Chapter 196: Trust
The armory door creaked open with just a sliver of room as a cautious elf peaked through. He pushed the door further ajar, spotting one guard munching on a biscuit. He wiped the crumbs off his hands before turning the corner and entering the opposite building, leaving them alone for the time being.
Satisfied, Spi'Reto shut the door closed just as Sans slid out the window. No'Vak pushed a large bag for her, but the weight dragged her down as soon as he let go. She fell on top of it, the sudden force catching her by surprise. Spi'Reto and No'Vak hurried out to help her as she struggled to lift the bag, only for both male elves to carry the bag together. She rolled her eyes, wiping the sweat off as the trio snuck off onto the building next door.
"Would be easier if we had Nukka helping." Sans panted, closing the door behind them.
No'Vak inspected the bag's contents, ensuring that each individual sack had no tearing on the surface. "We're safe."
"Good." Spi'Reto sighed, turning around. "We should go, Sauza and Nukka are waiting. The sooner the better, less we want to-"
The trio turned around and froze, confronted by a man sat up from his cot staring wide-eyed in confusion while wearing his undergarments.
Spi'Reto gulped. "Right."
The man glanced back as Sans locked the door, serving as the cue for her friends as they jumped in.
"Hel-!" His cry was muffled as a hand cupped his mouth. His cot shook and jolted with movement as punches were thrown and a boot was tossed into the air. The elves grunted as they subdued him, pulling back to reveal the middle-aged man with bed head laying back with bruises and a black eye. Sans held the pillow up, tucking it under his head while Spi'Reto draped the blanket up to the man's collar.
No'Vak collpased onto a seat while rubbing his hand. He signaled Sans to inspect the windows as everyone held their breath while she checked for any witnesses. Once she shook her head and gave them the clear, the trio collectively sighed in relief.
"Split the load." Spi'Reto ordered, prying the large bag open.
"Told you we should've done that from the start." Sans reminded him, glancing outside. "Or we can have Felix pull the wagon over, drop in these bags and then ride off with none being ever the wiser of us being here."
Spi'Reto and No'Vak exchanged looks, nodding in unison.
Felix's face scrunched up as he pinched his nose shut, his stomach turning over the horrid smell that earthly Golem carried. The horse girls imitated the gesture with Valei cupping her nose and mouth, turning away in disgust, and Valei gagging before composing herself. Felix kept his glance fixated on the overwhelming size of this Golem as it bowed down expectantly, waiting for its owner to hop off its shoulder with ease.
Mesa brushed her skirt down before patting the Golem's broad shoulder. The man that accompanied her remained atop of his horse, his face struck Felix with a sense of unnerving familiarity.
"Who are they?" Felix asked.
Inui circled around, turning her back to the new guests while facing Felix. "You don't know about her?"
"Mesa is a piece of work sugar," Valei mentioned in a soft voice, planting a hand on his shoulder as she stepped to his side. "The less we see of her, the better. The boy however, I haven't seen him in months."
Felix observed as the guards met with Mesa and greeted them inside. Raz slid off his horse, brushing its head before demanding to know the state of the fort and their recent activities. Felix kept an eye on him, squinting almost as he struggled to recognize him. He couldn't recall, but he instead grabbed hold of the leashes for both horse girls to escort them back into the stables.
"So tell me, what brings you two over here? Your presence alone brings both relief and urgency to my soul." The captain admitted, removing his helmet and pressing it against his chest.
"No need for dramatics, but we do have some arrangements to make here." Raz explained, keeping a hand on his horse's rein. "About that cat girl that's missing."
Felix froze, his heart skipping a beat as he couldn't help himself but to eavesdrop into their conversation. Valei and Inui exchanged worried looks as the young man's expression looked like he was staring far off into the distance.
Mesa giggled while skipping to Raz's side, resting her elbow on his shoulder while leaning against him. "Short height, silver hair, two white tails."
"Goes by the name Syri." Her brother clarified.
Mesa clicked her tongue. "Sure, whatever. As you know captain, there have been cat girls roaming around freely nearby."
"Yes, but we've already sent them away to the mines."
"We've a lot to discuss, may we do so somewhere in private?" Mesa asked, rocking her hips back and forth with her hands behind her.
"O-Of course. Come, come!" The captain complied, escorting them as they strolled past Felix and the centaurs.
Inui shoved his arm, forcing his attention on her. "If we're done standing awkwardly around, I'd like to get going soon!"
"R-Right, sorry." He apologized, keeping his head down as the three of them headed toward the stables.
"Captain, my horse?"
"Oh right. You there!" The captain called out, waving at Felix. "Take this horse to the appropriate stable!"
Felix looked up, crossing eyes with Raz briefly before tucking his leather cap to avert his gaze. "Me sir?"
"Yes, you!"
Raz turned around to approach him, each step filling Felix with a sense of dread fearing that he had been discovered. He sucked in his lips, kept his head hung down, and felt his palms grow sweaty with every passing second. The centaurs caught on to his nervousness, which infected them like a sickness as they were unsure what was passing through his mind. With one last glance, he could see the top of the black tower taunting him from afar, knowing he came so close only to fail here and now.
But those feelings were put to rest as Raz casually offered the rein to him, waiting generously for Felix to take it from him.
"Treat her with care and keep yourself in check." Raz instructed him with a raised eye. "Better yet, help yourself to some water. Or perhaps a light meal."
"Ahem, y-yes sir." Felix nodded, quickly turning around to avoid him.
Mesa giggled, having watched the exchange happen as Raz came back to join them. "What was that all about? Making the guards fearful of you already?"
"Something has him rattled." Raz muttered in response, turning to address the captain. "Your quarters, if you would do so kindly?"
"Of course, sir." The captain nodded back.
Felix caught his breath as he glanced back, watching them slip through another building not far from their position. A huff from one of the girls caught his attention as she glared back at him. "Oh, sorry. Um, do you happen to know where the erm, regular horses go?"
Inui scoffed. "There's a stable on the other side connected to ours. Just a quick walk around and you'll find it easily."
"Thanks." He glanced around before escorting them back into their stable, but not before securing the other horse outside by tying a knot from its rein around the front fence post. Sauza
Once inside, he led Inui back into her spot only for her to grab his hand.
"You said you have a plan to get us out. But after seeing you freeze up like that, I'm not sure what kind of scheme you have going here."
Valei trotted around to stand by him. "Inui."
"No, don't Inui me! This man was the one who said he could help us escape. I want to know how you plan to get us out of here? Unless you can convince them to let us go willingly, I fail to understand how a single wagon can be our escape." She demanded glaring her light brown eyes at him.
Inui exhaled before giving Felix a look, understanding her friend's reluctance.
Felix drew in a quick breath, gathering his thoughts. "If you're asking for sincerity, then I had no idea there were centaurs here."
Valei looked down in disappointment. "You came believing to find more cat girls, didn't you?"
"So then what, that's it then?" Inui stammered back, shaking her head. "No plan to get us out of here? What's stopping me from letting them know that you're here right now?"
"Inui, don't!" Valei raised her voice, moving up to her friend.
"What? Ugh!" Inui threw her hands back in frustration, "It's not fair, I've been here for years now!"
"I know, I know. We all have." Valei reached out and held her, gently patting her on the back. She looked at Felix with a pained look in her eyes, realizing the severity of their situation. "Tell us more about this group you came with. Are they armed?"
"Yea, you can say that. We came here to steal from their resources so that we can weaponize them ourselves." He explained as his eyes scanning the rest of the stable and seeing the few remaining horse girls present. "We're six total, all fitted into that wagon delivering rations."
"A wagon?" Inui pouted, looking at him tearfully. "We take up too much space to fit in those. Maybe two of us can fit in one of those, but there's six of us left."
Felix bit his lower lip, considering their options. "Maybe we can make our move at night. I need to ask Spi'Reto, see what he thinks."
"Wait, Spi'Reto?" Valei asked, lifting her head. "You mean Alma's kid?"
"The elf?" Inui pronounced with a look of disgust before looking at him. "You're with the High Leaf?"
"I uh, yea? What's the problem?"
"Oh hun," Valei shook her head. "If they knew we were here instead of cat girls, they wouldn't have bothered. We don't get along well with them."
"Those idiots caused this whole mess." Inui explained, brushing her hair back. "They're the ones responsible for all this. They see themselves as these high and mighty protectors, only to turn around and do this."
"That's not-" Felix stuttered, frowning back. "I don't know anything of that sort, but they've lost plenty because of him. They've been cooperative in helping me take my family back from Perdilius."
Valei stepped forward. "Your family, you're talking about the cat girls clutter? We've got no quarrels with kittens, but we know Alma is close with the clutter. The head mother, Emyri. If they're helping you, it's because they stand to lose as well. You know Emyri?"
"Yea of course I do, she's Kuli's mother."
"Makes sense. Perdilius needs those girls so that he can make his ritual work. Without them, he has nothing."
"The ritual?" He shook his head, thinking back to the past discussion he had with Nihja back at Kershin Market. "You know about the ritual?"
Valei planted her hands on her curvy waist. "Just enough to know it's bad for every one of us here. If he gets his way, there won't be any centaurs left. Or cat girls at that."
"That High Leaf tribe are just using you because it benefits them. Did they put you up to this?" Inui stepped up to him. "Did you come alone or with friends? You haven't noticed anything off about them?"
"I- no, I don't think so." He blinked repeatedly, remembering what Na'Vi and Reta informed them after eavesdropping on Alma's private meeting. "I mean, there was something but.. look, I don't know for certain, but this isn't the best time for accusations. We need to focus first on getting you lot out of here."
"With Mesa and Raz here, I don't see that happening soon." Valei admitted, retreating back to her spot before laying down in the hay.
Inui sighed and slipped back to her spot as well, opposite of her friend.
Felix leaned over the fence, looking her in the eyes. "Look, I came here to help you and that's exactly what I aim to do. I don't have a plan yet, but we'll figure something out."
"With the woodland elves?" She scoffed, "They've not been the most trustworthy."
"Then trust me," He stated confidently, "I need to go, but you have my word that I'll come back for you. I promise."
He glanced back and nodded at Valei as well before rushing back out the stable, leaving the centaurs exchanging looks in silence.