Gilda thought wine would be the best thing she would ever taste, but then she found mead. There was a dumb joke somewhere, about liking mead with meat, but she decided she liked the fruity and sweeter taste of mead. Apparently, it could also be a dry drink, and the idea of a ‘dry drink’ completely baffled her at first. Gia’s explanation that griffons usually preferred the sweeter meads made her imagine dry drinks were not sweet. Or something. She didn’t really care. All she knew was that she liked mead. The sweeter, the best.

Gia had a long-winded explanation about how griffons aren’t supposed to eat sweets because their digestive system blah, blah, blah. How The Harpy yadda, yadda, yadda, pony foods whatever, and blood sugar something, something…

The gist was that the only sweet things griffons should eat, or drink, were fruits, fermented fruits, bread, corn cookies (scones were okay if not too sweet). And also, copious amounts of meat. Gilda could get behind the idea.

And one of the favorites was mead. Made from honey and fruits. There was also mead made with grains and spices, but griffons liked the ones made with fruits. Gilda’s favorite was the one made from raspberry. It went ridiculously well with the juiciest meats.

The young Loremaster liked to talk about stuff, and Gilda decided she needed an education since she meant to do her part for The Harpy. Obviously, Gia would be a good friendship.

Gia also welcomed Gilda in her home and she didn’t want to seem rude, even if the green griffoness reminded her of Sparkly Chew. She did feel much better than the last days and she was fine just talking for a while. Especially because Gia seemed alright.

“Can I ask you a few things, Gia?” She worried she might offend the other, for some reason. A silly thing to worry about, but Gilda also realized that she didn’t really have a lot of experience meeting and dealing with different cultures.

Fortunately, the other grinned, holding a small cup with some cherries dipped in something alcoholic. “Absolutely! Teaching griffons is my job, after all!”

“It’s what Loremasters do?” Gilda tilted her head slightly. “I mean… I’ve found a few who really sounded more like they were managers.”

“Lady Gwendolen puts us in important positions… The Loremaster who helped our local leader here in Thunderpeak passed away a few weeks ago, and she’s sent me here. Then our local leader got arrested… You know… Master Gabriel. And since I’m so young, most of the older northerners tend to not put a lot of stock on me.” She strummed her fingers together. “Here’s the thing… Loremasters… We have ranks. And when you’re beginning, you’re supposed to teach because you can’t… Really… Do. The other stuff… Not that teaching isn’t important… But that also requires trust.”

“Got it.” Gilda suppressed a chuckle. “You’re a noob.”

Why was it so easy to be friendly with her? She was so different from Gislane and that old chick in Griffonstone, Gladys.

“Well, that is one way of putting it!” Gia didn’t like it, but she took it like a champ and chuckled, teasing Gilda right away. “I mean, so says the Swordmaiden who got herself dragged half-dead across Canterlot County by her thrall! The thing is… One of the things a Loremaster is supposed to learn, what Lady Gwendolen can’t teach us in a classroom, is how to earn the trust of distrustful griffons.”

Absolutely. If she meant to teach griffons things, especially things going against the grain of stablished History, she had to earn their trust. Especially with things like the Empire and the origin of the Windigos. If anything, Gilda had the hearthwarming feeling she ended up with a competent group. If what she had heard of Lady Gwendolen was true, she knew what she was doing.

“Anyway…” Gia went on, making spinning gestures with her paw. “Loremasters will first and foremost teach griffons about The Harpy and our customs, our history. As we grow old and experienced, Lady Gwendolen will put us to manage stuff for her. So, I suppose I’m moving up being here. Other times she’ll get us married to some important guy she needs to control or because he’s gonna make some good cubs.”

“That… Uh… Sucks…” Gilda tried not to show it but ended up grimacing and recoiling a bit. It didn’t bother Gia. She just shrugged.

“It’s not that bad.” Gia frowned a little. “I mean, Lady Gwendolen got Lady Geena to marry Lord Graham, and now she’s one of the most beloved ladies of the land in Snow Mountains. They say he loves her to death. And Frozenlake is a cool place too, with their delicious grilled fish.”

Yikes. Hopefully the Allmother won’t get the Swordmaidens married to some northerner griffon lord.

Please… You are not so daft. You know you are reserved for a much grander fate.

It didn’t even surprise her anymore when She talked to her, out of nowhere like that.

Gilda hummed noisily. “Say… Where is the Harpy?”

“That is a question I get a lot! It’s a great question!” Gia seemed so cheery, compared to the other loremasters Gilda had met, but then again, she was noticeably younger. And a bit clueless at the moment. “I… Uh… I don’t know…”

Gilda just deadpanned at her before Gia decided to amend that as quick as she could. “I mean, I asked Lady Gwendolen, and she gave me the superior grin she does when we ask something stupid and told me I would figure it out.”

Despite ‘the voice’ chuckling inside her head, Gilda managed to not show the bubbly giggling she almost let escape at Gia’s distraught expression. No, she didn’t know the answer either, but the other’s annoyed expression was so funny.

Suddenly one of the doors flew open to reveal Grunhilda. Leges spread apart and flared wings, gasping upon seeing Gilda. “Miss Gilda!”

“Hey, big gal.” She barely had the time to say anything before Grunhilda pounced her like a snow leopard and Gilda found herself in an inescapable hug. Strong forelegs and wings squeezed the air out of her, but the warmth of Grunhilda’s fluffy chest and their camaraderie made it worth it.

Gia let out an amused chuckle while Grunhilda let go of Gilda. “So, now we are all here, how about we get down to business?”

Gilda coughed discretly, regaining her wind and put a fist before her beak. “Yeah! Sure! How can we help?”

“Come with me.” She gave both a smug grin and nodded to the stairs down.

But before Gilda even took a step, Grunhilda ‘eeped’ and rushed inside her room to promptly return after having donned her backpack. Gilda supposed it was a good thing… At least she wouldn’t be forgetting the thing anywhere. Once they were ready, she followed Gia and caught up with her down the large, theatrical staircase. It landed on a grand hall out of a medieval novel. Manehattan theater blockbusters could never compare.

Complete with an exquisitely carved wooden throne at the top of five steps and flanked by burning pyres made of stone. A large pit occupied the center of the hall, holding a flame fueled by entire broken logs. Other furniture provided sitting space around the hall and a few bookstands, but the pair of long tables awed Gilda. They flanked the fire, both occupied by a rich selection of fancy tableware.

Tall windows held glass and iron fittings, too thin to let anyone inside if they broke and mostly provided external lighting. A giant iron candelabra hanging from the triangular ceiling and provided additional lighting.

Gilda had considered herself a cosmopolitan griffon her whole life, but she didn’t know she could get away with rustic and city life, much less that she’d like rustic. She hoped one day she could afford something similar.

Even if it meant using a freaking bedpan… She supposed Gia had servants or something of the sort to get rid of those. Having money sure was nice.

Distractions apart, a young griffon guy waited for them. He bowed to them and other than an iron wristband, he wore a fluffy animal skin scarf and cloak for going outside. Seemed as though he had just arrived as he shook snow off his cloak by the main door. Underneath, his coat showed a pretty shade of brown with darker plumage on his head and green eyes. Also, a huge friendly smile and a waving paw.

“Hey! I have one of those too!” Grunhilda showed the griffon her iron wristband and he gave Grunhilda an annoyed expression, speaking in a language Gilda didn’t understand.

But Grunhilda gave a small, excited hop and also spoke in that language, all warbly and song-y, to what he lit up with a grin. Gilda was left to wonder what had just happened.

Gia hummed… “You… Don’t speak High Griffonese, do you?”

“I took Griffonese classes in school…” Gilda let out a frustrated sigh. “And like everyone, I totally bombed on it. Nobody cares because everybody speaks Common Equestrian anyways!”

Gia facepalmed and grunted. “Griffons speak High Griffonese in Snow Mountains. They’re just going to ignore you if you can’t talk the language The Harpy taught us!”

The male griffon cleared his mouth and drew attention back to him, speaking in Common Equestrian. “I called all of them, Miss Gia. Went personally to their homes, as discreet as I could be! They’ll be here within the hour!”

“Good job, Geary!” She cheered and smiled at him while gesturing a paw to Gilda. “This is Gilda, the swordmaiden I told you about.”

“She doesn’t even speak High Griffonese! Uh… Where’s your sword?” He gave her a judging stare with a frown. “Lady Gwineth has a magical sword. Why don’t you?”

“Her sword is still being forged.” Gia grumbled and glared at him.

His brow made into a confused frown as he sat on the floor. “Can you be a swordmaiden without a sword?”

Gilda kept staring at him and imagined she made a faithful facsimile of Grunhilda’s dumb stare, but she just couldn’t come up with an answer.

“Just get the servants to prepare the meeting room, Geary.” The young Loremaster snarled and massaged her brow before waving him away. Obeying immediately, he bowed again and rushed out one of the side doors, leaving Gilda with her host. “Don’t worry… That probably won’t be a problem. He’s just smitten with Gwineth since she’s been here and gave him a little smile.”

“I don’t know them.” Gilda looked at her after the male was gone and could swear she saw a jealous frown on Gia’s brow.

“Oh, right. You’re new. Well, never mind her. Some toms forget that she would use them and then just throw them away as soon as she became bored of them. She’s just vile.” Gia waved her paws dismissively. “Never mind her we have more important matters to tend to.”

“Sounds like a jerk…” Gilda agreed, despite Gia asking her to forget that Gwineth.

“Well… I’ll make sure everything is prim and proper for us to meet our cats.” Gia grinned, making more appeasing gestures. “Just don’t do anything awkward, alright?”

“Anything I should know?” Gilda sat on the floor by the large table and listened to the crackling fire. The heat bothered her a little, but not much. Grunhilda took her place by her side like she was her bodyguard and Gia started pacing around nervously.

“Well, they are kind of distrustful of newcomers and of outsiders…” Gia grinned sheepishly, still pacing.

“Everything I am…” Gidla sighed. “I don’t even speak their preferred language.”

“We’ll figure something out.” Gia stopped, pursing her beak. She sat and made even more appeasing gestures, this time with both paws. “It will probably be alright.”

Grunhilda stroked Gilda’s back as though she was a child in need of reassurance, but she preferred not to say anything.

The meeting happened, unsurprisingly, in a meeting room next to the great hall. It followed in the same style, with a lit fireplace and a large central table with a model of the city and Stormrend Manor. Not as large as Canterlot Palace, for sure, but it looked damn impressive in the model. The manor stood at the top of a small hill, with a cliff on one side and connected to the medium-large city on the other. A straight path met with the fountain in front of the gates and divided into paths that went into dairy farms. Nothing as gigantic as Haybale, though. And the city itself also seemed smaller than Griffonstone. But then again, Griffonstone had become a monstrous overgrown beast simply because griffons hated actually having neighbors.

Manehattan probably held the title of largest city in the world. All those ponies, ready to support their princess at the drop of a hat. And there was Gilda, conspiring with griffons whose language she didn’t know.

You should not overestimate ponies and their ability to mobilize in defense of the Dawnbringer. Most of them are too cowardly. And Manehattan counts with a sizeable griffon population, among which I too have my agents working, even now, to ensure our designs are not disrupted.

Gilda frowned at the words inside her head. No way Princess Celestia wasn’t doing anything about it.

Of course, she is. She is busy with her wayward princesses. By the time she realizes what happened, we will be ready to strike.

Unfortunately, Gilda didn’t feel exactly confident yet, and her inability to speak the local language greatly contributed.

She stood next to Gia and Grunhilda, with Geary next to Gia by the table surrounded by other griffons. They watched as one of them pointed at the scaled model of the city. Some big and intimidating griffons, but most of them looked ‘normal’ under their decorative collars and capes. One or two even wore tiaras as though they wanted the whole room to know they had money.

Gilda supposed she would too.

Yet, at the moment, they had another problem… She didn’t speak the local language and only after Gia reminded them and asked that they spoke Common Equestrian Gilda even understood what they talked about. And the guy speaking didn’t like it at all, almost as though he took offense.

“As I was saying, I agree Princess Luna’s attack must see retaliation. But five divisions from the Griffonian Standing Army will be ready to siege the city as soon news of its fall reach Griffonstone.” One of the big northerner griffons, all light gray and snowy-white on his plumage, with serious and piercing blue eyes sat on the floor. He crossed his forelegs and spoke with a coarse and serious voice, riddled with accent. “They’ll storm the city, and we don’t have enough fighters to repel an attack. Our supporters simply will not stick their necks out if there is no chance of victory. We’re talking about farmers and artisans, not cold-hardened warriors, or honor-bound soldiers.”

One glance at Gia told Gilda all she needed to know on how she felt about the whole situation, but the griffon didn’t stop there. “We might have the numbers, but they are not motivated. And we lack weapons. An assurance of support from home would help too, but I cannot see Lord Graham or Lord Griskjal bothering to defend a city half-filled with hooflickers.”

He offered a paw up and reproaching stare. “If you meant to do anything of the sort, you should have acted while the Swordmaiden was still among us. She is now gone, with a good portion of our trained agents and fighters. Once again, your inexperience is a burden for us to bear, Gia.”

The question in Gilda’s mind was just how naïve he was. Then again, that guy might not fully understand one of the reasons for taking over the city was the money the Chancellor had stashed in it. The real problem was that Gilda couldn’t speak the local language and it sucked because she could understand it in her dreams. Though not as the northerners kept talking in between themselves.

Although… Gilda had never killed before, but she knew what to do to those jerks in Griffonstone. Grunhilda certainly hadn’t either. Still, Gilda deflected a bullet with her wings. She was half-dead, but she saw Grunhilda do something similar. It was different than going wild. There was something in her that knew how to use magic. The magic in her wings. The same which made her fly.

As Gilda lost herself in thought, the others had started arguing among themselves. Gia lost her patience, banging on the table, trying to get them to listen to her, but she clearly didn’t have the gravitas. Grunhilda certainly understood what they said, and she kept shifting from staring at one side and the other with her beak half-open in an almost panicked expression. She could translate back and forth for Gilda, but it wouldn’t garner Gilda any respect or patience.

Gilda frowned to herself. She had no idea what Gia expected of her. And she could just leave to deal with her own problems, such as getting to Griffindell. But screw that! She liked Gia and she was supposed to be on their side now. The Harpy sat above those petty squabbles. She meant to be a team player now she had found a place where she belonged.

Not to mention there was a boatload of money to be made in that place. Gilda spent enough time shuffling with the plebeians. She had to do something. Gia clearly needed help urging those griffons to get things started. She didn’t need to know much to see they disagreed on how to proceed moving forward. She wondered if the missing piece wasn’t the leadership from one such as Master Gabriel. Or maybe a symbol of a higher power uniting them. Money should do, but she supposed the northerner lords didn’t care for it. They needed leadership, assurances of victory.

Gilda took a deep breath and thought to herself if The Harpy could hear her thinking. She shut away the noisy griffons screaming and warbling at each other.

She grunted internally after a few seconds without an answer and kept her irritation under control. What did She want her to do? Kill a moose and burn its bones or some shit? Come on! Help a girl out!

Why, the burnt bones of a fresh kill. A sacrificial offering of its heart. Those used to please me greatly.

At least she answered. Well, Gilda didn’t have a fucking moose she could burn, much less a heart she could put in a plate for Her to eat. She felt silly, thinking to herself and expecting an answer, but it worked.

The voice in her head laughed for a good while though, during which Gilda suppressed the intense desire to swear at it.

You need not my help, Child.

Yeah… She did. She could understand that language of theirs in her dreams, but she couldn’t understand them talking. She needed it for the whole thing to work.

You do not need my assistance, Child. I would rob you of your greatness and that I cannot abide.

Yeah… Right… But Gilda’s ‘greatness’ wouldn’t be very impressive to those birds as a Swordmaiden without a sword who couldn’t even speak their language.

The foolish of mortals often amuse me to the point I cannot even become angry. You have been listening to me speak in the language I have taught My Children and that of the Old Empire. I would not ever tarnish my tongue with the language of the hooved ones. You can hear me and understand me right now.

Gilda just… Stopped. Her mind went blank, and she blinked at nothing in particular, with Grunhilda staring expectantly at her while the griffons around her argued.

The time has come you realized how special you are, Child. But you will do so by yourself, and I will not dampen your greatness. It is for my own glory and your benefit.

Alright. She’s got it. Gilda’s been dreaming stuff. Remembering stuff, in a way, right? All she had to do was figure out how to remember stuff without being asleep.

That sounded, at the same time, easy, stupid, and impossible.

She stared at Grunhilda, who stared back at her.

Easier said than done.

Gilda frowned…

Then she growled…

“Can I help, Miss Gilda?” Grunhilda whined.

“I don’t think you can, Grunhilda.” She whispered to the other and clicked her talon on her beak.

Of all the problems she thought she’d have in her little adventure, language was one of the dumbest. How come she could channel her inner badass and defend herself, but not understand their stupid language. Her language. It seemed like an unnecessary sting she could understand it in her dreams. Anyways, better to try anything than just waiting for things to happen.

“Hey!” She waved a paw but went unheard.

She tapped the table with her paw a few times and shouted louder, but it didn’t seem to help either.

Then Grunhilda, next to her, banged her fist on the table and yelled at no one in particular. Curiously, she got their attention, but the male guy who spoke earlier rose a finger and pointed it at Grunhilda. He said something Gilda still didn’t understand, but she really didn’t like his tone.

However, when Grunhilda frowned painfully and recoiled… That was when Gilda’s blood boiled. “Hey, birdbrain! What did you tell her?”

He smirked maliciously at her and repeated it, but in the language that just made Gilda angrier.

She took a deep breath… Letting her temper get the best of her didn’t help earlier, and that guy was important. It was best not to create additional problems when they were quite abundant already.

But he had hurt Grunhilda, so screw it! Sometimes violence was the answer.

Gilda walked around the table to the guy, a few fingers taller than her, as he stared down his raised beak at her. “Listen here, you jackass… I know you understand me, but I know an argument that truly transcends the barrier of language.”

He meant to say something, she was sure of it, but he didn’t, because she held his fluffy chest and punched his beak. So hard she could swear she heard his brain going pinball inside his head when he reeled. “Talk to her like that again and I’ll tear your fucking tongue out!”

“Do you understand that, or do you need someone to translate it to you?” She barked while he laid in the floor and stared at the ceiling, surprised out of his feathers. The others just stared with different levels of grinning behind their paws or with plain hanging open beaks.

Gia shrieked and helped the griffon to his paws, but he shoved her away. Once he had his paws under him, he laughed and rubbed his beak while Gilda stared daggers at him. “Now, that is some mettle I didn’t think I’d find in the middle of all these hooflickers. Last one who punched me like that was my mate when I told her that her dress indeed made her look fat.”

“Well, that is a dumb thing to say.” Gilda retorted and he laughed again.

“It so is. What is your story, Gilda?” He rubbed his beak one more time as though he put it back in place. “I heard your thrall dragged you from Canterlot to Ponyville’s teleporter facility and along the way ripped apart a hospital to find you some life-saving potions.”

She noticed she kept a frown and relaxed it a bit. “I used to live in Griffonstone and I got screwed by some piece of shit politicians because I punched the mayor’s kid. He actually deserved it, so I don’t feel bad. But then they burned my house and put some lowlives after me. While I was working at the hospital, I met Master Gabriel and he talked to me about things. Things I had been blind to. I decided things needed to change and that I wasn’t going to let those birds end me. I killed them when they ambushed me in the streets. Then I got her out of the hospital before they could send her to Shatteredrock . She’s got the dreams from the thunderstorms, same as I did.”

“Now I gotta get to Griffindell and our travel brought us here. Really, I don’t have to sit here and listen to you dweebs shouting at each other. All I really gotta do is stop by the bank, grab the money Miss Gerdie said I should and them paw it off to Griffindell to meet Lady Gwendolen.”

“What is a dweeb?!” One of the rich griffonesses in a fancy coat frowned at her.

Another one of them gasped and shoved her out of her way, approaching Gilda. Rather old, cyan with a glossy, fiercely blue plumage and green eyes, she wore a rich purple cape, complete with a raised neck behind her head. Seriously, she looked like a caricature of a vampire or something.

“Did you say that Miss Gerdie told you to get the money?” She asked Gilda and the others remained silent. Gia, fortunately, decided to let Gilda talk it out with them.

“They put me on community service, and I saw Master Gabriel as a nurse in Griffonstone Hospital after he fought Princess Luna. He told me what happened and saw something in me while I tended to his wounds. Told me to meet Gerdie in Haybale and that she would help me get to Griffindell.” Gilda told her straight as it was, and the older griffon lady frowned a little. “But she wasn’t in Haybale. I had to hitch a ride with a pervy guy and his pony friend all the way to Canterlot just to talk to her. But I explained to Miss Gerdie what had happened to her dad. Gladys, from Griffonstone asked me to… And… I mean, it was the decent thing to do, anyways.”

“I apologize.” The big northerner male told her. “I didn’t know of this. They are my close friends, and you have my thanks for checking on Gerdie. How is she?”

Moods had calmed, so Gilda calmed herself too. “She’s fine. She’s on a hotel the Royal Guard put her after she talked to Princess Celestia, or something. She got really thankful I told her about her dad.”

She paused for a second. “I suppose I should tell you guys too… He wasn’t too bad, but Princess Luna messed up his paws… Like… She stabbed and crushed his paws. True, he shot at her, but… It didn’t seem like it actually had hurt her.”

Gia became furious. Or at least showed enough fury it seemed to convince the others. “The unneeded cruelty of it! Cursed equines envy the delicate instruments that are our paws, and it is evident.”

Silenced claimed the room and Gia’s words bit deep. Gilda suppressed a smile and went further thinking of one specific thing she had heard Grunhilda say. She even let a sad little hue into her voice. “They didn’t even get him a griffon doctor, you know. I mean… It’s an old dude… Not like he could cause much trouble. They could take him to Snow Mountains… Let the magic in our old home heal his wounds… But I suppose Princess Luna loathes us and Our Mother too much for that.”

“You see, friends?” Gia took the word. “The Allmother sent her Swordmaiden to free our beloved friend Master Gabriel from the hooves of our enemy and then another so we can free our city from their yoke.”

Griffons exchanged stares and glares ranging from the angry to the assertive and some heads nodded while they spoke in hushed voices.

“What was your name, again?” The older female asked Gilda. “Gilda? You speak of things important to us, but I do not believe you are one of us.”

Gilda inhaled profoundly, but it didn’t help her become less angry. She put out her paw. “Give me the scarf!”

Her big friend promptly obeyed, giving her the red scarf with the symbol of the griffon wings. But it was all greasy and had a few buttery lumps of fat in it.

“Grunhilda…” She turned to her big friend. “You’re supposed to keep the items of clothing separated from the food inside the backpack.”

“Sorry, Miss Gilda…” The other whined sheepishly, wings sagging and with a helpless frown.

“Anyways…” She turned back to the other griffons and showed them the red scarf. They could see it before, but the gesture mattered.

“How can you be a member of the Court of The Harpy?” One of the females behind the blue one cried and pointed a finger. “You’re a pony-loving southerner!”

“Quiet.” The older one snapped at her then turned back to Gilda. “How do you know of the money Master Gabriel set aside with his daughter?”

“She also gave me this.” Gilda put back her paw, expecting Grunhilda to give her the brooch, which she did, and it also was covered in grease, but she showed it to the older griffon anyway. “Told me how to get the money.”

Blue plumage there squinted and examined the brooch with the griffon wings sigil on Gilda’s paw and hummed to herself. “Well, I can say Master Gabriel indeed thought highly of you. Interesting.”

“He told me of The Harpy. He told me I was a prisoner and he set me free. I saw things I was blind to. I met Her in a dream, and She told me I was dear to Her and that She waited for me. I dreamt of past lives and when I was alone with three malicious thugs in a dark alley of Griffonstone, She awakened me the power to defend myself. So, I either go deal with my own problems and leave you dweebs, or we can get started on returning this city to Her.”

Again, silence claimed the room. She could almost hear their heads, calculating.

“Do you even know what the scarf means?” A young female who took after the big northerner male groaned at her and took a step forward, only for him to block her way with a paw.

“Quiet, Gneia.” The male barked at her and even startled her. She didn’t take it poorly, though. Gilda quite liked those griffons and the brutally honest way they spoke, in contrast to Gia’s dissimulated encouraging. But then he directed Gilda’s attention back to the model of the city. More specifically, to a large building which might as well be the teleporter facility, but it wasn’t… The actual teleporter stood on the other side of the town. “They haul chests back and forth from the teleporter every month. We don’t know what happens to them once they’re inside though. It is likely they simply store the Bits in there. We believe they have a safe.”

Well, she seemed to be getting somewhere now she had convinced the big dude she was special. But Gilda knew politicians enough from the countless scandals in the news they didn’t hoard the money they stole. They put it on stuff that couldn’t be traced back to them.

Gia spoke next, falling in line. “So… In Griffonstone we have a few infiltrated agents who direct part of the money our stalwart government steals directly to Griffindell through here and it comes straight to Stormrend.”

“Wait… What?” Gilda glared at her. “You mean there is more than one group stealing from Griffonia?”

“No.” The Loremaster stared nonchalantly. “There is one group stealing. The money we ‘redirect’ belongs to us as The Lion is our rightful liege and King of the Griffons.”

Oh yeah. There totally was a difference there, but Gilda kept her sarcasm to herself. “What happens to the money? The one we rightfully reclaim.”

“Why, Lady Gwendolen sees it is put to serve The Harpy’s designs and preparations for the war. It’s mostly used to support our operations and we built an entire airship armada with it.” One of the ‘noble ladies’, a haughty blue and white griffon lady with a silver tiara explained. “While most of our brave warriors in the north were bred and raised fighting the Windigos’ evil spawn; axes, armors, muskets and our more advanced weaponry cost money.”

“Yes. Almost every single Bit which comes out of public coffers already have a rightful owner in The Lion…” Another griffon lady, but a large northerner, all white under a blue cape explained. “Our brothers in the north pay in blood so the Windigos’ spawn is kept away from the peaceful cities to the south while Griffonstone demands more taxations. That money is rightfully ours.”

Yep. Gilda wasn’t going to disagree. Especially when the Chancellor would mobilize the Griffonian Standing Army against the North behind their allies’ back.

“So, I guess our goal is to take what the Chancellor sends here and put it to better use than collecting dust in the city’s storage…” Gilda concluded and earned a few nods and grins. “Are they just leaving the money there? That’s not very clever.”

“They seem to be storing it.” Gia frowned. “It is strange, but they are likely having trouble acquiring properties, gold and stones. Valuables. The Royal Justiciars are keeping their eyes on them. Fortunately, their eyes are on the Chancellor and his helpers… We should be able to swindle the money away. And the best way to see it done, in my educated opinion, is to take over the city. It’s bound to happen anyways… And I believe that Princess Luna’s attack on one of ours was provocation enough.”

“As I said before…” The big guy said. “Lady Gwineth made away with our best warriors, and we would be hard-pressed to resist an assault from the nearby GSA forces. It would be a matter of days until they were sent to deal with us. However, our population is angered at Princess Luna’s assault on the museum. Even among the loyalists. They might be numbers enough we can hold until help arrives. If they can be motivated.”

“What are they even doing here?” Gilda asked. “Five divisions sound like a lot of soldiers…”

“Five infantry divisions. Thirty thousand griffons, at least ten artillery battalions, to be exact.” Gia explained. “The Chancellor launched an attack on Snow Mountains. His forces were supposed to spearhead the assault towards Griffindell and these divisions were supposed to follow behind and cover their flanks, holding cities in their wake. But they were ambushed near Frozenlake because the GSA actually sucks. The attack stalled. The only reason they weren’t all executed was that Lord Discord happened to be nearby and negotiated with Lord Graham. Lady Geena insisted that they should be kept captive at Frozenlake.”

“Huh… I think I read about that in the newspaper.” Also, hadn’t Grunhilda mentioned that name before? Gia too.

“These five divisions then camped nearby when the whole operation halted.” The big male explained. “They await new orders. The Chancellor wouldn’t hesitate to send these soldiers against us as soon as he heard the city rebelled, and that his money was in our paws.”

Gia showed a nasty smile. “What makes your lordship believe they won’t side with us, once they know of the things the Dawnbringer’s pet has been hiding from them? All the money he stole from them, and all the love the Allmother has for them?”

“If our new friend here is so blessed by the Mother of Storms…” The older griffon lady with the ‘vampire cloak’ and the shiny blue plumage raised a paw. “Gungnir… Do you believe our supporters would be willing to fight… To follow forth a faithful of The Harpy if they also had… Superior weaponry?”

He frowned and cocked his head. “I… Believe that would help… Yes…”

Gia frowned and deadpanned at the same time. “Do you suddenly have weapons we didn’t know about? Hiding somewhere?”

“They are not my weapons, Gia.” The older griffon lady replied all elegant insolence. “They belong to Lord Gilad, and I am not supposed to give access to them if I believe they would be wasted on the… Insufficiently talented. I believe Miss Gilda should address our faithful in the city. To stir the raptor in them. Next to a box of revolver muskets right out of Stormvalley Armory.”

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do…” Gilda blinked at the griffon lady.

“Wear the scarf and speak to them.” Gia smiled. “Common citizens, concerned for the future of the city and the nation. Give them a few reasons to hate the Chancellor. To hate Griffonstone’s mayor. You are a chosen of The Harpy, after all.”

She smiled. A poisonous smile as she sat on her haunches and opened her forelegs in a grand gesture. “Tell them of what The Harpy has told you and inflame their hearts towards what is better for them. They are griffons, after all… It is better for them to follow the Allmother and support The Lion. Isn’t it? After all, where Loremasters teach and educate, Swordmaidens destroy enemies. And both warm the hearts of the Children of The Harpy with words and examples!”

Gilda grinned. It must have seemed wicked because the Loremaster liked it.

She then chuckled and offered her paw to Gilda. “If you will… I should get my servants to clean your scarf. One cannot serve the Harpy with dirty attire.”

She gave it to her. “Thanks, Gia.”

Well, things seemed to have moved in the right direction, and Gilda was satisfied. “So… What do we do now?”

“Now we get ready to take over the city…” Gia still smiled at her, handing the scarf to Geary. “We let our friends do their thing, and you get prepared to address the Harpy’s faithful. Be prepared to put a fire in their hearts.”

Oh… Yeah… There was that. What had she exactly gotten herself into? Last time she spoke to a crowd she was at school, and it was a terrible presentation about flight dynamics.

“Well, it seems we have preparations to enact, queens and toms.” One of the better dressed griffons, complete with a top hat and a black smoking above his gray coat bowed to the others. Then he held Gilda’s paw. “See you later, milady.”

She didn’t know what amused her more. The way such a simple gesture made her feel dirty or Grunhilda’s angry jealous stare at him. But she didn’t have a lot of time to process. The ‘vampire cape lady’ talked to the big northerner and Gia called her apart for a conversation as the griffons in the room said their good-byes and then left in a hurry.

“I need to talk to you, Gilda.” She said in a reserved tone. “Stick nearby once they all left.”

She did and Grunhilda stood next to her like a loyal bodyguard. Once they had all left, Gia closed the door and turned to her, flaring her wings. Suddenly the façade collapsed and she let a nervous twitch in her left eye show.

“This is real, isn’t it?” She glared at Gilda and approached with prowling steps like a lioness about to pounce. “Did you really talk to the Mother of Storms? Did you dream those things you said? About past lives?”

“Yeah.” Gilda nodded, unfazed. “It was for real. Is something wrong?”

Gia stopped close to her and frowned. “This isn’t normal! Only an old and experienced Loremaster can recall soul memories! What is the deal with you?”

Gilda shrugged. “Beats me! As far as I knew those visions were normal because Grunhilda has them too.”

“Griffons dream, yes. The stormdreams. But not like the way you described.” She counted on her fingers. “Shadows that speak to them, a large creature trying to enter their homes, an alluring female voice inside their heads… But the way you described even convinced Lord Gugnir. Did you really see your past life in a stormdream?!”

“Yes, and no.” Gilda recoiled a bit at her nervous questioning.

“I swear I will have you tied to a pole and your coat flogged out of existence if you are lying to me.” Gia growled at her and closed her fists.

“I’m not!” Gilda cried and shook her head. “Listen… When the storms started in Griffonstone, I saw Emperor Grigor in a desert, talking to King Grover… I was one of his Swordmaidens. That wasn’t really a dream, though… I was awake and just saw that. Then I saw the same Swordmaiden fighting against some nasty griffons that ended up killing me! Or her… And then I saw some griffon in a cave… In the Stormy Eyrie! I had a few dreams… Saw Ghadah, the Swordmaiden, sacrificing a zebra and giving his heart to The Harpy! Then she talked to me! Like you and I are talking right now!”

“This is crazy!” Gia frowned and held her beak thoughtfully. “You’re supposed to be a Swordmaiden! The only Loremaster I know that managed to reach these memories is Lady Gehenna. I also never knew of Her talking to someone like that!”

Gilda didn’t really know what to say. She just shrugged and stared helplessly at the loremaster. “So… Uh… Is that bad? Good? What do I do about it?”

“You gotta practice some mindfulness.” Gia said, sitting down and taking a deep breath, urging Gilda to do the same with her paws. She gestured with her paws, the air flowing into and out of her lungs with each breath. “This is one of the first things a Loremaster is taught. Emptying your mind and paying attention to yourself.”

“Is that like what that friend of Fluttershy’s talks about?” She frowned at Gia.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Gia closed her eyes and gestured her insistence that Gilda did the same. “This is serious. Both Loremasters and Swordmaidens must learn to understand what their bodies are telling them, so they may learn to tell their bodies what to do.”

“Okay…” Gilda had force herself into what she called self-help bullshit and closed her eyes. Calmed her breathing. “Alright.”

After a few seconds of that exercise of breathing rhythmically and emptying her mind, Gia spoke to her again. “Practice that. If what you say is true, it should allow your mind access to those deep memories normally not available. Find your own routine. And understand you already achieved that, without noticing.”

Gilda opened an eye to see Gia staring at her, and she spoke like one of her teachers back at school. “What your friend told me was a beast that freed itself of its shackles. But I have the feeling that it was different from what happened to you in Griffonstone.”

Gilda nodded. She wasn’t wrong. “I knew how to fight them. Even though I had never fought in my life.”

“You are a natural. Learning to fight becomes second nature to the fighter, as much as flight becomes second nature to us and the motions of taking a life become practiced and efficient. To a Loremaster, memories of past lives become second nature and skills and abilities are kinds of memories. I believe something in you allows you to channel the memories, and thus the training of that Swordmaiden you once lived as. Mindfulness, Gilda. Clear your mind, so that it may guide you through those deep and hidden memories.”

“As you learn, you must force yourself to act instead of reacting; until you have made yourself an expert. Then you must allow yourself to react, allow your subconscious mind to provide the answers to you and trust your own abilities.” Gia explained. “If you are indeed as you claim, you already know, and must trust yourself, raise above the doubts that hold you back.”

Gilda nodded. It was a strange feeling, recalling memories of the fight in Griffonstone. It really was as though she suddenly knew what to do.

“And remember… The Allmother made you a natural killer. You were born with weapons. She also made you a survivor, as you were born with instincts. And she made you an intelligent creature, a complex mind to rule over a complex body. Your mind is independent, and you must direct it, or it will direct you.” Gia smiled. “I’ll make sure that everything is ready, and tomorrow morning you should address the townsfolk. I’ll get you a guest room to rest and prepare yourself.”

Gia concluded. “One fitting of your status.”

“Alright.” Gilda took a deep breath. Whyd did she feel as though Gia was distilling at her everything she remembered from her training?

"Also…” Gia grinned at her. “Remember me when The Harpy talks to you again!”

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