A Centuarian Monarch

'Angry?' Aurora braced herself for whatever the king would say next.

The regal centaur was muscular, and Aurora could tell even from his sitting position that he was at least a head taller than anyone else in the herd. He wore no crown and was clad in a simple crimson shirt, but somehow this only increased the powerful image of a monarch that he exuded.

If he desired, it would not take almost no effort for the king to hurt or kill the human Empress simply by nature of his size and strength. And Aurora was not sure how the centaurs' affinity for nature would work against her if it came down to it.

So rather than try to run or draw her sword at the moment the king voiced his displeasure, the fiery-haired woman looked at him and mirrored his same emotionless expression.

"I am angry," he repeated in an accent that was equal parts throaty and nasally, "that you have not come sooner to receive my hearty thanks." The king placed his hand on his heart and lowered his head slightly.

'What is it on his face? Is it the hint of a smile?' Aurora almost felt she was imagining it. Cutting her eyes to the other centaurs that were in the king's court, Aurora noted that their facial expressions had not changed, yet their tails were swishing and slightly raised. The Empress remembered the stablemaster in Valiant telling her this was a sign of happiness in horses.

Her body relaxed slightly. "I did not mean to keep you waiting. I had no idea that we would be expected."

"We are most glad that Faris has been restored to us. I owe you more than I can ever repay," the king snorted to emphasize his words.

"Wait a second! Seriously, WAIT A SECOND! I was actually there!" Brinn pursed her lips as she interrupted the centaur king's praise. Her golden ears were tinged pink with indignation. "My husband and I were there and distracted the enemy so that Faris could get away. And that man there," Brinn pointed her delicate finger at Nurlan, "actually fought his way out with Faris both out of the palace and across the desert!"

"Brinn," Alvar took his wife's hand. "Maybe this isn't the time to..."

"If he is passing out prizes, don't you think they should go to the right recipients?" the princess snipped quietly.

Aurora straightened her shoulders and nodded. "I was willing to take the blame, Your Majesty," she said nobly, "but I will not take the credit. As Princess Brinn has said, she, Prince Alvar and General Nurlan are three members of that rescue party. Please send any praise their way."

"I can respect a loyal and humble ruler. Indeed loyalty is built into the fabric of the centaur society." The king looked at his subjects, who were all nodding agreement. "We all try to do what is best for the herd."

"With such a stalwart and just leader, their loyalty is well placed, Your Majesty." Aurora was beginning to warm to the centaur. There were still many questions in her mind, but she did not sense any ill will from the creature before her.

"Please call me Cypher. That goes for all of my guests here. I may be a monarch, but no one likes to be called king all the time." The large centaur chuckled.

"I could not agree more. The title of Empress becomes cumbersome after a time. Please call me Aurora. May I introduce Princess Brinn and Prince Alvar of the elven kingdom, General Nurlan and Phileas the Physician of Valiant and Zan, Guardian of the Fates."

The Empress paused and looked at the final member of her cohort. The grumpy male was scowling at everyone and everything, still angry about the assault on his wing from earlier. She took a deep breath before continuing.

"And this most excellent fairy is Reyan, respected bearer of his race's Fate's chain, hero of the human world and a dear friend of mine."

Her words as usual quelled the curmudgeon's anger, for the old fairy no longer seemed like he had swallowed a lemon whole. In fact, he even nodded to the king. "Nice to meet you," he said dryly. With a sigh, he pulled in his wings and stood beside the Empress, ceasing the bee-like hum he had been emitting just to annoy those around him.

"I am most glad you have joined us for this evening. You have made it in time for our late-harvest feast. The food is raw, of course, but thoroughly delicious. May we tempt you to be our guests of honor? We do like to horse around, but we can rein it in for your sakes. Of course you can always tell us neigh..."

He translated his words into ancient tongue for the guards who were standing on either side of him. They laughed and snorted appreciatively as their tails flicked in merriment. Seeing the blank stares of the two leggers, the monarch coughed lightly to clear his throat.

"Ahem, it was horse humor. Don't mind me."

His eyes darted away, and for the first time, Aurora thought she actually saw a real expression on his face--embarrassment. Rather than let him wallow in his discomfort, the Empress spoke for the group.

"We would be most honored to attend. I have heard only good things about the food that comes from the land of the centaurs. What a rare treat!"

Aurora tilted her head from side to side, letting her hair brush across her shoulders. It was an unnatural movement for a human, but she had a theory.

To her relief, the motion was well received by the horsefolk. Though their expressions did not change, their tails began to mimic the swaying of her fiery hair. The equine bodies seemed less rigid and more pleased than they had even a moment ago.

Brinn noticed the change. "What magic did you use on this creatures?" She whispered in a gust of wind.

Aurora smiled. "It isn't magic," she said softly, "it's horse sense."

Cypher was busy talking to the female Centaur who had brought them into his presence. They were having a quick exchange of information and instruction in the ancient tongue, but as Alvar and Zan, who were listening intently, did not seemed concerned by it, the Empress did not feel any need to be anxious.

Cypher sighed contentedly, his chest rumbling. The lady gave a graceful bow and left the royal clearing to complete her orders.

"Evelyn tells me that you have brought our brethren the unicorns with you. I have just sent them an invitation to join us this evening as well after they have rested. Did Faris wait behind with them?" The king rubbed his hands together, awaiting the response.

"Wait behind? What do you mean?" Aurora furrowed her brow.

Cypher tried to mirror her expression. He pulled his bushy brows together and touched his stubbly chin. "I just assumed that Faris had brought you into the kingdom. He went out to meet you when the sentries said that we had two leggers entering our lands."

"We have not seen Faris yet. You do not suppose we missed him with our portalling?" Aurora asked her group.

"We stopped using the portals on the edge of the centaurian land. I doubt we passed him in a skip." Zan rubbed his neck. "I do not know how we missed him."

The tails of the standing centaurs stopped their sway. "If Faris is not with you... has anyone seen him?" Cypher stood suddenly. The living tree throne clattered beneath him as he trotted onto the grass. The king repeated his question in ancient tongue. Those around him gave negative gestures or shook their heads.

After a few minutes, a horn sounded in the distance. Its deep tone sounded thrice before going silent. The centaurs dropped whatever they were doing and collectively moved toward the alarm.

One of the guards quickly handed Cypher a spear. "To the fields!" he ordered the herd. "We cannot lose another crop!"

Males, females and children all picked up different farming implements or weapons and took off in the same direction.

The two legged creatures got caught up in the flow of the exodus. All except Reyan, who easily floated above the chaos.

Alvar ran up next to the colossal centaur, but he did not seem to notice him. "Uh, Cypher? I am all for an epic chase, but what exactly are we up against?"

The monarch groaned and snorted. "The worst kind of enemy. One that steals our crops without mercy and ravages anything in its path."

"What fiend would do such a thing?" the elven prince asked.

"Jackalopes!" the king spat bitterly.

"The bunnies? But..." Alvar stopped as he heard his wife gasp.

"Jackalopes? Nope!" Brinn disappeared from view without a trace, leaving the others on two leggers baffled.

"Your Majesty?" Zan wanted to know the order.

"We have to help our...allies?" Aurora was unsure where the centaurs truly fell in relation to the humans. She nodded after a moment. "We help our allies. I'm sure Brinn is exaggerating. How bad can it be?"

They soon found out.