Chapter three:

As it turned out, Tharn was more than pleased with his daughters new found ability. Though when he learned the circumstances under which it was found, Shanara was severely punished. However after he was satisfied she had made up for her crimes, he decided to school her in the art of magic. This changed her life drastically, and, so she thought, not at all for the better. Where before he barely had a moment to spare for his daughter, very little attention, always wanted her out of his way so he could complete his studies, he was now making her apart of his studies. Over the next few days he began to force upon her one of the things she disliked most- reading.

She knew how, quite well in fact, but it had always bored her, mostly because her father found it so enjoyable. And now she found herself learning how to read everything from magical code to and earth language called Latin, to some strange goblinish language, and everything else he could think of. After he felt she had mastered the art of reading, spells in particular, he began to teach her actual magic, no easy feat.

They soon found out that she was very adept with illusions, and with a great deal of concentration, could completely blend in with her surroundings. Tharn worked hard to perfect this skill, while trying to teach her new ones as well. One memorable lesson of her attempting to light a magical fire, ended with Pat's fur smoking and Tharn's eyebrows nearly scorched off. After that they took it much slower, spending more time on what she could do. It was quite a while before they attempted fire again.

On the whole, Shanara found herself spending much more time with her father than she ever had before. But she wasn't sure how good this was. She found herself thinking that it was incredibly ironic, when he ignored her she wanted nothing more than his affection and attention, and when she had his affection and attention she wanted nothing more than for him to ignore her. Tharn did this not only to teach her magic, but to insure she didn't sneak out of the castle again as well. As it turned out, this had been one of the girls favorite pass times. Just about every time he had told her to 'get out' she had taken him literally and went exploring. He was amazed, yet grateful, that she had never run into anything that had attempted to kill her.

And so the days went on, becoming weeks and then months, Shanara trapped as the unhappy student, and Tharn the over enthusiastic teacher, and Pat thoroughly upset with the whole arrangement. Now that his master was so interested in the learning an welfare of his daughter, he spent less time with Pat, which meant the lazy cat had less comfort and attention than he would have liked, but he didn't complain. He was, though he'd never admit it, glad that father and child were spending time together, getting to know each other better. He had always thought the girl had been under parented, what with not having a mother and her father ignoring her very existence. Now he was happy to see that she was getting the proper attention she needed.

Shanara, however, viewed the matter differently. She didn't like constantly being cooped up in her father's study. She was only nine years old, but she was completely convinced that she knew everything she needed to know about life, and magic, and besides, she was missing the wonderful forest in all it's inhabitants for a bunch of moldy old books. So, naturally, the first chance she saw to sneak out again she eagerly took. Tharn and Pat had decided to go to some other planet to visit some old friend of theirs, Aranak. She had quickly told them she didn't want to go. Tharn thought it had been a little to quickly. In the end she managed to convince them she'd behave, said there was some interesting book she'd found in the library she wanted to look more closely at. Tharn, delighted she had finally taken and interest, hadn't pressed the subject further and had agreed she could stay behind, though he had seriously debated whether or not he should leave Pat with her. The cat rebuked and refused to stay, so Shanara had gotten her way.

She waited a few minutes after they had disappeared through the portal, but not more than a minute or so. She was eager to go out again after remaining in the castle so long, and that need over rode her fear that her father might return early. The way down the mountain was difficult, dangerous, and highly fun, though there was an easier path to take than the route around. Not wanting to push it on time, she took the shorter one. She reckoned that she'd have four hours at most and didn't want to waist half of that just getting to were she was going. The forest. Home of the centaurs.

Shanara had always been fascinated with these creatures. So beautiful, powerful. Indeed, most of the times when she had dared to leave the castle that was were she'd gone. She was nearly as adept at hiding as she was at illusions, and the to skills put together would no doubt allow her to watch them more closely, if she saw any at all. Sometimes she didn't, and she'd always been disappointed. She only wished they didn't despise humans so much. It would have been truly wonderful to become the friend of a centaur, or so she thought. Alas, the young are made of dreams.

This time she was lucky. Or rather, unlucky, depending on how you saw it. As it happened, she didn't find the centaur, it found her. She was walking down a path, whistling a tune, a habit that greatly annoyed her father, when quite suddenly a solid black something lunged out of the brush at her. She caught a glimpse of hooves and fierce eyes before it bowled her over, and then she found herself on the ground, a centaur foal, she thought that was what they were called, standing over her, the tip of a toy, and yet sharp, spear against her neck. If she hadn't been so startled she might have found the situation rather funny. As it was, she just gaped at him in shock. If he had been human, she reckoned he would have been about her age, and she though he was incredibly beautiful.

His horse body completely black, as was his human half, with his hair becoming a flowing mane down his back how very different they were from the earth legend! She had read about it somewhere or other, and they pictured centaurs as being more human like. She tried to smile at him politely, but found that rather difficult. "Erm, hello." she said timidly. His eyes flared and, to her discomfort, he jabbed her harder with his fake spear. "Who are you and what are you doing here? Humans aren't allowed." Had he been capable, she was sure he would have snarled and growled at her like a lion. "My names Shanara. And as for what I'm doing here, I don't see anything anywhere that says I can't be here, so just leave me alone!" she shoved the toy spear point away and got angrily to her feet. The young centaur was apparently very taken aback by this, and it was his turn to gape at her in shock.

"Well. I think you owe me an apology for knocking me over like that! And you could tell me your name, seeing as I told you mine." she said, glaring at him in a manner that had often sent Pat to shivering. It was perhaps unfortunate that she did not yet know the power one could have over someone who had told them their true name. Lucky for her, the centaur didn't know this any more than she did. "Um, ok I'm sorry. But my father told me humans are bad. You are a human aren't you? I've never seen one before. I didn't think there were any here! Oh yeah, I'm Dethrin." he extended his hand politely, for if he recalled that was the humans greeted each other. She just stared at him, nonplused, so, disappointedly, he lowered it again.

Shanara finally remembered he had asked her a question and said, "Yes, I am a human, but we aren't bad. Or at least I aint. Erm, am not." she blushed slightly at her foul grammar, Tharn was constantly telling her not to say 'aint'. Dethrin didn't to appear to have noticed. "Maybe he was wrong. You don't seem so bad to me." he smiled broadly. "Kinda nice actually. But different too. But, I suppose just because somethin's different doesn't make it bad. Want to play? My sis and some of our other friends are over there" he pointed off into the trees. He had apparently gotten over the fact that she was a human quite well, and now childish instincts were once again taking over. Human or no, she was a new and interesting playmate. And she didn't seem as dangerous as he thought humans were supposed to be.

Shanara seriously considered his offer. How fun it would be! But she sadly shook her head. She should be getting back to the castle. Her father would return soon. "I'm sorry but I can't today. Maybe some other time?" Dethrin nodded eagerly. "How about tomorrow?" he asked. Shanara shrugged. "If I can, I will, but don't get your hopes up. Well, I've gotta go. See you."

Dethrin sighed, unhappy. "Bye then." he stood watching her walk away for a moment, then turned and ran off to rejoin his sister and friend's game, and eventually managed to put the meeting out of his mind, until later on that day when he told his sister about his new friend.

Upon arriving back at the castle Shanara was happy to see Tharn and Pat hadn't gotten back yet, but her joy was short lived, they returned only minutes after she did. She spent the next few days gloomily reading and learning what her father attempted to teach her, but her heart wasn't in it. Her thoughts were entirely on Dethrin, waiting and hoping for the next chance she would have to see him again.

Authors note: I hope this is easier than the first chapters to read. Hope you all enjoyed the first meeting of Shanara and Dethrin. I'm going to make a huge twist with the pare of them... MUWAHAHA. LOL Enjoy.