LordOfTime

@ @@Dovashy The walk to the councilroom was a short one, yet made a little longer with both mares stopping for a quick 'breather' as they walked the crystal halls. Ah yes, the tail whip had not gone unnoticed, not at all. "I saw you a little more transparent than usual..." she said as the doors approached, guards either side of the heavy oak in an admittedly weak attempt at defence. Obsidian was confident a few hoof-picked Agonisers could do the job just as well. Still, disposability was good. "...you don't have anything to worry over, Hoof. We control the information highway, and I control the enforcers. Besides..." she stopped in her reassurances to tilt her head, appearing to the guards to whisper something, but the true purpose was to stroke her lover's ear with a muzzle "...if you get through this meeting without dying, I...may be inclined to do something special, just for you..." she leaned back out, shaking her mane to loosen her braids as they approached. "I heard the Empress was looking for her Hoof." she stated, less a question than ever "We were merely discussing the state of affairs concerning the newly-bred troops fresh from the barracks, and which would make good Hexecutors in their prime years." She looked the guards up and down, making sure to smile icily. Intimidation was key to the Hexecutors, without it they would merely be acrobats and alchemists whom purveyed a skilled, and often painful, death upon their foes. "Unless you fine stallions wish to testify against such a truth?" she looked between them, awaiting an answer.

High Hexecutioner Obsidian snorted as she read the letter, which instructed that whilst the meeting was of high importance, she was not needed to attend. She inwardly grimaced at that, no hoofsie under the table nor scaring the other generals. Especially the Minister of Magic, who should have been born yellow. "Don't bother to notify the first captain of the Hexecutors, I shall escort the Hoof to the meeting room myself." she said, casting a sideways sultry glance at her marefriend. Even if this messenger were to pick up on such a look, people knew better to keep their mouth shut around her. Reattaching her blades was no big deal, even with the razor thin edges that could play a pony alive. Heck, she even knew how to run and keep her body mostly free of scarring, though the feel of the cold blades against her back was exhilerating at times. "I am at your service, Hoof of the Princess." she announced, allowing a wry smirk "When you are ready, I shall escort you. Messenger, you are dismissed." @

The Hexecutioner, named Darkheart, saluted to Cadence's retreating carriage. No sooner was it out of sight was a messenger called... "Notify the Lord Hexecutor of these developments, sharp. Get your cohorts to do the same for the other ministers." he ordered, turning back the amassed force in order to dispence warnings to the junior hexecutors for daring to balk at the sight of a cheering crowd. "But what of the Princess' Hoof, Agoniser Darkheart?" The dark ruby stallion inclined his head in thought, then shook it down again... "Possibly 'consorting' with our Head Hexecutor, no doubt..." Obsidian was rarely a mare of simple pleasures, there was always something to be added to a moment to make it better. A burning heretic was often such a thing, but right now she could be forgiven if such a necessity be left...absent. Breaking the kiss with her marefriend, Obsidian used her darkened grey magic to push a lock of hair from the mare's face. "You smell nice today." she said lamely, inwardly beating herself for such an unimaginative icebreaker "Is it the one I got you?" Whack. Whack. Whack. Hardly the place for conversing via tongue, the rear of the barracks. Especially so when locals patrolled and the Master at Arms skulked about. She was on a whole different social ladder than him true, but that did not mean she was higher...

The Hexecutor raised a hoof, touching the Master of Hooves cheek in the gentlest manner as she smiled dreamily. Eyes skittering from her hoof to her eyes, throat muscles clenching as he swallows, facial muscles tightening, all clear signs of discomfort, but sadly not complete fear of her presence so close to him. She leaned in a little, her cheek barely passing the one that was currently occupied with her hoof as she breathed next to his ear as she opened her mouth. She closed it as she felt the knife against her chest, pulling back to see the Master of Hooves cold, strict eyes. Full of loyalty, unperturbed. She smiled, she knew the army was in good hooves, it always had been since the Hexecutors first began their rounds. It was simply that squads had a habit of breaking at the most inopportune moments, and they had to be taught a stricter lesson on why death is more preferable to dishonour. She cocked her head coyly as her hoof dropped from his face, pushing the blade down. as much as he would allow. "You are mistaken, Master of Hooves..." she whispered, her hoof lightly stroking down his cheek to under his chin "...I am merely doing my job of 'inspiring' our troops to greater efficiency. You need not take such a sharp tone with me, and in fact you should not ever again..." Distracted. An easy catch. She had him as her hoof shot down, knocking the blade from his hoof and stabbing upwards to clutch his windpipe, restricting air flow. She wondered what shade he would go if she held long enough. No, he is important. Issue warning, then release. "This will be the only warning I have given short of killing a pony, Winter Gust. You are important to the Queen, so I will let you live for as long as you remain useful to her. Cross me again, and I will let you hear the sound of your bones grinding to dust." She released him, a dark smile to her face as she turned away from him to pace in the direction of the Crystal Castle. "Run along, sweet Winter. Your soldiers need a leader to tell them to where they shall die..."

[Outside, in the royal barracks] A stallion hit the floor in agony, his teeth grit and eyes watering as a hoof was pressed against his neck, the spikes around the hoof digging into his skin. "You left yourself open for far too long on your right flank..." said a voice above him, indicating that this torture was still not finished "...such blind inconsideration for your own health is...welcome...in my circle of expertise." The pressure from the back of his neck was release, elicting a gasp from the stallion. Looking up, he saw his attacker walking away from him, a tall, dulled-black crystal mare with greyed red hair. Whether it was how she walked or just his mind trying to suck air back into its starved cells, but the entire gait seemed slightly seductive and confident. "The queen wishes you to throw everything you have at your enemies..." she said to his peers, who had crowded around the spectacle not minutes before. They all looked uneasy, but most stallions do when a mare has you begging for mercy after dodging the first swing of your weapon. "...and whilst you are all encouraged to have a shred of tactical brilliance about you, I must plead that you put aside all self preservation when attacking the enemy..." The stallion pushed off the ground, galloping towards her with vigor bred from outrage. He had not served in the army long, merely a month, but he would be damned if he let this mare mouth off their tactical prowess whilst she stood before him. He roared as he snatched up a short sword discarded in the fight. She sighed happily as she turned a grey eye towards his direction. The crowd winced at the crack as the stallion's body went limp, the mare's magical aura extinguishing as the crowd parted to let her pass. "After all, more bodies for me to spend my time with." she sang, the blades in her braids clicking as she walked towards a trembling messenger. She cupped his chin in a hoof, her smile seemed to be edged with razors "What news from my queen, messanger? Or perhaps you just want to spend time with Hexecutioner Obsidian herself, as all these brave..." the throng took several cautionary steps from the mare "...stallions do?"

Got some nice lighting in there.

Looooooking pretty good!

Oh hey now this looks great!

That is most certainly an awesome mane.

I would assume so, saying it is your post.