"No." Theá shook her head, glancing over the map briefly. "While ridding the world of somepony who would so brazenly defy the very laws that define our universe would be satisfying indeed, I do not yet know if he truly does seek to attain godhood through such foul means." She stood up, briefly returning the nuzzle he had given her a few moments earlier. "I am thankful for your offer of help, brother, but I feel that this is something I must do on my own. For when it comes to tracking, be they friend or foe, the Hunter is the expert." She offered him a small, apologetic smile. "That is not to say that you are powerless nor insignificant, as you are very much the opposite. It's just-" She sighed, looking off through the trees. "This is one task I want to accomplish by myself, even if I do intend to call upon the rest of you should I need it." ------ It was about four days later when Amaretto reached the town of Northgate. He'd spent mos of his time off-road, doing his best to avoid being sighted by any of the cult or Everfree tribes. Even with his Blessing it was difficult to get out through the forest. Especially when one had to pass between two Everfree camps, one of which were also inhabited, or rather, infiltrated, by the Cult. Northgate was a pretty little town, cozy and pleasant if one ignored the occasional guards posted here and there. It seemed almost untouched by the war; living the life of the old days... almost. From time to time he saw a dagger hidden behind a cloak, a pair of horseshoes with small pikes under them definitely not made for trekking across ice. He couldn't blame them, though, as he had his own sword--or what was left of it--with him, as well as his armour. It wasn't anything impressive, nor did it speak of any allegiance of affiliation to any of the factions. In fact, he looked more like the mercenaries so commonly seen these days. It was in the late parts of the afternoon that Amaretto got his first close look at the gates of this small town, as well as the two guards stationed on either side of it. Without fear, and hardly a care in the world in regards to the guards, he made his way towards the inner part of the town, only for a pair of spears to stop him in his tracks. "Haven't seen you around before" One of the guards asked in a no-nonsense tone. "Who are you, and what're you doing here?" He gave his armour a once-over. "And why the armour? This town is no place for mercenaries." Amaretto, being significantly happier since he got his daughter back from Whitegold, took a step back and replied in an even and polite tone. "Just passing through, sir. I'm in need of a bed for the night, as well as a refill." He lifted his hip-flask meaningfully. [i]A convenient excuse[/i] "Went dry yesterday, and not a town in sight. As for who I am... it's not really important. I'm a stallion passing through the town to get somewhere else. Is that too much to ask?" The two guards would have none of it. "Name?" Sighing, Amaretto gave up. "Amaretto Jamison is my own. Happy?" "Jamison? The Brewmaster family?" The stallion in question nodded. "Yes, that's me. Though there's not much left after the Whitegold raided our mansion and production machinery." One of the two guards, the one who had asked his name, stood with his lower jaw hanging. "Really? That... sucks. Certainly explains why your stuff is so rare. You still do have the recipe for when this war is over, right?" Rather than answer verbally, he pointed at his forehead. "In here, where no one can steal it... Now, can you show me where the inn is, or not?" The other guard, the one who had been silent the entire time, nodded and pointed down the main road from the gates. "Go down there, take the fourth turn to the right, and the second to the left. You'll find the Rainbow Bridge, as it's called. Silly name, really. Ask for Bifrost, the owner. He'll see to it that you get a room." Amaretto nodded, a tiny smile on his lips. "Thank you," he said, making his way between them as they removed their spears. ------- He found the inn about half an hour later, having had to ask for directions twice thanks to some roads being blocked off for some reason. Judging by the stench he assumed that it was either a hole into the sewer, or someone had... "cleaned up," so to speak. Pushing open the door with a small pulse of telekinesis, he stepped inside and immediately located the bar, making a bee-line for it while ignoring the numerous stares he garnered from the other patrons in the bar. "How can I help you?" The mare behind the counter asked, walking over to him from where she had been sorting bottles before. "I was told to ask for Bifrost. The guards said he could help me getting a room for the night." The barmare nodded. "I'll go get him. Wait here." Amaretto waited for a few minutes while the barmare was out back fetching this Bifrost. She soon returned with a nondescript brown-on-brown earth pony stallion in tow. Well, except for his cutie mark; a glass filled with a liquid made up of least seven different colours. [i]Must be something about mixing drinks. Wasted talent, I say.[/i] "You're here for a room, correct?" Bifrost asked. Amaretto nodded. "Yes. I can pay for it as well." He pulled out a few bits from his saddlebags, placing them on the counter in a neat stack. “I certainly expected you to be able to,” Bifrost quipped, though his face didn’t reveal any humour at the statement. “Follow me.” He turned around and walked up the stairs, Amaretto in tow. They reached a hallway with doors on either side, around fifteen in total and each with a number engraved in the wood. Bifrost stopped in front of the door with the number “7” on it. He pushed it open with a hoof and dipped his head, sweeping the same hoof in an arc to indicate the entire room. “This will be it. There’s a bed, a desk, and a small bathroom through that door.” He pointed to fairly old door in the far right side of the room. “Anything else I can assist with?” Amaretto shrugged, then shook his head. “No thank you. I got it from here. Will there be dinner served down in the bar?” “Five bits and I can have it delivered to your room. Ten bits, and I can arrange for the House’s Special Dessert as well.” [i]One of those guys, eh? Won’t give up until I relent, I bet. Might as well.[/i] His horn flared to life, picking up another ten bits from his saddlebags and handing them to Bifrost. “Here you go. Can I have the food delivered within half an hour?” At the sight of the extra bits, the earth pony stallion’s eyes widened, and the first hint of a smile so far bloomed on his lips. “Thank you, Sir,” he said, taking the coins and putting them into a small bag of his own. “I’ll have the food delivered as quickly as possible.” He gave another small bow and left, leaving Amaretto to his own devices for the time being. ------ Amaretto had lost track of time as he just stared out the window of the room, watching the sun slowly dip towards the horizon. [i]I hope Theá is right. Faust knows I’d want the Sisters back to end this damned war. Even if things won’t go back to the way they were before, it would still be peaceful enough for me to live without fear for my family… I hope.[/i] A knock on the door. He turned around and opened it with a flick of his horn, seeing Bifrost standing there with a tray of stew on his back. “Thank you,” he said, lifting the tray off of the other stallions back. Bifrost smiled and exited the room, closing the door after him. The stew was quite good, Amaretto had to admit, though he was adamant that his wife’s cooking was better. What husband wouldn’t be? He finished the stew in another few minutes, lamenting the lack of vegetables in it. [i]Then again, can’t expect to find as many here as in a twice damned forest. Especially not in these times.[/i] Just as he was about to return down with the empty plate and cutlery, he heard yet another knock on the door. A young pegasus mare with an amber coat and a knee-long, opal blue mane walked in before he had the time to open the door himself, smiling sweetly at him, her golden eyes twinkling. “Hello. I hear you ordered our… dessert?” [i]Of course… I ended up in a place with whores as well as food.[/i] He said nothing, just watched has as she slowly stalked closer, shutting the door with a hindleg. “Isn’t it hot beneath that heavy armour? I’m sure it’s tough wearing it all day… Why don’t I help you take it off.” She was close enough now that he had no trouble seeing every detail in her face. When she leaned forward to grasp the strap of his pauldrons with her teeth, he raised a hoof, blocking her before gently placing it on her shoulder and pushing her back. “No,” was all he said. “This isn’t what I paid for.” The mare blinked, sitting down on her haunches with a perplexed expression on her face. “But you paid for The Dessert?” “Thinking it was a piece of pie, or cake, or something like that. I didn’t expect a… a whore.” That, apparently, did nothing to deter her. “But surprises comes in all shapes and sizes, do they not?” That sweet, seductive smile spread across her lips again. “I’m sure a big stallion like you would need someone a bit more… experienced? To take care of your needs.” She stood up again and slowly made her way around him, sizing him up with hungry eyes. “I can’t imagine a lot of mares able to take you on, so… What do you say, Handsome?” She stood in front of him again, dangerously close with eyes half-lidded and glossed lips puckered ever so slightly. “No.” He lifted a hoof again, pushing her back by the shoulder. “You’re a pretty mare, beautiful even, but I have a wife and a daughter, and there’s no way in Tartarus that I would be unfaithful to her.” He turned towards the window, lighting his horn and placing the empty place on the windowsill. “You’re welcome to stay the night and talk, but under no circumstances will I have you ‘take care of my needs’.” He turned to face her again, silver eyes hard as steel. “Okay?” “...Okay. Guess it can’t hurt.” The mare shrugged, sitting down on her haunches again with an audible thud. “Not a lot of stallions willing to just chat, most often I can barely walk the next day.” She let out a bell-like chuckle. “Not that I mind all that much, but still… My name’s Amber, by the way, and yours?” He paused. [i]Should I? ...Nah, hell. No one knows of my allegiance to Theá.[/i] “Amaretto. Pleasure to meet you, Lass.”