บท 427: Moving On
"And so I ran," Faris explained to the fascinated two-leggers. "I ran for days. I galloped until my legs could not keep that pace and then pushed myself even harder. As long as I was moving, I could push away the thoughts of what I had done."
"Is that how you ended up with the gnomes?" Aurora asked, finally fitting the pieces of the puzzle together.
The centaur nodded. "At last I collapsed outside a small cave entrance. It reminded me of our hovels and I was hoping to find shelter inside. However, it was one of the secret entrances to the gnome's domain, and they did not like my prying. Back then, they usually only stole wives, but once I was taken to the king, he decided I should be his pet. By pet, I was really his prisoner and his amusement. For years I was shackled to the throne."
"That's despicable," Aurora had met Baak, yet somehow this news lowered her estimation of him even further. The former gnome king was truly vile.
Faris allowed the memories to flow, obviously in pain from the recollection. Only Bukuri had any idea of what he had been through under the king's tortures.
"I will spare you all the details of that time. Eventually I became full grown, and Baak became weary of my presence and also slightly afraid of my size and strength. He transferred me to the dungeon, where he only used me as a beast of burden when it suited him. Down there is where I met a lovely elf and a clever Empress. For that part, I thank Baak heartily."
Faris smiled, blinking away the tears forming in his eyes. He ended up wiping them with his finger.
"So you see," the centaur concluded, "That's how I killed my closest friend and the heir to the centaur throne. I did not lie to you, Empress Aurora, my kind did want me dead."
The group was quiet for a moment. The story felt incomplete somehow. There was still a part of the information that did not add up.
Alvar scratched his neck as he contemplated aloud. "When you came back, did the king finally believe you? I mean you killed Cypher's son, but he seems to have forgiven you."
"How old do you think I am?" Cypher returned to the group unexpectedly and sat beside Faris. "Faris is my cousin, not my nephew. The heir to the throne, Tahmasp, was my older brother."
Nodding slightly, the elf realized his error. But it still did not answer his question. The brother of the fallen centaur seemed to have no ill will toward his cousin. Aurora noticed this also. She studied the king's tail, but it was relaxed as he told of his brother's passing.
"Before you ask, I never knew my brother. I was born the season after Tahmasp died. My father said I was a blessing from the Maker to replace the child he lost. Other than that, no one ever spoke of my brother to me. I knew he had been killed, but not much more." Cypher turned to his cousin and laid a hand on the other centaur's shoulder. Their eyes locked.
"You don't have to add anything," Faris rumbled softly to show his conviction. "What I said was all true."
"It was true but not the whole truth. I see no reason not to let these guests know the end of the tale. You have brought them masterfully to this point. Yet, I will not saddle you with the blame." Cypher's tale swished.
"Rein it in with the puns, will you? Tell us what happened!" Brinn muttered impatiently.
The monarch whinnied softly. He was not offended by her tone, and found her own use of a horse joke amusing.
"Faris told his version of events true enough, but he missed one crucial detail in his story. When my father was on his deathbed, he finally admitted what had actually happened that day." Cypher coughed slightly and looked away. The group wondered if this was a habit of his when he was uncomfortable or if he was simply gathering his words.
"What happened, Your Majesty?" Zan used the king's title to bring him back from his thoughts.
Cypher's eyes refocused. "Forgive me. It is not a happy memory. On his deathbed, the former king told me and my uncle of his treachery. On the day Faris and Tahmasp were sent to practice archery, the advisor's praise of Faris bothered my father greatly. He had heard everyone compliment Faris, but few honor the crown prince. With Tahmasp being lame, there were murmurs that Faris should inherit the throne instead."
"Something I would never have sought or allowed," Faris interjected. "I know Tahmasp would have been a fine king."
"I believe you," Cypher squeezed his cousin's shoulder before lowering his hand. "But the final comment by the advisor sent my father over the edge. He envisioned the herd being torn in two in a quest for the throne. The good of the herd is paramount, and he could no let this happen. As such, my father took matters into his own hands."
"What did he do?" The doctor had noticed that questions were part of the storytelling process of the centaurs. He was happy to finally be able to partake in the discussion.
"Father waited until his advisors left and retrieved a quiver of his own quiver. If anyone saw him, he could say that he was going to join the foals in their lesson. He went to the training field and found Faris alone aiming at the hay bales. He saw his chance to secure his son's spot on the throne and make it look like an accident." Cypher sighed. "In his delusion, he thought he was doing what was best for the herd.
My father raised his bow--he was someone who had never once taken a life--and aimed it at his nephew's back. The draw of the string made the slightest of hums, which drew Faris's attention from his target. He turned and missed the arrow whizzing toward him."
"I did not see it because my eyes were closed and my attention divided," Faris added. He pressed his lips together, feeling torn once more about the truth being revealed.
"While Faris's arrow shot off to the side, the king's hit made a perfect shot in the wrong target. Neither he nor Faris saw Tahmasp's appearance from behind the bales. 'What are you doing?' was the question meant for the king when he saw his father's treachery. Yet he never finished it as the arrow pierced him. 'Why?' my brother asked his father. Yet, he did not live long enough for the answer." Cypher's voice became unsteady.
It was only then that Aurora noticed how quiet the feast had become. Although they had heard the tale before, none of them had heard Cypher and Faris tell it quite like this.
"When I took the blame upon myself, the king let the burden fall on my shoulders. Rather than kill me physically, he sentenced me to a life worse than death. I am still not sure I blame him. It is my fault Tahmasp is dead." Faris made a symbol in the air which resembled the human's honor to the Fates. The rest of the centaurs followed suit.
"It is not your fault, and never was. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed hearing your tales of my elder brother. For the first time, I feel like I know him!" Cypher would not let his cousin fall into brooding again.
When the king had heard that Faris was alive, he had immediately sent an invitation to the elven palace for Faris to return. The monarch's cousin had agreed, and when Faris arrived and learned the truth, he had vowed to stay and make up for lost time.
Cypher made sure to give his relative all the time and space he needed, and at last Faris had begun to lighten up and show a bit of happiness. "You are like a brother to me now, Faris. I would not be deprived of that for anything."
Faris smiled genuinely and raised his tail in appreciation. "Thank you, cousin. I am most glad to hear that."
'A misguided ruler doing something to help their own child that instead harms them...it seems that story cannot be escaped no matter your race or kind,' Aurora mused, thinking of her own shortcomings. She yawned. It was getting very late.
Picking up on her unintentional cue, Faris stretched his arms. "Well, I do not think we can top a story on royal treachery. I do think it is time for us to hit the hay."
The others agreed, and with the king's blessing, they began to disperse. "Get a good night's sleep. We will reach the ice barrier tomorrow." Brinn reminded the Empress. Thanks to Reyan's portals, the group had cut considerable time off of their journey.
Their goal was quickly coming within reach. Hopefully their search was not in vain.
"Rest well," Brinn told the princess.
"Monster! Monster!" a voice broke through the noises of the night. A frantic female centaur rushed toward the king and fell at his feet. The two began a feverish conversation in the ancient tongue, but Aurora understood the first word without needing any translation.
A fear gripped her. She asked Nurlan for the magical map. Sure enough, her fears were justified. The writing in the Whispering Forest had disappeared.
The 'Abominable' had moved.
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