. Off in the distance stood another building, colossal in scale. It loomed over all the other structures around it, a great domed thing that, without a doubt, housed the council of the city. While the surrounding construction was all painted a sandy yellow hue, the council building shone a bright porcelain white, quite similar to the white-gold streets of Canterlot. Even the architecture of the building hinted at Equestrian influence.
Strangely enough, the whole city had a completely different feel to it than what should have been for a city of the Crystal Empire. He had been to the Crystal Capital once before, and it looked nothing like the visage in front of him. He wondered if it had drawn inspiration from some other yet unknown source. Possibly Saddle Arabian, if anything. What else was odd was that there was no snow. Cicero was far in the north and would be expected to be very snowy and cold. And yet the sun shone brightly in the sky, and it was reasonably warm. But for some strange reason, it was not warming him as it had done in the gardens not too long ago. It was as if the magic of Celestia's blessing was fading. However, this was all probably rubbish, and Cavalier criticized himself for being so paranoid. It was in all likelihood due to the fact he was most likely walking into an ambush fully aware of the dangers, and the consequences.
The marshal set off across the bridge, in the direction of the ocean and the wharf he had been directed to. He could see numerous ships docked in the harbor. He wondered in Cicero was a very big trade city. He really should have studied the place's history more before setting off blindly into the streets.
On his way through the cramped and winding streets, Cavalier passed by a pair of mares in very elaborate, yet somehow rugged outfits. Upon spotting him, they both gasped and one of them pointed, whispering in hushed tones. Their accent was different than his common one, and he couldn't really make out what they said as he trotted by, but he did hear one word. Equestria. So, Equestrians were a rare sight here. His armor must have been a dead giveaway. Golden seranite plates were a hallmark of the Canterlot Royal Guard.
The streets themselves were erratic in their design. Some twisted and turned haphazardly and looked to be constructed quickly and poorly, while the larger streets that were traveled more frequently were almost perfectly straight and well maintained. It was either a design oversight, or the council just didn't care about the overall upkeep of their city, only the most important parts. He also failed to miss that the buildings and denizens on the poorer streets mirrored them in appearance. Maybe when he had some free time, he would come back to Cicero and straighten things out. This certainly wasn't right.
While he wanted to travel the backstreets since that was where he found that a large portion of crime usually happens, time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to get lost in this unfamiliar city. He would have to go on cleanup another time. The main streets reminded him a lot of Canterlot, though it lacked that certain grace and eloquence his home had. There were certainly a large number of shops and such littering the sidewalks, and many a bizarre creature walked the streets. In addition to the common pony, there were quite a few griffons roaming about, and Cavalier also spotted a minotaur sporting heavy battle armor. It might have just been his eyes playing tricks on him since the battle of Canterlot, but he could have sworn he saw a mare shift into somepony else. He was about to go find out if it wasn't just a trick of the eye, but she disappeared. He glanced about for a moment, but he reluctantly pressed on.
As he neared the ocean, the scent of salt water wafted in his nose. The marshal smiled. He didn't get to the shores as often as he should. Here, he would find the warehouse Hellia had told him about. And here is also where is his journey might end. It was rather fitting. His whole adventure had started near the ocean. It may as well end there too. He trotted along, until suddenly stopping as a realization hit him. He hadn't asked what warehouse to go to.
Deciding that panicking wasn't the smartest way to go, he figured that the right one would probably have a few inquisitors mulling about outside waiting for him. Hopefully they wouldn't jump him on sight. He cantered around the docks, searching for the signature crimson on the inquisitors. He didn't find any crimson, but he did see a guard in blue standing at a corner, eyes drifting lazily in their sockets. He seemed rather bored, and looked to be in the process of falling asleep. How he could sleep standing up, Cavalier hadn't the faintest clue. He thought that this guard might have seen which warehouse he was looking for, so he decided to ask him. He approached the drowsy guard, who apparently didn't notice him until the armored stallion was upon the sleepy individual.
“Excuse me, could I have a moment of your time?” Cavalier asked politely. The guard looked confused, as if he had no idea where the strange noise had come from that had woken him from his stupor. He glanced to his side and saw a big, shiny, yellow pony towering over him. His face turned to annoyance, like Cavalier's mere presence was grating on his nerves.
“Yeh, whaddyu want?” he slurred, not bothering to enunciate his words correctly.
“I need your help locating a warehouse,” Cavalier answered simply.
“What, does et look like Ah'm here the help yeh look for yer blasted warehouses?” The belligerent sod was obviously drunk.
“Listen, I'm a marshal of Equestria, and I would appreciate some help in this matter. If you could just point me in the right direction.”
“Ooh, a marshal, sooo fancy,” he mocked, flailing a hoof in the air, “right. And ah'm the king uh the Crystal Umpire!”
“I'm just trying to look for a warehouse with a bunch of inquisitors in it.” The guard looked at him as if he had just hit him.
“Look, eh, Ah ain't lookin' fer any trouble with no inquisitors,” he started, his tone much more frantic than before, “the place yer lookin' fer is right around dis here bend, can't miss et.” Cavalier was somewhat concerned by the dramatic change in attitude at the mention of the red-cloaked enforcers.
“In that case, thanks for your help,” Cavalier said, making his way in the direction the guard had pointed him.
“Jest go, and leave me alone.”
The stallion turned around the corner, and sure enough, a familiar pointy-helmed pony was standing in front of the entrance to a big wooden building that smelled strongly of fish. The inquisitor didn't seem to heed his presence until he hefted a very large spear, pointing it directly at the marshal's face.
“Stay where you stand,” the enforcer growled, “and state your business.”
“I'm the marshal. I'm sure you've heard I was coming,” he answered gruffly, pushing the pointy object away from his nose. The inquisitor grumbled something incomprehensible before hefting his spear over his shoulder.
“Apologies, marshal. This is a restricted area for the time being. We take our jobs seriously.”
“I see that. Now, tell me everything you know.”
The inquisitor cleared his throat. He pushed open the door to the warehouse and motioned for the Equestrian to enter. The fishy smell was even stronger on the inside, and it took all of Cavalier's willpower to keep from gagging at the stench. Strangely enough, the inquisitor didn't seem to mind.
“We had chased the culprit throughout the city for some time. Gave us quite a chase. We eventually cornered them here. We had every exit covered before going in, but she somehow slipped away,” the inquisitor said, leading the marshal further in. Another pair of inquisitors joined them, stepping out from behind several large crates. Cavalier was getting nervous.
“Hold a moment, you said 'she.' The assassin was female?” he asked, following the red-cloak further and further into the warehouse.
“From what we could tell, yes,” the stallion said, turning a corner. He had led the marshal into an enclosed space, surrounded on all sides by massive crates of fish. “It was dark, and we couldn't see that well, but her form was too small to be a stallion. No, our target was definitely a mare.”
Two more inquisitors sat waiting near a small table. A set of playing cards was splayed over it, a game of go-fish currently in progress. One of them looked up from their game to see who had come, but quickly turned his gaze back to his cards. Cavalier looked around, trying to see if there was something he was missing. There had to be some reason they had led him to this spot.
“This is where we last saw the mystery mare. I myself was hot on her tail when I turned about that corner there and she was gone. Those crates are too high to climb easily, and the way I came in was the only one. There's no possible way she could have escaped me, and yet she did. Anyway, Captain Hellia says you're some sort of expert on these things. I'm assuming you can figure out what happened?” Cavalier turned to look at the stallion.
“I wouldn't say expert, but I've unearthed my share of clues,” he said. He moved off towards a lonesome rag lying off in the corner. It was crimson in color, similar to the red the inquisitors wore, but stained with fish oils. Other than the table and cards, it was the only thing in the enclosed space. He turned back to the inquisitors standing before him, and he noticed that each one of them was looking at him intensely. Like predators about to pounce. Cavalier sighed.
“So, that's how it's going to be.”
Eventide was hungry. The small, insignificant meals they were bringing her didn't do much to satiate her appetite. Say what you will about Equestrian hospitals, at least they gave you decently edible food. She didn't even know what to call the gunk they gave her. It was some sort of grey, porridge looking slop. She tasted it hesitantly, and drew back from it, revolted. The stuff tasted horrible. Unfortunately, when she asked the nice nurse if they had anything else, the nurse sighed dejectedly and shook her head. Too much surplus, she said. They were trying to exhaust the goop before anything else. Eventide had no idea why they couldn't just give her something different. So what if she swapped a few meals of slop for something edible like an apple or two? It's not like she alone was making any real dent in the grey gunk department.
Tomorrow she would be out of here though. It was a relief, after all, she had always hated being stuck in the infirmary back at boot in Canterlot for minor injuries during training. And to top it all off, she would be going to see the Cirque de la Luna. She could barely contain her excitement. Her mother had gone once, when Eventide hadn't even been born yet. She would tell her daughter stories about it when Eventide was a little foal. Stories about gruesome lizard creatures, zebra fire dancers from the Zaharan plains, sea-ponies flitting about in magically suspended bubbles of water. It was all so fascinating to hear about, and Eventide had promised herself that she would see the Cirque at least once in her lifetime.
And now that dream was finally becoming a reality. Maybe getting shot in the wing wasn't so bad after all, she thought. If it got her into going to the most famous circus around with a famed marshal... well. She wasn't complaining. But thinking about her boss made her think about what he had said. Expect the worst. She knew that there was an assassin running amok in the city. The bandages on her wing were proof enough of that. But if there was an even bigger plot just below the surface? Something big enough that they wouldn't take any chances, even with a wounded Sarosian stuck in a hospital. That they'd have her killed just on the off-chance that she knew anything.
And then she remembered that this is what she signed on for. She wanted to put a stop to crime, protect the innocent. What better way than to stop assassins? She shuddered at the mere thought of the word, assassin. How somepony could so easily take a life... it was incomprehensible to her. Practically from birth, it was ingrained into her that all life is precious, and should be cherished above all else. For a pony to take life away from another willingly? To Eventide, it was insanity. Yes, her job required her to do things she didn't want to do. She had unfortunately, been forced to end a life. Granted, it was the life of a rampaging hydra, and she hadn't landed the final blow herself. But to know that she was even a part of it all was very shocking.
There was a knock at the door. Eventide's heart stopped. Was it the killer, here to finish their work? Eventide slipped the spoon from her food tray into the folds of her wing. She had no idea what use a spoon could possibly be in the event she was attacked here, but it was the only thing available to her at the time.
“Come in,” she called, sliding up in her bed to better position herself. The brass door handle turned ominously. Eventide found herself staring at it, as if it was the thing she feared. Slowly, the door opened, and to her great relief, the doctor walked in. She had a clipboard floating in the air next to her, shrouded in a pink magical aura.
“Well, hello there Eventide,” she said cheerfully. The doc placed the clipboard on the bedside table. “It seems you have another visitor today.” The sarosian's moment of relief abruptly ended. The doctor had said “another” visitor, as in, different than the one before. So, her boss had called it. Of all things, an inquisitor stepped through the door. This one was more heavily armored than the ones she had seen before, and he had a full-faced helm on. Swirling engravings above the visor looked like eyebrows, making it seem as if his brow was furrowed, and he was grimacing.
“I assume you know why I am here,” he said in deep, threatening voice. A knife was strapped to his waist, the blade slightly showing from the sheath. Eventide nodded. “Then I will make this quick.” The marshal really was right after all.
Somepony really did want her dead.
