Isle Of View (28 page)

“Who is Jenny?” he asked.

“Jenny Elf. She's—” Electra paused, realizing that this was another oddity. “She's not from an elm or from Xanth. She doesn't get weak away from her tree. She's twice your size, and her ears are pointed. But she's definitely an elf, I think.”

“I should like to meet her.”

“I will bring her here,” Godiva said. She stepped out.

“How can you help the goblins, so far from your elm?” Gloha asked Bud. “I mean—”

“I am just here to arrange details,” Bud said. “We shall defend one side of Goblin Mountain from intrusion by the winged monsters on that side. That will relieve the goblins of the fear of a flank attack.”

It certainly would! The elves were small, but their strength and expertise near their elm was such that no monsters would pass that way.

“I never thought the elves would be in this,” Gloha said unhappily. “But I suppose elves have to keep their word, and a covenant is a word.”

“You are on the side of the winged monsters?” Bud asked her. “Isn't there a certain ambiguity in your position?”

“No. Che Centaur is a winged monster, and I am too.”

“To be sure,” he said, indulging in the very most circumspect of male glances at her petite body. Electra knew that glance; it was the kind no one directed at her.

While they talked. Prince Naldo approached Electra. “My sister—where is she now?”

“Nada's with Cheiron,” Electra said. “We joined with him after delivering Che here.”

“You delivered the centaur here?” he asked, surprised.

“It was a deal. The Goblinate of the Golden Horde was going to cook him, so we joined forces with Godiva to save him. Then we had to decide which group got him, and she won. We don't want him here, but we didn't have a choice. It was—”

“A matter of honor,” he concluded. “How well I understand. Tell me, how are matters between the two of you?”

"Nada and I get along fine. We just wish Dolph wasn't going to marry her.”

“It was another deal,” he said. “A political betrothal. We had thought the prophecy referred to me and the Princess Ivy. We were in error, so Nada took the lead.”

Electra wondered what would have happened had it been Ivy on that quest, instead of Dolph. Ivy might well have married Naldo; he was indeed a prince and a handsome man in his human form. But that would have meant that Ivy would never have met Grey Murphy—and that Dolph would not have met Electra.

“Well, Nada means to see it through. She doesn't love Dolph, and I do, but it's his choice.”

“It is an irony. My father would direct Nada to break the betrothal, but it is not his right. We have accepted the benefits of the political liaison with Castle Roogna, and can not in honor renege.”

“I know. Just as you can't renege on the covenant with the goblins.”

He grimaced. “Just so. We find both situations awkward, but our course is clear. The Flower Elves are similarly caught.”

The door opened—and there was Jenny Elf. But of course she couldn't be a true elf, really, because—

“Oh, I'm so glad to see you, 'Lectra!” Jenny exclaimed, running up to give her a hug. Electra was suddenly aware how much they differed in size; Jenny was barely half her height. “Che and Gwenny and I had a Tsoda fizz fight, just the way we wanted to at the lake!”

Then she became aware of the others, and was abashed. - “I'd better introduce you,” Electra said. “Folks, this is Jenny, from the World of Two Moons. Jenny, this is Gloha, and Prince Naldo, who is Nada's brother, and Bud of the Flower Elves.”

“You can fly?” Jenny asked, looking first at Gloha.

For answer, Gloha spread her wings and flew toward the ceiling. But there wasn't room to go anywhere, and she landed almost immediately.

“You must meet Che!” Jenny said. “He doesn't fly yet, but—”

“I know,” Gloha said. “I came here with Cheiron.”

Then Jenny focused her spectacles on Bud. “An elf?” she asked, looking surprised. “But you're so small!” Indeed, he was only half her height.

Bud smiled tolerantly. “Just as the human folk have giants, such as the ogres, and the goblins have giants, such as the callicantzari, it becomes evident that we elves also have giants. By the look of you, you are young; others of your kind must be larger yet.”

“Yes, I'm small. Maybe there's a mistake, because my people never called themselves elves. We must be another species, that just happens to resemble yours in some ways.”

Bud smiled. “This interests me. Let's explore it further, if you will.” He glanced at the others. “If I am not interfering with business.”

“My business is introducing you to each other,” Godiva said. “So that when Electra and Gloha return to the surface, they can make a competent report.”

“So that Cheiron will believe that you really do have these allies,” Gloha said. “I suppose mat theans that you don't intend to give up Che Centaur or Jenny Elf.”

“Jenny Elf may go,” Godiva said. “She is not captive.” She glanced at the girl. “But I expect you to keep your word.”

“I will,” Jenny said. “But I'm not going until Che does.” She turned back to Bud. “You really think we are just variants of the same species?”

“I suspect we are equivalents for our respective lands. Do you have other creatures on yours?”

“You mean like trolls?”

“Ah, you have trolls! Are they point-eared like you?”

“No, they're round-eared and ugly. They don't stand much taller than we do, but they are way more massive.”

"Interesting. Our trolls are tall and thin. How many fingers on their hands? Ours have five, unless some have been bitten off.”

Jenny smiled briefly. “Four, when they're all there. Yours do sound similar after all.”

Electra listened with growing interest, and realized that the others were doing the same.

“Are there human beings there?” Bud asked.

“Some. We really don't have much to do with them.”

“Neither do we. Electra is the first I have had contact with in years. Your humans' ears are pointed?”

“No,” Jenny said, growing excited. “They are round— and they have five fingers too. I mean, I never actually saw one, but I remember the stories. Round ears and extra fingers. And they're big—half again as tall as we are.” She looked at Electra. “In fact, the same size as the ones here. They're the same, except—” She looked away from Electra.

“They're not friendly?” Electra asked.

“Not with us,” Jenny agreed. “We're enemies, mostly. We have a long history of fighting, and our kind is seldom friendly with their kind. It started when we first came to their world, and we were civilized and they were primitive; and they attacked us and slaughtered us, and they were so big and strong and vicious that despite our magic and organization we suffered terribly and had to flee to the forest and hide, and form into scattered tribes, and ever since then—”

She broke off, looking around. “Oh, I'm sorry! It's not like that here, I think.”

“It has been like that, sometimes,” Electra said, and Bud nodded. “When I was young—I mean, around nine hundred years ago—” She faltered as she saw others staring at her.

“She slept for a number of centuries,” Godiva explained, “owing to an enchantment. She is no older than she looks, in terms of the life she has lived.”

“Yes,” Electra said, grateful for the woman's clarification. Somehow it sounded normal, when Godiva said it. “There was more fighting between human beings and other creatures. I don't know about elves, specifically, but—”

“They wanted to clear land for their villages,” Bud said. “They wanted to cut down elms.”

“They wanted to burn our holt,” Jenny agreed. “That— it's a tree we live in, but we don't get stronger near it, except that we fight harder to save it, because—”

“I think we have affinities,” Bud said. “Perhaps, when this ugly business is done, you will visit our Flower Elm, Jenny.”

“I—I'd like that,” Jenny agreed.

“Now would you like to see the foal?” Godiva asked Electra. “Before you return to the surface.”

Electra had almost forgotten her mission, distracted by the developments. “Yes, we'd better.”

“I regret meeting you in this circumstance, Electra and Gloha,” Naldo said.

“I feel the same,” Bud said. “But perhaps a compromise will be worked out.”

“I hope!” Electra said fervently. What would Nada say when she learned that her brother was on the other side?

Godiva led the way out of the chamber, and Jenny, Gloha, and Electra followed. Naldo remained, perhaps to talk further with Bud Elf. The naga and the elves, supporting the goblins—this changed things!

They came to another chamber, guarded by a male goblin. “Idiot!” Electra exclaimed, recognizing him.

“Hello, 'Lectra,” the goblin said. “Who's your friend?”

“Gloha, meet Idiot,” Electra said, smiling. She had never liked goblins, but the females had impressed her, and the three males in Godiva's party had turned out to be all right too, once allowance was made for their ugliness.

“Hello, Idiot,” Gloha said, smiling shyly.

“Open the door, Idiot!” Godiva snapped.

The goblin hastened to lift the bar. They trooped in, and the door closed behind them.

Inside stood another goblin girl, beside Che. “This is my daughter, Gwendolyn,” Godiva said. "Gwendolyn, these are Electra and Gloha, from the surface. As you can see, Electra is a human girl of about your own age, and Gloha is a winged goblin girl of fifteen. Gloha has been here before, but you have not actually met before; she is my first cousin. They are here to verify the status of Che Centaur.”

“Hello, Electra,” Gwendolyn said. “Hello, Gloha.”

Jenny crossed immediately to join Gwendolyn. “Yes, those wings of Gloha's really work,” she said. “She's like Che, only older, so she can fly. A crossbreed.”

“Oh, how nice,” Gwendolyn said, a bit vaguely.

“I have asked Che Centaur to be my daughter's companion,” Godiva said. “As you can see, he is not being mistreated, and I believe they are getting along well.”

Something was slightly odd here, but Electra couldn't pin it down. Gwendolyn seemed like a nice girl, and both Jenny and Che seemed to like her. But why did she need a winged monster for a companion? Why this particular one, who was bringing war to Goblin Mountain? It just didn't seem to make sense to go to such extraordinary trouble for such a minor thing. There were surely plenty of goblin girls available and plenty of harmless animals.

“Che,” Electra said, “your sire is preparing to destroy the mountain, level by level, if he doesn't get you back. I'm sure Gwendolyn is a nice girl and happy for your company, but how do you feel about this captivity?”

“I had some trepidation about entering the mountain,” Che replied. “But my concern has been abated. I am being well treated, and I like Gwenny. I am in the process of deciding whether to agree to be her companion.”

“But that doesn't count, when they are holding you captive!” Gloha protested. “Cheiron won't accept that.”

“It is a problem,” Che said. “Because it proved to be beyond me, I have delegated the decision to another.”

Godiva was startled. “You have? Who?”

“Jenny Elf.”

Electra, Gloha, and Godiva stared at Jenny. "You are deciding for him?” Godiva asked.

“Well, he asked me to,” Jenny said, abashed.

“And what do you propose to tell him to do?” Godiva asked.

“I don't know. I haven't decided either.”

Godiva shared a look of bafflement with Electra. They were on opposite sides, but neither saw much sense in this.

Electra returned to Che. “What happens to you if you agree?”

“I will remain here as Gwenny's companion, but we may travel outside if we wish, later.”

“But she can go outside by herself or with another goblin!” Electra protested. “She doesn't need you!”

Che shrugged. “That is as it may be. Jenny will decide.”

“How can you be party to this, Jenny?” Electra demanded. “I thought you were his friend!”

“I am his friend,” Jenny replied.

Gloha was equally baffled. “What happens to you if you say no?”

“I am uncertain. It may be that I will be released.”

Electra turned grimly to Godiva. “What happens if he says no?” she repeated.

“I haven't decided,” the gobliness said.

“Mother!” Gwendolyn said angrily.

Godiva paused. Then, reluctantly, she answered. “I will release him.”

“Good!” Electra said. “Jenny, tell him to tell her no, and we'll all leave now, and the siege will be lifted and no one will be hurt.”

But Jenny shook her head. “I can't tell him that. I haven't decided."

“Which side are you on?” Electra demanded, baffled and upset.

“Why don't you marry Dolph?” Jenny asked her in return.

“Because I can't just—” Electra broke off and regrouped. “That has nothing to do with this!” But she was shaken, for it was the last response she had expected from Jenny. Was the elf in some similar situation?

She pondered. Suppose the goblins had threatened to kill them all, Electra and Gloha included, if Che refused what they demanded? But Che didn't want to do it. Then he would be unable to say either yes or no. So he would say he hadn't decided. In which case Electra and Gloha had better get out of here as fast as they could.

But that question about marrying Dolph. Jenny knew the decision wasn't Electra's to make. Maybe the decision on staying wasn't Che's to make either, but that was only because he had passed it on to Jenny. That wasn't any good parallel. The whole situation of the marriage was complicated, and no one would know how it would turn out until it happened. Though they all had a pretty good idea.

Was there something more complicated here? Not a threat but some other factor? For Godiva simply did not seem like the kind to break her word, which was what she would be doing if she dishonored the truce and did anything to Electra or Gloha. In fact, it was Electra's definite impression that Godiva was telling the truth: that she would let Che go if he refused to be Gwendolyn's companion.

Then why was Che balking—and Jenny too—despite what they knew of the siege and Cheiron's determination to free his foal? If Che agreed, it seemed he would be well treated and even free to go outside, because a centaur's word was his bond. If he declined, he would be freed. So he had every reason to decide promptly. Yet he was not doing so—and neither was Jenny.