Piers, Anthony - Xanth 40 - Isis Orb by Anthony Piers

Author:Anthony, Piers [Anthony, Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Published: 2016-04-29T14:23:18+00:00

Chapter 10:

Air Griffin

They relaxed, glad to be reunited and with the second Totem conquered. But three Totems remained, for Air, Water, and the Void, and they were surely formidable.

“Which do we tackle next?” Hapless asked.

“Isn’t that for you to decide?” Feline asked.

“Actually it’s for the box to decide,” Nya reminded them. “It did for Fire and Earth.”

“Oh. Yes, of course,” he agreed, disgruntled. It was a familiar state; he simply wasn’t sharp at obvious details.

“But let’s not open it until morning,” Quin said.

They were glad to agree. They played themselves a concert, then foraged for their evening meal. There was a pleasant pool nearby where they could safely wash. The Region of Earth had become docile, once its Totem was won.

They settled for the evening, the two centaurs standing together, the two dragons resting side by side, and Feline with Hapless. A quest with six participants, maybe forming into three couples. But there was a lot yet to be accomplished, and—

“And there’s that other girlfriend you’re trying for,” Feline said.

He was put slightly askew. “Are you sure you’re not telepathic?”

“Fairly sure. I can tell when your focus is not entirely on me, and there’s not much else it can be on except the other woman. Men have small minds; when they aren’t on one girl, they’re on another.”

He was not completely satisfied with that assessment, but wasn’t sure he could refute it. “And I’m not trying for anyone else. It’s what the Good Magician said. It’s fate, maybe; I didn’t ask for it.”

“Two good girlfriends and maybe one bad one,” she agreed. “And the bad one fascinates you the most. Maybe I should just preempt the others, since I’m here first.”

What did she have in mind? He was intrigued. “Maybe you should.”

“I could seduce you, and you’d be mine. The others would be too late.”

She knew her power. “Yes.”

“But there’s a caution.”

“That fate will have its way regardless?”

“Make that two cautions. The second is that it could mess up the Quest. You might not continue if you already had your girl.”

“I suppose. But I still want to find my musical instrument.”

“Yes. So it’s not sure.”

“What’s the first caution?”

“That I’m not quite sure I want you. You’re sort of lunky for a human, and you like me mainly for my curves.”

She had him dead to rights. It was those curves that gave her the power to seduce him, if she chose to invoke them. He didn’t even try to argue. “Yes.”

“And you’re honest to a fault. I’m not used to that, in a man.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh shut up and sleep or I’ll kiss you.”

“But—”

She shut him up with a kiss. By the time he recovered from it, he was asleep.

“But I do like you more than is convenient,” she murmured, snuggling against him. Maybe he only dreamed that, since he was asleep. Regardless, she was worth dreaming about.

After their morning ablutions, they gathered around Hapless for the opening of the Box. He lifted the lid and they all peered in.

There was a picture of a horrendous six-headed griffin, with the words AIR TOTEM.

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