Chapter 65. Surrounded by Centaurs
Duncan was walking through the woods when he suddenly stopped and tilted his head to listen.
From not far off to his right came the clip-clop of hoofbeats, and, if one listened carefully, there was also a rustling sound.
Some creature seemed to be galloping through the forest, quickly drawing closer to him.
Duncan drew his wand from the special pocket at his waist, shifted to a safer spot, and watched intently.
He had sent Senier out earlier to find out Newt and Tina's exact situation, and Senier had not yet returned.
On top of that, the birds in the forest were rather playful and could not faithfully carry out high-altitude patrols.
So he had lost his guards, and when he ran into anything unusual he could only be extra cautious himself.
The hoofbeats came nearer, and Duncan raised his wand and said coldly, "Who's there?"
"It's me."
A low voice, steady and mature, came from behind a large tree.
In a moment, a man bare to the waist stepped slowly out from behind the tree.
His human torso joined smoothly with a reddish-brown horse's body, and a quiver and longbow hung at his back.
He had jet-black hair and high cheekbones; among centaurs he could count as rather handsome.
"So it's you, Magorian," Duncan said.
His wand lowered, but he did not put it away.
Centaurs did not much like humans and even felt some disgust.
Although they seldom harmed young witches and wizards, Duncan did not wish to take risks.
Magorian inclined his head a fraction, pridefully, then stopped two paces in front of Duncan and looked down at him.
There were still hoofbeats sounding around them.
Out of the corners of his eyes, Duncan saw other centaurs between the trees.
It seemed he had, without realising it, been surrounded by a band of centaurs...
Duncan's expression was not pleasant.
He flicked his eyes to indicate the surroundings.
"Magorian, what do you mean by this?"
Meanwhile, among the branches in the distance, the pixies huddled in hidden corners, shielded by drooping leaves.
"Nofi, it looks like Duncan's in trouble."
"Those centaurs look like they've got designs on him!"
"Mm-hmm, they're no good lot.
The other day they even tried to shoot me with an arrow!"
"Nofi, should we go and help Duncan?"
The pixies chattered one after another, and, when the last question was asked, they all fell quiet and tapped at Nofi, who was perched at the very top.
Of course, their real aim was to find amusement, and helping out would only be incidental.
Nofi craned his head and squinted for a moment, then said, "Wait a bit.
Those centaurs shouldn't be that stupid.
And the forest isn't only their habitat.
Duncan's got plenty of friends here..."
"Fine then..."
The pixies who had been itching to move instantly lost their spirit and listlessly watched Duncan being hemmed in.
Magorian did not answer Duncan's question.
He only looked him up and down and slowly paced around him.
He gave the impression of a sightseer at a zoo.
Since he did not use the weapons on his back, Duncan did not strike first either, but stared back at him with the same look.
"What you said last time—was it true?" Magorian suddenly halted and spoke.
"What was it?" Duncan's brow furrowed.
He had had quite a lot on his plate recently and really could not think what he had told a centaur.
Magorian shot Duncan a displeased glare and spoke in a somewhat harsh tone.
"You said that before long a mysterious person would sneak into the forest to harm unicorns and that we should prepare.
Were you lying then, only toying with us?"
"Oh—that."
Duncan came to a realisation.
When he first saw the troll in the shed, he had remembered that the noseless one would later harm unicorns, so he had told this to a centaur he happened to meet in the forest.
But he had never seen the centaurs make a move and had thought they had not taken his words to heart.
He had not expected them to come to him today.
"Of course it's true.
Don't you read the stars?
Haven't you seen the revelations they gave you?"
A subtle change passed over Magorian's expression, but he concealed it quickly.
Still maintaining his proud stance, he looked at Duncan and said, "We have discovered it, of course.
Otherwise we would not have come to find you."
"To come and work with me to protect the unicorn that will be harmed?" Duncan asked.
"We never cooperate with humans," Magorian retorted at once.
His eyes were full of scorn, as if Duncan were talking nonsense.
"Then why have you come to me?" Duncan said.
If he did not understand centaur temperament, his fist would already have flown.
Magorian seemed to be thinking.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"How did you know someone would harm a unicorn?"
Duncan shrugged.
"Bad luck for you, Magorian, but centaurs aren't the only ones who can prophesy.
I've got a little talent in that regard too."
"Is that so?" Magorian said softly, and his gaze turned suddenly keen.
"Then might there be another possibility?"
Duncan frowned and kept silent, meeting Magorian's eyes without fear and waiting for what would come next.
"Is it possible that you and the one who harms unicorns are in league," Magorian said coldly, "only you two have now had some falling-out, so you wish to borrow our strength to deal with him?
Perhaps this is all your plot—to have us focus on an unknown third party while you take the chance to harm the unicorn yourself."
As he spoke, the centaurs surrounding Duncan seemed to cheer him on and took two steps forward in unison.
Duncan shook his head with a smile and applauded.
"Splendid imagination.
It's really a pity you don't become a playwright."
Seeing that Magorian still wished to speak, Duncan pointed upward.
"Look up..."
Magorian cast Duncan a puzzled glance and lifted his gaze.
What he saw made him somewhat surprised.
At some unknown moment, the horizontal branches overhead had filled with birds large and small, all staring down in unison.
It seemed that, if Duncan came to harm, they would fly at the enemy, wild and fearless.
This was the first wave of friends Duncan had summoned.
If trouble truly came, some would cover his retreat, while others would speed to the castle to notify the professors and have them hurry over to help.
"Would someone who harms the spirits of the forest become a friend of the forest?" Duncan asked bluntly in return.
"Magorian, what are you doing?"
A voice full of urgency floated in from far off, and a centaur broke through the cordon and ran in.
He had pale-gold hair and the body of a silver-maned horse.
His eyes were an astonishing blue, like pale sapphires.
The newcomer placed himself before Duncan, shielding him, while he demanded of Magorian, "Have you forgotten the purpose of this trip?"
"No, Firenze.
I only wish to confirm it in my own way," Magorian replied.
"Are you doubting the augury of the stars?" Firenze's voice lifted.
"Of course not!" Magorian seemed offended and roared, "The stars' augury cannot be wrong!"
Firenze gazed at Magorian.
"I will tell the chieftain of today's matter.
For now, you should leave."
"As you please."
Magorian gave a cold laugh, turned, and strode off with the other centaurs.
"My apologies, Duncan Scamander," Firenze said to Duncan in a gentle tone.
"There was a bit of a misunderstanding today..."
"Oh?
You know me?
Is this about the unicorn?" Duncan asked.
"I've long heard your name, but this is the first time I've seen you," Firenze said with a smile.
"It isn't only the matter of the unicorn, but I can't tell you yet.
Hurry back to the castle.
When the time of the stars' augury comes, you'll know the answer.
And don't worry—we will protect that unicorn."
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