It was the first time Tercio had been in the Conference of Nations room, a large, stately circle of tiered marble steps and crafted seats for up to a dozen dignitaries. Housed in one of the castle's largest spires, it served as a meeting point for diplomats, rulers, and other important people from beyond Equestria's borders. At first he had counted himself lucky for being chosen, along with three others, to guard some of the most powerful and influential beings in the world, but as time dragged on and diplomats bickered he'd soon come to wish he'd been passed by.

Besides Princess Celestia, three others from surrounding nations had shown up earlier in the day to discuss the matter of the Equestrian/Whitetail war and its repercussions. None of them seemed to particularly care for the other, but things had at least remained relatively civil.

There was Empress Elinwyyn, from the Cervidaen Hegemony, a frequent guest of Celestia's. Tercio had only seen her once before, but she seemed reasonable enough. She did, however, hold herself in high regard, far more than Celestia had ever shown. Her nation -- composed of several smaller states that had been annexed through conquest, mostly -- was roughly the size of Equestria, though more spread out. At the moment she was seated to Celestia's right, draped in a shimmering fabric of emerald green, with golden antler decorations that tinkled gently when she moved her head. Large antlers on female deer, Celestia had told him, were unique to Elinwyyn's particular race.

Beside her sat the ruler of the Griffon Empire, a hot-headed male of the aggressive and war-like northern lands formally known by the title of "Emperor Galdron, Claw of the Mountains, Ruler of the Six Holds, Conqueror of The Wilds, With Eternal Glory From the Gods of Air, Stone, and Flame, He Who Rules by Divine Right, Blessed be His Name."

At least, that's how his servant had introduced him. The grand titles and self-important jargon went out the door when he was talking with other rulers, probably out of necessity. Rumor had it that the griffons worshiped Emperor Galdron as a god or prophet, a living manifestation of the earthen gods so central to many aspects of griffon life. He came from the distant, wind-swept peaks of Skytalon, where the harsh cold and blistering gales meant that most griffon settlements were dug straight into the mountains themselves. His ruling chambers were said to be the hollowed-out shell of an entire snow-capped peak.

He was darker than other griffons Tercio had seen, with grey plumage tipped with black over his front half and dark brown fur over his back half. From neck to haunches he wore dark brown leathers with silver decorations and blue patterns. A large, intricate portrayal of a great mountain adorned the chest plate of his armor, with inscriptions written in his native tongue in shining platinum. Steel gauntlets clicked on the mahogany chair as he drummed his claws in impatience.

Finally, there was the leader of the Zevran Tribal Lands -- or simply Zevran -- Elder Mwolan'e. Of the three visiting heads of state, Tercio liked him the best. So too, it seemed, did Celestia. Whereas Galdron was boisterous and borderline obnoxious, and Elinwyyn infuriatingly self-important and smug at times, Mwolan'e never raised his voice or insulted the others. His patience made even Celestia seem short-tempered by comparison. Dressed in traditional brown and black wrappings that hung to his knees, along with a short, cylindrical hat, his stocky zebra frame made him stand out from the other, taller attendees. His most striking feature was his tendency to slip into rhyme, an apparently common trait among the zebras, and the large, golden rings that adorned his neck and legs. He currently sat across from the griffon emperor, his forelegs crossed over his chest.

Celestia stood in the middle of the room, speaking at length for the last several minutes. She had been trying to drum up support for Equestria's part of the war, but it was an uphill battle. None of them seemed to want to throw in their lot.

"My esteemed guests, I realize that what I ask of you is not something that is easy to answer, but--"

"On the contrary, Princess," Emperor Galdron interrupted, "I think it's quite easy to answer. And that answer is a solid 'no'."

Mwolan'e spoke up. "Emperor Galdron, I do not believe you are giving a fair chance to Princess Celestia." His words were heavily accented, but still had a pleasing timbre to them. "Who among us can say they have not experienced war in their time? Such a thing is sometimes unavoidable."

"And sometimes it's necessary," the griffon countered. "This is not one of those times. We are at peace in Skytalon and the six holds. It is a time to replenish our numbers and forge our weapons for the next conflict."

"I believe peace is something the distinguished Princess has more experience with than any among us.You should not be so quick to jump to conclusions."

"And you should not be so quick to lecture me, zebra," Galdron said with a sneer. Bad blood still existed between the two nations from a conflict that had taken place less than a decade prior.

Celestia clacked a golden shoe on the tile.

"As I have said previously, Emperor, please try to keep things civil." Galdron said nothing in return, motioning for Celestia to continue. "The simple truth of the matter is that my people fight and die to repel the Whitetail aggressors, all because of an attack that we had no part in."

"That's not the way I heard it."

"Then I believe you heard wrong, Emperor Galdron," Celestia answered firmly, affixing her gaze on him.

For the first time in several minutes, Empress Elinwyyn added her voice to the debate.

"Princess, Emperor -- what caused the outbreak of this war is not what matters. Not anymore. What matters is what will end it."

"What will end it would be the Whitetail chancellor actually attending this conference, not cowering under his senators," Galdron laughed dismissively. "And you, Empress -- why haven't you used your influence with the Whitetail to put a stop to this? Surely they're more likely to listen to you than any of us, seeing as how you're practically blood related."

"We may both be deer, but I am Redtail and they are Whitetail. We are as different as pegasus and unicorn, though I suppose we may appear similar to the uninitiated."

"Regardless, they would listen to you before any of us. Clearly before Princess Celestia."

"My dear Emperor, since the outbreak of this war I have, in my boundless grace, attempted to speak with both nations many times. Equestria is thankfully open, but Whitetail is hostile and paranoid after the attack on their people. I still try, as my position dictates, and I have every confidence that, in time, the Whitetail will see my way as the only proper way, lest they be forgotten in the annals of history."

"That sounds like a threat, Empress."

Elinwyyn smiled. "No, simply a statement of fact. Times are changing, and those who do not adapt will cease to be relevant."

Elder Mwolan'e raised a hoof to speak. "Excuse me for interrupting, my friends, but I believe Equestria's armies have Whitetail on the retreat, even as we speak. The tides of war have surely turned, no more pony homes will burn. Will the Whitetail capitol now be crushed, as payment for this war to which they have blindly rushed?"

In the center of the room, Celestia frowned at the thought.

"I have not once entertained the idea of sieging Whitetail's capitol, Elder Mwolan'e. Such an act would only lead to more death and destruction. Between the war and the attack on Canterlot I have had enough bloodshed for an eternity." She raised her voice slightly and spoke with confidence. "Before the start of this conflict, Equestria had been at peace with its neighbors for the last two hundred years. Not since my mother and father united the three pony races has this land seen steel clashing against steel. Can anyone here claim the same? No? Then I fail to see how my actions could be misconstrued as war mongering or something similar. I am not asking for soldiers to crush Whitetail or its people; I merely ask for enough support to ensure that I can bring this war to a close with as few losses on both sides as possible. Whitetail will only stop when it believes it cannot possibly win."

The dignitaries said nothing, prompting Celestia to approach each of them as she spoke.

"If not soldiers, then supplies. Food, water, medicine, materials, anything you can spare. I give you my word that Equestria will repay you, with gratitude and generosity, as we always have."

Mwolan'e was the first to say something in return.

"Princess, even if the Whitetail do not prolong this conflict, there is still the matter of these 'Nightmare Moon' cults that are appearing. As I understand it, they are the same ones who so ruthlessly attacked Canterlot, are they not?"

Celestia sighed. "They are, yes, or so it seems. As if it were not enough to be forced to banish my own sister, I now have to deal with fanatics and cultists who worship her as some sort of dark messiah. What caused this, I cannot say, but you can rest assured that I am very much committed to bringing them to justice as we find them...or helping them, as it often turns out to be."

"What do you mean, 'helping them'?" Emperor Galdron asked.

"Most of the ponies -- and griffons and zebras and deer -- who are under the cult's influence are simply lost and afraid. Misguided, as it were. If I can help them readjust to normal life, I will do so."

"It would be easier to put them all to the sword and be done with it," he said firmly.

"It would be. And it would also be wrong."

Galdron scoffed. "You ponies and your love and mercy. Look where it's gotten you now."

Celestia approached the griffon emperor and stood before him in all of her grace and authority.

"One of the benefits of a long life, Emperor Galdron, is that I can remember things quite clearly when they would simply be stories or myths to someone with a normal life span. Do you know your history?"

"As if I would lead the Empire without it! Yes, of course I know the history of the griffon people."

"Then you should already be well aware of the hundreds of ponies who gave their lives -- voluntarily, might I add -- to defend Skytalon against the great dragon attacks nearly a century and a half ago. A time which your nation would not have survived if not for the love and mercy my people showed yours."

She stuck out a hoof against his armored chest.

"Do not mistake our kind nature for weakness, Emperor."

Galdron sat up in his chair after she'd turned away, fidgeting and mumbling to himself.

"Fine. If Equestria asks for support, it shall have support. I cannot promise how much, but you will hear from me by the next crescent moon."

Satisfied, and hiding a smile behind her practiced facade, Celestia bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Emperor. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Would anyone else pledge support to Equestria?"

"Our lands are vast, our numbers small," Elder Mwolan'e said, "but if aid you seek, I am at your call. Your age speaks to your wisdom, far more than any of us. Forgive me for my doubts; war is harmful for us all. I am sure my merchants would very much like to resume trade without fear of attack from either side. We have no warriors to spare, though a strong harvest this year has given us a vast cornucopia of food stores. I would be glad to send them to your soldiers."

"You are too kind, my friend. I cannot thank you enough." Celestia turned to Elinwyyn. "And you?"

"Unfortunately, Princess, I do not think aid is something we can provide. A terribly cold winter left our fields bare, a catastrophe from which we are still recovering."

Mwolan'e arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Your people go hungry? I have not heard of this before now. If you require any aid--"

"No, thank you," Elinwyyn answered quickly, "we are recovering quite well and we prefer to be self-sufficient. In any case, all of our soldiers are either guarding our borders, searching for the followers of your fallen sister, or keeping the peace. Furthermore, the Whitetail are our kin in spirit as well as blood. Not many of my people wish to fight their cousins across the border. They are, after all, both part of the superior Cervidaen heritage."

Two out of three was more than Celestia was expecting to get. Even with the Cervidaen people unable or unwilling to support Equestria, it could have been far worse. Promises were cheap, and Celestia knew it, but at least it meant the possibility of aid. She bowed deeply to mark the end of negotiations.

"My friends, I thank each and every one of you for attending today. I know it's a long way from your homes. I do hope you've found the food and hospitality to be sufficient, and the conversations to be enlightening."

They bowed in return, except for Galdron, who simply nodded.

"As always, Princess Celestia, it's been a treat," he said in an annoyingly dismissive tone. "You shall hear from the Griffon Empire soon."

"And ours as well." Mwolan'e made a spiral pattern across his chest with a hoof. "May the spirits watch over and guide you always."

The zebra and griffon rulers left through the tall doors at the side of the room, leaving only Elinwyyn with Celestia. The tall, petite deer stood up and stretched loudly.

"Do you think Galdron will actually hold up to his end of the agreement?"

"I don't know," Celestia answered truthfully, "but I'm optimistic. He is a hard griffon to get along with, but not entirely unreasonable."

"Perhaps. I think he'd sooner offer a knife in your back." The golden decorations on her antlers swayed as she approached the princess. "I'm curious, Celestia: do you still have that pendant I gave you, from the last time the moon was full?"

"I do, yes. It's quite lovely, thank you."

"Very good. Keep it close, and I'm confident you will have good luck."

Celestia wasn't sure of how much good luck she'd had recently, but she didn't object.

"I could certainly use it, Empress."

"As could we all." Elinwyyn bowed once more. "Thank you again for having me. I must be leaving for Cervidae, but we will see each other again soon, I'm sure of it."

"Of course. Have a safe trip."

As soon as Elinwyyn was gone, Celestia drooped her head and let out a long, deep breath, then regained her more casual bearing.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thank you for standing watch, my praetorians."

"We are honored to serve, Princess," they answered as one, tipping their spears.

"And I'm honored to have you with me. Cloudtop, Anarius, Cinder Sage, you may return to your barracks for the time being. Have a pleasant rest of the day."

"And I, Princess?" Tercio asked as his companions left through the guard entrance behind him.

"Walk with me, please," she answered.

"As you wish."

Celestia waited until they were out of earshot of the other guards, then asked, "So what did you think of our honored guests?"

"They were...quite interesting. I have never witnessed royalty deciding the fate of nations."

She laughed quietly. "You can be honest with me, my friend. What did you really think?"

"Well, I..." Tercio tried to think of something to say, but the words failed him for some time. "I suppose they come off as rather, I don't know...aloof? The zebra, Molwana--"

"Mwolan'e," Celestia corrected him with a giggle.

"Right, Mwolan'e. He struck me as the only one to truly care about what you were saying. Galdron and Elinwyyn were surprisingly dismissive of your concerns. Perhaps the ideals I have seen you uphold do not apply to every leader, much to my dismay."

Celestia nodded. "I am by no means perfect, but I do try to uphold the very elements that have kept us safe and prosperous for all this time. I am sure Galdron and Elinwyyn are doing the same; their ideals are simply different from ours."

"As you say. I must admit that I do not envy you at such times, especially with the griffon," he laughed.

"Galdron is like his father and his grandfather before him -- stubborn. Getting through to him requires an equally stubborn resolve. I believe I made it clear to the good Emperor that he cannot insult us like we're a weak nation."

"I'd say you did indeed. That Elinwyyn mare -- or doe, rather -- I had only seen her prior to this day at some distance. She is quite a striking figure."

Celestia smirked. "Enjoy your time around her, did you?"

"As much as one could enjoy his time around someone of great self-importance and infuriatingly smug demeanor. She is not exactly my type," he laughed.

"I'm merely teasing. Yes, Elinwyyn is quite a figure, but I would be lying if I said my dealings with her have not come at some small cost of sanity. She means well enough, I think, and she often brings gifts as a show of good will."

"Like the pendant she mentioned?"

"The very same. Remind me to show it to you some time."

"I'll do that. And what of Mwolan'e? I quite liked him, he seems to have a firm head on his shoulder."

"Mwolan'e is someone I see very rarely. I wish he were closer -- especially for the wonderful food he usually brings -- but, alas, Zevran is further from Canterlot than any other nation in attendance today. Quite a shame, really. That said, I am glad I don't have to attend these sorts of meetings on a regular basis, or I'm afraid I would quickly cease to be patient. Foreign leaders can be more difficult to deal with than any number of other crises."

They passed a pair of saluting guards on the way to a bridge that connected the towering spires, and Tercio saluted in return.

"I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful dinner last night, Princess. I believe I slept better than I have in ages, no doubt thanks to a copious amount of food and wine."

"I'm glad to hear it. And thank you for being such a charming dinner guest. I value such conversations far more than a thousand bouts of diplomatic bickering. It is nice to be reminded that life goes on."

"A not entirely unreasonable thing to say," he mused. "I hear word you've invited some others to a small dinner party tomorrow night. Any truth to it?"

"There is, yes. I wanted to thank them just as I've thanked you -- but more than that, I wanted it to be clear that I valued you as not just a praetorian, but as a kind, charming man and a good friend. That's why I invited you to dinner with me -- I had many reasons, not just a singular one, and all of them were justified far more than I can say. I value all of my praetorian guards and friends, but there is something special about you. And I don't just mean your unique looks."

"Well that's good to know," Tercio chuckled.

"You mention your adoptive mother and father often. I'd say they have done a fine job raising you, and they should be proud to have such a good son, no matter who or what he is. Perhaps we can meet again some time soon for a lighter meal?"

The thought of spending more time with the princess made his spirits lift -- the more he got to know the previously-distant Celestia, the more he enjoyed her company. He smiled to himself at the prospect of being around her once more.

"I would like that very much."

The night was cool as Tercio crossed over the palace grounds on his way to Canterlot proper. Small clumps of clouds hung in the sky, with flitting figures darting back and forth, silhouetted against the glowing half-moon. His leather sandals crunched on the dirt path that led to the main gate, where he passed the statue of Discord, a physical god of disharmony and chaos that had brought terror to Equestria many years before he was even born. He wondered what kind of place the world used to be before his time, before civilization. From the sound of things, it was barbaric and utterly dangerous.

"Evening, Centurion," a gold-clad guard said as Tercio approached, saluting smartly. His blue crest swayed as he pulled his hoof to his chest.

"Milites."

Tercio returned the salute and continued on, out through the large gates that had been reinforced with iron even since the attack. From there it was a short walk down the hill to a large, open-air garden that branched off to the many roads that would take a traveller to any place in Canterlot they desired. To the east, the military sector, with blacksmiths, armorers, and provision runners, all working day and night to keep the war effort supplied.

To the west, the Great Library of Equestria, a building that housed countless scrolls, books, and ancient hieroglyphic slates detailing the entire history of the known world. It was said one could get lost in its great halls and spend hours trying to return.

Finally, to the south, the majority of Canterlot remained as large and populated as it had ever been. Much of the battle scars from the fanatical attackers had been painted over or replaced, but not all of them; gouges from spears and arrows pock-marked walls, and faded red stains still showed through in places where the unfortunate citizens of the great city had fallen.

Still, life went on. Even well after the setting of the sun there was a busy chorus of street vendors, shop owners and general chatter as friends and neighbors met and conversed. It was almost like a war wasn't even going on. Tercio envied them for not witnessing the sight of the princess nearly dying in battle, but pitied them for not having the means to defend themselves against the followers of Nightmare Moon. Far too many had lost their lives. Princess Celestia had taken it exceptionally hard, saying barely more than a few words for a week on end. But she, too, had found herself once more. The world would not stop while she wept, and neither would Canterlot.

The smell of fresh food met his nose upon his entrance to the famous Harmony Street, the place that was the true heart and soul of Canterlot..and the beginning of nearly every excess one could ask for, if you knew where to look. All it took was a few minutes of walking in the right direction.

"Come, come, I have fresh potato dumplings and wheat pasta!" A heavily-accented voice called out.

"A stallion who does not eat curry balls is no true stallion!"

"Fresh strawberries and grapes, the finest in the city! The finest in Equestria!"

Young colts and fillies gathered around him as he walked, pulling open flaps on saddle bags to reveal myriad bits and baubles for sale. They vied for his attention, shoving each other and whining about how unfair it was that they had to compete with their pseudo-friends. Some of them simply wanted to touch a hoof to his waist or arm, excited and intrigued by the tall, strange-looking creature standing before them. He laughed and assured them he didn't bite, allowing them their curiosity, before they quickly realized he wasn't going to buy anything and moved on.

A spicy smell of some kind of peppery dish grabbed his attention, and he followed it to its source, a small street cart where a thick, red soup boiled lively from fire-heated rocks that sizzled as they were dropped into the mixture. The zebra mare sitting beside the pot smiled and offered a bowl for a moderate price, and Tercio gladly accepted, handing over a small stack of bits. The initial spiciness rushed down his throat, but before it could become unpleasant it was replaced by a soothing, sweet aftertaste. He concluded that zebra food was the greatest thing in all of creation, much to the surprise of the two stallions seated beside him.

His stomach full and his coin purse slightly emptier, Tercio headed south from Harmony and soon came upon the well-known, but infrequently discussed Saddlesore Alley. The attitude changed as quickly as the lighting -- gone were the countless candles and and small cooking fires that cast an orange glow. In their place, a rainbow of colored lanterns and magical flames danced across the shadowed walls and flicked across cobblestone streets. The hustle and bustle died down to a quieter hum of distant conversation. It didn't take long for the first mare to approach him from a corner building. She, like most of her companions, wore a loose, red shawl that covered her shoulders and wrapped once around her waist, tipped with hanging strands of red silk and gold beads.

"Hey there, mister mysterious, you looking for a good time? I'd love to know what you're all about..."

Soresaddle Alley, the carnal heart of Canterlot's southern district. If you couldn't find what you were looking for, it probably wasn't someone's turn-on. Brothels lined the streets and mares danced seductively in front of their quarters, teasingly lifting tails or dipping to their knees in an attempt to pull in the closest traveller -- male or female, young or old, it didn't matter.

In truth, Tercio wasn't looking for a mare for the night. Curiosity had brought him to Soresaddle more than anything, though he didn't mind the view. Plenty of other stallions were much more eager, however, as he could plainly hear. The moans and groans sometimes seemed to surround him, at least when he could hear them over the oft exquisite mares who vied for his coin.

As he rounded a corner a middle-aged pegasus stallion in a green and silver cloak trotted beside him, looking up with a sly smile.

"Hey, I know you!"

"Do you?" Tercio asked cautiously.

"Yeah! You're not some ordinary sucker looking for some boring street mare, am I right? You're a stallion of class."

"I think you may have me mistaken for someone else."

"Pfft, I know a picky customer when I see one. So what's your thing, pal? Stallions? Mares? I got 'em all. Got 'em young, too. How's that?" When Tercio didn't say anything the fast-talking stallion redoubled his efforts. "Name's Red Light, and these mares here? They ain't nothin'. My girls are courtesans, ya understand?"

"Please leave."

"Hey, what's your age preference? If ya got the coin, I got ones who ain't even got their destiny marks yet. Might be you're their destiny, eh? Ya never know."

Tercio let out an exasperated sigh.

"If you knew who I was you wouldn't be asking me such things."

"Of course I know you. Everyone knows you! You're that homen what's got the funny-lookin' hooves."

"I'm also a Praetorian, and if you try to sell me a filly one more time I'm going to have the entirety of the royal guard down here before you can pick your prick up from the ground."

Red Light jerked back.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy there! Ain't nothin' illegal goin' on, I'm a legitimate business stallion! Look, if ya want me to be honest, they ain't actually blank flanks, alright? We just hide their destiny marks with a magic spell. There, can we get back to brass tacks now?"

"I would rather you leave me be."

"Fine, then. Be that way. Don't come cryin' to me when your cock starts burnin' every time ya piss."

Instead of leaving, the stallion stuck to Tercio's side, constantly glancing around. Tercio felt under the fabric of his tunic for the small, hidden blade he kept strapped to his thigh. Something was off, and it wasn't just the stallion's pushy attitude. Together they ducked behind a large building, and as soon as they were out of sight of anyone else Tercio yanked the dagger from its holster and forced Red Light against the wall.

"I said, leave me be!"

"Shit!" Red Light choked with an arm pressed against his neck.

"I do not know who you think you are, or what you hope to accomplish, but I assure you--"

"I have word from your brother!"

Tercio paused, unsure of what he'd just heard.

"Do not lie to me, stallion. It would be unwise to upset a praetorian."

"I swear it! I may be a fool at times, but I find lying with a blade to my throat to be a very bad for my health!"

When Tercio relaxed his grip the stallion dropped to the floor, coughing and catching his breath.

"Fucking hell, he wasn't kidding. You really are quick!"

Still cautious, Tercio never the less slid the weapon back into his concealed holster.

"You had best explain yourself, and quickly."

"Right, right." Red Light picked himself back up, dusting off his cloak. "I do, in fact, know who you are. You are Tercio Krosus, a Centurion of the Praetorian Guard, age thirty-two. Humen, or however you say it. You're not exactly one to blend in with the crowd."

"The point, Red Light."

"My name's not actually Red Light, but you probably guessed that already, didn't you? You can keep calling me that for the purpose of this conversation, if you like. The important part is that I bring word from your brother, Victus, in the Legion."

"How...how do you know Victus?"

"He hired me out to find you. I'm less of a purveyor of fine mares and more of a messenger."

"You certainly seemed eager to sell me one."

"We were surrounded by whores and ponies who would cut your ear off just to spite you. I was specifically told to not tell anyone but you. Had to blend in, understand? Been following you since you left the castle."

Tercio cursed himself for not noticing before.

"Tell me what? Has something happened to Victus? Is he alright?" Tercio could hear himself growing worried, but the stallion took a step back to give him space.

"Your pegasus brother is fine. Even managed to get through the biggest battle of the last three centuries without a scratch. He fights for Equestria on the western border, near Whitetail Wood. He's been very busy with his duties and he regrets not being able to write, but he sends his best wishes. He says, and I quote: 'I hope this message finds you well, brother. I've heard you saved Princess Celestia from an assassin. I am very proud of you, as I'm sure mother and father are. The war goes well but I wish I were home. Take care of yourself, I will see you soon if the gods will it.'"

Tercio slumped back against the wall, laughing in relief.

"Oh thank the gods! I had feared the worst. Thank you for setting my mind at ease, but I have to ask: why all the secrecy?"

"Because when you're in my line of business, you can't be too careful. You're kind of a hero, and if I went around blurting out information about you or your brother, well...let's just say there are some Nightmare Moon followers who aren't too happy you stopped them from killing Celestia. Wouldn't want you getting yourself in even more danger, ya follow?"

"That's...awfully kind of you, actually."

Red Light -- or the pony who called himself Red Light -- lifted an upturned hoof, the equivalent of a shrug.

"I'm a messenger, an information pony, but I'm still loyal to the crown. Business tends to dry up if everyone you rely on for income ends up dying."

Tercio could hardly believe it -- not only was Victus alive, he was in good health! From what he'd heard, the battle for the Everfree forest was among the largest and most violent in Equestria's history, and wounded had poured into Canterlot for weeks following it. Escaping such a fight without a single scratch -- far more than Tercio himself could claim -- was either a very large stroke of luck, or a testament to Victus' skill.

"Red Light, would you be able to deliver a message for me in return?"

"I suppose I could, for a price."

"Name it."

"Well..." He tapped his hoof on the ground and stretched his wings out as he came up with a price. "Last I saw, he was steadily heading west. Provided they haven't suddenly fallen back or made a major offensive, his unit is likely to be at or near the Equestria/Whitetail border. That's a full day-and-a-half flight, weather permitting."

"Can't you control the weather?"

Red Light gave a snorting laugh. "Look, buddy, I'm flattered that you think I can wrangle an entire thunderstorm or drop a cyclone on a whim, but I'm just one pegasus. I can pull myself a cloud to sleep on but that's about it. I have to avoid the bad weather just as much as anyone else."

"Right, not sure what I was thinking. How much will it cost?"

"Seventy bits."

"You can't be serious."

"Hey, if you think you can find a faster way to deliver a message, in private, to a specific pony on the other side of the damn country, then by all means, go for it. If not, then that's my price."

Tercio grumbled to himself as he pulled his coin purse from his belt, then emptied the majority of it into the waiting hooves of Red Light.

"That's nearly a month's pay, I'll have you know."

Red Light pulled open the flap of a low-profile saddle bag hidden under his cloak and dumped the coins into it.

"Money well spent, Mr. Tercio. Money well spent."

"It had better be. So, do I write down what I want to pass on, or...?"

"No scrolls, no pages. Can't have my clients' secrets getting spilled, now can we? Tell me what you want me to pass on, like I'm your brother, and I'll deliver it as sure as if you were standing there."

There was so much to say. How could he even begin to mention the abject terror he felt during the raid on Canterlot, the pain that he felt at the loss of his comrades to a bunch of blood-crazed cultists, the nigh-uncontrollable rage he'd unleashed to kill Lacertus? He wished he could speak with Victus, sit down with him over a tall jug of wine and tell him about everything he'd been through. He wished he could describe what it was like to sit down for dinner with the most radiant mare he'd ever seen. Instead, he would have to keep it short, and save the stories for another time.

"Victus, I am glad to hear from you. Canterlot has at last returned to normal, though we are fewer in number. I fare well; no mere sell-sword will get the best of your brother. I am a full-fledged praetorian now, tasked with guarding the princess. She sends her well wishes. Stay safe, and one day soon we will visit the old orchard again. Gods be with you."

Red Light's eyes stared off into space for a moment, then refocused with a blink.

"I've got it. Rest assured, your brother will get your message, word for word. Now, I think it best we part ways. Thank you for your business, and best of luck with your duties."

"And you as well," Tercio nodded. "And thank you, Red Light. You have done much to rest my concerns."

"Whatever I can do to help." The pegasus tucked his saddle bag back under his cloak then turned to leave, his hooves clopping quietly against the cobblestone. "Take care of yourself, Praetorian."