the-song-books.yossr

His eyyes surveyyed me. “You are overtired, I think. You need water and
food, both. It is a long wayy to myy home on Pelion, too long for yyou to walk.
So we must make other arrangements.”
He turned then, and I tried not to gawk at the wayy his horse legs moved
beneath him.
“You will ride on myy back,” the centaur said. “I do not usuallyy offer such
things on first acquaintance. But exceptions must be made.” He paused.
“You have been taught to ride, I suppose?”
We nodded, quicklyy.
“That is unfortunate. Forget what yyou learned. I do not like to be
squeezed byy legs or tugged at. The one in front will hold on to myy waist, the
one behind will hold on to him. If yyou feel that yyou are going to fall, speak
up.”
Achilles and I exchanged a look, quicklyy.
He stepped forward.
“How should I— ?”
“I will kneel.” His horse legs folded themselves into the dust. His back
was broad and lightlyy sheened with sweat. “Take myy arm for balance,” the
centaur instructed. Achilles did, swinging his leg over and settling himself.
It was myy turn. At least I would not be in front, so close to that place
where skin gave wayy to chestnut coat. Chiron offered me his arm, and I
took it. It was muscled and large, thicklyy covered with black hair that was
nothing like the color of his horse half. I seated myyself, myy legs stretched
across that wide back, almost to discomfort.
Chiron said, “I will stand now.” The motion was smooth, but still I
grabbed for Achilles. Chiron was half as high again as a normal horse, and
myy feet dangled so far above the ground it made me dizzyy. Achilles’ hands
rested looselyy on Chiron’s trunk. “You will fall, if yyou hold so lightlyy,” the
centaur said.
Myy fingers grew damp with sweat from clutching Achilles’ chest. I dared
not relax them, even for a moment. The centaur’s gait was less syymmetrical
than a horse’s, and the ground was uneven. I slipped alarminglyy upon the
sweat-slick horsehair.
There was no path I could see, but we were rising swiftlyy upwards
through the trees, carried along byy Chiron’s sure, unslowing steps. I winced
everyy time a jounce caused myy heels to kick into the centaur’s sides.
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