Everwinter

Breakfast was quick, and the sun hadn’t even risen yet when the three ponies were packing their bags. Cantrip was as reticent with Swift as she had been the previous day, but Swift couldn’t tell if it was due to their quarrel or because Wide Fare had woken her – according to her – rather untimely.

Wide Fare was in the process of putting away the eating utensils. “Today’s march will be short. We should reach Anwearda pretty soon… or Tölthaven if you prefer. You may have heard that the city was renamed after the annexation. From there, we will take a ship to get to the unicorn homeland.”

Swift looked up from the saddle bag he was packing. “Why even bother? Is there a reason why you don’t just get us there with your magic?”

Wide Fare nodded. “There is. A unicorn can teleport him- or herself, but not other living things. Some wizards think that it’s possible and are researching the subject, but so far, no one has ever managed to do it.”

“But you can teleport yourself with all your stuff. Why not teleport the orb and be done with it?”

“It doesn’t work that way. Remember what i told you about magical objects? Magic tends to,” Wide Fare began before he gazed into the air, searching for the right word, “invigorate lifeless material when it becomes part of it. In a way, the object becomes a living thing, although not necessarily intelligent. The way i understand it, the properties it gains aren’t as much caused directly by the magic, but by the reorganization of its–”

Swift interjected with an elongated release of air. “So, in other words, it’s alive and therefore cannot be teleported.”

“If you will.”

Swift’s eyes shifted towards the bulging pouch that Wide Fare carried close to his body at all times. Swift’s dry statement contrasted with the new sensation that built up inside of him. He was reluctant to call it fear, but he became more and more convinced that the earth ponies’ suspicion towards magic was well justified. His encounter with the lion head in the mansion now also appeared in a new light. He held back a shudder.

When Wide Fare had fastened all the baggage to his body, he took one last look around the room. “I think we have everything. Sorry about the meager breakfast, but i’m running short on supplies. We’ll be able to have a proper meal once we’re in Anwearda. Let’s go!”

They left the village behind and resumed their way to the west. The sun still hadn’t risen yet, but it was bright enough, the stars being doused one after the other, for the group to find their way around. It was the coldest day that Swift had experienced in recent memory, and his cloak did a poor job of keeping him from shivering.

The prospect of reaching Anwearda confronted Swift with a dilemma. The group was currently on its way to Emedula, but Swift had no business of his own in the capitol of the unicorns. Neither did he care about any obscure plans of a thinking glass ball.

Besides, Wide Fare had yet to prove that he wasn’t leading them into a trap. Yes, he had fended off Swift’s pursuers, killed them even, but that didn’t clear the connection between Wide Fare and the voice that Swift had heard in the manor. Deciding that the latter weighed heavier was the smart thing to do.

So, the obvious alternative was to part from the group and start anew. Anwearda was a big city. It was sure to offer a lot of opportunity. At least, that’s what Swift assumed, never having been to a city beside Marberc. The life of a thief didn’t grant the luxury of travel. He wouldn’t stay for long though – not with those goons still on the lookout for him – just long enough until he had enough bits to get him to the next city.

And on that note...

Swift looked at Wide Fare, who walked in front of him. The pouch that hung from Wide Fare’s neck swung to the sides with each step, revealing itself to Swift from time to time. A teasing display. With Wide Fare keeping his eyes at the orb the whole time, it wouldn’t be as easy to get hold of it as before. Then again, where’s the fun in easy money?

*

Just as Wide Fare had said, their trek turned out short for the day. After two hours of travel, the group reached the end of a dead forest through which the road led. Beyond, a wall of white towered over the lands, probably steep, snowy hills some distance away… though they were astoundingly even at the ridges.

It was when the group stepped out of the forest that something else attracted Swift’s attention. Below them, in the lowlands that abutted the forest, a city came into view. Its appearance didn’t stray too far from Marberc’s. A gray wall surrounded it, and the pointed tower of the city’s minster stuck out among all other buildings. A river, a silver line in an ocean of white, came from the south, ran through the city, and meandered to the north and out of sight. The plain around the city was bare, except for a few abandoned farms and several roads from different cardinal directions that all coalesced in front of one of the city gates.

Nothing would have been out of the ordinary hadn’t it been for the white hills that Swift had seen earlier. Only, they weren’t hills. An enormous wall, its white stone gleaming in the sunlight, divided the land. It followed the natural curves of the river as far as the eye could see. Swift tried to ascertain its length, but it kept on going and going until it disappeared behind a hill in the south or became blurry far away to the north.

Wide Fare voice diverted Swift’s attention, and he closed his mouth again. “The border. And over there,” he said, pointing a hoof towards the city, “Anwearda, easternmost settlement of Anhorelia. It has one of the largest harbors on the entire continent. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a ship that takes us across the channel. Come!”

Wide Fare started his descend into the lowlands, but Swift didn’t move. He was standing before the gateway to another kingdom, to the enemy’s kingdom as some would say. It didn’t matter to Swift whether he dealt with earth ponies, unicorns, or pegasi. Most likely, the were all equally self-absorbed and depraved. What did matter, however, was whether the unicorns saw it the same way.

Cantrip called over to Wide Fare. She hadn’t moved either. “What, we just walk in? Aren’t they afraid of spies entering the country or something?”

Wide Fare called over his shoulder. “That’s what passes are for.”

Swift chimed in. “What makes you think we have passes?”

“Don’t worry. Mine should be enough to get us in.”

Wide Fare waved for them to follow and resumed his way into the lowlands. Cantrip and Swift came after him, albeit with a few moments of hesitation.

As they were nearing the eastern gate, movement through slits in the wall, in line with the roofed wall walk, caught Swift’s eyes. They were watched. No weapons pointed in their direction as far as Swift could see, but it didn’t fool him.

A moat filled with water surrounded this side of the city walls, and the group crossed a lowered draw bridge to reach the closed gate. It was tall, easily six meters in height, and made out of dark iron. A battering ram would have had a hard time getting through.

Wide addressed the two earth ponies. “Leave the talking to me.” He stepped forwards and lifted his hoof to knock.

Before he had a chance to do so, a small blue shimmer appeared in the gate. It enveloped a closed rectangular loophole and opened it with a metallic clang. The entire gate droned audibly.

A stallion raised his voice. “Identify yourselves and state your business in Anwearda!”

“Good day! My name is Wide Fare, and i am here to conduct business with the townsfolk.”

With a statement that vague, even Swift had a hard time figuring out whether Wide Fare was lying or not.

The stallion resumed. “Do you have a pass?”

“Of course,” Wide Fare replied before he produced a scroll from one of his bags with his magic. He let it float to the loophole where the blue aura from before took it and pulled it through the opening.

A few moments passed before the guard spoke again. “What did you say the earth ponies’ names were again?”

“These are my assistants Swift Sleight and Cantrip.” Wide Fare pointed at the ponies in question.

A pair of eyes appeared behind the slit to inspect the two earth ponies. They disappeared again shortly after, and another pause followed. Next to Swift, Cantrip redistributed her weight from one side to the other. Whether she did it out of nervousness or boredom was anyone’s guess.

The eyes reappeared, fixated once again on the earth ponies. “What were you doing in the east?”

Wide Fare answered for them. “When the earthers fled their own realm, they left things behind. We go there and bring back left-behind possessions, deliver messages, search ponies, whatever our employers want us to do.”

That was a lie if ever there was one. Swift stole glances to the sides. The open, treeless plain made for a poor escape route. The tall snow didn’t help. Their best bet was to keep close to the wall.

The guard’s voice interrupted Swift’s thoughts. “Very well, you may enter,” the pony said, giving Wide Fare back his pass.

The blue shimmer reappeared, and the slit was shut. Then, the magic grew in size until the whole gate was enveloped in it. Something heavy fell to the ground on the other side, and the gate gave of a grating sound as it began to move. Slowly, it opened, revealing a passageway with multiple ponies standing in it. Two of them, one on each side of the passageway, held halberds in their hooves. Additionally, swords hung from their sides. Unlike the guards in Marberc, these ponies wore polished metal peytrals. Their shaffrons had long pointed ends at the top, which housed their horns.

A third guard stood close to the gate and waved them to come inside. When the group did, he closed the heavy gate behind them. Wide Fare conversed some more with him, and Wide Fare, Swift, and Cantrip had to endure a search for declarable goods. The content of Wide Fare’s pouch didn’t escape the guard, but neither did the few extra bits the guard received from Wide Fare escape Swift. So far, Swift’s assumption regarding the unicorn’s morals proved to be correct.

Once everything was sorted out, the three were finally allowed to go. They walked the last few meters towards the opening in the passageway across from the gate. When Swift stepped out onto the cobblestone streets of the city, the densely packed buildings, the beggars on the street, and the blend of pleasant and not so pleasant smells were instantly familiar to him. It was just like home.

Wide Fare led the way, heading north. As they walked, Swift took in the city. The buildings, the residents, the language: All of it was exactly how Swift expected it to be in an earth pony city. After all, that’s what it was, and no amount of unicorn overlords and patrols on the streets would change that… at least not so quickly.

The guards stood out like a sore thumb. Firstly, there was their number. In the span of five minutes, Swift counted three unicorn patrols. Either they wanted to show their dedication to the people and their security to gain their trust, or they wanted to choke off even the tiniest inkling of revolt. Most likely, it was both.

Secondly, there was their gear. They were equipped with the same plate armor that the guards by the main gate had worn. Whenever the sun broke through the clouds, it reflected off of it, and there was never a big time gap between the clunking of metal echoing through a nearby street. That kind of equipment was hardly suitable for a city guard, with them having to wear it all day. Then again, they were unicorns. Maybe they had their ways to deal with it.

After ten minutes of walking, Swift noticed the cluster of mast and canvas above and behind the buildings ahead of them. The group turned a corner, and the harbor lay in front of them. Multiple piers reached into the river, which was at least one hundred meters in breadth at that particular spot. Various ships in different sizes were tied to the piers. On some of them, crew members bustled about, but most of them were deserted.

Wide Fare guided them to a tall stone building with a saddle roof. He said that the ponies inside could give them information on what ships could take them across the channel. Inside, Wide Fare spoke with one of the clerks. Swift made sure to stay close to them to hear what they were saying, but to his dismay, they spoke arelian, the language of the unicorns and a language he didn’t understand.

It wasn’t long until they had left the building, and Wide Fare guided them through the city once more “We have run into a problem. The captains aren’t allowed to accept passengers who don’t have their own passes. Apparently, this regulation has been enacted in all ports along the coast recently. The next ship to leave the harbor, The Green Oyster, does so tomorrow. I know the captain. He can’t be swayed.”

Cantrip responded. “Well, where can we get those passes then?”

“They can be requested for the purposes of trade, diplomatic work, and so on, but a regular resident is not likely to get one.”

Cantrip waved a hoof airily. “When something is illegal, someone wants it, and when someone wants it, there’s a way to get it.”

“And it may be our only option,” Wide Fare said, nodding. “Smuggling stowaways is risky, so that should be our last resort. We could try another port, but Anwearda is the largest one along the entire coast. It’s our best bet. First, however, let us eat something. I don’t know about you, but i’m starving.”

Swift inspected Wide Fare’s face. “How come you have one?”

“Pardon?” Wide Fare asked as he looked at him.

“Your pass, how come you have one?”

Wide Fare broke eye contact and didn’t respond at first. The look on his face was one that Swift had seen on him already. Just like before, it was gone as fast as it had come.

“I called in a favor.”

Swift kept his gaze at Wide Fare, but no elaboration followed. “Who owed you?”

“The princess.”

Cantrip, who had quickly lost interest in the conversation and instead had been more concerned with the city around them, twisted her head and stared at Wide Fare. “The princess!? As in the princess of Anhorelia?”

“Yes, i saved her from a precarious situation once. That’s all.”

Cantrip opened her mouth, but Swift cut her off. “What situation?”

If Wide Fare was disgruntled by the questioning, he didn’t show it. “During the war, when King Platinum was overseas with a large portion of his forces, there was an attempt on the princess’s life.

“Princess Platinum has had strong opinions on politics since she was introduced to them in preparation for her time as ruler. She was especially passionate regarding the nobles’ privileges. The nobles thought that she planned on stripping them of all of them once she became ruler of Anhorelia. Needless to say, they dreaded the day.

“A very power-hungry pony took advantage of that circumstance. Princess Platinum is the king’s only child and, therefore, the legitimate inheritor of the throne. Without such an inheritor, an election would normally be held to determine a ruler. The pony’s plan was to kill her to achieve just that and appoint himself as a nominee.” Wide Fare gave a wry smile. “I was in the right place at the right time. We captured him, but he managed to flee afterwards.”

Cantrip chuckled. “In the right place at the right time? Sounds to me like someone had a little fling with a certain princess.”

“Oh no, nothing like that!” Wide Fare replied, accentuating his point with a wave of his hoof. “We’re just friends.”

As the three of them moved along, Swift heard the faint voices of a heated argument from somewhere nearby. Considering the twitch of Wide Fare’s ear, he had heard it too.

There were more pressing matters that demanded Swift’s attention though. “How does one become a friend of royalty?”

Wide Fare opened his mouth, but he never got to reply. A high-pitched scream made them all wince. Swift searched the area to find the source of the sound. There, a few meters to the side, in one of the smaller streets, three guards cornered a female earth pony. Two of them restrained her while the third beset her with a harsh voice and a devastating glare.

Wide Fare was already on his way to the scene. “We’ll have to take a detour.”

Shortly before they reached them, the guard who talked to the mare caught sight of the oncoming group. “Please move along! You’re interfering in an ongoing inves–” He stopped. At first, he simply stared at Wide Fare, but then, a bright smile made its way to his face. “Wide Fare! It’s a small world! What brings you to this lovely city?”

Swift’s eyes darted between the two.

Wide Fare didn’t share the other’s enthusiasm. Instead, he spoke with a composed voice. “I understand that the guard has a problem with this mare, Iron Glaive. What exactly has she done?”

“I appreciate the help, but it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“I beg to differ.”

Iron Glaive’s smile waned for the fraction of a second before it returned in full force. “Still the crown’s diplomat through and through i see.”

Swift’s ears shot upright. This conversation was getting more and more interesting.

Iron Glaive continued. “If you really want to know: It’s just a case of permission of illegal gatherings.”

The earth pony struggled against her captors and called out to the newcomers. “I’ve done nothing of the sort!”

Iron Glaive glared at her. “Quiet!” he yelled before he turned back to the ponies in front of him. “As i was about to say, the city guard has its proper procedure for such instances and is capable to deal with it.”

Wide Fare looked at the mare for a moment, then looked back at Iron Glaive. “That’s not the impression i get.”

The other one was done smiling now. “Look, just move along, and we won’t be forced to detain you.”

“You won’t have to detain us. We’ll go–”

“Thank you!”

“–but once i’m in Emedula, i may have to report a misconduct regarding the Anwearda city guard.”

The look on Iron Glaive’s face was a mix of incredulity and amusement. “What? Do you really think she can be bothered about what a single guard patrol does?”

Wide Fare nodded. “I do since this single guard patrol is stationed in one of the most important cities between Anhorelia and Wrühtlant and endangers the peaceful coexistence between unicorns and earth ponies that the princess is working so hard on to accomplish.”

Iron Glaive looked daggers at Wide Fare. For what felt like an eternity, neither of them moved.

Finally, Iron Glaive huffed. He turned around and spoke to his men. “We’re moving!”

Without any more words, he left. The two other guards hesitated, looking confused. Eventually though, they let go of the mare and followed their captain down the narrow street.

The mare released a shaky sigh. “Thank you so much, mister. How can i repay you?”

“There’s no need,” Wide Fare said, smiling. “It was my pleasure.”

Swift felt like slamming his hoof into his face.

The mare smiled back. “Thank you again.” With that, she turned around and entered the shop behind her.

The group returned to the larger street and resumed their walk. Cantrip was the first to speak. She smirked.

“That mare was totally guilty.”

Wide Fare raised an eyebrow. “Was she? Well, if the gathering was what i think it was, i don’t think that outlawing it helps the situation anyway.”

“And that guy? Friend of yours?”

“Hardly.” Wide Fare twisted his mouth. “He used to work as captain of the royal guard in Emedula. He must have experienced quite the fall from grace to be working as a regular guard now.”

Swift spoke up. “Like you have?”

“...I suppose so.”

“And i suppose we don’t get to hear the whole story.”

Wide Fare took his time to answer. When he did, his voice was quieter than before. “Not now.”

At that moment, the group turned a corner. Wide Fare pointed at a half-timber house that became visible. A wooden sign dangled over the entrance.

Wide Fare’s voice sounded more relieved than it should have. “There’s our destination. We can plan our next steps in there.”

They closed the distance. Wide Fare opened the door and waited for the others to enter.

Cantrip suddenly addressed Wide Fare. “Hey, i just realized something. Princess Platinum is the ruler of this land, right? So, why is she still called ‘princess’? Isn’t she a queen?”

“Don’t ask. It’s complicated,” Wide Fare answered before he entered and shut the door behind them.

*

During meal, Cantrip decided that she would try to find someone who could forge the documents needed for their passage. Wide Fare, however, insisted on keeping the group together at all times. They were ahead of their pursuers, but not by a whole lot. From what they knew, the mercenaries could already be in the city with them.

Their research didn’t amount to much though. After hours of talking to the right ponies in the right taverns, they found a few vendors of various illegal goods, but no forger. When it had already been dark for a few hours, they gave up for the day and retreated to the inn. Wide Fare said that they may have to leave the city after all, but according to him, there was no point in traveling during the night. The city, he argued, concealed them better than the open road.

And so, they paid for accommodation. A common room was out of the question, so they got one with only a single bed. Swift and Wide Fare left the bed for Cantrip and made do with their bedrolls and the floor. Cantrip was the first to keep watch, followed by Swift, while Wide Fare took care of the morning.

Swift’s sleep was uneasy. He woke multiple times, always expecting a sneering face over him or the tip of a sword at his throat. After a while, he considered to relieve Cantrip early. It would distract him at least a little bit. Additionally – and more importantly – he could also ensure that the job was done right that way. Before he could put his plan into action however, someone nudged him in the side, and Cantrip spoke.

“Your turn.”

Rubbing his eyes, Swift sat up and began his watch. After half an hour of quietness except for Cantrip’s soft snoring, his eyelids became heavy. He shook his head, stood up, and walked around the room to get rid of the weariness.

When he faced the window, the sleeping form of Wide Fare, illuminated by what little moonlight made its way into the room, caught his eye. And so did the pouch he cradled. Swift stood still and watched the unicorn. Wide Fare’s chest raised and lowered slowly and evenly.

Swift took great care not to produce too much noise when he came closer. When he was only a meter separated from the pouch, he lifted his hoof. He could almost touch it. And then...

...his hoof stopped.

Swift frowned. He tried to grab it again, but he just couldn’t reach it. There was no barrier between his hoof and the pouch as far as he could see and feel, but still, whenever his hoof was about to touch the pouch, it recoiled. He tried it one more time.

The faint rumble from beyond the door made his heart skip a beat. His muscles tensed, and he spun around to keep the door in his sights. He waited. Nothing was moving. Now was probably the time to wake the others.

Suddenly, a mare whispered. “You idiot! Are you trying to get us caught?”

A stallion with a dark voice grumbled in response. “Don’t give me that! We wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t lost the map Dibs gave us.”

Swift blinked. Dibs!?

The first voice snapped back. “Alright, just shut up! Let’s just get this over with!”

Shortly thereafter, a quiet rattling noise came from the door’s lock. Swift’s thoughts raced. When the solution hit him, he smirked. Quickly but silently, he hurried towards Cantrip’s bed and rummaged in her saddle bag. The dagger was conveniently within easy reach. Just as the doorknob was turning, Swift was beside the door, making sure that the hinges were on his side. He pressed himself against the wall.

Slowly, the door opened. It stopped just before his face, denying him his view of the room. Beside him, hooves connected with the wooden floorboards. Swift counted the steps. When he was sure that both ponies had entered the room, he tightened the grip on his dagger.

He dashed past the door. Good fortune was with him; Both ponies had their backs towards him. He darted behind the nearest burglar, the mare. A gasp escaped the pony as Swift pulled her to her hindlegs and pressed his dagger against her throat.

Swift’s voice was barely a whisper beside the other one’s ear. “Wake the sleeping ones up and you’re dead.”

The stallion in front of them spun around and drew his own dagger. When the hostage flailed with her forelegs in a negative manner however, he lowered his weapon a little bit, instead opting to scowl at Swift.

The mare hissed through clenched teeth. “What do you want?”

“I should be the one asking that question, but i do you the favor of answering it: I want dibs.”

“I don’t know anyone called Dibs.”

“I never said that Dibs is a person, so i assume you know him?”

A few moments passed, and Swift knew that he had won. The mare spoke again. “Baker Street, The Virtuous Hoofpad Tavern.”

“Thanks. And now, get out of here!” Swift looked at the stallion. “You go first.”

The other one didn’t move and, instead, simply glared. Then however, he circled Swift and his hostage, and Swift mimicked the motion until the other one stood between Swift and the door. When the burglar was outside of the room, Swift pushed the mare into the hallway and pointed his dagger at the two.

“You know the exit.”

The two shot him another withering look, but eventually, they headed for the stairs. Swift looked after them until they disappeared from his sight. He was grasping the doorknob when a loud rumble made him wince. It came from the stairs.

A female voice rang out through the inn. “Fumble, you idiot!” The sound of galloping followed, which became quieter and quieter quickly.

Behind Swift, bedsheets rustled. As he turned around, Wide Fare picked up his sword with his magic. Cantrip, meanwhile, jumped up to her hooves on her bed.

“Wha– what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing. Just a guy who had a little too much,” Swift said as he closed the door.