Note: I've included a cast of characters for this chapter. I thought the Greek names may get confusing.
Centaurs:
— Mnesiphilos: large, nearly black mahogany. King of the tribe
— Opites: A near likeness to his father. Next in line to be king
— Blathyllos: bay, second oldest son of Mnesiphilos
— Kyknos: chestnut, Opites' loyal friend.
— Telamon the Oldest: dun, sort of the alchemist and justice of the tribe
The gang of four:
— Zeuxidamos: liver chestnut, youngest son of Mnesiphilos
— Myrsinus: gray, follower of Zeuxidamos
— Akheron: strawberry roan, follower of Zeuxidamos
— Siculus: buckskin, follower of Zeuxidamos
The humans:
— Old Man Billy: hunter, shot a centaur by mistake
— Philip: old trapper, ex-wife was Arrapahoe. Story-teller
— 5 —
Sinews and muscles bulged beneath tight skin. Focused eyes sized up the two human targets. Distrust and contempt filled his thoughts as Opites kept a sharp eye on each of the men, ready for any sudden move toward their weapons. Without shifting his attention, he rested the arrow shaft against the top of his thumb, ready to nock and release.
"Now, we don't want any trouble, do we?" The man seated near the fire reached back with an outstretched, trembling hand.
Opites' ears cocked forward. What is this human saying? The man's language sounded like mumblings without any familiar words.
"Billy, put that pendant in my hand," the trapper said. "Maybe the hinen-woxuuhoox will leave us alone."
Opites understood the phrase, hinen-woxuuhoox. He heard it centuries ago when a peculiar group of humans referred to his kind as such. Still, he pulled back the bow string the same instant the trapper placed the silver pendant in the other man's outstretched hand. The trapper thrust his cupped hands toward Opites in the form of an offering.
He relaxed his firing arm as he reached forward to take the pendant from the trapper. He snorted in disgust and released the arrow, deliberately hitting the wall between the two humans as a warning. Despite the urge to avenge Adeipho, he backed away from the cabin with the humans staring.
His strong gallop brought him flying through the deep snow to rejoin the others. Kyknos and Blathyllos nodded to Opites at his approach. His brother, Zeuxidamos shook his head in vexation.
"Yours, I assume." Opites handed Zeuxidamos the pendant.
"Yes, how—?" Zeuxidamos took the pendant and studied it.
"The humans gave it to me. I want to know why you were so careless."
"Why were you so near them?" Zeuxidamos held his head higher, increasing his height to try to match Opites'. His burgundy mane fell into his face. He quickly bound it into a pony tail with a piece of rawhide.
Opites shook his head, unconcerned by his youngest brother's power struggles. "What if they tracked you to our valley? Without the amulet, how would you go through the barrier?"
"You worry too much, Brother. They did not find us."
"Perhaps only because the gods watched over you," Opites said. "I lost the mood to shoot them at that moment when they gave me their offering."
