They moved through the village. No one bothered them. But the worst of it was ahead, at the pass. It would be uphill, and with the tangle trees overhanging. If they had calculated wrong, they would be in trouble. Even if fate did not consider it so.
They approached the first tree along the trail. Michael, Shenita, Metro and Care edged closer to the wagon despite their fear. It was a question of which they feared more: the Knot or humiliation.
The tree’s tentacles quivered, but did not descend. It was aware of them, but busy elsewhere. There was evidently only so much content it could handle at a time. Maybe it had only one content pot.
They slowly pushed on. They passed the first tree and approached the second. Again the tentacles twitched, but did not descend.
There was one more tree to pass. As they pushed by its tentacles, Shenita thought of something. They all saw the bulb flash over her head. “That horrible Knot!” she exclaimed. “It is driving away the trees!”
Wenda felt her wooden jaw drop. Of course! The Knot radiated constant malignancy. Tangle trees were wood, but very special wood, and their conscious, mobile tentacles must be subject to the Knot’s effect. They could have rolled the wagon through any time. Maybe the love spring deluge helped, but maybe it didn’t. The Knot had saved them. That surely infuriated it.
They moved on into the pass. They had escaped the valley and village of Scoop. Without becoming content providers.
As they descended the other side of the pass, now having to hold the wagon back so it wouldn’t lurch ahead and crash, the three flying members of their party rejoined them.
“We are grateful,” Michael said. “What return favor may we do you?”
“There is no need,” Wenda demurred. “You provided the buckets, and Care surely helped keep us safe as we went.”
“I will walk with you farther,” Care said. “At least until we reach a village where you can safely rest.”
“There will be a castle in precisely 2.35 hours,” Metro said. “I do not know whether it is safe.”
“It associates with a Demon,” Shenita said. “But I foresee no mischief on the morrow if you stay there.”
“You folk are already being very helpful,” Hilarion said, “just by your presence.”
“Why would a Demon have a castle here?” Ida asked.
“I certainly wood like to know,” Wenda said. “But if it is safe for us, that is what counts.”
They moved on, and in 2.35 hours they reached the castle. It was tall and windswept, with tassels flying at its towers.
“I wood like to bee in a safe castle overnight,” Wenda said. “Recent adventures have been wearing. How dew the rest of yew feel?”
“Much the same,” Hilarion said. “Though I remain nervous about entering a Demon castle.”
“I wonder if I should change to manform?” Jumper asked.
“Save yewr magic,” Wenda said. “If they dew knot accept yew, I will knot accept their hospitality either.”
“Good compromise,” Ida agreed.
Wenda lifted the ornate metal knocker and knocked on the massive oaken front door. In barely more than a moment it opened. There stood a lovely, dark-haired, dark-eyed princess.
“Wenda!” she exclaimed, hugging Wenda. “Jumper!” She hugged the big spider too. “Aunt Ida! And friends.”
It was Princess Eve.
“But I thought yew married Demon Pluto and went to the underworld,” Wenda said, belatedly taken aback. “I saw yew briefly at the Demon Trial of Demoness Eris. Yew made Pluto vote to save her—and me.”
“I did. I could not let either of you be doomed. You’re my friend, and Eris is Jumper’s wife, and Jumper is my friend too.” Eve smiled briefly. “And Pluto has learned not to cross me when there is something I care about. But I am mortal, at least in background. I wanted a mortal castle as well, for summer guests and such. So I am renovating the old Storm King’s residence, Castle Windswept. Come in, come in! I am so glad to see some familiar faces.”
Wenda understood. As Jumper had discovered, a mortal who married a Demon became immortal. But a mortal remained mortal in outlook, with mortal tastes. Eve had been part of Jumper’s party, as had Wenda, and they had come to know each other well. In fact, Eve had seduced Jumper, with no ill intent, and given him a fraction of her soul. They surely still loved each other to a degree.
They paused to introduce the rest of the party, which had grown to eleven. The Scoop Valley escapees seemed diffident, but Wenda and Jumper reassured them that Princess Eve was to be trusted. She wanted to show off the premises.
Wenda explained about the Knot. “We will need to park it somewhere safe, and knot too close to people,” Wenda concluded.
“We have a fine nether dungeon guarded by an ill-tempered dragon,” Eve said.
“A dungeon and a dragon,” Wenda agreed. “That should bee fine, if the dragon can stand it.”
They entered the castle, discovering magnificent wood-paneled hallways with pictures of storms, fires, floods, and other wind inspired activities. Eve had not remade the castle, but restored it to its former grandeur. It carried an aura of century-old times.
“Let’s see,” Eve said. “I have restored nine guest suites, but there are eleven of you. Someone will have to double up, I’m sorry to say.”
“We are a couple,” Meryl said, indicating Merwyn. “We will share.”
“Of course,” Eve agreed. “That means only one extra. Aunt Ida, will you join me in the Mistress Suite? My husband is in Hades at the moment and I shall be glad to have the company. You can catch me up on events at Castle Roogna since I left.”
“I will,” Ida agreed.
Servants appeared, lesser demons garbed as footmen, butlers, maids, and hostesses. Wenda realized they were probably denizens of Hades, allowed topside as long as they behaved. Eve was now Mistress of Hades. She was a Sorceress in her own right, but this was special authority.
Each member of their party was shown to his or her guest suite, which was a cluster of rooms including a magic kitchenette and lavatory. Wenda suspected that despite its seeming age, this was as modern a facility as existed in Xanth.
Wenda had a nice bubble bath, which she really appreciated, because her rear half had gotten soiled and her hollow frontside was clogged with debris. A maid helped scrub her and fit her with fresh clothing, neatly padded in front. Eve had known her in her woodwife state, so understood her needs.
Then they attended a sumptuous banquet with many courses. The waiters brought Wenda steaming platters containing nothing, understanding that she didn’t need to eat. But the others feasted.
Wenda saw Ida, seated beside Eve, murmur something to her as the meal finished. Eve smiled, then made an announcement. “Dusk is nigh. There will be a pause of seven minutes before the evening dance.” Eve understood about the needs of visiting male companions too.
Just in time. The Demoness Eris appeared with several companions. Before temporary compartments formed, Wenda saw that Eris was garbed like one of the exotic May I women whose appearance had tempted Jumper, showing just as much flesh. But her body was closer to the shape of that of Princess Eve. She was teasing Jumper for his past imagination or activity.
Then Wenda was alone with Charming, who made short work of her fresh clothing. Fortunately the stuffed bra was of superior design, and withstood his attention until Wenda turned around. He wasn’t even curious about the castle; his whole attention was on Wenda. She decided that was flattering.
In seven minutes he was asleep and gone, and things reverted to the way they had been just before the visiting party arrived. The Scoop Valley folk were neither surprised nor dismayed; they were not aware that any time had passed.
Now the evening dance proceeded. Competent demon partners guided each member of the party, and it worked well. There was even a demoness jumping spider for Jumper, who still had not changed. She was so competent that Wenda suspected that Eris had quietly taken her place.
Other demons
served punch, a tasty drink that was like boot rear, except that it socked the drinker in the front.
When the dance was done, they retired to their suites, pleasantly tired. Wenda dropped onto her bed and slept, though ordinarily as a woodwife she did not need to.
In the morning there was a royal breakfast. Eve was evidently pleased to be able to entertain, being mistress of her castle. She was making it a point to get to know each of the visitors. During breakfast she tackled Prince Hilarion, eliciting his story.
“So your betrothee should be about twenty or twenty-one,” she said.
“Yes.”
“I am twenty.”
He smiled. “I would dearly like to find a princess like you, beautiful and a Sorceress. But you are already taken.”
“But my twin sister Dawn isn’t. I know all about anything I touch that is not alive. She knows all about anything she touches that is alive. She is as lovely as I am, only she has bright-red hair and green eyes. I am a spirit of evening; she is a spirit of morning. And she remains single.”
Wenda could see Hilarion’s interest quickening. “Could she have gotten betrothed young?”
“I am not aware of it. But it is possible. We have always been mischievous, and she might have liked your look.”
“I would like to meet her. To kiss her.”
“To verify her,” Wenda said quickly. “He will know his betrothee when he kisses her.”
“Dawn remains at Castle Roogna. Once you complete Wenda’s mission, you must stop there. That might complete your personal Quest.”
“I shall be sure to find my way there.”
“I will be glad to guide you there,” Ida said. “I will be returning there.”
“Thank you, Ida,” he said. “Then I will guide you to my home kingdom, to meet my uncle. With luck, we both will find our fulfillments.”
“With luck,” Ida agreed, though she seemed unconvinced.
“But first we must deliver the Knot,” Wenda said. “Can yew tell us the most direct route there from here?”
“I can,” Eve agreed. “But there are constraints.”
Wenda sighed. “There always are. I wood knot expect it to bee entirely easy.”
“What constraints?” Jumper asked.
“The maidens.”
“Maidens?”
“Between here and there is Maiden Country. You might prefer to route around that.”
“What is constraining about maidens?” Jumper asked.
Eve glanced sidelong at him. “You have not noticed?”
But Jumper was in spider form, largely immune to her potent flirtations. “Do they mean ill?”
“No. They are very nice. But they will seek to involve you in their projects.”
“We will simply pass through,” Wenda said firmly. “No side projects.”
“As you wish,” Eve said, subtly amused.
The Scoop Valley escapees thanked Eve and departed, seeking their homes after their captivity. Then Wenda’s group thanked her too, and set out toward the Good Magician’s Castle, which was only about a day’s travel away.
“What do you think Princess Eve meant about the Maidens?” Hilarion asked.
“It is not like Eve to be obscure,” Ida said. “Perhaps there are social complications.”
The path led to the edge of the great Gap Chasm. “We have been here before,” Jumper remarked.
“But we dew knot need to cross it,” Wenda said. “We are south of it, and so is the Good Magician’s Castle.”
“Then we should have no problem,” Hilarion said.
Wenda wished Angela or Meryl had said it, because then Ida could have agreed and made it so. As it was, they were at some subtle unexplained risk. Wenda was developing a distaste for that sort of thing, especially after Scoop Valley. All she wanted at this point was to deliver the Knot and be done with it.
The path entered a cultivated region with many types of vegetables growing. Someone was maintaining a garden. In fact there was a woman working there, watering a section. She looked up as they passed.
“Why, it is Princess Ida!” the woman exclaimed.
“The Maiden Taiwan!” Ida responded. “I had no idea you lived here!”
“Oh, I do, along with my sisters Japan and Mexico,” Taiwan said. “We generally prefer privacy, so our domicile is invisible and partly hidden in the Gap. But we know you, Ida, and have admired your sorceries for decades. I would recognize that orbiting planet anywhere.”
And of course that did identify Ida. The Maiden Taiwan evidently had had no difficulty penetrating Ida’s disguise. That suggested there was something special about her.
Could she be one of the Maidens Eve had warned them about? Yet surely a friend of Ida’s would not be any trouble.
“I am glad to see you again, Taiwan,” Ida said politely. “I gather this is what you do in the time you are not married to Magician Humfrey.”
“That is correct. Humfrey rescued five and a half of us from Hell. Actually I was just visiting the others at the time, having established my own base elsewhere. But he does need someone to tend to him. After all, he is 177 years old. He covers it up with spot doses of youth elixir, but he does get grumpy and forgetful. He can’t even keep track of his socks.”
“And how old are you, Taiwan?” Ida inquired gently.
“One hundred and seventy-six. But age wears better on a woman.”
“One hundred and seventy-six!” Wenda exclaimed, astonished. “Yew look thirty!”
“And who do you think handles Humfrey’s supply of youth elixir?” Taiwan asked archly. “None of us look our age.” She returned to Ida. “We must catch up on old times. Come, you and your party, accept our hospitality this day and night. We have excellent accommodations.”
“But we are on our way to the Good Magician’s Castle now,” Wenda protested. “We wood knot want to impose.”
“I insist,” Taiwan said, and there was something in her tone that hinted slightly of her age and more than slightly of her iron will. They were going to visit with her, like it or not.
Wenda sighed. She was beginning to understand Princess Eve’s quiet amusement. As a neighbor, she must have experienced this. Foes could be fought, but not well-meaning friends.
Jumper tried to intervene. “As you can see, I am not human. And the Knot we are transporting is not at all nice. You would not want it in your home.”
Taiwan oriented on the Knot. “Fascinating,” she breathed. “Genuine petrified reverse wood. I must study this.”
Which was worse. They were evidently stuck for it.
Taiwan ushered them into her invisible house. As a courtesy, she waved her hand, and the walls appeared, scintillating in pastels. It was a mansion with many levels, far more elaborate than anything short of a palace. How could an incidental part-time wife manage this?
They rolled the wagon into an attached shelter and closed it in. The Knot would be secure for the duration.
“And here are my sisters, the Maidens Japan and Mexico,” Taiwan said as two more women of her seeming age appeared. “We share the residence compatibly. Now come and settle in, and we will exchange life histories.”
Life histories! That would take something short of forever. “No need!” Wenda said desperately.
“I am sure each of you has a fascinating story,” Taiwan said, settling them in couches. For Jumper there was a weblike structure he could cling to with all eight legs. She was being a good hostess.
Soon they were eating delicious snacks and telling their stories. The three Maidens were enthusiastically fascinated, even applauding at the more intriguing parts, such as when Jumper had encountered the Demoness Eris and married her, and the way Wenda had been saved by the Demoness because of friendship, and then seen Eris put on Demon trial for interference, and Meryl’s finding Merwyn. Wenda had to admit that their stories did seem more interesting when told to this rapt audience.
There was a curious turn when Hilarion recited his search for his betr
othee. “I remember,” Taiwan said. “You passed by here, and kissed all three of us. We didn’t have the heart to tell you how old we were. We could not possibly be the one for whom you search. But you do kiss well, and we enjoyed it. You were a perfect guest, very courtly.”
“I do not remember this,” Hilarion said, disconcerted.
“I understand you had a later brush with a forget whorl. That would account for it.”
“It would,” Hilarion said. “When was this? Last year?”
“More like a decade ago. You have had a long search.”
Hilarion was silent, obviously perplexed. Wenda could appreciate why. He had been searching for a decade?
Then it was the Maidens’ turn. And again Wenda had to admit it was a most interesting personal history. She closed her eyes and saw the three Maidens as they had been historically.
Once upon a time in Mundania there lived three beautiful ladies who were also extremely bright and shared a love of science, specifically physics, chemistry, and computer science. But apart from their passion for technology, their lives were miserable. Because they were beautiful, boys and then men were constantly seeking their company. The boys and men hardly cared about their minds or the content of their character; they simply wanted to get their hands on those bodies. Especially their upper fronts and lower backs. This annoyed the Maidens, for no reason they could get the men to understand.
Worse, it was a time in Mundania when women were not expected to have serious occupations, let alone scientific ones. They faced constant discrimination in a male-dominated world of school and science.
Then things changed, to a degree. The three of them had lived in their respective Mundane countries, but had applied for scholarships elsewhere, hoping to discover a more enlightened society. They received scholarships to attend colleges at the same university: Squeedunk, where Magician Grey would go years later. It was largely unknown, and trying to establish its credits, so was generous with grants to students showing real promise around the world. Including women. That showed how desperate it was.