"Halt." A clear voice rang through the air, echoing across the plains. I looked up and saw a helmeted man sitting atop a horse, who stared unblinkingly at the curious centaurs.
"We seek help from King Darius," said Marshall, knuckles white as he tightened his grip on his bow. "We bring the fulfillers of the prophecy."
The man's eyes tightened and turned around, then brought a white horn with a dark gilded band around it to his lips. A long note resounded, and instantly dozens of horsemen leaped up from behind, hidden by the rolling hills.
"Now we leave you," said Farissa. "Conan will stay, because of his wound. We are honored to have met you, Samuel, Jared, Helen. And Fallie, of course."
Helen thanked her in return. "We hope to see you soon, Farissa. Any time you need us, just let us know." Farissa laughed.
"As well as you," she said, and began to slowly walk away. "As well as you."
Conan smiled. "Well met, Man of the Western Plains. I am Conan, son of Ilden. Samuel, Jared, and Helen. Fallie, Samuel's Guardian."
The horseman nodded and placed the horn back in his belt.
"Well met, Conan son of Ilden. I am Daren, son of Darius, Prince of the Western Plains. We will take you to Daria, but some, I am afraid, will not take your arrival kindly. Daria is on the brink of war."
I spoke up hurriedly. "Naga already sent armies out to kill all the rebels. Can't you help, or do something?"
Daren shook his head, wavy blond hair swaying, like the acres of long grass that grew in the Sierra. "I'm sorry, but that is up to my father. The Council is in turmoil. The least I can do is ensure a safe trip to Daria."
Conan nodded. "Then do it."

Jared, Helen and I traveled on Fallie(much to Daren's surprise) and suggested riding Conan so as not to wear Fallie down. I caught my breath, glad that Pillan wasn't here. But Conan very politely said that centaurs do not usually carry humans, and Fallie was not as small nor weak as "normal horses." That shut Daren up for awhile.
Actually, Darius has five sons: Daren, Faren, Taren, Saren, and Baren.(I nearly laughed at that one, but caught my tongue after Helen glared at me.)
"It's customary to have sons with similar names," she said. "They don't have last names, so it's easier to recognize a family." I'm just glad I don't have a brother. What would my name be then? Tam? Ham? Jam? Ew!
A boy about my age except taller and more well-built spurred his black horse next to Fallie. His hair was blond, but not a white-blond like Jared's rather sun-tanned blond like Andon's, with streaks of brown.
"Hi, I'm Taren," he said, holding out his hand. I shook it.
"Samuel."
"Daren and Faren are the eldest in the family," he explained. "They're always bossy. Say, you're Sir John's son, right?"
I nodded, silent.
"Oh," he said quietly. "I'm sorry. I guess you don't like to talk about it." He saw Jared and smiled. "Eh, Jared? I knew it! And Helen! Gosh, I've never seen an elf before. And are you really an avian. I thought they went extinct or something..." Helen looked murderous.
"Yes," she snapped. "Avians tend to be solitary, as well and get EXTREMELY angry when they're bothered. They might explode if they get too mad." Taren looked shocked and went to ride beside his brothers, muttering to himself.
"Helen, did you make that up?" I whispered. She shrugged.
"So what if I did? He was getting really annoying and too snoopy for my taste. You're lucky I didn't just outright tell him to bug off." Jared just smiled.