Once again, you seem to have little choice. You have no reason to doubt the silver-haired woman's words about her spell and you have absolutely no doubt that the big guy could do whatever he wanted to you even if you weren't all gift wrapped for him. You decide to tell them the truth -- but not all of it. Ailis said that her spell would detect falsehoods but she didn't say anything about omissions, and you feel that there are details best kept close to your chest. Choosing your words carefully, you begin to speak.
"Honorable Councillors, I am from somewhere very far from here, called Earth. In fact, it's so far that I'm not even sure where here is, let alone how to get back. I woke up yesterday in a canyon, not knowing how I got there. I had only the clothes I am wearing now when I woke, but someone left these few other pieces of equipment for me in the canyon. I took a while to orient myself and then left, deciding to climb a nearby hill to get a better view of the surrounding land. However, the job was a bigger one than I originally anticipated and by the time I reached the top of the hill, night had fallen and I decided to sleep for the night. I don't have any survival skills so there wasn't much I could do to make a presentable camp. I just used my backpack as a pillow and hoped to wake up in the morning. I do not know what happened to me or why I was brought here. I am only thankful for my Cunning Linguist Trait because I have a feeling that without it, Steffan would have just had me killed then and there. I understand that I am trespassing on your lands, but I swear to you that I did not know and that I mean no harm. If you would just release me and point me in the direction of your nearest border I would leave and never return." You bow your head and await the Council's response. You spoke the literal truth throughout and you never saw the golden glow around you flicker; you say a short mental prayer to whoever was listening that your honesty is good enough to save your skin.
The five centaurs before you listen quietly while you tell your tale, then they all look at each other. This time, it is the short, broad one who speak, addressing the silver-haired woman. "Ailis, you are certain the spell worked?" His voice is rough and gravelly, like someone who's smoked a few hundred too many cigarettes.
She nods. "It took effect and remained in effect throughout. There are ways to circumvent it, but unless appearances are very misleading indeed I do not believe any have been used here. He spoke the truth, as far as he knows it."
They share glances around again, then the grandmotherly one, Eilwen was her name? turns to you. "We will need to discuss this further among ourselves. For now, you will not be harmed." She whistles sharply and calls out into the mists, "Lail, girl, I know you're listening in. Come retrieve our guest and take him to one of the storage huts. Remove his bindings and give him something to eat and drink, and a pail of water to wash with. Then let him sleep. I know you've been up all night too, so once Aidan here is settled in, go find Ivor or someone to guard him. Don't let him out except to go to the latrine when he needs, but for now no harm is to come to him."
Lail trots up out of the mists, looking sheepish. "Yes, Mama Eilwen." She quickly moves over to you and draws a short knife from her belt, slicing through the rope binding you. Eilwen begins speaking again.
"You are indeed trespassing on Starchaser lands, Aidan, and you must pay a price for that. Given what you have told us this morning, that price may not be your life. Make no trouble and you will give us no reason to change our minds on that matter. We will send for you this afternoon and tell you what price you will pay." So saying, all five of the Councillors turn around and begin to walk away from you.
Lail smiles at you and, once the Council is out of earshot, says, "That went as well as could be hoped for you, I think. You're lucky the full Council decided to come. If it was just Fionn, Anwn, and one of the others, they might have decided to just solve the problem you present the easy way. Anyway, let's get a roof over your head, some food in your belly, and a more dignified place for you to sleep than in the dirt like an animal." So saying, she leads you into the Starchaser village with a hand on your shoulder.
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