I stood around as ponies lined up for a quick picture and a new ID card. Of course most didn't come willingly, so a little encouragement was required. It was amazing how desperate they were for good food. A little feast at the castle and everything was going great. Three line of hundreds slowly ground down the main street. A photo, some quick paperwork, and a burger. Once all that was done they just lingered around or walked back to their homes.

I just stood in the courtyard, watching the line shrink as a line of blue maned ponies chugged along through a special line. The mare from House Av Iron was standing by my side, a burger in her right hoof and a confused look on her face. She finished up and looked up at me, "Tell me...what are you actually?"

I shrugged and pointed to a broken bit of wall laying on the ground. I took a seat, letting her follow me around. "Alien, human, there's no Thestral word for what I am."

The mare nodded, "Understandable, mostly. Now, answer me this. Why do you side with the weakest, most disturbingly treacherous house?" she cocked an eyebrow, "Surely a warrior would make a better countess...not a spy."

I rubbed my chin, "I- what?"

She bopped herself in the face with her hoof, "You...don't know much about us, do you?"

I patted my knees, "I know what you tell me. But...I've known them the longest."

The mare shook her head despondently, "So...you turn down our requests without prior knowledge!? You...you're a terrible count."

"Yeah...I know. I never even asked for this." I rubbed my neck and looked to the line, "Well...if you're so knowledgeable, why don't you enlighten me?"

The mare smiled, nodding quickly, "Well, if you wish to hear it from me...Feros Av Iron!" she stomped her hoof proudly, "Then I shall inform you. Iron, house of warriors. Crag, house of hunters. Light, house of traders. Dusk, house of...whores...they don't like that title, they prefer escorts and courtesans. Bian, house of scholars...and cowards. And An Arder, chemists and spies. Now...I only suggest you get to know each house before you decide who to tie yourself to." She smiled wide and glanced my shin with her hoof, "I, myself, am in waiting...."

I popped my eyes open and stared at her, "Are you coming on to me?"

Feros scoffed, "Hardly...a mere suggestion. And you've...been approached by the whore mare. They...possess a certain...carnal intrigue, don't they."

I chuckled lightly, "Talented with their mouths...."

Feros laughed in kind, "Truly...but they are not--"

"Don't.... I've been with my...wife, for about six months. I'm not about to--"

Feros tapped my knee, "You live a life where your marriage has nothing to do with romance...this is about power. And with most of your sex, offering the body of a mare seems to work the best." She stretched out and struck a strong pose, "And...I am a mare, you are a...male. Surly--"

I shook my head, "Look...I'm willing to learn, to decide where funds should go. I get the whole nobility thing. It's kinda like an oligarchy, but I'm in charge here." I stood up and pointed down the hill, "Maybe you won't be a countess, but you said your family is one of fighters, warriors, let's see if that's true or not."

The mare's face was in a complex state. Disappointment mixed with anger, but not anger, challenge. "Very well...perhaps I can convince you along the way." she flicked me with her tail and turned to the road, "Come along, stay close, and understand...we have not exactly had the easiest time maintaining our home."

I looked to the counter where the IDs were being made. "Hey, someone throw me a clipboard and some paper!" before I could get ready a clipboard flew from the crowd, nearly smacking me across the temple. "Jesus- fuck!" I took a second to make sure I wasn't hurt before picking up the supplies. "Um...let's go figure out what needs to be fixed."

Feros just smiled, "I can't force you to do--"

"Don't start...also...I know you understand this.... Can we...I mean--"

"Thestrali is much easier for me...." she stated, hurrying down the road and past the lines of ponies.

I grumbled and caught up with her, matching her stride as she turned down a narrow street, "Fine. Anyways, I'm not fixing this for pleasure. You said you were warriors...and I need guards. You see where--"

"Oh course. But...we wont serve a weakling, nor will we serve an inept. Prove some sort of skill and I'll be sure to...exalt your rule."

I just nodded. I had to focus on making sure I didn't get wedged in the horribly narrow street, wedged between dark stone brick walls of unknown connection to the path. First thing I wrote down, widen the street. It was still going to be narrow no matter what, but we needed to at least fit a cart through.

Aside from the narrow street I couldn't complain. The constant clatter of Feros' chest piece was rather atmospheric, adding to the very medieval feel I was getting from my walk towards a strange metal gate. She held the gate for me and gestured for me to head inside. I complied, finding myself dumped into a courtyard maybe half a football field's length. A manor that stood a ruined four stories, rubble crumbling off the old grey stone and timber frame, took up a huge chunk of land. It was a miniature castle, compressed into the size of a baseball field.

"Well...fuck me." I started writing down copious notes. Tonnes of stone, concrete, plaster, glass, everything I would need to make this place shine. It slowly became more about preserving such an interesting building, and less about the mare standing under my legs. "This is...yeah...I'm not letting this fall apart. Is it safe to go inside!?"

Feros nodded, "Just watch your step. There might be a foal or two running around."

I stopped dead at the front step to the building, running my hand over a strange symbol with a sword and shield, "Uh...shouldn't they be getting IDs?"

Feros shrugged, "I declared them in the census. They're a bit young to be entrusted with anything."

I glared at her, "How young?"

She looked deeper into the building and let out a short shriek. "Nic, Hark, down here now!"

At her call a pair of three year old foals toddled down a set of stone steps, "Holy shit!" I screamed, running over and scooping them up, "You- why would you let them just tumble down steps like that!?"

The foals started panicking, going mad and crying as I held them. "...They think you're a monster." Feros stated, "Are you just going to let them scream or--"

I held my arms out like a cradle, turning the two foals to face me, "Stop...now!" I made sure my voice was just loud enough to be assertive but not aggressive. The two foals shut up in seconds, "Can they speak?"

Feros bobbed her head left and right, "To some degree.... They are my niece and nephew, and I'm glad to see you can handle them."

I split the foals, one in each hand and pressed them against my shoulders, "Shhh, I have you...I have you." I gently rubbed the backs of their heads, hearing their sniffles and cries slowly peter out. "This was my job. Caring for the young." I made sure they were completely calm and set them down. They both lingered around me, pacing between my legs and investigating my boots, "I know not to coddle them, but a good smack on the head can...soft skulls, you gotta be careful."

Feros rolled her eyes and walked over, standing on my toes, "Really!? I speak...two languages, fought a dragon, and you don't think I--"

I crouched down and grabbed her by the cheeks, "That doesn't mean you'll make a good parent."

She grew bright red, snapping forward and biting my nose, "How is that!? You--" I cut her off with a quick kick to the chest, rattling her armor, "Really!?"

The foals dispersed, leaving room for me and Feros to have our little sudden scrap, "Bite my nose, fucking crazy!" I stood tall against her, "You really wanna do this!?"

Feros just flared her wings out, "Winner takes the title...sound fair?!"

I didn't answer with words, instead rushing her and picking her up by her forehooves. I held her upright and shoved her into a wall. "Fair- enough." I stated, pinning her back hooves with my knee, "So...does--" she bit down on my neck, sinking her fangs in deep. "Ow...you bitch." I craned my head against her trying to keep her from moving.

It became a war of attrition, her bites growing more and more bitter and resentful as I held her pinned against a wall. But I could outlast her. While not exactly foal bites, I had been dealing with a grown mare with braces for about a month, this wasn't shit.

She slowly gave up, releasing my neck and glaring at me. "...An ambush is hardly fair."

I set her down, finding the foals giggling like mad, "War isn't about fair. And maybe we're not at war, but I figured you'd appreciate a little bit of fight."

She shook her mane out and stepped towards me, "Fair.... But now perhaps I can ask you to reconsider." She looked to the two foals, "Our house is maybe...twenty strong now? And perhaps we would not be a fertile couple...but...power tends to aid in growth."

I shook my head mournfully, "I really cant. You seem nice, if a bit...aggressive, but I can't." I looked to my clipboard, "I already promised the guard captain position to someone...but...I'll see about shuffling some positions around." I scribbled onto my list of supplies. "So you've got twenty...that's it?"

Feros nodded, "We've had...rather difficult times, finding worthy mates."

I rolled my eyes, "Anyways...get every healthy pony you can find and tell them to move into the barracks. I'll keep the red heads as my house guard."

She cocked her head, "So what...we're thief takers?"

I scratched my head, "Not quite the biggest problem. I was thinking more town guards. And...let me tell you, the laws I'm gonna pass...some ponies might not like it."

She glared at me, "Take our battles...and all of this town shall take your head."

"That's fine! But I won't have people getting robbed and assaulted out on the street. You- there's something.... Duels."

She cocked her head, "What about them?"

I looked around the crumbling entry of the true House of Iron. "Uh, maybe not here. But if ponies are gonna fight, they're gonna fight under my watch. And who better to keep them in line than you, the mare who just tried to pick a fight with a count."

She cocked her head and wore a skeptical frown, "Hmmm, perhaps. Do you plan to give us land for this?"

"Where else would you have it?" I held my hand out, "Can I see your card?"

Before long a fresh ID card was placed in my hand, "There we- whoa, you're nineteen!? What the fuck!?" I rubbed my head and gave her ID back. "You know what...I'm sending you to Canterlot."

She backed up, "What!?"

I stomped my foot, cracking the stonework, "If I'm gonna have a marshal that young, she's going to be educated!" I held the clipboard under my arm, "Now pick someone to run the place while you're gone."

She glared at me, "You plan to send me away!? Take my home--"

"No!" I boomed getting in her face, "I'm sending you to learn. Not from fucking ponies. Ponies don't know war, their tactics amount to a mass charge and that's it!" I grabbed her by the legholes in her armor and lifted her up, "No...you're learning true war, or at least something." I looked her eye to eye, staring into the bright turquoise as it glimmered in the candlelight, "Feros Av Iron, effective at the end of the week, you are hereby banished until such a time that you can prove your capabilities as not only a fighter...but as a tactician!"

She looked heartbroken, stunned, and furious, "You come into my home and tell me--"

"Shut up! You live under my rule now, and I will not have talent go to waste! You report to me, you are my subject, I know how feudal life works, now make arrangements." I set her down and took a few steps away, standing in as imposing a stance as possible, "Am I understood!?"

For the first time since my arrival, the second time in my life, I found a bat pony near tears from my shouting. "Why...I don't want to leave...." Feros croaked, "Please...."

I stared down at her, "Your housing and food will be paid for, as will a weekly stipend be given. You will have two months to learn as much as possible, gather as many books as possible, and find a tutor. Your home will be repaired in your absences, and your family will be put to work." I dug into my pocket and found the scroll with the info on the houses, "We are strong, we are Iron." I folded up the paper, "But iron's fucking useless without a brain behind it."

Feros had gone from a strong brash mare to a cowering filly as I spoke. "I'm not stupid...."

I shook my head and turned to the door, "I know. I wouldn't be throwing money at you if I didn't think you were smart." I fixed my jacket. "I don't care if the others don't like it. This town is a fucking mess. There's sewage in the streets, brawls in every alley, what I'm guessing is a complete lack of formal government and education, and I've got to start somewhere."

Feros trotted over, wrapping her hooves around my leg, "Please...don't make me go...."

I felt a lump travel down my throat, "You'll be back. And you'll be back stronger, smarter, and more powerful than before." I spun on my heel and crouched down to her, "I'm not going to let a nineteen year old throw herself into the affairs of adults without some fucking schooling."

She glared at me, jamming her head against the crook of my shoulder, "...The old count just treated us like animals...why do you think you are any different?"

I wrapped her head in my arms, "Look...you're going. It's final. Why are you so--"

"I'm scared damn you!" she shoved her head hard against my shoulder, "I'm scared to leave! I don't know what's out there, I know ponies hate us, I--"

I jumped upright, "Feros Av Iron, promised Marshal of Transylmania. Take your post, face it without fear, and I shall deal with the consequences!" I rubbed my chin and relaxed my posture. "You've got the easy part...learning...I'm the one who has to explain why I did this to everyone in town." I took a deep breath and started out the door, "If I can face a town of people who want to kill me, you can face a new town and a few books." I stepped outside and turned back to her, "We'll have a feast before you go. Oh...and you're probably not going to be alone.... I'm going to assume the others aren't formally educated either...so...yeah. You'll have company."

Feros fell to her haunches on the front step, "Count...if you have tricked me, you will die.... I chose to...believe, I want to believe."

I took a nervous breath as I stepped forward towards the path back home, "Well then I've got a reputation to live up to. Goodbye, and see you back up the hill."