The first stop for the pair is the train station. Their destination is rather deep in the wilderness, so the route is going to be rather circuitous; The train lines ran to the Hyperaustralan capitol, so they would be going past their destination by a significant margin. Still, even if the total distance traveled will be much greater than the actual distance to their destination, it is still far faster than traveling entirely on hoof.
Seren stares out the window of the first class cabin on the train they’d taken. The ride will be several hours, so there is plenty of time to just think. The route connecting the southernmost and easternmost reaches of civilization meant the vast majority of the track is entirely through wilderness, mountains and forest. As a result, this train in particular is one of the more expensive routes to maintain; Seren still remembers when she was a filly, her parents having to deal with a landslide on the tracks miles outside of any city.
But right now, it’s a welcome change. She’d been cooped up in the big city in Luddas long enough, and soon enough would be in the big city in Hyperaustralis. A bit of greenery and vast, untamed lands full of potential and mystery is a perfect break to that. Speaking of mystery, there is something quite peculiar about this whole assignment. Just how is some backwoods forest so strategically important? And what was that Evander said about a tower? Seren frowns in frustration.
“Have you ever been to Hyperaustralis?” Starshot’s question breaks Seren out of her stupor, and she looks over at the blank. The pony in question is currently lounging about quite contentedly, laying back on the wide sofa-like seating with her hooves crossed behind her head and rear legs propped up on the windowsill. Somepony was certainly enjoying the first class accommodations.
Seren shakes her head. She was far more well traveled than the servant of course, so it was a reasonable question, but she’d never been that far south. “Most of the time when I was sent anywhere it was still within our duchy. Father didn’t exactly have us traveling around for fun, and I’ve only recently been old enough to take on assignments. Though, I did accompany my mom on a trip to the northwest last summer.”
Starshot nods, stretching and yawning as she flops over onto his side. “Do we have accommodations planned? It’ll be nighttime when we arrive, ya know.”
Seren shakes her head once more. “Nope, we left on too short notice. It’s fine, given my status we’ll be able to find someplace no problem. If nothing else, we can seek lodgings with the local aristocracy.”
Starshot groans. “Great, more nobles. That’s just what we needed.”
Seren looks over at the servant, shaking her head in consternation. “Oh Saoirse, whatever am I to do with you?” She asks, coyly. “Here, I’ll tell ya what, I’ll let you pick what we have for dinner. Will that put you in a good mood?”
Saoirse Starshot perks up. “Hrm? You mean, on the train?” When Seren nods in confirmation and hands her a menu, she looks down at it hungrily. The thought of food put in his head, his stomach growls; she hadn’t eaten anything since last night. “Alright, you win. Hardly gonna be able to stay upset with an offer like that.” She relents, flipping through the menu. “Ooh... How about eggplant parmesan? I haven’t had that in ages.”
That was rather an understatement; servants generally didn’t get meals that require that much preparation. Somepony is certainly getting spoiled today. Seren suppresses a giggle of amusement and nods. “You got it.”
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It is dark when the train finally pulls into the station. The station itself is well lit, but most of the district around it has not seen electrification. Between that and the moonless sky, it is all Seren and Starshot can do to just find their way down the street. Checking into a local tavern, Seren accepts the considerably below-standard lodgings with grace and dignity; Starshot of course is just happy to have a proper bed to sleep in for the second night in a row.
“Alright! First light! It’s high time we get on the road.” Seren announces, stretching in the middle of the small, two-bedroom chamber they had stayed the night. Already, she is levitating her saddlebags up onto her back.
Starshot groans and leans forward in bed, blinking blearily. Looking out the window, she can readily see that “first light” is a bit of an exaggeration; the horizon has only just barely begun to brighten, still dark enough that the variety of buildings across the street are silhouetted in darkness. The sun is certainly nowhere to be seen, and the stars are still out, though fading quickly. Nothing new there; Seren always was a morning pony. Summoning up all the energy she can, Starshot curls up like a spring before unwinding, leaping out of bed onto all fours.
Seren barely waits for Starshot to finish yawning before using her telekinesis to levitate his saddlebags onto her, and opening the door out to the tavern. Immediately a variety of sensations find them: The smell of cheap booze and grilled vegetables, the sound of quiet chatter from the lobby. Seemingly, they aren’t the first to get up. Jerking her head forwards, Seren leads the way out to the front of the establishment, leaving Starshot to follow along.
“We’ll get breakfast, then head out.” Seren states, stepping out into the lobby. It isn’t particularly busy this early in the morning but there is a pony on duty and a handful sitting around the entryway; A couple middle-aged hyperaustralans staring deep into mugs of ale, a couple of stallions in a corner talking about something or another quietly with suspicious glances around as if on the lookout for eavesdroppers, and a lone plains pony with a stern, serious expression reading something on the bulletin board posted near the exit.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Slapping a couple coins down on the counter in front of the barkeep, Seren leans against the counter. “We need breakfast, stat. I’ll pay extra if you can make it snappy. We’ll take some Pióg an aoire if you have that.”
The barkeep gulps anxiously upon seeing his clients horn, bowing steeply. “Of course, your excellency. Only, I’m afraid I am not familiar with...” He trails off, not knowing how to pronounce the phrase Seren had just said.
Starshot rolls her eyes and props herself up on the counter as well. “She means Shepherds pie.” She states dryly.
The barkeep salutes. “Oh! Of course, right away.” With that, she disappears back into the kitchen while Seren and Starshot retire to one of the round tables with their wobbly bar-stools.
“I guess having an aristocrat around does have some advantages.” Starshot jokes, glancing over at the kitchen with a lopsided smile. “He sure looked shocked to see such privileged clientele.”
“Hopefully it gets him to deliver it quickly.” Seren states, already tapping a talon on the round table impatiently. “Father made it sound like this mission was very time sensitive, so I’m impatient to get away.” She doesn’t mention that she is also keen to leave the dingy building she is currently stuck inside of. Patience. She reminds herself, silently. A proper aristocrat does not let such things bother them. Remain focused on the mission. You’ll be back home before you know it. Her adventurous spirit is waning more than a little, looking around at the stained floors and waddle-and-daub walls surrounding her.
“Are you sure you even know the way?” Starshot questions. “I know you have a map, but I saw that thing; it wasn’t exactly the most detailed, it looked like it had been drawn up in a hurry. Do you even know which direction to leave the city in?”
Seren winces. “I’m afraid not. I suppose we’ll need to see if we can’t purchase...” Frowning, she trails off. Somepony is standing behind her, she feels it. Looking over her shoulder, she is greeted with the stern countenance of the violet-eyed plains pony who had been surveying the bulletin board when she’d first entered.
“I could not help but hear that you are unfamiliar with these parts, and in a hurry. Correct?” His tone is polite, but obviously not upper-crust based on his cadence and tone; there is a definitive roughness and vulgar accent to his speech which makes the courteous speech sound almost out of place.
Seren regards the pony warily. She had been speaking too loudly, hadn’t she? She had been told that this situation had to be kept under wraps, and here she is blabbering on about where she was going in a public establishment. Mentally cursing herself, Seren contemplates how best to respond. “Perhaps. Do you have a map you wish to sell us?” She asks; it didn’t seem like the best place to purchase one, but hopefully she could end the conversation without inadvertently giving away more details.
The stallion shakes his head in response. “Not quite. Allow me to introduce myself, milady; I am Daithi Ironcoin. Bounty hunter by trade, though I perform all manner of errands for both the local aristocracy and law enforcement.” The stallion bows his head deferentially. “My work has taken me all over the region, and I am familiar with how to travel quickly and quietly in pursuit of my quarry. Might I offer my services as a guide?”
Seren casts a nervous look towards Starshot. A local guide would certainly be helpful-assuming that Daithi here is telling the truth about his capabilities, that is-but if it is so important to keep the mission secret would that compromise their needs?
Daithi must have noticed her hesitation, because he steps back, raising his head to address her once more. “Allow me to assure you, I am quite used to treating matters with discretion in my line of work. You need not worry about me running my mouth; Such activities tend to be bad for the lifespan of those who work for the aristocracy.”
“C’mon Ser, what are you waiting for? You were the one talking about how we needed to get a move on.” Starshot interjects.
Seren shoots the servant an irked look, before turning back to the bounty hunter. “Allow me to think it over during breakfast, if you please. I will have an answer for you by then.”
Daithi nods and bows one final time, graciously. “Of course, milady. Take your time.”
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As fate would have it, when the party walks out of that tavern once more, there are three ponies where once there had been two. The fee for Daithi is negligible to Seren, and she figures that having him in her employ was probably better than having some stallion having heard about a foreign unicorn being on a time-sensitive, delicate mission.
Stepping out onto the street, the sun just beginning now to crest over the horizon, Seren takes a moment to just take in the sight of the city; she hadn’t really gotten to see it the previous night as dark as it was, after all. It’s a considerably different vibe than Luddas, far less modern. Sprawling wooden or wattle-and-daub buildings, most just a couple or maybe three stories tall, line the streets as far as the eye can see. Though the city is not as built up as Luddas, there is also not any end to it as far as she can tell. The dirt roads are already populated by a variety of ponies; mostly bicorns and hyperaustralans, given the geography. The numerous stares cast Seren’s way don’t even register with her consciousness, she is used to that by this point.
“Alright, Daithi. Come, show us the fastest way out of town. We’re heading to a location in the wilderness east of here. We’ll share more details once we’re out of the city.” Seren states, rounding on their new companion and waiting for his response.
Daithi Ironcoin salutes, and motions rearwards. “There’s an intracity tram system, that would be the fastest way to get to the outskirts. From there, you can head through the east-side slums, and then follow the road to a couple of small villages out that way. That would be the best place to head out cross-country.” The stallion explains in a professional and level tone.
Seren winces. Slums..? As if this dingy district isn’t already bad enough. Oh well, there is nothing for it. “Very well. I’ll follow your lead.” Seren nods, leaving the bounty hunter to lead the way down the unfamiliar, graffiti-ridden streets.