Isle Of View (33 page)

“I am glad that we were able to settle this matter amicably,” Cheiron said to Godiva. “We shall be in touch.”

“Agreed,” Godiva said.

Then the centaurs walked down the slope and away from the mountain.

It was a long walk, for they were limited by Che's pace. Jenny knew that Prince Dolph could have assumed a large form and carried the foal quickly there, while the two grown centaurs flew, but evidently they preferred to go at their own pace, and by themselves. They stopped to pick fruit and eat it, and to see the sights of Xanth; indeed, their course seemed to weave around somewhat. Jenny wondered why—and then she found out.

“There is one, dear,” Chex said.

“Very good,” Cheiron said. “Che, please lead your companions to the spectacle bush.”

A spectacle bush! That was what they had been looking for! Jenny got down and found Che's little hand. In a moment Gwenny had his other hand.

“The ground is rough,” Che said. “You must step cautiously. I will guide you by small pressure on your hands.” And he did so, so that neither of them had any difficulty.

“I think this pair would look good on you, Jenny,” Che said, picking a pair and giving it to Jenny. She put them on her face, and suddenly the world came clear again. It was wonderful!

Che picked another pair, and put them on his own face. Jenny laughed. “You look so funny, Che!”

“And this pair should look nice on you, Gwenny,” he said, picking a third pair.

“But I can't—” Gwendolyn protested.

“It is not nice to express it, but the spectacles make Jenny Elf look odd,” he said. “It would be courteous to don a similar pair, to share her oddity and make her feel more comfortable, as I have done. My spectacles have no effect on my vision, of course; they are merely decoration.”

“Oh, I don't mind—” Jenny protested. But he made a NO signal that Gwendolyn could not see, and she stopped. What was he up to? His sire or dam must have told him to do this, somewhere along the way.

“I don't want Jenny to feel odd,” Gwendolyn said. “No one knows me out here, so I suppose I can wear a pair.” She put the spectacles on her face.

She stood for a moment, her mouth slowly dropping open in amazement. “I can see!” she exclaimed. “I can see everything, no matter how far away!” She tilted her face up. “Is—is that a cloud?”

“Yes,” Jenny said, now understanding. They had given Gwendolyn a reason to wear the spectacles without commenting on what the lenses did. Now she could see as well as they could, without having to admit how it was without them.

“But if we encounter goblins, we may all remove our spectacles,” Che said. “Until we are away from them. So that they will not make fun of us.”

The two girls nodded, understanding very well.

They returned to the adult centaurs, wearing their spectacles. Even Sammy had a pair, now. “I see you children enjoy playing games,” Cheiron remarked. “Perhaps the two of us should complete the effect by donning similar pairs.”

“No, Sire,” Che said. “Only children are permitted to be childish.”

“I stand corrected,” Cheiron said, making a droll face.

Jenny did not know Cheiron well, but she could see already that she would like him well enough.

“If you must indulge in such foolishness,” Chex said severely, “at least indulge in it while we travel, so as not to waste more time.”

They quickly agreed. Gwenny scrambled onto Cheiron's back, and Jenny onto Chex's. The centaurs started off again.

But now it was different. Jenny could see all Xanth, and so could Gwenny. Gwenny's head was constantly turning that way and this, as if she wanted to cram everything into her eyes before it disappeared. Then she faced Jenny, and Jenny winked, and Gwenny broke out laughing, mostly from the sheer joy of being able to see such an expression at this distance.

Later in the day they encountered a giant land serpent. The creature lifted its head, hissing hungrily—only to discover itself bracketed by two arrows that thudded into a tree on either side of its body. It gazed at Cheiron, whose bow remained in his hands, and decided to hiss at some creature far away. In a moment it was gone.

Jenny had assumed that the flying centaurs escaped threats by flying away from them. Now she saw that this was not always the case. Cheiron had not missed the serpent, he had warned it. A centaur's arrow went as true as his word.

They came to a stop beside a pleasant pool. Jenny suddenly realized how thirsty she had become. “Oh, I could drink half of it right now!” she exclaimed.

“Me too!” Gwenny agreed.

“Caution,” Cheiron said. “One must never take an unfamiliar pond for granted.”

Jenny remembered the hate spring of the horde, and shuddered.

Cheiron looked around, and found several ladybugs being pestered by several gentlemenbugs. He caught two of the latter in his hand and carried them to the pool and dropped them in. They splashed, then began swimming for the bank. Cheiron lifted them out and looked at them. Both were wet, but otherwise unharmed.

He set them down beside a pennypede. They ignored it, instead scrambling back toward the ladybugs, eager to pester them some more. “This water appears to be neutral,” Cheiron remarked. “No love, no hate, no poison.”

So it seemed. Nevertheless, they sipped it cautiously at first. It was sweet and good.

It occurred to Jenny that Cheiron had known the character of the lake before coming to it. But he had wanted to make a point, so that children excited about being able to see did not take foolish risks. This was part of centaur education.

Che had remained silent throughout. He must have known.

“Dear,” Chex said, “I believe I would prefer to spend the night in our own cottage, rather than in the field. It has been a wearing occasion.”

“Very well,” Cheiron said. “Girls, we shall need your help. Che can not ride readily, and can not yet fly, so you will have to hold him while we fly.”

“But—” the two said together.

“In this manner,” Chex said. “Get on us, and take his hands.”

Baffled, they did so. Now each girl was riding a centaur, reaching down to hold one of Che's hands.

Then Cheiron flicked Che with his tail. Che became so light that the pull of their hands on his drew him into the air. “Don't let go!” he exclaimed.

The two centaurs flicked themselves, spread their wings, and jumped together into the air. Suddenly they were flying, perfectly synchronized, with Che floating between them.

Jenny realized that they could have done this anytime, but wanted to give the girls some experience on the ground, and with the spectacles, first. And perhaps they wanted to let the group get comfortable with itself, before risking such a maneuver. She was learning a lot about centaurs, already.

Electra watched the centaurs go. Gwendolyn Goblin was riding Cheiron and Jenny Elf was riding Chex, with little Che prancing along between them. Their family of three had become a family of five, and they all looked happy, and Electra was glad. She knew the centaurs would take excellent care of the girls; in fact, not only would they be happy and healthy, they would receive the best education available in Xanth.

And the siege of Goblin Mountain was over, before lives had been lost. Goblins were not Electra's favorite creatures, but she had come to respect long-haired Godiva. If a woman were to become a goblin chief, the goblins would become much better neighbors!

The winged monsters were departing. Some were evidently disappointed that they had not gotten to use their horrible weapons, but most seemed glad to be away from here before the arrival of the land dragons. That left Godiva and Nada and Nada's handsome brother, Naldo, and Dolph. Nada and her brother were talking, renewing their family ties, and Dolph was seeing the monsters off.

Electra approached the gobliness. “I guess it's hard to lose your daughter, even if it's for the best,” she said.

“I would have lost her in a worse way, if this had not happened,” Godiva said, but she did look sad. “At least they will be visiting.” She shrugged. "But I don't see this type of solution for you, Electra. What will you do, this week?”

“What can I do? Che could be a companion to both girls, but Dolph can marry only one. Maybe if I looked like Nada—”

“You girls helped save Che Centaur, and that helped save my daughter,” Godiva said. “Let me see what I can do for you.”

“Unless your wand could make me beautiful—”

“Stop it, girl. Beauty is not the problem. It's just an aspect of it.” She inspected Electra shrewdly. “You don't have a family here, do you.”

“No. My family is centuries gone. But King Dor and Queen Irene have been very good to me.”

“They have a conflict of interest. They have to look to the welfare of their son. I have no such conflict. Come into the mountain with me.”

“But—”

Godiva smiled. “Not to stay, Electra. I want to try some dresses on you.” “Dresses? But—”

“My daughter is gone. I have to fuss over someone.”

“Oh.” Electra could appreciate that. Godiva glanced to where the two naga were talking. “Naldo, may I have a moment with you before you go?”

“Of course, lady.” Both naga slithered over. “Naldo, we have resolved a crisis here, and I express my appreciation for the support of your folk. Your kind and ours are not normally allies, but you honored the covenant. We shall do the same, when the time comes. As goblins, we can not oppose our own kind in Mount Etamin, but when my daughter is grown and assumes power, we shall see what can be done politically to alleviate your situation.”

Electra recognized the significance of that commitment. If Gwendolyn later became chief here, and married a chief there, she would be in a position to stop the goblin aggressions against the naga of Mount Etamin. It might indeed turn out to pay the naga well for their honoring of the covenant, because the goblins there were their worst nemesis. Indeed, it was the reason Nada had been betrothed to Dolph: to make an alliance with the human folk and gain power to push back the goblins.

“Thank you, lady,” Naldo said. “I am glad to have come to know you.”

“But you may be able to do something more immediate for your sister,” Godiva said. “You know she doesn't want to marry Dolph, and not just because she doesn't want to void your alliance with the human folk. You know Electra must marry Dolph or die within the week, and furthermore. she loves him. Now you are an astute observer of creature nature. I want you to put your mind to this problem and come up with a devious solution that will serve all parties best.”

“But-—” he protested.

“Within the hour,” she said. “While I dress Electra.” She took Electra's arm and guided her into the tunnel. With her free hand she lifted a smoky torch from its holder to light their way. The funny thing was that Electra, being human, was about twice as tall as the gobliness, but she felt like a child with this adult.

“He can't solve the problem that no one else has solved in six years,” Electra protested belatedly as they wound down into the depths. “There is no solution! I mean, even if I didn't die, he wouldn't love me, and I don't want him to be unhappy.”

“There are ways to solve any problem,” Godiva said. “It's just a matter of finding them. Naldo has a clever mind; I have seen it in action recently. He will find a way, though the rest of us may not properly understand it."

Electra did not argue. She knew this was an impossible dream. Unless the Good Magician had an Answer. That was her only real hope.

Godiva brought her to her nice suite. “I make my daughter's dresses myself,” she said. “Because it isn't convenient to go out and harvest from clothes hangers or dress mannequins. I get material and I cut and sew. I believe they suit her well enough.”

“They make her beautiful,” Electra said. “And the elf girl—that blue dress made her beautiful too. It was amazing.”

“It's just know-how,” Godiva asserted. “A woman can be beautiful in just a hank of hair, if she drapes it correctly. It's all in the technique.”

Certainly Godiva could! She had the most lustrous black tresses Electra had seen, reaching down to her knees. Her hair flared out and around, constantly caressing her. But Electra had no such asset.

Godiva brought out white material. “This will be your wedding dress,” she said.

“But—”

“Any woman looks beautiful in her wedding dress,” Godiva said. “It is part of the enchantment.”

“But I can't wear that if I don't get married!”

“Of course you can. Naldo will figure out how.” The woman worked busily, measuring Electra here and there, then cutting the material and tacking it together with quick temporary stitches. Soon she had it ready to try on. “Strip.”

Electra gave up protesting. There was a hope and fascination about this business that she could not resist. Of course she would not get to marry Dolph, but for this hour she might pretend. She removed her shirt and jeans and heavy shoes.

Godiva studied her with embarrassing directness. "You are grimy from the siege. Go to the alcove and sponge yourself off.”

Obediently, Electra went. The voice of a mother was not to be denied.

There was a polished stone mirror, but Electra did not look at herself, knowing that there was nothing to be gained. She cleaned up, dried, then turned to put on her panties But they were gone. In their place was something else.

She picked up the satiny bit of material. It was a pair or delicate pink panties! “Oh, I can't wear these!” she said.

“Do you think I want you trying on a wedding dress in grimy off-white panties?” Godiva demanded.

Embarrassed, Electra capitulated. She donned the pink panties, then the pink bra, feeling wicked. She stepped out, knowing that her blush just about matched the color of the forbidden items.

“Very good,” Godiva said briskly. “Now this.” She held up the dress. It was thoroughly evident that it was not lack of dressmaking expertise that caused Godiva to wear her hair instead. She must have had much practice with her daughter,

Electra climbed into it, almost afraid to touch it. The material was wonderfully light and frilly. Godiva made quick adjustments, then had her step into white slippers.

“Unbraid your hair.”

Electra did so, and fluffed it out. Finally she had to don a translucent veil and put a white flower in her hair. She felt totally foolish.

“Now look in the mirror,” Godiva said, pushing her back toward it.

Reluctantly Electra went. She nerved herself and looked.

Before her stood a vision of absolute beauty, a veritable princess of a bride. The woman in the mirror was tall and slender, yet full above and full below, and her thinly veiled face was lovely. It couldn't possibly be her!

“Yes, I think it will do,” Godiva said. “Now we must hide this until the occasion, and see what Naldo has devised.”

Electra was sorry to return to her old, grimy clothes, but she realized that this was best. It had been a wonderful vision, but that was all it was.

Soon she was her normal shabby self, with a package under her arm. She had never felt as negative about herself as she did now. That was the trouble with a vision: it made the reality seem so much worse.

At the surface, Naldo was ready. “I believe I have found the way,” he said. “Prince Dolph must marry Electra—” Electra's heart jumped foolishly. “The day before she is eighteen, and divorce her the next day so he can marry Nada,” he concluded. “That will save her life without depriving Dolph of his desire.”

Electra couldn't bring herself to comment. He had indeed found a technicality that should save her life—but what was the point? Without Dolph she didn't want to live. Nada looked no more pleased.

“You do want Dolph to be happy?” Naldo asked Electra.

“Yes, of course,” Electra said immediately, realizing how selfish she was being. Dolph would not be happy if she died because of him or if he did not marry Nada.

“You can take a potion to nullify your love for him, after your life has been saved,” Naldo said.

Electra nodded. She could hardly imagine not being in love with Dolph, but of course that would ease her own pain.

“And you do want not to void the alliance between our kind and the human folk?” Naldo prodded Nada.

“Yes, of course,” Nada agreed, her voice the echo of Electra's.

“And you can take a love potion with him,” Naldo said. “Then when you marry him, you will love him.”

Nada was silent in the same way as Electra. Naldo had indeed come up with an answer, and the fact that neither of them liked it was irrelevant. The fact that it was as cunningly sinister a device as anyone could imagine was also irrelevant. It would work.

“So let's tell Prince Dolph,” Naldo said, setting off at a brisk slither. Nada followed less briskly.

Electra started to walk, but Godiva held her back. “If you have to, you can ask the Good Magician,” she reminded her. “He may have a better Answer.”

“I hope so!” Electra said.

“But Naldo is cunning enough to make a good goblin leader,” Godiva continued. “I don't think we appreciate the ramifications of his ploy. I think you should play it through.”

Electra sighed. “If it makes Dolph happy,” she said.

“You are a generous person. That's a good quality, in folk other than goblins.”

It was a poor consolation. But Electra couldn't afford to start crying, for now Dolph was coming toward them, smiling. Evidently he was thrilled with the idea.

Electra knew she loved an idiot.

This time there were no challenges at the Good Magician's Castle. Grey Murphy was ready for Electra's Question. He thought.

Ivy greeted them both with abandon. “We saw that siege on the magic mirror!” she said. “I was frightened, but we couldn't interfere. I'm glad it turned out all right. Gwenny and Jenny seem to be doing nicely at the centaur's glade.”

“Now for your Question,” Grey said.

“Oh, we don't have a Question,” Electra said quickly. “Just a favor. We'd like to get two vials from you. One to nullify love, and the other to make it.”

“Two vials?” Ivy asked blankly.

“We're following my brother's suggestion,” Nada said. “Electra will marry Dolph first, then divorce him, and I will marry him the next day. So she'll live, and Dolph will be happy. But we won't be happy unless we change our own emotions. So we aren't asking you for an Answer.”

Grey shook his head, bemused. “Just as well. That was the answer I was going to give you. I don't like it much, but I found it in the Book of Answers, so it must be right.”

Ivy went to the storeroom and fetched the vials. “These will be our wedding gifts to each of you,” she said. But she did not look happy.

“Make sure you use these correctly,” Grey cautioned. “The nullifier is no problem; it simply cancels the magic love, such as the enchantment that caused you to love the prince who woke you, Electra, without touching any other magic. So it won't cause you to age abruptly or to be free of the need to marry Dolph. But there's no need for you to take it until the divorce anyway.” He turned to Nada. “But you must be careful to be looking at Dolph when you take this, because if you see another man first, you will love him instead. This is not the type of potion found in some springs, that causes instant, ah, activity; it will just make you love him. But it would be awkward if—”

“I understand,” Nada said.

“There's one other thing,” Electra said somewhat diffidently. “I don't know how to—to signal the stork. I understand that the marriage won't count until we do that.”

Grey shook his head. “You're still technically underage. The Adult Conspiracy—”

“But Dolph doesn't know either,” Electra said. “So how do we—?"

Ivy spread her hands. “We're not allowed to tell you. But surely you will be able to figure it out when the time comes. Most folk do.”

Electra didn't argue, but she had her doubts.

They held the wedding on the Isle of View, of course. That was where Electra had slept for her thousand years (with time off for good behavior), and where Prince Dolph had kissed her awake. King Dor had arranged to have a pavilion that could be enclosed at night erected on the beach, so that they could consummate the marriage right here on the island of love. In fact the isle had become popular since its rediscovery, and not merely for young couples. It was a beautiful region. The centaurs had even sent an expedition at one point to dig in the sand to see if they could find the ruins of the Sorceress Tapis' old residence. That expedition had been headed by centaurs named Archae and Ology, and they had surely known what they were doing, but no one else did. They had not bothered to consult with Electra, who had actually lived there and could have told them all about it. But this was the nature of the folk of Centaur Isle.

Electra took her package into a closed chamber to don her wedding dress. She had not been allowed to see Dolph this day, to her dismay; it was part of the ritual of the occasion. Nada was to be her maid of honor, which meant that it was her job to see that Electra did things the right way. That was just as well, because Electra knew she would have botched it on her own. She was horribly nervous and guilty and depressed and hopeful all at once. She would have one day and night married to Dolph, and her sheer joy in the notion was countered by her knowledge that it would be awful for Dolph. She would do anything to make him happy, but this was not what would do it. This would only save her life so that he would not suffer guilt when he married Nada.