Centaur Love Ch. 04

Mathew woke up in the dark. At first, he panicked, as he tried rolling to the right to get up. He hit a wall. "OUCH! What the?" Laying there holding his head where it contacted the wall he finally remembered switching rooms yesterday. "Grrrrr," He carefully rolled to the left and swung his legs off his bed. The sun had not even started to brighten the eastern sky yet, it was still dark in the room, but with the little starlight coming through the window, he could faintly see Felicia sleeping in her stall. His mate, that brought a smile to his face. However, something woke him; it was not a sound from outside it had to be something else. Closing his eyes, he threw a small spell that allowed him to search his surroundings.

After a few seconds, he could feel a magical touch of someone touching his spell. With a little conscious thought, he could feel his Uncle tapping on his awareness again. With a single touch of Klatha, he tapped back, letting his Uncle know he felt his spell.

He quietly got up and went down the hall stopping at the water closet. Then going into the kitchen, he flicked the striker on the wall lamp. After adjusting the wick, he bent to the task of starting a pot of tea and porridge. Felicia might like a cup of five grain and tea for breakfast, but he liked hot oatmeal with honey and preserved fruits. Going through the Pantry for the oatmeal, he mentally put that down on the list of things he wanted to buy today. Standing there, he was mentally making his list out when Felicia walked in. "What are you doing love?"

Mathew turned not hearing her walk in, Smiling at her, "Making us a pot of tea and some breakfast, Uncle Robert should be here within the hour."

"Oh!" Felicia said, and then looked down at her nakedness, "Then I should at least get dressed."

Mathew smiled, "No need on my account."

Felicia walked over and kissed Mathew, "Refreshing as it is, walking around without clothes, I am sure we don't want to shock your Uncle with Centaur customs of nudity... just yet. OH! After you get the tea started and whatever else you were going to make for breakfast, I might suggest to you that you get dressed as well. Humans are such a prudes about nudity as well. Is your Uncle already on the way?"

"No I got the feeling he just got up and was going to be here later."

"Good!" Felicia turned and headed for the front door. Running out naked.

"Use the horse pen! We will make a Centaur trench later!" Mathew yelled.

The house had a built in water closet for Mathew to use, but he was going to have to change it some for Felicia's use. As he went back into the kitchen to finish making breakfast. He thought about how to convert it for both his and Felicia's use. The septic tank and leach fields were on a terrace one level down from the main house and barn. A yearly use of the disintegration spell kept the main septic tank cleared of solid wastes from the kitchen and water closet.

The water closet tapped one of the slower seeps from the plateau to continuously, clean itself. The leach field fed the pecan trees that lined the lower terrace. He thought with just a little removal of some brickwork he could make it work for both of their uses, another thing he added to his growing list of things to do to the house, so they can live in it more comfortably. Mentally, he added the brickwork to enlarging the front door way, new side tables for the front room, centaur height that also included moving door handles.

He laughed to himself on that, currently they were at a right height for Felicia and him, but if they ever had a centaur guest like her father or brothers, it would be nice, so they wouldn't have to stoop over to open the doors. Felicia walked in already dressed as he was standing there thinking, "Go get dressed love while I finish cooking breakfast."

Once he was dressed, he walked back in the kitchen as Felicia was finishing laying the breakfast down on the table. He notice. The table was too low for Felicia; this was another thing he was going to have to change soon. Mathew moved the bench from one side for Felicia's use, but still she had to lean over to eat. After breakfast, they were both cleaning up the dishes. When his Uncle knocked on the door. Looking in he was glad to see both were up and ready for the day.

"Good morning you two. Are you ready to go?"

Felicia walked up and hugged him, "Good morning 'Uncle' Robert, oh, and do we need to bring anything with us?" "No but I would suggest you both grab your water proof cloaks it has been sprinkling all morning, and promises to be rainy all day."

"I will get mine. 'Mathew'! Where do you keep yours?"

"In the hall closet!"

Robert walked into the kitchen and saw that Mathew was just finishing drying the last breakfast's bowls. After scanning him to make sure he carried no more steel he said, "Few things nephew, one, I would suggest you leave a clairvoyance spell running here in case of visitors." Mathew nodded yes. "Second, I would grab your parent's bank chit. It will save you a few silvers for them to; just transfer that one to you. Third, the people of Kingsholme are getting a bit nervous..., with a Goblin army on the Central Plains, and the Ogres in the north. I would suggest you strap on Great Grandfathers sword. Just in case... let's just say you're magical reserves might not be strong enough to get you and Felicia out of trouble, if anything rears its ugly head today."

"Trouble?"

"Nothing as of yet, just a few cases of hoarding, and price gouging. The goblin army is thousands of miles away from Kingsholme, but it is on the central plains and 'that' is worrying some people. However, those mages who are strong in that kind of perception, say the masses are just a bit nervous, and they can definite feel the cities tension level rise. So as Grand Master Dorthan says, it is better to be prepared for an unknown enemy, than being prepared for a known."

Mathew went into the bedroom and strapped on his sword. Then he canted a small spell. Licking his finger, he mentally touched the running spell, he was glad to see that he just able to reach the first few small Cairns on the farms northern border. Robert was out front talking to Felicia slipping on his oiled canvas waterproof cloak as Mathew walked out the front door. Robert held up his hand after Mathew finished locking the door. He touched his finger to his lips, and then mentally touched the spell Mathew cast. He added a few more klatha and his spell range to the spell. Just enough to cover the whole farm while they were way. Robert smiled at Mathew, if Mathew maintained the spell every morning before true dawn, he could keep Roberts added range in the spell until his caught up. Once all three were ready, Robert drew a chalk circle around all three. Mentally touching the Teleport pad at the Mage College, he queued his thoughts waiting for his turn. When it was open, he chanted the spell.

Kingsholme was the largest and oldest human city on the southern continent. It had different names throughout his long life. From a simple fishing village at its humble beginning, to a lone pirate's trading settlement years later. When the ruling family came south, they fell in love with the warmer southern continent. First built a small winter palace, in the long valley above the small community of south port that served as the high king's lone southern military base, slash trading center, over the following centuries, they moved the seat of power from the colder northern continent to the warmer south.

Once the royal seat was 'officially' moved to the southern continent, the old palace just was not big enough to house all the royal family and governmental needs. A larger, grander palace was built on the foothills overlooking the expanding city. Since the city now filled the mile wide and two miles long valley, from the coastline all the way to the low foothills that now surrounded the city, it was renamed or just called Kingsholme.

Moreover, the mages did just that. With Magic becoming more versatile and those that can wield it more profuse. All the great mages came together and took counsel with each other. What came out of this meeting was a formalized learning structure that would teach all young mages in a structured progression of magic's with an oversight of a large council of leading mages of the time to watch over their young charges and weed out any possible troublemakers or those with nefarious morals. For it only took one or two "bad" mages at the time to give all mages a poor reputation. Thus, the founding council thought to the guild the next generation of mages and those that followed into a brighter future with magic helping humankind.

A free magical education was offered to everyone who had the magic ability. The council advertised for new students. The main keep was converted to classrooms and assembly halls. Three of the four turret towers were made into tiny apartments for student housing. As the school got bigger, the main courtyard was roofed over and made into student housing as the turrets were converted back into classrooms. Years later, a second level was added for more students, later a third level built, to be even with the old castle defensive wall since the keep became less of castle warding the surrounding lands and more into a simple learning center to trail young mages.

The top was turned into the grand gardens and main courtyard of the Mage College. Small box shrubs made an intricate maze for visitors to walk through before descending to the main hall of the College. Directly in the center of this intricate maze, stood a large magic circle made of pure silver bars embedded in black onyx stone circle. The pad had various spells to keep the que of people from getting on, when there were people teleporting in. An visa-versa when people were wanting to teleport out. A small magical board with several lines of quartz crystals informed the waiting mages whose turn it was. Each mage would light a crystal at the end of the line, and it would shift towards the top position as those in front of him or her, teleported in or out. The teleport pad was always busy, from sun up to sun down.

Robert teleported Felicia and Mathew on to this pad. Robert quickly ushered them off not wanting to hold up the next person in line. Felicia turned as they walked out of the little gate, "That was amazing Uncle Robert!"

Robert smiled then nodded towards her. "It sure beats a two week boat ride, or a four week ride, or in your case walk to get over Hurley pass then a weeks' walks north to the city."

Felicia nodded yes. She was a little apprehensive this morning about teleporting. However, as Uncle Robert finished the spell the slight air pressure waves as they teleported was the only thing she physically felt. The change in scenery was nearly instantaneous. One moment she was watching in Robert cant the spell with their home right behind him, the next was this courtyard with several dozen or so people waiting behind a small wooden fence. She did notice that just about everyone watched them get off the Teleport pad. She did not understand why they stared at them. Maybe Uncle Robert was some sort of local celebrity.

Robert led them through the boxwood maze then descended the extra-wide steps made just for the four-footed visitors to the arch of Mages, the old front gates of the keep. Felicia caught a few small glimpses of the city walking through the maze, but once through the main gate, Felicia could finally look at the city of Kingsholm for the first time.

She could barely see the foothills in the south and the sea to the north. Everywhere she looked. People of all the races walked, worked or stood around. This was the biggest city she had ever seen. The wide paved street was clean and uncluttered. Oversized Clydesdale teams of horses pulled enormous triple axel wagons full of merchandise along the wide streets. Yet smaller single axel carts to regular merchandise wagons weaved their way around these wagons with no problems with plenty of room to spare. The buildings that lined this street were tall-multistoried houses and shops. Felicia had never seen a two-storied house before and was amazed that they could build one so tall! Everything was new and exciting to her, as she looked left and right.

As soon as Mathew materialized, he could mentally feel the weight of humanity pushing on his mage senses. The walk through the maze was familiar and yet foreign to him. He almost turned left, toward the college as he walked through the teleport safety gate. He stopped inside of the Arch of Mages. Quickly looking at all the names, and faces of past famous mages. Nodding his respect to his ancestors. He wet his finger and touched his running spell. Even through this fragile link, he could feel the serenity of the valley. This calmed his nerves as he walked up next to Felicia as she nervously took his hand.

"Mathew! It's so... so big!"

Mathew smiled, "It is the biggest city in the south."

"About two hundred and fifty thousand people living here at last year's king's census." Robert informed them.

Mathew whistled. Robert adjusted his oil-cloak then directed them north towards the mage bank. As they walked down the main Boulevard, Felicia looked into every store as they passed them. The district around the Mage College was set up to cater to student mages and their needs, along with their families. The mage bank was down several blocks. It was ran by a coalition of mages who provided banking throughout the known Kingdom. With their magical chit system, one could deposit funds in his or her hometown, and pull them out at another if needed.

Making purchases at every store was the just the same since your chits would debit your account when pressed to the store's chit. Making purchases at a specialized general store that made magical deliveries was just as easy, since they could instantly make debits to your account when you ordered supplies since they had your chit on account.

Mathew noticed that they were drawing plenty of looks as they passed. He was sure it was not his uncle. Plenty of Elite class mages walked the Boulevard, and he never drew that many looks even as a mage student. Centaurs were a common sight in Kingsholm. It had to be the fact that she was only human height, and her exceptional beauty. Mathew felt a pang of jealousy and a bit of rage when two men pointed at Felicia with lurid looks.

Robert leaned in close, "Your Mates exceptional beauty is making some of the locals stand up and take notice." Then winked at Mathew. "Nothing to worry about, those who are of exceptional beauty or a little different always draw stares."

It took them only a short time at the bank to transfer the Lindrose account to him and to rekey the chit to him. The amount held on his 'new' account shocked him. He knew the farm made good money supplying Dragons claw root for the potion trade, but he did not know it made 'that' much money, with his new account balance; they really would not have to farm to live comfortably for the next several life times. He stopped worrying about adding more preserves to the shopping list. However, he was slightly worried about Felicia slipping on some of the polished floors. That he remembered from his youth, but the banks solid granite floor stones were left slightly rough, just for four-legged visitor's safety, something he did not remember from his youth. Even the steps leading up to the main doorways and doors were wide enough for a full-size Centaur so Felicia had no trouble managing them as well.

The next stop was the general store that his parents, grandparents and great grandparents used before them to purchase and ship all the dry goods to the farm. The proprietor was an old family friend. Mr. Dempsey was saddened to hear about his late parent's passing, but was glad to know that, he was taking over. As with anyone, taking over an existing farm or business, a new shopping list was started. Unbeknown to either the store also carried a wide selection of foods and products just made for centaur, elfin, and dwarven customers.

Mr. Dempsey was showing them his preserved fruit selections when he somewhat casually mentioned that also had ten to fifteen different varieties of five-grain porridges available if Felicia was not the homemaker type and liked to mix her own. Felicia was excited to learn this, and they went deeper store to taste test several of varieties they offered. This left Mathew and his uncle to look over preserves, both quietly chuckling at Mr. Dempsey's salesmanship. The store offered some fruits Mathew had never seen before. Some shipped all the way from the southern side of the southern continent.

Robert leaned in and pointed, "Have a case of this one added" he said point at one type of fruit Mathew had never heard of before. "They call it Oranges, original. I know," he said grinning. "But it comes from the south. I just love it over my morning oatmeal."

Mathew nodded yes. And marked it down, along with a case of preserved peaches, strawberry's, blue berry's and mulberry's. Felicia walked up and added another page of dry goods.

"I hope you don't mind Mathew, but I agreed to a sample box of all the different flavors of five grain they offered, so we can try them out. I sort of went a little over budget of what I have on me today."

Mathew looked up saying, "No dear, I don't." He noticed she was holding up a leather pouch with what he assumed was her life's savings inside. He reached over and closed her hand around the pouch, shaking his head no "Save your money, my dear, and buy yourself or your family something special. The farm makes more than enough to feed us, clothe us, and some. So do not worry on that account. We are mated now, your father confirmed that. So what I, the farm owns, you do as well. Let us just make sure we get everything 'we' need to make life at the farm comfortable for both of us. If you need or want something, please don't hesitate and order it."

Felicia's eyes watered and she reached over and hugged him, "thank you."

Mathew smiled, "Do you need or want anything else while we are here?"

Two pages later, they headed over to the magic emporium store. Here they put Mathew's new chit on account and made arrangements for this falls shipping bottles and shipping crate to be delivered at summers end. Robert laid a small crystal ball on to the counter to be added to the sale, winking at Mathew he whispered, "I will show you a trick later on how to use this crystal ball to 'far see' where you're going and maybe teleporting too." They also found longer handle harvesting shovel and tongs for Felicia's use. Along with new tools, they purchased new long sleeve leather gloves to protect them from the roots toxic sap during harvest.

With everything purchased that they needed for this falls harvest and winter shipment, Robert led them down several side streets to avoid the crowds at lunch time along the main street till they wound up on Potion Lane. Potion lane was a three-cart wide side street, just behind the gold smiths' lane. Here a dozen or more smaller potion making shops lined both sides of street. Further, down this street two large warehouse, manufacturing buildings occupied both sides of the dead end street. The largest building was Uncle Roberts's large potion making shop. It was four times the size of any other potion shop and employed four times the mages as any other.

As they came to the end of the warehouse, where a new two-story iron and wood wall closed off what once was the old warehouse stables. About a hundred feet down it, a large double wide, old style wagon gate stood in center of this wall. One gate was slightly modified; it had a large salle port type of door built into it. Robert unlocked that door and held it open. The very large doorway opened up into a vast screened over courtyard that had several fountains that sprayed a fine mist of water during the summer months to cool the courtyard. A large two-story house surrounded the open courtyard with a half dozen private apartments on each side. The main house had a grand entrance hall and several sitting rooms on the lower floor, and the master bedroom took up the upper floor.