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You let the moment hang in the air, as you juggle competing impulses – the white clouds above roiling overhead as they pass from Mount Olympus out to the the Ionian Sea. With a docile κένταυρος, you’re tempted to make in-roads with the herd of Labostas and to direct them towards Damachides’ lands, but to travel alone or even with a limited personal guard to Labostas’ chieftain would carry risks of…severe abuses. To guarantee your safety, you’d have to travel with the First Platoon at your back, and no doubt the herd would scatter at the sign of disciplined troops in formation, spoiling any chance of diplomacy or persuasion.
<span class="mu-i">Best not to grow greedy – take your price and go!</span> This time, it is your brother Νίκων’s voice in your mind, firm in his conviction and clear-eyed - you see his broad and bearded face wearing a sly smile, gently teasing in his disapproval. Decided, you clear your throat and speak -
“Fair Labostas, you have demonstrated restraint not commonly known to your kind – for this, I grant you an opportunity to make amends. Go out into the Thessalian countryside and gather livestock to replace the ones that you have damaged. Return to this place in four days, and I shall sing of your fidelity and honor to the members of my House.” You speak carefully – no eavesdropping nymph or divinity will be able to claim that you dealt in falsehoods here – you have simply failed to correct a mistaken notion on the part of Labostas.
Labostas leaps up onto its hooves, and barks, “Yes, God-dess…” It wheels about, displaying the bloody mess of its underbelly, flashing hooves stained with gore, and gallops away without hesitation. Apparently, it has no qualms about completing this task as swiftly as possible.
Pantaleon waits for several minutes before revealing himself, brushing twigs and grasses out of his hair and off his tunic. Once close enough for speech, he looks at you with a suspicious light in his eyes, asking curtly – “What sorcery did you cast on it?”. Fingering his bow sullenly, he seems offended that he was not given a chance to bring the beast down.
You laugh aloud and shake your head at Pantaleon, answering, “Only the sorcery of a lilting melody, Pantaleon. Some spells can be cast by a friendly word alone.” He scowls in response, clearly doubting your truthfulness.
