“Kessandra finished packing up remnants of her meal with the griffin prisoner in my Equestria dreamscape. For most of the meal it had been a quiet affair with the prisoner remaining silent except to say please or thank you. The female griffin finished closing the basket and was preparing to call the guard when the prisoner spoke again.
 
“Thank you once again for the meal. I wish I could repay you for it.”
 
Kessandra smiled at him. “No problem. I just wanted to lift your spirits. I’ll drop by tomorrow and we’ll do lunch again.”
 
The prisoner nodded his head. “Thank you.”
 
The female griffin started to raise her front paw to bang on the bars and get the guards attention when she stopped and looked back at the prisoner.
 
“Actually there is one thing you could do to repay me. Referring to you as just you all the time is kind of awkward. Could I at least know your name?”
 
For several seconds the prisoner said nothing. Part of him knew that Kessandra’s visit was nothing more than an attempt to wear down his defenses so he’d talk, but at the same time he was starting to believe that his employer had set him up for a fall anyways.
 
“Rakorno.” He said as he looked away from her. “My name is Rakorno.”
 
Kessandra back to him and smiled. “Well I am glad to have met you Rakorno. See you tomorrow.”
 
Then she turned and banged on the bars and waited for the guard to come and release her. Then she to went to Gleaming Shield office to report of her findings.
 
“Rakorno.” She said to him while sitting in his office. “If he didn’t just make that name up it would imply that he’s from the Red Talon Nation, and the coloration of his plumage would support that to. It’s not much, but it is a start. Now I need to speak with Celestia on this matter.”
 
“Yes of course.” Replied the Watch Officer. He rose and opened his office door and looked out at the guard room. Spotting Corporal Trotter he called the grey violet stallion over.
 
“Trotter! In my office!” He waited until the corporal had entered his office and saluted him then he closed the door. “Please escort of Professor Kessandra to Celestia’s office so she may meet with her Highness. Then return here when you are done.”
 
Trotter saluted the Watch Officer. “Yes sir!” The he turned to the griffin. “M’am may I carry your basket for you?”
 
The two slowly walked through the palace toward’s Celestia’s office. Once one was away from the main halls the palace was surprisingly quiet. The rubber soles of Trotter’s metal war boots thudded softly on the polished stone floor and were a counterpoint to the click of Kessandra’s talons. The griffin’s picnic basket floated lazily along behind as Trotter levitated it.
 
“So.” Said the corporal with a smile. “You’re a Professor? What and where do you teach?”
 
“Oh I teach griffin history and culture at Canterlot University!” Smiled griffin. “Celestia felt in the interest of better relations between ponies and griffins it might be advantageous to have a griffin to teach the class! So she offered me the post three years ago. Also it allows mean to act in an unofficial capacity as a mediator in matters related to ponies and griffins.”
 
“Like current resident in the palace cell?” Asked the corporal. “At the moment he’s an enigma.”
 
“Well not as much as he was this morning.” Said the professor. “We now have a name for him. Rakorno. It’s not much but the first step is getting them talking. Right now I am just trying to gain his trust.”
 
“Really, he’s starting to open up to you already?” Trotter had a quizzical look in his eyes.
 
“Oh, I’m certain that it will take a while to get him to really start talking to me, and undoubtedly he’ll give me some misinformation. But I have a knack at this kind of thing. Comes in very had when reviewing students papers, and this is not the first time I’ve assisted Princess Celestia in such matters of state.”
 
The corporal laughed. “You’re a griffin of many talents! By chance do you have a department card and do you allow visitors to sit in on your lectures at the University?”
 
Kessandra giggled. “Oh yes! So long as visitors are not disruptive I allow them to sit in on my lectures. Especially members of the military. I feel the more that ponies and griffins know of each other the less chance there is of conflict between us!”
 
The griffin paused and rummaged around in small satchel she had. After a couple of seconds she produced a card and presented to the corporal. “Here you are! Are you possibly interested in my classes?”
 
“Perhaps.” Said the corporal as he levitated the card into his satchel. “It will depend on whether I can get the time off to attend. Ah! And here we are!”
 
Stepping into an office with multiple secretaries working at desks the corporal stopped and turned to Kessandra. “Thank you for assistance in this matter m’am!” He pointed at mare sitting behind a large, wooden desk. “Talk to True Note over there, she’s in charge of the Princess’s schedule today. Oh! And here’s your basket!”
 
Setting the picnic basket down on the ground, Trotter turned and smiled at the griffin. “Thank you once again. Now I must return to my post. Good day!” Then he left.
 
A few minutes later Corporal Trotter walked down one of quiet, empty side corridors of the palace. Stopping he levitated Kessandra’s card out and stared intently at it for several seconds memorizing the information on it. Then his horn flared and the card burst into flames as he walked away.
 
“Fascinating.” He growled softly. With cold eyes he continued on his way. Behind him the last bits of the card turned to white, smoking ash on the floor.
 
To be continued.
 
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