Author's Notes:

I'm bringing sub chapters back since the whole story covers such a wide narrative scope. Its easily distinguishable as well as convenient for when you gotta cut yourself short on long reads.

Nation’s Rampart
Quariomy halted her armies advance as she stared upwards at the wall. The stone wall stood five stories high, stretching all the way to the North and Southern mountains that converged at the peak of Noriphmy itself where the capital’s castle lay. Beyond that, further into the mountains, hid Safeguard.

She beckoned to General Horace, standing just next to her.

“Yes my Princess. What are your orders?” He said, greeting her rightly.

All the while, the Royal Guards stood atop the wall looking down, unsure as what to do. They had never seen the sight of battle and were only trained in crowd control anyways. Facing an army was many league above them as they were ill prepared for a such a happening.

Still looking to the wall, her head cranked upward, she said, “Send an invitation by arrow. I'm sure the citizens of the capital would love a good bout.”

“Yes my Princess.”

“Make sure they send their greatest. We will wait here until they do. With supply lines cut off and no way of remedying their needs of demand they will starve if anything elts.”

Turning her back to the wall, falling back to the ranks of her army that stood in line, ready to fight. During this particular season some warriors wisely stocked up on heavy coats and jackets to wear over or within their armor leaving others to patiently stand out in the cold above the snow-beaten path leading up to the decorated iron and wooden gate.

Coming to attention, she said, “Noriphmy is already ours General Horace. The royal guard will be spared along with the citizens, valuable as they are. Even so I still I won’t let this victory be too underwhelming.”

“I understand my Princess,” he replied nodding his head. “I’ll have this garrison set up camp until further notice.”

He left without another word whistling and signaling for his warriors to break rank and start setting up tents and fortifications just outside the wall. During all this an arrow was fired containing the request to bring out their greatest fighter. All they could do was wait.

As they did Quariomy made her way to the back ranks of her holdout to a group of warriors tightly huddled around looking outwards with their shields on their back and weapons hilted. They seemed rather bored with everything but at the sight of Quariomy, they immediately straightened themselves up.

She still wore her plated armor that protected every major joint and all along her back with golden colored mail that weaved its way around the rest of her body conjoining the plated armor together leaving nothing but her head unprotected. With her longswords hanging at her sides and newly made single peaked latoi shield, she waved herself through.

“Hows my Prince keeping?” she asked.

Igneous looked up from where he sat. His fur covering his body seemed ragged with some splotches of bare skin showing through, giving way to the treatment he had received over the months. His forehooves were chained to his hind legs, slackening only enough to restrict him from running.

With one eye closed from a particular blunt he said, “I still bleed, don't I?” he shivered a bit as the cold wind of winter blew through his roughed fur.

“Well enough,” she nodding. “Well enough...” She motioned for him to follow,the warrior keeping watch did his usual poking just to get Igneous moving. He didn’t say anything as he let his chains click and clang as he dragged them across the ground. Igneous, at first had been resistant and aggressive, but as time passed, the Istudians began to withhold their blades, and as the Noriphmian casualties fell as a result of the overall poor war moral,he became a lot more tamer, docile, even.

That wasn’t to say many ponies decided to fight to begin with as it started very weak and got pitifully worse soon after. It was mostly landowners who tried to fight and poor old sods at that. Most of the time they didn’t even have to kill them and simply beat the around until they conceded which normally didn’t take too long given the Istudians equipment and military power.

“You may speak, my Prince,” she said leading him away and towards the encampment. “You shouldn’t fear to speak rightly.”

While he followed her Igneous ignored the hostile glances an occasional warrior might shoot him as he knew that in Quariomies presents they wouldn’t dare lash out at him. Horace was already a good example of that and no other warrior wanted to follow suit, but Igneous had to give the stallion his compliments, Quariomy gave Horace a pretty good looking scar.

As for what he had to say it was, “I will say I appreciate your armies restraint from village slaughter. You really have held to the code of chivalry.”

“So, I hope you know the first village was justified,” She said. “You're still bitter, no?”

“I’ll never forget what you did Quariomy,” he said calling her by name.

She stopped in her tracks and said, “Careful my Prince. Don’t faulter in your formalities. We wouldn’t want another round would we?”

Igneous winced at the thought of another brutal beating. “My Princess,” he growlingly corrected.

She gave an approving nod along with one of her royal smiles and continued to lead Igneous without another word, and the Istudians waited for a champion.

Favorable Days
Joel took a sip. Only one and thought it tasted like shit and spat it out. Then from the same cup he drank it all in just a few gulps and whipping the cream from his face as he finished nodded in approval. “Not quite bear,” he moaned.

He was sitting on a balcony overlooking Noriphmy, near the Northern mountains. The balcony was part of nothing more than what looked like to be an oversized shed but Joel didn’t mind. Tonight the sun was setting, just like any other night, the sky was beginning to be dotted and alight with stars, unlike every other night of course.

He was planning on just enjoying himself using his dark magic orb to handle his jar as he drank it dry, refiled it by dipping it back into a kege just next to him only to drink again. Just as he was about to go for his second round he heard the unfamiliar sounds of clanking armor approaching from behind. His ears instinctively swiveled to pinpoint the location. A familiar voice said, “Will you be having company or do you intend to brave the night yourself?”

“Wait…” He turned himself around. “Igneous?”

“The one and only,” he said just a drip away from drily. “You invited me over haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I have,” he said. “Ever since you gave me this job I have.”

“You did saved my life, Joel. The least I could do was give you one.”

“Thanks,” he replied. “Anyways, where have you been? Why are you in armor I thought that was like… against the rules here in this place or something.”

He sat down next to Joel taking a cup of mead for himself taking one gulp saying, “I had a run-in with an assassin. I’ve been permitted to be armored at all times now.”

“An assassin tried to snuff you?” he asked, surprised. “You know who sent him right?” He looked over to see Igneous drowning himself in his own cup. It took him a moment to finish but when he did he looked over to Joel, stole his half empty cup and drank it dry too. “One of those days I guess,” he commented.

He nodded as he coughed that last bits of mead away. Apparently Igneous was not so used to drinking as he was. As Joel put his stolen dark magic to use as he scooped himself another jar full of noxious mead Igneous asked, “How’s Frawl treating you? In fact where is that old yewl?”

“Passed out,” he replied nodding his head towards the building as he handed the cup over to Igneous’ magical grip. “If you think I have a drinking problem then I'm a Christian compared to him.”

Igneous allowed himself to smile and said, “I thought as much.”

“How's the new armor anyways? Frawl really enjoyed himself just making it.”

Igneous looked down at himself. It was newly made since his old one had shattered and left in the lands of Carridian. His old one used to be plated all round leaving only mail to the joints of his armor allowing him to move. This one however was far more fancy than a silver looking metal coat. This one was equally plated weighed just a bit less and flowed even better with his movements. It was tinted red but not bright red and bore a flame in the center peace of his chest. He approvingly nodded and said, “Its great. Frawl should be proud, but no doubt he already celebrated.”

“Was there when he did,” Joel said shaking his head in recollection. “That guy makes me look like an introvert you know? If you thought I was a bit annoying, which let's be honest,” He said holding his hooves open with a grin. “Then Frawl put himself in a whole new league.”

“Thought you might take a liking to him,” he said taking another sip. “He’s a bit more charming to say the least.”

“Yeah. High spirits for a drunk old bastard,” he agreed.

For a moment they were silent as they took turns taking sips of their own cups as they watched the streets of Noriphmy and the ponies that walked them this late into the evening. It wasn’t exactly the most entertaining sight but better a window then a wall.

“So,” Joel said breaking the silence. “What's the plan. I heard you were to set off sometime around now.”

He nodded his head, “In a few days.”

Joel noticed there was something off to his tone. He looked over to Igneous idly watching the streets and said, “How many, Igneous?”

“Four.”

There it was again. He recognised that tone of voice, it was almost punishing not to. He leaned over to Igneous getting a better read of his face. Igneous took notice of the invasion of his personal space and slowly leaned away. Joel raised an eyebrow and suddenly came to realization. He shook his head and withdrew himself from Igneous saying, “Wow Igneous. Go you, I thought I would never see the day.”

“What are you talking about?”

He pointed at Igneous face without looking and said, “It right there clear as daylight, you can’t miss it.”

“What?”

“You're really going to make me say it aren't you?”

Igneous just stared at him blankly.

Joel simply sighed, ”You're in love.”

Silence took hold of the moment as Joel let that sink into his mind as they both just sat there staring into the streets of Noriphmy like two old men in retirement with shotguns cradled in their laps.

Eventually, Joel asked,, “So who is it? Who’s the lucky girl.... Or guy. I don't mind.”

“It's a mare, Joel,” Igneous affirmed taking another drink, slightly offended by the mentioned of the alternative.

“Whats her name, Igneous?” he asked. “How’ed you meet her?”

“Her name,” he began. “Is Navinia and… I haven’t a clue really. She just… came out of nowhere seemingly unannounced. She saw me sitting there as I got lost in my mind, frightened and with madness.”

“So you met her,” he said. “What happened?”

He took a moment to think about his next sentence. “You know how you said you would be my wingman, right?” Joel nodded. “So we had dinner…”

“Keep talking.”

“And we started talking.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“And she said I was handsome.”

“Damn, Igneous.” He punched him in his armored shoulder and said, “You dawg. What happened next,” he asked eagerly. “Come on, tell me.”

“Well I,” he rubbed his chin nervously. “I…”

“Got low, lewd-n-sexual right?” he interrupted. “I knew it Igneous. I knew you could do it man.”

“I nervously passed out.”

“You… What?”

“I-” he began. “I don’t know. I panicked when it came time for me to return the compliment-”

“What?”

“I couldn’t compliment her,” he said. “I just… I don't know. My words just caught in my throat, she was just too… pleasant? I don’t even know the words.”

“Wah, what?” he just couldn’t come to terms with Igneous, this fighter and warrior, who currently was dressed in armor and carrying weapons, who also killed monsters and slaughtered bandits, went up against a dragon, and took an arrow to the shoulder… would just pass out at the sight of a girl… or mare to be more terminally correct. “Well what did she do? What happened next?”

“I fought an assassin,” he plainly said. “He came to kill me.”

“In broad daylight? In front of everyone?”

“No at her home.”

“You went to her house after.”

“No, I woke up in her bed.”

“She took you to bed?!” he confusingly asked. “Were’ed the assassin come in?”

“No! We dined at her house, I passed out and she put me in a guest bed. I woke up found an assassin and beat him to submission.”

“An Assassin Igneous, a fucking assassin?” he said with a look of extreme doubt that was contradicted by his better judgment that told him Igneous would never lie. “Why was he even trying to kill you?”

“I'm not allowed to say Joel,” he said throwing his mug out into the streets below. “I’ve already talked to Mace’s father about it.”

Joel had to rub his head. Only Igneous could pull something like this on a leisurely day; it was like he was meant for combat and and lived only to timidly frown at danger. If he ever had a kid then discipline might be three weeks in the woods over spilled milk.

“Igneous, Igneous, Igneous,” he said sitting up as he started leaning on the rail to the balcony. “Bottom line you're in love.” He leaned into his hoof as he got comfortable standing there. “When was the last time you saw her?”

“We haven’t spoken in weeks.”

“How does she feel about you?”

“Scared,” a single word he struggled to say. “Confused, I don't know. She saw the whole attack.” He gently threw his hoof, “And it happened within her own home and it was all because of me. Who am I, Joel?”

“How do you feel about her?” He asked disregarding his question. Another sign: Soap Opera speech.

It wasn’t anything Igneous ever really thought about. How did he feel? “I… don't know.”

“Let me rephrase then,” Joel said. “Have you ever felt the same with her than with any other gir-, mare?”

Easy question. It was a definite, “No.”

Joel took himself away from the railing, looking Igneous straight in the eyes saying, “Then you're in love my friend.” He grinned, “How does it feel?”

“I don’t know how to explain it. Words just simply don't exist and no word that does exist can describe this feeling.”

This was odd hearing Joel take a mentoring attitude towards Igneous, but then again Joel always seemed to know more even though most of the time he just came off as a dimwit.

“Shit,” Joel abruptly said. “You said you only had a few days right?”

“Three whole days then I leave with Oxinum and Floritha to Istudious.” He could have been gone for nearly a year or more from just making that venture Carridian wasn’t exactly known for being the land next door and same for Istudious or that other nation Joel could never get some pony to name for him.

“Is this, Igneous,” he said speaking slowly. “-the first time you thought about coming back... alive?”

Igneous slowly nodded his head. Many times he had said, ‘I don’t care. I’m not scared,’ before running off to battle. Many times he had raised his sword to beast, monsters and bandits. Many times had he been inflicted with battle wounds, bleeding furiously only to just barely pull through from the light magic of another. Only now, even with all his years of battle equipped experience, did he truly throw the well being of his health into serious contemplation at the thought of her. He was in love, he couldn’t deny himself that.

“I am in love,” he whispered to himself.

“Then what the hell are you doing with me then?” he said as he threw his hoof over Igneous’ shoulder. He turned him walking him towards the front and said, “Go find her, tell her how you feel. Speak from the heart and you can’t go wrong.”

“But I'm in my armor Joel,” he said pushing back. “I don’t want to scare her.”

“You said it Igneous,” he said refusing to stop. “If your in your armor than you're no closer to being yourself than without.” he then stopped resisting. “Boy, I know it's scary but you’ve faced much worse though this is a different beast altogether. Even still go and do this. If not for yourself then instead for her if you really do care. She deserves to know if anything else,I’m positive she will show her true feelings for you, good or bad.”

“You really think so?”

“I know so,” he said confidently. “I may not be the brightest asshole in the tanning bed, I may not even be the sharpest bitch in the drawer, but today I can say, with only a drop of doubt, I really do know what I'm talking about. And I don't say that often. Now go.”

Igneous took a deep breath and with a push from Joel he made his way down the streets for Navinia and as Joel watched him disappear around a corner he muttered, “After all. I sure would hate to see the day you be crowned king of the virgins.”

And the Falconer had gone.

Champion of Noriphmy
Igneous didn’t fail to observe in his capture. After all if you're within your enemy then it's best to get to know them. Or so said one of his most favorite epic tales. But true to the word he did. In total Quariomy led only three thousand warriors, a legion so to say. From what he gathered, she divided them into three separate garrisons. The first garrison boasted about what the Istudians called Cannons. Weapons of war and destruction and the things he thunderously heard during the day of reckoning. This group was led by Morallis, a stealthy killer it turned out and the very warrior who crossed blades with Adridge briefly.

The second garrison also numbered in one thousand, but Igneous couldn’t figure out through word of mouth what their speciality was nor who they were led by, but through whispers and slight utterances he was only able to guess they exceeded themselves in alchemy. No doubt tearing up the land quite literally. Unlike the third garrison who transferred their weaponry to Quariomys garrison, as they fanned out across the northern side of Noriphmy, the second seemed to only keep to themselves. Could have been due to the better judgment of their commander or specific orders on Quariomies part, but word had it they were transferring only one over to the first garrison.

The first, as mentioned, was led by the princess herself and was, as stated earlier, fortified by numerous canonnier crews numbering twenty in all, each equipped with four warriors to operate properly: Two Loader, gunner and rangefinder which also doubled as the targeter twisting cogs and setting the sights for the gunner who oftentimes was the crew captain.

The cannons themselves were big. They sat on three wheels with a round free rotating bed planted in the center. The barrel was three and a half meters long and was elevated one and and one tenth meters high above the ground at head height. It could elevate, using gear locking systems, up to sixty five to negative twenty six degrees and could swivel in all directions. Again all this being heard through word of mouth and with drunken jolly spirits.

The projectiles were also big and they came in cartridges of five that they fed into the barrel from the side. They could unload the entirety of its payload in under ten seconds if needed however often times they took eight second intervals to set the sights again between each shot.

They had two ammunition variations that he heard of. Buildings and fortifications were met with a heavy metal fifty five millimeter jacket, while live targets, ground or air, were met with a scatter of two thousand round steel pellets. Though Igneous hasn’t yet heard of them being used much to his relief. One reason presented was because the solid jacket got the job done rightly. So said by the cannon crews themselves.

For now Igneous was held at sword point as Quariomy was being read off papers, documents and reports on the lands she had acquired as she listened to lectures on plans for proper trade and resource optimization. For each village held a detailed report on population, weather it was a place of work, trading village or simply a rural village. She was already putting smelters and mining villages to proper and specific work rather than generalised production. In return they were promised a small portion of the treasury they would acquire after the council of Noriphmy was overthrown.

Word had it the Istudians had a long term plan other than simply acquiring Noriphmy and calling it their own. Igneous may not have known exactly what but he could say that for the mining villages they were being told to create a lot of specialised mine tracks. Though the prints were actually bigger than most mining tracks as they were wider in width and had a secondary smaller rail running along the sides of the primary larger rails. Drawings of maps reinforced this claim as they conjured up the best trading routes to and from villages illustrated in neat delicate lines to and from points of interest.

Tents became erect and cargo shifted and became stored for the long haul in case the capital staked it out as well. However amongst the soft chaos of it all there seemed to be a stir in the front ranks. As Igneous elevated his gaze to see over the line of warriors, one approached Quariomy, but before he could say a word she said, “The champion I suppose?”

“As you asked,” the warrior nodded.

Thoughtfully she dismissed the warrior reading allowed the documents and said to the first, “Fetch me my blades and scabbards.”

“Yes my Princes,” dutifully said and was off.

As she began to make way Igneous stood and said, “M-my Prince's.” The warriors watching him instinctively raised their weapons and Quariomy stopped. “May I see this champion of my Nation? Please.”

She stood for a moment staring off into the distance. Then her head bobbed and she said, “Of course my Prince. It's only right to see the ambassador of your nation, no?” She beckoned with a hoof and said, “Come now. Follow.” He did as told as the warriors backed down as Igneous did his best not to trip with his chains as he carefully strided through the snow with each step strickening the chains. As the lines broke for Quariomy and Igneous he looked over her shoulder just in time to see one warrior get thrown over head knocking a few warriors behind them to the ground.

Breaking through the final line Igneous saw two other laying on the ground grimacing in pain with their swords thrown off to the sides with one broken at the hilt. In between them stood the back of an armored stallion fully equipped head to hoof in plated metal.

“How rude,” he suddenly spoke. “To invite me as a guest and suddenly attack. I expected more from such a well disciplined battalion.”

Igneous recognized this voice but he couldn’t name it. A fact: no pony could.

Standing firm and tall Quariomy fully presented herself in armor and said, “And just who had decided to participate in this duel of two nations today?”

This armored stallion’s back was still turned away. His head slowly nodded and he said, “I see you expect a name. Am I correct?” He refused to turn his head around and instead stared thoughtfully ahead at nothing. “You’ll find I have but one name, but I went by many more. And like a bolt to a crossbow you’ll find that I rely on it only once then I see no further use. I go by no real name, but you, my Princess, may know me as Calcakin. However most go by a more memorable title. I am known most by the name of my son alone. I am known as the father of Mace Volcod.”

“Calcakin,” she said letting the name run loose amongst the ranks of Istudious. Calcakin the one who faced the army of Istudious at the gates of Noriphmy. Calcakin the last champion of Noriphmy. “Calcakin, father of Mace Volcod,” she formally greeted him. “I see you inhabit such a pleasant looking city. Or so said by the Celestials,” she said raising a hoof to the armored Celestials that hovered around.

He nodded, “Mhmm, you don’t know the beauty, Princess of Istudious and…” He trailed off, “...Most of my nation it appears. The capital,” he said reverting back to his previous statement. “Vast it looks from beyond but one can only truly appreciate it from within.”

A warrior broke through the forward ranks of his peers with two scabbards safely nessling the blades of two longswords.

“My intentions precisely,” she said as the previously downed warriors slowly gathered their gear and made way to the edges of the encircling ranks.

Quariomy brandished her weaponry, strapping them to herself, one on each side with tips hanging no lower than the bend in her back knee. She then drew one sword holding it skywards for all to see before elevating it over her head pointed for her opponent who still did not taking any noticeable advances to prepare himself with his back, bravely or foolishly, still turned.

“Face me now Calcakin. It's the honorable thing to do.”

He snickered and chuckled to himself saying, “I’m no warrior dear princes. I hardly believe in true honor. I fight for what's right and what's right today is void and almost meaningless. Still, dear princess, I’ll fight for joy. After all the only thing you can do in the face of assured destruction is laugh.” He then turned to face her and Quariomy finally saw.

This champion bore no catalyst. Cocking her head to the side angling her blade ever so slightly she said, “Are you insulting me? A Dirt Pony?”

“I thought your warriors didn’t take too kindly to me,” his head mockingly swayed from side to side flaunting his bear forehead. “Let me show you true strength of determination you catalyst nyth.”

Slowly his back arched and with a groan of exertion he lifted himself onto his two hind legs with both forelegs outstretched. One hoof off to the side pointed at Quariomy, and the second guarding his face. “I killed manny like you. Ripped those dafted things straight from the living skulls of the criminal. I fear not the magic within. You will be no different.”

“I’ll draw out your covenant you devious yewl.” She whispered beneath her breath, “False names don’t hide true faces.”

Something in his armor clicked and in his right hoof a blade arced upward from his leggings sticking outwards but unlike that of a Pegasus that stay fixed straight, this one swayed freely from side to side. His armor was dense, his armor looked heavy, and no doubt it held a few more secrets within to be drawn out in battle.

“I'm ready for you,” he braced for her advancement.

I Confessions
He took a deep breath. Raised his hoof ready to do it. He was gonna, he told himself over and over. It may not have been hard on paper but in person it was probably the most nerve racking thing he could possibly do. It was dark at this time of night with the sun having long since gone down.

“Just do it, just speak to her,” he thought to himself as he rattled a bit in his armor shaking with nervous adrenaline. “You're going to tell her how you feel and that's it. Just say you're sorry or something.”

With a final breath he raised his hoof and with on single thump bring it down on the bark of the double doorway. He jumped back from his own timidness and waited for what seemed like hours. He listened very carefully but heard nothing coming to the conclusion that she simply didn’t hear. Surely a servant would have answered the door if this were any other living place but she never kept any.

Breathing once more he raised his hoof again this time a bit more doubtfully and with the help of gravity gave a single lowed knock again, metallic leggings on wooden door. Again nothing. He should have expected much coming this late into the night. How stupid he felt for thinking she would even be up. His ears flattened in mild disappointment more directed at himself rather than Navinia herself and slowly turned on his hooves and made his way down the stone worked pathway through her front garden she some how kept in shape despite living by herself.

Just as he was halfway to the gate a light suddenly showed and a voice came saying, “Igneous?”

It must have been his mane because how else would she recognise him from behind?

He turned to look at her and with great relief said, “Navinia.”

She was dressed in a nightgown with a soft looking fur lined robe she wore just over it. No doubt she put it on when she awoke to Igneous’ knocking.

She looked him up and down backing away slightly saying, “Wha-what are you doing in armor?”

He looked down at himself being reminded of the swords he carried and said, “It's nothing sinister I, I swear. I was given permission by the father of Mace Volcod after that… incident with the,” he did finish. He didn’t want to remind her of that terrible attack. How frightening it must have been to have a killer in her house, and even worse was that Igneous plowed straight through two walls just to subdue the convict. “I’m err. Sorry about your room... and bed sheet.”

“No, no, no Igneous,” she said reassuring him that it was alright. “It wasn’t your fault at all.” That kind of was a lie. Looking past him to the night she said, “It's awfully cold please do come inside.”

“I wanted to talk Navinia,” he said politely insisting he kept a little distance fearing that his proximity might somehow hurt her.

“What do you…”

“I need to apologize. I didn’t mean to put you in danger and I never wanted for a killer to be drawn near you. After that day I was scared, not for my life but for yours and what the shadow of mine could do to you.” He thought about his next words carefully, “I didn’t mean to be so rude, leaving without a word, I certainly didn’t know how to handle myself especially with you.

“I am by profession a falconer. I’ve done things Navinia, things you may have never experienced. I’ve seen things, horrible, horrible things. Some things, done by me others, some things done by thieves and murderers. Navinia ever since I was a colt I lived by the that code, one of a falconer. Combat was the only thing I knew, protecting others was second nature to me and death was something that I accepted every day I risked my life and the many times I charged into combat. However amongst the beast I’ve slaying and the bandits I killed purely in the name of Noriphmy; the times I’ve almost died and the days I ran into danger… None of it could ever compare to the fear I felt thinking that I could lose you.”

“Navinia I never felt this way before, I’ve never felt things things. Words… I can’t even. Ever since you found me that day as I sat there lost in the madness of my memories I’ve felt something I’ve never felt before. The kindness you showed, the compassion you gave I-I… I don’t know. I should have said something, I should have kept in touch but during the days I distance myself away I couldn’t help but feel drawn back again. I felt hollow alone, I felt deprived of some moral necessity, something I couldn’t see or name. But the more I thought about it the more I knew. The one thing I needed… was you.”

A silence fell over them in that night as the two of them stood there, Igneous on the walkway and Navinia in the threshold to her household. It lasted so long that Igneous took a nervous step back in his armor as the deafening stillness between them tensed.

“Igneous,” she said not knowing how to respond. It came out of nowhere and it petrified her. If she could describe it then she might have said it felt like getting shot straight through the heart but it wasn’t bad and it didn’t ache. It felt special if anything.

“I-I um…”

“You shouldn’t have to forgive me, I should have said I was a falconer to start,” he said. “It was all my faul…”

“Igneous,” she softly said cutting him off. He swallowed fearful that she was having none of it but when he looked into her eyes he saw something deep and personal. “Did you really mean that?” He timidly nodded his head and as Igneous looked on he saw her smile happily with a tear in her eye and she said, “No pony has ever said that to me.”

“I meant it Navinia,” he warmly said. “Every word.” Igneous then looked down at himself and said, “I'm sorry you have to see me in my armor.”

She only giggled something that really lightened Igneous and his spirit, and she said, “I told you Igneous.” He looked up to her a bit confused and she clarified, “You apologize too much.”

“I'm sor…” he cut himself off just in the nick of time. Dumbly smiled at himself and said, “Thank you Navinia.”

She looked up to the sky and the building tops of the capital and asked, “Igneous do you um… as a falconer, have a place to stay? Here in the capital that is?” Falconers didn’t usually have a static home; Igneous shook his head in answer. She pushed the door open wider gesturing with her wing.“Please Igneous. Be my guest for another night and come in then.”

“Navinia,” he said unsure whether or not to let himself in or not.

Like he had said to Joel she was just too kind, plain and simple. She would have said something but her eyes said it all. She insisted so what kind of stallion would Igneous be to refuse. With her welcoming gaze Igneous took a few meager steps forward before confidently letting himself in in the presence of Navinia.

If he only had three days left he would spend every waking minute with her so long as she allowed it. That was for sure and what he clinged to from within.