Sallan dragged me away from the main group in a rather hurried way.
"What?" I asked, irritated by his manner.
"I know that look, I remember what happened last time I saw that look, what crazy idea have you come up with this time?"
"When you're quite finished interogating me, Sallan, I'll be happy to tell you."
"Go on then."
"Why did you drag me over here? Do you not trust me?"
"It's not that I..."
"You don't see Karlina protesting, and she's known me barely a few days!"
Sallan had the grace (and good sense) to look embarassed at that point.
"Of course I trust you, it's just that I worry about my people."
"As I do, which is why I'm trying to help them!"
"I apologise, I spoke without thinking, it's a centaur thing."
"I know," I said smiling at him.
"Now, that is an odd look," he retorted with a smirk. "A smiling elf, and the sun hasn't fallen from the sky!"
"Why you, you..."
Sallan grinned at the spluttering noises I was making.
"...overgrown pony!"
"Pointy eared witch!... and stop changing the subject."
"I didn't, you did."
"Whatever! Tell me what your idea is, please Lora."
"You have to promise not to yell, like you usually do."
"Fine."
"I think I should take them to the Ogrelands, it's a perfect place to hide them. The Ogres will protect them, and they won't hurt them!"
"Are you insane?" yelled Sallan, (I knew he would), the group of centaurs looked at us and he lowered his voice.
"Thats the most ludicrous idea I have ever heard in my association with you!"
"I knew you'd say that, you stubborn male, You could at least letme finish before you condemn the idea!"
"I'm sorry, but it does sound crazy, Lora."
"It's logical."
"That explains the inherent lunacy of it then."
Kallen approached us, while Sallan was busy glaring at me, he looked annoyed.
"If you please, Lheorayhanni, We would like to hear your idea if you have finished talking."
"Yes we have," I replied, following him back.
"Our guest is going to speak," annouced Kallen to the group at large, they all turned to watch me.
"I'll come straight to the point, there is no place in Sandar where a group of centaurs can hide. But there is a place, where some people I know live, It is big enough to hide several dozen times your number and no human would go near it."
"It sounds perfect," said Annadelilah, "what's the catch?"
"Well, it's a swamp for one thing."
"The only swamp around here is where the Ogres live," replied Anna, looking confused.
"That would be the other thing."
The centaurs reacted predictably, cursing, yelling, questioning my sanity and so forth.
"She knows the language," said Sallan, in my defence, "and she's right. There is no other place where the young and sick will be safe."
"Is it true?" asked Kallen seriously. "The lives of my people are in your hands, lady of the Elves, how do we know we can trust you?"
I considered the question, he had a point, there was no assurance I could give them that would prove anything.
"I can not say anything that will convince you, and I will not try. Despite what Sallan refers to as my 'great age', I am only a young woman of my people. Of course, I am not really one of them, an exile certainly can not be considered trustworthy..."
Alright, so I did think of one way to convince him!
"...Forgive, I did not mean to imply that your people were without honor, only that mine would think of me in such a way."
Kallen looked thoughtful, as did much of the group.
"It seems we have a comon bond, is that enough to establish a trust, I wonder?"
"I hope it may be so," I replied sincerely, "but it is your choice to make."