Centaurs of Attention

Fertal

"I suppose the next thing you will want to know is just where you are. Well..." I begin. "We are in a place called the Blighted Forest. Verdant enough, but if you try you'll feel the sense of evil and ancient magic that hangs over it! Very dangerous place, this."

Ravenmane's ears twitch as she actually does seem to sense what I'm speaking of, and she shivers a little bit in reaction to what's in the air, despite herself.

Oh yes, this place is really creepy.

She mentions remembering something about dragons and I . . . let the mages explain that those were their familiars!

My, doesn't THAT draw looks of admiration and awe. Speaks of quiet a bit of power and knowledge, I figure, that such could be tamed like that....

Let's just keep the truth to ourselves for now, until/if we deem it safe to reveal it. We don't want to scare her and her friend away before we can help (IF we can help). That and we ARE trying to get to our destination with as little attention as possible.

....

I'm not happy with it, but if/when we can get their memories fixed and settled, the mages are going to mess with it by . . .erasing some memories with a little bit of diluted Lethe. Only short term memories, but still! IF it's safe to do it, but that said it would be better if we can safely do it. Fewer witnesses to our passage the better! For us and them, in the end. Some out there, if they find them and see that they have witnessed our presence might ask hard questions (hard as in torturous, physically).

Do believe that some out there would literally squeeze it out of them....

....

"As for my friends and us," I finish up, sort of glossing over the exact details. "We came across you and your . . . . friend there. You both had seemed to have . . . run afoul of one of this places many enchantments. See. . . uh. . . "

Careful! my love Artizza sends to me, alarmed. Tell her too much too soon and you're risking her sanity!

Did get that from the mages, love. I send back, a almost a bit tartly. She can tell, though, that I understand her concern and appreciate it. She is as concerned her for my new sister as I am! Just setting up to make it a bit easier for the next part.

Yes, right now it appears that Ravenmane (odd name, but some centaur tribes back on Terra Prime use descriptive, gender neutral names similar to this). Wonder what the blonde one's name is. I know that Ravenmane has lost memories of having been anything but a female centaur (or . . . I'm almost certain). We'd seen her transform (first when coming through that Door and then with that change in gender). The hesitation in her face which quickly lifted speaks of . . . enchantment. My fey sense also tells me that such is possible (still rather new to them).

Going softly, saying I'm trying to see if the enchantment somehow effected her, I ask her questions about herself and her friend. We do tell them they'd appeared out of thin air, magically. Don't tell them the full details, again, but she trusts me so isn't suspicious. Doesn't press for details.

Makes me feel guilty. Sigh. It's the link we have that allows it. I'm not betraying her, but.... I wish I could be more honest with her at the offing....

She smiles, pleased that I'm interested, and tells her tail . . . er . . . tale.

Sorry....

She and her sister, Azu Brighteyes, had been foaled in a Herd a long trot away from here (wherever here was, she'd never heard of the Blighted Forest). The tale that the filly tells me is of a loving childhood that had errie echoes of my childhood as a human being, before coming into my rightful form. It's just . . . . like her memories had been rewoven into centaur (and female) terms. Her Sire had been the Herd Stallions right hand man (or centaur), the equivalent of a Duke by centaur standards. Kind of goes on from there. This magick (can smell it on her, strong and eldritch) has done quiet a number.

Makes me want to shake the caster's hand, right after I stick my dagger in his black heart for this!! Grand magic....but with holes, apparently. Holes which would be filled in by the spell upon her in time if left unchecked, I gather.

Mages said that something might be done, here and now, but what exactly it was all . . . .theory. Knowledge about this kind of magic had been garnered through ancient spying sessions before the fall of Atlantis. That or second hand. Still...do hope that they're up to it, because it's sure beyond me!

Yes, if I hadn't been saved I might have gained that dark knowledge with my permanent induction into the Dark Army's ranks. But that's hardly worth thinking about. If I HAD gained it through that means, I . . . wouldn't care to help. More like would just love to spread harm and misery....

....

Brighteyes (a shamaness of a long line of shaman in her family) and her had opted on new pastures, as it were. They had gone off into the world to find their own place in a new Herd, but having fun and frolic on the road there (however long that would be).

She finishes up, looking over at Dragon Synizn, who'd been quietly examining her magically.

"You do have enchantment on you, I fear." he sighs. "Tell me, what is the name of your mother, father, and closest kin?"

She whinnies in reaction, thinking the question utterly silly . . . . until she finds . . .

She finds that the magick hasn't gotten around to giving her phantom centaur parents names at all. She whinnies yet again, this time with more than a little distress in it. That and she's a bit wide eyed right now and breathing heavily.... Tail is flickering around, that's for sure.

1. "We'll help," I whisper, taking her hand and stroking it, calming her distress. "But we need you to win over your friend, so we'll have a better chance at putting her to right as well . . . if the enchantment also is effecting her as well."

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