Chapter 21 - A New Alliance

Welcome to Chapter 21

Florian waited for another hour or two. Finally the old man would arrive, and Florian would ask him to join him. "Mighty prince himself.. What's the honor, aye?" The Old man, who clearly had years of experience with sailing, sat down by the fancy table at the Inn. "I've heard stories." Prince Florian told him with not a single face expression.

"Aye, you must mean the Horsepeople." He laughed a bit. The Old man seemed to enjoy sharing his adventures with strangers and everyone he could. "Young boy.. It is far from here. What do you need to know?" He asked.

Florian was a bit confused. Horsepeople? It just sounded like regular knights on horses, but oh well, he could use that help too.

"Listen, Old man. I've been waiting for someone like you to show up and help me guard the Kingdom! Do you want war?!" He raised his voice at the stranger.

They went inside for a drink. The Old Man, named Evan, was suddenly aware of the seriousness of the situation. So the war rumors were true, he thought. "Listen, lad. I'll help ya. You need to go to the highest point of the mountain. Here you will find what you are looking for. Make sure to do it at dawn." He said and was distracted by a woman entering the Inn.

Ah, yes.. Everyone was not so quiet in Praaven any longer. Florian would spend the night at the Inn and wait for Dawn to come.

Some hours later at dawn

Florain was lucky. The Inn was on a high mountain top, and its peek was not too far from here. If he would meet a so called Horsepeople, that would be here. A pale stranger carefully catch up to him. She was not afraid, but Florian could not believe his eyes.. Was that a.. Horse? A Human? What was this creature?

She would stare at him for quite some time, and just like you should be afraid to scare a deer, he would not say a word while she studied the Odd looking visitor.

"My name is Prince Florian. I've come to ask for your help." He looked her in the eyes and tried his hardest not to acknowledge the fact, that she was half horse half woman. He explained the situation to her, and she listened.

"Aren't you an odd looking creatue," She said and continued, "I am not the leader of my clan. But I will take you to her." She said and felt sorry for the tiny human.

Florian and his companion would walk and ride that morning until they arrived at a quiet location surrounded by trees. Was this their homestead?

"Our leader and her daughter will come anytime now. You need to tell them the exact thing, you told me. Then, I'm sure they will listen." She patted him on the head. What a strange little creature he was.

The Leader (To the right) and her daughter (To the left) arrived outside the counsel house. "Let's go in and discuss this matter!" Ary, the leader, said.

"Are there any more of your kin trying to come and imprison us?!" Ary yelled at the little Prince. She did not trust humans, and he was one of these she could tell for sure. "No, not at all! I am here to ask for your help. War is close, and it will affect us all if we don't do something about it!" Florian spoke like a real King now.

"You speak well for your case, little man. We are only women here. Your kin killed all of our men not too long ago. We are not many." Horsepeople could age up to a hundred, so maybe that was why these few was still alive.

"That's all right. I need all the help I can get." Even though there was only few of them left, Florian had heard what enormous strength and power these creatures possessed. 

"We will fight for your, Brave little human. And for our kin." The daughter of Ary spoke to the Prince.

The three Horsepeople would gather and ride to war at the next sunrise. But Florian knew, that he needed more than the strength of just these remarkable creatures.