Xone Of Contention (6 page)

“I'll ask the second one,” Pia said. She had never thought of having children herself, but was becoming intrigued.

“Awww,” they said together.

“You are both half demons.” Breanna said. “How much of a soul do you have?”

“Which one?” Ted asked.

“There's a difference?”

“For sure.” Monica said, mimicking Breanna.

“Okay. How much does Ted have?”

“A quarter soul,” the child responded. “Half of Mummy's.”

"And how much does Monica have?'1

“A half soul. Half of Mother's.”

Breanna pondered, then brightened. “I get it. You're each half human, but Ted has a human father and Monica has a human mother. So Ted shared a half soul, and Monica shared a whole soul. Nada Naga's soul must have regenerated after she gave half to Vore. before the stork arrived.”

“Vore?” Pia asked.

“My daddy's Prince Demon Vore,” Monica said proudly.

“D. Vore.” Breanna murmured. “He has a notorious appetite.”

“So Monica has twice the conscience Ted does,” Pia said.

The little girl scuffled her feet. “I can't help it, you know.”

“You sure can't,” Breanna agreed. “Give me a hug, you darling creature.”

“Okay." Monica hugged her. Pia felt an unfamiliar twinge of envy. Not for the hug, so much as the joy Breanna evidently took in it. She evidently liked children.

“Ugh!” Ted said, looking disgusted.

“Now it's my turn,” Pia said. “What mischief is making you two feel guilty?”

Ted turned to Monica. “See? You gave it away.”

Monica tried to resist, but it was evident that her extra burden of conscience was too much. “We found something,” she said reluctantly

“What?” Pia asked.

“Nothing important,” Ted said.

Pia looked at Monica.

“But fun,” the girl said.

"That could be anything from a stink horn to a basilisk,.” Breanna muttered.

“What's a stink horn?” Pia asked.

“I'll get one!” Ted cried, and dashed off.

“You don't want it,” Breanna said. “Find out what they found.”

“What is it?” Pia asked Monica.

The girl slowly extended one hand. In it was a small glistening object.

“Beware,” Breanna murmured. “It could be something disgusting, like a slime ball.”

“What is it?” Pia repeated, realizing that the warning was serious. She knew that regular children could have fun with bugs and goop, and these were half demon children, surely worse.

“A locket,” Monica said grudgingly

“Let me check it.” Pia said.

The child handed it over. Pia inspected it. It was very light, only half an inch in diameter, on a silvery chain. She put her fingernail to the snap fastening.

“Caution.” Breanna said.

Yes. “Is there something bad inside” Pia asked the child.

Monica scuffled again, trying to resist her conscience. “No.”

Pia opened it. Indeed, it was empty. “So what's so special about it?”

The fight against conscience intensified. The child seemed ready to cry.

“Maybe some compromise,” Breanna said. “Dear, why don't you want to tell us?”

“Because you'll take it and we won't have it.”

“But it's not dangerous, to you or us?”

“Not,” the girl agreed.

“Suppose we make you a deal. Tell us about it, and you can keep it.”

“Okay!” Monica agreed gladly, holding out her hand.

Pia gave her the locket.

“It's magic,” Monica said. “It holds all of anything.”

“But it's tiny,” Pia protested.

“I'll show you.” The child grabbed a handful of dirt and poured it into the open locket. The dirt went in and disappeared. She picked up a stone that was triple the locket's diameter and crammed it in—and it fitted.

“How do you get the things out again, if they have disappeared inside it?” Pia asked.

“You just wish them out.” the child explained. “And you can wish them in, too, so what you have already doesn't fall out when you want to add something. You don't have to open it.”

Ted dashed back. “Here's the stink horn!” he called, holding out a horn-like object.

There was a terrible smell, like a festering zombie whale with ballooning indigestion. But Breanna saved the day: she grabbed the horn and shoved it into the locket. Then Monica flipped the lid shut. The smell dissipated.

“Awww,” Ted said, disappointed.

“But we'll have the stink horn for when we need it,” Monica told him.

He brightened. “Yeah.”

“But keep the locket closed, after this,” Breanna said. “We don't want that horn falling into someone's soup.”

Both children went into titillations of mirth. They loved the idea of such an accident.

“I hope we don't regret this deal.” Breanna said. “But that locket is the kind of thing children can really have fun with. It doesn't seem to weigh any more than it does empty.”

“It doesn't,” Monica agreed. “ 'Cause it's magic. I told you.” She dashed off with Ted, intent on finding more choice items to collect.

The adults resumed their walk. Edsel and Justin were waiting nearby, having their own dialogue.

“Look, maybe it's not my business—” Breanna said, pausing artfully.

“Go ahead and ask,” Pia said.

“I heard from Edsel that you two are married But when you—”

“I said we are associates,” Pia agreed. “Because our marriage is rocky, and we want to get the feel of separation, in case we want to divorce.”

“Divorce! I haven't heard that word since—since I left Mundania. It doesn't happen in Xanth ”

“Oh? What do couples do when they don't get along?”

“But they do get along. I think there's magic. When I marry Justin. it will be for ever and ever until we fade out.”

“How can you be sure of that? I understand he's somewhat older than you. Maybe his interests are different.”

“He's about eighty three years older than me,” Breanna agreed. “He's from another time, and he knows all about trees and everything else I never heard of. And he's diffident to the point of aggravation. But I love him. That's all that counts.”

“That's not all that counts ” Then, recalling that this sounded argumentative, she added “In Mundania.”

“Maybe that's the problem—in Mundania. If you lived in Xanth you'd never break up.”

“Even when the love is gone?”

“It doesn't go. It doesn't matter how different you are, once you love, you stay that way. If you're married.”

“I find this hard to believe. No offense.”

“Well, you're Mundane. No offense.”

Pia laughed. Breanna's attitude was refreshing. She wasn't looking for a quarrel, but she simply didn't take any guff from anyone. “I am Mundane.” she agreed “And I don't think Edsel and I are going to make it. We made a deal: we visit Xanth. and if that doesn't change our minds, then we divorce. But I want to feel what it would be like to be single, so we won't be acting married while we're here. I want us just to be associates, and we can date others if we want.”

Breanna shook her head. “That's weird. I can't imagine wanting to be with anyone but Justin. My only problem is I can't make it with him already.”

“You can't—?”

“Technically I'm under the Age of Consent, so I'm not supposed to know what's in the Adult Conspiracy. But I came from Mundania, and I already knew that stuff before I came to Xanth. So I don't think it should apply.”

“You're sixteen,” Pia said. “That's old enough.”

“That's what I figure. But Justin is of the old school.”

Pia considered. “You love him—and he loves you?”

“He does. You can love at any age, or love someone any age. You just can't do much about it, in Xanth. if you're the wrong age.”

“I appreciate your frustration. But you know, I was fifteen when I got together with Edsel, and we did plenty about it then. But now—the wonder is gone. I think we went too fast, too young.”

“You mean you're siding with the Conspiracy?”

“I wouldn't go as far as to say that. But it does occur to me there might be some reason for it, in some cases.”

The girl pondered a moment. “When you were fifteen—if you had honored the Conspiracy—would you be happy with him now?”

“Good question. I suspect things would me much the same, assuming we were married.”

“So what would you have gained, honoring the Conspiracy?”

In was Pia's turn to ponder. “Nothing,” she concluded. “And lost a lot of early fun.”

“So what do you figure I should do?”

“Take him.”

“I can't. All he does is kiss.”

“Face to face?”

“What else?"

“To use archaic terms you’re necking. You need to get into petting.”

“Petting?”

"Necking is above the neck Petting is below.”

“I know that! But I can't get into it, because—”

"I'll bet the Adult Conspiracy offers a bit of leeway in the in-between age. Why don't you try it and see?”

“But what exactly—if he won't—”

Pia realized that for all her professed knowledge, the girl had been stifled in Xanth, and lacked actual experience She had the concept with out the practical mechanics “Don't ask him, silly. Just do it.”

“Do it?”

“Get him alone. Maybe tonight. Take off your shirt. Hold his hand.”

“Hold his hand?"

“Like so ” Pia glanced around to make sure they were unobserved, then took Breanna's hand and put it against Pia's clothed breast.

“Oho!” Breanna smiled with wild surmise.

“I guarantee he won't ignore you. See how far the Conspiracy will bend. I think you will at least make some progress."

"For sure, Breanna breathed raptly Pia felt good too, it was nice being reminded of the joys of early discovery.

They came to the first of the planned tour exhibits a tangle tree. From a distance the thing looked like a drooping live oak. But closer in, she saw that it actually had long hanging green tentacles

“You don't want to get close to such a tree,” Justin said.

"But there's a nice little path leading right to it,” Pia said

“Yes. But observe.” Justin picked up a small fallen branch and threw it at the tree.

The tentacles came to life. They caught the branch, wrapping around it and snapping it in two. Then they carried the pieces down to the trunk, where a huge wooden mouth opened. It chomped on a branch—then spat it out, evidently disgusted. The two children chortled together, loving it’s frustration.

“Trees don't like to eat trees.” Justin said “They regard it as can canabalism. I speak from experience.”

"You were a tangle tree?” Pia asked, horrified.

“No, merely an ordinary tree.” he said ”Sunlight and soil sufficed. Until I met Breanna. But the birds and the bees kept me informed of the appetites of other tree species."

“I don't think the birds and the bees informed you enough about flesh folk,” Breanna said.

Justin looked uneasy “Perhaps in two years—”

“Yeah ” But the girl was plainly nettled. Pia could see that she had a legitimate complaint. Two years was an eternity to that age.

They resumed their walk along the path “Next we shall pass a dragon's lair,” Justin said "Don't step out of the enchanted section.”

“Why should we want to?” Edsel asked

“The dragon's smart. It will try to fool you.”

Edsel shrugged, figuring he was foolproof. That was part of what nettled Pia about him.

When they reached the lair, the dragon charged out snorting fire and smoke. Pia stepped back, but Breanna caught her elbow. “Don't cross the line, even on the far side It will hurdle that path and came after you."

“But the fire—”

“Can't touch you on the path.”

Now she saw that there was no smoke crossing the path It flattened out as if up against an invisible barrier, and wafted over the top well above head height. This was truly a protected section.

Meanwhile the two children were making faces at the dragon. Realizing that no one was going to step out of the safe section, the dragon snorted one last blast and retreated into its lair, as disgusted as the tangle tree had been.

“I am beginning to appreciate the enchanted path.” Pia said

“Folk who know the dangers can go where they want,” Breanna said “But visitors are restricted for their own safety.”

The day was getting late “Perhaps we should camp, and visit the centaurs tomorrow.” Justin suggested “There is a suitable spot nearby.”

They went to it. It was a park like section, marked by a colored line so that no one would accidentally step out of the safe area.

"This is beautiful,” Pia said. She hated to admit it, but this Land of Xanth was beginning to get to her. It was more interesting than Mundania, and it seemed quite real. Her body felt better than it had, as if she had taken a pill to invigorate her, rather than just a shot. She had had some doubt that she had actually changed bodies with Chlorine, but was becoming reassured.

“Yes. we try to keep the facilities pristine,” Justin said. “We want all travelers to be both safe and satisfied.“ He paused. ”Will the two of you be sharing a nest?"

“Nest?” Pia asked, confused.

Justin gestured. There was a large, plush nest nestled in the triple fork of a spreading tree. “A roc bird helped. You may be sure it is secure.”

“But we are expected to sleep in a nest?” she asked, more amazed that dismayed.

Justin looked perplexed. “There is a problem?”

“Oh, that's right, I remember now.” Breanna said. “They use beds in Mundania. I didn't think of that. But it's very comfortable, and there's a canopy if you want privacy. Let me show you. Come on in." She climbed up a vine ladder and disappeared into the nest.

Pia shrugged and followed. The ladder was flexible but firm. She was conscious of the two men standing below as she reached head height, but knew she had pretty good legs, so didn't worry about it. When she got to the rim of the nest, she heaved herself over, lost her grip, and tumbled into the center of the nest.

“Fun, no?” Breanna asked. She was sitting on the far slope of the depression. “You can even bounce.” She demonstrated, and in a moment was bouncing high, as if on a trampoline.

“'Course you don't want to do that when there's a man watching; might show your panties.”