"We must discuss it amongst ourselves," decided Kallen. "No offense is intended, but it must be a majority decision."
"Of course. I shall walk awhile, Sallan or Karlina can find me when you are finished."
"Thank you."
I had no choice, really, to protest would have made them trust me less. Thinking about the centaurs problems had made me homesick, not for the people, for the land.
The human places are so different.
How can you describe the wonders of the Great forest to a creature who thinks a tall tree is one that stands taller than three men?
As for centaurs, well, their home has few trees as Sallan has frequently mentioned.
I called my harp to me, a simple enough piece of magic, and began to play a tune.
I cheated, for my own benefit, I recreated the sounds of my homeland. Using magic, of course, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the magic lent itself to my music.
There's a certain point, not quite a trance, when you can see the magic dancing in the air.
"That's a very sad song."
I opened my eyes properly and stopped playing. A young woman, human I thought, with an ageless quality about her. She was dressed in white, with long black hair, and looked to be about fifteen.
"Yes. I suppose it was. It matches my mood."
"You shouldn't be sad. You're doing good things, helping the centaurs."
Naturally, I became suspicious at this point. The girl laughed politely.
"Do not worry, Lheora Yhanni, Lord Riax told me about you."
"I see. Nothing too unflattering, I hope."
"No, he speaks very highly of you. I'm glad he made the right choice."
"What choice is that?"
"Now that would be telling," said the girl with a smile.
"As you like. Since you seem to know what I'm trying to convince the centaurs to do, do you think it will work?"
As soon as the girl mention Lord Riax i guessed that she was probably one of his ilk.
"Not quite."
"Pardon?"
"I'm not one like Lord Riax. I am one part of a whole. I am the Maiden of Fate. Lord Riax is our Priest."
As if i didn't have enough problems!
"No need for that attitude. I, we, wanted to thank you for making the right choices in your life. So far you have done well."
"You should know."
"You don't really believe all that about Fate controlling the lives of mortals? As if we have nothing better to do!"
"You're here."
"A very good point. We occassionally interfere, in the more interesting places, with worlds like this and people like you."
"Because being the Creator of the 'universe', I believe Lord Riax refers to it, isn't demanding enough?"
"Co-creator, to be technical, and no it pretty much takes care of itself."
The girl disappeared, and I stared into space for a moment.
"That's ridiculous," I muttered. "If I already knew, I wouldn't be asking!"
But I did have a suspicion, and she seemed to be able to hear my thoughts.
As had happened too often of late I was interrupted.
"We are done."
Sallan's voice shook me out of my reverie.
"Already?"
"It's been nearly three hours, Lora."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I must have lost track. I'm right behind you now, though."