level.
There was no vole hole in this particular section, but Chem had mapped it and knew a good way out. It was along a side crevice on the north slope. They trooped up the jagged V of it, following only the branches Chem indicated, and made their way through the puzzlelike labyrinth to the surface. Then they took the invisible bridge across, which was a novel experience for Esk. He peered down beyond his seemingly unsupported feet, and felt dizzy. After that he followed Volney's example and closed his eyes.
Tangleman departed for his glade, leaving just the three centaurs, two human beings, and one vole. They camped for the night, and when it rained they moved under a large umbrella tree. Volney didn't need it, of course; he simply dug one of his cozy burrows. Ivy insisted on spending the night there, to Esk's annoyance, until Chem projected a map of this region that showed where a good pillow bush grew. Then Esk gathered a fine pile of pillows and settled down in comfort.
They did not hurry in the morning. Centaurs were creatures of integrity, but somehow none of these three found reason to rush on to the castle. Actually, there was no reason; King Dor and Queen Irene were not due to return for another day. Chester and Cherie were supervising the grounds during the royal absence, as it happened, and keeping an eye on Ivy's little brother, Prince Dolph. That, Chet remarked, was challenge enough, for little Dolph could change form instantly to anything, and tended to become a mouse and sneak out when he was supposed to be studying boring Xanth history.
But, being the centaurs they were, they did not dawdle unduly either. Thus at midday they arrived at Castle Roogna.
Esk was impressed. He had seen the Good Magician's castle, so knew the general nature of such structures, but this was on a grander scale. Its walls towered above the moat, and the moat had not one but several monstrous monsters. The grounds were girt about with an orchard con-
taming every kind of exotic tree, and beyond were more aggressive trees that were able to move their branches to block unwanted trespassers. To one side was the zombie graveyard, whose occupants would rise up in all their sodden horror when required in defense of the estate. There were even, Chet assured him, several ghosts in the castle, though these were relatively harmless, merely waiting for their stories to be told.
A tiny man-shape stood at the drawbridge. "A horse rear with wings/" the figure exclaimed. "Wait till the caretakers see that!"
"Go tell them, Grundy!" Ivy cried happily. She was not aware of the gravity of the situation.
The golem ran swiftly into the castle. In a moment a pair of older centaurs appeared, male and female. They spied Chex together.
"Great!" the male exclaimed.
"AppallingI" the female breathed.
"Sire, Dam, this is my issue," Chem said, gesturing to Chex, who stood as if expecting to be struck.
"And she can almost fly!" Ivy said.
Chex's granddam said no further word. She turned and went back into the castle.
Her grandsire hesitated. "This may take a little time," he said, then hurried after his mate.
The three centaurs turned with similar looks of pain and walked away from the castle.
Ivy looked at Esk. "Does this make any sense to you?"
"Not any I like," he replied.
"I thought Cherie would be glad to meet her granddaughter!"
"I gather that centaurs don't approve of crossbreeding."
"Oh, pooh! Everybody crossbreeds in Xanth!"
Esk shrugged. "I fear Cherie Centaur doesn't see it that way."
"She doesn't like magic much, for centaurs," Ivy said thoughtfully. "Chester's better about that; he's got a talent, and so does Chet."
Chet found a place for Chem and Chex to stay the night, and Esk and Volney joined them. None of the three said anything about what had happened, but the pall of gloom was almost tangible. Esk realized that they had really hoped that Cherie would accept the situation. But centaurs, as Esk was coming to understand, were
There was no vole hole in this particular section, but Chem had mapped it and knew a good way out. It was along a side crevice on the north slope. They trooped up the jagged V of it, following only the branches Chem indicated, and made their way through the puzzlelike labyrinth to the surface. Then they took the invisible bridge across, which was a novel experience for Esk. He peered down beyond his seemingly unsupported feet, and felt dizzy. After that he followed Volney's example and closed his eyes.
Tangleman departed for his glade, leaving just the three centaurs, two human beings, and one vole. They camped for the night, and when it rained they moved under a large umbrella tree. Volney didn't need it, of course; he simply dug one of his cozy burrows. Ivy insisted on spending the night there, to Esk's annoyance, until Chem projected a map of this region that showed where a good pillow bush grew. Then Esk gathered a fine pile of pillows and settled down in comfort.
They did not hurry in the morning. Centaurs were creatures of integrity, but somehow none of these three found reason to rush on to the castle. Actually, there was no reason; King Dor and Queen Irene were not due to return for another day. Chester and Cherie were supervising the grounds during the royal absence, as it happened, and keeping an eye on Ivy's little brother, Prince Dolph. That, Chet remarked, was challenge enough, for little Dolph could change form instantly to anything, and tended to become a mouse and sneak out when he was supposed to be studying boring Xanth history.
But, being the centaurs they were, they did not dawdle unduly either. Thus at midday they arrived at Castle Roogna.
Esk was impressed. He had seen the Good Magician's castle, so knew the general nature of such structures, but this was on a grander scale. Its walls towered above the moat, and the moat had not one but several monstrous monsters. The grounds were girt about with an orchard con-
taming every kind of exotic tree, and beyond were more aggressive trees that were able to move their branches to block unwanted trespassers. To one side was the zombie graveyard, whose occupants would rise up in all their sodden horror when required in defense of the estate. There were even, Chet assured him, several ghosts in the castle, though these were relatively harmless, merely waiting for their stories to be told.
A tiny man-shape stood at the drawbridge. "A horse rear with wings/" the figure exclaimed. "Wait till the caretakers see that!"
"Go tell them, Grundy!" Ivy cried happily. She was not aware of the gravity of the situation.
The golem ran swiftly into the castle. In a moment a pair of older centaurs appeared, male and female. They spied Chex together.
"Great!" the male exclaimed.
"AppallingI" the female breathed.
"Sire, Dam, this is my issue," Chem said, gesturing to Chex, who stood as if expecting to be struck.
"And she can almost fly!" Ivy said.
Chex's granddam said no further word. She turned and went back into the castle.
Her grandsire hesitated. "This may take a little time," he said, then hurried after his mate.
The three centaurs turned with similar looks of pain and walked away from the castle.
Ivy looked at Esk. "Does this make any sense to you?"
"Not any I like," he replied.
"I thought Cherie would be glad to meet her granddaughter!"
"I gather that centaurs don't approve of crossbreeding."
"Oh, pooh! Everybody crossbreeds in Xanth!"
Esk shrugged. "I fear Cherie Centaur doesn't see it that way."
"She doesn't like magic much, for centaurs," Ivy said thoughtfully. "Chester's better about that; he's got a talent, and so does Chet."
Chet found a place for Chem and Chex to stay the night, and Esk and Volney joined them. None of the three said anything about what had happened, but the pall of gloom was almost tangible. Esk realized that they had really hoped that Cherie would accept the situation. But centaurs, as Esk was coming to understand, were
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