Faun and Games by Piers Anthony Page B

Cathryn."
     
    Imbri stood facing nowhere.   "I would like to trade with Cathryn
    Centaur."
     
    Another lady centaur appeared, emerging from the forest.   She was brown
    of mane and fur, with large white wings.   "Why hello, mare," she said.
    "I never expected to be summoned."
     
    "Why not?" Imbri asked.
     
    "Because there is no service anyone can do me, so I can't trade. Didn't
    you know that?"
     
    " I am from far away.   I know very little about this region."
     
    "But the conventions are similar throughout our world.   You don't mean
    to say-" She broke off, looking startled.
     
    "Yes, we are from Xanth," Imbri said.
     
    "That is extremely unusual, as there is virtually no physical contact
    between Xanth and Ptero."
     
    "But considerable emotional contact."
     
    Cathryn nodded agreement.   "All we might-he's long to achieve Xanth
    proper.   But so few of us ever do.   Now I suppose if you offer me some
    way to cro there, then we can indeed deal.   But as it is impossible to
    travel there physically, I suspect that your mission is of some other
    nature."
     
    "Yes.   We need to locate a suitable faun to become the spirit of a
    vacant tree."
     
    "Ah.   That's why you summoned me: because I know the best route to the
    faunhold."
     
    I 'Yes." I
     
    "I am really sorry that we can't exchange services, because I can
    certainly start you on your way there."
     
    "Start us?   You can't direct us all the way there?"
     
    "Correct: I can't.   It is beyond my range."
     
    "Range?"
     
    "Oh, I see," Cathryn said sympathetically.   "You are from afar, and
    don't understand our system."
     
    "Yes, I don't.   But I am willing to trade, if it's a matter of that."
     
    "I'm afraid it is.   We are unable to interact significantly without the
    exchange of equivalent services."
     
    Forrest stepped into the dialogue.   "There must be some service you need
    or desire, that we might do."
     
    Cathryn glanced at him.   "I doubt it.   I am really quite satisfied,
    apart from my natural longing to become real.   This is a pleasant enough
    realm, and far better than utter nonexistence.   I would gladly show you
    around it, If-"
     
    "If we could do you some service in exchange," he finished.
     
    "Exactly.   But as it is, I see no cause for further association.   So if
    you will excuse me, I shall take off." She spread her wings.
     
    "Walt!" Imbri cried.   "There must be something!"
     
    Cathryn paused.   "I would be pleased if there were, for you seem like
    interesting folk, and il-n sure your need must be extreme, for you to
    make the (,reat effort to coi-timehere.   But it would be unkind to
    pretend there is anything feasible."
     
    "Every creature has some secret deep desire," Imbri said.   "I am in a
    position to know."
     
    The centaur seemed genuinely curious.   "How could you be in such a
    position?"
     
    "I was a night mare for a hundred and seventy years, punishing folk for
    their darkest desires, and a day mare for thirty years, rewarding their
    brightest desires.   I have never encountered anyone who was wholly
    satisfied with his lot.   Some don't know their deepest desires, but all
    have them."
     
    "And maybe some demons prey on that," Forrest said, thinking of D. Sire.
     
    "Then I think I must be the exception," Cathryn said, "becituse I am
    satisfied, as satisfied as it is possible for a might-be to be."
     
    They seemed to be getting nowhere.   But Forrest remembered something.
    "The Good Magician's list," he said.   "Maybe that has the answer." He
    dug into his knapsack and brought it out.
     
    Now he thought he could almost read the first two words of the Good
    Magician's illegible scribble.   "Dear Horn," he said, squinting. "Does
    that make any sense?"
     
    "Oh!" Cathryn said, putting a hand to her ample breast.
     
    "You have found your secret desire," Imbri said.
     
    "I suppose I have," the centaur confessed.   "I never realized it
    before."
     
    Forrest put the paper away.