Rush will wait for the others and cast light on a stone, tossing it towards the silhouette 

As the stone lands and casts light upwards, you see standing before you just outside of the light cast by the fire, a 9' tall centaur wearing chainmail with a javelin, battleaxe, and shield all within relatively easy reach. He's standing in a defensive position as the stone of light is hurling towards him, but he's unarmed. 

As soon as he realizes that the stone wasn't meant to harm him, he says, "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm not used to seeing people out here. Who are you? What are you doing?"

Kwiz gets up and sees the large man-beast standing near them. Seeing that the centaur appears non-threatening, he says "We're simply passing through on our way up north. Have you eaten? Are you cold? ((what's the weather like these days?)) Come by the fire."

((Good question about the weather: we'll call it autumn. I can't remember if we've already established a time of year at this point, so unless you all remember, we'll go ahead and call it autumn.))

He acknowledges Kwiz's invitation with a nod and trots nearer to the fire. "Passing through? I don't mean to pry, but I live in the hillside around here. There are no roads. No one just 'passes through'. If you tell me, perhaps I can even help you find your way. (Thank you for letting me warm by the fire, by the way.)" 

Andrømeda lets herself relax now that there is no seeming threat, smiling in her guileless way, and goes to join the Centaur. "Velkommen, friend. Am'm Andrømeda, if Am can ask dun name in return?"

"The roads take the long... well... road... We did not want to delay, so decided to simply cut straight through. As the crow flies as it were." Kwiz replies, as Duncan caws, almost in response to Kwiz' 'joke'. "Is this area dangerous?"

First, responding to Andrømeda, he smiles a cautious smile despite himself - Andrømeda's demeanor is fairly infectious, after all - and he says, "I am Xanth. I've been staying near Dragon Barrow, because I've been driven out of my home in Neverwinter Wood." Then, he leans down to offer his hand to shake hers.

"Well," in response to Kwiz, he starts, "the long road is often times the safer road. You do risk yourselves to come this way. it must be an important errand?"

"We actually were headed to the Barrow... is it far from here?" Kwiz replies, excited by the chance of fate to bring a person who knows where they're headed into their group. "It is not urgent per-se... just we don't feel the need to waste time. Perhaps you have seen a dragon in the area? Ah... Xanth... call me Kwiz" he adds almost as an afterthought.

"Kwiz," Xanth says aloud, "No, the barrow is only maybe half a day's journey north from here. I have a proposition: if you help me with my problem in Neverwinter Wood, I will help you reach the barrow safely. I don't want to go in, but I can lead you there if that's your destination."

Andrømeda nods at Kwiz, saying, "If den vas de Wyrm det drove du from dun Vood, vi are going dir for a Sverd det can help us to slay de beast."

"It wasn't a dragon, but I believe the orcs that drove me out may have been working with a dragon."

Andrømeda cocks a brow, but there is an eager glint in her eye as she says, "Vell, det does sound like a good slag, even if de feige ha bowed knee to de Wyrm. Maybe even more so, ja?"

"Orcs eh?" Kwiz asks. "Were you driven out alone? Did it seem that they were after anything specific?"

"It seemed like they were after anything they could get their hands on." Getting quietly angry, he says, "And yes, I'm alone."

Looking to the others Kwiz says "I have no problem helping this man tomorrow. And perhaps if the orcs are working with the dragon we've been tracking we may be able to learn something about what it's after..."

"Nei," Andrømeda says,  striking a fist against her chest with her offhand while giving her greataxe a flourish, "du are not alone. Vi vil rout de bastards det drove du from dun heim."

"If that is the decision of your group, I thank you. Tonight, rest. Tomorrow, I'll lead you to the Barrow. Then, when you're done there, I'll lead you to what used to be my home. It's another two days' journey into the woods at your pace. Maybe we all can get what we're after in this partnership."

And, so you spend the night under the stars, next to your camp fire. The rest of the evening is uneventful as each of you takes your watch. As dawn approaches, and the horizon is starting to look orange you all begin the wake up to Xanth polishing his battleaxe and waiting patiently.

Waking up early as always, Kwiz takes some time looking through his book, and preparing spells. Though the way he does so almost appears that he’s communing with the book itself. Much more so than in the past. Looking to Xanth he says “I shall be ready when the others arise. Ah... and... I do not know if this is rude, but... it’s been a long walk, and these old legs are tired. Might it be possible to be carried? I’m quite a lightweight.” He hastily adds “Also... I’m curious of the orcs we’ll encounter. Were there any users of the arcane amongst them? It will help to know how to prepare.”

"I'm guessing you haven't had much contact with centaurs, little one. It is considered rather rude to be asked to be ridden like a common stallion." He doesn't look offended and his tone is more coldly informative as opposed to aggressive or defensive.