#dreaming

The plains of low laying clouds have taken an interesting vibe... the sun has lessened, and while it is still very flat, the clouds have become fog. They have trouble seeing the silver beneath their feet

And earl has trouble seeing her "love?"

No words, but a hand touching his!

Relief... "Thank you" And they move on...the fog makes it hard to see the silver they on so they are cautious, and it slows them down.

In the distance, shapes move... men on horses? Or centuars?

Tug-tug-point!

"I see the shapes but.. " he calls out "Ho there, be you friend or foe?"

Zara pulls on Earl's hand, drawing closer.

Some laughter, "Why not ask us onto the silver and find out?" Boisterous sounding laughter

"Feh."

Then one says "We are the Herd Thunderhoof, once allies to your kind troll... if that is a troll I ken."

And through the fog, the centaurs approach the silver coming closer into view. They certainly look like centaurs

Earl shoots her an apologetic glance... at least he tries to, he looks where she tugged from

Zara hides behind him and kenns the creatures.

Chimera... and while they laugh and prance... there's an element of sadness to them.

"Trolls and Centuars were allies? I did not think our lands would cross?"

She tilts her head.

"Near the end times, they did, finally" The centaur answers Earl

"And then, well, it was too late... we were forgotten, undone... no longer a kith... now all we have are.." The centaurs male and female frown "Ah well...it happens"

Earl blinks, then says "You were trapped with the dragon.. it died, you were freed, but soon... you maybe less or even.. gone"

Frown. She looks for what might be hidden...

She sees it, the one earl speaks to seems a jovial fellow, but they are leaner than they should be, as if hungry. And three or four centaurs do not seem as friendly, they are whispering.

"The herdlord speaks kindly , while we die... when we go into the Dreaming deep we will live, but lose our identities... but the glamour in these two, if we could get it.. might help us remain ourselves" One whispers to another

Zara strains to listen - she IS a whisperer, and one perhaps so far unseen... silver in grey in the mist, a pale thing..

"The Herdlord would never allow... and besides, the silver denies us now without invite."

"Two?I saw but one..."

"There is another, I ken..something else"

Zara climbs Earl's back (like a blue tree)

A whisper in his ear. "Betrayal. Trust them not."

"Well, you have a nice trip" Earl says "And my sympathy."

"Wait," the lead Centaur says "I ask of you, please, let us ride on the silver. We will last longer, less chance of a firchills distorting us ... maybe we can make it to the deepest dream before it is done?"

"Perhaps you can send them to the deeper dream without the silver?"

Earl blinks, "It is your lucky day sirrah..." He smiles "My angel has reminded me of something... I'm powerful. I cannot take you to the Deep Dreaming, but I can send you to the frontier of it, a place that is, well, as safe as such areas get."

The Herdleaer raises a brow, "This is a surprise. Ye claim to be a sorcerer then?"

"A specialist, in wayfare... I know some ledgerdemain, but I fear it is not as advanced." Earl says

"Here, I have a book that will teach you much of that art, just let us on the silver before you send us off?" One of those plotting says holding up a book! The book is no illusion

they are using a real lure

She nuzzles his ear. "Risk it not. They would drain us."

"A starving man has no morals."

"You have my pity" He says to the book holder "But not my trust." And he calls out "Chiron's children found the roads made of ash and tears, but I know a place, a wondrous place, that may yet calm their fears. Away with ye, away with ye, to wilder lands than these. Near the entrance to it, cross it if ye please!"

Earl lets loose a soft shockwave of magic

and the centaurs fade

"A pity. Centaurs are said to be great scholars..."

"I know.. " He says

There's a flump sound just off the silver

She squints.

The book has hit the grassy plains! Oh it's but six feet off the trod

A sigh and an eye-roll.

"What was that?" He has to ask

"A lure. Let us continue."