Chris Pierson - Dezra's Quest

Trephas and Arhedion pulled up half a mile from the path, atop a low bluff. "This is where we must part," Trephas said. He nodded toward the road, which was dotted with the shapes of men, horses, and wagons. "It's best if we don't go among humans just now. Dark rumors have surely spread abroad, these past months, as Chrethon's strength grew. I think we'd get a cold welcome if we appeared among thy people now."

The centaurs knelt down, then rose again after Caramon and Dezra dismounted. "You can come visit us at the Inn any time," Caramon said.

Trephas laughed. "I'm glad for thy offer, my friend," he replied, "but all those stairs… no, I don't think I shall visit thy Inn. Still, perhaps I'll come to Solace again one year, for the Spring Dawning fair. Thou, of course, are always welcome in Darken Wood. Both of thee."

One by one, they paired off and clasped arms. When it came time for Trephas and Dezra, however, the horse-man knelt before her and they embraced. He stroked her hair with his maimed hand a moment, then bent down and brushed his lips on her forehead.

"Oh, for Reorx's sake," she told him. "Do it properly, will you?"

Before he could react, she grabbed his head with both hands and kissed him hard on the mouth. Arhedion roared with mirth, and even Caramon grinned as Trephas finally came up for air, sputtering and flushed.

"Now get out of here," Dezra said.

Trephas gaped a moment longer, then rose with a quick laugh. "Very well, my lady," he said. "Clear roads to both of thee."

With that, he wheeled and galloped away, mane and tail streaming. Arhedion followed. Caramon and Dezra watched until they rounded a bend and vanished from sight. The sound of their hooves echoed among the hills.

"Well," Dezra said, rubbing her hands, "that's that, I guess. Let's get going." Turning, she started toward the Haven Road.

Caramon reached out and caught her shoulder. "Hold up," he said. "I've got something to say to you, now that we're alone."

She groaned, turning to face him. "What now?"

"I'm proud of you, Dez," Caramon said. "I'll be honest- you've disappointed me a lot in the past, but you came through back there." He jerked his head back toward Darken Wood. "I'm sorry I threw you out, too. I want you to come home."

Dezra stared at him, pursing her lips. "Then I'm sorry," she said, "but I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you one last time."

She reached out and took his hands. "I've changed a lot, these past months. But I'm still who I am, Father. I'm not Laura, content to live my whole life without ever leaving Solace. I want to see the world, while I'm still young."

Caramon bowed his head. "So-where are you going?"

"Same as before," she said. "Haven, then Ankatavaka. After that… well, I'll just have to see."

"You'll come back?" he asked in a small voice. "To visit, I mean?"

"We'll see," she said. "Probably. For the spiced potatoes." She hesitated, then pulled a small pouch from her belt and handed it to him. It jingled as he took it. "Here," she said. "It's the extra steel the Circle gave me. I want you to give it to Uwen's family. Tell them-tell them I'm sorry about what happened to him."

They stood together for a while, then he bent down and kissed her cheek. "Go on, then," he told her. "See the world. I envy you a little. Just promise me one thing."

She met his gaze, her eyes shimmering. "Yeah?"

"Don't turn into my sister. Don't be Kitiara."

She bent her head up, then, and kissed him back. When she pulled away, her lips were curled into her usual crooked grin. "I won't, Father," she said. "I'll be me."

She shouldered her pack and walked away, angling south toward the road. Caramon stared for a long while, smiling through his tears and hoping she would look back. But she never did.