Part 35 (1/2)
”Too bad she can't be real.”
”Grundy Golem became real. Maybe if she does a good job on this mission, she will be similarly rewarded.”
”I hope so.” Then Pia proceeded to put him into the kind of rapture only she could manage.
In the morning they emerged from the bedroom to find that another bedroom had been formed for Justin and Breanna. Edsel wondered how far the girl had managed to take the former tree this time. He knew that Pia had been encouraging him, but old inhibitions died hard. He felt guilty for the thought, but would have loved to snoop on their nocturnal activity.
Tristan appeared. ”Is everything in order?”
Edsel started to answer, the realized that the question was actually about the time travelers. He closed his eyes and tuned in.
Grey and Robota were walking along the path ”Yes, they seem to be headed south, after a safe night.”
Edsel and Pia had a Mundane breakfast of cereal and fruit and cocoa. It was amazing how Pewter could shape reality within his cave. Then they tuned in again on the time travelers.
They were approaching a female centaur, who was bare breasted, in the fas.h.i.+on of her species. Now Edsel knew that Grey did notice such things, for the image remained firmly framed in his vision. ”h.e.l.lo.” he said. ”I am Grey Human, and this is my companion Silica Elf.”
”I am Ca.s.sie Centaur.” the centaur replied. ”Or if you prefer. Ca.s.sie Girl ” She became a human woman, suitably clothed. ”My parents suffered an encounter at a love spring, so I am a crossbreed.”
”My talent is minor prophecy.” Grey said, completing his introduction.
”Mine is to go in and out of the Void.”
”That is remarkable.” Grey said. ”I would not care to go near the Void. But I would have thought your talent would be the ability to change between your two forms.”
”No. that's inherent. Most crossbreeds a.s.sume aspects of both parents; I must be one or the other, in turn. So it is independent of talent. Some of the inert mertaurs have talents too.”
”The mertaurs?”
”They are quite rare, so it's not surprising you haven't encountered them. Centaur/merfolk crossbreeds, with human heads and arms, equine bodies, and aquatic tails. I'm going to visit them now.”
”We wish you a good visit. We are going to the North Village to see the king.”
”You are on the right path. Proceed on south ” They separated amicably and went their ways. Robota was pleased because her ident.i.ty had not been challenged. Centaurs were intelligent, observant folk. so that was a good sign.
Edsel took several small jumps forward. bypa.s.sing the hours of dull walking Pia kept pace with him, so they wouldn't get out of phase with each other.
Grey and Robota entered the North Village. This was where the Storm King lived. But before they approached the rather meager palace, they checked in with the village elders, Roland and Bianca. These were, Justin explained as he and Breanna emerged from their bedroom, the parents of Bink. who had recently been exiled from Xanth for lacking a magic talent.
Grey and Robota needed an introduction to King Aeolus, and Roland and Bianca were the ones to do it.
”I am a traveling man with the talent of minor prophecy.” Grey said when Roland answered the door. ”This is Silica, of the Mineral Elves, whom I am protecting.” Robota was in regular elf form. about a quarter the height of Grey, but proportioned exactly like a human woman, with not too much bosom. ”She is interested in studying weather, and would like to meet the Storm King. So we come to you, as Village elders, to ask for an introduction to the King.”
Edsel opened his eyes. ”Is this ethical?” he asked.
”For not sure.” Breanna said. ”What's happening?”
”Grey is claiming to have a talent of minor prophecy. This is the second time he has done so.”
”That is his cover story.” Tristan said. ”You will understand that they can under no circ.u.mstances tell the truth, for that would lead to immediate chaos as every person sought to know his personal future, and Xanth would be changed irredeemably. Neither can they avoid identifying themselves, for that could arouse suspicion. So they must have persuasive false ident.i.ties.”
”But this is lying.”
Pia looked at him ”When did a lie ever stop you Ed?”
”What are you talking about?”
”When you wanted to get a girl into bed.”
”That's different.”
”Perhaps this is not a fit subject for discussion at this time.” Justin said.
”Why not?” Breanna asked. ”I'm interested. It's okay to lie when-?”
”I apologize!” Edsel said ”I'm sorry I brought up the subject.”
”I guess lying in a good cause is okay.” Breanna said doubtfully.
”Oh?” Pia said. ”The end justifies the means?”
”Well-”
”The end of getting a girl into bed?”
”You have a point,” Breanna said. ”It's not right.”
”But the alternative would be to completely change Xanth's present,” Tristan said.
Pia and Breanna looked at him. ”Oh, that.” Breanna said.
Edsel wanted to get off the subject. ”Why don't we agree that lying is wrong, but that what Grey and Robota are doing is role playing. They must maintain their roles, as the truth would either be not believed, or would have devastating consequences.”
The others considered, then exchanged nods.
”What is happening?” Tristan asked.
Edsel and Pia closed their eyes. ”And the King banished him,” Bianca was saying. ”Because he couldn't demonstrate any magic.”
Edsel repeated that to the others.
”She's talking about Bink,” Justin said. ”He was believed to have no magic. Actually he has Magician-caliber magic, but it is indefinable.”
”He will return,” Grey said rea.s.suringly. ”I can't tell exactly how or where, but I foresee his return, in good health, and acceptance in Xanth.”
”Oh, that's such a relief!” Bianca said.
”Is she trusting, or desperate?” Pia asked.
”Desperate,” Justin said. ”By all accounts she was a fine person and loving mother. Her talent was the replay she could in a spot area set time back five seconds, so that a scene could be briefly replayed. It was very useful when someone misstepped or hit his thumb with a rock. Roland's talent was the freeze, he could make a person stop in place, not even breathing, until freed. As a couple, they could be formidable, but they never abused their powers.”