Cube Route

  Ivy glanced at the pouch. "Sofia's handiwork," she said. "I am familiar with the type. That's fine. Do you need anything else for your trip?"

  "I suspect the Princesses can conjure anything they need."

  "That is true. See that they don't conjure too many things they don't need. They can get wild ideas."

  "I'm sure they can," Cube agreed.

  "Do you understand the specifics of their magic?"

  "Just that they seem to be able to do anything they put their minds to."

  "It is that anything they imagine while they sing, play, and beat becomes real. As I mentioned, together their magic power cubes. So if magic becomes necessary, remember that they have, potentially, more power than any other mortal in Xanth. Much more than they have wisdom to control. That is one reason adult guidance is essential. They will answer to adult authority, and at times it is necessary. But if there is a crisis, they will be able to handle it. Just see that they don't create more crises than they resolve."

  "We will try," Karia said.

  "Time to go," Melody said.

  "Put us in the bag," Harmony agreed.

  "And go there," Rhythm concluded.

  Ivy shook her head wistfully. "At times I regret having lost the innocence of childhood. May you have a wonderful adventure."

  Then Cube held forth the pouch. "Just put your foot in," she told Melody.

  The girl did--and slid out of sight. Harmony followed similarly, and then Rhythm.

  "I suspect you will prefer to keep them in there much of the time," Ivy remarked.

  Then Cube mounted Karia, and the centaur trotted briskly out of the castle. When they got outside, she spread her wings and launched into the sky.

  Only when they were well clear of the castle did Karia speak again. "Before we bring the Princesses out and have them orient on the dragon, there is one matter I thought I would mention."

  "By all means."

  "The Princesses also mentioned a problem at Castle MaiDragon. They said that Brusque Brassy had been turned into a pig pen and had to be rescued. Fortunately they were able to restore him."

  "That's true."

  "Who enchanted him?"

  "Oh, we forgot to run that down! We meant to, but then didn't."

  "It occurs to me that this could be a suspicious coincidence. Is it possible that it was intended as a distraction, to interfere with your Quest?"

  "I hardly see how. It was just chance that brought us to Castle MaiDragon at that time."

  "Perhaps. And perhaps I am being paranoid. But I thought I should mention it, without alarming the Princesses."

  "It was worth mentioning," Cube agreed. "But I don't think there is any connection."

  "Then let's find that dragon." Karia glided down to a private glade and landed.

  Cube dismounted and took out the pouch. She reached in her hand. "Princesses."

  Three little hands touched her fingers. Then they were out together, standing before her. "That was fun," Melody said.

  "We knew nothing," Harmony agreed.

  "We just quit there and appeared here," Rhythm concluded.

  "It was actually a short flight," Karia said. "Before we proceed further, I must ask you never to use my name in my presence."

  "Oh, we know," Melody said.

  "That was funny when you started floating away while Mom was talking," Harmony added.

  "She noticed, but saw Cube was handling it," Rhythm concluded.

  "I'm glad you understand," Karia said. "It is a matter of safety. It would be awkward if it happened while I was flying."

  "Now the dragon," Cube said. "Where is he?"

  The Princesses got together, and soon Rhythm pointed. "That direction," Melody said.

  "Not far," Harmony added.

  "But it's odd," Rhythm finished.

  Cube exchanged a glance with the centaur. What would strike the Princesses as odd? "We'll see," she said.

  The Princesses returned to the pouch. Cube remounted, and Karia took off.

  Not far in the indicated direction they saw a pretty collection of tents. They were arranged in the form of a large tome. "Ugh!" Karia exclaimed.

  Cube realized that there must be a pun in evidence. She marshaled her thoughts and managed to come up with it. "A book fair," she said. "A pretty book."

  "Exactly," the centaur agreed crossly.

  "It is on the line they pointed," Cube said.

  "No dragons there."

  "We should check anyway. They said it wasn't far."

  Karia sighed agreement and glided down to a landing beside the big book. It turned out to be made of piles of books, each with a brilliant cover. People were walking along, examining particular editions. They were evidently available for those who wanted them.

  "These are interesting," Cube said. "I wish I had time to read some of them."

  "I understand. A book can be a portal to another world. Xanth gets so dull at times."

  "But no dragon here."

  "He must be farther along."

  Cube picked up a book. It was titled Phaze. "That's a funny word."

  "Nice picture, though. I feel as if I could almost step into that scene."

  "We can't afford the distraction." Cube looked again at the cover, which showed a handsome young man and two lovely young women standing before a green plain. It looked extraordinarily realistic. Then with regret she set it down.

  They walked to the edge of the book fair and took off. The jungle closed in. There were no further things of interest.

  They reached the great Gap Chasm. The depth of it yawned at them, followed by a small burp.

  "I don't think the dragon is here," Karia said, landing. "There's a dragon in the Gap, but that's Stanley Steamer, not Drek. The Princesses would have said if he were beyond the Gap."

  "We must have missed him," Cube agreed. She dismounted so she could stretch her legs. She spied a pretty little flower, and smelled it.

  "Cube! Cube!"

  Cube looked dazedly around. "Oh, hello Ka--centaur. What are we doing here?"

  "I think you smelled an, ugh, dazey."

  "A what?"

  "It is a flower whose smell puts you into a daze."

  "Oh. I'm sorry."

  "Certainly it's not what we're looking for."

  Cube agreed, embarrassed. She had forgotten that they weren't on an enchanted path; innocent things could be dangerous.

  They turned around and flew back along the line. There was nothing until they arrived back at the book fair.

  "I wonder," Karia said. "Where would a person hide, if he truly did not want to be found?"

  "Somewhere nobody would look."

  "How about a book?"

  "A dragon wouldn't fit in a book, unless he were ensorceled."

  "I wonder. We all fit in your pouch."

  "You are thinking a book could be like the pouch?"

  "Perhaps in the sense of being a portal to another realm. We think it is figurative, but with magic it just might be literal."

  "It just might," Cube agreed.

  They walked back through the fair until they came to the book they had admired before,Phaze. Cube poked a finger at the picture on the cover.

  It went into the picture. Then she was sliding after it. She was entering the book, just as she had the pouch.

  She landed on green turf. The three people looked at her, startled. "Who be thee?" the man asked.

  "I, uh--just dropped in," Cube answered.

  Then Karia landed beside her. The three people stared. "What manner of creature art thou?" the man asked.

  "I am a winged centaur," Karia said. "You haven't seen one before?"

  "Never."

  Then Cube caught on. "We entered the book! We are in the book's world. Phaze."

  "True, this be Phaze," the man said. "Thy world is different?"

  "We call it Xanth," Karia replied.

  The man exchanged a blank glance with the two women. "We know it not."

  "The book--i
t's a portal," Karia said. "Just as we guessed. We have entered another world."

  "Could the dragon be here?"

  "Here there be dragons," the man agreed. "Mostly in the Purple Mountains to the south, but some do wander."

  Drek could have hidden in the world of a book! "We came here looking for a particular dragon," Cube said.

  The man laughed. "Why wouldst thou desire a dragon?"

  "We believe he can help us. But he is hiding. We need to locate him."

  "Dragons ne'er help others," the man said. "They eat them."

  "I think we had better get a new direction," Karia said.

  Cube wanted to bring the Princesses out, but didn't want the strangers to see it happen. Then she had a bright notion. "I think the rest of our party is about to arrive."

  "The same way we did," Karia agreed.

  Cube put a hand into the concealed pouch. "Princesses," she whispered.

  The three girls appeared. "Yes, here they are," Cube said.

  "Whence come these?" the man asked.

  "We are all from Xanth," Cube said quickly. "Just visiting Phaze. We just want to find the dragon."

  The three Princesses huddled, then pointed the direction. "That away," Melody said.

  "Far away," Harmony agreed.

  "But a stronger signal," Rhythm concluded.

  "Then we had better get going," Karia said.

  The man exchanged another glance with his companions. "Phaze be not a land safe for strangers to travel," he said. "There be dangers on land and in air. Particularly for children."

  "He is surely correct," Karia said. "This isn't Xanth. We should not take unnecessary risks."

  Cube considered. "Maybe we can make a deal." She faced the man. "We have--some magic. What might we do for you, in exchange for your help finding our dragon?"

  "We were looking not for reward, but merely advising of danger. We like not to see children endangered." He smiled at the Princesses, who smiled back.

  "Perhaps we should introduce ourselves," Karia said. "I am Karia Winged Centaur, and these are Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm." She had not identified the rank of the children.

  "And I am called Cube," Cube said.

  "So appealing to meet thee, mare," the man said, his eyes lingering for a long moment, perhaps a moment and a half, on her front. Then he turned to Cube. "And thee, woman," his eyes not lingering. Then to the three Princesses. "And you, girls. I am Stoturyso Wolf, Stu for brief, and these are my companions Viola Corn and Forili Vamp. We be competent travelers, for we return not to our own kind."

  Karia nodded thoughtfully. "I mean no offense, but I suspect you are not fully human."

  "Indeed we are not," Stu agreed. "And I think neither be thy children mere young folk nor this thy full party. Shall we exchange wider introductions?"

  Cube struggled with propriety versus secrecy, and decided that since this was a different realm, they could afford to be open. "We will do this, if our full nature is not told elsewhere."

  Stu glanced at the two women. "We agree to bruit it not about."

  "The children are the Sorceresses Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm," Cube said. "Capable of performing considerable magic."

  The three reacted. "Adepts?" Stu asked, alarmed.

  "What is an Adept?"

  "A person with much power o' magic, a likely ruler o' his demesnes."

  "That's close," Cube said. "But they are not planning on doing any mischief here." Then she reached her hand into the pouch. "Ryver," she murmured.

  The man appeared. His eyes oriented instantly on the two attractive Phaze women. "Hello!"

  "Our salutation to thee," Stu said.

  "And one more member of our party," Cube said. She reached in again, and brought out Metria. "The Demoness Metria."

  Again the three reacted. "A demon!" Stu said. "They come not often this way."

  The demoness swirled into smoke, then spied Stu and coalesced into her loveliest shape. "Well, now, mortal. Whatever can I do for you?" Her blouse tightened and her skirt shortened.

  Stu took a good look, then turned to his own companions. "Now will we show our further natures. I am not a man but a werewolf." He abruptly changed form, becoming a formidable wolf.

  "Oh, can we pet you?" Melody asked.

  "We love wolves," Harmony added.

  "Especially werewolves," Rhythm concluded.

  Now one of the women, Viola, spoke for the first time. "Thou mayst pet him, Melody, as he be tame."

  "But pet not any strange wolf," the other woman, Forili, cautioned. "They be not always tame."

  The three Princesses grouped around Stu, petting him on head, neck, and back.

  "And I be a unicorn," Viola said, changing into one.

  That immediately distracted the children from the wolf. "Oh, may we ride on you?" Melody asked.

  "We love unicorns," Harmony added.

  "But we hardly ever see one," Rhythm concluded.

  "Thou mayst ride her," Forili said. "She also be tame." She lifted the children up to the unicorn's back.

  The unicorn took them for a brief ride and returned. Then Forili spoke again. "And I be a vampire." She changed into a large bat.

  For some reason the Princesses did not clamor to experience her nature.

  Stu returned to manform. "Normally packs, herds, and flocks remain with their own kind," he said. "But we prefer each other's company. This makes us unwelcome at home, so we travel together, not completely satisfied. We cannot marry without the support o' our kind."

  Cube caught on. "You want acceptance of your relationship."

  He nodded. "And that we fear we can ne'er have."

  "One male and two females?" Karia asked. "Does your society accept plural marriages?"

  "Nay. We need also another male. That be another reason we travel, hoping to find one."

  "But suppose we could do something partway equivalent for you? Such as make you a castle, a preserve, where you could associate without being condemned?"

  He shook his head. "Castles be beyond the means o' regular folk."

  "But not necessarily beyond our means," Cube said, glancing at the Princesses. "If there is a suitable place."

  "We know a place in the Purple Mountains," Stu said. "But unless thy children be truly Adepts, it is not feasible."

  "Perhaps a token demonstration would be in order," Karia suggested.

  The Princesses were glad to cooperate. They hummed, played, and beat, and soon formed a one-quarter-scale replica of Castle MaiDragon on the ground. Impressed, the wolf sniffed it and the two females peered over its outer wall at the myriad turrets and byways.

  "Canst put such an edifice on a mountain slope?" Stu asked.

  "Sure," Melody said.

  "Anywhere," Harmony agreed.

  "Full size," Rhythm concluded.

  "For such a structure o' our own, we would guide thy group anywhere," Stu said.

  Thus the deal was made. Stu resumed wolf form, while Viola kept unicorn form, and Forili retained human form and rode on her back. Cube put the others back in the pouch and rode Karia. They followed the running wolf, while conversing side by side.

  "How camest thou to these demesnes?" Forili asked. "It be apparent that thy folk are not o' our world."

  "You may find this hard to believe. We entered by stepping into the cover of a book about Phaze. The three of you were pictured there."

  "There be a book about us?"

  "There seems to be. But in our land, it is just a story."

  "It be more than a story to us."

  There was a musical note of agreement. Startled, Cube looked at the unicorn. "That sounded like a violin!"

  "Aye. That be Viola's instrument."

  "But I see no violin."

  "It be her horn. Each unicorn plays a different instrument. They be most versatile."

  "They certainly are."

  Viola played an ongoing melody, the beat provided by her trotting hooves. It was quite nice.

  "I say it a
s shouldn't, not being their kind," Forili said. "But a herd o' 'corns marching in formation be a most melodious thing."

  "I should think so!"

  They continued to exchange information about their two worlds as they moved toward the Purple Mountains. It was a long trip, and night fell before they got there. They stopped for the night beside a clear river, and the Princesses conjured meat for Stu, oats for Viola, and blood for Forili to eat in their natural forms, and more familiar food for their own party. Most of them could have remained in the pouch, but they preferred to come out and experience the world of Phaze.

  The Princesses conjured a little pavilion made of hard chocolate, half filled it with marshmallow pillows, and slept there: their way of roughing it. Ryver disappeared into the nearest river, interested in the water of this world. Metria disappeared into the air, determined to check out the demons here. That left Cube and Karia, neither of whom was willing to go into the pouch while the Princesses were at possible risk out of it. So they joined them in the pavilion, which the Princesses obligingly made larger.

  Stu assumed his wolf form and curled up beside the pavilion. Viola assumed her unicorn form and grazed in the night; she could sleep while grazing, it turned out. Forili assumed her bat form and hung from the branch of a nearby tree for her sleep. It seemed that they had to revert to their natural forms when sleeping; it required conscious will to maintain their human emulations. Cube thought that was just as well, because she wasn't sure whether they might otherwise have been inclined to summon the stork, or whatever it was in this world, and that would have been awkward with the Princesses in the vicinity.

  In the morning Ryver and Metria returned, having taken their measures of the world. They and the Princesses got in the pouch, and the journey resumed. "Thy friends are interesting," Forili remarked. "What manner of land is this Xanth?"

  Cube explained as well as she could, but it was clear that Xanth was impossibly strange to the vampire. Puns hardly existed in Phaze, and its social structure was odd.

  The Purple Mountains loomed, seeming to grow out of the ground as the unicorn and centaur approached. They were literally purple overall, but closer inspection revealed them to be otherwise normal.

  Then the unicorn halted, playing a warning note on her horn. "We be entering troll demesnes," Forili explained. "Needs must we consult on direction, and prepare for attack."

  "Attack," Cube said, not liking this.