Piers, Anthony - Xanth 41 - Ghost Writer in the Sky by Anthony Piers

Author:Anthony, Piers [Anthony, Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Published: 2016-10-31T20:04:47+00:00

Chapter 10

Ptero

“Well, now,” Tartan said. “There’s Caprice Castle waiting for us. That’s what I call efficient service.”

“I shall be glad to meet my half sister Dawn again,” Dolin said. “I like her very well.”

“But are we free of the Land of Waz?” Emerald asked. “I don’t want to be the vicious Lizard again.”

Tara smiled. “Amara, what’s your name?”

“Not Doorthy,” Amara said.

“Doorthy?” Mera asked.

“We were caught in an idiotic parody crafted by the Ghost Writer,” Tara explained. “We all had stupid roles to play. Worse, the Ghost Writer wanted the Goddess to manifest in Amara’s host body and cater to his illicit passion. You freed us from that by sending us to the past.”

“I am glad I came through,” Mera said. “I don’t remember, as that was my later self.”

Tara paused. “Can you be here, if she’s here?”

“Yes. She is of what we call Reality Number Two, visiting Reality Number One, using a local host. The same way you and Tartan are visiting from Mundania. I am now here physically. I could not go physically to Reality Number Two, as I am physically already there. There is no conflict.”

“That’s good,” Tara said, looking as if her understanding was incomplete. “Maybe you can meet your alternate self and compare notes.”

“Perhaps,” Mera agreed. “It could be quite interesting.”

“But why is Caprice Castle here?” Tartan asked. “It must somehow have known we would be here, and come for us.”

“Princess Dawn must want to verify that we are safely back,” Tara said.

“Wait,” Tartan said. “There is room physically for only one particular person at a time? That is, none of us could be in any Reality if we were already there as natives?”

“Yes. Fortunately it’s not a problem in Reality Number One, because all of you are native or have native hosts. And you, returning there, are yourselves, with no conflict, unlike my situation in Reality Number Two.”

“Okay, no problem,” Tartan said, relieved though he was not completely clear on the clarification.

They walked the short distance to the castle main door, and Dolin knocked. After a generous moment it opened. An unfamiliar man stood there.

“We may have a problem,” Tara murmured.

“I doubt I know you,” the man said to Dolin. “But I think I like you.” He glanced beyond to the others. “And I really like the lovely ladies. Do come in.”

“We thought to see Princess Dawn here,” Dolin said.

“Who?”

“The proprietress of Caprice Castle. Didn’t she bring the castle here to intercept us?”

“There is no Princess Dawn here, nor has there ever been, worthy as she may be,” the man said. “I am Prince Drew, the proprietor of Caprice Castle.”

The group exchanged a furtive look. “We really have a problem,” Tara said.

“Oh, no,” Mera said. “We’re in another reality!”

“Please,” the man said. “I see there is a confusion of some sort, and it must be that Caprice brought me here to help abate it. Come in and sit down, and there will be refreshments as we get to know each other. Perhaps the problem will turn out to be minor.

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