“So pretty,” she chirped. “Like summer.”
“Thanks,” said Fiona stiffly.
“Tell us your story now,” said Jorian. “We’re listening.”
They were more than just listening. They were rapt. Fiona shifted as the centaur girl continued combing her hair. How could she begin, when there was so much she didn’t understand?
“Go on,” Nessa urged her gently.
Jorian knelt down on one of his forelegs. “Who was chasing you? The Redeemers?”
“Yes,” said Fiona. “And others, too. I was with my friend, Moth. We came through the Reach together.”
“Why?” asked Jorian. He seemed genuinely perplexed, as if the news of the Starfinder hadn’t reached Pandera.
“Moth brought something important with him,” said Fiona. “Something some other people wanted.” She bit her lip, then asked, “Lord Jorian, do you know about the Starfinder?”
The centaurs gave a collective gasp. The girl stopped combing Fiona’s hair.
“The boy—your friend—he has the Starfinder?” asked Jorian.
“No,” said Fiona. “Not anymore. He did, but… Oh, it’s hard to explain!” she snorted. “He had the Starfinder when we left Calio. That’s the city across the Reach where we come from. The Starfinder was there. A man named Leroux gave it to Moth. He—”
“Leroux,” rumbled Jorian, glancing darkly at his fellow centaurs. “We know Leroux, girl. The dragon lover.”
“Huh?”
“He came during the Skylords’ war with the dragons. The dragons gladly took the help of a human, but wouldn’t dirty their hands making friends with a centaur.” Jorian’s chest puffed out. “You know this man Leroux? Was he chasing you as well?”
“Leroux’s dead,” said Fiona. “And he was a good man. He gave Moth the Starfinder so that he could help Lady Esme.”
“Esme? The Skylord?” thundered Jorian.
“Let her finish,” scolded Nessa. “You’re scaring her.”
“I’m not scared,” said Fiona. She hopped off her little box to face Jorian. “Your pardon, Lord Jorian, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. Leroux loved Esme. All either of them wanted was to help the dragons.”
“Don’t tell us our history, girl,” Jorian warned.
“Someone has to, ’cause you got it all wrong. I know you hate the Skylords, but Lady Esme isn’t like the rest of them. She’s the one that stole the Starfinder, just so everyone could be free.” Fiona stood her ground. “Centaurs, too.”
The gathered faces looked on, waiting for Jorian to erupt. The Chieftain bristled as he spoke.
“Before Lady Esme ever stole the Starfinder, before your friend Leroux even set foot here, we centaurs offered our help,” he said. “But we weren’t good enough for the dragons. We couldn’t fly. We weren’t as pure or beautiful or wise as them, they said. And do you know what happened to them?”
“Yes,” said Fiona sadly.
“They were driven from their city. But not us, girl. We’re still safe here in our valley.”
The circle of centaurs nodded. Jorian himself grew pensive. He gestured to the makeshift chair.
“Sit,” he told Fiona.
Fiona did as he asked. In the light of the moon and the crackling fire, she looked at the proud faces of her hosts. Merceron had said the centaurs were brave. He didn’t much like them, but he’d spoken the truth about them. Fiona decided to tell the truth too.
“Me and Moth came here because a dragon told us to,” she said. “A dragon named Merceron. He said we’d be safe here. He’s the one who has the Starfinder now.”
“You gave the Starfinder to Merceron?” asked Nessa.
“He’s still alive?” chimed Tyrin. “He must be older than time by now!”
“Merceron was Leroux’s friend,” grumbled Jorian. “And a friend to that other one, too.”
Fiona blanched. “Other one?”
Nessa thought for a moment. “Rendor!” she recalled.
“Rendor,” Jorian muttered.
“My grandfather,” said Fiona.
All the centaurs gaped at her.
“I guess you know him,” said Fiona sheepishly.
Jorian looked astonished. “Rendor is your grandfather?” he asked. “Rendor is the one who came here with Leroux to help the dragons fight the Skylords.”
“No,” said Fiona. “That’s not true. They came to spy on the Skylords, that’s all. They came because they wanted to know what was here on the other side of the Reach. They didn’t mean to get caught up in the war. It just happened.”
Jorian scoffed. “It doesn’t matter. Your grandfather, your friend Leroux—they were outlaws. If the Skylords had found them, they would now be Redeemers.”
“Lord Jorian, it’s my grandfather who’s chasing us,” said Fiona. “It’s not just the Redeemers. My grandfather wants the Starfinder too. He’s come with an airship. I think he has my friend Moth.”
“Why?” asked Jorian. “And why did you give the Starfinder to Merceron?”
“Moth knows how to use the Starfinder,” said Fiona. “Nobody else can make it work, just Moth and the Skylords. If my grandfather finds that out…”
Jorian swished his tail in agitation. “And Merceron?”
“A friend,” said Fiona. “The Redeemers were after us. He led them away. He told Moth and me that you’d protect us from them.”
The big centaur sniffed at the compliment, but Fiona could tell he was pleased. “Dragons are cowards, and if the Skylords catch that old bone-bag Merceron they’ll blow him out of the sky. But…” Jorian sighed. “He did the right thing sending you to us.”
“What about the Starfinder?” asked another of the centaurs, a dignified male with a greenish-white mane and a chain of office around his neck. “Why does Merceron have it? Did he steal it?”
“No,” disagreed Fiona. “He took it so that he could find a way to destroy it. He took it to find the other dragons.”
“There is no way to destroy the Starfinder,” said Jorian. He looked pensive as he rubbed a clenched fist. “Merceron is wasting his time. And if the Skylords find him first…”
His voice trailed off. The centaur with the greenish-white mane took the hint and shooed the others away.
“Go,” he told them. “Let us think.”
After some grumbling the centaurs broke their circle, leaving only Jorian, Nessa, and their strange green advisor around the fire well. The girl who’d been toying with Fiona’s hair giggled a good-bye into her ear, and young Tyrin smiled as he trotted off, winking at Fiona before going. Weak and exhausted, Fiona rose from her seat.
“I think I should rest some more,” she said wearily. “I don’t feel too good.”
Nessa’s hand went to her shoulder again. “Wait.”
Fiona looked at each of them. “What’s wrong?”
Jorian’s brow thickened into a ridge. He turned to the other male. “Kyros?”
“They’ll come for her,” said Kyros without hesitation. “First they’ll take Merceron and the Starfinder, then the boy, then her.”
“The Skylords?” asked Fiona.
“Don’t worry,” said Jorian. “We’ll protect you.”
“What about my grandfather?”
“Rendor?” Jorian frowned. “What of him? The Skylords will deal with him, too.”
Fiona almost laughed. “You don’t know him, Lord Jorian. He’s smart. And he’s got a ship with him, a flying ship with guns, weapons. He won’t give up. He’s a powerful man where I came from, a Governor.”
“What’s a Governor?” asked Nessa. “Some sort of ruler?”
“Like a king?” asked Kyros.
“Well…”
“That would make you a princess,” said Jorian with a smile. “You look like a princess.”