by Edward Lang
Seera was the most beautiful, in my opinion, but they were all attractive – and of all different hues and types. Their skin color ranged from pale white to dark chocolate, with all shades of olive and tan in between. Their hairstyles varied, from closely shorn Afros to long tangles of curls that spilled all the way down their backs.
And my favorite part: boobs. They were of all different sizes, from tiny A-cups to voluminous mounds on par with Spirella’s. The variety was spectacular, and they were all mouth-wateringly beautiful. Seera’s pair was towards the upper end of the spectrum, probably triple Ds.
To be honest, though, after being with so many well-endowed women recently – Alia, Dyra, and Spirella were way bigger than any of the girls I’d slept with on Earth – I really wanted to see some of the smaller women topless.
Variety is the spice of life, after all.
Unfortunately, all those gorgeous breasts were locked away behind leather armor.
Ah well. Maybe we could all go skinny-dip in a mountain river later.
“You are awake, I see,” the Chieftess hailed me. “Are you ready for the trials?”
“Yes,” I said, “but I want to make absolutely sure about something: all we have to do is beat her, right?”
“Correct.”
“And you said all of us could participate in the race, right?”
I chose the word ‘participate’ very deliberately.
“Correct.”
“But only one of us has to win, right?”
“Correct.”
“Okay… I guess we’re ready, then.”
I didn’t want to ask about any rules, because I didn’t want to be specifically told not to do something.
“Follow me, then,” the Chieftess said.
She led me, the girls, and the entire centaur tribe to the grassy field beyond the wigwams.
“Ilvya, go out 300 feet into the field,” the Chieftess said. “You shall judge the winner.”
A Black centaur galloped out across the plains. When she was little more than an inch tall in the distance, she stopped and turned around.
“The first contestant to Ilvya wins,” the Chieftess said. “Are you ready?”
I looked over at Dyra and Spirella. Both of them nodded slightly.
“Yup, we’re ready,” I announced.
“Alright… line up and take your places.”
I went over next to Seera. Dyra was on my left, and Spirella was on the other side of Seera.
“Good luck,” I told her.
She glared at me. “Luck has nothing to do with it.”
Well, she had that part right.
Then she smirked at me. “My condolences ahead of time for your loss.”
I waggled my finger at her playfully. “Shouldn’t gloat – it’s not nice.”
She got a look on her face like she was taken aback, then turned away from me to focus on the horizon.
Neither she nor any other centaur noticed the grass around her hooves begin to move, despite there being no wind.
“Make ready…” the Chieftess called out… paused… then shouted, “GO!”
Seera took off like she’d heard the crack of a pistol –
Or she would have, if her hooves and ankles weren’t suddenly seized by hundreds of long strands of grass.
We’d discussed it, and figured that Dyra would have a better chance of grabbing her at a standstill, rather than trying to catch and hold her while she was in motion. Easier to stop a car when it’s going zero miles per hour instead of 60.
Individually, those strands of grass weren’t much.
But neither are the individual strands of a rope. Weave them all together, though, and you get something pretty powerful.
Enough to trip Seera and make her go tumbling face-first onto the ground.
“OH!” she cried out as she face-planted.
“NOW!” I yelled as I tore off at top speed.
That was Spirella’s cue.
Seera was trying to get to her feet when Spirella turned around and shot a whole mess o’ spider silk out of her spinnerets –
Which bound Seera’s legs together. Her forelegs were now securely webbed to her hindlegs.
“NO!” she yelled in rage as she struggled to stand – and fell flat on her face again.
Of course, I was watching all of this over my shoulder as I raced across the field.
I ran as fast as I could to Ilvya the centauress, who looked in shock between me and Seera in the distance.
As I ran up to her, Ilvya called out, “The human has won!”
“NOOOO!” Seera screamed in rage.
I hunched over with my hands on my knees and caught my breath. I wasn’t exactly a big exerciser back on Earth; it looked like I was going to have to do some cardio more often here on Atras.
When I had sufficiently recovered, I trotted back across the field, accompanied by Ilvya.
Seera’s eyes were filled with hatred as I approached.
“You are scum without honor!” she raged at me.
“Whaaat? Why would you say that?” I said, suppressing a smile.
“You cheated!”
“Nobody said anything about not using the abilities we had available to us,” I said in a lawyerly voice. “You have your four legs and speed; I have my girlfriends, and they have their powers.”
“If that’s how low the bar is, then maybe I should have kicked you in the head before we started racing!”
“It was an unfair race,” the Chieftess admitted.
“You see?!” Seera crowed at me triumphantly.
“No, Seera, I mean you had every advantage,” the Chieftess continued.
Seera’s expression was priceless. She swung her head around in shock, her eyes bugging out; the only thing missing was her going WHUUUUU?!
“It was only natural to assume that he would do whatever was necessary to even up the odds,” the Chieftess said.
“But – but – ”
“However,” the Chieftess said, turning to me, “you did cheat.”
“It was either that or lose, and I’m trying to save my friends from Necra,” I said.
“Understandable. However, as a result of your breach of faith, I give Seera the choice as to what contest is next.”
Seera scowled. “I chose the riding challenge – but I charge whomever takes my place to do unto the cretin as he has done to me!”
“What do you mean, ‘whomever takes my place’?” the Chieftess asked in alarm.
“I cannot compete,” Seera said sullenly.
“Why is that, daughter?”
Seera glared up at me. “I will show you, if only he will undo this damn webbing!”
“Sure,” I said. “Spirella?”
The arachne hesitantly crept over to the centauress, as though afraid the horse lady might bite her.
Seera stared at her hatefully, but lay there patiently as Spirella spat saliva onto the webbing.
“Ugh,” Seera said in disgust.
The silk dissolved, though –
Revealing a nasty break in Seera’s front leg, a compound fracture. The bone had torn through the skin, and blood was all over the grass. I felt queasy just looking at the jagged wound.
“Oh my god!” I cried out. “How did that happen?!”
“When you tripped me,” Seera seethed.
It must have been a freak accident. I mean, she went down hard, yes, but I hadn’t thought it was that hard…
“Oh no!” Dyra moaned. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to do that…”
“It matters not what you meant to do, only that you did,” Seera snarled.
Dyra looked ashamed and sick to her stomach, and she hid her face behind her hands.
“It’s not her fault,” I said, feeling awful – both that Seera had been injured, and that Dyra was bearing the brunt of Seera’s rage. “I’m the one who asked her to do it. The blame’s on me, not her.”
“Fine – then may my fate be upon your head, you treacher
ous scum.”
May my fate be upon YOUR head?
That seemed a bit melodramatic –
And then I realized that all the female centaurs were staring at Seera like they were at a funeral.
“What?” I asked, not understanding why everyone was so grim.
The Chieftess looked up at me, her eyes filled with sorrow. “When a warrior breaks her leg…”
Then she trailed off, sadly shaking her head.
Suddenly I remembered all the westerns I’d seen. Which wasn’t many, but enough to know what cowboys in the Wild West did to horses with broken legs.
“You’re not going to shoot her, are you?!” I asked in horror.
The centaurs reacted with even more horror.
“What?!” Seera cried out.
“What are you talking about?!” Ilvya shrieked.
“Why would we do that?!” another centauress screamed.
“It’s just… back on my world, if a horse breaks its leg, they, uh… they kill it.”
“What kind of barbaric world are you from?!” Seera demanded.
“No, child,” the Chieftess said, “she will live. It’s just that with a wound like that, her leg will never heal back nearly as strong. She will be partially lame for the rest of her days.”
“And for a warrior born, you might as well kill me now,” Seera snarled – although I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.
“We can help,” I said.
“How?” Seera yelled.
“…Dyra?” I asked gently. “Will you?”
My dryad nodded, her cheeks streaked with tears of remorse. “Of course…”
Dyra knelt down by Seera’s leg.
“Keep away from me!” Seera shouted as she slapped at Dyra’s hands. “You’ve done quite enough already!”
“Cut it out,” I rebuked her. “She’s going to heal you.”
Seera stared at me. “What?”
“Just quit messing with her and let her do her thing.”
Seera watched in confusion as Dyra held out her hands over the compound fracture.
Suddenly her hands glowed white, and golden sparks hovered in the air around Seera’s leg.
“What… what are you doing?” Seera asked, suddenly more awestruck than angry.
“I can anesthetize the pain, but I need someone to straighten her leg,” Dyra announced.
The Chieftess nodded, and Ilvya knelt down next to Seera.
“This may hurt,” Ilvya winced.
“It won’t,” Dyra reassured her.
Ilvya put her hands on Seera’s leg above and below the break, then pulled slightly and straightened the leg.
There was a cracking sound.
“You’re not in pain?” Ilvya asked in amazement.
“No,” Seera said in equal wonder.
Dyra continued with her glowing hands routine – and then she settled back on her heels. “It is done.”
Seera looked at her in confusion, then peered around at all her centaur sisters as though seeking reassurance.
Then she gingerly got to her feet, looking more like a baby foal taking its first steps.
When she realized there was no pain, she stamped her leg, trying it out – and then took off at a gallop.
The centaurs cheered joyfully as she thundered around the field and circled back.
“It’s completely and totally healed,” Seera said in wonder.
I grinned at Dyra, who smiled at me in relief.
“Wonderful!” the Chieftess cried out, and looked at me and Dyra. “Our sincerest thanks for the kindness you have shown our Seera.”
“Even though you did break it in the first place,” Seera muttered.
“That was an accident,” I said.
“…I know,” she grumbled, then cast her eyes down as she murmured, “Thank you.”
“Unfortunately, daughter,” the Chieftess said, “you have already chosen the second trial.”
“I know,” Seera said sullenly.
“Do you wish for someone else to compete in your stead?”
“No, I will do it myself.”
“What’s the big deal?” I asked in confusion.
“The next trial will be the riding challenge,” the Chieftess informed me.
“So?”
“So you must ride on Seera’s back.”
“Okay, that sounds simple enough.”
“It is not. She will try to prevent you. Not to mention that she will be trying to capture you in the meantime.”
“I’m still not seeing the problem.”
“Many who attempt the riding challenge end up trampled by accident. Many are crippled for life, and some even die.”
“Oh.” I looked over at Seera. “Really? After we healed you and everything?”
Now it was Seera’s turn to look shamefaced as she stared at the ground. “I would take it back if I could, but I already made the choice, and it is binding.”
I glanced at the Chieftess. “Is that true?”
“It is, unfortunately.”
“Huh.”
I wasn’t too worried – between Dryad’s Gift and having Dyra nearby, I wasn’t too concerned about dying. Although being trampled didn’t sound like a fun thing to endure.
I wasn’t about to let Seera off too easily, though, so I kept my mouth shut about my healing.
She made the connection on her own, though.
“But your dryad can heal you if you are injured, can she not?” Seera asked hopefully.
Before I could answer, Dyra said, “Yes.”
“Thank the gods,” Seera said in relief.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would almost say you’re concerned about my welfare,” I said with a grin.
She scowled at me. “After she healed me, I do not wish to return the kindness of her gesture with pain and suffering.”
“You could just let me ride on your back, then.”
“NO,” Seera snapped.
“What’s the big deal?”
The Chieftess winced. “It is… not appropriate. Which is why it is the second trial.”
Thankfully Parch appeared midair in order to explain things to me.
In general, centaurs do not allow humans
to ride upon their backs.
It is seen as humiliating and degrading.
Centaurs believe humans see them as
mere pack animals, little better than
the horses humans enslave for transportation.
Accordingly, they do not allow
humans to ride them.
The only exception is when a
female mates with a human male.
Then and only then will she allow
the male to ride her, but it is not
a privilege that is always offered –
only in cases where the female
truly loves and respects the male.
And it is often done in spite of
other centaurs’ disapproval,
many of whom hate the practice
without exception.
“WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!” I shouted.
The entire tribe stared at me in surprise.
“What?” Seera asked, startled.
“If I ride on your back without you asking me, is that, like, really bad?” I asked.
Seera blushed. “It is not good.”
“Yeah, but is it, like sexual assault, or… or rape?”
Seera’s eyes opened wide. “What?! No!”
“Oh… okay,” I said, relieved. “But I still don’t want to ride your back unless you say it’s okay.”
“You need not worry, as you will not get the chance,” she shot back.
“Yeah, but I’ve got to hear you say it first.”
“Say what?”
“That you’re okay with me riding your back.”
“I am NOT okay with that!”
“Well, then, you’ve got to give me permission.”
“I will NOT give you permission!”
“You say I don’t have a shot, but you won’t give me permission,” I taunted her. “Sounds like somebody’s a little worried.”
“I am NOT!”
“Seera, just give the human permission,” the Chieftain sighed.
Seera glanced at her ruler, then glared at me. “I… give you permission to attempt to ride my back. But you will not succeed.”
“Fine, I guess that’s good enough,” I replied.
“And after your cheating last time, only one of you is allowed to compete,” Seera demanded. “It can be you or one of your women, but only one of you. No help from the others.”
I looked over at the Chieftess, who nodded. “That is appropriate.”
“Okay, so, she’s going to try to trample me – ”
“I will not try to trample you,” Seera interrupted.
“Great, so you just might do it by accident,” I shot back. “And I can’t get any help from my girlfriends. Can I at least choose where we have this damn contest?”
The Chieftess looked at Seera, who begrudgingly nodded.
“Good. I choose the forest.”
Seera frowned. “Why the forest?”
I had my reasons, but I didn’t feel the need to reveal them right away. “So it’ll be harder for you to run.”
“If I am unable to maneuver as carefully,” she warned me, “I run a greater risk of accidentally trampling you.”
“I still want the forest.”
“Fine,” Seera said with an exasperated wave of her hand.
“Then we shall repair to the forest and begin the second trial,” the Chieftess said solemnly.
Bring it on.
11
Alia, Dyra, and Spirella tried to talk me out of it on our walk over to the forest.
“She could trample you,” Alia said in a panicked voice.
“Dyra will heal me,” I reassured her.
“Not if she accidentally stamps you in the head and breaks through your skull,” Dyra said worriedly. “There are some things that are even beyond MY powers.”
I rapped the helmet I was wearing. “You’re forgetting what I got from the Baron. Impenetrable – right, Parch?”
I believe so…