I don’t remember falling asleep, but all too soon, I was rudely shaken awake by what appeared to be a soldier and told to gather my things. Fallston looked at me from the open tent flap, he saw that I had my bag and staff, but he made no comment. Apparently, Cersa did what she wanted, when she wanted, and he would respect that decision. That was fine by me, and I had no intention of giving back my bag, no matter how mangled it was.

“Do you ride?” The Captain asked.

“Ride? Like, would I ride you?”

“Of course not!” Snapped the Captain, “I am not a pack animal to be ridden, I am a Centaur and the leader of the Fallenstone Warband. You would be dead before you lifted your legs.”

A horse was being brought in front of the tent, a beautiful roan animal with a rope bridle and no saddle in sight. “How on earth will I ride a horse without a saddle?” Lark hissed, feeling panic well in her throat once again. “Humans!” The Captain snapped as he gestured to the young male Centaur leading the horse to return with what Lark needed.

The mare stood placidly, almost bored, as it stared at Lark with chocolate eyes. “This is Stormdance,” the Captain said behind her as she reached out to pet the soft muzzle, she is lightfooted and will serve you well today. Lark looked at the sweet little mare and pictured the stuffed blue unicorn that used to sleep on her bed every night as a child. Whispering, Lark stroked her nose and whispered into the mare’s ear, “I will give you a namesake, Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, Artie for short.” Artemis nuzzled her cheek, the picture of blue-unicorn softness and calm. “I like Artie much better, don’t you?” she smiled as she received a nicker in return.

The saddle was brought and Lark swung up with ease, enjoying the feel of the horse under her thighs. Since coming to the home of a veterinarian when she was14 years old, her life had been filled with countless animal opportunities and at one time she had been considered an accomplished rider.

“Captain, where are the other soldiers?” Lark and Fallston were already past the edges of village herd. Larks tent had been on the outskirts and she had not been permitted to speak or interact with any of the other centaurs. The chance to turn the mare and look around had been a temptation in the growing daylight, but that had quickly dwindled when all she had received was angry pawing, glares and phrases she could not quite make out, but she assumed they were either violent or rude.

“You and I will go alone, I am more than a match for you, little mage, and these lands are my home. I know what areas the beasts and monsters are partial to. Plus, I will leave them a snack if you continue to lag.”

With that, the Centaur reared and pivoted before jumping into a gallop and whooping with delight as his mighty legs carried him at an unimaginable speed.

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“Oh no, oh no!” Lark had not anticipated this, and she had a second to look down at Albus, panting and wagging happily beside Artemis, before a piercing whistle made the mare leap into a galloping pursuit.

It was all Lark could do to hang on as the mare’s legs churned across the soft fields with the long grass fanning out before them. Lark could see the Captain had chosen a direction and banked right toward the foothills rising in the distance.

“Hey!” Lark called, if you keep up this pace, my horse will tire, and we won’t get very far today. The Centaur laughed; it sounded like a stallion calling to his herd. The feeling of unfiltered wildness and the sensation of wind pulling through the last confinements of her braid made Lark give up her fear and smile and laugh for the first time in this strange new land.

Lark pulled up on Artemis reigns as she caught up to the Centaur as he eased into a walk. “There are Goblins to the North East of us, only a scouting party but still worth preparing for.”

“Goblins!” Shrieked Lark, “you can’t be serious!”

“Of course I am. It is just Goblins and perhaps this is a good opportunity for you to use your staff and work on some of your spells, even a level 1 spell can cause damage to them if used properly. What magic do you know?”

“I… um, I don’t know any magic. I didn’t use any spells on the Craggamore because I haven’t learned any yet, that is why I am going to the University, to be taught...” Lark trailed off as the Captain turned to look at her with disgust.

“You have no magical talent and have been accepted into the Obscura? It seems that place has let standards slide if you have gained entrance.”

The Obscura! Lark had hoped someone would finally mention the name; she had feared the Centaur would ask her what University she be attending, but it seemed there was only one in these parts. At least she now had a trajectory; perhaps someone there could help her.

Lark continued to stay silent as she slowly pulled on the reigns, dropping Artemis inch by inch behind the Centaur. She had to keep from being asked questions, or she would be found out. Truthfully, she didn’t know why that mattered, he could take the staff and call her crazy, but she didn’t know how to use it anyway. What she did know was that Cersa had known her Grandmother, who had been here before and this staff was important, it must be or it would not have been left for her. She had toyed with the idea of selling the staff once she reached Edgehelm if she ever lived through this Goblin business. Still, instinctually she knew the mage staff had to stay with her until whatever end she faced, even if it was only ever as good to her as a walking stick.

Captain Fallston used a skill he called Far Sight to direct them towards the group of Goblins. Lark’s anxiety began to rise as he slowed them down and made subtle adjustments as he tightened wrist straps and almost imperceptibly fingered the knife around his waist. All Lark could do was clutch her staff tighter. Perhaps if the fighting became intense she could ride away and create enough distance between them to find this road and escape to the city. Artemis took this moment to snort and shake her head; she knew the plan was ridiculous. Fallston would catch her, or her horse would just refuse to run. Either way, she was about to fight Goblins.