Thanks for the reviews!
To address some of your questions, yes, I will try and continue the split point of view for the rest of the story, although not always in each chapter together. I think it's important to give both Makenna and Tobin's perspective at certain points.
As always, this story is Hilari Bell's, not mine.
Chap 5:
The Knight:
Makenna gasped, eyes transfixing onto a single figure to Tobin's right. Turning swiftly enough to catch the creature before it was upon them, Tobin was surprised to see a centaur. The horse-man was massive, towering feet above Tobin's height, with rugged muscles across his bare chest. As his gallop slowed, he eyed Tobin suspiciously for a moment before turning to Makenna, who was now calmly awaiting his greeting. In that moment, she illustrated all the characteristics of a true leader; regality, respect, and power.
"General Makenna, leader of the Goblins," he spoke in a melodic accent, his words spilling over like honey. Stifling a laugh procured from his calling Makenna 'general', Tobin observed the centaur closely. "Zvonimir, Ambassador of the centaur, what brings you here?" she replied. The centaur's cool blue eyes lit up at her recognition of his name and he stepped forward bowing slightly while gazing around once more. "My clan, the Aggrippians, have been attacked by humans. I've been sent from the standing army to seek the fulfillment of our terms of alliance." With his last statement, Tobin stepped forward between the centaur and Makenna. "How do we know that you haven't been possessed by sorcerers or bribed by these humans to take Makenna and bring her back to your people?" Tobin's eyes flashed in challenge at the creature. Zvonimir stepped back, giving them space.
"If I wished that I would have done so by now. You may perform whatever spell you find necessary on me, Hedgewitch, just make haste." Zvonimir grimaced. Tobin saw he did not like admitting himself to spell experiments, and his reaction was enough to reassure them of his intention. "I will not need to perform spells on you Zvonimir. I know centaurs are extremely difficult to overpower, as my Charmers have told me so." Makenna did not rip her gaze from him, her eyes steady and serene. "Let me return to this spot with our army, and you may take us to yours," aside, she spoke to Tobin. "Please wait with him."
As Tobin waited, the centaur observed him carefully. "You've more the scent of Itola then she. How long have you been here?" The man asked curious; his tone filled with neither approval nor mockery. Meeting his blazing blue eyed gaze evenly, Tobin shrugged. "It feels like it's been a year, but nothing has changed to show us a yearly progression besides the plants and weather." The centaur man furrowed his dark eyebrows, face filled with uncertainty. "Changes will come in time. How many years young are you?" Tobin thought hard a moment, "Does this really matter when your people are under attack?" Zvonimir smiled for the first time since he had arrived, his stress filled expression melting for a fleeting moment before returning to its normal sternness. "There is nothing we can do until your general returns. Besides that, I'd like to know how young the people are that I'm letting aid my home country." "Twenty one-" he started, but stopped short of his following statement when the centaur raised an eyebrow. "You're not even a quarter my age," he stated. Cautiously, fighting the sinking feeling in his stomach, Tobin asked the centaur how old he was. Calmly, and casually, the creature replied, "If you count how many years I've been here, I'll have lived to be 403 years."
Tobin shook his head, inspecting the man's figure once more, completely sure he was lying. "That's impossible. Unless centaur are known for not showing age, you look maybe a few years my elder," He thought hard; knowing that centaurs did not age differently, but considered his own age in Otherworld. His hair, normally ragged after a year away from the barber, was hardly longer. He'd noticed Makenna's as well, which would have been even longer than it currently fell.
Zvonimir turned away, towards where Makenna returned from. Behind her marched rams filled with three goblins at a time, along with loads of gear. She walked her own ram, speaking with Mourry who looked worried as well as excited, his eyes dancing brightly. "I've more questions for you, Ambassador." Tobin stated tartly. The centaur nodded respectfully, a mild smile creeping into his expression. "As I do for you." he remarked quietly enough for just them to hear. In a moments time, his face leveled and he bowed to Makenna once more. "If you are prepared, I will lead the way." Makenna nodded, handing Tobin's mount to him, and mounted her ram. After sitting up, she swept her long braid off her shoulder onto her back, and gripped the reins tight. "Let's move."
The Hedgewitch:
"Hush already, won't you?" Makenna demanded her human friend ceased his complaining of their travel with the Centaur completely. She stood aside the Aggripian's standing army Commanding Officer Marz, a white furred and green eyed man with a prickly personality and short temper. The centaur man spoke little of their human language, and so the ambassador stayed as a translator. During the past week of travel, the goblins had learned to stick close to the centaur's heels, lest they be left behind. With the help of the ambassador, they managed to understand the plans of the centaur in retaliating against the sorcerers and humans invaders. Since Zvonimir had been at Makenna's side, telling only her of what Marz plotted, Tobin had kept up complaints of being left in the dark.
"I'll stop when you tell me what these creatures intend to do!" he whispered hoarsely, eying the Zvonimir as the ambassador turned to see why Makenna voiced her irritation. They rode like wind on their rams, goblins mingling with Centaur as they galloped across the open plains that lain leagues south of the goblin city. The crisp fall air was sharp against Makenna's face, but she enjoyed it's cooling effects on her heating temper. "Zvonimir says that Marz has been tracking the barbarians for the past few days. If you haven't noticed, the trees surrounding this meadow are rotten, a sign the sorcerers have been here." she offered shortly, taking her reigns and galloping ahead to the side of Marz. Zvonimir followed her, leaving a furious Tobin alone behind with Mourry. For a second Makenna heard the ex-knight and the Tracker converse, but ignored it.
"Marz," she called, watching as the commander briefly took his eyes off where he ran to acknowledge her. "From what you've told me, when we find the sorcerers, you plan to attack with brute force. If you enter close range combat, there's a chance your kinsman'll be plagued, dying a painfully slow death. May I offer you an alternative strategy?" As Zvonimir translated, the commander glared at Makenna briefly, his face filled with exhaustion and anxiety. "Selz don'mir rann kiel sal bajar" Marz spoke fluidly, in a smooth tone that deceived his demeanor. "He says he doesn't think that will work," Zvonimir translated. Makenna suppressed her frown and un-furrowed her brow. Watching the meadow pass below their feet she thought. The only way a stranger would accept her advice is if she had a chance to prove her worth. Turning back calmly she remained passive. "Ambassador, please tell him that under our alliance, I have equal say in battle plans that concern both our nations. It was Marz himself wanted to involve us, and so this article applies." After naming the article, Makenna turned to eye Tobin and Mourry, who had grown quiet. Turning under the late afternoon sun, she saw their eyes filled the brim with curiosity.
Makenna tried to hide her smile, but failed, and instead locked her eyes on the ground to gain composure once more. Marz, after listening to Zvonimir's translation, grumbled loudly. Speaking sternly, he surprised her by smiling after Zvonimir translated. "Marz says you are right, and that he will consider your plan option only because you were witty enough to remember that article." After she paused to observe if Marz was serious, the commander spoke up. "You got me." he offered slowly, his velvet voice slurring the words. The hedgewitch smiled, bursting into laughter for the first time since she had met the commander. "You-, thank you." As the commander waited to hear her plan, Tobin rode up to see what the fuss was over.
"My option is simple. First I will observe the sorcerers from afar with my sight spell, and then I will use my Stoners and Flamers to attack at a distance." As she explained, and Zvonimir translated, the far edge of the meadow came into sight. The trees on the far end appeared lush and green, unlike the dying ones that flanked the sides of the plain. Their travel slowed, centaur generals shouting commands for the army to halt while they unloaded their supplies."Felz sal danar lei Flambars den Bouldens desde felz sit'ran" Zvonimir spoke, waiting for Marz's response. Marz eyed her, his expressing filled with uncertainty, but he eventually nodded. "Palt, Selz aprivar." Makenna's heart raced, as Zvonimir told her that the commander approved, she readied herself, calling forth memories of the water sight spell her mother had taught her at a young age. While she had hardly been able to do it in her childhood, her skills had become slightly stronger, though not by much; they were still unreliable.
Regardless, as she walked her ram back towards the goblins as the army settled camp, her spirits were high. Tobin, who rode at her side, demanded he keep watch while she drew her runes. Nodding, Makenna was overwhelmed with a sudden sense of dread. Peering up at the twilight sky, she watched birds pass overhead cawing and squawking in their communication. "Makenna," Zvonimir called from down the path between the rows of tents behind her. He approached, calmly aware of the dozens of goblin eyes following him.
"Marz wishes you to dine in the commanders tent for this evening. Your human friend may join him and the other Centaur generals present." He bowed low, frowning and turning quickly without a word of explanation, leaving Tobin and her turning to each other in wonder.