"Everything's fine," Cimorene said. "We're halfway to the Great Southern Desert-" "About three-fifths of the way, actually," said Telemain.
"-and we decided to stop for the night. How are things at home?"
"I caught a couple of wizards prowling around the forest right after you left," Mendanbar said. "You can tell Telemain that his wizard-melting spell works just fine."
"Kazul will be disappointed," Cimorene said. "We haven't seen any traces of wizards, and I think she's been hoping for a good fight."
"Well, tell her to be careful if you do run across them," Mendanbar said. "One of the ones I melted was carrying dragonsbane."
"Oh, dear. Maybe I should send Kazul home."
"You can try."
They both paused. In the brief silence, Morwen caught Telemain's eye and nodded toward the far side of the clearing. Telemain looked puzzled, then suddenly his expression changed and he rose hastily and joined her.
"We might as well give them a few moments' privacy," said Morwen when they were out of earshot. "Unless you have to stay nearby to maintain the mirror spell?"
"No, the spell is self-maintaining once it's established," Telemain said.
"If someone wants to make another call, I'll have to reset everything, but she and Mendanbar can talk as long as they like without worrying about any sudden termination."
Trouble appeared around the trunk of a pine and leaned against it, scratching his back against the bark. "Well, I hope they don't go on much longer. You wouldn't believe how mushy they're getting."
"I don't want to hear about it," Morwen said.
"What's that?" Telemain asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Only a cat's usual refusal to let morals interfere with satisfying his curiosity," Morwen said. "Don't ask. It only encourages him."
Fortunately, Cimorene and Mendanbar did not chat for very much longer.
Later, when Cimorene reported the conversation to Kazul, the dragon refused to consider leaving.
"I want some wizards, and one way or another I am going to get them," Kazul said. "If I don't go on to the central office of the Society of Wizards, I'll go back to the Enchanted Forest and hunt up a few of them there, dragonsbane or no dragonsbane."
"I don't think that's necessary," Cimorene said quickly. "Mendanbar seems to have everything under control."
"For now," said Scorn.
Not for the first time, Morwen was glad that Cimorene and Telemain, at least, could not understand what her cats were saying.
The next morning, much to Morwen's relief, Telemain appeared to have recovered: Without tiring, he walked briskly to and from the stream to wash up, and his color was nearly normal, After breakfast, he arranged everyone to his satisfaction and muttered the transportation spell.
They materialized on a sunny, grass-covered hillside, and as soon as their feet were firmly planted, Telemain sat down.
"Telemain?" Morwen said with concern. The magician looked a little gray.
"I'm all right," Telemain said. "I just need a minute to catch my breath."
Killer's long blue ears pricked up. "How long a minute? Have I got time for a snack? Because I think I smell a patch of clover off to the left there, and I'm hungry."
"I don't know what you're complaining about," Kazul said. "You had plenty of breakfast. Four cheese sandwiches aren't much of a meal for a dragon."
"Five," said Trouble.
"Pine needles are not very filling," Killer said with dignity.
"Besides, I want to see what the clover is like outside the Enchanted Forest. I may not get the chance again."
Flicking a look at Telemain, Morwen said, "Go ahead, Killer. Just don't get out of sight."
Killer ambled off, his hooves just grazing the tips of the waving grasses.
"What a good thing you got him stabilized," Morwen said to Telemain.
"Otherwise he'd be walking around Kazul's head by now."
"It would serve him right," Scorn said, switching her tail. "That idiot rabbit is worse than Fiddlesticks."
"Nobody's worse than Fiddlesticks," said Trouble.
Scorn gave him a green glare, then bounded over to Kazul. Two seconds later, both cats were perched on the dragon's back, basking in the sun.
Smiling slightly, Morwen found a sun-warmed rock and sat down.
Cimorene joined her at once, and though Telemain gave them both a suspicious frown, he did not comment.
"It's so nice to be able to just sit down, without worrying about what you're sitting on," Cimorene said. "In the Enchanted Forest, you have to be careful that you don't land on someone who's been transformed into a flower or a rock."
"Or sit on something that will transform you into a flower or a rock," Telemain added. He appeared to have his breath back, but he still looked a little pale so Morwen did not suggest that they continue.
The drowsy silence was broken by an earsplitting bray. "Eee-augh! Go away!" yelled Killer. "Morwen said I could eat this, and I'm going to. Leave me alone!"
Morwen looked up. The curve of the hill hid the donkey from sight, along with whatever he was shouting at.
"Blast that creature," Morwen muttered, getting to her feet. "I told him to stay in sight. No, you stay here, Telemain," she added as the magician started to follow. "There's no need to let him inconvenience both of us."
Nodding, Telemain settled back.
He must really be tired, or he'd disagree, Morwen thought. Perhaps I can get Kazul or Cimorene to override his objections to staying here, or-no, it will be better if Trouble gets conveniently lost for a few hours. I'll have to speak to him as soon as I'm done with Killer.
As she came around the hill, she saw a tall, grayhaired man in baggy blue overalls with a length of rope in one hand and an empty bucket in the other. Standing at the far edge of the clover patch, he stared expressionlessly at Killer and Morwen.
"This your donkey, ma'am?" the man asked.
"Not exactly," Morwen said. "What seems to be the problem?"