The Silver Crown

Chapter 11

Caleb

We finally emerge from the caves a few hours later. The cave opens out of a sandstone cliff-face overlooking a massive plain. As far as I can see there is only grass in every direction except back, where the mountains rise out of the land like the teeth they were named for. A small path leads from the cave mouth to the base of the cliff where it meets up with the main road.

The sun shows that it is late afternoon. Tomorrow evening, Rolcarnagur will be ready to begin his sinister plans. We have to reach the Crown, deal with whatever will happen there, and get to Galrath by that time. We need to get as close to Sĩlron as possible before nightfall. I look back at Kylee and Valus. They are both tired from walking, but relieved to be out of the caves. We come to a fork in the road with a sign indicating landmarks. Sĩlron is to the northwest. I push aside my own exhaustion and walk slightly faster. The others speed up without comment.

As the sun is beginning to set, I hear a faint rumbling. Looking around, it's clear that the others have heard it as well. Even the donkey, who has thus far been placid and undisturbed by anything, cocks its ears and sniffs the air.

"Is that thunder?" Valus asks incredulously.

"It can't be." Kylee answers. "There's no clouds."

I see a dark shape in the distance moving quickly toward us. "It's not thunder, it's hooves. Everyone stay close." I unsling my bow and string it, nocking an arrow. Kylee draws her dirk and dagger and stands back-to-back with me. Valus holds his staff ready, the globe glowing faintly.

In the next instant we find ourselves surrounded by horsemen. I amend myself quickly. Horse-men. The creatures in front of us are horses, but where the neck and head should be, a human torso appears instead.

"Centaurs." I whisper.

Every centaur is holding a drawn bow, with an arrow trained on our party. Some are wearing short, curved swords across their flanks. Most of the centaurs are female and wear stained leather vests. The few males are bare-chested, but that only shows that they are powerfully built. Every centaur has a face like stone with eyes ready to kill.

"Drop your weapons." A voice commands. Kylee glances at me sideways.

I lower my bow and set it on the ground. Unclipping my quiver from my belt, I lay that down too. Kylee slowly sets down her dirk and dagger, then straightens. The fear in her eyes is evident. Valus relaxes his stance and straightens. The globe on his staff stops glowing, but he doesn't set it down. As a symbol of his status, a mage is allowed to keep his staff, even when other weapons are forfeited. I look back to the centaurs.

The centaurs in front of me split and a large centaur walks forward. His horse body is that of a blue roan. His human body is a large dark-skinned man with flowing brown hair that runs down his back and shoulders to his horse back. His features are broad and serious. His expression proud and guarded. It seems obvious that he is the stallion of the herd. Aside from the bow in his right hand and the swords at his sides, he also has a large knife strapped to his chest and his hooves have spiked metal bands on them.

"Who is your leader?" The stallion demands sharply.

I take a step forward. "I am Caleb Mason. My friends and I are on a mission from the Sage Falarianius Intrulagostun to Sĩlron. Might I ask who you are?"

The stallion regards me fiercely. "I am Trintac, Warden of the Plains. And this is my herd, the Hooved Wind. We are charged with guarding the borders of Nilava to prevent the entrance of thieves and pirates."