that some of the creatures of the forest had sharp ears.
They reached Castle Roogna and went to Princess Ida's room. “Why how nice to see you,” Aunt Ida said, as if she hadn't seen them a hundred times before. “And Sim too. What can I do for you?”
Melody looked around. “Is this private?” she asked.
“Yes, if you wish it to be.”
“We have to keep it secret,” Harmony explained.
“Something about a Rule of Ten,” Rhythm concluded.
“Of course,” Ida agreed. “No more than ten people can successfully keep a secret. It is a magical theorem.”
“But we have to tell you, we think,” Sim peeped.
Ida smiled. “Then I must be one of the ten. Who else knows?”
Melody counted on her little fingers. “The four of us.”
“And the Good Magician,” Harmony added, using one of her fingers.
“Which makes six,” Rhythm concluded, using hers.
“That seems safe. What is the secret?”
They told her about the exchange, in order to stop the Dastard. Sim was interested, because he had not known about this person.
Ida nodded. “I can effect the exchange, though this has not been done before. As you know, my worlds contain all the folk who ever existed, or who will exist, or who might exist. There are a number of worlds, because there are a great many folk to occupy them. They do contain every person and creature who lives in Xanth, but are missing the year in each person's life that matches the time they spend in Xanth. Different rules of magic apply to each world. You should find this educational.”
“That is the point,” Sim peeped.
“However, there will have to be some people added to the secret. Your parents, for example.”
“Awww,” the three princesses said together.
“Let me explain. Your grown Selves cannot simply take your places here without attracting some attention. They will need help to conceal the exchange. Princess Ivy and Magician Grey Murphy will be able to do that, but only if they know exactly what is occurring.”
The three princesses reluctantly nodded. It did seem difficult to conceal such a change from parents who already seemed to know entirely too much about childish business.
“And the Simurgh,” Ida said.
Sim peeped. “No. She wishes me to broaden this aspect of my education by myself. That's why she gave Roxanne Roc and Che Centaur a holiday. She does not want to know at this time.”
“Excellent,” Ida said. “That makes the number eight. That's comfortable. I will bring the two.” She walked to a magic mirror and spoke to it. “I would like to speak with the princesses' parents at this time.”
The mirror made a pattern of lines and blips, then cleared. Princess Ivy's face appeared in it. “What have those little nuisances done this time?”
Princess Ida kept a straight face. Adults were good at that. “I think it best to keep the matter confidential, sister dear.”
“Remember, they're your nieces. We'll be there in a moment.” The mirror zapped into background noise.
In precisely a moment Mother and Father appeared at the door. They looked grim. The three princesses almost felt guilty, because usually they had done something disastrous if not outright funny when conferences like this were called.
But Ida quickly set them straight. The three little princesses quailed, afraid that Mother would say NO and Father would back her up as he always did, but when they heard about the Dastard they looked thoughtful and withheld judgment.
“This does need to be dealt with,” Grey Murphy said. “That Dastard is dangerous. Their mature magic coupled with Sim's knowledge should be sufficient.”
“They should be safe on Ptero, since death is unknown there, and our analogues will be there to guide them,” Ivy said. “And it will be good experience for them.”
They were working their way around to agreeing! What a miracle.
“However,” Grey Murphy said. That was a chilling signal. “There is a complication.”
The princesses hated
They reached Castle Roogna and went to Princess Ida's room. “Why how nice to see you,” Aunt Ida said, as if she hadn't seen them a hundred times before. “And Sim too. What can I do for you?”
Melody looked around. “Is this private?” she asked.
“Yes, if you wish it to be.”
“We have to keep it secret,” Harmony explained.
“Something about a Rule of Ten,” Rhythm concluded.
“Of course,” Ida agreed. “No more than ten people can successfully keep a secret. It is a magical theorem.”
“But we have to tell you, we think,” Sim peeped.
Ida smiled. “Then I must be one of the ten. Who else knows?”
Melody counted on her little fingers. “The four of us.”
“And the Good Magician,” Harmony added, using one of her fingers.
“Which makes six,” Rhythm concluded, using hers.
“That seems safe. What is the secret?”
They told her about the exchange, in order to stop the Dastard. Sim was interested, because he had not known about this person.
Ida nodded. “I can effect the exchange, though this has not been done before. As you know, my worlds contain all the folk who ever existed, or who will exist, or who might exist. There are a number of worlds, because there are a great many folk to occupy them. They do contain every person and creature who lives in Xanth, but are missing the year in each person's life that matches the time they spend in Xanth. Different rules of magic apply to each world. You should find this educational.”
“That is the point,” Sim peeped.
“However, there will have to be some people added to the secret. Your parents, for example.”
“Awww,” the three princesses said together.
“Let me explain. Your grown Selves cannot simply take your places here without attracting some attention. They will need help to conceal the exchange. Princess Ivy and Magician Grey Murphy will be able to do that, but only if they know exactly what is occurring.”
The three princesses reluctantly nodded. It did seem difficult to conceal such a change from parents who already seemed to know entirely too much about childish business.
“And the Simurgh,” Ida said.
Sim peeped. “No. She wishes me to broaden this aspect of my education by myself. That's why she gave Roxanne Roc and Che Centaur a holiday. She does not want to know at this time.”
“Excellent,” Ida said. “That makes the number eight. That's comfortable. I will bring the two.” She walked to a magic mirror and spoke to it. “I would like to speak with the princesses' parents at this time.”
The mirror made a pattern of lines and blips, then cleared. Princess Ivy's face appeared in it. “What have those little nuisances done this time?”
Princess Ida kept a straight face. Adults were good at that. “I think it best to keep the matter confidential, sister dear.”
“Remember, they're your nieces. We'll be there in a moment.” The mirror zapped into background noise.
In precisely a moment Mother and Father appeared at the door. They looked grim. The three princesses almost felt guilty, because usually they had done something disastrous if not outright funny when conferences like this were called.
But Ida quickly set them straight. The three little princesses quailed, afraid that Mother would say NO and Father would back her up as he always did, but when they heard about the Dastard they looked thoughtful and withheld judgment.
“This does need to be dealt with,” Grey Murphy said. “That Dastard is dangerous. Their mature magic coupled with Sim's knowledge should be sufficient.”
“They should be safe on Ptero, since death is unknown there, and our analogues will be there to guide them,” Ivy said. “And it will be good experience for them.”
They were working their way around to agreeing! What a miracle.
“However,” Grey Murphy said. That was a chilling signal. “There is a complication.”
The princesses hated
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