It didn’t take the most advanced of behaviorist to understand the beast was rather upset. The deep sapphire glow that poured out from its mouth every time it roared illuminated the dark cloud-covered land. Cursing to myself, I rummaged through my things to try and find something to aid me in either escaping or defeating such a beast. I came up rather empty, only turning up various food items, a map, a dagger, a leather wallet, and a wineskin filled with water. Sighing and readjusting my cloak, I peered over at the cooling corpse beside me. Fresh crimson still flowed from the cadaver, dripping off of the cracked ruins we were both perched upon. Thankfully, the olden structure was just high enough off the ground to prevent the beast from reaching either of us.
It was then I remembered the wooden bucket hanging about the corpse. Reaching over, I wrenched the bucket from the corpse’s body which was now beginning to stiffen from both the cold and death. Tearing the clothes from the body—she wouldn’t be needing them anyway—and fashioning a rope, I placed a small morsel of food I was willing to lose in the bucket. Lowering the bucket over the edge, I attempted to grab the attention of the beast as soon as possible for a swift getaway.
A distant crackle of thunder reinforced my desire.
The being was mildly interested in the food, ceasing its incessant roaring and cautiously approaching the bucket. Smiling to myself, but remaining silent, I continued to lower the food down to the beast. It sniffed the bucket a few times before lunging and attacking the bucket. I flung myself back and let go of the makeshift rope, startled by its sudden aggression. Taking this opportunity, I returned to the corpse beside me, taking anything that shone in the waning light of day and that seemed valuable. Unfortunately, due to the haste at which I searched, anything found would have to wait to undergo any scrutiny.
Hopping from the ruins, I ran as fast I my legs could carry me from the structure, the growls and snarls of the creature dampening as I flew. Another hammer fall of thunder passed over the area as I began to feel and hear a few drops of rain patter on and around me. I never bothered to look behind me, my focus on a distant mountain range that never felt like it was drawing nearer. My hopes were to lose the beast, in one way or another, in a cave or other similar formation.
Having run the distance of almost a kilometer or two (or it had felt like so) without stopping, I lost my hoofing on the now slick ground, sending me sailing forward and onto the earth. Rain poured onto my aching figure as I cringed and heaved my chest in a futile attempt to sate my immense fatigue. For being in the profession I was, my strength wasn’t quite up to par. As I digress, I soon launched myself back onto my hooves, continuing my mad dash toward the rocky structure. I cannot say how long or exactly how far I had run, but by the end I was severely winded to the point of collapsing. I reached the rocky face and desperately search for any depression in the stone. The rain from had begun to pour with a tremendous ferocity several minutes ago; it was one of the worst storms I had ever seen in my life. Just my luck, after searching for only a few short moments, I stumbled upon a cave of decent size, shambling into it and falling onto the frigid grit beneath me. The waters in my cloak caused me to shiver, leading me to remove my outer garments and leaving me with only my mildly damp coat to contend with.
I had no fire starting equipment nor any fuel that could be used for said fire. With the little I could do, which was to listen to the pounding of the rain outside and the blasts of thunder that occasionally shook the air, I was grateful I was away from the odd and vile beast. I knew not of its origin, nor why it was following the mare, but by its mere looks, it appeared legendary. I brushed such things out of my thoughts, thinking them silly and not probable considering my luck.
Turning my gaze over to my cloak, I recalled the various items I had pillaged from the body of the mare. I crawled over to the soaked rags and rummaged around in my pockets. I first removed my map—now worn and faded, but still usable—food, wallet, wineskin, and my dagger. The dagger still shone red under the little pallid light I had been presented with. Placing it aside, I finally fell upon the spoils of my dark actions.
It appeared I had acquired two gold earrings, each studded with a precious ruby stone. My eyes glittered at the prize, eager to get such valuable objects appraised and sold. Carefully setting these beside my dagger, I continued the fruitful search through my pockets. Out of them, I pulled out yet another gem coated accessory, this one being a golden bracelet with various gemstones affixed to its outer side. The jewelry shone with an unnatural light in such a dark environment. Engrossed in my greed, I thrust my hoof into the damp pocket once more, not even letting go of the wrist ornament, pulling out the first thing I touched with a gaiety beyond compare.
Out shone a beautiful golden chained necklace with a single—and rather large—opal stone set in the center of a golden impression. And not just any ordinary opal stone.
“Dragon’s Eye…” I muttered to no one, unable to simply describe it in my head. The stone could fit comfortably in the hoof of a grown stallion and had a fantastic pastel crimson fissure that trailed down the center of the stone and radiated outward like the slices of lightning that flash across the darkened night before me. The color surrounding the iris was a deep violet speckled with a deeper crimson here and there.
I couldn’t believe my luck, coming across such an elegant and rare treasure. I could certainly acquire a hefty bounty for such an object. I set it beside the other valuables, the cave lit up with what seemed like a golden glow from all of the objects, although the necklace shown the brightest out of all of these prizes. I could do nothing more than just stare at the necklace, its beauty so enrapturing. I kept wary, however, for fear that such a stone may hold within it a dark and hypnotic power. I have never encountered such an object, but, as they say, one cannot be too careful.
After a short while of marveling at the jewel, a thought crossed my mind.
“How did the mare come across such an expensive item?” The mare didn’t seem like royalty, although looks don’t exactly place someone in a high position of stature. I had been around many a town and seen many of royalties’ faces; this mare didn’t seem to fit anything I had in memory. She could have merely been a pony who had obtained a considerable amount of wealth. Nonetheless, and all things considered, she probably wasn’t a very important pony to begin with.
I woke up some hours later; the sun long gone and the storm had subsided, leaving the ground outside coated in a glossy layer of moonlight. I let out a rather loud yawn, cracking my aching back; rock is not the most comfortable cot. I looked over at my newly found riches, and lo! they were still there to my delight. I replaced my now damp cloak and the golden ornaments along with my other belongings. Poking my head out of the cave, I ensured not a soul was around (or that vile beast, which I ascertained to not have a soul) before taking my leave from the rocky mouth.
And so began a rather long journey, not one of adventure, but merely one to reach the nearest town to sell off the earrings and bracelet, for they should be rather expensive. The necklace however, I kept for myself, its illustrious appearance worth more to me than an entire mountain of gold. And all the while I was walking to town, I was admiring the stone glinting in the rays of the moon.
I hadn’t anticipated the distance at which I had initially walked to stumble upon my golden treats. By the end, I was yearning for a cup of fine wine, a loaf of the finest bread, and the most comfortable bed to rest my sore and cramping form upon. The sudden bustle and noise of the town wasn’t exactly a welcome cacophony to my ears, but it would have to do as I searched for some place to sell my “belongings.” If I recalled correctly, this small gathering of townsfolk was named Quickwell, and if there was a backstory to such a name, I didn’t know it. Ponies were wandering to and fro, selling and buying goods or simply heading to a certain place. I kept my hood upon my head, uncertain if I would be recognized by anyone—I wasn’t well-known and intended to keep it that way to an extent.
Managing to make it to a small jewelry shop, I entered and took in my new and unfamiliar environment. The establishment wasn’t the cleanest nor largest of all places I had ever encountered, but as long as they paid me well, I would be satisfied. There were various shelves crafted from wood and glass that held many a valuable item: earrings of the highest sheen, rings with cuts from all manners of stones, and other golden ornaments. My thievish instincts emerged at the sight of such gifts of man and urged me to lift a few items here and there, but I had all I needed for the time being. There stood a mare behind a wooden counter wearing an apron and a plastered smile who greeted me as warmly as she could muster. Approaching the mare, I reached into my pocket and dropped the bracelet and earrings onto the counter.
“I want these appraised.” I demanded.
“Right away sir.” She replied, lifting the items into the air and walking betwixt an arched doorway behind her. I stood and waited as patiently as I could, tapping one of my hooves on the wood before me. My mind found itself wandering back to the necklace. I pulled it out of my pocket a span and gazed down at it, its marvelous luster more awesome than I had remembered in the dark cave of the night. I ran a hoof across the gem’s smooth surface, curious to know how much wealthier it would make me if I had decided to sell it. I know not the amount of time I spent staring at the stone, but it seemed that the mare returned rather quickly with the earrings and bracelet grasped in her magic. “For both of these items, seeing as they are genuine in every aspect, I would purchase these for around 150 gold pieces.” The mare told me.
“I’ll take it.” I smiled, removing my wallet from my pocket and setting it in front of the mare with the sound of gold shifting inside. She once again returned to the back, returning with a small bag filled to the brim with gold coins that she promptly poured into my wallet, the jingle of coinage music to my ears. After returning my wallet to my pocket, I groped for the necklace and carefully setting this in front of the mare, her eyes widening and sparkling with lust upon seeing it. “I don’t plan on selling this, but if I were to do so, how much would it be worth?” The mare shifted her stance slightly and lifted the piece, slowly walking into the back of the shop she had gone to before. I had not much else to think about other than the necklace, clenching my teeth at the thought of the mare attempting to steal such a precious item from me. She returned a short time later and I swiftly snatched the necklace from her once she had gotten close enough.
“It’s not worth much, if anything, one gold piece at the most.”
“That’s all I needed to hear. I appreciate doing business with you.” I began walking out of the store and pocketed the necklace once more, but was stopped before I could reach the more relaxing outside by the mare’s voice.
“Why would you want something of so little worth? Why not just give it to me so you can buy something a little extra with the two coins I’m willing to give you?” I sighed and turned my head slightly to look at the mare.
“I have no need for your meager little coins. I have all I need already. Have a goo-”
“If you do not give me that necklace, I will inform the authorities that you have stolen it!” Well, this was rather odd. I didn’t expect such a reaction from someone with so little power over me.
“So you will lie simply to get something that is not yours? Do you not see the irony in what you are scheming?” I poked. She hesitated a moment before resuming,
“Do you not see? I know that necklace cannot be yours, for it was bestowed upon a mare heading for Asmaria to put an end to the conflict between them and our country of Becrye! She worked in this town for some time before she was called to the king for being fair and righteous, taught why the conflict arose initially, and was sent off with many a valuable charm by the king’s hand. It was only spoken that she had a necklace that took the shape of a dragon’s eye, nothing more was told of what she wore, but that was the single most important identifying mark aside from the beast sent to protect her! Now give it to me so I may return it to the king!” I was rather baffled by this sudden turn of events, but this only lead me to have no further desire to stay in the mare’s presence, leaving the building without so much as another word.
I attempted to make my way through the crowd as quickly as I possibly could, swiftly taking a corner so the store was no longer in sight. I heard in the distance the cries of the mare shouting “thief, thief!” to which I merely chuckled. Word spread quickly through the town that someone had stolen the king’s jewels from the Becryean representative, but the description of the crook was too vague and only consisted of a stallion wearing a hooded cloak. To ensure I wasn’t convicted, I removed my hood and fixed my mane, hoping that showing my face like an innocent stallion would dissuade anyone from believing otherwise.
With my newly filled wallet, I now only sought a place that would provide a good meal and some respectable beds. It didn’t take me long in such a small town to find a homely inn. Upon entering the first floor, there was a bar with which there were several stools set up, a stallion with a rather burley-looking build, and behind him, large barrels of what could be assumed to be mead or other such inebriating drinks. There were a few other ponies here and there, either sitting at the counter or at a table and conversing with one another. I took my spot at the bar and asked for a cup of wine, at which the stallion informed me it would cost a silver piece. I tossed him a gold coin and told him to split it. He nodded and took the coin to a press used to cut coins that were too valuable to be used in certain situations. The dies present included ones that split the coin into two equal pieces, four equal pieces, eight equal pieces, or sixteen equal pieces. Using this system, people were never overpaid and always got their fair share when they desired it. The stallion returned with my three quarter pieces of gold and soon had served me a glass of wine. I took a sip from it and deemed it acceptable, but not fine. Although the most expensive and luxurious wines I couldn’t even afford with what I have now. I also asked for a piece of bread and tossed him another quarter of gold that I said he could keep, at which he smiled and tossed me a round loaf of bread. Surely neither of these items were as excellent as I could have purchased, but maybe something more down to earth would suffice just as well.
“You also may want to be on the lookout for anyone wearing a necklace with a gemstone that’s akin to a dragon’s eye. I hear he stole it from the lady who was going to Asmaria to end the discord between our country and theirs. No one has heard from the mare or the beast sent with her since her departure. I hope she’s still travelling in security.” The stallion behind the counter explained as he cleaned out a glass.
“As do I,” I muttered, taking another sip from the wine and lowering it, “as do I.”