Late-Harvest Feast

The elven princess was waiting for them back in the centaur's settlement.

"You injured one and drew blood, didn't you?" Brinn said when she caught sight of her husband. Her expression was a mix of compassion and amusement. Alvar nodded. She looped his arm over her shoulder and supported him. "I told you those things were trouble," she scolded him.

"You were right," Alvar admitted with a groan. He could feel his insides were bruised from the pummeling of the jackalopes' strong back legs.

"Hold onto that thought. I usually am..." Brinn winked at her husband with a lopsided grin. "Now let's get you all fixed up, you foolish hero."

Alvar ambled off with a goofy expression, looking forward to his wife's tender care.

After Aurora watched them leave, she was ushered to a semi-secluded area to clean up herself. The Centaurs did not have tubs like the elves and humans. Instead they had engineered one of the streams into two massive waterfalls—one for the ladies and one for the males.

Since their lower halves were equine and covered in hair, the Centaurs care little for modesty. However, for the sake of the regal human, the area was cleared to give her complete privacy.

Aurora allowed the cool water to wash over her skin. It was refreshing as it ran down her forehead and hair. She closed her eyes and for a moment the world melted away. 'I need something like this for the palace,' she thought to herself before she shivered, 'thought perhaps having the water heated first would be a nice addition.'

All too soon, she was dressed and ready for the evening celebration of the late-harvest. Although the jackalopes had nearly ruined the carrot crop, those who had not fought against the raging rabbits quickly salvaged what they could before any more could be lost. Nearly half the crop had been ravaged, but what was left was still more than enough to get the Centaurs through the winter.

"We will just have to be judicious with how much we sell and trade," Cypher told the Empress when she asked if they would be alright. "It is not exactly the night-mare that it could have been. The mane thing is that we keep everything stable." Cypher's face was void of expression, but his ash-colored tail was up and swishing with mirth.

Now that Aurora understood where to read their emotions, she smiled warmly. To honor the centaurs, the Empress had tied her hair back in a high ponytail. Now she let her hair move in a similar pattern to the king's tail. It seemed to have the desired effect, for the king neighed in appreciation.

During the final preparations for the feast, the king dutifully handed out orders to those who were closest to him. Without hesitation, they hurried to carry out his desires. They did not seem to do so out of fear, but out of a desire for the herd to be kept in good working order.

Though they did not share a mind, the herd did seem to share a goal of community and common good. It is why outsiders were not openly shunned, but were also not immediately accepted. Having saved King Cypher's ear from rabbit teeth seemed to have raised Aurora's standing among the centaurs though. They at least nodded their head to her as they passed. It was an improvement from the emotionless stares.

"Your subjects respect you highly," Aurora complimented her fellow monarch.

"I am honored that they do, but it is hard being the centaur of attention," Cypher whinnied. He coughed lightly, "Excuse me, I shall stop foaling around."

"I know someone who likes puns just as much as you, Your Majesty," the Empress laughed lightly.

"Is he a fine fellow monarch like myself?" Cypher puffed out his chest slightly.

"Only in his own head." Aurora pictured Junayd on a throne. The idea was equal parts amusing and terrifying.

Cypher gave a sagely nod. "Well then, I am sure he is a fine fellow nonetheless."

He looked over to his second in command. The lady in crimson motioned for them to come.

The centaur king nodded his understanding. "The feast is prepared, Aurora. Is the rest of your party ready to join us?"

Aurora looked beside her to her personal guard. He had appeared right when she needed it. A few whispered words from him confirmed her suspicion.

"The rest of our group are with Faris waiting for us. I am afraid we will be fashionably late." Aurora lifted her skirt slightly and hooked her arm onto the centaur's.

He nickered softly. "Nonsense. Everyone else is just early."

————-

The feast was lit by translucent lanterns hanging on vines that were intricately snaked between the trees.

A fresh layer of hay covered the meadow where each participant was able to find their own spot with a cloth on which to place their food. The honored guests sat in a group with Faris and the king. Together they heard songs and stories in the ancient tongue, which Brinn, Alvar and Zan took turns translating.

The time was very pleasant, and the two leggers barely noticed the time passing. Finally Cypher stood from the company and excused himself. "I will leave you to Faris's care while I greet some of my subjects."

The group bid the king farewell and then fell into a comfortable silence for a moment.

"So, how do you find my cousin?" Faris asked with a wink and a grin.

Aurora noticed that he alone among the centaurs showed 'human' expressions on his face. "I find him quite pleasant though not at all what I expected for the leader of the centaurs if I'm being honest."

Faris snorted a laugh. "You expected someone stern and forbidding?"

"I suppose that is true," Aurora said. "Though Cyper certainly looks the part. He is much more peaceable than I anticipated."

"We centaurs have too much animal blood in us to want to hurt any living creature for no reason. Our methods for expelling the jackalopes would still be non-lethal even if they did not get angry at the spilling of their blood," Faris explained. "We have no taste for war."

This explained why Faris had stayed in the healers tent during the Cafer's war. He wanted to be helpful without causing harm.

"Are you enjoying being home after so long?" The Empress asked politely.

Faris grimaced slightly but nodded. "Everyone has been much kinder than I deserve, but even after all this time, I am still adjusting."

"You don't seem super happy to be home," Brinn observed.

"Heh, you only say that because you can read my face. Everyone else thinks I'm as happy as anything to be back. And I will be eventually." Faris assured both them and himself. "I grow more content each day."

Alvar opened his mouth to ask a question, but wasn't sure of a delicate way to put it. Faris could guess what he might be thinking. He motioned to his back end and then to his face.

"The centaurs use their tails to communicate moods. I only learned to smile and frown to convey meaning because the gnomes tortured me until I could act 'normal'. Now it is a habit. The other centaurs find it odd but are too polite to say anything about it." Faris was relieved to have his thoughts in the open air. Somehow speaking it out loud took the burden from his shoulders.

"If you ever need somewhere to go, you are always welcome with the elves," Brinn offered genuinely. It was because of Faris that her beloved Aunt was safe and sound.

"Same for the Palace Valiant. You will always have a place in my court," Aurora vowed.

"You are both very kind. For now I will make my home here and serve my cousin faithfully. I really am glad to be back." Faris placed his hand across his chest and patted his heart.

"I am glad your cousin had welcomed you home. I was worried after what you said the first time we met." The Empress looked at Faris's face carefully, but he either wasn't bothered by her words or had gotten better at hiding it.

"Hm? What did I say, Your Majesty?" He asked, tilting his head with one eyebrow raised.

"You said that your kind wanted you dead." Seeing as the centaurs had been painted as sensible people, this seemed an even more serious accusation than it had been before.

"I did? I suppose I did. And it was true enough." Faris scratched an itch behind his head and squinted.

"Why on earth would the peace loving creatures you just describe want you dead?" The doctor blurted his curiosity.

Phileas's voice was a tad too loud; centaurs from the adjoining circle looked over at them with their expressionless faces, their tales stilled by their curiosity. Aurora wondered if they understood human speak or if it was the doctor's tone that had drawn their attention.

"You do not have to answer that if it bothers you," the Empress spoke softly. "It is none of our business."

"No, no. The doctor had a valid question and I shall not have you leaving thinking poorly of my kinsmen. It seems we have one story left in the festivities tonight."

Faris crossed his front hooves much like the two leggers—something Aurora was astonished he could do—and hummed softly like the other performers before he began his tale.

"The reason my kind wanted me dead was in fact very simple. You see: before I left, I killed the heir to the throne."