Charter relaxed once the crew went back to their duties. He had feared a mutiny was on hoof, and unsure what would happen. If the crew turned, the Scholar was going have to fight back to defend Grimwing. There a myriad of thoughts going through his mind - his duty to Sweeper, his desire to talk his Crashing, and his the heat of his boiling blood. His mother's side began to scream, for Mutiny was one of the unspeakable and heinous crimes a crew could commit. Anger that the crew would think that filled the unicorn's heart.
Wanting to kill again, don't cha?
Thankfully this did not happen, and the crew went back to their duties. Charter shook his head to clear his thoughts. He rushed back to help with the sails, stumbling a bit as he still wasn't used to the sea. The ship was going into the fog, and closer to destiny.
Lens noted the entry of the bat pony at the local inn. It was an unusual to see one since they migrated back north. Pathfinder seemed annoyed, trying to avert his eyes from Nocturne, and frowning while eating his oatmeal. But otherwise, nothing seemed odd - Lens did not know who Nocturne was or who she worked for.
The Scholar returned her attention to Lilly, who after two drinks looked pretty relaxed. She didn't look tipsy, but the fear and stress of the last night was gone. Lens smiled at the success. Warm milk probably would have the same effect, but liqueur is quicker , she thought. Besides, I could use a drink. Come on Lightwing, don't foul this up.
"So have you meet the Lady?", asked Lilly. While the voice was a bit nervous, the missionary was now talking.
"Alas, I have not seen been in her presence," said Lens. "My grandfather has meet with her and taken an oath." Lens did not mention that the Director Prancer did not take the full oath. He was willing to serve Sweeper for her help in the Project, but did not swear to protect her siblings. Sweeper didn't force the issue for some reason.
Chances are, it was because she wanted to get something to eat.
"So did you meet the Lady?", asked Lens.
Lilly nodded. "Yes… two months ago. Before that, I was a wreck. Living in the streets or the mud soaked streets of The Fork. I lost everything after the Battle of Sunny Hills, and was sick, dirty, infested, and alone. No one would hire me even to fix a toilet or a sewer.
"It was raining that day, and I was weeping on the street. Everything seemed hopeless. But in the puddle I was in, I saw a reflection of the most beautiful pony I have ever seen. Her coat was sliver and her eyes bright. I looked up, and saw Sliver Sweeper and the High Priest on her back." Lilly chuckled. "Looking back, it was a pretty funny sight. Imagine a beautiful alicorn, wearing a poncho and a soaked pony riding her. But even then, she was so pretty. Sweeper looked at me, her horn glowed. Soon the mud fell off my coat, the pests in my hair died, I was clean! The High Priest came down and gave me some cake he was carrying."
"So what happened next?"
"Well, she continued on her way and I followed. I saw many marvelous things - repairing the ruined statues of the town, helping restore the local waterworks, cleaning the dirty and sick… the Lady was wonderful. Several other ponies had began to follow her, and asked for her advice. Sweeper spoke into the night and the morning, telling us of her quest and hopes."
Sounds about right. Scroll and the Director have told me of Sweeper's long ramblings thought Lens.
Lilly continued. "We asked if we could serve the Lady, help her in her mission. After we took the Oath, Sweeper smiled, gave us a hug, and said 'There you go!'. She then patted my mane."
Sounds far different than how she selected the Scholars Lens smiled, seeing how Lilly's eyes glowed. Her renewed enthusiasm was just infectious. "And you've been on the road, cleaning Equestria?"
"Yeah, and we managed to get more followers. Alas, we're not quite welcome everywhere. We were chased out of the last town. Would have went back, but the High priest said not to risk ourselves. 'If you are in danger, leave. The Lady wishes you to be safe,' he wrote. Now that I think about it, what do you do to help the Lady?"
Lens set her mug down. "My order helps in many ways - her messengers, her scribes, helping whatever she wishes. We existed before to help preserve knowledge. Sweeper likes that, so we continue our mission for the most part."
"So what did the one unicorn have to do with the Lady, the one that lives in the mansion?"
Lens had anticipated such a question. "Like many of our order, the pony we seek is quite intelligent. We needed his help in developing spells to help in the mission of restoration. Something of a hermit, he doesn't like company." Lilly nodded and seemed to accept the answer. Lens changed the conversation. Both were unaware of any nearby listeners.
Meanwhile, Lightwing and his entourage trotted the road to Woodwatch. More travelers were on the road, but they still kept their guard. It was approaching noon.