Part 23 (1/2)
”She has no wings,” Mary agreed.
Breanna usually had something to say on anything, but she was blank for the moment. This family wasn't aware of color? Maybe it was being studiously polite. But she had better make sure. ”It's been half my life, but I have some pretty clear memories of Mundania. In my day a white boy did not travel much with a black girl. Has that changed?”
”Not enough,” Jim said. ”The identification may be the greater problem, however. But I think it can be managed, if the parties are circ.u.mspect.”
”Like pretending I'm a foreign princess and he's my translator?”
They all laughed, but not with any force. ”You willing?” David asked.
”Yes. Anything to get this job done efficiently and get home in a hurry.”
”Then let me set you up,” Mary said.
She took Breanna to her bedroom where she quickly adapted a black dress and jacket and cap to fit. ”Your fiance,” she said as she worked. ”Would we know of him?”
”I don't know. He was a tree when you were in Xanth.” She explained about Justin Tree and their relations.h.i.+p.
”Why, that's charming,” Mary said. Then she got down to serious business. ”David and Karen long to return to Xanth, at least for a visit, but only Sean has a pa.s.s. Do you think, if your mission is successful-?”
”I know a woman called Chlorine. She has Nimby's ear. You know about Nimby?”
”We traveled with them both. He is a donkey-headed dragon-and rather more, we learned later.”
”Much more. I think maybe they'd go for it. I'll ask.”
Mary nodded. ”Thank you. It would mean so much to them. It's the kind of thing money can't buy, literally.”
”For sure. Speaking of money-”
”We will cover the air fare and incidental expenses. As you say, your mission is important.”
”Yes, it is. You're being very nice to take it on faith.”
”We did visit Xanth,” Mary reminded her gently. ”We became believers. David and his cat Midrange had a small additional part in the matter of Nimby's visit to Mundania two years ago.”
”That's right!” Breanna agreed, remembering. ”Still, maybe I can give you a little bit of evidence, so you know I'm not a fake.”
Mary demurred, but as with the laugh, not with force. That meant she did have some doubt.
Breanna lifted the Ring of Fire. ”Can I have a little demo, please?”
A bit of smoke curled up from the Ring. It formed into the head of a tiny demoness. ”I thought you'd never levy,” she said.
”Never what?” Breanna asked.
”Exact, claim, impose, require, beseech-”
”Ask?” Mary suggested.
”Whatever,” the demoness agreed crossly.
”Metria!”
The demoness looked at her. ”Have we met?”
”We met your alter ego Mentia five years ago. A most seductive creature. She told us of you.”
”She would,” Metria said darkly, but she was evidently satisfied. She turned to Breanna. ”How are you doing?”
”I am becoming a Mundane princess so I can a.s.sociate with a white boy without getting the vigilantes on my tail.”
”I don't understand.”
”That's because you're not Mundane. I just wanted to show Mrs. Baldwin that I'm really from Xanth.”
Metria turned her gaze back to Mary. ”She's really from Xanth. You have my demonly word.”
”I believe it,” Mary said.
”I'd rather have made some mischief, but Grossclout put me under strict orders. I'd better not use up any more toxic waste.”
”Any more what?” Mary asked, startled.
”Magic dust,” Breanna said quickly. ”I have just about enough to make the Ring work, in case I need it.”
”See that you do,” Metria said. ”I want to see more of Mundania.”
Then Breanna remembered. ”Actually, the Rings are self-powered. But you never can tell when some extra magic would help, away from Xanth. That reminds me: When you return to Xanth, ask Chlorine if David and Karen Baldwin of Mundania can have pa.s.ses to Xanth. The family is really helping with the mission.”
”Will do.” The little head fuzzed, became an even smaller figure of a bare voluptuous woman, and faded out.
”She hasn't changed,” Mary said. ”Thank you for showing me.”
”I didn't know Metria was the one on duty, or that you knew her. I just wanted a demonstration.”
Mary laughed. ”You said 'a little demo'! She must have taken that to mean a small demon.”
Breanna knocked her forehead with the heel of her hand. ”She would!”
”Well, I think you're ready, princess. Jim will have the e-tickets set up.”
”The what?”
”A recent development. We no longer need physical tickets for airplanes.”
”Just as well David's going with me,” Breanna said ruefully. ”I'm sure not up on the latest.”
”We suspected that would be the case.”
Breanna found herself liking this family.