I counted them as I approached, there were about thirty centaurs left. It was good size group, possibly large enough to be noticable on main roads, though. Some of the children looked scared or upset, which seemed perfectly reasonable to me.
"Is everyone nearly ready to leave?"
"You're a very abrupt young woman," sniffed one of the Elder females.
"If you please, Madam, I was making a polite inquiry. We are not in too much of a hurry at this point... and I am not a 'young woman', thank you, I am an Elven Lady and over a century old. Kindly do not speak to me in such a rude manner."
Normally, I would be respectful of any Elder, but I could tell that this one was the sort to object to things for the sake of objecting. However my haughty yet polite manner (that takes practice let me tell you!) had left her with a proverbial leg to stand on.
"Hmph."
"Are you really that old?" asked one of the youngsters. I smiled at the little filly and nodded.
"Is that why your hair is white?" asked another curious foal, who had a white mane himself.
"Is that why you have white hair?"
"No. I was born with it."
"Well, so was I."
"My mama used to say it was because I would be wise. Are you wise?"
"Not if it can be avoided. You must remember; those who think they are wise are usually fools, but those who are thought wise by others are truly special."
"I don't understand that."
"It was told to me by a very wise man, who did many foolish things."
"So being wise doesn't make you smart, huh?"
"That's right. Still, your mother may have made a good point about you being wise. Which one of these is she?"
The young one looked at me sadly.
"She's gone to be with Grandmother in the Great Golden Plain. She was chased by some humans so I could hide and be safe."
I sat down next to him, so I was on eye level.
"She was truly brave. Will you tell me her name, so I may honor her?"
"She was called Sallianiaryna, and I am Darrellendas."
"Who cares for you now, Darrell?"
"Just the group, mostly, they picked me up a while back."
He leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear.
"I know I'm supposed to brave now that Mama is gone, but I'm afraid of humans and ogres."
"That's why I'm here," I whispered back. "I want to protect you, and all of your people here. The ogres are vegetarians, do you know what that means?"
"No."
"It means cute baby centaurs are for playing games with, not cooking for dinner!"
Some of the Elders had looked very disapproving of my talking to a youngster. They permitted it because he had no particular person to speak for him. When Darrell smiled, however, they began to look a bit more welcoming. He trotted of to whisper with the other young ones.
"He hasn't smiled since we found him," said the Elder who had been so rude. "What did you say to him?"
"I told him the truth. That i want to protect his people, and that ogres don't eat meat."
"I didn't know that." interjected a mother, "We thought you were going to magic them!"
"Only if it's necessary. I really prefer to try other things first."
"Once everyone is organised in to a walking position, we'll be ready to leave."
"Thank you, Elder."
The children were duly rounded up and organised. I managed to upset the Elder, again, when I protested the way she arranged the group.
"It's our traditional travelling formation." she protested.
No wonder the humans manage to slaughter them so easily.
I immdiately regretted the uncharitable thought, after all my own race were even more rulebound, and I rephrased my answer to be more reasonable.
"I think it would be more logical to place the youngest ones in the middle, the Eldest at the front and those able to best defend themselves around the other three sides."
"Hmm."
The Elders conferred for a moment.
"Very well. Make the changes she has specified."
The group reshuffled again then, with me in the lead and a shield cast over us all, we set off east towards the ogre lands.