Centaur Redemption (Touched Series) (35 page)

“You see, Angela could have come to me at any time and returned to her life of privilege.  In fact, I searched for her right up until her death to bring her back to the life she left behind.  She could have breezed through life and been your Chairman.  Angela could have done anything she wanted, and do you know what she chose?  She chose to be a mother.  She had been pursued by me, by the Lost Herd hoping for advocacy, by gods and goddesses, and I’m sure by others we are not even aware of.  To each of her pursuers she was a ghost, remaining just out of their reach.” 

“The choices Angela made in life were never the easy road.  In each instance, choices she made were done out of love for her children.  In doing so, she has given each of us two gifts we will forever be in her debt for.  I look forward to the pasture, as this is where I will be able to thank Angela for her bravery, for not taking the future I had planned for her.”

Zandra motioned for me to join her on the podium, “Centaurides and Centaurs of the world, I would like to introduce you to my granddaughter, your new Chairman, Camille Chiron.”

(Camille Nash – Coronation Ceremony, Centurion, South Africa)

Loud applause, cheers, and even a couple wolf whistles echoed in the building.  No one quieted for several minutes.  Zandra’s kind words about Mom took me by surprise.  The two of us were on our way to mending our dysfunctional relationship.  “Thank you,” I paused, unsure if the word would be okay in public.  I took a breath, “Grandma.”  Zandra’s eyes grew glossy – I had chosen the right word.

A hush fell over the crowd.  I should have written something down because I felt like a buffoon following such an eloquent speech.  I smiled at her, “So is it official now?  Am I the Chairman?”

She nodded with a broad smile.

My voice nervously shook when I leaned in on the microphone, “So here is what I know.  I’m going to make mistakes.  I’m going to be a disappointment for some of you.  For others, you may question my decisions, but you have my promise that I will always try to do the right thing for the right reason.”

I saw Cameron clapping more loudly than anybody.  All the talk of evil twins, curses, blood debts:  when I looked at him, none of that was my reality anymore.  I had a twin brother who had been through as much of a wringer as I had, yet he didn’t begrudge my selection as Chairman.  He was happy for me.  Cameron could easily have arrived tonight with a chip on his shoulder or a desire to see me fail – he didn’t.

I motioned for Cameron to join me and Zandra at the podium.  His eye muscles flexed as he shook his head “no” and planted his feet.  “Everyone,” I addressed the crowd around Cameron, “could you help me convince my brother to come up here for a minute?”

Centaurs around Cameron patted him on the back and prodded him toward the podium.  Cameron reluctantly obliged.  When he took his place beside me, I leaned into the microphone, “For those of you here who are part of the Lost Herd, I’d like to be the first to tell you, ‘Welcome.’  In addition to the Chairman granting clemency for the Lost Herd, I heard from Zeus himself that all is forgiven.  I look forward to meeting all of you in the coming months and years.”

The crowd went wild.  It felt like I was at a high school pep rally.  I couldn’t be sure how many of the cheers were coming from Lost Herd members and how many were coming from the other herds, but one thing was for certain – all were pleased that there would no longer be a Lost Herd.

“I myself am a member of the Tak herd.  Although there is much I do not know about the struggles our ancestors went through, I can tell you that we have had some generous benefactors for a very long time.  The goddess Athena risked everything on our behalf, and we owe her a great debt.”

“There is a vacancy on the Centaur Council that has been vacant for too long.  The head of the Tak herd will again join the other heads of families.  I wish I had the opportunity to meet each of you in person, but I think even if I did, it would not change my selection to fill this vacancy.”

“My brother, Cameron, has proved himself a noble Centaur.  I can think of no one else who would represent our family better.”

Cameron looked scared as he leaned in and whispered to me, “I’m not so sure about this.”

“I am."  I turned back toward the crowd, so they could all hear me.  "You will do our family proud. Athena believed you were important enough to all Centaurs to ensure you had your very own Guardian since birth.  She was grooming you for this position before it was even possible for you to take it.  I look forward to our years together on the Council.”

Cameron pulled me to him in a strong embrace.  “I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t.”  The crowd seemed to take my first selection without issue.  Time for the second.  “There is another vacancy that needs to be addressed.”  I looked at Zandra’s clear blue eyes questioning me.  I continued, “Zandra, you have given most of your life in service.  If anyone has earned their retirement, it is you.  During your tenure you held the Chairman position as well as the head of the Chiron herd.  I will do the best job I am able to, but I don’t think I can do the job of two.  Zethus, I would be privileged if you would represent the Chiron herd as the head of family on the Centaur Council.”

Zethus and Maggie both looked stunned.  I couldn’t make up for forty years of Centaurs believing him to be a murderer, but I could make sure he got the chance to vindicate himself publicly.  I wanted there to be no doubt of his innocence.  Zandra leaned down over the raised platform and congratulated her brother.  I felt like I was on a roll.

Cameron stepped down off of the raised platform, and he and Zethus shook hands for the first time.  I returned my attention back to the awaiting crowd, “I’d like to tell you all a story.”

“I was raised as a human.  When Mom died, I believed I was alone in the world.  My best friend is the reason I survived those first few weeks after burying Mom.  He is strong and noble, he’s brave and funny, and I wouldn’t be here right now without him.”  My eyes scanned the room; Daniel promised me he would be here.  It was a colossal deal when I insisted Katherine and Daniel both be invited to the ceremony, but people were learning quickly that there were certain things where I would not waver.  Friends and family were one of those things worth digging my heels in for. 

“Daniel?  Are you here?”

The crowd parted as Daniel walked toward the podium with a curious look on his face.  I hadn’t run this past him ahead of time.  I glanced back at Drake, and he gave me a confident nod that what I was about to do was something that should have been done long before I was born.  “You see, Daniel will always be my closest friend.  Many of you look at him and call him human, but he is much more than that.  His father is a pureblood and his mother is half Centaur.  He was shunned by Centaur society his whole life, yet I owe my life to him.”

The Centaurs and Centaurides gathered around him smiled, and a few Centaurs patted Daniel’s back.  “Does anyone in this room know a non-pureblood who has demonstrated their worthiness to be a part of our community?”  Blank stares looked back at me.  I had expected lots of Centaurs to stick their hands in the air in concurrence – none did.  “Seriously?  You all cut ties with your family members who started families with humans and never regretted they were gone from your lives?”

A British sounding Centauride stepped forward sheepishly.  “I kept in touch with my brother.  He started a family with a human.”  She looked around as if embarrassed to share this revelation.  “We were all on a picnic one afternoon watching a baseball game.  A line drive was hit directly at my daughter.  She had her back turned and didn’t see it coming.  Neither my brother nor husband was watching, but my nephew moved as fast as any Centaur I’ve ever seen.  He hurled himself in front of that ball and threw my daughter to the ground.  That ball migh’ have killed her.”  She looked to understanding eyes around her, “I don’t care what anyone says, that boy is my family.”

I was going out on a limb, but I hoped this Centauride would prove my point.  “And does your nephew know about his Centaur ties?”

The Centauride looked right at me, her voice strong, “He does.  He would never say a word, but his father had to explain to him why he couldn’t play high school sports with humans unless he pretended to be slower.”

Smiles and nods were speckled throughout the crowd when I asked,  “Huh, that’s the same thing Centaur fathers have to tell their Centaur sons, right?”

Another Centauride I’d never met stood shoulder to shoulder with the first Centauride.  “I’ve got an uncle who is a half-breed.  He raised me when my own parents were in a car accident and left for the pasture.  It was hard on him not being able to be a part of a herd and having to get used to our ways.”

Others in the crowd were thinking of non-pureblood relatives who had done something courageous – I knew because I could hear their thoughts.  Riding the wave, I continued, “I believe any non-pureblood who demonstrates their worthiness should be welcomed into our family.  A single drop of Centaur blood is sufficient if they carry the heart of a Warrior.”

A collective gasp sounded; Daniel’s louder than everyone’s.  I heard Chiron's words from the mountain top echo in my head, "
The loss of those family members who have been shunned is a far greater tragedy than any damage that could have been done by discovery.
”  I patted my hand over my heart, then pointed to Daniel.  “You carry the heart of a warrior.  You are welcome in our society.  You belong with us.”  I looked out into the crowd, "This is more than just my belief, Chiron told me he does not want any more Centaurs shunned just because their blood is mixed with humans.  He called it a tragedy and it needs to stop now."

Jessica made her way through the crowd to Daniel’s side.  She must have heard the same concerns I did floating through the minds of Centaurs and Centaurides throughout the room.  “Chairman, some may fear the Centaur blood could become diluted and our powers could wane.”

Daniel looked into Jessica’s eyes, with hurt showing on his face.  Was this why she wouldn’t run off with him when he had asked?  Jessica made a good point, but there was something she and all the others needed to know.

I cleared my throat so my voice would ring out loud above the whispers in the room.  “In some aspects, maybe – but in others, welcoming those we love back into our society will make us stronger.  When Drake was on his way to the pasture, the magic I learned as a human kept him from leaving.  Had I grown up believing my duty was to my race before my heart – I am sure he would be waiting for me in the pasture, instead of standing beside me right now.”

Many confused stares looked back at me, so I clarified, “Centaurs all over the world will be a stronger race if they are permitted to follow their hearts instead of blindly following traditions that were meant to preserve our race a millennia ago.”

I had come close to not having Drake in my life at all; I didn’t want another Centauride to have to overcome the same obstacles I had to.  I didn’t relent, “The arranged marriages need to stop.  There is something to be said for finding the right person, falling in love with them, and building a life together.” 

I motioned to Drake standing behind me.  “Drake and I met and fell in love despite everyone telling us it was forbidden.”  I turned and gazed down into Drake’s eyes, “But the heart wants what it wants.  I almost lost Drake over a betrothal he didn’t want and a Blood Debt that was absurd.  No Centauride will ever again be put in the same position I was.  Ladies, as long as I have a say – you have a say.  Gentlemen, the same goes for you:  love who you want.  You are not mindless, senseless warriors like our ancestors – you are free to be who you want to be.”

The smiles that had welcomed me after Zandra’s kind words were gone, replaced instead by gaping mouths and furrowed brows.  All the pent up frustration I had felt since first learning of the antiquated Centaur rules continued rolling out of me, “Brent?  Where are you?  Tell everyone why I feel the way I do.”

Brent stood close to our family off to my right and his voice rang out clear, “I think you believe what you do because you saw me fall in love with a human.”  Gasps sounded in all directions. 

“Assuming you and Katherine decide to marry, do you believe your children will somehow be substandard?”

“No.”

“Assuming we both have children, would there be any value in keeping your children away from mine?”

“I can’t think of a reason, no.”

“Me either, Brent.”  I looked out toward the crowd.  “I’m not telling you that you have to give up all the traditions you believe in.  What I am telling you is that there will be no repercussions if you choose to go your own way.” 

A single set of hands clapped.  Not in an applause sort of way, but a pompous sound – clapping slow and loud.  The person clapping was in the very center of the warehouse.  As Centaurs and Centaurides turned to see who was clapping, they moved away, scattering toward the walls of the warehouse.  When my line of sight was clear, I studied the woman whose hands continued to clap.  She wasn’t one of the Centaurs I had been introduced to.  She was tall and thin, with a ghostly white complexion, long dark stringy hair.  Her face was long, her nose narrow, and her eyes were set wide on her face. 

“Bravo, young Chiron.  Centuries of traditions flushed down the drain in a matter of minutes.  What else would you like to do?  Maybe you could play a trick on the gods for an encore?”