of half a dozen things that might have gone wrong, but without seeing it myself I don't know which of them it was.'
'So do it again, and watch it this time,' Jack said. 'Hand me the honey, would you, Your Majesty?'
Mendanbar picked up the honey pot, which was shaped like a fat purple bear. Resisting the urge to throw it at Jack's head, he handed it over and said mildly, 'I don't think I like the idea of repeating the spell.
Last time it knocked me out for four hours, and I'm not willing to do that again just so Telemain can find out why.'
'Oh, that's easy enough to fix,' Telemain said. 'A few wards, properly set, and there won't be any backlash worth worrying about.'
'How much backlash does it take before you worry about it?'
Cimorene asked, sounding dubious about the whole idea.
'A three-day headache,' Jack put in before Telemain could answer.
'And that's only because if his head hurts he has trouble thinking about the wherefore of the whatsit.'
'That is a serious exaggeration,' Telemain said stiffly. 'And I don't anticipate that this experiment would result in any kind of prolonged effect, particularly if I set wards first. I have some idea of what to expect, you see, so I can customize the shielding spells to correspond to the specific variety of backlash.'
'It sounds good,' Cimorene said. 'I think. But what happens if it doesn't work?'
Telemain began a long, involved, and somewhat indignant explanation of why his shielding spells could not fail to work. Mendanbar listened with only part of his mind; the rest was busy thinking about Telemain's suggestion.
It looked to him as if the only way they were likely to get back into the Enchanted Forest was by means of his own magic. Telemain hadn't actually said he couldn't do it himself, but Mendanbar was fairly sure that was what he had meant. And from the way Jack talked, walking would take more time than they had to spare.
Even if it took Telemain two tries, or three, to figure out what had gone wrong with Mendanbar's transportation spell, it would still be much faster than walking. Of course, they could always rent some of Jack's wares, but after their experiences with the magic carpet, Mendanbar was not at all happy with that idea.
Repeating the spell would be a chance to find out more about the sword, too. His adventures since leaving the Enchanted Forest had made Mendanbar see just how little he really knew about his magic, and the sword seemed like a good place to start finding things out. The only question was, could the wards actually keep the transportation spell from knocking him head over heels again?
'Telemain, how sure of these shielding spells are you?' Mendanbar asked as soon as there was a lull in the conversation.
Telemain looked at him. 'Very sure indeed. I have just spent no little time and breath telling Princess Cimorene, here, exactly how sure that is, why I am sure, and how unlikely it is that I am wrong.
Obviously, you have not been attending. Do you wish me to repeat the entire explanation?'
'No, of course not,' Mendanbar said hastily. 'I'm sorry I wasn't listening, but I had to think for a minute.'
'And?' said Cimorene.
'And I think we should do it. As long as Telemain is sure he can keep me from being knocked out again, that is.'
'I am,' Telemain said, sounding faintly put out. 'I have been telling you that all morning.'
'Good,' said Jack. 'I like to have things settled. You sure you don't want a pair of seven-league boots for backup?'
'There are three of us and you only have one pair of boots,' Cimorene pointed out.
They finished breakfast quickly and helped Jack clear up. Telemain had some things to discuss with Jack, so Mendanbar and Cimorene went outside to give them a chance to talk alone. Mendanbar noticed that the worry line between Cimorene's eyebrows was back.
'What's the matter?' he asked.
'Are you sure about this?' Cimorene said. 'Doing the transportation spell, I mean. After what happened before…'
'I'll be more careful this time,' Mendanbar said. 'And Telemain's wards should help. Between the two of us, it ought to be all right.'
Cimorene did not look convinced. 'You're still taking a big chance.
There are other ways to get into the Enchanted Forest.'
'Not in a hurry, there aren't,' Mendanbar said. 'And once we get back, we still have to find Kazul. We can't afford to waste any more time.'
'I know.' Cimorene chewed on her lower lip, frowning. 'Look, you're the King of the Enchanted Forest . You shouldn't be taking chances like this just to help me out.'
'I like helping you out,' Mendanbar said. 'But it's not just that.
It's my job to take care of the Enchanted Forest . If the wizards have Kazul trapped somewhere in my kingdom, it's my responsibility.'
'You're not responsible for what the Society of Wizards does.'
'No, but when it involves the forest it involves me, too, and I have to try to put it straight.'
'No wonder you looked so tired when you showed up at Kazul's cave,' Cimorene muttered. 'Mendanbar-' The door of the house slammed.
Telemain came hurrying down the steps, carrying the wizard's staff.
'I'm sorry I kept you waiting,' the magician said. 'Are you ready to start?'
'Yes,' said Mendanbar.
'You aren't bringing that along, are you?' Cimorene demanded, eying the staff with disfavor.
'Of course I'm bringing it along,' Telemain said. 'I told you how long I've been looking for one. If I leave it with Jack, odds are he'll sell it to somebody before the day is out. He wouldn't be able to help it. Here, hold this for a minute while I set up the wards.'
With visible reluctance, Cimorene took the wizard's staff. She grimaced as her fingers touched it, as if it felt slimy and unpleasant.
At the same time, Mendanbar laid a hand on his sword and pushed a tendril of magic at the staff, to see whether there were any lingering spells, but he did not sense anything.
Raising a hand, Telemain began to mutter rapidly. Mendanbar watched with interest as the magician worked, calling up magical power and shaping it into a loose net that surrounded all three of them.
'There,' Telemain said at last. 'That should do it.' He repossessed the staff from Cimorene and looked at Mendanbar. 'Whenever you're ready.'
Mendanbar studied the net uncertainly. 'Is that all there is to it? Should I aim through one of the holes or through one of the threads?'
'Holes?' Telemain said. 'Threads? What are you talking about?'
'This net of yours,' Mendanbar said. 'The warding spell. Does it matter where I aim?'
'You can see the warding spell?' Telemain looked and sounded considerably startled by the very idea.
'It's not seeing exactly,' Mendanbar said. 'But I can tell where it is and how it's put together.'
'Fascinating,' Telemain said. 'Have you always been able to do that?'
'No. It comes with being King of the Enchanted Forest .'
'Does it?' Telemain's expression was all eager interest. 'Can you do it for any spell? Here, let me try a listening spell, and you see if you can spot it.
'I thought we were supposed to be trying to get to the Enchanted Forest ,' Cimorene put in pointedly. 'Can't you wait and experiment after we rescue Kazul?'
'Of course,' Telemain said. 'Do forgive me. I sometimes get carried away.' He nodded apologetically, but Mendanbar thought he sounded disappointed.
'About this net-' Mendanbar reminded him.
'Oh, yes, you wanted to know about aiming.' Telemain considered for a moment. 'It shouldn't make the least bit of difference.'
