Five Portraits (23 page)

“I have,” Fornax agreed.

“To help us,” Win said.

“As before,” Myst said.

“Why?” Firenze asked.

“Because we would not have survived or escaped Storage otherwise,” Santo said.

“Tell us how,” Squid said.

“And who,” Win said.

“And when,” Myst said.

“When Squid swam across the underground river I enabled her to change her smell as well as her appearance, so the predators did not recognize her.”

“My smell!” Squid said. “I forgot about that! I did not have that ability before.”

“ When Myst floated under the Dungeon exit door, I gave her cloud mobility she did not have before.”

“That's right!” Myst said. “That's when I found I could do it! I thought I was just discovering more of my talent.”

“And later I enabled her to expand to a much larger size without losing control, so she could identify the invisible monsters in the gulf.”

“That too,” Myst agreed. “Thank you, aunt Fornax.”

“When Win blew the dragons away, I enhanced her power.”

“I could only do a light breeze before,” Win said. “Suddenly I could do Gale and Hurricane. I thought I just hadn't really tried before.”

“When Firenze needed to stop the fiend and dragons, I enhanced his fireworks to full hotheadedness.”

“That's when it happened,” Firenze agreed. “I wondered. I never got beyond fireworks before.”

“And me,” Santo said. “For this last trip. Suddenly I could do big, long tunnels without tiring. I thought it was just the natural development of my powers. But then I wondered. I tried to ask Aunt Fornax, but she wouldn't answer. Now I think I know why. She's not supposed to mess in.”

“I'm not,” the Demoness agreed. “I have been cheating. Nemesis will have
my
backside if he finds out.”

“And the Communing?” Astrid asked.

“That was my first gift, along with increased intelligence. They needed to believe in each other.”

Which explained the uncommon intelligence and judgment the children had showed. They were far beyond their ages.

“So you have been enhancing us all along,” Squid said. “Ever since you helped Aunt Astrid rescue us.”

“The rescue was a joint effort,” Astrid said. “We were exploring friendship, and believed that working together with children would help.”

“And did it?” Win asked.

“Yes,” Fornax said, her eyes closed.

“What do you want with us?” Myst asked.

Fornax looked at Astrid. “Must I answer that?”

“I think you must.”

“I want to love and be loved. To love all of you, and be loved in return. So that my friendship with Astrid can be complete.”

“But how would you expect us to be grateful if we never knew what you did?” Firenze asked.

“I did not do it for your gratitude. I did it because—” she broke off.

“You need to finish it,” Astrid said.

“Because I already loved you.”

The children gazed at her. “Don't you have a Demon Bet against Xanth surviving?” Santo asked.

“I do.”

“But if we survive and get adopted out, Xanth will survive,” Squid said.

“Yes.”

“And you will lose your Bet,” Win said.

“Yes.”

“You really do love us,” Myst said.

“I do.” She had been proving it all along.

Firenze considered. “Can we safely touch you, here in your home?”

“Yes, if you want to.”

The children pounced. Suddenly Fornax was buried in hugs.

“We do love you,” Santo said. “At least I do.”

“We all do,” Squid said.

“We just didn't know it,” Win said.

“Until now,” Myst said.

Now there were tears on Fornax's face. “May I kiss you?” she asked.

For answer, they started kissing her, all over.

Astrid watched, feeling the tears on her own face.

After a while the children's brief attention span moved on. “What else is here?” Firenze asked.

“Everything,” Fornax said. “Gardens, parks, playrooms, kitchens—”

“Eye scream?” Santo asked.

“A mountain of it.”

In little more than an instant the children were reveling in that mountain while Astrid and Fornax watched. “The boredom and loneliness are gone,” Fornax said. “The children have banished it.”

“They have,” Astrid agreed.

“But I can't keep them here. All that will remain is my friendship with you.”

“I can't keep them either,” Astrid said. “How I wish I could! But the friendship will remain.”

In due course the children, tired out from their activities, bounced on the playroom beds and sank into sleep, while the adults sat in large easy chairs. Only Santo delayed briefly. “I meant it,” he said to Fornax. “I wish I could stay with you.”

“Stay with me for a while now.”

He joined her on the chair, curling up on her lap. She put her arm around him, and he slept with his head on her shoulder. She looked as happy as he did.

This had worked out almost too well. Astrid had come to distrust anything that was too easy. Where was the catch?

Hours later, when they all woke, Astrid organized the children for the return. “Aunt Fornax has trusted you with information that could severely damage her among Demons,” she cautioned them. “You must never speak of it outside. In fact, don't even show the extent of your talents unless you have to.”

They nodded in unison. “We won't,” Squid agreed.

Then they entered the tunnel, blowing back to the Gap Chasm. The Gap Dragon was gone, having moved on about his rounds. All they had to do was make a new hole to the original campsite.

“Um, should we do that?” Astrid asked.

“Why not?” Firenze asked.

“It should be a longer trip back to our campsite. If we suddenly appear there, thanks to a huge new tunnel you make, that will reveal the extent of your talent. Maybe it won't make a difference to most folk, but a watching Demon could be suspicious.”

“I don't want suspicion,” Santo said. “It could get someone in trouble.” There was no need to say whom he meant.

“Why don't we walk home?” Squid asked. “We've walked plenty in Storage. We can walk some more in Xanth.”

“And see the sights,” Win agreed.

“Maybe some naughty ones,” Myst said, giggling.

They tackled the chasm wall. There was a small path winding up the slope, cut into the wall. It looked dangerously narrow, but they should be able to navigate it if they were careful. This time Astrid sent Squid up first, in her natural form, so that her sensitive tentacles could feel out the way and make sure it was firm. Then Firenze with a staff made from a suitable dead branch, treading carefully. Then Win, Myst, Santo, and Astrid. Fornax was along, but would not trek with them.

It started well. Then Squid encountered a long large snake going the opposite way. It was a serpent trail!

The snake, annoyed by their intrusion on its path, hissed and threatened them with a fang. But Squid imitated another snake and hissed back. Astrid wasn't sure what she said, but the other snake decided to yield the right of way.

“She charmed him,” Fornax murmured. “That's one clever girl.”

They reached the top. There was southern Xanth spread out before them.

“Ooo!” Win oooed. “A kitty cat!”

“Don't touch it,” Astrid warned, recognizing the species. “That's a cat-atonic. It stuns anyone who touches it.”

Win withdrew her hand, heeding the voice of experience. They were back in punny Xanth.

Fortunately that was the only danger at the moment. There was even an enchanted path nearby. That meant they could safely and comfortably travel without worrying about monster attacks. The children skipped along, enjoying it. It was quite a contrast to what they had encountered in Storage.

As the day faded they came to a rest stop. There were pie plants, a tsoda pond, assorted bedding and clothing trees, and a nice shelter. They could relax for the night. They feasted and washed and settled down for a story Fornax told about adventures in weird faraway lands like Earth. Astrid had to admit they were amusing. The Demoness was really catching on to getting along with children, and did seem to enjoy their company.

Fornax stayed with them for the night. “May we sleep beside you adults?” Win inquired as darkness closed in.

“Sleep beside whomever you wish,” Astrid said. “But not too close to me. You know why.”

“We know,” Myst said. Then she and Win lay down on either side of her.

Santo and Squid lay down on either side of Fornax. Astrid knew why: the one had had her life directly saved by the Demoness, and the other had taken a shine to her. That left Firenze, who was satisfied to sleep by himself.

Late in the night a voice spoke in Astrid's head.
Something is happening that we need to track.

It was Fornax, using her telepathy.
Do we need to get up?

No. We should stay asleep. But I will relay it to you. Someone is sending the children a joint dream.

That's suspicious
, Astrid agreed.
Is it a Demon?

I believe so. We must monitor it without interference, so as to know what is going on. Then we may know what to do.

Then the dream started, oddly, as of waking up. The children thought it was the real beginning of the day, not realizing that they were asleep. That was doubly suspicious.

The supposed morning proceeded normally, but in rapid motion, a kind of summary that went unquestioned by the dreamers. The children got up, leaving the adults asleep. Then they went outside.

There were five pretty horses waiting for them. One of them caught their eyes and made a little speech balloon over her head. Inside the balloon was not printed speech but the head of a young pretty human woman. “We are Day Mares,” she said in a musical voice. “I am Doris.”

“Hello Doris Day Mare!” the children chorused, delighted.

“We bring nice daydreams to people whose attention wanders,” Doris said. “But we have a problem we hope you can help us with. That is why we are appearing to you as we are, instead of delivering our dreams invisibly.”

“What can we do?” Firenze asked.

“We have run low on material for the sweetest dreams,” Doris said. “A shipment got lost, and we are in danger of running out. We need to get more, quickly, or many folk will suffer stupidly blank minds instead of nice dreams. That would be awful! The dreams are stored in Castle Innocent, but we can't enter it.”

“Why not?” Santo asked.

“Only children can enter Castle Innocent. Adults are hopelessly spoiled by things like the Adult Conspiracy. We mares are unfortunately adult. We know about things like signaling the stork and fading out at the end of life, and we have heard all the bad words. So we can't get in. But you children should be able to enter Castle Innocent and fetch out the perfect stuff of dreams. That will rescue us from failing our mission. Will you help?”

“Of course we'll help,” Squid said enthusiastically.

“Thank you so much! Then we will carry you to the castle. Do get on.” And the five mares lay down so that the children could mount their backs.

“But I don't know how to ride a horse,” Win protested belatedly.

“Don't worry,” Doris said. “You will be magically secured so you won't fall off no matter how fast we go.”

“That's good,” Myst said.

The children got on the five mares, and the horses stood up carefully. Sure enough, although there were no saddles, the children had no trouble staying on. Dreams could be wonderful that way, especially daydreams.

“And away we go!” Doris said, making a friendly little neigh.

The mares started walking. Then they trotted. Then they galloped. Then they flew without wings. The children stayed on, loving it. They looked like accomplished riders.

They zoomed with the speed of thought o'er hill and dale, past stream and meadow, leaping across verdant valleys and over high hills. Soon they reached the lovely Castle Innocent. It was girt with candy-colored pennants on rock-candy turrets sparkling in the sunlight. A tsoda-pop moat surrounded it, with many flavors of lollipops growing on its bank.

“How do we get inside?” Firenze asked as the smaller children drooled.

“The front door will open for you,” the Doris image said.

They dismounted and approached the castle. As they did, the drawbridge creaked down. Its boards were made of hard chocolate.

“Are there any cautions?” Sancho asked.

“Just one: don't eat anything inside the castle.”

“We won't,” Squid promised.

But Win wasn't satisfied. “Why not?”

“Because then you will not be able to leave it. It's a rule.”

“Awww,” Myst said, looking rebellious.

But Astrid, watching, knew that this was the kind of rule that existed in temptingly dangerous places. This was mischief.

They trekked across the moat. Firenze tried the handle of the door, and it turned readily, letting the door swing inward.

They marched on in. There were piled boxes marked DREAMS. They picked them up one by one and moved them to just inside the front door, which remained open. They weren't at all heavy; it seemed that dreams had very little physical substance.

Myst spied a little fragment of a chocolate chip cookie behind where a box had been. It looked wonderfully good. Who would ever miss it? She picked it up and popped it into her mouth, thinking no one would notice.

Don't do it!
Astrid thought, too late.

A siren wailed. The lights blinked. The front door slammed shut.

“Oh blip!” Firenze said. “Someone ate something.”

“FEE FI FO FUM!” the castle said. “SOMEONE DONE SOMETHING DUMB!”

“Who?” Santo asked, looking around.