In a moment she felt the slight jolt as the winged centaur landed. It must be Castle Roogna. Cube had not been aware of the pa.s.sage of time, and realized that though she could remain alert in the pouch, if she did not make a conscious effort to, she would lapse into oblivion. That must be the way it was with the others, only they had no choice. She was not aware of their presences, but knew that Ryver and Metria were in here with her, as well as the supplies. The pouch seemed to have no limit on capacity. It was impressive, both in its magic and in the fact that it was so ordinary looking, like a darned sock; Sofia Socksorter had not been trying to impress anyone. All this was merely incidental magic from the Good Magician"s foot. If that was the true story of this pouch. After all, he was the Magician of Information, not transportation.
The Princesses dismounted and ran off. Then Karia reached back and took the pouch in her hand. She held it close to her face. "Cube, if you hear me--now is a good time to come out. No one is watching."
Cube reached up with her hand. It emerged from the pouch--and then the rest of her was sliding out. She landed on the ground beside the centaur. "Thank you. I was aware, but couldn"t see far."
"The Princesses are going inside to find their mother. I think you should introduce me to her, as you have met her before."
"How did you know that? I thought you were unconscious until I brought you out."
Karia smiled. "I was. The Princesses told me as we traveled. And I gave them some information on the Quest, since they have now joined it."
"But they need Princess Ivy"s approval first."
"Do you have any doubt that they will receive it?"
Cube had to smile. "No. They won"t even have to wheedle very much."
"I agree. Shall we enter now, or await their summons?"
"We can start in; they will intercept us."
They started in--and the Princesses intercepted them just outside the moat. "This way," Melody said.
"Mom wants to meet the centaur," Rhythm added.
"She thinks we made her up," Rhythm concluded. All three giggled.
Princess Ivy met them in the hall, as before. "h.e.l.lo again, Cube! I hope the little mischiefs haven"t been too hard on you."
"They took me to Castle MaiDragon, where we were able to help solve a problem. Then the little Princesses said they wished to join my Quest."
"And you couldn"t say no," Ivy said with a smile. "I know exactly how it is." She turned to Karia. "h.e.l.lo, Centaur. I am Princess Ivy."
"I am Karia Centaur."
"I am glad to meet you, Karia. I feel so much better about there being a centaur along."
But Karia was beginning to drift. Cube quickly kicked her on a hoof. "Snap to," she whispered urgently.
The centaur recovered. "I am glad to meet you too," she said.
Cube realized that she couldn"t say more, because she had tuned out after her name was spoken. "And she is glad to be that centaur," she said. "I know she will do a good job of minding the Princesses."
If Princess Ivy noticed the slight discontinuity of dialogue, she didn"t say so. Cube knew she was a Sorceress herself, who surely had the ability to learn anything she wanted to. She had probably known what the Princesses were up to beforehand, and checked out the centaur. "That"s nice. I hereby give my approval for this excursion. But if the Princesses turn out to be too much of a handful, bring them back here."
"Of course," Karia agreed.
"Awww," the three girls said together.
"But I should explain that they will travel in this pouch," Cube said. "The Good Magician"s wife gave it to me."
Ivy glanced at the pouch. "Sofia"s handiwork," she said. "I am familiar with the type. That"s fine. Do you need anything else for your trip?"
"I suspect the Princesses can conjure anything they need."
"That is true. See that they don"t conjure too many things they don"t need. They can get wild ideas."
"I"m sure they can," Cube agreed.
"Do you understand the specifics of their magic?"
"Just that they seem to be able to do anything they put their minds to."
"It is that anything they imagine while they sing, play, and beat becomes real. As I mentioned, together their magic power cubes. So if magic becomes necessary, remember that they have, potentially, more power than any other mortal in Xanth. Much more than they have wisdom to control. That is one reason adult guidance is essential. They will answer to adult authority, and at times it is necessary. But if there is a crisis, they will be able to handle it. Just see that they don"t create more crises than they resolve."
"We will try," Karia said.
"Time to go," Melody said.
"Put us in the bag," Harmony agreed.
"And go there," Rhythm concluded.
Ivy shook her head wistfully. "At times I regret having lost the innocence of childhood. May you have a wonderful adventure."
Then Cube held forth the pouch. "Just put your foot in," she told Melody.
The girl did--and slid out of sight. Harmony followed similarly, and then Rhythm.
"I suspect you will prefer to keep them in there much of the time," Ivy remarked.
Then Cube mounted Karia, and the centaur trotted briskly out of the castle. When they got outside, she spread her wings and launched into the sky.
Only when they were well clear of the castle did Karia speak again. "Before we bring the Princesses out and have them orient on the dragon, there is one matter I thought I would mention."
"By all means."
"The Princesses also mentioned a problem at Castle MaiDragon. They said that Brusque Bra.s.sy had been turned into a pig pen and had to be rescued. Fortunately they were able to restore him."
"That"s true."
"Who enchanted him?"
"Oh, we forgot to run that down! We meant to, but then didn"t."
"It occurs to me that this could be a suspicious coincidence. Is it possible that it was intended as a distraction, to interfere with your Quest?"
"I hardly see how. It was just chance that brought us to Castle MaiDragon at that time."
"Perhaps. And perhaps I am being paranoid. But I thought I should mention it, without alarming the Princesses."
"It was worth mentioning," Cube agreed. "But I don"t think there is any connection."
"Then let"s find that dragon." Karia glided down to a private glade and landed.
Cube dismounted and took out the pouch. She reached in her hand. "Princesses."
Three little hands touched her fingers. Then they were out together, standing before her. "That was fun," Melody said.
"We knew nothing," Harmony agreed.
"We just quit there and appeared here," Rhythm concluded.
"It was actually a short flight," Karia said. "Before we proceed further, I must ask you never to use my name in my presence."
"Oh, we know," Melody said.
"That was funny when you started floating away while Mom was talking," Harmony added.
"She noticed, but saw Cube was handling it," Rhythm concluded.
"I"m glad you understand," Karia said. "It is a matter of safety. It would be awkward if it happened while I was flying."
"Now the dragon," Cube said. "Where is he?"
The Princesses got together, and soon Rhythm pointed. "That direction," Melody said.
"Not far," Harmony added.
"But it"s odd," Rhythm finished.
Cube exchanged a glance with the centaur. What would strike the Princesses as odd? "We"ll see," she said.
The Princesses returned to the pouch. Cube remounted, and Karia took off.
Not far in the indicated direction they saw a pretty collection of tents. They were arranged in the form of a large tome. "Ugh!" Karia exclaimed.
Cube realized that there must be a pun in evidence. She marshaled her thoughts and managed to come up with it. "A book fair," she said. "A pretty book."
"Exactly," the centaur agreed crossly.
"It is on the line they pointed," Cube said.
"No dragons there."
"We should check anyway. They said it wasn"t far."
Karia sighed agreement and glided down to a landing beside the big book. It turned out to be made of piles of books, each with a brilliant cover. People were walking along, examining particular editions. They were evidently available for those who wanted them.
"These are interesting," Cube said. "I wish I had time to read some of them."
"I understand. A book can be a portal to another world. Xanth gets so dull at times."
"But no dragon here."
"He must be farther along."
Cube picked up a book. It was t.i.tled Phaze. "That"s a funny word."
"Nice picture, though. I feel as if I could almost step into that scene."
"We can"t afford the distraction." Cube looked again at the cover, which showed a handsome young man and two lovely young women standing before a green plain. It looked extraordinarily realistic. Then with regret she set it down.
They walked to the edge of the book fair and took off. The jungle closed in. There were no further things of interest.
They reached the great Gap Chasm. The depth of it yawned at them, followed by a small burp.
"I don"t think the dragon is here," Karia said, landing. "There"s a dragon in the Gap, but that"s Stanley Steamer, not Drek. The Princesses would have said if he were beyond the Gap."
"We must have missed him," Cube agreed. She dismounted so she could stretch her legs. She spied a pretty little flower, and smelled it.
"Cube! Cube!"
Cube looked dazedly around. "Oh, h.e.l.lo Ka--centaur. What are we doing here?"
"I think you smelled an, ugh, dazey."
"A what?"
"It is a flower whose smell puts you into a daze."
"Oh. I"m sorry."
"Certainly it"s not what we"re looking for."
Cube agreed, embarra.s.sed. She had forgotten that they weren"t on an enchanted path; innocent things could be dangerous.
They turned around and flew back along the line. There was nothing until they arrived back at the book fair.
"I wonder," Karia said. "Where would a person hide, if he truly did not want to be found?"
"Somewhere n.o.body would look."
"How about a book?"
"A dragon wouldn"t fit in a book, unless he were ensorceled."
"I wonder. We all fit in your pouch."