Centaur Love Ch. 14

Mathew laughed at that comment.

"The primary force of Goblins is far enough away that the day it takes to disassemble them will not put them in harm's way. That way, we can reassemble them after the war. But if things don't work out, destroying them is the primary goal."

Mathew nodded yes.

"I will leave in the morning with a fresh cohort of troops and head to West fork River Bridge. Where I will wait for the army. From there, I will lead them directly to Woodshome. You and your mates are free travel with us..., or wait a day or two when Tarn and several families are going to travel back home to keep the farms running." Johnathon winked at him wiggled all of his fingers on his hands saying, "or you can do the mage thing and just meet us in Oak Valley."

"I would say Oak Valley Sir," Mathew said with a laugh. "I do have water running in the grove and there are several spell books there that I would like to study as well as some practice time with my apprentices. But I will take some time from our studies to glass the route west of the grove and as far north as time permits."

"Some spells you need to refresh up on?"

"No sir, my uncle has been hiding some of the forbidden texts in secret vaults at the farm. I think it is time that I go through them and see if any will help in our current situation."

"Is that wise Master Mage Lindrose, I have been told by my Elven counterpart, that the Elven Mage society has been negotiating with the Mage Council, to join forces in removing this army. That means they most likely want, ours, to cross over the Catamount Mountains and help taking care of the high Kings goblins."

This shocked Mathew! Normally, the mage council had a strict non-interference policy about non-magical situations. Apparently, it was no longer in force. That meant the council knows, or it had guessed, it's time was ending or things were getting very desperate on the central plains. Mathew nodded his head in thought. He needed to talk to his uncle. Things were changing faster than he thought.

"Wise or not, general," Mathew said slowly. "I am not a member of the Eastern mage council. I hold no rank in the East. I guess you can say I am truly a Wester mage now. Both Council's, east and west has certainly recognized it. I am free to practice whatever magic I wish. And if push comes to shove, I believe I now have the right to walk in, and challenge Grandmaster Dorthan for the first seat."

Johnathon looked down at Mathew. "Are you sure?"

Mathew looked up at Johnathon, "Technically, I already am the sitting second seat. I did beat Grand Master Morrison in single combat."

John nodded yes. "That's true Mathew, but to 'attempt' to take the first seat? Do you have the, ummm, the power to attempt it?"

"Reserves you mean Sir. And yes, I have more than enough to make that challenge and possibly win. After all the magic I threw today, Sir, I am still half full. I think the mage council made a big mistake years ago. They let one of the last Grand Magnus walk out of that school as a disgraced student."

Johnathon froze mid-step, he watched Mathew continue walking towards his bunkhouse. He thought about Mathew's statement. To think his son, no, his son-in-law, is a Grand Magnus was just too frightening. The last 'known' Grand Magnus forced the mage community to change its way of practicing, and learning magic just by his say so. To think that Mathew was just as powerful!

No, he thought, the council did not allow Mathew to leave. One man did, the same man who made sure he was no longer the high King's, Field Marshal. Johnathon shuddered down to his withers. That meant Dorthan has been planning or knew what was going to happen twenty years ago or more. Johnathon watched Mathew walk away. He stood there speechless, after Mathew walked into the little bunkhouse he turned towards the fence line and the narrow path down to the river.

Dorthan is meddling in politics again, Johnathon thought, laughing to himself as he walked the path. He thought back of how long he knew the man. He met Dorthan just after he took service with the high king nearly thirty-five years ago, He was still Prince Leopol at the time leading his father's army during pirate wars. Herd Master Duncan just took Jocelynn as his mate and got John a junior command assignment on the northern borders guarding the central pass when Prince Leopol marched his father's army over the Catamount Mountains as his father sailed his navy towards Freeport.

He remembered the first day he saw Prince Leopol and his mage advisor the mage Grand Master Dorthan as they teleported to Central pass command post. At the time, Commander Benton received them and listened to the High King's plan to rid Freetown of the pirates and his plea for a mobile cavalry. Not only did they plague all the sea traffic from the south, they also raided inland and drove the few centaur settlements off the lower plains.

That afternoon John was given a hasty promotion to first Lieutenant in charge of the Centaur auxiliaries and met Prince Leopol for the first time. He immediately liked the young Prince, the young human was full of energy and had a good common sense about him, but like all Centaurs, he was more amazed to meet Grand Master Dorthan, a real mage. If he knew the man then as he did now, he might not have taken that promotion. But like all of his people magic fascinated him and the chance to work with a real mage was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

As it turned out, he didn't get to see too much battlefield magic. He led his newly formed four cohorts down the pass and met up with Prince Leopol's army, where they defended the grand armies flanks and scouted the way to Freetown for them. It was during the sea battle that then High King Fergenson fell and then Prince Leopol became High King. He was teleported that afternoon to save the fleet. That very night just before both armies were to meet in battle. Leopol's army's command staff was killed by treachery. A small commando raiding party made it through the picket lines and managed to kill the entire command staff at that nights war meeting. Being a young First Lieutenant saved John's life by not being at the staff meeting that night. The next morning with no one higher in rank, John was able to bully the rest of young Lieutenants by his shear size and weight. He took control of the combined armies and swept the field of the pirate army, even assaulting, and taking control of Freetown at the same time the young high king maneuvered his navy upwind and burned the entire pirate navy down to the water line in one decisive battle.

For his heroic deeds on land, king Leopol knighted John and offered him the Field Marshal's position. Johnathon spent the next ten plus years rebuilding Leopol's army. Even finding the time to start a family in Kingsholm. But it was just after the birth of Felicia that the strain of command started to show. It was then, that what he thought was his longtime friend Grand Magnus Dorthan started a campaign to convince the high king that twelve years was long enough for the stresses of being the Kings field Marshal on a centaur and it was time to let Sir Johnathon Fellis go home.

John looked out over the Central Fork River. Grand Master Dorthan's words still burned him inside. He was fine, he was just getting used to the fact that healer pronounced that Felicia had HGDM that he asked his friend to look...,

Funny it was just after Dorthan magically looked at Felicia that he started his little campaign to get the king to retire him. Did he know then that the west was going to need a retired field Marshal? Or! Or, could it be that he already knew Felicia had the mage potential?

Johnathan turned and galloped back to the Longhouse mumbling no, no. He needed to think about something else, he needed to talk to his aid Mikala Silverleaf. He needed to get his head back into this war, that last set of thoughts was too disturbing.

XXXXXXX

Mathew walked into the bunkhouse and saw his two beautiful mates standing side by side, in front of the stove. Both had their tails swishing left and right in harmony. Both had their front hooves on his tiny soapbox. He wondered how they accomplished that, the tail swishing thing, that is. The wonderful smells of a stew came to his nose. As well as an instant hard on. Both of his mates, lovely asses, were on full display and doing things that made him want to stick his face into them.

Mathew shook his head no; he needed to do a couple of things before he thought of doing that. As his mates cooked, he gathered several leather coin sacks and counted out five hundred gold. After stacking the four heavy sacks by the door, he spent a few moments talking with Zane about getting names of people who did stone work and water pipes for the new longhouse.

Zane did him one better and gave him a 'mental' introduction. Mathew could mentally meet the pipe makers and one stone setter who was vaguely familiar with the Lindrose property. He liked that one elf's suggestion of compartmentalizing the cistern, then slowly open its capacity over the next several years when the longhouse had more students. This way they were only heating enough water as needed, and when their needs changed, a simple removal of temporary wall sections in the cistern itself would lead to bigger storage capacity of heated water.

Over their late lunch, Mathew brought up the subject when they wanted to go home to his mates. Both of his mates were in favor of leaving tonight. The hustle and bustle of living at the Fellis compound was nice, but the thoughts of being home had Becca nearly in tears.

Becca looked at Felicia, then turned to Mathew. "I know being around other people might be a human thing, but as a little mare, I have always dreamed of having my own place." Becca smiled and looked down, "My dreams from long ago was, me and my stallion on our own," Becca half laughed, "I never dreamed I had a sister mate, nor that my mate was a human either."

Mathew and Felicia laughed. Mathew reached out and rubbed Becca's arm.

She smiled at him. "That dream sort of went to the side of the road when the realities of my size hit me."

Mathew leaned over and hugged Rebecca.

"It sort of came back to me when I saw yours, our place today, away from others where I am not judged on my size," she laminated. Then she pointed at the stove, "And where I don't have to stand on a soapbox, just to reach the counter height. She grinned at Mathew, waving her arm. "Door handle, cupboards...,"

Mathew said it just before Felisha did, "Home."

Felicia laughed as Mathew hugged her. "I guess we need to pack up, then. I have more than enough reserves to take us home tonight."

Both Felisha and Becca looked up. "Really?" Felisha asked. "Tonight? You mean we can sleep at home tonight? But do you think it is safe enough?"

"More than safe enough." Mathew said. "I have the farm's clairvoyance spell at its maximum range. We will have plenty of time if someone or something enters its spell range. And in a pinch, we can teleport from inside a locked house."

Felisha nodded yes, then looked at Becca. "Good?"

Becca nodded yes, trusting her stallion. They took out the pony's panniers and loaded them up with all of their stuff. Mathew struggled to carry the chest over, with it even being five hundred gold lighter, it still weighed just over a couple of hundred pounds.

A commotion outside interrupted their packing; Mathew looked out the door's little window to see Tarn driving Mathews' carthorse to the front of the main Longhouse. He saw that herd Fellis rush out to greet the newest herd members. Mathew called Felisha and Becca and walked out to welcome Mika and Alivia to their new temporary home.

People were greeting Mika, and the ladies were hugging Alivia in welcome. Then grabbing arms full of stuff and walking into the longhouse. In all the chaos, Mathew ended up with Martin in his arms again.

"Hello Herd Master mage Lindrose."

Mathew smiled, "Just Mathew when we are like this, Martin."

Martin looked up and shook his head no. "Oh no Mathew, I can't do that. Mama says I have to be real polite to you and the other herd master..., Fellit."

Mathew laughed, "Fellis, herd Master Fellis, but don't let him scare you Martin, he might be big and scary looking, but Herd Master Fellis is a big ole snuggle cat underneath."

Mathew felt a hand placed on his shoulder. Before he could say anything, Martin looked up and gulped. Mathew was about to turn around when he heard Johnathon say, "Quiet, son, don't be letting my secrets out."

Mathew turned and laughed as Johnathon reached down, "Come here Martin, it is time we meet."

Johnathon looked down at the tiny centaur, the young colt already starting looking better. The slight yellowish skin was already a shade or two lighter going back to normal tan color. Even his brown coat started looking healthy. Johnathon smiled, looking into Martin's green eyes. With his black hair the boy was going to be a mare-killer when he reached his majority.

Mathew watched Johnathon walk off with Martin in his arms, saying, "Well hello Martin, I am Johnathon Fellis, welcome to Herd Lindrose and Herd Fellis. I want you to know how happy we are to have you here...,"

Mathew walked over to pick up a small chest of the Coopers. When he was inside the main longhouse, someone directed him where to go. As he walked up to the Cooper's stall, Alivia looked up and saw him, then looked around "Where is Martin!?"

Mathew handed her the chest, "Your son is with Herd Master Sir Fellis. I suspect they are already in some shady spot, and Sir Fellis is already telling him some tale of high adventure."

Alivia looked down at Mathew with surprise and a slight concern. Mathew grinned up at her, "Herd Master Fellis might look all gruffy and stern, but he is an old softy where kids..., or colts, are concerned. And one of his passions is standing around telling old stories of grand adventure. At the gathers he would...,"

"Gathers?"

Mathew grinned. "You don't know about them yet. When this goblin problem is finished, and you, Mika and Martin move to Oak Valley with us. During the spring, summer, and fall, we have weekly gathers for everyone. We do a potluck lunch. The stallions and mares practice arms training and some colts, too."

Seeing Alivia's confused look Mathew added, "Sir Fellis, ah, Herd Master Fellis believes everyone should know how to handle a sword and or a bow. So we have these weekly gathers to practice, have lunch, then gather and relax."

Alivia looked at Mathew asking, "Is he training everyone for some kind of army?"

Mathew laughed, shaking his head no. "To the greater gods, no. No, nothing like that. Everyone comes to these gathers to socialize and relax, though most take part to learn the basics and have some proficiency with a sword, bow or spear. Herd Master Fellis says everyone should know a little about how to defend yourself, and it is great exercise. Mainly it is a convenient excuse to gather the herd on rest day and socialize."

"After practice and lunch, most gather in small groups and socialize. It is during those times you would find Sir Fellis and most of the colts under some tree as he spun some story of high adventure."

"Being the only human family in the valley, plus being mages and healers, my late parents would check on those with aches and pains that needed looking at, but the rest of the time, they would sit around and chat with the other adults. I would be with the rest of the colts listening to Sir Fellis tell stories of high adventure."

"He doesn't expect Martin to join this activity, does he?"

"That is up to you and Mika, and, well, Martin, too. And yes. You have seen the size of Felicia, my mate? Size does not matter, stallion, or mare. Those that wanted to learn could, those that did not, did not. It is not what my father used to call a true fighter practice. It was just a convenient reason to gather the herd and, well..., be a herd."

Mathew closed his eyes and looked upwards at the ceiling, "It has always been a day of rest with my family, no work or, in my case study. After morning practice and lunch, most of the colts my age would trot around and play. It's always been a carefree day for me. But then Sir Fellis would slip away under some tree, well us kids knew it was story time."

Alivia smiled, "Sounds so idyllic, though I would worry about young Martin when he finds his hooves."

"I wouldn't worry too much," Mathew said. "I and my mate were the smallest at the gathers, and well, I never got stepped on." Mathew laughed, "Everyone there watched out for the colts," then pointed to himself, "and kids. Hopefully that gives you something to look forward to and lets you know what kind of herd you joined. Size, or..., condition doesn't matter to my herd, or Sir Fellis's herd. We are all one, well, herd."

Mathew could see tears at the corners of Alivia's eyes.

"Hey now," Mathew said. "None of that! There is no reason to cry."

Alivia smiled and half laughed, "They are not tears of sorrow, Herd Master Mage Lindrose. They are tears of happiness. Your words give me hope, that and your herds open acceptance of Martin so far. Our old herd, well, things were 'difficult' at best."

"Shh." Mathew said, motioning her to stop. "That is all behind you now. This is your herd now, and we are thrilled that you are here." Mathew felt someone behind him and turned. Mika was standing there with the same tear filled eyes.

"You don't know how happy Alivia and I to hear that Herd Master Mage Lindrose, that and, well, everyone so far has been real nice and welcoming us to the herd."

Mathew smiled, "I am glad you two feel welcomed. Now when you get a few moments Mica, I wanted to show the second longhouse and our plans for what we want to do."

Mathew retrieved the gold and key from the bunkhouse. He and Mika walked around the second longhouse. He had to call Felicia and Becca over to make sure thirty-six inch counter height would be acceptable. Mika question which cabinets and where in sequence they wanted them. With everything set, Mathew handed the five hundred gold to Mika for the down payment with instructions of how to get hold of him in case of emergency. Just before leaving, he handed Mika twenty gold.

"In case you, Alivia, or Martin need something getting settled in."

Mika looked down at the gold. "I cannot accept this! I have done nothing to earn it!"

Mathew nodded yes with a smiled. "You have. You joined my herd. Now put that in your waist pouch or I will go give it to Martin instead."

Mika looked at him. Trying to gauge his new Herd Master.

"Don't tempt me, because I will."

Somehow, Mika knew this man would. He laughed, putting it in his pouch, "You would do that too."

"That I would, Mika," Mathew said with a grin on his face.

With plans for their new longhouse completed, and the girls packing, Mathew went and saddled his horse. He then put the pony's pack frame on her and led her over to the bunkhouse. With a last check of the bunkhouse, they loaded the pony and teleported home.

Mathew took several deep breaths as he unsaddle the mare and pack pony. There was something about the farm that was just relaxing. Maybe it was being near the grove. Mathew expected it was the isolation and the quietness. Sir Fellis's long house was pleasant and having the entire herd near was fun, but he missed the quiet and solitude of the farm.

Mathew was leaning on a pitchfork, having just brought down a bail of hay when he saw Felicia and Becca gallop down the road towards Sir Fellis's place.

< Just going down to dad's house to tell Rullis we are here and see what fresh vegetables we can steal for tonight's dinner. >

< Have fun, be safe. >