A Kingdom of Intrigue and Bloodby Ernest WoodChaptersPrologue Operation: Exit the EverfreeDesolate RockPrologue Prologue "At the turn of the century when the white and black horses lie in a pool of blood, when the Baige Zebra's continet is covered in thick murky blue, and when the Red and Black Griffon's castle fall silent the winged reptiles empire will rise." -A fillies guide to prophecies, Fairy tales, and mysteries Widowsheart "It's dead." Snapshot said withdrawing his sword out of the Manticores heart. "Time to get our bits." He said cleaning the blood off his blade. "What if more show up, like its family?" I spoke wrapping my cloak tighter around my waist. "Fuck em' we had a job to do it's done. I want to get outta these woods anyway creepin me out." Snapshot said placing his nicked sword into its sheath. We had been hunting a greybacked Manticore for weeks a high price had been placed on its head or rather its prized wings. Snapshot climbed atop the Manticores fallen corpse and bit down onto said wings, and in one jerked motion he ripped the wing off spraying blood onto his orange tinted coat. "Ya gonna help me out Widowheart or I got to do this mah self?" He said spitting the wing onto the ground. "Why don't ya use that horn and put it to good use for once?" I sighed unwillingly but complied. My horn lit up with equally bright white light. I then closed my eyes and envisioned the wing coming off and within a few minutes she heard a strong snapping and ripping noise. When I opened my eyes I saw that the wing had be forcefully ripped off and was now sitting next to the other one. "Eloquently done." Snap said pulling out a thick sheet from his saddle bag; wrapping up the two wings into a knot. "Ya wanna pick this up?" "Do I have a choice?" I said defiantly. Starting to get sick of this shi- "Now what did I say about that temper." Snap said cutting me off his voice growing darker. "No you don't have a choice, and if you give me anymore lip you'll never find you father." He said taking one step towards her. I had no choice to comply with his request and picked the bag up with my magic. "Good girl. Now lets-" Snap was cut off by a bright purple light that engulfed the forest illuminating the terrain. "Now what was that?" Snap said drawing his sword. "I don't want to know." I said taking a step away from the point where the light was strongest. "I didn't ask what you wanted to know, were going to check it out and that's final." He said walking towards the light. Once more I had no choice but to comply. The duo continued towards the light careful to not wake any Timber Wolfs that may have been in the area. A Manticore they could handleor rather Snap could handle but a pack of wolfs? We had no chance. Eventual the we found ourselves near an abandoned castle of sorts. Vines twisted and tangled all through the cobblestone down to the gorge below. The only way across was a rickety wooden bridge that looked to be completely unsafe. "Cover me i'm gonna try to cross, if I start to fall catch me in the magic." Snap said beginning his treck across the bridge. I should just let him fall to his well deserved doom, I could rock the bridge, take a plank out from under him. But alas he had the answers to my fathers whereabouts. Since I was 14 I had been searching all of Equestria for my fathers where about's, from Detrot to Manehattan I looked to no avail almost giving up; until I came upon a small village that wen't by the name of Ponyville. There I found one of my fathers old war buddies Snapshot who was drinking himself into a coma. During his drunkedness he had mentioned serving with my father Swiftblade during the Diamond Dog rebellion and had promised me answers about my fathers whereabouts for working on a few hunts with him while serving as his non certified squire. Felt more like being a slave. Ever since then I had been his 'Squire' while simultaneously getting smidgens of answers out of him. I was starting to wonder if he even had the answers she seeked. "Hey harlot ya heard me I said cover me!" He said placing one hoof onto the first plank of the bridge. "I-I heard ya! I've got you covered." I said my horn glowing. Snap began walking across the planks slowly at first but eventually he began a trot across them making the bridge rock back and forth. I could have said something but I felt my tongue catch in my throat as low growling began from behind from behind me. I turned and saw at least 14 yellow eyes looking at me through the brush panicking I backpedaled to the point of almost falling into the gorge below. Regaining my footing I turned my gaze once away from the depths below and saw 7 Timber Wolfs creep out licking their wooden snouts with hunger. It was then I knew she had to cross the bridge less be eaten. I slowly began moving towards the bridge never taking my eyes off the Wolfs and not looking down once. Once I was far enough the Wolfs began retreating back into the forest. I breathed a sigh of relief while noticing that I was now in the middle of the bridge half way to the castle; I carefully turned to the castle to see Snap was nowhere to be found instead one large door to the castle had been opened. A feeling of disdain had taken me. "Plothole." I spoke slowly trotting towards the castle. As I entered the castle she immediately felt a sense of fear, dread, and unease. Something was very dark about this castle, but nevertheless I needed to tread on and find that arrogant fool. As she moved further into the castle shadows began dancing upon the wall's as indistinguishable painting looked down upon me in disgust, truly a castle not for the feint of heart. Eventually she found a spiraling staircase that hadn't collapsed, upon its own weight, and began climbing the dusty cobwebbed steps this was made harder due to the fact that there was no light in the castle it was bare and had few windows. "Guess i'll have to try that illumination spell. I hope it works this time." I said as I focused on light itself. She reopened her eyes to see that the staircase she was on was replaced by a grassy field. "Where am I?" I asked to know response. Suddenly a shape appeared in the distance growing larger by the minute. "Excuse me sir or madam can you tell me where I am?" I asked to no response once more. The shape was becoming more pronounced by the second; to the point where I could distinguish features: it was tall, taller than Celestia with black hair. The thing that stood out the most though were its shape entirely, it stood on two legs instead of four, its skin a brown tint matching its eyes, and was covered in gleaming armor. Definitely not a Minotaur. It lacked the horns and muscled build, though it was menacing to say the least. Then it turned towards me piercing me with those brown eyes, for some reason I couldn't move like I was paralyzed. It began walking towards me washing over me with dread and fear. Time seemed to stop as it approached me a mere two steps away my body rattling with fear. It then leaned down and met my gaze unsure of what was going to happen next I mustered enough strength to close my eyes. I felt a shift in the wind as he or something moved to my ear, I heard a deep voice whisper. "Serlock nerraken, nishkin." Unsure of what I heard all I could utter was a silent "what?" It then laughed and placed its hand on a round object equipped to its armor. Suddenly I realized what he was about to do. A sharp *Shink!* noise echoed through the landscape as the creature pulled out a silver blade decorated in strange writing; he raised it above his head while saying these two words. "Die horse." The blade fell as I felt it connect with my skull. I fell down upon the grass spraying blood on the green grass, the shock hit me like a train and soon after shock was replaced with pain and fatigue. "W-why?" I asked as all the air escaped my lungs. "Because Nishkin. My masters tell me to." It said while walking away. The world melted around me sending me reelling around what I think was the ground. Giving up I shut my eyes and accept my fate. ...I breath once more capturing as much air as I can into my lungs, my head hurts but as I put my hoof onto my head I feel no blood no anything. Reopening my eyes I see that somehow I made my way into a large room with old tables strewn around, windows cracked and shattered and an old stage covered in dusty instruments. I breath a sigh of relief. "Just a dream." More like a nightmare I think. Regaining my composure I stood up and dusted myself off. "Buck Snap I need to get outta here, and maybe come back with a search party. See if I can find his carcass" I say while searching for a door, for a better vantage point I climb up onto the stage. I see a decorated door hidden in the shadows that looks untouched by time and has an crescent moon on it. Seeing as it's the only door in said room I make my way towards it. "Damn. Still don't have light." I say saddened "And i'm not doing that illumination spell again." I sigh "Buck it. Gotta keep on and find my way out of this 'funhouse'." I say pushing the door open and trotting into the darkness. Snapshot I had finally found some light. A single torch hung on the wall of this room, that was surrounded by columns and a large glass stained window that had now been covered with vines and muck. A real shit hole. I began walking over to the window trying to get a better look at it: Looked like it was showcasing these two ponies dancing on a moon or somethin, not worth my time I figured so I walked back to the entrance and took the torch of its handle. Another dead end room, I must have been in at least three by now and none of them had Widow or her satchel. I needed those damn wings. "Uhhssh." I jumped almost dropping the torch as I heard a moan coming from somewhere. It sounded close but there were no other openings in the room cept that barred door I had come from. "Slurrh." Another moan rung throughout the room. This time I was able to pinpoint where it came from. The window. Curiousity killed the cat, and to be cautious I withdrew my sword and cautiously crept towards the window taking a deep look into it. As I was walking I felt as though something grabbed my hoof and I fell sprawling onto the cobble floor dropping my sword. Looking behind me I saw a stray vine had protruded from the stone and I was foolish enough to trip over it. "Buckin v-" I was cut off as a loud shatter rung throughout the room, I turned to see that the glass panel had shattered revealing a large throne room with spiraling steps across from each other. I shakingly stood up. "Gettin too old for this shite." I said walking over the glass and into the room. Now I had a better look at the throne room. Old banners hung high on a nearby wall showcasing two White and Black alicorns over a moon and sun; history class finally proved useful. Those flags are Equestrian. The throne was covered in cobwebs and dust. The floors were decorated but the designs unrecognizable same as the glass pane's. I trotted towards the throne and set a torch down illuminating the room. From there I was able to fully see the whole roo-. My train of thought was cut off as I looked into a nearby corner. A mass of flesh sat still in the corner that made made my stomach turn, it was small and tinted brown, and hardly had hair cept for a small patch on one section of flesh. "Snap?" I heard a femininely voice speak behind me. I didn't turn to greet its face. "What's wrong with yo-" She stopped mid sentence to look at the creature. I turned to her and saw it was Widow, she met my gaze. "What is that?" She said slightly disgusted. Just as she said that the creature began moving and unfurling its stick like memberments till it had fully stood up. It was an inch taller than me and had brown eyes to match the patch on its head? The eyes looked us over worried and with fear, it then opened its maw. The thing that shocked us the most was its teeth, they were sharp but also flat usually the species of Terra only had one or the other but this creature had both. "Excuse me a-are you alright." Widow asked nervously. "Are you trying to get us killed?" I began. "We don't even know if this things friendl-" I was cut off by 'it' trying to formulate words. "Astup de I?" It asked in a question like tone. Widow spoke up. "Do you speak Equestrian?" Widow asked the creature. "Nu." It said unmoving. While Widow began conversing with the creature all I could think of was the money I would make off of it. Operation: Exit the Everfree"And woe to those who hold Reglamesh in thy palm. His loyalty wavering and heart black just as his hair and eyes; you may never trust within him. For he is a creature of utter chaos and destruction." -Zebra legends of religious figures Widowheart "Try to repeat after me: I am an Equine." I said to the creature in front of me. In response it only looked at me confused, for the past hour I had been trying to figure out or teach the creature language but it hadn't said anything since we saw it. I sighed defeated and just as I did I got an idea. Setting my satchel onto the floor I reached in and pulled out an apple with my magic. "This is an apple mmm." I said rubbing my stomach. "Its not gonna understand you." Snap said sharpening his sword. "Instead of teaching some brain dead ape our language we should be leaving." "I already told you Timber Wolfs are outside and it's pitch black out there." I said turning back to the creature, noticing he had took my apple without even feeling it. "You're a crafty one aren't ya?" I said smiling. It only gave me its confused look again while chomping down on the apple. "Well i've got me sword, easy to hack up Wolfs with this." He said raising his blade. "The dark never stopped us before." In truth I wasn't scared of the dark or even the Timber Wolfs, I was wondering if this creature would follow us. It looked to be starving, and probably hadn't seen light in forever. Maybe it was better to go now rather in the morning, but how would I get the creature to come with us? I then got an idea. I reached into my saddlebag and pulled out a shiny red apple and showed it to it. In response it tried to grasp it but I pulled it away. "Snap, I think we can leave now." I said standing and walking towards the staircase. "Well were not leavin witho-" Snap realizing my plan smirked "Oh you clever girl. Alright then, i'll lead us out of here." He said getting ahead of me and the creature. As we began to move upward the creature was having trouble going down the stairs mainly falling down and almost making me and Snap trip, so I decided to 'help' it down. By holding the apple in my magic and letting it lean on me all of us managed to reach the first floor with little to no complications. After a little searching we found the door we had first entered through and walked outside. By now Celestia's sun was rising and would have been beutiful if it weren't for the dark and drab forest. "I thought you said it pich black and Wolfs had been here." Snap began getting close to the bridge. "I may have... exaggerated." I said sheepishly. Looking at the gorge below I began to wonder how to get the creature across without taking a risk. I then had another idea. I would have to carry it on my back. Making the apple hover further in front of me I backed up and was able to get it onto my back, it still grasping for the apple. "You gonna let it mount you now?" Snap said smirking. "Do you wan't it to make it out of this forest, with it?" I said fiercely. "Of course. But by all means careful with him, he may try to slip it in." Snap said laughing slightly. My anger was replaced with sudden realization, it was a boy? "I see that look on yer face, surprised? Just do what I do: Look, before you try anything you might regret." Snap said starting to walk over the bridge. At the sudden realization that it was a he made things a little harder (No that wasn't a pun) and I would have to be a little careful. In a matter of minutes Snap was on the other side of the bridge waving us over. With one large breath I began carefully walking over to the other side, trying not to fall. *Crack* A breaking sound resounded through the woods. As I looked back I started to see the supports of the bridge begging to fail. "Widow hurry the buck up." Snap said worriedly. Not worried about me; worried about the creature. Continuing on the bridge made me as uneasy as a whore in the presents of Luna's guards, but I had to move quick less I meet my fate at the bottom of this gorge. At last I had finally made it to the last plank *Crack* I lept off of it with agility. Turning back I saw the bridge give out and fall into the gorge below. Looks like it'll be a while before I will visit that place again. Actually no buck that place, good riddance. "Now lets go." I said making the creature climb off of me. "Ya' not gonna let him have more fun with ya'?" Snap said with his inscrutable smirk. "Oh buck off." I said walking past him as he let out a hearty laugh. This was gonna be a long trip home. "Creature" The light in the sky hurt my eyes so I chose not to look at it. The green and soft stuff was comfortable though compared to the dark rough stuff I was sleeping on earlier. These creature that I was following had a strange way of speaking, I could try to mimic it but then the ones who voice is the highest eyes would grow and scare this one so I won't try it. The one I had been resting on seemed different than the other fatter one waving around the shiny thing, it was built differently: It face had much more curve to it rather than the blocky look the other had, it had gentler eyes (Even when they scared this one), and it was the one who talked to me directly. Which made me feel warm on the inside. We had been walking through the grassy green for a while now, or at least I think it was a while. All of this was new to this one. From the brown stuff under the green stuff, to the soft stuff I had been walking on. I really liked this pla- Suddenly a tingling sensation on my shoulder made me slap it. I looked in my hand and saw. Something. There was pieces of something gooey in the palm of my hand, and I didn't know what it was. My stomach began sinking and my eyes began to leak, I dropped down onto both of my knees still cradling the crushed thing. I had no idea why i had felt this hurt feeling even though I had no wounds, I think the orange one with the curved face saw me and began making noise with its mouth again. "Nyat's wronig?" It said in a gentle tone, as I showed her the crushed thing it put its stump on my shoulder making me flinch slightly. "Iy's jast und bag." I felt sad that I had crushed it. I yelled out in a promising tone. "I will avenge you!" "Snapshot" "What's wrong with it now?" I said sheathing my sword and walking up to the two. I was hoping this trip would be easy; if they could pick up the slack. "It crushed a bug and now its sad." She said helping him up. "A feckin bug? That's why its sad?" I said in disbelief. "It was more than that to him it would seem." She said as he put out his hand? And showed the bug to me. "Buck it. Its dead now, and we will be to if we don't get out of this forest." I said unsheathing my sword and moving further down the trail. I heard her sigh behind me as i continued hacking down the vines. We made it to a river in hardly any time at all marking we were a quarter away from the entrance to Pony ville. Turning back to the two I saw her trying to do something with the creature by the water. "The feck are ya'll doin?" I asked tail deep in water. "I think its scared of the water." She said as it scaredly backed up from the water. I sighed. "Then carry him, we can't stop now." I said waking across to the other side. I heard her sigh as she lifted him back onto her Continuing through the water I began to see a light feeling as though our journey was over I told the others to pick up the pace. "Hurry up were almost through this!" I say rushing towards the light. As I breached through the brush we had finally reached our destination. Ponyville. The other finally caught up with me out of breath. "Why are you so tired?" I asked with my hoof out. "Try carrying the damn thing." She said making him unmount her "And then tell me how well your back feels!?" She said huffing with anger. "Firecracker this one eh?" I said nudging the creature, it just looked at me confused. I sighed. "You need to get out more." I say trotting towards the town. I got a feeling today will be a good day. Meanwhile across the Equestrian sea. Note: This entry is a pretty damn violent one. Read at your own risk. High Priestess Sankara The room was silent as I entered, my hoofs making a clapping sound with each step I take. The sisters around me cover their left eye ceremoniously for what is about to take place. I reach the end of the room near the podium where a crystalline pool lay. Here is where we will summon him. "Sister Anora do we have the ingredients?" I ask to my congregation of beige cloaked sisters. One of them breaks formation and comes to me, at first glance it looked to be a faceless mare but as she got closer I could see that it was my gentle sister Anora. Her eyes always gave her away from the other sisters, one was completely white as the fresh fallen snow of the North, the other golden as the coasts of the Sunset River. She was blessed by the Dredd Mother with two different colored eyes each used to see different points in time, this had proven useful in finding King Ackaton's skeleton key the one that would open Norava's chest. She squeaked out "Y-yes sister S-sankara." She stuttered the words out as she reached under her cloak and pulled out an dusty wooden box with a golden bracket shaped for a key. "Good sister. I will need your assistance with them. Are you up for the task?" I asked waiting for her reaction. At first she seemed scared but quickly put on a face of determination. "Yes High P-priestess." She stuttered out pushing out her chest. "Good. Place the box on the altar." I told her while reaching under my own cloak and pulling out the Skeleton Key made literally from Ackaton's pelvic bone. She placed it and moved out of the way as I approached the box, it hummed with a dark energy as a black aura surrounded it. I placed the key within the box and began hearing ineligible whispers turning it made the whispers stop. Once I pulled the key out it turned to dust in my palms. So much for relics I thought. I opened the box to be met with, a thing of legend. Ackaton's skull. It is said that during the war against the Equestrian's Ackaton suffered a thousand stabs to his skull, without flinching once. Sadly in the end the two Alicorn sisters were able to turn him to ash, though this seemed to not be the case. I picked it up out of the box carefully and knocked the box itself to the floor. Now I needed to place it onto the Doom Stone, it was a terrible thing: The stone itself was black as the void, at the center a statue of Ackaton stood sitting on his dredd throne, below that a stone bed of sorts stood with two slits on each edge. This was used or sacrificing. I walked over the the top of the slab and placed the skull facing towards the altar. Now there was one more thing to do. I walked back onto the altar and began my speech. "Sisters the time is at hand when our father Ackaton awakes from his dusty slumber, let all who be his enemy's tremble at his feet and give into his desires; let the men's adulthood be force fed to them as they watch their women raped by Ackaton's glory. Let the children be disemboweled and made to eat their own innards; while watching their parent's cook in the bronze camel. Let all his followers hear his roar and know it to be true! The time is at hand sisters. Soon Ackaton will walk among us once more and his empire will last 5000 years. We need but one more thing, nay a thing a mare! Sister Detrice! Will you give the life of your unborn child and your own if it means Ackaton will walk with us again?" I asked pointing down the rows. "Yes sister Sankara." Detrice said walking out of formation. "Then let it be known that our sister Detrice chose her life and her childs life for another. Sister Detrice come to the altar!" I said pulling out from under the podium a black and jagged dagger. Once she reached the altar she lay flat on the stone. With eyes closed. I walked up to her and whispered in her ear "He is coming, and you will not be forgotten." I then raised the dagger and slammed it hard into her belly making a cross like incision she screamed heavily but I didn't stop for Ackaton will always need a sacrifice. I reached deep into her open wound and pulled out the child and raised it into the air. "Sister's together." I began. "His coming is true; know it to be near when you hear the blood moon calling as the wolfs howl. Death is but a shell, living begins at the end." I say this while pressing the dagger into the child head and placing its corpse onto the slab, its blood filling the slits at the edge. Next sister Detrice her face is blank and all full of shock. I take the blade and slice it across her neck. letting both bloods fill the slits. Soon after a rumbling is heard as the room shakes and the statues eyes glow blood red. The bodies of mother and child began to eminate with smoke, and eventually evaporate. What was left was a skeleton of a large horse like figure. As I approached it skeleton began to convulse and move rapidly as flesh, organs, and skin began being grafted onto it as all of this was happening smoke began covering the body being made so thick I could not see through it. Then silence fell on the room as the noise of the convulsing stopped. I moved towards the altar carefully but was quickly taken back at what I saw. A Zebra larger than and Alicorn trotted out of the fog, his mane black as night as was its stripes, its eyes were a dark red color while his white stripes were dark and grey. He had a gold ring pierced through its nose and was ripped with muscle. It was him Ackaton reborn, me and my sisters bowed at his glory as I heard him let out a guttural laugh. I heard his footsteps as he neared me. I looked up and saw he was staring back at me his eyes making me want to flee on the spot; he grabbed me with such speed I hadn't even known what happened till now. He then spoke his holy words. "Bring me the Alicorn Sisters spines." Author's Note Holy shit this chapter took a while to write. It took me 2 hours to write it, i'm pretty slow huh? So now we now who's gonna be our main character for when were over in Zebra country but what about our Minotaur characters? Next chapter will be about the Minotaur's of Desolate Rock. Have a good one now ya hear. Desolate Rock"You will know our pain, our suffering, and our wrath." Ancient Minotaur Saying Brandt Swift-Axe "Who the fook says we have to answer to the damn horselords!" The hall erupted once more as Jolf spoke in his thick accent. He'd been at this for years. Trying to convince the lords of Desolate Rock to follow him to pillage the horselords land of Equestria. And now it seemed like they were finally listening. "Those puny little cunts mean nohtin to me. They used to be strong until the rebellion happened. Ever since they lost High Hills they've been weak! And now's the time to strike brothers!" He shouted throwing his muscled arms up into the air showing us minotaurs seated and the lords in their chairs. The bastard was crazy to attack Equestria back when they had the Hills, but now not so much. Maybe now would be a good time to strike. "Now. My lords Harrow, Bjorn, Kevan give me 20 good ships and i'll prove to you, to you all, that the horses are fookin weak!" He said climbing off the table his mail shirt clanking as he approached the lords table. "Silence my borthers." Bjorn spoke first standing up out of his blackened wood chair. "Jolf. You know me as well as any of our brothers that stand here today that I would love nothing more than to relieve our golden age and pillage once more upon the Equestria coast as well as their cities. But what you fail to realize is that they have the strongest force in the world at their hooves. Magic. The force that binds the stars and the sun together. They have too much power for us to raid them." Bjorn said adjusting his surcoat which had the banner of a red an black bull on a flaming backround. "Precisely Bjorn. They have too much power! The Griffons know it, the Zebras know it and so do we! If we align ourselfs with them we can enslave the moon and sun princess, and raid freely!" This elicited a few "Yeah's!" from the crowd of Minotaurs surrounding me. Despite the princesses magic I'd still raid. They need us after all. Who else would make their weapons? "Jolf!" Bjorn yelled quieting the room. "You know I value your opinion. You were one of our best raiders during our times raiding the sun sea against the Zebra's. But now those times are over, and we must keep to ourselfs for now. A war this early in the outlying conflict could be disastrous for us." Bjorn said sitting back down. "But Bjor-" Jolf was cutoff. "That is the end of it! I won't hear anymore of this." Jolf was taken aback. "Now brother Bjorn this isn't that bad of a decision." Harrow began "This raid can make all of us very rich." Harrow said stroking his beard. "Or kill us all." Bjorn said his brow furrowing. "Why not ask Lord Kevan what he thinks?" I said adjusting myself in my chair. "He's the eldest and most experienced. He should make the final decision." I heard a few of my brothers agree with me letting out a few yeah's in agreement. Kevan stood up out of his rotting blackwood chair. Kevan was a minotaur nearing 70 and had been on more raids than any minotaur in this room. His hair was short and graying, and his cloak covered his deteriorating form. He looked left to right looking over all of us. Then he was able to rasp out a single word. "Raid." "You can have 10 of my ships, and take any men who will acompany you to this raid. Though by the shouts of glee i'm sure you won't have a problem finding your raiders." "Thank you my Lord Harrow." A smile slid itself on Jolfs face. "Though there is one condition." Lord Harrow began. "This can't make it back to Desolate Rock. The princesses can't know we raided their coastes. Kill everyone of them. The babes, the elderly, and disabled. Leave none standing." Harrow said running his hand through his thick black hair. "You have my word." Jolf said turning back around to face us. "So who's with me!" Jolf shouted making many of my brothers raise their axes in agreement. All but me it appeared. Brother Bjorn did have a point. If the horse sisters found we killed their citizens, and burnt their villages their would be serious ramifications for this. Painful ramifications. Though the raid may be worth it I could use the money as could my family. Years of not raiding have left most of us poor. Trading doesn't exactly cut it, and we aren't traders or craftsmen at heart. I was taken out of my thinking as a grey hand reached out to me. "And what of you brother Brandt? We could use your skill with a blade." Jolf said to me flashing his gray and white teeth. I weighed the decisions in my mind. Be poor, and deal with no consequences if this goes bad or take a chance and be richer than I have been these past 10 years. The choice was clear to me. I grabbed my brothers hand tightly and stood up. "I have your back brother." I said throwing my left arm around his shoulder. He chuckled, and shouted once more. "We raid tomorrow! Sharpen your axes and blades, and bring your shields!" The hall erupted in yells of excitement. I joined the yells, yet in the back of my head I had a bad feeling about all of this. Author's Note Damn this chapter was hard to write. Partly because I haven't written in so long which always has me scrambling to find the right words to put in. I'm gonna start on the next chapter now. Peace.
Prologue Prologue "At the turn of the century when the white and black horses lie in a pool of blood, when the Baige Zebra's continet is covered in thick murky blue, and when the Red and Black Griffon's castle fall silent the winged reptiles empire will rise." -A fillies guide to prophecies, Fairy tales, and mysteries Widowsheart "It's dead." Snapshot said withdrawing his sword out of the Manticores heart. "Time to get our bits." He said cleaning the blood off his blade. "What if more show up, like its family?" I spoke wrapping my cloak tighter around my waist. "Fuck em' we had a job to do it's done. I want to get outta these woods anyway creepin me out." Snapshot said placing his nicked sword into its sheath. We had been hunting a greybacked Manticore for weeks a high price had been placed on its head or rather its prized wings. Snapshot climbed atop the Manticores fallen corpse and bit down onto said wings, and in one jerked motion he ripped the wing off spraying blood onto his orange tinted coat. "Ya gonna help me out Widowheart or I got to do this mah self?" He said spitting the wing onto the ground. "Why don't ya use that horn and put it to good use for once?" I sighed unwillingly but complied. My horn lit up with equally bright white light. I then closed my eyes and envisioned the wing coming off and within a few minutes she heard a strong snapping and ripping noise. When I opened my eyes I saw that the wing had be forcefully ripped off and was now sitting next to the other one. "Eloquently done." Snap said pulling out a thick sheet from his saddle bag; wrapping up the two wings into a knot. "Ya wanna pick this up?" "Do I have a choice?" I said defiantly. Starting to get sick of this shi- "Now what did I say about that temper." Snap said cutting me off his voice growing darker. "No you don't have a choice, and if you give me anymore lip you'll never find you father." He said taking one step towards her. I had no choice to comply with his request and picked the bag up with my magic. "Good girl. Now lets-" Snap was cut off by a bright purple light that engulfed the forest illuminating the terrain. "Now what was that?" Snap said drawing his sword. "I don't want to know." I said taking a step away from the point where the light was strongest. "I didn't ask what you wanted to know, were going to check it out and that's final." He said walking towards the light. Once more I had no choice but to comply. The duo continued towards the light careful to not wake any Timber Wolfs that may have been in the area. A Manticore they could handleor rather Snap could handle but a pack of wolfs? We had no chance. Eventual the we found ourselves near an abandoned castle of sorts. Vines twisted and tangled all through the cobblestone down to the gorge below. The only way across was a rickety wooden bridge that looked to be completely unsafe. "Cover me i'm gonna try to cross, if I start to fall catch me in the magic." Snap said beginning his treck across the bridge. I should just let him fall to his well deserved doom, I could rock the bridge, take a plank out from under him. But alas he had the answers to my fathers whereabouts. Since I was 14 I had been searching all of Equestria for my fathers where about's, from Detrot to Manehattan I looked to no avail almost giving up; until I came upon a small village that wen't by the name of Ponyville. There I found one of my fathers old war buddies Snapshot who was drinking himself into a coma. During his drunkedness he had mentioned serving with my father Swiftblade during the Diamond Dog rebellion and had promised me answers about my fathers whereabouts for working on a few hunts with him while serving as his non certified squire. Felt more like being a slave. Ever since then I had been his 'Squire' while simultaneously getting smidgens of answers out of him. I was starting to wonder if he even had the answers she seeked. "Hey harlot ya heard me I said cover me!" He said placing one hoof onto the first plank of the bridge. "I-I heard ya! I've got you covered." I said my horn glowing. Snap began walking across the planks slowly at first but eventually he began a trot across them making the bridge rock back and forth. I could have said something but I felt my tongue catch in my throat as low growling began from behind from behind me. I turned and saw at least 14 yellow eyes looking at me through the brush panicking I backpedaled to the point of almost falling into the gorge below. Regaining my footing I turned my gaze once away from the depths below and saw 7 Timber Wolfs creep out licking their wooden snouts with hunger. It was then I knew she had to cross the bridge less be eaten. I slowly began moving towards the bridge never taking my eyes off the Wolfs and not looking down once. Once I was far enough the Wolfs began retreating back into the forest. I breathed a sigh of relief while noticing that I was now in the middle of the bridge half way to the castle; I carefully turned to the castle to see Snap was nowhere to be found instead one large door to the castle had been opened. A feeling of disdain had taken me. "Plothole." I spoke slowly trotting towards the castle. As I entered the castle she immediately felt a sense of fear, dread, and unease. Something was very dark about this castle, but nevertheless I needed to tread on and find that arrogant fool. As she moved further into the castle shadows began dancing upon the wall's as indistinguishable painting looked down upon me in disgust, truly a castle not for the feint of heart. Eventually she found a spiraling staircase that hadn't collapsed, upon its own weight, and began climbing the dusty cobwebbed steps this was made harder due to the fact that there was no light in the castle it was bare and had few windows. "Guess i'll have to try that illumination spell. I hope it works this time." I said as I focused on light itself. She reopened her eyes to see that the staircase she was on was replaced by a grassy field. "Where am I?" I asked to know response. Suddenly a shape appeared in the distance growing larger by the minute. "Excuse me sir or madam can you tell me where I am?" I asked to no response once more. The shape was becoming more pronounced by the second; to the point where I could distinguish features: it was tall, taller than Celestia with black hair. The thing that stood out the most though were its shape entirely, it stood on two legs instead of four, its skin a brown tint matching its eyes, and was covered in gleaming armor. Definitely not a Minotaur. It lacked the horns and muscled build, though it was menacing to say the least. Then it turned towards me piercing me with those brown eyes, for some reason I couldn't move like I was paralyzed. It began walking towards me washing over me with dread and fear. Time seemed to stop as it approached me a mere two steps away my body rattling with fear. It then leaned down and met my gaze unsure of what was going to happen next I mustered enough strength to close my eyes. I felt a shift in the wind as he or something moved to my ear, I heard a deep voice whisper. "Serlock nerraken, nishkin." Unsure of what I heard all I could utter was a silent "what?" It then laughed and placed its hand on a round object equipped to its armor. Suddenly I realized what he was about to do. A sharp *Shink!* noise echoed through the landscape as the creature pulled out a silver blade decorated in strange writing; he raised it above his head while saying these two words. "Die horse." The blade fell as I felt it connect with my skull. I fell down upon the grass spraying blood on the green grass, the shock hit me like a train and soon after shock was replaced with pain and fatigue. "W-why?" I asked as all the air escaped my lungs. "Because Nishkin. My masters tell me to." It said while walking away. The world melted around me sending me reelling around what I think was the ground. Giving up I shut my eyes and accept my fate. ...I breath once more capturing as much air as I can into my lungs, my head hurts but as I put my hoof onto my head I feel no blood no anything. Reopening my eyes I see that somehow I made my way into a large room with old tables strewn around, windows cracked and shattered and an old stage covered in dusty instruments. I breath a sigh of relief. "Just a dream." More like a nightmare I think. Regaining my composure I stood up and dusted myself off. "Buck Snap I need to get outta here, and maybe come back with a search party. See if I can find his carcass" I say while searching for a door, for a better vantage point I climb up onto the stage. I see a decorated door hidden in the shadows that looks untouched by time and has an crescent moon on it. Seeing as it's the only door in said room I make my way towards it. "Damn. Still don't have light." I say saddened "And i'm not doing that illumination spell again." I sigh "Buck it. Gotta keep on and find my way out of this 'funhouse'." I say pushing the door open and trotting into the darkness. Snapshot I had finally found some light. A single torch hung on the wall of this room, that was surrounded by columns and a large glass stained window that had now been covered with vines and muck. A real shit hole. I began walking over to the window trying to get a better look at it: Looked like it was showcasing these two ponies dancing on a moon or somethin, not worth my time I figured so I walked back to the entrance and took the torch of its handle. Another dead end room, I must have been in at least three by now and none of them had Widow or her satchel. I needed those damn wings. "Uhhssh." I jumped almost dropping the torch as I heard a moan coming from somewhere. It sounded close but there were no other openings in the room cept that barred door I had come from. "Slurrh." Another moan rung throughout the room. This time I was able to pinpoint where it came from. The window. Curiousity killed the cat, and to be cautious I withdrew my sword and cautiously crept towards the window taking a deep look into it. As I was walking I felt as though something grabbed my hoof and I fell sprawling onto the cobble floor dropping my sword. Looking behind me I saw a stray vine had protruded from the stone and I was foolish enough to trip over it. "Buckin v-" I was cut off as a loud shatter rung throughout the room, I turned to see that the glass panel had shattered revealing a large throne room with spiraling steps across from each other. I shakingly stood up. "Gettin too old for this shite." I said walking over the glass and into the room. Now I had a better look at the throne room. Old banners hung high on a nearby wall showcasing two White and Black alicorns over a moon and sun; history class finally proved useful. Those flags are Equestrian. The throne was covered in cobwebs and dust. The floors were decorated but the designs unrecognizable same as the glass pane's. I trotted towards the throne and set a torch down illuminating the room. From there I was able to fully see the whole roo-. My train of thought was cut off as I looked into a nearby corner. A mass of flesh sat still in the corner that made made my stomach turn, it was small and tinted brown, and hardly had hair cept for a small patch on one section of flesh. "Snap?" I heard a femininely voice speak behind me. I didn't turn to greet its face. "What's wrong with yo-" She stopped mid sentence to look at the creature. I turned to her and saw it was Widow, she met my gaze. "What is that?" She said slightly disgusted. Just as she said that the creature began moving and unfurling its stick like memberments till it had fully stood up. It was an inch taller than me and had brown eyes to match the patch on its head? The eyes looked us over worried and with fear, it then opened its maw. The thing that shocked us the most was its teeth, they were sharp but also flat usually the species of Terra only had one or the other but this creature had both. "Excuse me a-are you alright." Widow asked nervously. "Are you trying to get us killed?" I began. "We don't even know if this things friendl-" I was cut off by 'it' trying to formulate words. "Astup de I?" It asked in a question like tone. Widow spoke up. "Do you speak Equestrian?" Widow asked the creature. "Nu." It said unmoving. While Widow began conversing with the creature all I could think of was the money I would make off of it.
Operation: Exit the Everfree"And woe to those who hold Reglamesh in thy palm. His loyalty wavering and heart black just as his hair and eyes; you may never trust within him. For he is a creature of utter chaos and destruction." -Zebra legends of religious figures Widowheart "Try to repeat after me: I am an Equine." I said to the creature in front of me. In response it only looked at me confused, for the past hour I had been trying to figure out or teach the creature language but it hadn't said anything since we saw it. I sighed defeated and just as I did I got an idea. Setting my satchel onto the floor I reached in and pulled out an apple with my magic. "This is an apple mmm." I said rubbing my stomach. "Its not gonna understand you." Snap said sharpening his sword. "Instead of teaching some brain dead ape our language we should be leaving." "I already told you Timber Wolfs are outside and it's pitch black out there." I said turning back to the creature, noticing he had took my apple without even feeling it. "You're a crafty one aren't ya?" I said smiling. It only gave me its confused look again while chomping down on the apple. "Well i've got me sword, easy to hack up Wolfs with this." He said raising his blade. "The dark never stopped us before." In truth I wasn't scared of the dark or even the Timber Wolfs, I was wondering if this creature would follow us. It looked to be starving, and probably hadn't seen light in forever. Maybe it was better to go now rather in the morning, but how would I get the creature to come with us? I then got an idea. I reached into my saddlebag and pulled out a shiny red apple and showed it to it. In response it tried to grasp it but I pulled it away. "Snap, I think we can leave now." I said standing and walking towards the staircase. "Well were not leavin witho-" Snap realizing my plan smirked "Oh you clever girl. Alright then, i'll lead us out of here." He said getting ahead of me and the creature. As we began to move upward the creature was having trouble going down the stairs mainly falling down and almost making me and Snap trip, so I decided to 'help' it down. By holding the apple in my magic and letting it lean on me all of us managed to reach the first floor with little to no complications. After a little searching we found the door we had first entered through and walked outside. By now Celestia's sun was rising and would have been beutiful if it weren't for the dark and drab forest. "I thought you said it pich black and Wolfs had been here." Snap began getting close to the bridge. "I may have... exaggerated." I said sheepishly. Looking at the gorge below I began to wonder how to get the creature across without taking a risk. I then had another idea. I would have to carry it on my back. Making the apple hover further in front of me I backed up and was able to get it onto my back, it still grasping for the apple. "You gonna let it mount you now?" Snap said smirking. "Do you wan't it to make it out of this forest, with it?" I said fiercely. "Of course. But by all means careful with him, he may try to slip it in." Snap said laughing slightly. My anger was replaced with sudden realization, it was a boy? "I see that look on yer face, surprised? Just do what I do: Look, before you try anything you might regret." Snap said starting to walk over the bridge. At the sudden realization that it was a he made things a little harder (No that wasn't a pun) and I would have to be a little careful. In a matter of minutes Snap was on the other side of the bridge waving us over. With one large breath I began carefully walking over to the other side, trying not to fall. *Crack* A breaking sound resounded through the woods. As I looked back I started to see the supports of the bridge begging to fail. "Widow hurry the buck up." Snap said worriedly. Not worried about me; worried about the creature. Continuing on the bridge made me as uneasy as a whore in the presents of Luna's guards, but I had to move quick less I meet my fate at the bottom of this gorge. At last I had finally made it to the last plank *Crack* I lept off of it with agility. Turning back I saw the bridge give out and fall into the gorge below. Looks like it'll be a while before I will visit that place again. Actually no buck that place, good riddance. "Now lets go." I said making the creature climb off of me. "Ya' not gonna let him have more fun with ya'?" Snap said with his inscrutable smirk. "Oh buck off." I said walking past him as he let out a hearty laugh. This was gonna be a long trip home. "Creature" The light in the sky hurt my eyes so I chose not to look at it. The green and soft stuff was comfortable though compared to the dark rough stuff I was sleeping on earlier. These creature that I was following had a strange way of speaking, I could try to mimic it but then the ones who voice is the highest eyes would grow and scare this one so I won't try it. The one I had been resting on seemed different than the other fatter one waving around the shiny thing, it was built differently: It face had much more curve to it rather than the blocky look the other had, it had gentler eyes (Even when they scared this one), and it was the one who talked to me directly. Which made me feel warm on the inside. We had been walking through the grassy green for a while now, or at least I think it was a while. All of this was new to this one. From the brown stuff under the green stuff, to the soft stuff I had been walking on. I really liked this pla- Suddenly a tingling sensation on my shoulder made me slap it. I looked in my hand and saw. Something. There was pieces of something gooey in the palm of my hand, and I didn't know what it was. My stomach began sinking and my eyes began to leak, I dropped down onto both of my knees still cradling the crushed thing. I had no idea why i had felt this hurt feeling even though I had no wounds, I think the orange one with the curved face saw me and began making noise with its mouth again. "Nyat's wronig?" It said in a gentle tone, as I showed her the crushed thing it put its stump on my shoulder making me flinch slightly. "Iy's jast und bag." I felt sad that I had crushed it. I yelled out in a promising tone. "I will avenge you!" "Snapshot" "What's wrong with it now?" I said sheathing my sword and walking up to the two. I was hoping this trip would be easy; if they could pick up the slack. "It crushed a bug and now its sad." She said helping him up. "A feckin bug? That's why its sad?" I said in disbelief. "It was more than that to him it would seem." She said as he put out his hand? And showed the bug to me. "Buck it. Its dead now, and we will be to if we don't get out of this forest." I said unsheathing my sword and moving further down the trail. I heard her sigh behind me as i continued hacking down the vines. We made it to a river in hardly any time at all marking we were a quarter away from the entrance to Pony ville. Turning back to the two I saw her trying to do something with the creature by the water. "The feck are ya'll doin?" I asked tail deep in water. "I think its scared of the water." She said as it scaredly backed up from the water. I sighed. "Then carry him, we can't stop now." I said waking across to the other side. I heard her sigh as she lifted him back onto her Continuing through the water I began to see a light feeling as though our journey was over I told the others to pick up the pace. "Hurry up were almost through this!" I say rushing towards the light. As I breached through the brush we had finally reached our destination. Ponyville. The other finally caught up with me out of breath. "Why are you so tired?" I asked with my hoof out. "Try carrying the damn thing." She said making him unmount her "And then tell me how well your back feels!?" She said huffing with anger. "Firecracker this one eh?" I said nudging the creature, it just looked at me confused. I sighed. "You need to get out more." I say trotting towards the town. I got a feeling today will be a good day. Meanwhile across the Equestrian sea. Note: This entry is a pretty damn violent one. Read at your own risk. High Priestess Sankara The room was silent as I entered, my hoofs making a clapping sound with each step I take. The sisters around me cover their left eye ceremoniously for what is about to take place. I reach the end of the room near the podium where a crystalline pool lay. Here is where we will summon him. "Sister Anora do we have the ingredients?" I ask to my congregation of beige cloaked sisters. One of them breaks formation and comes to me, at first glance it looked to be a faceless mare but as she got closer I could see that it was my gentle sister Anora. Her eyes always gave her away from the other sisters, one was completely white as the fresh fallen snow of the North, the other golden as the coasts of the Sunset River. She was blessed by the Dredd Mother with two different colored eyes each used to see different points in time, this had proven useful in finding King Ackaton's skeleton key the one that would open Norava's chest. She squeaked out "Y-yes sister S-sankara." She stuttered the words out as she reached under her cloak and pulled out an dusty wooden box with a golden bracket shaped for a key. "Good sister. I will need your assistance with them. Are you up for the task?" I asked waiting for her reaction. At first she seemed scared but quickly put on a face of determination. "Yes High P-priestess." She stuttered out pushing out her chest. "Good. Place the box on the altar." I told her while reaching under my own cloak and pulling out the Skeleton Key made literally from Ackaton's pelvic bone. She placed it and moved out of the way as I approached the box, it hummed with a dark energy as a black aura surrounded it. I placed the key within the box and began hearing ineligible whispers turning it made the whispers stop. Once I pulled the key out it turned to dust in my palms. So much for relics I thought. I opened the box to be met with, a thing of legend. Ackaton's skull. It is said that during the war against the Equestrian's Ackaton suffered a thousand stabs to his skull, without flinching once. Sadly in the end the two Alicorn sisters were able to turn him to ash, though this seemed to not be the case. I picked it up out of the box carefully and knocked the box itself to the floor. Now I needed to place it onto the Doom Stone, it was a terrible thing: The stone itself was black as the void, at the center a statue of Ackaton stood sitting on his dredd throne, below that a stone bed of sorts stood with two slits on each edge. This was used or sacrificing. I walked over the the top of the slab and placed the skull facing towards the altar. Now there was one more thing to do. I walked back onto the altar and began my speech. "Sisters the time is at hand when our father Ackaton awakes from his dusty slumber, let all who be his enemy's tremble at his feet and give into his desires; let the men's adulthood be force fed to them as they watch their women raped by Ackaton's glory. Let the children be disemboweled and made to eat their own innards; while watching their parent's cook in the bronze camel. Let all his followers hear his roar and know it to be true! The time is at hand sisters. Soon Ackaton will walk among us once more and his empire will last 5000 years. We need but one more thing, nay a thing a mare! Sister Detrice! Will you give the life of your unborn child and your own if it means Ackaton will walk with us again?" I asked pointing down the rows. "Yes sister Sankara." Detrice said walking out of formation. "Then let it be known that our sister Detrice chose her life and her childs life for another. Sister Detrice come to the altar!" I said pulling out from under the podium a black and jagged dagger. Once she reached the altar she lay flat on the stone. With eyes closed. I walked up to her and whispered in her ear "He is coming, and you will not be forgotten." I then raised the dagger and slammed it hard into her belly making a cross like incision she screamed heavily but I didn't stop for Ackaton will always need a sacrifice. I reached deep into her open wound and pulled out the child and raised it into the air. "Sister's together." I began. "His coming is true; know it to be near when you hear the blood moon calling as the wolfs howl. Death is but a shell, living begins at the end." I say this while pressing the dagger into the child head and placing its corpse onto the slab, its blood filling the slits at the edge. Next sister Detrice her face is blank and all full of shock. I take the blade and slice it across her neck. letting both bloods fill the slits. Soon after a rumbling is heard as the room shakes and the statues eyes glow blood red. The bodies of mother and child began to eminate with smoke, and eventually evaporate. What was left was a skeleton of a large horse like figure. As I approached it skeleton began to convulse and move rapidly as flesh, organs, and skin began being grafted onto it as all of this was happening smoke began covering the body being made so thick I could not see through it. Then silence fell on the room as the noise of the convulsing stopped. I moved towards the altar carefully but was quickly taken back at what I saw. A Zebra larger than and Alicorn trotted out of the fog, his mane black as night as was its stripes, its eyes were a dark red color while his white stripes were dark and grey. He had a gold ring pierced through its nose and was ripped with muscle. It was him Ackaton reborn, me and my sisters bowed at his glory as I heard him let out a guttural laugh. I heard his footsteps as he neared me. I looked up and saw he was staring back at me his eyes making me want to flee on the spot; he grabbed me with such speed I hadn't even known what happened till now. He then spoke his holy words. "Bring me the Alicorn Sisters spines." Author's Note Holy shit this chapter took a while to write. It took me 2 hours to write it, i'm pretty slow huh? So now we now who's gonna be our main character for when were over in Zebra country but what about our Minotaur characters? Next chapter will be about the Minotaur's of Desolate Rock. Have a good one now ya hear.
Desolate Rock"You will know our pain, our suffering, and our wrath." Ancient Minotaur Saying Brandt Swift-Axe "Who the fook says we have to answer to the damn horselords!" The hall erupted once more as Jolf spoke in his thick accent. He'd been at this for years. Trying to convince the lords of Desolate Rock to follow him to pillage the horselords land of Equestria. And now it seemed like they were finally listening. "Those puny little cunts mean nohtin to me. They used to be strong until the rebellion happened. Ever since they lost High Hills they've been weak! And now's the time to strike brothers!" He shouted throwing his muscled arms up into the air showing us minotaurs seated and the lords in their chairs. The bastard was crazy to attack Equestria back when they had the Hills, but now not so much. Maybe now would be a good time to strike. "Now. My lords Harrow, Bjorn, Kevan give me 20 good ships and i'll prove to you, to you all, that the horses are fookin weak!" He said climbing off the table his mail shirt clanking as he approached the lords table. "Silence my borthers." Bjorn spoke first standing up out of his blackened wood chair. "Jolf. You know me as well as any of our brothers that stand here today that I would love nothing more than to relieve our golden age and pillage once more upon the Equestria coast as well as their cities. But what you fail to realize is that they have the strongest force in the world at their hooves. Magic. The force that binds the stars and the sun together. They have too much power for us to raid them." Bjorn said adjusting his surcoat which had the banner of a red an black bull on a flaming backround. "Precisely Bjorn. They have too much power! The Griffons know it, the Zebras know it and so do we! If we align ourselfs with them we can enslave the moon and sun princess, and raid freely!" This elicited a few "Yeah's!" from the crowd of Minotaurs surrounding me. Despite the princesses magic I'd still raid. They need us after all. Who else would make their weapons? "Jolf!" Bjorn yelled quieting the room. "You know I value your opinion. You were one of our best raiders during our times raiding the sun sea against the Zebra's. But now those times are over, and we must keep to ourselfs for now. A war this early in the outlying conflict could be disastrous for us." Bjorn said sitting back down. "But Bjor-" Jolf was cutoff. "That is the end of it! I won't hear anymore of this." Jolf was taken aback. "Now brother Bjorn this isn't that bad of a decision." Harrow began "This raid can make all of us very rich." Harrow said stroking his beard. "Or kill us all." Bjorn said his brow furrowing. "Why not ask Lord Kevan what he thinks?" I said adjusting myself in my chair. "He's the eldest and most experienced. He should make the final decision." I heard a few of my brothers agree with me letting out a few yeah's in agreement. Kevan stood up out of his rotting blackwood chair. Kevan was a minotaur nearing 70 and had been on more raids than any minotaur in this room. His hair was short and graying, and his cloak covered his deteriorating form. He looked left to right looking over all of us. Then he was able to rasp out a single word. "Raid." "You can have 10 of my ships, and take any men who will acompany you to this raid. Though by the shouts of glee i'm sure you won't have a problem finding your raiders." "Thank you my Lord Harrow." A smile slid itself on Jolfs face. "Though there is one condition." Lord Harrow began. "This can't make it back to Desolate Rock. The princesses can't know we raided their coastes. Kill everyone of them. The babes, the elderly, and disabled. Leave none standing." Harrow said running his hand through his thick black hair. "You have my word." Jolf said turning back around to face us. "So who's with me!" Jolf shouted making many of my brothers raise their axes in agreement. All but me it appeared. Brother Bjorn did have a point. If the horse sisters found we killed their citizens, and burnt their villages their would be serious ramifications for this. Painful ramifications. Though the raid may be worth it I could use the money as could my family. Years of not raiding have left most of us poor. Trading doesn't exactly cut it, and we aren't traders or craftsmen at heart. I was taken out of my thinking as a grey hand reached out to me. "And what of you brother Brandt? We could use your skill with a blade." Jolf said to me flashing his gray and white teeth. I weighed the decisions in my mind. Be poor, and deal with no consequences if this goes bad or take a chance and be richer than I have been these past 10 years. The choice was clear to me. I grabbed my brothers hand tightly and stood up. "I have your back brother." I said throwing my left arm around his shoulder. He chuckled, and shouted once more. "We raid tomorrow! Sharpen your axes and blades, and bring your shields!" The hall erupted in yells of excitement. I joined the yells, yet in the back of my head I had a bad feeling about all of this. Author's Note Damn this chapter was hard to write. Partly because I haven't written in so long which always has me scrambling to find the right words to put in. I'm gonna start on the next chapter now. Peace.
