Page 93 of Wind and Water
Leave it to my mother to remind us that there’s still another one of us in the wind. I wonder where they are. “Considering how long ago the three of them left to find us, things are probably not going well. I wish we could help them the way Niamh helped Liam and me.”
“If I sense them, I’ll go to them, but so far, I only felt the portal at the one glen you came to.” She brushes her short hair behind her pointed ear.
I suppose I should be worrying about my own problems, but after the journey here, my heart goes out to any human beyond the safety of the city walls. However, the walls didn’t protect me last night. No, I did that myself.
The sun is high when Momma and I walk to the woods where the centaurs have made their encampment.
A company of dwarves came down from the mountains earlier, and we met a very interesting one named Fancor. Harper treated him like a favorite uncle. I liked him immediately.
“Momma, maybe the reason the elves needed us was to bring all the creatures of this world together.” The irony of that is not lost on me, considering that humans can’t find peace in our world, and it’s just us.
She wraps an arm around my waist. “It could be. Strange as that sounds. It seems that embracing a few humans has opened them up to the people right here in Domhan. Maybe it’s not the reason, but the nice side effect.”
“Maybe.” I step in front of her as we enter the wooded area. Before my second foot crunches the underbrush, a hand grabs my shoulder. Gasping, I turn to the left. “Jadar!”
He hugs me. “We heard you survived. Come. Corell and Farress will scold me if I don’t bring you to them immediately.”
The woods are not as dense as those in the south, nor are the trees as tall. This must be a younger forest. Still, the path is not an easy one to follow, and I’m glad to have a guide other than Momma. “It’s pretty here.”
“It will suffice for the time being. I hope one day we will return to the south, and pray that our true home will be rebuilt after the witch queen’s reign is over.” He huffs out a long sigh.
Patting his back, I say, “I will keep your hopes in my prayers, my friend.”
A wide grin washes away all worry. “If you pray for it, I know it will come to pass.”
It takes all my restraint not to tell him that I don’t have that kind of power. Why dash his hopes? They are just as valid as my prayers.
We break through the shadows of the trees into a wide-open space with a small creek running through. Centaur homes have been built to shelter them, and a large cook fire smolders at the center of the camp.
Corell gallops over. “Wren.” He lifts me in a hug. “We were very worried.”
Through my squashed lungs, I manage, “It’s good to see you. Thank you for getting my mother here safely.”
“Put her down before you harm her,” Farress scolds but chuckles at the same time.
I pat Corell’s back as he puts me on the ground and greets my mother in a similar manner. “Come. Sit. We heard you had come, but the celebration to dedicate our temporary home was already underway. We planned to join you in the city this evening. The Riordan invited us to dine.”
I sit on a stump arranged near the fire. It’s a good sign that the centaurs have added seating for species with two legs as well as four. “I hope you’ll still come. I wanted to see everyone and assumed the entire village wouldn’t be invited to dinner in the castle.”
“Wouldn’t that be a sight?” Farress simmers a pot in the still-smoldering coals of an earlier fire.
Corell and Jadar tell us about the rest of the journey to Tús Nua as well as the unexpectedly warm welcome they received. “Elspeth offered to build us homes, but the elven homes would not suit centaurs. Then she said we could look around the land in the area and perhaps find someplace that would work until we’re able to return to our home, if that’s our intention.”
“That was kind of her.” I’m not surprised. Liam’s mother is a wise woman. She’ll need these centaurs before this war is over. “I’m glad you’ve had a good experience with the elves.”
“Not all.” Jadar’s voice is grave.
We’re interrupted by Wellon and Pallon joining the circle.
I’m happy to see them all looking well and happy despite their losses.
Once everyone is settled, Farress hands me a cup of tea. “We don’t have our leaves from home, but this is a nice substitute.”
It’s good tea and I thank her. “What did you mean, Jadar? Was there trouble?”
Corell gives Jadar a hard look. “It was nothing. A small group of elves protested our coming, but once Elspeth made a public announcement that she was happy to have us here and thanked us for joining the fight against the witch queen, we’ve had no problems.”
“Was anyone harmed?” I don’t like this one bit.
