Honour Bound

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It was an hour after dawn. Corporal Honour Bound had been inside the royal carriage, trundling along since daybreak, while it was pulled by two earth ponies. From their quiet, idle chatter to one another, they seemed to be enjoying themselves in the brisk, spring morning air. They were on a country road in the low farmlands just to the East of Canterlot.

Beside the corporal sat Anonymous, the Royal Engineer. Despite the sway of the carriage, he had somehow managed to keep his concentration while reading a book about land surveying. Yesterday, Princess Celestia had offered him the chance to make use of one of the royal flying carriages. He'd politely turned it down, suggesting that it would be better to show up in a more 'standard' carriage, rather than make it obvious that this trip was conducted by the direct authorization of Her Royal Majesty. Honour had to agree. A flying carriage pulled by two or four pegasi was something that would cause a stir anywhere outside of Canterlot.

Or Cloudsdale, she supposed.

As Anonymous had explained to her, the idea was to start with the mine inspection, under the pretext of examining the damage, and would only deliver the summons if there really was evidence of Galloway Bitsmount's criminal thrift. But as a result of that decision, plus the dearth of train service on Sunday, they had to deal with the somewhat nauseating rocking motion of the carriage.

"Ugggghn."

Specialist Glamerspear, riding outside of the coach on the rear box seat, was clearly having the worst of it. She had mostly managed to keep it under her helmet, despite the occasional, audible moan or groan. For now, it was worth the suffering since the two earth ponies were hustling them all along at a healthy clip. Once they reached the foothills just before Bitsmount, however, Honour figured it would probably be faster and more comfortable for her to just get out and walk.

The third member of their detachment was somewhere up above, high in the sky. Upon reflection, it was pretty incredible how long she could stay up there with all that armor on. Honour hadn't really had the opportunity to work with too many pegasi from the armored corps. Earth ponies made up, by far, the bulk of that group in the Royal Guard, and even unicorns were more common than pegasi.

With a loud clap, Anonymous shut the book in his lap and sighed, closing his eyes.

"Everything all right, sir?"

He folded his hands on top of the book.

"Just second-guessing myself, Corporal. If I'm wrong about what's going on, this trip could wind up being a waste."

That was a change. Yesterday he'd seemed so certain.

"Even if it's not corruption, sir, surely after a collapse, an inspection is warranted?"

"Oh, there's no doubt it's warranted. I'm just concerned that I've projected the greed and deceit of my world onto this one..." The Royal Engineer opened his eyes and turned to look out the window at the fields rolling by. "... Equestria seems like such a friendly and honest place by comparison."

She couldn't be sure if his assessment was made because he simply didn't know about the hidden flaws of Equestrian society, or if his home-world really was that bad. Either way it wasn't very encouraging. She wondered if she should say something.

Before Honour could make a decision, however, there was a flutter of wings above them, and Sparkshower appeared next to the corporal in the window, gliding along her side of the carriage, the pegasus' bronze armor glinting in the morning sun.

"Corporal! There's some unexpected activity going on at the bridge up ahead."

'Activity? On a Sunday?'

"What kind of activity, Specialist?"

"I counted six pegasi and eight earth ponies milling about the bridge area. Two of the earth ponies were on the road, barring the bridge with spears. Eight camp tents and two large pavilion tents have also been set up in the neighboring field. They've got three large wagons as well. Everything's flying Equestrian Royal Guard colors, Corporal."

The Royal Guard? Conducting operations on a weekend, so close to Canterlot? Could something bad have happened?

"They're barring the way across Newstirrup bridge?"

"It seems that way, Corporal, or at least they're controlling it."

Anonymous leaned over. "Should we find another way across the river, Corporal?"

"Sir, Oldstirrup bridge is about an hour's ride further East, and we'll have to double back to get on the road to Bitsmount. I wouldn't advise it."

He shrugged. "Well, maybe they're just securing it against some other threat, and we'll be allowed across anyways."

"That would be my guess, sir." Corporal Bound turned back to Sparkshower. "How far are we from the bridge?"

"It's just over the next hill, Corporal Bound. Should I get back in the air?"

"Yes, but stay within earshot."

She saluted noisily, clanging her sabot into her helmet, before flapping herself up and out of sight. As the carriage pitched back to climb the hill, Honour leaned ahead to get a better view out the front window. All she saw was dirt at first, but once the carriage dipped forward as it crested the rise, she could make out the objects of Sparkshower's report.

"They're flying Equestrian Royal Guard banners, all right. And a lot of them, too. It even looks like they've decorated the sides of the road with ribbons and pennants."

The Royal Engineer pulled back the side curtain and leaned up against the side of the carriage wall to peer ahead out the window. "Sounds like somepony's throwing a party."

The carriage rolled along undisturbed, passing the decorations and coming alongside the tents.

Eventually, though, the carriage drew to a stop as the draft-ponies found their way forward barred by two guards.

Honour could hear some kind of discussion going on outside, but it was too faint to make out. "Excuse me a moment, sir."

Anonymous nodded, and she opened the door and quietly exited the coach.

What was a discussion seemed to have gotten a bit heated.

"Look, buddy, we've got a carriage to pull, here! What do you care who's inside? This is a public road, fer Celestia's sakes!"

The guardpony shook his head and stood his ground. "Sorry, sir. I have my orders. Nopony passes without identifying themselves. No exceptions."

Honour Bound cleared her throat, and both spearponies turned to size her up. "In the name of Their Majesties Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, clear the way for the Royal Engineer of Equestria."

The two guardscolts looked at each other.

"The Royal Engineer?"

"Better go get the L-T."

After a quick, affirmative nod, the one on the right returned the gesture before dashing off towards the tents and pavilions in the nearby field.

"Just a moment, while we clear your passage with our commanding officer."

Their carriage-pullers didn't seem very impressed.

"Now you goofballs are gonna get it!"

"Yeah, barring the way for a member of the Royal Court, geez!"

But the guardspony stood resolute, spear still barring the way.

There was a loud fluttering of wings accompanied by a hurried gallop. Six pegasi, dressed in light Equestrian Royal Guard armor, quickly landed on the road before their carriage, accompanied by the spearpony on hoof. One of them, a white pegasus with a brilliant blue mane, spoke up loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"My name is Lieutenant Kilfeather, and I'm in charge of the situation here. If the Royal Engineer wishes to cross Newstirrup bridge, let him stand forth!"

Honour Bound's eyes narrowed. Their uniforms appeared genuine. And she felt like she'd heard the name 'Kilfeather' before. Behind her, she heard the carriage door open, as Anonymous climbed out and stepped up beside her.

"By Appointment To Their Majesties Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, I am Anonymous, Royal Engineer of the Court of Equestria."

Lieutenant Kilfeather smiled. "It gives me great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir..."

He stepped forward, looking Anonymous in the eyes.

"... But you shall not pass Newstirrup bridge without either giving battle or rendering up a token of your cowardice...."

Instantly, Honour reached for her spear, pulling its two pieces out of the holster on her flank and snapping them together in one clean motion. Kilfeather completely disregarded her move to arm herself, and returned back to his assembled group of pegasi, who had hunched down into an aggressive posture. Even the spearponies had turned their weapons on them.

"... For this is a 'Pas de Sabots' -- a 'Passage of Hooves', Sir -- and no noblepony may pass without honoring the ancient rites of this hastilude!"

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Suggested interlude music: Hans Zimmer - 'Show Me Your Firetruck', from 'Backdraft' [1991]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pQIHA56WAE

Suggested reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pas_d%27armes (Wikipedia - Pas D'armes)

Next Chapter: Chapter 14 Estimated time remaining: 35 Hours, 36 Minutes