The King of Crystallum

Five Years before the Invasion of Ta’lab

Six of her knight’s commanders were present, though she would have preferred if the others were available. The other four were still sailing through the Celestial Sea: three of them had sent letters announcing their recent victory in the Dragon Lands. The fourth had been wounded, though his comrades insisted he was under the best care and would be fit before they reached Horseshoe Bay. The princess, Celestia, had arrived and Posey bowed her head in greeting.

‘Greetings Your Majesty.’ The Grand Master kept her head down in respect.

Celestia nodded in return. ‘How many present, Lady Posey?’

The Grand Master showed no emotion. A tall mare, her pink mane crowned with a golden laurel, Posey was of a few who made eye contact when speaking to the Princess.

‘Six at the ready your majesty, each with a command of twenty soldiers.’

Celestia nodded, not blind to the difficulty in amassing so many armed ponies in such little time. Now was not the time for needless risk.

The others came one by one. Starswirl gave the barest suggestion of a nod. Luna, a night-blue mare equal in her sister’s beauty, gave an attentive nod. Tiny gem-shards lining the edge of her hijab twinkled as the rays of sunlight draped over her.

Haizum was the last of them to arrive. He stood beside Luna, fully covered. His attire was modest and plain, whereas his wife was lavish and regal. Haizum, almost a head shorter than Starswirl, stood draped neck to hoof in a milk-white thawb, and grey bisht, his head and neck covered in a veil. His greeting was the salutation among Saddle Arabians, given with a formal bowing of his head.

‘As-Salam-u-Alaikum.’

Posey returned the greeting. ‘And unto you, peace.’

‘They’re late.’ The voice was equal parts graceless and blunt.

Posey turned to Starswirl, dispensing with any attempt at courtly formality.

The wizard stood by the landing pad, staring impassively into the sky, his white mane dirtied from whatever experiments he was concocting in his chambers. Starswirl’s sun-yellow eyes narrowed and he reached for his forehoof, a token left for him by his former lord. While other wizards and scholars had come from the noble guilds where they’d mastered their respective crafts, only Starswirl had fallen short, as one of countless serfs and servants on some forsaken backwater barony that had never deserved the Crown’s patronage. Starswirl’s past still followed him, pain sparking in his misshapen hoof with every step.

‘There was a delay,’ said Posey. She turned to look at Starswirl. The Regent of Equestria could not abide ponies who could not hold eye contact with him for more than a few moments. It was one of the things that made him seem so unapproachable. Posey was among the few Starswirl was open with.

A servant had once mentioned that the court wizard was like a cranky old donkey, completely devoid of humor, but Posey saw no such thing. In her eyes, the regent was a true noble: knowledge that came easily to the pampered guild wizards had to be gathered from unseemly sources, studied and practiced without guidance, to achieve something greater than what his piggish lord would have wanted of him. But, admittingly, it was easy to see why so few could believe Starswirl was Celestia’s court wizard. In truth, he looked like an unkempt commoner, more at home in a hay field than in a palace. He annoyed her sometimes, but Posey admired his diligence and did not doubt his loyalty to the Crown.

Starswirl grumbled, looking back at the others.

‘It’s a great risk, dealing with the Empire,’ he said. ‘There is already so much bad blood. Why do you ask them for help?’

Luna, Emira of Safanad, didn’t answer immediately. She stood beside Haizum, who considered Starswirl’s comments more deeply than she did. Unlike her sister’s pearl white stola, Luna stood clad in a gray silk tunic, adorned with the ornate calligraphy of Saddle Arabia, woven in gold thread. The design went beyond careful artistry and was the symbol of her authority both as ruler of the Emirate and the recognized divinity she possessed as an Alicorn. Posey wondered, as she met Haizum’s partially concealed gaze, just what of his authority remained when his wife was present.

Haizum stood between Luna and Celestia. The latter stood quietly, watching her sister carefully with practiced modesty.

‘Haizum,’ Celestia said in greeting. Thick plates of gilded arcane steel covered vital areas over her tunic, that rattled as she gave a courteous nod.

Haizum returned it but said nothing. His eyes drifted towards the sky, seeking the signs of the Imperials arrival.

‘The Caliphate is getting bolder.’ Luna’s gaze was stern. ‘The Emirates struggle under their rulings and the Sultan does nothing.’

All eyes fell upon her, except for Haizum’s. The Emir watched the skies as Luna continued.

‘Our fellow Emirs hate the Caliph more than they do the Empire. Here, now, we must use that to bridge relations with Crystallum.’

‘We accomplished that in Coltstantinople,’ said Starswirl.

‘Not entirely.’ Celestia’s calm voice held little in the way of emotion.

Safanad and the Empire had parted amicably after Coltstantinople. With tensions running high, and a new Caliph taking his place beside the Sultan, the Emirs loyal to Haizum and Luna had been busy, preparing for what they understood would be war with a ruthless despot.

Starswirl narrowed his eyes as if fighting to form some counter argument. He nodded in agreement a moment later. ‘True. Sombra was willing to accept Safanad’s help. He surprised us all.’

Celestia, her alluring features brightened by the sunlight, offered a smile. ‘He presents an opportunity for peace. We should put it to our advantage.’

Starswirl nodded again lazily. He didn’t seem wholly convinced.

Luna spoke up again. ‘We all know the risk of asking Sombra to come here, and the dangers ahead. Our forces are underway. But with the Caliph clamping down on the Emirates and whispering poison into the Sultan's ear, this may be the only way to keep them in check.’ Luna gestured to her covered husband. ‘Haizum, you’ve met Sombra before.’

Haizum was still staring at the sky. He’d not taken his eyes off the clouds floating above towards the castle.

‘Haizum?’ Luna sounded almost concerned now. ‘Hazium, is there something wrong?’

Celestia’s was a look of confusion. Even Starswirl seemed curious, his eyes shifting between the skies and Haizum.

Haizum slowly raised his right hoof, his frog faced outward towards the sky. As he performed the gesture, his eyes remained locked on one of the clouds, and all present felt the deepening chill of cold air as it came closer.

The Emir’s voice left his lips in an awed, but wary whisper.

‘They’re here.’