Page 28 of Wind and Water
Keeping my body between them and Wren, it takes an act of pure will not to draw my sword. Being outnumbered means diplomacy is in order. In a fight, I can’t beat five beasts who are built to trample and are three times my weight. “We were just coming to find you in the forest.”
The one in the center has wavy black hair and dark skin from the waist up. The rest of him is a pitch-black horse. His back is as tall as I am, with the man half of him towering over me. He cocks his head. “Were you, elf? It is never wise for elves to invade the centaurs’ home.” Even with the obvious warning and harsh tone, he’s more cordial than I would have expected.
Having never seen a centaur in person before, I’m awed by their magnificence. “I agree, but our needs are so great, it was the only choice.”
Wren steps beside me. “It would not have been an invasion. We’re searching for someone. I am Wren Martin. My mother, Birdie, is lost.”
The five centaurs speak together in muffled tones, and the bits I can hear are in their own language and foreign to me.
Reaching out, I take her wrist and pull her close. “You shouldn’t talk to them. We don’t even know whose side they’re on.”
She shrugs.
The beasts are magnificent. I couldn’t have imagined the majesty of these creatures. Two of the centaurs are similar in looks, with blond hair and pale-cream hair on the horse. Theymust be brothers as their facial features are so similar. The final two are equally fierce looking with scowling faces, but stand perfectly still. They may be half horse, but they share none of the skittishness of their animal cousins.
The central one steps toward us. “I am Corell of the Western Centaurs.” He bows. Pointing to the two centaurs to his left, he says, “This is Jadar and Belloc.” He gestures to his right. “These young ones are Wellon and Pallon.”
The other four bow as well. Their eyes are red but not glowing as the fables say. I nod my head slowly but without taking my gaze from them. “I am Liam Riordan, second son of the Riordan.”
Corell stares at me for a long moment before shifting his attention fully to Wren. “We have searched daily for you, daughter of Birdie Martin.”
Fearless, Wren rushes forward, stopped only by my hand on her upper arm. “You’ve seen my mother? Where is she?” There’s joy again in her voice.
I’ve missed that tone in the last few hours. Still, something doesn’t feel right. “Is Birdie in the forest?” I point toward the west.
Sorrow fills Corell’s eyes. “No. I wish my news were better, Wren. I will tell you how we came to know Birdie and how we lost her.”
“Oh my god. Is she dead?” Gripping her chest, she crumples. “I thought I’d feel it if she were dead.” She shakes her head, and tears run down her cheeks. She pounds her chest. “Nothing. There’s nothing. I still feel her here.”
I kneel and wrap my arms around her. My heart is near to ripping in two. I’ve failed in my duty, and I’ve lost a friend. Holding that aside, I comfort Wren.
Corell huffs a horsey sound, moves closer, and lowers his front legs. “Forgive me. I misspoke. The common language israrely used among us. By lost, I meant, she is not with the centaurs any longer. I too feel she lives still.” He presses his palm to the center of his chest.
Lifting her face, Wren hiccups. “Not dead?”
He shakes his head.
It’s obvious that these creatures care about Birdie, and they’ve been searching for Wren. That’s hardly vicious or warmongering in the way the old stories describe their character. “Can you tell us what happened?”
Corell backs up a few paces, and all five sit back on their haunches. With a heavy, trilling sigh, he begins. “When the dragon, Trocar, came, we defended our forest. The portal opened, and a human woman came through. Her arrival distracted the dragon. He breathed his magic, but she escaped the push and pull of time.
“There was a battle, and finally, injured, Trocar flew away.
“Birdie thanked us for helping her. She told us of coming through with two others and that one was her daughter. She wanted to know if we’d seen you. It was obvious to us that the magic had pushed you through time. If you’d been sent back, we’d know of it, but if you were pushed forward, then your time here had not yet happened.”
Gathering herself, Wren sits up straight. “Did my mother go into your forest or did she take another path?”
Lowering his head, Corell says, “I almost wish she had gone her own way.” He lets out a long breath. “We knew the elves here had moved on. We hoped you would come through and be reunited. She came with us into our trees and was our guest for more than half a moon.”
“What happened?” I have a tightness in my belly that usually warns of battle or bad news.
“Five days ago, some of our young were playing at the far side of the forest. There is a beach there where they can run and play.It used to be a safe place, but the witch queen built her tower on the bodies of the long dead. She draws power from that cursed place. All the young had been warned to stay off the beaches.”
Wren covers her mouth. “What happened?”
After a long silence, Wellon says, “Six foals were taken by the shadow demons. Our kind can’t be turned, but they can be enslaved. They can be tortured.”
“I’m very sorry.” She brushes her tears away.
