Fort Purple Dart,

Canterlot,

Central Equestria

And The Blind Turtle Tavern

Roam,

Zebra Confederation

“Have you been in the Cavalry long, Lieutenant…?” Autumn Brisk ventured tentatively, inwardly cursing herself for already managing to forget the name of the gray unicorn stallion that had come to collect her from her hotel in the city. Admittedly, she had been in a bit of a frazzled state ever since leaving Earl Bitter Creek’s office. Between packing for her mission and getting her personal affairs in order in anticipation of her long absence, she’d barely had time to eat, sleep, or even glimpse the files that she’d been given that covered her mission. Had the lieutenant not come to collect her this evening, she’d have even completely forgotten that she’d agreed to meet the commander of her escort and her senior leaders for dinner!

She could only hope that she’d be able to make a good first impression during the meal.

“Lumier, ma’am,” the stallion supplied with a polite smile, “and I’ve served for four years. I have had the good fortune to spend the last two of them as Captain Corsair’s XO.”

“XO?”

“Executive Officer, ma’am,” he said, maintaining his warm expression. “I oversee most of the day-to-day operations of the company so that the commander can focus on her own duties.”

“I see,” the mare said appreciatively. “You must be quite skilled to have been given a position of such responsibility so early into your career.”

The stallion chuckled to himself. “I don’t know about that.” He glanced back at his charge. “I was just the first officer to show up to the Captain’s first command staff meeting. I think she was of a ‘first come, first tasked’ sort of mind that day.”

“Oh.” Autumn Brisk bit her lip, feeling like she’d somehow managed to already make some sort of faux pas by offering up the praise that she had. She knew next to nothing about the military or how it operated. That sort of research was something else that she would have taken the time to perform had she been given the amount of time to prepare for this endeavor that she should have been under normal circumstances. Fortunately, the young officer seemed to be quite understanding.

“The Cavalry is generally very ‘train on the job’ on the whole, ma’am. Very few ponies are lucky enough to get any sort of formal instruction on the particular duties that they’ll be assigned to before finding themselves doing it. That’s not to say everypony is going in completely blind to what they’ll be doing, but you have to be quick on the uptake. It also helps to keep a close eye on exactly what your own superiors do in their positions, because they can very quickly become your positions with little notice.

“That being said, most ponies don’t stay in long enough to get very far, rank-wise.”

“Really?”

The lieutenant nodded. “The average length of service for a pony in the Cavalry is three years. Only about one in twenty will stay longer than that.”

“I had no idea,” the teal unicorn mare admitted. “I guess I just sort of assumed that those who went in for this sort of thing made a career of it.”

“Quite the opposite, actually. Most enlist, get the training they desire, and then move on to get careers doing something similar in the civilian world.”

“Like law enforcement and security?” She offered, her mind going to the two professions she knew of off the top of her head which dealt with using weaponry.

“Some, I suppose.” Lumier frowned slightly. “But not everypony in the Cavalry is a fighter, you understand. We have cooks, accountants, nurses―just about any job you can imagine that needs doing. You’ll find ponies here fresh out of school doing jobs on a scale that make them very desirable employees with large companies.”

He jerked his head in the direction of a large wagon train heading out of the fort, loaded down with supplies. A very young looking earth pony mare could be seen scribbling on a clipboard as laden wagons passed her by. “The logistics involved with keeping a few thousand ponies fed and housed is no small task, after all. The bookkeeping and organizational skills involved can be quite daunting to even the most experienced pony.

“Anypony who can keep up with something like that would find managing, say, a warehouse for one of Equestria’s major shipping companies, like PegEx, foal’s play.” He pointed a hoof at the tabulating mare and inclined his head towards Autumn Brisk. “Once she’s out, she’ll doubtless be snapped up as a regional manager in a matter of weeks, promoted years ahead of her peers.

“We’re more than dumb ponies with big pointy sticks. Well, some of us, at any rate,” he added with a wink.

“I never―! Lieutenant Lumier, if I gave you the impression that I thought you―!”

The gray unicorn stallion allowed himself an amused laugh as he gently calmed the flustered mare. “I assure you, ma’am, that I don’t believe you thought anything of the sort!” He allowed the envoy a few moments to compose herself before continuing. “Think of it as tempering your expectations. I was once a civilian too, you know; I know what the general view of the types of ponies who enlist in the Cavalry is.

“Now, come this way.” The lieutenant diverted them towards one of the many nearly identical buildings that made up the fort’s barracks quarter. It was within one of these large structures that Bronco Company’s ponies had been granted billeting for the few days they would be in Canterlot. It was a frantic few days, to be sure, as they had a lot to accomplish by way of refitting in the short time afforded them. Matters hadn’t been helped by the fact that they were also short-hoofed. In all, twenty five ponies, stripped piecemeal from the three platoons, had been left behind in Little Buck to conduct a few additional sweeps of the surrounding wilderness to be sure the diamond dogs had truly vacated the region. Once those patrols had been completed, they had orders to leave directly for Gallopoli from there.

“I’ve arranged for us to meet a few ponies you’ll be working with for the majority of your time with us.”

The pair of unicorns didn’t have to go very far before Autumn Brisk spied the small gaggle of ponies standing around in front of one of the buildings. She very quickly identified the leg bands wrapped around their upper forelimbs which bore the identical ‘B 2/7’ that was present on Lieutenant Lumier’s own uniform. Further confirming her assumption that these were the ponies that she was being taken to meet, the collection of ponies ordered themselves up into a neat line and brought themselves to the position of attention as their executive officer approached.

Standing just ahead of the rest of the ponies was an older jade colored crystal mare with a silvery mane. “XO,” she said, raising her right hoof to her chest in salute.

The lieutenant returned the gesture. “At ease.” The gathered ponies all relaxed their posture and did their level best not to simply stare at the teal unicorn mare that had been brought over to them. In all, a total of four ponies were standing before them. In addition to the crystal senior noncommissioned officer, Autumn Brisk identified a dappled gray earth pony, an orange unicorn, and yellow earth pony who appeared to be much older than the other two with him.

“I’d like to introduce our envoy for this mission, Lady Autumn Brisk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the gray unicorn began by way of introductions. Then, turning his attention to his charge, he began pointing at each of the other ponies in turn. “Ma’am, may I present to you First Sergeant Shillelagh, formerly of the Crystal Empire's Imperial Guard, and the best first sergeant that I have had the honor to work with. Nopony in the company is more knowledgeable and experienced than she is; feel free to approach her with any questions or concerns that you may have while you’re with us.

“Obviously, you should feel free to approach the commander or I as well,” the exec added with a wry smile, “but we will have our own duties to attend to running the company, and I can’t promise you that we’ll always be available to give your concerns the attention that they deserve at any given moment. The First Sergeant is also the pony that you should talk to if you find yourself in need of ponies to perform any goodwill tasks that you deem appropriate. She’ll see to it that you get every able body that can be spared for as long as you need them.

“Sergeant LeFarrier,” the unicorn moved on to the topaz stallion, “is here to act as your supply liaison with the company. If you find yourself in need of anything, clothing, food, writing material, anything at all, the sergeant will procure it for you. He will also help you schedule face-to-face time with the Captain as you require it.

“Corporal Cravat here is our company medic,” the gray unicorn continued, “if you feel ill, or get injured in any way, he’ll have you back on your hooves in top form in no time at all. We’re very lucky to have managed to get our hooves on him,” the lieutenant patted the dappled earth pony on the shoulder before directing his attention to the orange unicorn, and the final pony in the line.

“Finally, Private Flashover has been assigned as your attache. He will accompany you everywhere you go, to guarantee your safety while you’re with us. Feel free to also use him as a gofer as the need arises.”

The unicorn flashed Autumn Brisk a broad grin and performed a rather grandiose bow that seemed so exaggerated that the mare wasn’t sure it hadn’t been meant as a parody of true formality. “I live to serve, My Lady,” he kept his head bowed comically low even as he peered up at the teal mare with his brilliant green eyes. It was all that the envoy could do to suppress an amused snort that threatened to mar her otherwise prim composure. She did manage to catch the barest hints of a scowl on the faces of both the crystal first sergeant and the yellow earth pony.

“I look forward to working with all of you,” she said, inclining her head politely towards the assembled ponies.

Lieutenant Lumier cleared his throat softly. “Your Grace, if you would accompany me to the officer’s mess, the Captain is waiting there to greet you along with the rest of the officers.”

“Of course; lead on, Lieutenant,” Autumn Brisk said, a pleasant smile on her face as she turned to follow her escort. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly as she noted the broad grin that was still plastered on the muzzle of the orange unicorn.

Once she was safely out of sight, the emerald crystal mare snorted and cast a glare at the junior soldier. “Private, I swear on the Crystal Heart, if you put a single hoof out of line I will drag your sorry keister back north and find a yeti to feed you to one piece at a time.” First Sergeant Shillelagh was rewarded with the sight of Private Flashover’s grin melting away like the snow of a perfectly wrapped up winter. The young stallion swallowed back a lump in his throat and nodded rather vigorously. “For the record: I recommended that the Captain assign anypony else to this duty.

“However,” she added with a resigned sigh, “the CO pointed out that you are, in fact, the most capable fighter we’ve got and thus would make an ideal bodyguard. You have a chance to put the whole company’s best hoof forward, private,” she leaned in, her translucent head towering over the stallion, “don’t fuck it up.”

Flashover nodded. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Top.”

The crystal first sergeant grunted. “Sergeant LeFarrier, go back and finish that inventory. I want those final numbers on my desk by taps.” The golden earth pony nodded and trotted off. “You two; dismissed.” And with that, the jade mare turned and walked away.

Cravat and Flashover both breathed a sigh of relief as they were left alone. For a couple of heartbeats, there was silence between them. Then the grin returned to the orange unicorn’s face. “I’m in love!”

“Luna preserve me,” the dappled earth pony mumbled under his breath before casting a frown in his friend’s direction. “You’re not serious. After what the first sergeant just said?”

“Bah! She was just doing the whole ‘imposing first sergeant’ thing,” he said, waving a dismissive hoof in the direction that she’d walked off in. “It's her job. She has to say stuff like that.”

“I’m pretty confident that if you try and put the moves on the envoy, your body will, in fact, never be found,” the company medic said in a completely flat tone as he stared levelly at the unicorn. “If not LeFarrier or Shillelagh, then the commander will do it. While Lumier writes the letter to your folks explaining how you were done in by your own stupidity.

“This is assuming that it isn’t any member of her family that beats them to it,” Cravat added, pointedly. “She’s an envoy with the MFA, stupid. Every single one of them is related to the nobility. She’s probably the daughter of a countess, or a duke’s niece, or something.”

“You think? What am I saying, if anypony’d know, you would,” the undeterred excitement in the unicorn’s voice didn’t help to dispel the dappled stallion’s harsh expression. “Duke Flashover the First,” the private said, pouring a vapid imitation of a posh accent into the title. “I like it! It’ll happen too, just you wait. After all, there hasn’t been a mare born who can resist this face!” As though to prove his point, he struck a pose and spread his lips into a winning smile, cast in his friend’s direction.

Cravat rolled his eyes and buried his face in hooves. “There is no way under Celestia's sun that you’ll be able to win her over like those barflies you usually hit on,” he insisted. “She’ll see right through you.”

“Well, duh! I’m not a moron.” The look that Cravat wore suggested that the unicorn’s friend was of an alternative opinion. “Brisky is a mare of refined tastes and delicate sensibilities.”

“‘Brisky?’”

“That’s going to be my pet name for her when we’re married: Frisky Brisky. Mare’s like her act all prim and proper in public, but once you get them under the sheets―watch out! Total. Freaks. Again, you of all ponies would know that.” Before the earth pony could offer up a rebuttal, the orange unicorn continued on with his plan to woo the latest target of his romantic ideations. “I won’t need to buy her rounds and use lines anyway. This gig in Gallopoli could drag on for months, and I’m going to be within hoof’s reach of her the entire time!

“I’ll be able to learn her hobbies, her dreams, what her life was like growing up in whatever high society she comes from…”

Cravat blinked in surprise. “Wow, it almost sounds like you want to get to know her and have a real relationship with this mare.”

“...and once she sees me as a gentlecolt that she can confide in, I turn on the Flashover charm and get her in the sack! If I time it right, I can probably land her just before we’re recalled. By the time she tries to make things serious, we’ll be deployed back out to the far reaches of Equestria and I’ll never see her again!”

“I withdraw my previous statement.” The medic bowed his head and shook it in resignation. “What happened to ‘Duke Flashover the First’?”

The unicorn blew a raspberry at the thought. “You’re not the only one who wouldn’t be caught dead around that stuffy lot.”

“If you actually do manage to mount her, dead is exactly what you’ll be when her family finds out; you realize that, right?”

He shrugged. “Eh, at least I’ll die happy in the knowledge I nailed nobility before I went out!” He thought for a moment, then added. “Besides, that’s only if I just give her a roll. If I actually knock her up, they have to make me part of the family or something; isn’t that how it works?”

“No, that’s not how that works; and, for the record: I’m going to start a betting pool on how long it’ll be before she says something to the CO and Shillelagh pulls your insides out through your asshole.”

“One: I’ll take that action and bet on ‘never’,” the unicorn smirked before his features scrunched up into a look of disgust, “and two: eww.”

With a final sigh, the medic stood up and gestured for the unicorn to follow him. “Come on, let’s get to the mess hall before it closes.”

Flashover trotted after his friend. “Good idea. Oh, and after chow we’re going to swing by the quartermaster’s office: I need to pick up some cologne…”

“My eulogy at your funeral will be very moving, I promise.”

“Aww; thanks, buddy!”

A storm was raging outside the weathered tavern, its winds buffeting the wood slat walls. The howling gales elicited groaning and creaking sounds from the heavily shellacked timber. One might be forgiven for believing that the whole structure could collapse at any moment beneath the onslaught of the maelstrom outside. The tavern had endured many such storms over its lifetime though, and the patrons knew that they were in no such danger of that happening.

The elderly unicorn who had just come in from that storm was a newcomer, and so cast several nervous glances at the roof and walls as they moaned anew with each gust. Steeling himself, he straightened out his rain-slicked coat, and made his way to the bar. His eyes darted between the collection of what could be generously described as ‘unsavory’ patrons slumped on the stools there, who were being served by an equally rough looking zebra stallion.

Curiously, in the pony’s opinion, the barkeep was one of only a few zebras actually present in the old tavern, and the others all appeared to be members of the staff. He could not spy a single striped patron in the whole establishment. There were representatives of just about every other race that one could bring to mind though. Minotaurs, griffons, hippogriffs, a gargoyle or two, even a small pack of diamond dogs, could all be seen partaking in either food or refreshment, or competing in games of chance or skill with one another.

There were even a few other ponies, as well. Though the inclusion of other equines in this place did little to make his presence stand out any less. If nothing else, it was quite obvious that he had managed to grossly overdress for his mission. Despite his best efforts to wear something conservative on this trip. He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to have known that ‘fitting in’ would have required wearing something that very clearly either didn’t fit, or was so full of patches and mends that there didn’t appear to be any of the original material left of the garment, as the other patrons were wearing.

The stallion found himself wondering how the good Earl could have known that the contact they needed conducted their business out of this place, and yet not have known enough about it to warn the pony he sent as his representative about how best to avoid drawing attention.

I’ll be robbed and left for dead before morning, he thought grimly as he seated himself at the bar and motioned for the gruff looking zebra stallion tending to it.

“What’ll it be?”

The old pony fished out a small stack of golden coins and placed them onto the counter. “Whatever passes for wine around here, and directions to a ‘Mister Hawkwood’. I have business to discuss with him.”

The coins vanished so quickly that the pony had to briefly wonder whether they’d been magicked away by some means. In their place was a cup of what smelled more like vinegar than actual wine. The pony took a sniff and resolved not to even bother tasting it. It seemed that he’d need to wait for his return to Equestria before he could enjoy a truly refreshing beverage again. “Don’t know a ‘Hawkwood’,” the barkeep said in his gravelly voice, “but there’s a ‘Hawks’ in the back room, if that’s who you mean.”

“It might be at that,” the aging unicorn grumbled before slipping away from the bar, leaving his untouched drink behind. It was immediately snapped up by a nearby minotaur and tossed back. The unicorn stallion made his way to the indicated room. Sitting outside of the sealed door were a pair of hippogriffs, clad in tarnished steel cuirasses and dingy white cloaks. The pair regarded the approaching pony coolly, giving no indication that they were going to allow him to pass. Undaunted, the pony cleared his throat and glared up at the nearest of them. “I am here to discuss a business proposal with your commander. If he is unavailable, then I shall look elsewhere for the mercenaries that I require.”

It was a bluff, of course. He had been given very strict instructions by Earl Bitter Creek to approach only these mercenaries, and no others. The reason for that being quite obvious: the Saddle Arabians had long ago censured The Ivory Company and forbidden any of their citizens from ever contracting with them. Which meant that it was highly unlikely that any of the soldiers in the band would feel any compulsion to warn their targets about what was happening.

Saddle Arabian towns frequently sought to employ mercenaries for their security, and so had longstanding ties with a great many of the freelance armies of the world. Hiring any of them for a mission to attack one of the towns that they might have at one time fought to defend, risked the chance that sentiment might win out against professionalism, and ruin the Earl’s plans entirely.

There was no such risk with The Ivory Company.

The pair of guards looked at one another for several seconds before one of them stepped aside and rapped his knuckles on the door. A moment later, the door was pulled open by a third hippogriff guard. The older unicorn nodded at the pair and trotted past them.

Inside, the pony was greeted by the sight that suggested that he might have accidentally wandered into a completely different building. In stark contrast to the dingy and rundown appearance of the tavern he had just walked through, this room appeared almost...regal!

The aging wooden walls were completely obscured by rich tapestries that lined the room. Finely wrought braziers gilded with gold and encrusted with gemstones both warmed and illuminated the guests within, who could be seen lounging comfortably on well-stuffed velvet pillows. The guests themselves were also finely dressed in satins and furs. Suddenly, the unicorn felt that he was woefully underdressed for this meeting…

There was quite the collection of individuals here as well. A pair of zebra stallions who were clearly not members of the inn’s staff, dressed in attire that the unicorn recognized as being that worn by legates of the Confederacy’s armies, sat on one side of a large table that was set with a collection of rich foods. Across from them was a griffon hen wearing gilded plate armor, and a hippogriff tiercel who wore no armor, but instead a tunic of maroon crushed velvet. Nestled up against him, the unicorn was actually quite surprised to see a demure-looking granite pegasus mare wearing a very risque looking tack and bridle combination that made the old stallion reflexively blush and avert his eyes; focusing instead on the obvious target of his meeting here today.

The stallion addressed the hippogriff in the glittering tunic. “Captain Hawkwood of The Ivory Company, I presume? My name is Maitre, and I serve as majordomo to His Lordship Alabaster Fetlock, Earl of Bitter Creek. I have come to purchase your services.” The unicorn paused and eyed the zebras momentarily. “For a...delicate matter.”

For a long moment the tiercel said nothing, merely regarding the pony who had come to call on him. Then the lips beyond his beak curled up in a smile and he turned to look at his striped guests. “My dear Legates, I humbly beg your forgiveness, but it seems that we will have to resume our conversation at another time.” He offered an apologetic shrug. “A mercenary’s work is never done.” The pair of zebra officers nodded and stood up, casting cool looks at Maitre as they departed. Once they were gone, the hippogriff turned to the griffon at his side. “Gerty, be a doll and fetch us a drink.” He looked at the pony for a brief moment. “Wine?”

“Red, please,” the unicorn nodded.

The feathered feline grunted and stood up, disappearing out of sight past one of the hanging tapestries. The hippogriff straightened up on his pillow and gestured to a spot across the table that had just been vacated by the legates. “Please, make yourself comfortable. I must say, I don’t get a lot of business from pony lands these days. Leastways, not from genuine nobles.” His smile broadened slightly. “So, you’ve certainly gotten my attention. What can The Ivory Company do for you, Mister Maitre?”

Maitre’s eyes darted to the pegasus mare still snuggling up against the tiercel, running an idle hoof through his plumage. The mercenary commander noticed his gaze, stroking his chin as he opened his beak to speak, only to seem to change what he was going to say at the last moment. “Oh...I see. Here I thought you were distracted by my little pet.” He reached over and ran a tolan along the mare’s spine between her wing joints, eliciting an appreciative sigh from the pegasus, and a soft little jingle as a pair of bracelets clipped to her wings rattled as she quivered with delight. “But you’re too much of a professional for that,” the hippogriff continued, having acquired the unicorn stallion’s full attention again. “No. You’re just not comfortable saying what you came here for in front of a fellow pony.

“My my my...what naughty little deals has your Earl sent you here to make, Mister Maitre?”

His level of discomfort was rising steadily, to the point where he even jerked with a start as the griffon hen returned with a pair of glasses of wine. He took his in what was a visibly unsteady telekinetic field, sipping the dry beverage in an effort to soothe his nerves. If he didn’t know that his master would never forgive him, he’d have left right at that moment. He had faith in his earl though, so he remained.

“That is not my place to tell you, Captain Hawkwood,” the unicorn finally said, surprising himself by how assured he sounded despite his nervousness. “I am here to deliver you a letter of introduction from the earl…” He withdrew a small sealed packet of papers and floated them over to the hippogriff. The parcel was intercepted by the griffon hen, who deftly opened the envelope with one of her claws and began to read through the papers within. Maitre frowned. “...As well as a requisition to be redeemed at a specified place and time. The equipment and materials you will need to perform the task for which you are being hired will be provided at that time.”

Hawkwood frowned at the unicorn. “The Ivory Company has all of the armor and weapons it needs; and we don’t take material in lieu of payment, if that’s what this is” he flashed the pony a warning glare.

“You will be fully compensated for the work itself in gold and gemstones.” Maitre assured the mercenary commander, who was now looking over the parchment that the griffon had passed on to him. “However, the...peculiar nature of the assignment for which you are being hired requires a certain...dress code.”

“I see,” the tiercel mused as he read over the letter of introduction. Silence stretched over the room as Hawkwood continued to look through the materials that had been delivered to him. Maitre contented himself with another fortifying gulp of his wine, which was in a completely different league from what the zebra bartender outside had tried to sell him. Of course, it was quite obvious that the hippogriff had accustomed himself to a particular standard of living. Leading a mercenary company paid quite well, it seemed.

His eyes wandered briefly to the lithe pegasus mare. His concerns about her presence were beginning to abate somewhat. It was quite clear that the other pony had no interest in their conversation, and instead was entirely focused on caressing her...client? He supposed it was possible that the mare was a paramour of some sort, but there was something about her that struck the stallion as being of a ‘professional’ nature. If there was an establishment in the area that employed pony mares of a caliber comparable to that pegasus, Maitre supposed that might elect to tarry for an evening before returning to Equestria. He was confident that the earl wouldn’t mind that terribly.

Besides, his frayed nerves could do to be soothed by suitable companionship tonight...

“Your Earl’s letter makes no mention of exactly what it is he’s paying us to do,” the tiercel noted in a faintly annoyed tone. “I’m not a big fan of going into a job blind. Neither are my soldiers.”

“I understand your concern,” the unicorn nodded, “and I apologize for the secrecy. The task is quite sensitive, you see. A matter of national security for the princedom. You will be provided with all the details when you pick up the equipment that is being provided for your use.” He noticed that the hippogriff and the griffon were exchanging looks now. While it didn’t look like they were about to refuse the job out of hoof, the unicorn could tell that they weren’t thrilled about the way it was being presented to them.

“Know too,” Maitre continued, “that if this task goes well, there will be others exactly like it in the future. You will be compensated just as generously each time. Not to mention: you will then be perfectly familiar with the tasks being asked of you without the need to risk any further incriminating correspondence.”

“Incriminating?” Hawkwood quirked an eyebrow at the use of the word.

The unicorn winced. “As I said, the matters are sensitive. It is possible that some organizations might take a dim view of your activities.”

The hippogriff snorted dismissively. “So what else is new? Whoever we’re hired to fight always gets a bit miffed at us.”

“Of course. It’s more the knowledge of my earl’s involvement that we wish to mitigate.”

“Plausible deniability,” he nodded sympathetically, passing the papers back to the griffon hen, “I know how that game goes.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he continued to idly stroke the cheek of the pegasus mare. He stared long and hard at the gray unicorn stallion seated across from him. Finally, he said, “We’ll take the job.”

Maitre did a poor job of hiding his relief as he deflated on his cushion. “I am most glad to hear that, Captain Hawkwood; and I know that my earl will be as well. You will receive half of your payment when you pick up your equipment, and the other half upon completion of the mission. We look forward to hearing of your success.

“Now, if you will excuse we, I should like to take my leave and retire for the night. It has been an arduous trip,” the unicorn stood up and bowed to the pair of mercenaries. Hawkwood waved a polite talon in the pony’s direction as his guard opened the door and let the majordomo out.

Once the unicorn was gone, Hawkwood looked to his second-in-command and sighed. “Start rounding up the company. I want us ready to move in three days,” the hen nodded and made her own exit from the room. A knowing look from the hippogriff commander to the remaining guard was all the signal it took for him to depart as well. Soon, the tiercel was alone with the pegasus mare.

“Three days doesn’t give us a lot of time together,” the granite mare cooed softly, nipping at his feathered neck, “and who knows how long you’ll be gone for.”

The hippogriff smiled and slipped a claw around one of the mare’s bridle straps. “Then I guess we shouldn’t waste any time, should we, Saccharin?” With a jerk of his talons, he pulled the pony’s head down towards his loins, eliciting an amused giggle from the pegasus that very quickly turned into eager groans as she tended to her patron. The mercenary commander leaned back on his collection of pillows and blissfully sipped his wine as his winged whore earned her own pay.

Author's Note

Thank you so much for reading! As always, a thumbs up and comment are always greatly appreciated

I've set up a Cover Art Fund if you're interested and have any bits lying around!