Glory clipped the latch on the last saddlebag. They were all packed. All their supplies ready for their journey to the Palace of the Ivory Shores ready to go. The Unicorn sat back with a sigh. They’d spent the entire day getting ready, acquiring supplies, well she did at least. Many supplies she needed could only be required in the market district in the Outer City. She couldn’t shake the feeling she had been watched though, but every time she had turned to look she simple saw a crowd. Lore had spent the day perusing the many book stores, for what he was searching for was beyond her but it gave her respite. After last night’s episode Glory was sure Lore would try and bring it up again but thankfully he had left her to her own thoughts. She looked down at her wrapped hoof. A small smile spread across her muzzle unbidden. A knock on the door pulled Glory from her thoughts. That must be Lore. About time. Glory walked over to the door and opened it. “Have fun with th-“Glory barely ducked the swipe of a blade as it whistled through the air. Its wielder struck her in the chest with a hoof and tripped her with a whirl of a black wing. Instinct kicked in, years of fighting coming to bare. She rolled out of the way as steel sliced through air where she had been not a second before. Glory jumped back to her hooves, pulling her blade from its sheath as she did so. She deflected two daggers as they flew through the air. She caught both in her magic and sent them flying back. Her assailant, a Pegasus clad in full body armor and hood and cowl, flipped over them in a feat of avian grace. A burst of silver magic pushed Glory’s would be assassin into her blade. The steel pierced the Pegasus through the chest, fixing it in place before falling to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. The Unicorn remained in a battle stance for a few more minutes, her ears perked and eyes flicking, waiting for another attacker. When none came she flicked the blood off her blade and sheathed it. She pulled the cowl of the Pegasus down revealing a pretty young mare. She look barely into her seventeenth year. Her face was frozen in shock. Glory closed the mare’s dull, vacant eyes, and searched her. She found a small bag of gems, no doubt her payment, and a note. [i]The target is a red Unicorn mare with a white mane. She will more than likely be with a white Pegasus, have Mirror secure him. As for the Unicorn, I want her alive. Use the blade's I've provided they have a unique poison that will make transport much easier. As for your payment. Half now and the other half upon your success. I will not tolerate failure.[/i] [i]M[/i] Who was M and why did he want her? She had made no enemies in Manehatten save those guards the other day but that wasn‘t worth a death sentence. Besides they were cowards, she could tell. The pouch of gems was a small fortune on its own. Wait! Her eyes flew back to the note. Lore! Glory grabbed her barding, pulled it on, secured her blade to her side and galloped out of the room. An angry scowl darkened her face as she cleared the hotel lobby. She hoped she wasn’t too late. The wonders of philosophy. Lore closed the book gently and sat back in his chair. All around were ponies sitting at other tables, stacks of books surrounding some. The smell of ink and parchment permeated the air, comforting Lore greatly. He loved this calm quiet atmosphere. The symphony of minds being expanded was exhilarating. He had decided to do some light reading before heading back to the hotel. He had spent the day charting their path to the Palace of Ivory Shores with Crypt. It was quite the elusive little landmark but it had been done. He quite liked the old Unicorn. He was insightful, clever, and kept his own pace. Though he seemed annoyed for some reason when Lore asked if he could return with him to Canterlot to see the great libraries the city of legendary for. He recalled the conversation they had. “You wouldn’t be allowed there my friend,” he had said. “They don’t take kindly to anyone not bearing a horn.” “Why is that?” Lore asked with a chuckle. “Would my wings get in the way?” “They think Unicorns are the species that can ascend past the mortal coil. Really Moon and Stars is made up of a bunch of supremacists” “Then why are you with them? You don’t seem bothered by my being a Pegasus.” “Because for all their flaws Moon and Stars holds the pursuit of knowledge above all else. Anywhere else Knowledge is scorned. Here if it’s not turning a profit it isn’t worth the effort. The only reason I’m here in Manehatten is as a favor to the Dean.” The old stallion sighed heavily. “I wish we could go back to that time when it didn’t matter what you had on your back or forehead but I doubt that will happen.” “Why not go to the Freelands then? Sireleaf is a city dedicated to its academies, schools, and colleges. I think you would love it there.” “I’ve considered it my friend. By Celestia I’ve considered it but I’ve grandfoals who can’t go a month without seeing their Pappy. And my son is loyal to the Moon and Stars cause, fiercely so. I can’t up and leave.” He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes intense as they locked onto Lore’s. “Let me tell you one thing. Be careful. Equestria is nothing like your home. Here what tribe you are will get you killed. Steer clear of the northern territories. Moon and Stars will see you a slave, but the Stormwings will kill any Pegasus not affiliated with them outright. And if you value your Unicorn companion you’ll steer clear of Earthborn’s borders too. They’ll either kill her or saw her horn off.” The old stallion’s words did not sit well with Lore. Who would be so cruel as to saw off any Unicorn’s horn? It was like slicing a Pegasus’ wings off or amputating an Earth Pony’s legs. Could such cruelty be so widespread here in Equestria? The idea that it could sent shivers down the Pegasus’ back. He felt as if he had stepped into an ant’s nest of violence. Maybe he should have listened to his father’s warnings of this place. “Zeth Oar’s Lie of Harmony. Good read.” Shaken of his thoughts, Lore looked over at a beautiful dark blue Pegasus mare with a pale green mane pulled back in a tight bun. Her lavender eyes were fixing on him from her place at the other end of the table. “You’re familiar with Zeth Oar uh?” he asked. “And it is the ideal of Loyalty we see ourselves bound,” she recited flawlessly, the sound of her voice was oddly captivating. “Honesty only asks for the obliteration of secrets. Generosity forces to give all you are.” “Our minds no longer our own through n this lie of Harmony. It is through Chaos we see the beauty of Freedom,” Lore finished. He grinned at the pretty mare. “That’s quite good. It’s a bit tight fisted a philosophy but I can see the validity of some of his arguments.” She giggled. Lore felt his wings twitch. “True. I quite like his view that one day we will are own god.” She closed the book she had been reading. Lore noted it was a copy of Sol Tzu’s Art of War. A philosophy buff. “I’d rather not be a god,” Lore said with a chuckle. She tilted her head. “Oh? Why not? The master of your own destiny, creator of your own world.” She looked at the chandelier above. It cast a soft yellow glow on the ceiling. “Knowing none can tell you what to do.” “True, the idea does sound appealing,” Lore admitted,” but throughout the mythos of every culture, well save this one here in Equestria, all gods and goddesses are often times cruel or have sorrow filled existences. I wouldn’t want that.” “You look into it rather deeply. Where are you from? I’ve never heard your accent before.” Accent? Lore didn’t have an accent. If anyone had one it was this mare. “The Freelands, across the Sea of Harmony.” Her eyes sparked with wonder and with a flutter of her supple wings she was in the seat in front of him. Lore felt his face go warm as he watched her wings extend to full length for the briefest of moments. “Across the sea!? What’s it like over there?” She all but yelled as she leaned forward. “From what I’ve learned much different from here. For one things there is really no legit government. The Freelands is really just a collection of city-states, each ruled by a different Noble family. I came from Lavidport and my family is actually one of these ruling families.” “So you get to do anything you want?” “Oh no. I’ve responsibilities sure enough and it’s only a matter of time before father passes the position of Governor to me. I’ve no real interest in it mind and I would much rather pursue my carries as a Scholar but it’s my duty to take up the mantle. Oh yeah,” he extend his hoof,” Epic Lore.” She took it and daintily shook his hoof. “Mirror.”