Geis of the Gargoyle (60 page)

"Put it back in the cubby, and let's go home," Mentia said.
 
"We are finished here."

Gayle sniffed the water.
 
"It's pure," she said.
 
"The geis of the gargoyle has been lifted."

"That means that we are free to do whatever we want," Gary said, exchanging a significant glance with her.
 
He was starting to feel better.
 
"When I regain my true form."

"Yes," she said demurely.

18

RETURN

They returned the way they had come, wending their way through the barrens of Hinge to the forest.
 
Gary kept looking around, hoping to glimpse one more glimpse of the magnificence that was the bygone folding city, but that wonderful image was gone.

"The philter may have been a selfish demon," Iris said, "but it did craft a lovely vision."

"I'm almost sorry we had to harness it," Hiatus said.
 
"It had a lot of personality, for a simple object."

"It was a demon among demons," Mentia said.
 
"I can admire it, now that I'm not fighting it."

The others nodded agreement.
 
They had done what they had to do, but the fruit of their victory seemed dull.
 
Gary was relieved to know that he was not the only one to feel some respect for their vanquished and harnessed opponent.

They followed Jethro's footprints until they reached the fallen giant.
 
He was now sitting up.
 
"I think you must have accomplished something," he said.
 
'The madness feels different."

"It is being confined," Mentia explained.
 
"It will retreat slowly to its former boundary, and remain there."

"That is good news," the giant said.
 
"Any day now I shall heave myself the rest of the way up and try to blunder back to Xanth proper."

They wished him well and went on.

Next they came to Desiree Dryad and her tree.
 
The two were still in sad state, but she looked more cheerful than before.

Hiatus approached her.
 
"I can help your tree," he said.

"I know."

"You know?"

"I had this weird dream of you, being in the middle of a strange ancient city," she said.
 
"And in my dream I called myself Desi, and I-" She paused, looking modestly pained.
 
"I think you are a nicer person than I thought before, steadfast and true, and if you would like to remain here-"

"First let me mend your tree," he said.
 
He bent to its base, and concentrated, and round roots sprouted, displacing the square ones.
 
Almost immediately the tree brightened, its leaves uncurling and turning green.
 
The roots were performing.

As the tree recovered, so did Desiree.
 
She went rapidly from haggard to plain to radiant.
 
By the time Hiatus straightened up from his exertion of magic, she was the very loveliest of ladies.
 
And as he turned to face her, she stepped into his embrace and kissed him.
 
Little red hearts flew out and dissolved, making the scene around them rose-colored.

"Hiatus has his reward," Mentia said.
 
"And I think he likes it as well as anything the philter offered him."

The others agreed.
 
They walked on, knowing that they would not be missed.

They found Richard and Janet, and explained that the madness would be retreating, but it would take time.
 
The two were reassured.
 
"And I think Hiatus and Desiree will marry," Ins said wisely.
 
"I am sure they will want you to visit."

They passed Castle Zombie and informed Millie the Ghost of her son's success.
 
Millie was duly gratified.

In due course they reached the golem household.
 
Surprise immediately reverted to golem size and leaped into the embrace of her mother.

"But is she-?" Grundy inquired cautiously.

Iris looked sober.
 
"I know this will come as a regret to you, but Surprise discovered that she can perform each magic talent only once.
 
She is determined not to waste any more magic.
 
So she will be very restrained.
 
In fact, she is apt to become a distressingly normal child, except in emergencies."

Grundy considered.
 
"No more wild magic? No more out-of-control effects? That is a regret." But somehow he did not seem unhappy.

Rapunzel grew to normal human size and brought the child to them in turn.
 
Surprise gave them each a tiny hug.
 
"Thanks for the great adventure," she told Gary.
 
"We must do it again sometime." Then she dissolved into a naughty titter.
 
She was definitely normal.

"That reminds me," Iris said.
 
"Surprise will tell you a fantastic tale that you will find almost impossible to believe.
 
But you must make the effort, for it is true."

They made their way to the Brain Coral's Pool, promising the figgle nothing but giving it a fig at the end.
 
As they approached the pool.
 
Magician Trent came out to meet them.

"When I was twenty-three the first time, my romance was bad," Iris said.
 
She looked very determined and feminine and appealing, which was odd because she was using no illusion at all.
 
She had evidently come to a significant decision.
 
"This time I'm going to make it good." And she put her arms around Trent and shoved him into the pool.
 
They sank together without a splash, kissing as they disappeared.

"Ah, the follies of youth," Mentia remarked.
 
"It's a good thing that we who are many centuries old aren't like that." But she looked somewhat wistful.

"Are you really that dissatisfied with the situation of your better half?" Gary inquired.

"After seeing how much you living folk enjoy romance, I'm beginning to wonder," the demoness confessed.

"Why not go back and try it, then?" Gayle asked.

Mentia shrugged, her shoulders passing along the length of her body in her old, slightly crazy, way.
 
"Maybe I will.
 
But look, you illustrious animals-if you ever go out on another mad adventure-"

"We'll be sure to invite you along," Gary said.

"Thank you." The demoness vanished.

Magician Trent emerged from the pool.
 
His hair was disheveled and there were kisses all over his face.
 
"I don't think I properly appreciated my wife before," he remarked.
 
"Youth is intriguing.
 
I discover a new horizon of emotion and experience ahead, and am most interested in exploring its avenues.
 
But there is something I have to do first." He gestured, and suddenly Gary had his natural body back.
 
He was a gargoyle again.

"Oh, at last!" Gayle cried.
 
"Now we can do it."

"Now we can do it," Gary agreed.
 
There was no need to discuss what it was; some things were inherent.
 
"Thank you.
 
Magician Trent!"

"Have a nice time," the Magician said, as a female hand emerged from the water to haul him back under.
 
"I'm sure

I will."

Gary and Gayle made their way to Castle Roogna, a place neither of them had seen before.
 
On the way they encountered a militant woman.
 
"You! Gargoyle!" the woman cried.
 
"I have a score to settle with you!"

It was Hannah Barbarian.
 
Was it possible that-?

"I had the weirdest wildest dream, surely brought by a night mare with the croup," Hannah said.
 
"You were in manform, and I-ugh!"

It was possible.
 
"I'm sure you could never be a seductive handmaiden," Gary said.

"You had better believe it! Nothing like that could ever happen." She marched off.
 
Then she paused, as if thinking of something, but Gary and Gayle were already bounding on their way.

In due course they reached Castle Roogna.
 
There was Princess Electra coming out to meet them.
 
Gary knew it was her, because she wore blue jeans and braids and looked innocently unprincessly.
 
"You'll never believe what I dreamed!" she said.

"We believe," Gary and Gayle said together.

"But I would never do that in real life.
 
I don't even have a battery to charge."

"Of course not."

"And according to the magic tapestry, Xanth has been saved from madness and the geis of the gargoyle has been abated."

"Yes," Gary agreed.

"And Wira sent a message from the Good Magician," Electra continued.
 
"We have your places ready." She paused.
 
"But do you really-I mean it seems like such inadequate repayment for such heroic service."

"It's what we want," Gary reassured her.

And so Gary Gar and Gayle Goyle took their places, and settled blissfully in for the next century.
 
On parallel comers of the roof of Castle Roogna, spouting pure rainwater to the ground.
 
The position of ultimate honor for gargoyles.