Part 42 (1/2)
”Ugh!” Karia exclaimed.
That would be D. Vious. Devious. There was unlikely to be any help there. But Cube had a notion: maybe he could be made to help if she used his own nature against him. So she got devious. ”Let me talk to your awful girlfriend.”
”Why would you want her?”
”Why would you want to know?”
Evidently perplexed, he yielded, probably curious about the point of her deviousness. ”Cent!” he called.
”Ugh!”
A s.h.i.+mmeringly lovely outline appeared. ”What is supposed to be so awful about me?” the demoness asked, sounding hurt.
”Nothing,” Cube said quickly, giving the centaur a warning nudge with her knee. D. Cent was exactly whom they needed, a decent demoness. Naturally opposites attracted. ”It's your boyfriend we don't like. You are Demoness Cent?”
”I am. Is there any way I can help you?”
”We have lost our way, and would like to return to the enchanted path. Will you show us?”
”I regret I am unable.”
This was one demon who would be unlikely to deceive them. ”Why is that?”
”Because this is the Isle of the Goles. It relates to Xanth only once a day, actually night, at midnight, and has no connection at other times. So there is no way to the enchanted path. Not until next midnight.”
”But we can't wait that long!”
”I am extremely regretful,” Cent said sincerely. ”Perhaps my former boyfriend Termined can help you.
”Ugh!” But at least the centaur had the wit to m.u.f.fle it this time.
Demon Termined--D. Termined. That sounded promising. ”Yes, we would like to talk with him.”
”Termined!” she called.
”Demon Termined here,” a new voice said. ”I happen to be busy at the moment, but if you really want to make up--”
”No,” Cent said. ”I want you to help these nice folk get off the isle. Viate led them astray, and they need to leave immediately.”
”But they must wait until midnight.”
”We know that,” Cube said. ”But we thought that if anyone could help us leave sooner, you are the one. You have such--”
Karia tried to stifle her ugh but some of it leaked out anyway.
”Resoluteness,” Cube said firmly. ”Surely there is some way, for a person like you.”
”Hm. What kind of deal do you offer?”
This was progress, of a sort. ”Maybe there is something we can do for you in return.”
”Maybe there is. I am trying to train a surly mortal horse. How are you at horses?”
Cube knew nothing about horses, but did not feel it would be expedient to say that. ”Perhaps if I saw the horse.”
”This way. The corral is nearby.” The demon lighted the way along another path. Karia followed, with Cube still riding.
Metria reappeared. ”There's no path back,” she said, frustrated. ”This island has no connection to Xanth.”
”Not until midnight,” Karia informed her. ”It seems we were led here at the one time it was possible.”
”That's a suspicious coincidence.”
”Fornax, again,” Cube muttered. ”She must have enlisted Demon Viate to do it.”
Metria glowed purple. ”I could get annoyed, if I tried.”
”Our best course is to find our way through despite her,” Karia said. ”Not only will that enable us to complete the Quest, it will make her madder than ever.”
Cube and Metria laughed together.
They arrived at the corral. Within it stood a bold warrior horse with a glittering harness and saddle. ”What a magnificent creature!” Cube exclaimed.
”He's an ornery brute,” Termined said. ”I can't do a thing with him.” He threatened the horse with a whip that appeared in his hand.
”Don't you dare!” Cent cried, outraged.
The horse's ears laid back. Suddenly the demon groaned and fell to the ground. ”$$$$!” he swore villainously, puffing into smoke. ”He did it again!”
”Now this is interesting,” Karia murmured approvingly. ”This is obviously a highly trained horse, and he has some kind of power.”
”He may not like demons,” Metria said.
”He may not like being disparaged or abused,” Cube said. ”I appreciate that.”
The horse's head turned toward her. He evidently understood what they were saying.
”Let me see what I can do,” Cube said, dismounting. ”Termined, what is his name?”
”Charles.”
Cube approached the horse. ”h.e.l.lo, Charles. I've probably forgotten more than I ever knew about horses, but you strike me as a remarkable specimen. I hope you will talk with me.”
The horse nodded.
”Do you like demons?”
Charles shook his head.
”Do you like being called an ornery brute?”