| General Fiction posted April 2, 2025 | Chapters: |
...17 18 -19- 
|
Diantha fights for her life with a Specter.
A chapter in the book Body of a Horse, Heart of a Man
Conflict in the Woods
by davisr (Rhonda)
The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
| Background A fanciful tale of adventure. Phoebus, son of Poseidon, is a god turned Centaur by Zeus. Diantha, is a young lady in peril. Together, they must face an evil foe, and make some difficult choices. |
End of Last Chapter:
"I apologize for trespassing," Diantha said. She was trying to talk her way out of a situation that had the same feel as in Tennessee with her would-be kidnapper.
Her mind flew to the one creature who had saved her before. The very one Atrius had told her to call for in need. "Champion!" she yelled before Drake's hand covered her mouth.
He leaned in close to her ear, his putrid breath filling her senses. "Screaming won't help here. Now, be quiet. I have big plans for you."
New Chapter Begins:
"Drake, you told me you wouldn't do that again," Agatha wailed. "You've been lucky. The girls you chose before were unknown woodsmen's daughters."
"Now listen, Agatha, you know as a Caracki, I'm obligated to my old religion. Especially with the invasion coming up, I need to make an offering to Hades. She's a little old, but looks untouched. You untouched, girl?"
Diantha mumbled beneath Drake's hand.
"Oh." He pulled his hand away. "Don't scream or I'll cover it again. So what about it? Are you pure?"
"That's none of your business," Diantha said. She was, but figured this would not be the best time to admit it.
"Well, we'll have to use you, anyway. We're out of time to find someone more suitable."
"More suitable? I don't belong to either of you. Now, let me go."
Diantha began to thrash around, but the large man held her fiercely in his grasp. With a maniacal glaze to his eyes, he dragged her down a flight of stairs and into a cellar. She knew she should have felt the pain of bumps and scrapes, but heightened adrenaline counteracted discomfort.
Behind them, the pitiful Agatha followed, wringing her hands and begging mercy for their captive.
Drake tied her to a wooden chair that appeared like it might have been used for sacrifices before. Diantha turned her head from her captor and shuddered.
Maybe she should have taken Atrius' advice and returned home to Tennessee. No, she thought, even here, locked in a cellar with a crazy guy, she felt more alive than she had in her former life. She might die at the hands of this psychopath, but at least she would have experienced life before she went.
There had to be a way out of this situation, she thought. Her hands were bound behind her back, and her legs tied firmly to the chair. What could she do? What did she have left that she could control?
As she gazed around the room looking for anything to help, she noticed a small window near the top of the cellar. It led outside, and there was a small bird pecking at some grass beside it. It looked in at her curiously.
"Hey, little bird," Diantha called out. Her captors ignored her. "Go get Atrius. Go on, go get the Centaur."
The bird looked in at her again and cocked its head as though listening. The action gave her hope. Maybe, all the animals in the valley could talk to Atrius.
She repeated her plea to the bird as loud as she dared.
"Shut up!" Drake bellowed and slapped her across the face. "We need it quiet in here before the sacrifice. I have to remember my lines. I haven't done this too many times on my own."
"Well, excuse me for messing up your evil ritual," Diantha said, "but I'm not going down willingly."
"The ritual is not evil, you infidel," Drake responded. "Hades is a viable god, one of the twelve of power. He's no more evil than the others."
"Isn't he the god of the Underworld?" Diantha asked, remembering her Greek mythology.
"Yes, but that doesn't make him evil, just in charge of the dead."
"Oh, I see, so it's a bad job but someone has to do it? Doesn't it bother you, even a little, that the god you serve rules dead people?"
"No, for your information, he's over more than that. He rules gold, silver, and gems from the ground. He's made my people quite wealthy."
"If that's true, then why do you live in this valley and not back in Carack with the others?"
"I'm one of his trusted soldiers," he explained. "Our valley has been used up as far as resources are concerned, and we're about to take this one over. After tomorrow, Hades will help us rule both places."
"You used up the resources? But I thought you said Hades gave you the riches. It seems he only taught you to dig things up without conserving your land in the process. He gave you nothing but separation from people who were once your brothers."
"You speak about things you don't understand," Drake said. He leaned his face inches from hers. She could feel his foul breath on her sore cheek.
"Oh, I'm fully aware of your situation," she retorted. If she was going to die, anyway, she might as well speak her mind. "Have you visited my world? Your friend Hades is hard at work there, too, and the results are the same. Death begets death."
"I'm not afraid to die, little girl, not for him."
"Good, then go sacrifice yourself."
"It doesn't work that way."
"No, you're right," Diantha said. Her eyes bored into his. "He already owns your soul, and if you think he cares about you personally, you're an idiot. He'll drop you just as soon as you've served his purpose."
"You're wrong, he needs me. He made me a Specter and gave me extra powers. I'm here to offer him sacrifices so his work can progress in this valley."
"The sacrifice of death?"
"As they say, we all have to go sometime. For you it will be a death of honor. You should be thanking me for giving you the opportunity. Now, my work here is about to begin, so I suggest you get quiet and pray to whatever god you serve."
"I already did, and He sent me to this valley and to the care of Atrius. You may not be afraid of Burke, but you should be afraid of the Centaur."
"Well, I'm not, and he'll fall tomorrow, anyway."
Diantha shook her head. "He's immortal. He'll be the victor even if all else die."
"Maybe not." Drake stood with one hand resting on his hip and the other waving a knife.
"What do you mean?" Diantha asked. There was a hesitation in her voice she hadn't wanted to show.
"We have a new helper with us," Drake replied, "and he told us he knows how to defeat your champion. He says Atrius has a weakness we can use against him. With his help, we are going to use this flaw to win our war. Tomorrow will be a great day for the Caracki people. Concorde will fall and so will Atrius and all the other losers that rule this place."
Anxiety began to gnaw at her throat and tighten her chest. Could she believe this fool? Could she afford not to? Atrius couldn't die. The valley needed him... she needed him. She wasn't as afraid of dying as a sacrifice as she was of losing all that was good in the valley.
When Drake turned back to continue his sacrificial preparations, Diantha tested the ropes around her feet. She wriggled and squirmed until she found a way to slip one foot out.
It wasn't much, but it gave her courage. She wriggled her other foot loose, too.
She glanced over at Agatha, who was watching her closely. She wondered what hold this evil servant of Hades had on the poor woman, and why she was unable to escape him. Diantha glared at her to warn her not to say a thing. Agatha nodded her greasy, disheveled head in agreement.
Drake turned around. He was holding knives as he approached her. He placed them on a table and started chanting some words under his breath she didn't understand and, honestly, didn't care to.
"I apologize for trespassing," Diantha said. She was trying to talk her way out of a situation that had the same feel as in Tennessee with her would-be kidnapper.
Her mind flew to the one creature who had saved her before. The very one Atrius had told her to call for in need. "Champion!" she yelled before Drake's hand covered her mouth.
He leaned in close to her ear, his putrid breath filling her senses. "Screaming won't help here. Now, be quiet. I have big plans for you."
New Chapter Begins:
"Drake, you told me you wouldn't do that again," Agatha wailed. "You've been lucky. The girls you chose before were unknown woodsmen's daughters."
"Now listen, Agatha, you know as a Caracki, I'm obligated to my old religion. Especially with the invasion coming up, I need to make an offering to Hades. She's a little old, but looks untouched. You untouched, girl?"
Diantha mumbled beneath Drake's hand.
"Oh." He pulled his hand away. "Don't scream or I'll cover it again. So what about it? Are you pure?"
"That's none of your business," Diantha said. She was, but figured this would not be the best time to admit it.
"Well, we'll have to use you, anyway. We're out of time to find someone more suitable."
"More suitable? I don't belong to either of you. Now, let me go."
Diantha began to thrash around, but the large man held her fiercely in his grasp. With a maniacal glaze to his eyes, he dragged her down a flight of stairs and into a cellar. She knew she should have felt the pain of bumps and scrapes, but heightened adrenaline counteracted discomfort.
Behind them, the pitiful Agatha followed, wringing her hands and begging mercy for their captive.
Drake tied her to a wooden chair that appeared like it might have been used for sacrifices before. Diantha turned her head from her captor and shuddered.
Maybe she should have taken Atrius' advice and returned home to Tennessee. No, she thought, even here, locked in a cellar with a crazy guy, she felt more alive than she had in her former life. She might die at the hands of this psychopath, but at least she would have experienced life before she went.
There had to be a way out of this situation, she thought. Her hands were bound behind her back, and her legs tied firmly to the chair. What could she do? What did she have left that she could control?
As she gazed around the room looking for anything to help, she noticed a small window near the top of the cellar. It led outside, and there was a small bird pecking at some grass beside it. It looked in at her curiously.
"Hey, little bird," Diantha called out. Her captors ignored her. "Go get Atrius. Go on, go get the Centaur."
The bird looked in at her again and cocked its head as though listening. The action gave her hope. Maybe, all the animals in the valley could talk to Atrius.
She repeated her plea to the bird as loud as she dared.
"Shut up!" Drake bellowed and slapped her across the face. "We need it quiet in here before the sacrifice. I have to remember my lines. I haven't done this too many times on my own."
"Well, excuse me for messing up your evil ritual," Diantha said, "but I'm not going down willingly."
"The ritual is not evil, you infidel," Drake responded. "Hades is a viable god, one of the twelve of power. He's no more evil than the others."
"Isn't he the god of the Underworld?" Diantha asked, remembering her Greek mythology.
"Yes, but that doesn't make him evil, just in charge of the dead."
"Oh, I see, so it's a bad job but someone has to do it? Doesn't it bother you, even a little, that the god you serve rules dead people?"
"No, for your information, he's over more than that. He rules gold, silver, and gems from the ground. He's made my people quite wealthy."
"If that's true, then why do you live in this valley and not back in Carack with the others?"
"I'm one of his trusted soldiers," he explained. "Our valley has been used up as far as resources are concerned, and we're about to take this one over. After tomorrow, Hades will help us rule both places."
"You used up the resources? But I thought you said Hades gave you the riches. It seems he only taught you to dig things up without conserving your land in the process. He gave you nothing but separation from people who were once your brothers."
"You speak about things you don't understand," Drake said. He leaned his face inches from hers. She could feel his foul breath on her sore cheek.
"Oh, I'm fully aware of your situation," she retorted. If she was going to die, anyway, she might as well speak her mind. "Have you visited my world? Your friend Hades is hard at work there, too, and the results are the same. Death begets death."
"I'm not afraid to die, little girl, not for him."
"Good, then go sacrifice yourself."
"It doesn't work that way."
"No, you're right," Diantha said. Her eyes bored into his. "He already owns your soul, and if you think he cares about you personally, you're an idiot. He'll drop you just as soon as you've served his purpose."
"You're wrong, he needs me. He made me a Specter and gave me extra powers. I'm here to offer him sacrifices so his work can progress in this valley."
"The sacrifice of death?"
"As they say, we all have to go sometime. For you it will be a death of honor. You should be thanking me for giving you the opportunity. Now, my work here is about to begin, so I suggest you get quiet and pray to whatever god you serve."
"I already did, and He sent me to this valley and to the care of Atrius. You may not be afraid of Burke, but you should be afraid of the Centaur."
"Well, I'm not, and he'll fall tomorrow, anyway."
Diantha shook her head. "He's immortal. He'll be the victor even if all else die."
"Maybe not." Drake stood with one hand resting on his hip and the other waving a knife.
"What do you mean?" Diantha asked. There was a hesitation in her voice she hadn't wanted to show.
"We have a new helper with us," Drake replied, "and he told us he knows how to defeat your champion. He says Atrius has a weakness we can use against him. With his help, we are going to use this flaw to win our war. Tomorrow will be a great day for the Caracki people. Concorde will fall and so will Atrius and all the other losers that rule this place."
Anxiety began to gnaw at her throat and tighten her chest. Could she believe this fool? Could she afford not to? Atrius couldn't die. The valley needed him... she needed him. She wasn't as afraid of dying as a sacrifice as she was of losing all that was good in the valley.
When Drake turned back to continue his sacrificial preparations, Diantha tested the ropes around her feet. She wriggled and squirmed until she found a way to slip one foot out.
It wasn't much, but it gave her courage. She wriggled her other foot loose, too.
She glanced over at Agatha, who was watching her closely. She wondered what hold this evil servant of Hades had on the poor woman, and why she was unable to escape him. Diantha glared at her to warn her not to say a thing. Agatha nodded her greasy, disheveled head in agreement.
Drake turned around. He was holding knives as he approached her. He placed them on a table and started chanting some words under his breath she didn't understand and, honestly, didn't care to.
His eyes became more glazed as Agatha started to cry and plead for him to stop. He didn't even seem to hear as he continued his ritual.
Grabbing one of the knives, he cut Diantha's hands free, but pressed his body against hers to keep her from moving. He grasped one of her wrists and made a deep cut across it.
The wound didn't hurt much, as the knife was sharp, but the fact she was bleeding was alarming. Drake dipped his fingers in the red sticky liquid and drew a mark on her forehead. He leaned back admiring his handiwork. Satisfied, he began to dance around the room and chant. If she was going to act, now was the time.
She took a deep breath and thought about how she had to get the information out she had just learned. Atrius and Burke were about to head into a war against an enemy they thought they knew well, but didn't. The knowledge of her responsibility gave her added power.
When Drake drew close again, she lunged upward and caught him in the groin with her knee. She kicked him in the chin when he bent over, then kicked the wooden table beside the chair when he went down. It hit him squarely in the face. She wasn't sure where she had learned to fight, but figured that this was one of many novel activities she was gaining in her new life.
Without turning back to see if Drake was on his feet, she ran up the stairs and jerked open the cellar door. She slammed it shut behind her, hoping to slow any pursuit coming her way.
She ran through the kitchen and to the front room of the house. The door was closed and latched ahead of her; she could see that much in the hazy light of the living room. She heard footsteps behind her as she fiddled with the locks on the door.
Finally, when she got the door open, she noticed it had grown dark while she was in the shack. The light on the path in front of her was lit only by a full moon, but she could still see well enough to run. She slammed the door shut behind, and heard a bellow of pain. Drake might catch her again, but she relished in the idea of having made him fight to get her.
As she heard the door crash open behind her, she saw a flash of movement in front. Instinctively, she dropped to the ground just as an arrow whizzed over her head and flew straight into Drake's throat.
She watched as a rugged man leapt over her and landed on top of her assailant. There was a sickening sound of crushing bones, and then Agatha's cry as she came out the door.
"Get out of here, woman," the man commanded, "or I'll take you in as an accomplice."
Agatha pleaded with wide eyes, and groveled at the man's feet.
"Georgios," she begged, "spare me."
Diantha gaped at Atrius' son in surprise. In this setting, he seemed more feral than human. And, ever so much more like his Centaur father.
"Am I free to go?" Agatha asked with a trace of hope in her voice. "He took me from my family when I was a child."
"Do you know where your family is?"
"Yes, sir. They live across the valley."
"Do you have a way to get to them?"
"Yes, we have a horse in the barn. I can saddle him and go, that is if you'll let me."
"You're free to leave as long as you give up whatever life you were leading with this man."
"I promise you, I was a prisoner, too."
"Then go in peace."
"Thank you, sir," she said, and then turned to head for the barn. She didn't even bother to go back into the house for any of her things.
Diantha burst into tears as Georgios traipsed over to her side. He tenderly lifted her into his strong arms. He carried her like a child until they found his sorrel stallion to mount. He urged the great beast toward town.
After a bit, Diatha asked, "how did you find me? I called for Champion and talked to a little bird. Did either of them summon you?"
"I heard you cry for your filly," he explained. "Champion was too far away to have heard you directly. I could have passed the alarm, but this forest rescues aren't her area of specialty."
"Is it yours, then?"
"I assure you, I've fought Caracki for many generations of men."
"But he said he was a Specter," Diantha said, "like that was some specialist."
"He was nothing special to me. Hades has many of his type in his service. They're not immortals."
"Thank you for coming, but, Georgios, I'm bleeding," she said holding her arm up for him to see in the dim street lamps of the outskits of the city, "and I have something evil on my forehead."
Georgios pulled a handkerchief out of a pocket in his vest and wrapped it around her wrist. The tight bandage hurt her damaged skin, but Diantha knew it was necessary to stop the bleeding. He then spat on his hand and wiped the mark off her forehead. He gazed at her with a mixture of concern and pride.
"Better now?"
"Infinitely."
"Good. So, how did you end up at that house?"
Out of nerves, Diantha began to stammer. "I was out walking in the trees like Brandon told me to. I was doing really good, jumping around from tree to tree like a native Concordian, but then realized I was lost. So, I started heading west, because I thought that was the way back to the Barton's house, only it wasn't. So I got down out of the trees, and went over to this farmhouse. I knocked on those people's door to ask for help, but the man grabbed my arm and dragged me down into a cellar and started some weird evil ritual on me. I feel so violated."
"You're okay," Georgios consoled, almost smiling. "I got the mark off you, and you're safe. Drake can't hurt you, I promise."
Grabbing one of the knives, he cut Diantha's hands free, but pressed his body against hers to keep her from moving. He grasped one of her wrists and made a deep cut across it.
The wound didn't hurt much, as the knife was sharp, but the fact she was bleeding was alarming. Drake dipped his fingers in the red sticky liquid and drew a mark on her forehead. He leaned back admiring his handiwork. Satisfied, he began to dance around the room and chant. If she was going to act, now was the time.
She took a deep breath and thought about how she had to get the information out she had just learned. Atrius and Burke were about to head into a war against an enemy they thought they knew well, but didn't. The knowledge of her responsibility gave her added power.
When Drake drew close again, she lunged upward and caught him in the groin with her knee. She kicked him in the chin when he bent over, then kicked the wooden table beside the chair when he went down. It hit him squarely in the face. She wasn't sure where she had learned to fight, but figured that this was one of many novel activities she was gaining in her new life.
Without turning back to see if Drake was on his feet, she ran up the stairs and jerked open the cellar door. She slammed it shut behind her, hoping to slow any pursuit coming her way.
She ran through the kitchen and to the front room of the house. The door was closed and latched ahead of her; she could see that much in the hazy light of the living room. She heard footsteps behind her as she fiddled with the locks on the door.
Finally, when she got the door open, she noticed it had grown dark while she was in the shack. The light on the path in front of her was lit only by a full moon, but she could still see well enough to run. She slammed the door shut behind, and heard a bellow of pain. Drake might catch her again, but she relished in the idea of having made him fight to get her.
As she heard the door crash open behind her, she saw a flash of movement in front. Instinctively, she dropped to the ground just as an arrow whizzed over her head and flew straight into Drake's throat.
She watched as a rugged man leapt over her and landed on top of her assailant. There was a sickening sound of crushing bones, and then Agatha's cry as she came out the door.
"Get out of here, woman," the man commanded, "or I'll take you in as an accomplice."
Agatha pleaded with wide eyes, and groveled at the man's feet.
"Georgios," she begged, "spare me."
Diantha gaped at Atrius' son in surprise. In this setting, he seemed more feral than human. And, ever so much more like his Centaur father.
"Am I free to go?" Agatha asked with a trace of hope in her voice. "He took me from my family when I was a child."
"Do you know where your family is?"
"Yes, sir. They live across the valley."
"Do you have a way to get to them?"
"Yes, we have a horse in the barn. I can saddle him and go, that is if you'll let me."
"You're free to leave as long as you give up whatever life you were leading with this man."
"I promise you, I was a prisoner, too."
"Then go in peace."
"Thank you, sir," she said, and then turned to head for the barn. She didn't even bother to go back into the house for any of her things.
Diantha burst into tears as Georgios traipsed over to her side. He tenderly lifted her into his strong arms. He carried her like a child until they found his sorrel stallion to mount. He urged the great beast toward town.
After a bit, Diatha asked, "how did you find me? I called for Champion and talked to a little bird. Did either of them summon you?"
"I heard you cry for your filly," he explained. "Champion was too far away to have heard you directly. I could have passed the alarm, but this forest rescues aren't her area of specialty."
"Is it yours, then?"
"I assure you, I've fought Caracki for many generations of men."
"But he said he was a Specter," Diantha said, "like that was some specialist."
"He was nothing special to me. Hades has many of his type in his service. They're not immortals."
"Thank you for coming, but, Georgios, I'm bleeding," she said holding her arm up for him to see in the dim street lamps of the outskits of the city, "and I have something evil on my forehead."
Georgios pulled a handkerchief out of a pocket in his vest and wrapped it around her wrist. The tight bandage hurt her damaged skin, but Diantha knew it was necessary to stop the bleeding. He then spat on his hand and wiped the mark off her forehead. He gazed at her with a mixture of concern and pride.
"Better now?"
"Infinitely."
"Good. So, how did you end up at that house?"
Out of nerves, Diantha began to stammer. "I was out walking in the trees like Brandon told me to. I was doing really good, jumping around from tree to tree like a native Concordian, but then realized I was lost. So, I started heading west, because I thought that was the way back to the Barton's house, only it wasn't. So I got down out of the trees, and went over to this farmhouse. I knocked on those people's door to ask for help, but the man grabbed my arm and dragged me down into a cellar and started some weird evil ritual on me. I feel so violated."
"You're okay," Georgios consoled, almost smiling. "I got the mark off you, and you're safe. Drake can't hurt you, I promise."
"But he's a ..."
"Specter. He was one. Now, he's dead."
"Thank you, Georgios. That man told me they have someone new who is going to help them in the invasion tomorrow. He's supposed to know a weakness of your father's and use it to defeat him."
"Did he say what the weakness was?"
"No, but he said it would destroy him, allowing the Caracki to take over. He said Hades would rule both valleys then."
"The Caracki are always boasting about killing my father, but haven't succeeded yet."
"That may be true, but please tell him to be careful. If he does have a weakness, and he knows what it is, ask him to watch out for it tomorrow."
"I certainly will, but by now, you have to have figured what a stubborn man he can be. Rather like a young lady I know."
"Hey, it's not like I meant to get lost."
"No, and you didn't sit back and become his sacrifice, either."
"How did you know that?"
"First, I saw you barreling out the door with your captor inches behind. Secondly, a little birdie told me."
"The sparrow found you, then?"
"Thank you, Georgios. That man told me they have someone new who is going to help them in the invasion tomorrow. He's supposed to know a weakness of your father's and use it to defeat him."
"Did he say what the weakness was?"
"No, but he said it would destroy him, allowing the Caracki to take over. He said Hades would rule both valleys then."
"The Caracki are always boasting about killing my father, but haven't succeeded yet."
"That may be true, but please tell him to be careful. If he does have a weakness, and he knows what it is, ask him to watch out for it tomorrow."
"I certainly will, but by now, you have to have figured what a stubborn man he can be. Rather like a young lady I know."
"Hey, it's not like I meant to get lost."
"No, and you didn't sit back and become his sacrifice, either."
"How did you know that?"
"First, I saw you barreling out the door with your captor inches behind. Secondly, a little birdie told me."
"The sparrow found you, then?"
"Found me?" Georgios chuckled. "I sent him after I heard your cry for help."
"How did you hear it? Did you just happen to be in the area?"
"Mary sent for me when you didn't come back home. She said the last time she saw, you were shooting arrows at a target behind her house. She went out to check on you, and found your bow and quiver of arrows on the ground beneath a tree beside your sandals. She figured you had been practicing tree walking. I sent sparrows in all directions until one reported back."
"Why you and not Brandon or your father?"
"I guess the quick answer would be that they are both busy making preparations for war, but the better one is that finding people in the woods is my specialty. My father knows a lot about the wilderness, but splits his attention many ways."
"So he's told me. Doctor, king, father, magician..."
Georgios chuckled. "That and more, but not me. I often don't leave the forest for weeks at a time, and speak to people even less often than that. Father might be their king, but I'm their shepherd."
"You remind me of him, you know. You sound like him, smell like him, have his same commanding presence, but..."
"There's something different, right?" Georgios asked. He cocked his bushy head to the side, half-feral eyes meeting hers.
"Yeah. What is it?"
Georgios took a deep breath Diantha could feel against the shoulder pressed against him. "I'm half Centaur. I can never be completely human. Sometimes I appear more that way than at others, but out here in my territory, I am what I am."
"But Atrius is all Centaur, yet appears more..." Diantha said.
"Human," Georgios filled in. He urged his sorrell stallion forward. "And that's because he is one."
Diantha's hazel eyes narrowed in concentration, her auburn hair wild and unruly giving her a savage appearance as well. "How so?" she asked. "Because all I see is Centaur."
Georgios nodded and placed his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "My mother told me when I was young that my father is actually a god cursed by Zeus to be a Centaur. Unlike her, he wasn't born that way. Somewhere, deep inside, is an immortal man. I'm afraid that's the secret your captor knew."
"How could that knowledge possibly be used to destroy him?" Diantha asked.
"I don't know, but it's the only weakness I can think of. I'm sorry for what happened to you in that shack. I can't begin to know what you went through. But, maybe, something good can come out of it. Let's get you back to Mary's house. We've got a big day ahead of us."
The AI image of the man was from Stock Cake.
Diantha: Female protagonist. Born and raised in Tennessee. Her father is the Governor of Tennessee. She is going to college to study pediatrics.
White Lightning: Diantha's new filly... a gift from Wilson's family. Her Horse Name is Champion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoebus: Young son of Poseidon. He works for Apollo as a horse tender and has started a line of horses of his own. He is cursed by Zeus and sent to Concorde Valley as a Centaur.
Atrius: Pseudonym of Phoebus. He has amnesia from his youth and was renamed by a caretaker. Now lives in Concorde Valley. He has many roles, including their King, doctor, military leader, father, and, in his words, a bit of a magician.
Georgios: Atrius' son from his first wife, which was a Centaur. Georgios walks on two feet, but has animal-like characteristics.
Mary Burton: The wife of Atrius' captain, Burke. She is Diantha's caretaker and new friend. She has 6 children, and is a midwife.
Burke: One of Atrius' captains, husband of Mary
Brandon: Mary's handsome little brother who works with his father, Burke in the guard.
He's a romantic interest of Diantha's, but one she feels pushed into a relationship with.
Tabitha: Mary's oldest child, 14-year-old and helps her mother as a midwife
Brenda: Mary's 12-year-old daughter. Also helps deliver babies, but is still in school
Brice: Mary's 8-year-old son
Tommy: Mary's 5-year-old son
Carter: Mary's 2-year-old son
Hank: Mary's 6 month old baby.
Caracki: Long time enemies of the Concordians
Drake: Caracki Specter holding Diantha hostage in a shack
Agatha: Female companion of Drake.
Eudora: Youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera - She's spoiled and petulant and purely made up on my part. She's also the indirect reason Phoebus is turned into a Centaur.
Eternal: Phoebus' favorite black stallion. A gift from Poseidon to get his youngest son started in horse breeding. He's an immortal and hopefully the father of Phoebus' planned bloodline.
Pays
10 points
and 1.11 member dollars
(and maybe more). Diantha: Female protagonist. Born and raised in Tennessee. Her father is the Governor of Tennessee. She is going to college to study pediatrics.
White Lightning: Diantha's new filly... a gift from Wilson's family. Her Horse Name is Champion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoebus: Young son of Poseidon. He works for Apollo as a horse tender and has started a line of horses of his own. He is cursed by Zeus and sent to Concorde Valley as a Centaur.
Atrius: Pseudonym of Phoebus. He has amnesia from his youth and was renamed by a caretaker. Now lives in Concorde Valley. He has many roles, including their King, doctor, military leader, father, and, in his words, a bit of a magician.
Georgios: Atrius' son from his first wife, which was a Centaur. Georgios walks on two feet, but has animal-like characteristics.
Mary Burton: The wife of Atrius' captain, Burke. She is Diantha's caretaker and new friend. She has 6 children, and is a midwife.
Burke: One of Atrius' captains, husband of Mary
Brandon: Mary's handsome little brother who works with his father, Burke in the guard.
He's a romantic interest of Diantha's, but one she feels pushed into a relationship with.
Tabitha: Mary's oldest child, 14-year-old and helps her mother as a midwife
Brenda: Mary's 12-year-old daughter. Also helps deliver babies, but is still in school
Brice: Mary's 8-year-old son
Tommy: Mary's 5-year-old son
Carter: Mary's 2-year-old son
Hank: Mary's 6 month old baby.
Caracki: Long time enemies of the Concordians
Drake: Caracki Specter holding Diantha hostage in a shack
Agatha: Female companion of Drake.
Eudora: Youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera - She's spoiled and petulant and purely made up on my part. She's also the indirect reason Phoebus is turned into a Centaur.
Eternal: Phoebus' favorite black stallion. A gift from Poseidon to get his youngest son started in horse breeding. He's an immortal and hopefully the father of Phoebus' planned bloodline.
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