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Description

Good Morning! I have finally completed my story for the Family of Faith Collaboration 2019!

I'd like to thank for his generosity for drawing a picture of my OC Ali for me!

The original Link is here www.deviantart.com/truth-lover…

I'd like to thank for his work putting this collab together!

Little bit of a backstory, Ali was found by Garmound and his tribe of centaurs in the forests around their fort of Ravenrest.
There's a bit of discussion in the settlement if the presence of this Pegasus means the Bestower may be preparing them for another journey.
Especially after the one their ancestors had many years ago...

That being said, enjoy the story!
PS: contains some violence
____________________________________________________________________________________________

“C’mon! Just around the next marker!”

Ali’s pounding hooves made up the sounds of the race as the young centaurs made their way around the next marker.

As part of the test for traders, the centaurs had to prove that they had the stamina and the ability to carry weight for the trade journey’s to cities in Patema in the desert.

Ali had two bags of rocks on her back and placed with her was heavy leather armour.

She could be able to carry weapons, but she could not use them.

This was compensated with thick iron hooves attached to her feet.

She pulled around and gave a grunt of desperation as she saw many young centaurs already drinking water from the barrels and splashing it onto their faces and sweaty clothes.

She let out a sigh as she crossed the line.

“The centaurs that will join the next caravan have been selected and will prepare for the departure for tomorrows trade caravan.”

A cheer came up from the victors.

“The rest of you will return and gain some rest. There are other chores in the village that will need to be maintained.”

Ali let out a sigh, then picked up a familiar scent as Garmound approached her.

“You are improving. I saw some of the best effort that came around today.”

“I still can’t get a handle on keeping my wings down! Whenever I turn they flex and then the wind catches them slowing me up!”

Garmound looked at her carefully. Then he spoke.

“Have you thought about trying again too...”

“No! I’m not ready for that yet!”

Garmound gave her a small frown.

“You’re wings are at their full length now. I think they do need to be exercised if they are to serve you in the future.”

He bent down to look at her face, her nostrils were still blowing from finishing the race.

“You need to think about how to use what you have in what...”

Ali huffed.

“I’m working on doing my part for Ravenrest! I don’t need to be put on a box and told that I’m exceptional because I fell out of the sky and I have some great destiny and I shouldn’t worry. Blah. Blah. Blah…”

Garmound nodded.

“I can see you carry baggage with you even when you’re not running this race.” He said calmly.

“Well, everyone here expects me to be some kind of hero!”

Ali huffed and looked at the wall.

“Don’t forget the Bestower knows what he’s doing.” She recited. “I know.”

Garmound smiled

“That’s right.” He said warmly. “I consider it a gift finding you.”

Ali shrugged

“How about a good mash tonight?” Garmound said “ There was a trader with some milk passing by, so we really should use it before it goes off.”

The two walked back to the hill fort.

The first point of call was the spring in the centre and they both cooled themselves with the water.

Ali felt good to get the mud and grime off her hooves.

They were a familiar sight in the town. There was no concern just the polite nod as they made their way to the well.

At the well, Garmound drew out some water into a jug and pulled out a towel out of the saddle bags.

He dipped it in the water and wrapped it around Ali’s neck.

She accepted the cool towel gratefully as they moved back to their hut on the far end.

Garmound slipped his jacket off his shoulders and placed the saddle bags and water down and pulled some milk out.

There was a large stash of books that Garmound had made with his writings.

Mostly to do with the Pegasus and his own experiences on raising a Pegasus.

They’d been working on gaining more connections with the surrounding settlements and had gone through the mountain ranges extensively.

There were one or two sighting of Griffins, but still no clue to where her kind were.

There was no denying it. Ali needed to learn how to fly very soon. It was for her emotional as well as her physical wellbeing.

The stables that the centaurs used are generally high with stools for bipedal visitors.

The only places where centaurs, and in Garmound’s case Pegasus, sit down is where they sleep as they are constantly moving.

This retreat to the mountain sides had forced them to adapt their ways.

Garmound sighed. Many remember stories of times when other creatures feared the thundering hooves and the sound of their armour clinking across the battlefield with the sound of a hundred arrows flying through the air.

Such things were far behind them.

Some of the youth still talk and play games of the times that they were led by powerful lords.

There were talk amongst the younger folk of heading off to the plains for adventure.

Or going to the great city of Endiona for work in crafting and metal working.

Garmound heard a flick in the grass and then he heard Ali stumble in from outside.

“There’s a spider out the back…” she gasped

“Well, better get the broom and chase it away.”

“Actually… It’s one of the big ones…”

Garmound sighed.

“Alright, I’ll get my spear…”

He would have a word with the sentries about the meaning of guard duty.

***************

Garmound unhinged the cart from his back and tipped the carcass into a nearby ditch.

One of the advantages of getting away from populated areas was that you could see a lot more wildlife. The best and the worst.

Two of the adolescent centaurs that volunteered to help him were quite chuffed they helped get rid of the arachnid.

Ali went off to fetch more water to clean the mess up behind the hut.

Garmound wondered just how easy it was if she could just take off from the ground and then pick up the water and then return.

Everyone seemed to understand that Ali was supposed to fly except Ali.

Garmound saw the water in the hut, but he didn't see Ali.

Garmound waited for around half an hour and then saw Ali come back. It looked like she had been running.

Garmound’s heart fell when he saw the ropes around Ali’s stomach. She didn’t share that emotion and she looked rather pleased with herself.

“I timed myself on the course again. I will be passing every single centaur next time we run!”

“Indeed.” Garmound wasn’t going to bring up the topic of her wings again because he knew he would just get the same response.

Those ropes wound tightly around her wings like a spiders thread.

“Let’s get some fresh water to drink.” He continued. “Then we can eat!”

Ali needed no second prompting.

***********

Ali dutifully picked up the bowls with her mouth and put them in the tub to be washed.

Garmound talked with her about the changing seasons and the harvest of fish that were being dried in the town square, but his mind was focused on some way to think of Ali to use her wings.

She was happy, but unfulfilled.

He had the thought of the Bestower in his head.

Help me find an opening. Open some door to let me in…

Ali put the bowls down and frowned.

“You know a lot of centaurs talk about the “Old days” when they ran over fields in armour and fought goblins and trolls.”

“Yes?”

“How did centaurs end up in Ravenrest?”

“Well, that’s actually quite an interesting story…”

“There was a Centaur called Gorach, he woke up one day…”

*************

Gorach sat up. He felt it from his chest down to his legs.

Despair, anger, fear, but an agonising helplessness in his heart.

Kenocha rose and saw the serious expression on her husbands face.

He turned and looked at his wife.

“We need to go.” Gorach said.

“Where?”

“Towards the mountains, there’s an army coming.”

“What?! When? Why?”

Gorach looked down and placed his hand on his foreleg.

“I don’t know.”

Kenocha looked at her husband. The pain he felt came out through his words. Gorach had always had an air of friendliness that he could strike up a conversation even the quietest of the centaurs.

This seriousness was unlike him. It unnerved Kenocha.

“Very well. How about I fix us a stout tea and then we can talk about this.”

Gorach nodded. “I’ll bake a few of the bread rolls and we’ve got a bit of the dried meat and cheese.”

*******************

Asephes the chief stroked his chin. He turned to other members of the council.

“I will send out the delegations to the surrounding tribes and townships. If we are to be attacked with…” he spoke

“The tribe is numerous, and we have weapons. We will be prepared for it…” another argued

“No… It’s not like a storm when we can take cover and let it pass us by, it will be a storm that will take all of us with it!”

Gorach’s statement caused the other members of the council to stop.

“We will ensure that more of the stores are stocked in case we need to make flight, ensure that each of our people are carrying a weapon to be able to fight if the need arises.”

Gorach nodded Thank you.

*****************

Gorach looked at the maps. He had acquired many different items through bartering and requesting these things from other members in the camp.

They were all still wary of the Gorach that spoke of only good times to speak of such foreboding predictions.

Gorach was fixing a bow and his wife approached him with several arrow shafts.

He was dressed in a leather torso jacket with a woollen shirt underneath. His hindquarters had a similar protection. His wife was just the same with several knives attached to her belt.

Several weeks had passed and many centaurs had began putting together wagons and bags to carry supplies away when the time came to leave.

Kenocha had never seen her husband be more serious about something in her life. He was grim and determined.

“There have been words from our emissaries to the Lycrans and the Goblins in the east. There are no reports of any military build up or any indication that our relations may break down.”

“Hmmm… Okay. I’ve plotted a route that will take us to the northern mountains and I think that there will be people skilled in the bow hold off any attackers if they get close.”

Gorach had been talking with the drillmaster of the warriors of the camp and had talked about a technique in which a centaur in flight would turn his torso and then fire arrows at pursuers if the need arose.

There were further patrols around the camp and many of the large tents had been disassembled.

“Was there any indication on when the army would arrive?” Kenocha asked.

“Only that it would be swift and dangerous and we will need to leave before they arrive.”

Kenocha nodded. It was the only thing that she could get out of Gorach these days.

Gorach slept that night and he saw valleys and forested mountains. Peaks that were capped with snow and clouds that stretched across the sky.

Turned behind him and saw the flames coming from a wide stretch of flames.

Why? Why must it be me to do this?

Then his dream changed. He saw his wife. Centaurs that he had laughed and talked with. Old friends that have moved on. New friends and their children.

*********************

“Come forward and remember to shift your weight to your hindquarters.”

The wall of spears came forward and the centaurs clad in their breastplates and iron padding come forward and came forward planted the spears into the ground within five seconds bracing for a charge.

Gorach beamed then he heard a “clink” and one of the spears hit the ground. The young centaur moved hastily to pick it up.

“Cleaver!” Gorach shouted

“Sorry!” came the rely.

“Raise the spears!”

One thing that Garmound had noticed with the drill sergeant was that the archers would be honing their skills with hunting, but it was only once a week that the centaurs would get together for working with spears.

Gorach saw a female centaur approaching in padded armour. He smiled and realised that it was Tillick. He smiled as he saw his old friend approach.

“Good Morning Gorach. I’ve been watching you practice. I’m keen to get involved!”

Gorach frowned. “Why? Doesn’t your caravan leave in a few days?”

“The fact is I felt this need that you needed someone with a bit more experience with weapons.” She said.

“I guess we will need weapons if we are going to stake it out on our own in the wilderness.”

The following day Gorach rose and a delegation arrived saying that there was an interest in the council chambers about the preparations.

Gorach came and the chief looked at him with relief.

“We have heard that the tribe of centaurs to the east were coming towards our lands, but given our scouts word and the actions of our Lycroian allies of the Takal have agreed to met them and they caught them trying to enter their land.” The chief smiled.

“They could not risk a war with us and the centaurs, it seems that the threat you spoke of was real, but it has been averted!”

Gorach shook his head. “No… The threat cannot be stopped by anyone. We need to move! We can’t stay and be able to fight them off!”

“I’m telling you there is no change in our relations! The situation has been as they always have!”

“I telling you danger is coming. It will be a danger that we will never be prepared for!”

The chief looked at him.

“We have food and we have weapons, we will be able to flee if the need arises.”

Gorach sighed. It seemed fair enough. What he felt and what he saw were still too real for his liking.

He had never felt so committed about something his whole life.

They won’t listen, they think they are so powerful and flushed with good fortune

One thing that he began to see was the attitude of the warriors within the camp.

There were warriors, but they were select bands that would train as a group and not as a unit.

They were in polished steel armour and carried iron swords and weapons, but they were few and would not stand up against an army.

Centaur warriors were feared and respected, wherever their pay would take them.

But that was only by how much wealth they had.

****************

Gorach returned to the training grounds and looked on with Tillick.

The spears came up in unison and each centaur held them with their left hand close to their waist and pole and their right hand.

The simple spear could be fashioned and put to use with practice and the hunting bow could be trained to fight with deadly precision.

He looked behind him and heard other youths racing past bales of hay and planting arrows in their targets.

Gorach was drilling and maintaining the archers. Gorach was approached by Tillik and asked about the work they were doing.

Another caravan approached guarded by centaur warriors.

Gorach felt a prompting about the need to be in a position. He never wanted to be a warrior, but it appeared that it was becoming increasingly necessary.

Gorach had maintained a collection of brass pots and vases that had been passed down through the generations.

The selves where empty and he waited for a shipment from the caravans.

He and his wife pulled down the crates and on opening revealed a cache of crude iron tipped spears, hunting bows and arrows.

As he went about his daily life he and his wife both heard the discussions about him:

“He does care a lot about the camp.”

“I know many of my children join him on his sessions.”

“He may be seeing things or believing the crazy dreams he had, but he still does a lot for this camp.”

“It’s got me thinking about the stories of the Bestower, I think that he might speak his word.”

Out in the fields away from the oilskin tents and fires, he had set up his field and his volunteers to practise their drilling.

Several of the centaur warriors gave up their own time to work on supplying battered armour for his “militia”.

As well as giving him advice on weapon management and use.

It was something that they had not seen, a kind of selfless exercise for the good of the camp.

Not all the members agreed with this and felt fearful about his intentions.

The council called in another session and the members spoke of his “band” of loyal followers.

Kenocha heard whispers of the meeting from her friends and some spoke of the corruption of the mercenaries within the camp that only fought for pay.

When she approached the council chambers, she saw many groups of these centaur mercinaries surrounding the large yurt.

Finally a delegation approached the training camp at dawn on the next day.

Gorach and his student were once again preparing for a practise session.

Asephes approached flanked by two centaurs in plate armour

“We will not be intimidated by you! You and your followers will leave!”

Gorach and his militia in their faded leather armour and battered steel helmets.

Gorach looked forlornly on the youths and the camp in the distance and the delegation.

“Very well. I will speak the last time.”

He called the swift young centaurs and told them to circulate the message.

“All those who are ready must come to the centre of the camp in preparation for departure.”

He put his equipment into the saddle bags and put of the flame that was burning in the early morning for the training session.

The youth placed their weapons on the wooden logs as usual and returned to the camp.

He returned to his tent and saw Kenocha with her fire out and with her saddlebags ready.

Gorach saw as the square began to fill.

They walked through the tents and many youth began to follow, with the mothers, sisters and family of the people that worked to train with him.

“Centaurs. The time has come, make your choice.” Garmound bellowed. “Come and live, or stay and be destroyed.”

He looked at the centaurs that had began to follow.

Many had only what they could carry on their backs and saddlebags.

Others looked on then saw another caravan approach the camp.

Asephes saw the number of centaurs leaving.

“Come, join in the riches that our traders have bought. Out there you will be exiles and tramps!”

Some hesitated and returned.

Some continued to move.

The traders began to move to inspect their wares.

Gorach turned with his entourage following.

Suddenly the barrels burst open several figures within the packs burst open with daggers and claws and covered in steel.

Their escorts reared up and tried to slash at the attackers, but the Goblins slashed at the Centaurs stomaches with spears and blood ran from the warriors.

More Goblins burst from the wagons and there were piercing cries as griffins emerged under the tarps.

Gorach and many looked behind them with concerned faces as smoke rose from the camp.

“No!” cried one of the youths.

Gorach felt his heart race.

No! I’ve failed! We should have gone! Now we will…

Then he saw several of his students pull their spears and began to form a line.

Just has he had trained them.

They pulled their wooden shield from their packs and held them against their chest.

He saw the mercenaries and their escorts fighting. As much as they tried the goblins would surround them and stab them in the legs, in the stomach, until they fell and were torn to pieces.

Gorach saw it.

“To the square! TO THE SQUARE!”

“Positions! Form a line protecting the square!”

His warriors held up their spears and the archers strung up their bows and laid arrows in them.

The children and the elderly centaurs remained in the centre of the warriors as they formed a tightly packed formation around them.

Tents were beginning to be set alight.

He heard centaurs wailing and children crying.

“Don’t move!” Tillick cried “We can only win if we remain together!”

The goblins had finished with work with the mercenaries and were catching those that didn’t go to the square.

Many began to move to the centaur phalanx and were met by a wall of spears.

Any that managed to avoid the spears were shot with arrows or small daggers that the archers carried.

Then they saw dark shapes coming towards them in the sky with wings extended.

Griffins.

“Archers!” Gorach cried. “Prepare a barrage!”

Each of them nooked an arrow and raised their eye’s to the sky with their bows pulled.

“Fire!”

The arrows flew and the dark shapes screeched and fell.

The flames were still fanning throughout the camp.

There were cries as several of the centaurs fell distracted by the flames as the goblins stabbed at their chests and legs.

The centaurs behind them pick up their spears and thrusted them at the goblins.

Many began to rush the break in formation, Gorach, Kochema and Tillick moved and stabbed with their swords and spears.

Like clockwork the militia stood together thrusting, firing and stabbing.

It became a steady rhythm of defense.

Then Gorach realised that he was thrusting his sword at empty space.

The fire had consumed the camp.

Over the pile of dead goblins and griffins he could see the bodies of centaurs and the smoking remains of the carts and tents.

Everyone held their silence.

Then there was a clutter as a young centaur dropped his spear.

“Cleaver?” Gorach said

Cleaver feel to his knees and covered his face.

Many others did the same.

There was grief, but there was also relief.

They could have been taken by the Goblins if they didn’t come together.

They stood shoulder to shoulder.

Bestower. Thankyou.

Gorach knew then how it had played out.

There was no real reason he could think of he had been interested in tactics and drilling, but it was worked to ensure the Bestowers plan. He looked up and saw Kenocha looking on with a bow in her hand.

The message that they will need to leave… The images of all those faces he had known.

He was going to take his tribe to a new place to live, but he wasn’t going to do it alone.

Gorach, his wife and the remainder of the tribe solemnly walked through the remains of the camp.

Some were weeping, some were quietly praying, others held on to their weapons.

They travelled for days through the mountains. Barely stopping for rest before reaching a valley.

They hunted and put up shelters and raised a wall. That settlement became Ravenrest.

*********************

“After that” Garmound finished. “There was a respect for the Bestower. The centaurs became a wiser people.”

Ali looked down and paused for thought.

“So…” She answered. “We don’t know why the Bestower talked to Garoch, but it seems he knew he was the one to do it.”
“That’s the way the Bestower works. He takes the humble and gives them strength, Garoch could have used his warriors to overthrow the council with his band, but he gave them a choice.”

He turned to the fire and saw it dying away.

“It’s high time we rest for tomorrow, I’ll bolt that door and I’ve made certain that the guards are awake tonight.”

******************

The next day, Ali woke early, she had the thoughts of the Bestower on her mind as she slept.

I’ve never been alone, you’ve been with me. All these centaurs you’ve put me with, they’ve always accepted me.

Somewhere inside her Ali felt like a solid stone inside her was melting away like ice and replaced with a warmth.

She flexed her wings and the knot began to loosen again. Instead of turning her head and grasping at the string with her teeth to tighten it again, she pushed even harder. The knot came undone, the coils began to fall and her chest expanded again as she brought new air into her lungs.

She shook her back and extended her wings again. She felt the lengths drop and fall.

Her wings came to full extension and the ropes fell to the ground and she felt the sun warm her back.

In her shadow she saw the two great wings on her back. She brought them up and down again and felt the wind move over her flanks.

It felt like a whirlwind was coming from her heart and onto her wings and it was enough to lift her off her feet then.

Thankyou Bestower. Thank you for making me who I am.

She trotted and then broke into a canter. She felt the rush of wind flying over her and under her wings she brought them up and brought them down again.

She let out a gasp as it took her ten feet off the ground. She flapped again.

She fell several feet and came down two feet.

She ran, and the wind caught under her wings and saw the ground rise and she could see above the canopy of the forest.

She felt her wings straining and her heart pumping. Her shoulders ached, but she was grinning from ear to ear.

Description

Good Morning! I have finally completed my story for the Family of Faith Collaboration 2019!

I'd like to thank for his generosity for drawing a picture of my OC Ali for me!

The original Link is here www.deviantart.com/truth-lover…

I'd like to thank for his work putting this collab together!

Little bit of a backstory, Ali was found by Garmound and his tribe of centaurs in the forests around their fort of Ravenrest.
There's a bit of discussion in the settlement if the presence of this Pegasus means the Bestower may be preparing them for another journey.
Especially after the one their ancestors had many years ago...

That being said, enjoy the story!
PS: contains some violence
____________________________________________________________________________________________

“C’mon! Just around the next marker!”

Ali’s pounding hooves made up the sounds of the race as the young centaurs made their way around the next marker.

As part of the test for traders, the centaurs had to prove that they had the stamina and the ability to carry weight for the trade journey’s to cities in Patema in the desert.

Ali had two bags of rocks on her back and placed with her was heavy leather armour.

She could be able to carry weapons, but she could not use them.

This was compensated with thick iron hooves attached to her feet.

She pulled around and gave a grunt of desperation as she saw many young centaurs already drinking water from the barrels and splashing it onto their faces and sweaty clothes.

She let out a sigh as she crossed the line.

“The centaurs that will join the next caravan have been selected and will prepare for the departure for tomorrows trade caravan.”

A cheer came up from the victors.

“The rest of you will return and gain some rest. There are other chores in the village that will need to be maintained.”

Ali let out a sigh, then picked up a familiar scent as Garmound approached her.

“You are improving. I saw some of the best effort that came around today.”

“I still can’t get a handle on keeping my wings down! Whenever I turn they flex and then the wind catches them slowing me up!”

Garmound looked at her carefully. Then he spoke.

“Have you thought about trying again too...”

“No! I’m not ready for that yet!”

Garmound gave her a small frown.

“You’re wings are at their full length now. I think they do need to be exercised if they are to serve you in the future.”

He bent down to look at her face, her nostrils were still blowing from finishing the race.

“You need to think about how to use what you have in what...”

Ali huffed.

“I’m working on doing my part for Ravenrest! I don’t need to be put on a box and told that I’m exceptional because I fell out of the sky and I have some great destiny and I shouldn’t worry. Blah. Blah. Blah…”

Garmound nodded.

“I can see you carry baggage with you even when you’re not running this race.” He said calmly.

“Well, everyone here expects me to be some kind of hero!”

Ali huffed and looked at the wall.

“Don’t forget the Bestower knows what he’s doing.” She recited. “I know.”

Garmound smiled

“That’s right.” He said warmly. “I consider it a gift finding you.”

Ali shrugged

“How about a good mash tonight?” Garmound said “ There was a trader with some milk passing by, so we really should use it before it goes off.”

The two walked back to the hill fort.

The first point of call was the spring in the centre and they both cooled themselves with the water.

Ali felt good to get the mud and grime off her hooves.

They were a familiar sight in the town. There was no concern just the polite nod as they made their way to the well.

At the well, Garmound drew out some water into a jug and pulled out a towel out of the saddle bags.

He dipped it in the water and wrapped it around Ali’s neck.

She accepted the cool towel gratefully as they moved back to their hut on the far end.

Garmound slipped his jacket off his shoulders and placed the saddle bags and water down and pulled some milk out.

There was a large stash of books that Garmound had made with his writings.

Mostly to do with the Pegasus and his own experiences on raising a Pegasus.

They’d been working on gaining more connections with the surrounding settlements and had gone through the mountain ranges extensively.

There were one or two sighting of Griffins, but still no clue to where her kind were.

There was no denying it. Ali needed to learn how to fly very soon. It was for her emotional as well as her physical wellbeing.

The stables that the centaurs used are generally high with stools for bipedal visitors.

The only places where centaurs, and in Garmound’s case Pegasus, sit down is where they sleep as they are constantly moving.

This retreat to the mountain sides had forced them to adapt their ways.

Garmound sighed. Many remember stories of times when other creatures feared the thundering hooves and the sound of their armour clinking across the battlefield with the sound of a hundred arrows flying through the air.

Such things were far behind them.

Some of the youth still talk and play games of the times that they were led by powerful lords.

There were talk amongst the younger folk of heading off to the plains for adventure.

Or going to the great city of Endiona for work in crafting and metal working.

Garmound heard a flick in the grass and then he heard Ali stumble in from outside.

“There’s a spider out the back…” she gasped

“Well, better get the broom and chase it away.”

“Actually… It’s one of the big ones…”

Garmound sighed.

“Alright, I’ll get my spear…”

He would have a word with the sentries about the meaning of guard duty.

***************

Garmound unhinged the cart from his back and tipped the carcass into a nearby ditch.

One of the advantages of getting away from populated areas was that you could see a lot more wildlife. The best and the worst.

Two of the adolescent centaurs that volunteered to help him were quite chuffed they helped get rid of the arachnid.

Ali went off to fetch more water to clean the mess up behind the hut.

Garmound wondered just how easy it was if she could just take off from the ground and then pick up the water and then return.

Everyone seemed to understand that Ali was supposed to fly except Ali.

Garmound saw the water in the hut, but he didn't see Ali.

Garmound waited for around half an hour and then saw Ali come back. It looked like she had been running.

Garmound’s heart fell when he saw the ropes around Ali’s stomach. She didn’t share that emotion and she looked rather pleased with herself.

“I timed myself on the course again. I will be passing every single centaur next time we run!”

“Indeed.” Garmound wasn’t going to bring up the topic of her wings again because he knew he would just get the same response.

Those ropes wound tightly around her wings like a spiders thread.

“Let’s get some fresh water to drink.” He continued. “Then we can eat!”

Ali needed no second prompting.

***********

Ali dutifully picked up the bowls with her mouth and put them in the tub to be washed.

Garmound talked with her about the changing seasons and the harvest of fish that were being dried in the town square, but his mind was focused on some way to think of Ali to use her wings.

She was happy, but unfulfilled.

He had the thought of the Bestower in his head.

Help me find an opening. Open some door to let me in…

Ali put the bowls down and frowned.

“You know a lot of centaurs talk about the “Old days” when they ran over fields in armour and fought goblins and trolls.”

“Yes?”

“How did centaurs end up in Ravenrest?”

“Well, that’s actually quite an interesting story…”

“There was a Centaur called Gorach, he woke up one day…”

*************

Gorach sat up. He felt it from his chest down to his legs.

Despair, anger, fear, but an agonising helplessness in his heart.

Kenocha rose and saw the serious expression on her husbands face.

He turned and looked at his wife.

“We need to go.” Gorach said.

“Where?”

“Towards the mountains, there’s an army coming.”

“What?! When? Why?”

Gorach looked down and placed his hand on his foreleg.

“I don’t know.”

Kenocha looked at her husband. The pain he felt came out through his words. Gorach had always had an air of friendliness that he could strike up a conversation even the quietest of the centaurs.

This seriousness was unlike him. It unnerved Kenocha.

“Very well. How about I fix us a stout tea and then we can talk about this.”

Gorach nodded. “I’ll bake a few of the bread rolls and we’ve got a bit of the dried meat and cheese.”

*******************

Asephes the chief stroked his chin. He turned to other members of the council.

“I will send out the delegations to the surrounding tribes and townships. If we are to be attacked with…” he spoke

“The tribe is numerous, and we have weapons. We will be prepared for it…” another argued

“No… It’s not like a storm when we can take cover and let it pass us by, it will be a storm that will take all of us with it!”

Gorach’s statement caused the other members of the council to stop.

“We will ensure that more of the stores are stocked in case we need to make flight, ensure that each of our people are carrying a weapon to be able to fight if the need arises.”

Gorach nodded Thank you.

*****************

Gorach looked at the maps. He had acquired many different items through bartering and requesting these things from other members in the camp.

They were all still wary of the Gorach that spoke of only good times to speak of such foreboding predictions.

Gorach was fixing a bow and his wife approached him with several arrow shafts.

He was dressed in a leather torso jacket with a woollen shirt underneath. His hindquarters had a similar protection. His wife was just the same with several knives attached to her belt.

Several weeks had passed and many centaurs had began putting together wagons and bags to carry supplies away when the time came to leave.

Kenocha had never seen her husband be more serious about something in her life. He was grim and determined.

“There have been words from our emissaries to the Lycrans and the Goblins in the east. There are no reports of any military build up or any indication that our relations may break down.”

“Hmmm… Okay. I’ve plotted a route that will take us to the northern mountains and I think that there will be people skilled in the bow hold off any attackers if they get close.”

Gorach had been talking with the drillmaster of the warriors of the camp and had talked about a technique in which a centaur in flight would turn his torso and then fire arrows at pursuers if the need arose.

There were further patrols around the camp and many of the large tents had been disassembled.

“Was there any indication on when the army would arrive?” Kenocha asked.

“Only that it would be swift and dangerous and we will need to leave before they arrive.”

Kenocha nodded. It was the only thing that she could get out of Gorach these days.

Gorach slept that night and he saw valleys and forested mountains. Peaks that were capped with snow and clouds that stretched across the sky.

Turned behind him and saw the flames coming from a wide stretch of flames.

Why? Why must it be me to do this?

Then his dream changed. He saw his wife. Centaurs that he had laughed and talked with. Old friends that have moved on. New friends and their children.

*********************

“Come forward and remember to shift your weight to your hindquarters.”

The wall of spears came forward and the centaurs clad in their breastplates and iron padding come forward and came forward planted the spears into the ground within five seconds bracing for a charge.

Gorach beamed then he heard a “clink” and one of the spears hit the ground. The young centaur moved hastily to pick it up.

“Cleaver!” Gorach shouted

“Sorry!” came the rely.

“Raise the spears!”

One thing that Garmound had noticed with the drill sergeant was that the archers would be honing their skills with hunting, but it was only once a week that the centaurs would get together for working with spears.

Gorach saw a female centaur approaching in padded armour. He smiled and realised that it was Tillick. He smiled as he saw his old friend approach.

“Good Morning Gorach. I’ve been watching you practice. I’m keen to get involved!”

Gorach frowned. “Why? Doesn’t your caravan leave in a few days?”

“The fact is I felt this need that you needed someone with a bit more experience with weapons.” She said.

“I guess we will need weapons if we are going to stake it out on our own in the wilderness.”

The following day Gorach rose and a delegation arrived saying that there was an interest in the council chambers about the preparations.

Gorach came and the chief looked at him with relief.

“We have heard that the tribe of centaurs to the east were coming towards our lands, but given our scouts word and the actions of our Lycroian allies of the Takal have agreed to met them and they caught them trying to enter their land.” The chief smiled.

“They could not risk a war with us and the centaurs, it seems that the threat you spoke of was real, but it has been averted!”

Gorach shook his head. “No… The threat cannot be stopped by anyone. We need to move! We can’t stay and be able to fight them off!”

“I’m telling you there is no change in our relations! The situation has been as they always have!”

“I telling you danger is coming. It will be a danger that we will never be prepared for!”

The chief looked at him.

“We have food and we have weapons, we will be able to flee if the need arises.”

Gorach sighed. It seemed fair enough. What he felt and what he saw were still too real for his liking.

He had never felt so committed about something his whole life.

They won’t listen, they think they are so powerful and flushed with good fortune

One thing that he began to see was the attitude of the warriors within the camp.

There were warriors, but they were select bands that would train as a group and not as a unit.

They were in polished steel armour and carried iron swords and weapons, but they were few and would not stand up against an army.

Centaur warriors were feared and respected, wherever their pay would take them.

But that was only by how much wealth they had.

****************

Gorach returned to the training grounds and looked on with Tillick.

The spears came up in unison and each centaur held them with their left hand close to their waist and pole and their right hand.

The simple spear could be fashioned and put to use with practice and the hunting bow could be trained to fight with deadly precision.

He looked behind him and heard other youths racing past bales of hay and planting arrows in their targets.

Gorach was drilling and maintaining the archers. Gorach was approached by Tillik and asked about the work they were doing.

Another caravan approached guarded by centaur warriors.

Gorach felt a prompting about the need to be in a position. He never wanted to be a warrior, but it appeared that it was becoming increasingly necessary.

Gorach had maintained a collection of brass pots and vases that had been passed down through the generations.

The selves where empty and he waited for a shipment from the caravans.

He and his wife pulled down the crates and on opening revealed a cache of crude iron tipped spears, hunting bows and arrows.

As he went about his daily life he and his wife both heard the discussions about him:

“He does care a lot about the camp.”

“I know many of my children join him on his sessions.”

“He may be seeing things or believing the crazy dreams he had, but he still does a lot for this camp.”

“It’s got me thinking about the stories of the Bestower, I think that he might speak his word.”

Out in the fields away from the oilskin tents and fires, he had set up his field and his volunteers to practise their drilling.

Several of the centaur warriors gave up their own time to work on supplying battered armour for his “militia”.

As well as giving him advice on weapon management and use.

It was something that they had not seen, a kind of selfless exercise for the good of the camp.

Not all the members agreed with this and felt fearful about his intentions.

The council called in another session and the members spoke of his “band” of loyal followers.

Kenocha heard whispers of the meeting from her friends and some spoke of the corruption of the mercenaries within the camp that only fought for pay.

When she approached the council chambers, she saw many groups of these centaur mercinaries surrounding the large yurt.

Finally a delegation approached the training camp at dawn on the next day.

Gorach and his student were once again preparing for a practise session.

Asephes approached flanked by two centaurs in plate armour

“We will not be intimidated by you! You and your followers will leave!”

Gorach and his militia in their faded leather armour and battered steel helmets.

Gorach looked forlornly on the youths and the camp in the distance and the delegation.

“Very well. I will speak the last time.”

He called the swift young centaurs and told them to circulate the message.

“All those who are ready must come to the centre of the camp in preparation for departure.”

He put his equipment into the saddle bags and put of the flame that was burning in the early morning for the training session.

The youth placed their weapons on the wooden logs as usual and returned to the camp.

He returned to his tent and saw Kenocha with her fire out and with her saddlebags ready.

Gorach saw as the square began to fill.

They walked through the tents and many youth began to follow, with the mothers, sisters and family of the people that worked to train with him.

“Centaurs. The time has come, make your choice.” Garmound bellowed. “Come and live, or stay and be destroyed.”

He looked at the centaurs that had began to follow.

Many had only what they could carry on their backs and saddlebags.

Others looked on then saw another caravan approach the camp.

Asephes saw the number of centaurs leaving.

“Come, join in the riches that our traders have bought. Out there you will be exiles and tramps!”

Some hesitated and returned.

Some continued to move.

The traders began to move to inspect their wares.

Gorach turned with his entourage following.

Suddenly the barrels burst open several figures within the packs burst open with daggers and claws and covered in steel.

Their escorts reared up and tried to slash at the attackers, but the Goblins slashed at the Centaurs stomaches with spears and blood ran from the warriors.

More Goblins burst from the wagons and there were piercing cries as griffins emerged under the tarps.

Gorach and many looked behind them with concerned faces as smoke rose from the camp.

“No!” cried one of the youths.

Gorach felt his heart race.

No! I’ve failed! We should have gone! Now we will…

Then he saw several of his students pull their spears and began to form a line.

Just has he had trained them.

They pulled their wooden shield from their packs and held them against their chest.

He saw the mercenaries and their escorts fighting. As much as they tried the goblins would surround them and stab them in the legs, in the stomach, until they fell and were torn to pieces.

Gorach saw it.

“To the square! TO THE SQUARE!”

“Positions! Form a line protecting the square!”

His warriors held up their spears and the archers strung up their bows and laid arrows in them.

The children and the elderly centaurs remained in the centre of the warriors as they formed a tightly packed formation around them.

Tents were beginning to be set alight.

He heard centaurs wailing and children crying.

“Don’t move!” Tillick cried “We can only win if we remain together!”

The goblins had finished with work with the mercenaries and were catching those that didn’t go to the square.

Many began to move to the centaur phalanx and were met by a wall of spears.

Any that managed to avoid the spears were shot with arrows or small daggers that the archers carried.

Then they saw dark shapes coming towards them in the sky with wings extended.

Griffins.

“Archers!” Gorach cried. “Prepare a barrage!”

Each of them nooked an arrow and raised their eye’s to the sky with their bows pulled.

“Fire!”

The arrows flew and the dark shapes screeched and fell.

The flames were still fanning throughout the camp.

There were cries as several of the centaurs fell distracted by the flames as the goblins stabbed at their chests and legs.

The centaurs behind them pick up their spears and thrusted them at the goblins.

Many began to rush the break in formation, Gorach, Kochema and Tillick moved and stabbed with their swords and spears.

Like clockwork the militia stood together thrusting, firing and stabbing.

It became a steady rhythm of defense.

Then Gorach realised that he was thrusting his sword at empty space.

The fire had consumed the camp.

Over the pile of dead goblins and griffins he could see the bodies of centaurs and the smoking remains of the carts and tents.

Everyone held their silence.

Then there was a clutter as a young centaur dropped his spear.

“Cleaver?” Gorach said

Cleaver feel to his knees and covered his face.

Many others did the same.

There was grief, but there was also relief.

They could have been taken by the Goblins if they didn’t come together.

They stood shoulder to shoulder.

Bestower. Thankyou.

Gorach knew then how it had played out.

There was no real reason he could think of he had been interested in tactics and drilling, but it was worked to ensure the Bestowers plan. He looked up and saw Kenocha looking on with a bow in her hand.

The message that they will need to leave… The images of all those faces he had known.

He was going to take his tribe to a new place to live, but he wasn’t going to do it alone.

Gorach, his wife and the remainder of the tribe solemnly walked through the remains of the camp.

Some were weeping, some were quietly praying, others held on to their weapons.

They travelled for days through the mountains. Barely stopping for rest before reaching a valley.

They hunted and put up shelters and raised a wall. That settlement became Ravenrest.

*********************

“After that” Garmound finished. “There was a respect for the Bestower. The centaurs became a wiser people.”

Ali looked down and paused for thought.

“So…” She answered. “We don’t know why the Bestower talked to Garoch, but it seems he knew he was the one to do it.”
“That’s the way the Bestower works. He takes the humble and gives them strength, Garoch could have used his warriors to overthrow the council with his band, but he gave them a choice.”

He turned to the fire and saw it dying away.

“It’s high time we rest for tomorrow, I’ll bolt that door and I’ve made certain that the guards are awake tonight.”

******************

The next day, Ali woke early, she had the thoughts of the Bestower on her mind as she slept.

I’ve never been alone, you’ve been with me. All these centaurs you’ve put me with, they’ve always accepted me.

Somewhere inside her Ali felt like a solid stone inside her was melting away like ice and replaced with a warmth.

She flexed her wings and the knot began to loosen again. Instead of turning her head and grasping at the string with her teeth to tighten it again, she pushed even harder. The knot came undone, the coils began to fall and her chest expanded again as she brought new air into her lungs.

She shook her back and extended her wings again. She felt the lengths drop and fall.

Her wings came to full extension and the ropes fell to the ground and she felt the sun warm her back.

In her shadow she saw the two great wings on her back. She brought them up and down again and felt the wind move over her flanks.

It felt like a whirlwind was coming from her heart and onto her wings and it was enough to lift her off her feet then.

Thankyou Bestower. Thank you for making me who I am.

She trotted and then broke into a canter. She felt the rush of wind flying over her and under her wings she brought them up and brought them down again.

She let out a gasp as it took her ten feet off the ground. She flapped again.

She fell several feet and came down two feet.

She ran, and the wind caught under her wings and saw the ground rise and she could see above the canopy of the forest.

She felt her wings straining and her heart pumping. Her shoulders ached, but she was grinning from ear to ear.