“Daniel, you don’t have to trouble yourself all for me,” Kroanette bashfully reasoned while lowering her head.
“I would find it to be a pleasure and not trouble to escort the legendary courier, Kroanette,” Daniel asserted proudly. Kroanette jumped with all her feet as he held out a hand towards her. “So then, shall we?”
“Um… yes,” Kroanette softly answered as she took his hand. He started leading her along the grassy field towards a small hillside that rose up nearby. As they walked together Kroanette glanced to Daniel with a timid smile as he held her hand and escorted her up the hill to the top.
“Daniel, if I may ask, why the sudden chivalry with me?”
“What do you mean?” he asked as they crossed the hill and began walking down the other side.
“You’ve never asked me to go for a walk with you before. And you have Triska back; I know how much you wanted to be near her right now.”
“I want to be near you,” he reasoned, with Kroanette stopping suddenly as they reached the bottom of the slope. She watched him with a deeper blush as he turned and gently smiled at her.
“But why?” she quietly asked while her tail swayed behind her.
“Well, you are my mate, aren’t you?” Daniel quizzed her.
“I… um… yes?”
“You don’t sound sure,” Daniel pointed out with a tone of concern.
“I’m sorry,” Kroanette replied as she sat down on her legs, having a saddened smile as she lowered her head. “I know you care about me. It’s just when you say ‘mate’ I hear you talking about Triska or Specca or the other girls who you keep so close to you.”
“Kroanette, I thought I told you how I feel already,” Daniel mused as she lifted her chin to bring her gaze up to his.
“I know, you did. But-” Kroanette started before Daniel leaned down and kissed her, silencing the centaur as he gently held her head. She closed her eyes and cherished the gesture while bringing one hand up to hold his. After the kiss ended Daniel smiled knowingly at her and slowly shook his head.
“No buts. You know I love you, and that you’re my mate just as the others are.”
Kroanette slowly nodded and lowered her head, seeming to be hiding doubt with a thinly veiled smile. Daniel gently reached out and brushed her hair, watching as the centaur allowed him to do so while her tail slowly swayed behind and her eyes remained down towards the grass. He gazed around at the surrounding hills and countryside as silence befell them, with each passing moment building his unease as he felt her happiness lowering. After a while he knelt down next to Kroanette and gently took hold of her hand, earning a glance from her as he showed a small curious smile.
“Tell me about Ruhelia.”
“Ruhelia? What about it?”
“What’s it like there? What does your home look like? I’m very curious about where you grew up, Kroanette.”
The centaur smiled softly and looked ahead at The Outerlands, eyes envisioning her homeland while a sense of pride came about her.
“It’s a lovely city,” she gently spoke. “It covers roughly twice as much land as a typical human city would.”
“Wow,” Daniel said as he tried to picture it in his mind. “That big, huh?”
“Well of course. But it’s not densely built, like a human kingdom would be. Rather it’s spread out, with ample fields to roam about in. I suppose if you were to condense Ruhelia down to space out the dwellings in a manner like you humans do, the city would be a small fraction of its size.”
“I see. It must be nice to have so much room to run about in,” Daniel happily mused.
“It is,” Kroanette said as she stood up and walked forward, appearing to get lost in the memory of her home as she slowly waved a hand out in front of her. “It’s a place built with shining white marble and beautiful gardens of flowers and trees. My home, or rather my mother’s palace, stands atop the tallest hill and overlooks the city with elegantly crafted statues of our ancestors placed before it. It truly is a sight to behold, especially during the Quinlar Festival.”
“Quinlar Festival? What’s that?” Daniel curiously asked.
“It’s the grandest time of our people,” Kroanette eagerly answered, turning to him with a sudden burst of excitement. “There is much food and drinks served throughout Ruhelia, centaurs of all ages play games and tell stories, and at night there is the Quinlar Race. The greatest of centaurs compete to see who is truly the fastest of all, and it runs all around Ruhelia so that all may watch the spectacle.”
“Kroanette, that sounds amazing. Did you ever compete in the race?”
“No,” Kroanette answered as she lowered her head, the excitement in her voice fading as she looked away and crossed her arms under her bosom. “I wasn’t allowed to. I’m royalty after all, I had other duties that mother wanted me to attend to. I wanted to run in it, so badly, but I never could.”
Daniel stood up as he saw Kroanette’s enthusiasm disappearing, the centaur slowly turning back and gazing out at The Outerlands with remorseful eyes.
“Kroanette, how come you’re not home right now?” Daniel asked as he walked over to her side. “If you’re a princess shouldn’t you be in your palace instead of running around Eden as a courier?”
“I should,” Kroanette answered with a small shrug. “But honestly, Daniel, I just can’t do that. I don’t want to be a princess, I don’t want to have all those responsibilities and obligations, and I certainly don’t want to be cooped up in the palace when there’s a whole world out here for me.”
“Did you run away from home?”
“No, nothing like that,” Kroanette said shaking her head. “I have a sister, Daniel. Her name is Hollia, and I gave up my right to the crown to her. She can lead our people when mother passes on, I’m sure she’ll be quite good at it. Me however, I didn’t want to be an empress, I never really wanted such a life. I only wanted… well…”
“To be a legendary courier,” Daniel finished with a smirk.
“I wanted to be the fastest centaur, not only in Ruhelia, but also the entire world. I would hold all the best records, have traveled all across Eden, and would be remembered not for being a princess or even an empress, but for being a centaur who outran them all.”
“Was your mother upset about your decision?”
“There were some choice words thrown about between us,” Kroanette recalled with a weak smile. She chuckled then glanced to Daniel with a shrug. “But in the end she understood. I have to run in this world, I can’t be happy otherwise. I’m just not cut out to be the royalty type in all honesty. Although she wasn’t thrilled of my choice, she allowed me to leave the city and follow my dream. She even arranged my first delivery contract.”
“I’m thankful she did,” Daniel said as he rested a hand on her hip. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of you running into me.”
Kroanette nodded and lowered her head, gently brushing her hair back behind her ear as she watched Daniel out of the corner of her eye. As he looked at her with the wind gently ruffling her hair the world seemed to fade around them. She had always struck him as beautiful but now it was as if he was seeing her completely for the first time. Her light green eyes remained focused on him, his gaze locked onto hers while she suddenly struck him as even more enchanting than before. After a while of silence Kroanette blushed and turned away with a hand held to her cheek.
“Daniel, what are you staring at?”
“You,” he replied, with Kroanette looking back to him in wonder as he smiled with the sudden realization. “I’m staring at a beautiful woman.”
“You sure about that?” Kroanette questioned as she slowly eyed her lower body with regret.
“Absolutely sure,” he promised as he gently ran his hand along her back. Kroanette quivered a bit as she watched him slowly walking behind her. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. You’re beautiful, from head to hoof.”
“Daniel, I know you care about me, but-” Kroanette st
arted before Daniel smacked her rear, prompting her to yelp with a jump as he smiled knowingly at her.
“Stop,” he ordered. Kroanette blushed further and held in her voice as he continued walking around to her other side. “If you really did understand that I love you and wish never to be parted from you, then you would also understand that I find everything about you attractive.”
“But I’m part horse,” Kroanette lamented.
“You’re all centaur, and a beautiful woman,” Daniel corrected. “You’re not a horse. Stop saying that.”
Kroanette looked back to her lower body with concern then to Daniel as he got in front of her and held onto her arms.
“Alyssa is not a child, she’s a witch. Specca isn’t a fish, she’s a nixie. Squeak isn’t a bug, she’s an ant girl. And you’re not a horse. You’re a centaur and the most beautiful one in Eden.” He watched as Kroanette slowly opened her mouth to speak before shaking his head. “I don’t want to hear my lovely mate degrading herself with false words. I love everything about you, I wouldn’t change a damned thing if given a chance, and you can be sure that once my mates approve of you like I know they will I’m going to take you for the ride of your life.”
“Daniel,” Kroanette breathed out as she felt her legs wobble.
“So not one more word about you being unattractive or being a horse,” Daniel said as he gently pulled her down, the girl sitting on her legs while staring at him with unblinking eyes. “I’m the luckiest man in Eden to have you as a mate, Kroanette. I cherish everything about you, and I promise I’ll always love and take care of you.”
“You will?”
“Forever,” Daniel promised before he held her by the back of the head and pulled her into a kiss. This time Kroanette quickly held her arms around him, keeping him close while her heart was thumping in her chest. All her worries and doubts vanished as she felt Daniel’s love surrounding her, the world around them fading away in her mind as she could only think about the human that genuinely loved her for everything she was.
After the kiss ended Kroanette slowly opened her eyes with a quiet breath, seeing Daniel smiling gently at her while carefully brushing the hair around her face.
“That’s my girl,” he said, with Kroanette slowly showing a loving smile as those three words made her spirit soar.
“Daniel,” she dearly spoke, hands clinging to his shirt while her tail waved about behind her.
“Hm?” he replied as he brushed her hair.
“Ride me.”
Daniel blinked then smiled awkwardly as the centaur’s expression turned to lust, her eyes piercing his gaze as she shifted her hips with a low murmur.
“Kroanette, you know I can’t yet,” he reminded her shaking his head.
“Ride me,” she begged again.
“Kroanette, I want to. But it wouldn’t be right with the others, not now.”
“No, Daniel. I mean, ride me,” Kroanette insisted as she patted her backside with one hand. Daniel looked at her lower body curiously then her as she smiled and motioned behind with her head.
“You want me to ride on your back?”
“I want to run with my mate,” Kroanette explained. “You’ve filled my spirit with life, so much so with your loving words. I need to use this energy, and since I cannot have you thrust into me to make me your woman just yet, I wish to run as fast as I can. And I want my mate to be with me. I never want to be without him.”
Daniel smiled amusedly at her words as she bowed her head timidly while keeping her eyes on him.
“Please, Daniel. Ride me however you can right now.”
“Alright, that much I can do,” Daniel agreed before he mounted the centaur’s back. She stood up and smiled eagerly at him as he looked around at the girl he was sitting on with a curious eye. “I know how fast centaurs can run, do you think I’ll be able to hold on like this if you’re going full speed?”
“Yes,” Kroanette assured before taking her whip and snapping it hard to the side. Daniel jumped in surprise as she recoiled the whip expertly with one hand before presenting the coiled lash to him. “Here, use this.”
“What? Use this?” Daniel bewilderedly asked as he took it from her.
“Of course, it’ll help.”
Daniel stared at the whip with wide eyes then her as she continued to gaze at The Outerlands before her with a proud smile.
“Kroanette… are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Go ahead, don’t be afraid.”
Daniel hesitated for a moment then slowly looked to the crop as he let it unravel and hang down at their side. He slowly breathed out then smiled a little and glanced to Kroanette as she waited patiently for him.
“Alright, if you say so. I love you, Kroanette.”
“Daniel, I love you too,” Kroanette softly vowed as she closed her eyes and held a hand over her heart.
‘I am truly blessed to have met Daniel in my life. I’ve learned the error of our kind’s ways and will help bring great change to all centaurs in Eden by following his beliefs. I’m the luckiest centaur in the world, to have a mate as chivalrous and-”
With a loud crack Kroanette leaped into the air and screamed, her mind going blank as she felt a strong lash strike against her rear. She stared ahead with wide eyes and a quivering lip, her cheeks having taken on a large blush as she shakily breathed in and out. The sensation of being struck like that got her heart pounding while her thoughts became hazy. After a moment to regain her senses she slowly turned her head to see Daniel holding the whip down and watching her curiously.
“Was that alright?” he asked tilting his head in question.
“Daniel,” Kroanette squeaked out. “I meant… tie yourself to my waist… not… whip me.”
Daniel staggered with alarm then quickly looked back and forth between Kroanette’s stunned face and her rear which was trembling a bit from having the crop strike it sharply.
“What? Oh! I’m sorry! I thought you wanted me to- I didn’t think you meant- I am so sorry, Kroanette!”
Kroanette shook with a low whine while her eyes remained locked onto him, hands trembling at her sides and her rear left leg kicking slightly on reflex. Daniel watched as she appeared to be rendered in shock then noticed her staring at him with a lustful look in her eye, a shaky gulp being made by her as she glanced to the whip then back to him again.
“Kroanette? Are you alright?” he asked, getting a single slow nod out of her and nothing else. “That didn’t hurt you too badly, did it?”
Again Kroanette only responded with a single gesture of shaking her head while staring at him and breathing unsteadily. Daniel noticed she seemed to be thinking about something intently then eyed to the whip in his hand. It was then that a thought clicked in his head about the choice of weapon the centaur had always carried and why it suddenly stood out.
“Wait a minute,” he said as he examined the whip carefully. “I just thought of something. Centaurs are known to use spears and swords in battle, that way they can charge and run by their enemy to attack them and remain moving. But a whip wouldn’t work the same, it would be harder to hit with while on the move and can snag more easily. Not to mention against armored targets it’s practically useless.”
Kroanette bit her lip and turned her head away as Daniel looked at her curiously.
“Why is it you chose a whip as your weapon for out here?”
“Um… well…” she quietly said while holding her hands to her cheeks.
“Kroanette?”
Slowly Kroanette turned to him with a timid expression, her eyes going to the whip then to him again as she smiled nervously.
“Well… you see, when I was young I saw many things inside the palace. Much about how to properly rule and manage my people, how to oversee our courier deliveries and trades with other races, and… I also saw how corrupt centaurs were punished for their behavior.” She gulped and glanced to the whip with a lustful eye. “I saw how they were disciplined, by cane and lash. The sound
s they made when cracked, the screams the centaurs made as they struck their hindquarters… I never saw anything quite like it.”
Daniel showed a look of wonder as Kroanette shrugged with an innocent smile at him.
“Growing up as a princess I was never disciplined like that. The worst I got was being sent to my room and not allowed to run about for the rest of the day. I never had a whip strike against my rear before, it would have been considered too extreme for someone of my stature. But when I saw and heard it, I… I got really excited.”
“Kroanette?” Daniel slowly said with a knowing smile.
“I liked it,” Kroanette admitted. “The sound of the whip snapping in the air, the tension and energy behind it, I couldn’t help myself. I often found myself daydreaming about it… about being punished like that. I even tried to be bad a few times to incite it upon myself, breaking a few priceless treasures mother had on display in the palace. She never sentenced me to be whipped though, just to be alone in my room to think about what I did. I was never lucky enough to feel it for myself.”
“So that’s why you picked the whip as your weapon for out here? Because you had a thing for being whipped?”
“Honestly, I don’t whip myself with it, Daniel,” Kroanette explained shaking her head. “It’s not the same. I know, I tried it before at home when nobody was looking. It stung, but it didn’t give me a thrill like I thought it would. I suppose doing it to oneself isn’t the same as having it done by another. Still, I chose it as my weapon to bring out here with me because I do enjoy snapping it myself. Always lights me up inside to hear it crack in the air.”
“My, my,” Daniel mused with a curious smile. “Am I hearing this correctly? The rebellious princess of Ruhelia wants to be whipped like naughty girl?”
“When you put it like that it makes me sound rather perverted, doesn’t it?” Kroanette bashfully said looking down. “But yes, it’s true. I’m rather embarrassed to admit all this, but I can’t help how I feel.”
“So was this the first time somebody whipped you?”
“Yes.”
“And did it make you feel good, Kroanette?”
Chronicles of Eden - Act VII Page 25