The Nation of Snow and Ice: Pilgrimage

Abeni

Chapter I

The snow began to die down, falling at a steady pace around the fire yet to be extinguished. The crackles and pops from the burning wood was like a song to the figure sitting beside the blaze, huddling closer to the light for warmth. She always loved to watch the snowfall as a filly, but now, as a mare Abeni was annoyed by it and the way it got in her braided mane. When she entered Arcadia, she had not expected to find a land of brutal cold. In fact, she hadn't known what to expect at all. She knew the further north she went, the harsher the land would become. No amount of training prepared her for that and no amount of training would prepare her to stray from her designated path and wind up in the lands of disgusting tribal ponies.

Their barbaric nature had been something Abeni had seen in dreams and only dreams. Not once had she seen a group of monks in full armor bested by any ponies, least of all tribals, but the way they were tossed around and their skulls cracked showed the mare that even the best combatants could be bested. Now, she was stranded in a land she barely knew and was outside of a cave. When she heard voices she forced herself inside the dry, rocky walls after putting out the fires. Once the voices passed Abeni would wait until she felt it was safe to light fires and huddle close to the warmth, only to put it out when she felt it was unsafe.

Recently, Abeni had re-lit the fire, finding fear to be the key element in keeping her awake. So far, the moon hung over her head, Abeni coming to the conclusion that dawn would come in another five hours or more. She desperately wished the sun would come sooner so she could begin her trek to the nearest city, wherever that may be. She heard voices speaking of a large town. Eastgate she thought she heard them say. One of the voices mentioned it was almost a few kilometers away. She thought she'd be able to make it if she found the path again. Stick close to the path, but never walk on it. She needed to find a way to that city, Eastgate, and not get caught by any of the barbarians.

Abeni reached into a pocket in her robes and felt the glass vial. If worst came to worst and she was caught by barbarians, then it was only one drop of the poison and she was dead in seconds. But Abeni shook her head and cursed herself. She would not allow for anyone to hold her captive. She would not allow herself to be stopped and she would not allow her pilgrimage to come to an end. Nothing will get in her way from completing her pilgrimage and becoming a member of the Obrean Monks. Abeni often wished Arcadia was more civilized like it used to be. According to legends anyway.

"You need to sleep," Abeni whispered aloud, staring into the fire, crackling and snapping. She imagined the demons from the lowest depths of hell itself mocking her through the fire, all of them laughing among themselves at Abeni's misfortunes. Multiple unfortunate events have led up to this pilgrimage and now that she was there, she had almost wished she hadn't began it. But she was too far into it now to return home and reveal her failures. Her eyes gathered moisture, but she had willed the tears to stay back. She would not allow herself to break now of all times. Not until she was finished with her pilgrimage. "You will make it to Eastgate."

Abeni's ears twitched. Were those crunches in the snow she heard? Were those voices? Abeni listened harder, the crackling of the fire and the chirping of the crickets the only sounds she heard. She heard nothing. Maybe it was her shuffling that caught her attention? Her ears twitched again and she was sure something was moving around in the forests around her. She stayed still for a moment, her heart pounding in her ears. She heard something, but before she could even dart to the cave behind her, numerous forms shot out of the darkness.

"Stay where you are!" a burly pony yelled. Abeni froze , staring at the pony. He wasn't a barbarian. No rough cloths or heavy weapons. All five ponies donned the same silver armor, chain mail underneath and the pony who ordered her to stop was the only one with a helmet. Their armor glinted under the moonlight, their spears held with their wings, or blades in their mouths. A small cylindrical holder on their sides contained their torches, the flames wavering in the wind. Abeni's heart was about to thump out of her chest as the ponies approached, but she was sure they wouldn't kill her. They were more civilized than barbarians, but even then, Abeni has seen her fair share of guardsman brutality.

"I say we kill her captain," a brown stallion spoke darting forward, his spear almost reaching Abeni's eyes. She jumped back and went to reach for her dagger. But she thought better of it. "Look at her, she's a zebra."

The word ‘zebra’ slithered out of his mouth like it was poison. The captain, the pegasus with the helmet looked at his fellow guard. "We will not kill for fun grunt. You'd do best to remember that or Lady Rime will have us all tried and sent to Dark Cloud." He looked back towards Abeni, who had her hoof in her robe's pocket, the vial in her hoof. "State your name."

"Abeni," The mare answered sullenly.

"What is your business here."

"I am a monk of the Order of Obrean, travelling the land to complete her pilgrimage."

The captain looked at his men and nodded his head. They all lowered their weapons. All except for the brown stallion, who gave Abeni a look of malice. "Why should we trust her? She could be lying!"

"She isn't." The captain responded. "I've had enough experience with ponies who lie. She's for real. That and if she were the one killing all the ponies here, she'd be a unicorn and not a zebra. The victims were burned to death, suffered electric shock, or were shot by something. Zebra’s aren’t able to do that.”

You’d be surprised what a zebra can and cannot do, Abeni thought, letting her grip of the vial loosen slightly. The captain’s glare from the guard to her made her clutch the vial once again, tighter this time.

“You shouldn’t be here,” He said simply. “There’s a murderer on the loose here. We can escort you to the nearest establishment to rest. You look like you need it.”

Abeni hesitated. She wasn’t going to just throw her life in the hooves of these ponies especially with a racist. But they knew the land better than anybody. But so did the barbarians. Ponies like these guards could just be looking for some fun and soon, if Abeni decided to go with them, she could find herself in the middle of the forests, ravaged and raped. But so far they were her only chance of going to Eastgate safely. Sure, she could fight on her own, but a mare can’t do much when she’s drained of all her strength.

Much to her dismay, Abeni said forcefully through her gritted teeth, “I’ll follow.”

The captain smiled beneath his helmet, and waved a hoof to his men. “Good, move out. We’ll be moving to Black Stone tonight. Keep an eye out for anything unusual,” he glanced at Abeni. “Stay close to me Monk.”

Abeni approached, hesitating in every step. Her heart was pounding in her ears still, but she was in no position to decline their offer to help. The captain led the way, Abeni walking close behind her and the other guards behind her, the racist at the very rear of the group. The chilling wind didn’t help the torches at all. The guards had to relight them time and time again whenever the wind picked up or the flurries of snow extinguished them. The captain urged for the guards to keep themselves spread thin, even when they found the main road again. Abeni wasn’t sure if she was happy to see the road again. She constantly looked around, watching the movements in the trees and the other guards as well.

They took note of that, exchanging glances with each other when she looked at them. They whispered among themselves, Abeni’s ears twitching when they did so. She grit her teeth whenever she heard them say zebra or monk. They knew nothing and she wanted to flay them whenever she heard their chuckles and laughter, even if they weren’t talking about her.

“You seem to be a long way from home,” the captain started, startling Abeni from her deep thoughts. She hadn’t realized how sore her legs were and how far they had traveled. As they passed an intersection, she noted the post with directions inscribed into them. Black Stone was only another two miles away. “Were you lost?”

“I was ambushed,” Abeni said. Images of blood and clashing steel flashed in her mind. “By...tribals.”

“Tribals you say? We ran into a few groups of them before we found you. You must be the cursed soul they were going on about before we killed them. You needn’t worry about them. You’ll be staying in the Hazelnut Inn for tonight. I'll pay for everything, even the special treatment if you're up for it. Come mornin’, you’ll be on your way.”

“Thank you lord,”

“Lord?” the captain scoffed. “I’m a knight. Knight’s are typically addressed by Ser here.”

“I shall keep that in mind.”

They continued to walk down the road, Abeni practically asleep. She hadn’t realized how long she’d been walking and by the time her and the guards arrived in the town, she was ready to pass out. The homes were all made of the same material. Wood and straw, each one of the same design, only a handful with porches and another handful with curtains to block the view inside. The guards all regrouped, the small group still whispering amongst themselves, but Abeni was too tired to care anymore. They could say all they wanted, Abeni just tuned them out.

Entering the Hazelnut Inn was just a blur to Abeni. She barely remembered the mares who stood behind the counter and the amount of money the captain gave her to give Abeni special treatment. Abeni barely remembered the mare leading her to her new room with a mattress and the softest silk she had ever felt in years. She didn’t even remember the feeling of lying down on the bed getting ready to rest, feeling relieved as she just allowed herself to rest.

She did, however, remember the feeling when the mare began her ‘special treatment’.

Abeni woke with a start.

She wasn’t sure what it was that startled her the most. The fact that she couldn’t remember most of what happened the night before, the fact that she was still alive or the blue mare lying right beside her. She was awake, with a hoof across Abeni’s chest. Her soft, gentle strokes comforted Abeni. The mare brushed her blonde mane, her emerald eyes full of energy and satisfaction.

“What are you doing?” Abeni jolted, slapping the mare’s hoof away.

“Your knight friend demanded that I give you the special treatment,” the mare said, worry in her voice. “Did you not enjoy my company?”

“I...I did,” Abeni hesitated. “I think. I cannot stay for long. Is that knight still here?”

“No. He left shortly after he paid for your visit. He and his men went to search for the murderer that’s been running loose.”

“Is there a city nearby? An...Eastgate?” Abeni stood from the bed, stretching and feeling an unusual relief in her body. She felt euphoric for a brief moment before returning to her normal posture and walking to the chair with her robes sprawled out messily. Abeni frowned, disappointed at herself for spending the night with a whore, though she was pleased with the experience, even if she hardly recalled it.

The mare pondered for a moment. “Yes there is. Follow the main road and you’ll get there before the sun goes down. A word of warning though; the roads are dangerous and—”

“I know how the roads are here,” Abeni began to cover herself up, wrapping her robes as the mare stepped off the bed. “I can defend myself.”

“That’s what most ponies say,” the mare spoke gently. “I’d suggest going with the trade caravan here. They’re leaving for Eastgate in two hours.”

“Thank you Milady.”

“Oh?” The mare blushed and pressed a hoof against her own chest. “I’m no lady Monk. I’m just a commoner here.”

“My apologies.”

“Oh no, don’t be sorry!” The mare said. “I’m flattered, but just remember; some ponies will abuse the power of a label like that. Be careful who you call lord or lady in these parts.”

"I'll keep that in mind."