Chapter 14: The Lily of the Valley

I gazed in amazement at the three centaurs.

“Travelers! What brings you to Taurus Valley?” one of the centaurs, a burly male with long brown hair demanded.

“We mean no harm! We’re headed to Lightcairn, but the Serpent Channel is uncrossable.” I spoke up.

“What business do you have at Lightcairn?” asked the second centaur asked gently. She was a beauty, with fiery red hair and ample tits rivaling or perhaps even surpassing Fay’s. Her horse half was a light cream color. She wore only a leather bra, and had a broadsword over her back.

“We’re escorting Princess Faylen Dajeon.” I said, and gestured to Fay.

“No! We heard rumors she was lost. Dead.” said the third centaur, who I guessed was the equivalent of a nerd in the centaur species. He had short blond hair and he was scrawny.

“I’m very much alive, thank you.” Fay said sourly.

“We are beyond overjoyed to hear that.” said the second centaur.

“Do you know of a way to cross the Channel?” Sasha asked politely, her eyes lingering on the first centaur.

“I might.” he growled.

“Calm yourself, Darick.” the female centaur chided.

“They are interlopers!” the first centaur, Darick, protested.

“Well-meaning interlopers.” the third centaur added. Darick huffed.

“Look, we just need a way to cross the Channel, then we’ll be on our way to Lightcairn, and out of your lands.” Jess appealed.

“Until you return along this path.” Darick growled.

“No. We’re headed to Northhall in the Fifth Realm after Lightcairn.” I said.

“Northhall? Oh, I’ve always wanted to see the mines there.” the female centaur gasped.

“Lily, seriously?” the third centaur groaned.

“Travelers! May I accompany you on your journey to Northhall?” the female centaur, Lily, asked. I nodded.

“Of course.” I said.

“To clarify, centaurs are not pack mules. You will not be riding my younger sister.” Darick growled.

“Of course! I didn’t mean to imply anything like that.” I said. Lily gave me a sweet smile.

“The Channel?” Amaya reminded us.

“Oh, that. Darick, perhaps we could give them a lift to the bridge and back again?” the third centaur asked.

“I just said centaurs aren’t for riding. Just!” Darick sighed.

“I’m fine with escorting them.” Lily shrugged. Darick rolled his eyes.

“Fine. I’ll take the black haired girl and the elven princess.” Darick huffed. Amaya and Fay moved over to Darick.

“I’ll take the male and the half-elf.” Lily smiled at me.

“Which leaves me with you.” the third centaur told Sasha. She looked less than thrilled but kept up a polite smile.

I fairly awkwardly climbed up onto Lily’s horse half, and Jess swung herself up gracefully, her arms wrapping around my waist. I wrapped my own arms around Lily’s toned stomach, and the centaurs took off at a speed no horse could ever dream of. They hastened south and crossed the wooden bridge across the Serpent Channel and then galloped back up north, until we were about where we were, simply across the Channel. We all slid off the three centaurs, and Darick gruffly waved us off. The third centaur looked disappointed to see Lily leave, and Lily seemed thrilled to be joining our party. She wasn’t too much taller than Jess (the tallest among us) and was a joyous presence.

The walk from the Serpent Channel to Lightcairn took almost a week. It was a fun week, though. Lily was a good laugh, and would constantly tell jokes to keep our spirits up. She also was extremely kind, and often let me and Fay ride on her back when the princess’ feet got tired.

The problem emerged a day’s journey from Lightcairn. We were walking through a pass between hills, when things began pouring over the crests of the hills.

“Goblins!” Jess and Lily cried in unison, and Lily drew her broadsword. I lifted my sword and Jess and I moved to stand in front of Fay, a muscle memory at this point. Amaya flicked her wand and a stream of fire poured from it, and several of the goblins burned. But when enough corpses piled up, the goblins used the corpses to clear the flames, and I had to quickly intercept them, side by side with Sasha as Jess kept Fay safe. Lily was a superb fighter, cleaving through the other hill’s goblin attackers.

“Sebastian!” Lily cried, and I wheeled to see a goblin tackle me. My sword flew from my hand.

“Ignite!” I roared, pressing my hand to the goblin and setting it ablaze. I scrambled to my feet, and dived for my sword, but a goblin grabbed it first, and before I could blink they drove it into my chest. I gasped loudly and someone female screamed. My breaths were coming irregularly, and I fell over sideways, the grass turning scarlet around me. The goblin who’d stabbed me cackled and as soon as they’d come, they fled. Had I been the target? Jess’ familiar hands grabbed me and I imagined draped me across Lily’s back. Jess swung herself up behind me and the centaur took off.