wended parallel to the west coast of Xanth. It was neither well marked nor well maintained, but the protective enchantment was on it, so there should be no trouble with predators. Also, there was Ivy.
"Gee, this is fun!" Ivy exclaimed. She was on Chex's back, and everything was fun to her. Ivy's magic was Enhancement, and it was of Magician caliber. Since she perceived Chex as a wonderful creature who could almost fly, Chex was now moving at a trot that exceeded in velocity her normal full gallop. The child's magic buoyed her phenomenally; it was indeed like flying, because her strength was so great and her feet so light. Also, the girl was good company; she made no unreasonable demands, and was an excellent rider. Chex's granddam Cberie had been tutoring her in more than academic subjects, obviously.
The thought of Cherie Centaur sobered Chex, however. By all accounts Cherie was a fine centaur, but she was conservative. She had tutored King Dor and Queen Irene, and now was tutoring the next generation, but certain matters were beyond her acceptance, such as magic in centaurs. And crossbreeding. Chester Centaur, in contrast, had the reputation of a roughneck, always ready to fight rather than reason; but he was quite tolerant about magic and crossbreeding. Uncle Chet had said this was because of Chester's uncle, Herman the Hermit, who had had the magic ability to commune with will-o'-the-wisps and had died bravely
in the defense of Xanth from the wiggles. Also, Chester was unable to perceive evil in anything his offspring might do. But though Chester had the muscle, Cherie had the will, and that will was manifesting now. Chex was subtly not welcome in the region of Castle Roogna.
But little Ivy was another matter, and a power in her own right. When they had made their decision to get other help for the voles, Ivy had insisted on participating. She could help persuade the centaurs of the Isle to help, she said. Besides which, she needed more education, and visiting Centaur Isle was part of it. Even Cherie had not been able to deny that logic, so Ivy had her way: she was coming along, just for this one trip.
"But you seem awful quiet," Ivy said after a bit. "Is something wrong?"
"Not with you, dear," Chex reassured her. "I was just thinking."
"About Cherie," Ivy said wisely.
"True."
"Chester's working on her, but you know how centaurs are. Nothing's more stubborn, when—oops. No offense meant!"
"None taken," Chex said. "We prefer to call it steadfastness."
"Maybe if you do something great, like saving the Kiss-Mee, then she'll change her mind. Say, is it true that just drinking from that river is like getting smooched?" The child had broached this matter before, but evidently remained intrigued by it.
"That vernacular is—"
"Nonstandard usage," Ivy finished. "You centaurs are too stuffy!"
"But it is supposed to be true that the river, historically, has been very affectionate. However, it seems that it has suffered a radical personality change recently. That is why we wish to restore it to its natural state."
"Yeah. So now it's the Kill-Mee. That's funny!"
Then, exactly in time with Chex's correction: "Yes!"
Then Ivy laughed, and Chex had to laugh with her.
They were well along, making even better time than Chex had projected, thanks to the enhancement. Would her hooves never tire? Apparently not, while she was carrying the little Sorceress!
"What's that stink?" Ivy asked. Then, as Chex opened her mouth: "Smell!" How the child loved to tease!
Chex sniffed the air. "Decay," she said. "Some small animal must have died recently. We will pass by this soon."
But as they proceeded south, the odor intensified. "Ooo, ugh!" Ivy said, holding her pert nose. "That must be a big animal!"
"So it seems," Chex agreed. "All living creatures eventually die."
"Not the Good Magician," Ivy said.
"Well, he is missing, and we cannot rule out the possibility that—"
"Oh, pooh! He just went somewhere, so's not to be
"Gee, this is fun!" Ivy exclaimed. She was on Chex's back, and everything was fun to her. Ivy's magic was Enhancement, and it was of Magician caliber. Since she perceived Chex as a wonderful creature who could almost fly, Chex was now moving at a trot that exceeded in velocity her normal full gallop. The child's magic buoyed her phenomenally; it was indeed like flying, because her strength was so great and her feet so light. Also, the girl was good company; she made no unreasonable demands, and was an excellent rider. Chex's granddam Cberie had been tutoring her in more than academic subjects, obviously.
The thought of Cherie Centaur sobered Chex, however. By all accounts Cherie was a fine centaur, but she was conservative. She had tutored King Dor and Queen Irene, and now was tutoring the next generation, but certain matters were beyond her acceptance, such as magic in centaurs. And crossbreeding. Chester Centaur, in contrast, had the reputation of a roughneck, always ready to fight rather than reason; but he was quite tolerant about magic and crossbreeding. Uncle Chet had said this was because of Chester's uncle, Herman the Hermit, who had had the magic ability to commune with will-o'-the-wisps and had died bravely
in the defense of Xanth from the wiggles. Also, Chester was unable to perceive evil in anything his offspring might do. But though Chester had the muscle, Cherie had the will, and that will was manifesting now. Chex was subtly not welcome in the region of Castle Roogna.
But little Ivy was another matter, and a power in her own right. When they had made their decision to get other help for the voles, Ivy had insisted on participating. She could help persuade the centaurs of the Isle to help, she said. Besides which, she needed more education, and visiting Centaur Isle was part of it. Even Cherie had not been able to deny that logic, so Ivy had her way: she was coming along, just for this one trip.
"But you seem awful quiet," Ivy said after a bit. "Is something wrong?"
"Not with you, dear," Chex reassured her. "I was just thinking."
"About Cherie," Ivy said wisely.
"True."
"Chester's working on her, but you know how centaurs are. Nothing's more stubborn, when—oops. No offense meant!"
"None taken," Chex said. "We prefer to call it steadfastness."
"Maybe if you do something great, like saving the Kiss-Mee, then she'll change her mind. Say, is it true that just drinking from that river is like getting smooched?" The child had broached this matter before, but evidently remained intrigued by it.
"That vernacular is—"
"Nonstandard usage," Ivy finished. "You centaurs are too stuffy!"
"But it is supposed to be true that the river, historically, has been very affectionate. However, it seems that it has suffered a radical personality change recently. That is why we wish to restore it to its natural state."
"Yeah. So now it's the Kill-Mee. That's funny!"
Then, exactly in time with Chex's correction: "Yes!"
Then Ivy laughed, and Chex had to laugh with her.
They were well along, making even better time than Chex had projected, thanks to the enhancement. Would her hooves never tire? Apparently not, while she was carrying the little Sorceress!
"What's that stink?" Ivy asked. Then, as Chex opened her mouth: "Smell!" How the child loved to tease!
Chex sniffed the air. "Decay," she said. "Some small animal must have died recently. We will pass by this soon."
But as they proceeded south, the odor intensified. "Ooo, ugh!" Ivy said, holding her pert nose. "That must be a big animal!"
"So it seems," Chex agreed. "All living creatures eventually die."
"Not the Good Magician," Ivy said.
"Well, he is missing, and we cannot rule out the possibility that—"
"Oh, pooh! He just went somewhere, so's not to be
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