it would be handy but out of the immediate way.
Telemain looked up, frowning. 'I haven't asked. Do you realize that this is the first opportunity I have had to observe a wizard in situ?
Of course, the magical connections would be clearer if his staff were a little closer.'
'You leave that staff where it is,' Morwen said. 'Fiddle, if either of them tries to go get it, stop them. I don't care how.'
'You don't? That's easy, then.' Fiddlesticks curled his lips back, showing most of his teeth. 'Did I do good? Does this mean I can have fish for dinner?'
'It certainly does,' Morwen said. 'And possibly a bowl of cream as well. Where's Scorn?'
'With Jasper, watching the staff. Do they get fish, too?'
'Yes, if they want it.' Morwen transferred her attention to the six-inch wizard. He had a sharp, angular face half-covered by an untidy brown beard, and he seemed a little young compared to most of the wizards Morwen had met. Not to mention short. 'If it won't interfere with your observations, Telemain, I'd like to ask this fellow a few questions.'
'Hmmm? Oh, not at all.' Telemain did not even glance up.
'Good. Now, wizard, who are you and what are you doing in the Enchanted Forest?'
The wizard drew himself up to his full height, which brought his head about even with Fiddlesticks's nose. 'I am Antorell, and if you know what is good for you, you will not meddle with me!' he said in a shrill voice.
'I might have known,' Morwen said.
'What's that?' Telemain said, looking up. 'Morwen, these readings are absurd. This fellow can't be very good.'
Antorell's face turned bright red. Morwen smiled. 'He isn't. This is Antorell, Telemain.'
'Antorell, Antorell. Oh. The son of Head Wizard Zemenar?'
'That's right,' Antorell said. 'And you'll regret-' 'Isn't he the one Cimorene keeps melting?' Telemain said. 'And shouldn't he be larger?'
Antorell's face became downright purple. Curious about the change, Fiddlesticks leaned forward, and his whiskers brushed the side of Antorell's head. The wizard shrieked and jumped away, the cat pounced, and bits of moss flew in all directions. After a moment, the rapidly moving tangle resolved into Fiddlesticks crouched over the wizard. One front paw, with claws fully extended, rested on each of Antorell's shoulders. Antorell looked terrified.
'He's the one,' Morwen said to Telemain. 'Very good, Fiddle. You may back up now. I don't think he'll do that again.'
'Fascinating,' Telemain murmured, his eyes fixed on the cat. 'Did you see the sparks, Morwen? He cast a basic warding-off spell, but it didn't affect the cat at all!'
Morwen frowned in concern. 'Fiddlesticks?'
'Well, of course it didn't do anything to me.' Fiddlesticks eased slowly off Antorell's chest and sat down very close beside him.
'Wizards don't know how to handle cats. I don't think they're very smart.'
'Get that beast away from me!' Antorell cried as Fiddlesticks raised a paw and flexed his claws.
'See?' said Fiddlesticks, and began washing wizard germs out from between his toes.
'Calm down,' Morwen told Antorell. 'Fiddlesticks won't hurt you.
Unless I tell him to, of course. What are you doing in the Enchanted Forest?'
'I won't tell you.' Antorell was plainly trying to sound defiant, but all he managed was sulky.
'Morwen?' Scorn wound her way around the far edge of the bush.
'How long are we going to have to watch this staff?. It's not doing anything, and Jasper wants to take a nap.'
'I'll be there as soon as we finish with Antorell,' Morwen said.
'What is it?' Telemain asked.
'Scorn wants the staff taken care of,' Morwen told him. 'Antorell-' 'That presents no difficulty,' Telemain said. 'If you'll just fetch it here, Scorn, I'll do it for you.'
Scorn gave him a long look. 'Dogs fetch.' She turned her back and lay down, her tail thrashing indignantly.
'That means 'no,' I take it,' Telemain said with a sigh.
'It does. And I told you I didn't want the staff anywhere near the wizard,' Morwen said.
'A proper spirit of scientific investigation-' 'I'm more interested in self-preservation. Study the staff later.
Antorell-' 'Ha!' said Antorell. 'You are too late! Behold!'
With a flourish, he raised his right arm. As he did, he began to glow.
Fiddlesticks pulled his head back in surprise, and the glow began pulsing, first bright, then dim. After three pulses, Antorell started growing. He gained an inch on the next pulse, two on the one after that, and then he had grown to a foot in height.
'Bother,' said Morwen, and grabbed for the bucket.
'Argelfraster,' said Telemain, and pointed at Antorell.
'Eeeaugh!' said Antorell, his expression changing from sinister to shocked. He continued to glow and pulse, but he was no longer getting taller. A puddle of brown goo began to spread out from under his robe where his feet should have been. 'No! Help! You can't do this to me!'
'Wow!' said Fiddlesticks. 'Look at him go!'
Morwen nodded, but she kept the bucket of soapy water ready to throw, just in case. Antorell was now melting faster than he was growing. In another minute, all that was left were his robes and the puddle of goo sinking slowly into the moss. Fiddlesticks edged up to it and sniffed, then backed away rapidily.
'What was all that noise?' Killer said from behind Telemain. 'Part of it sounded like another donkey.'
'No, it was a wizard, though in this case it's much the same thing,' Morwen said. 'You needn't worry. He's gone now.' She set her bucket down once more and gave Telemain a nod of approval.
'Congratulations.
It works.'
'Yes, and did you notice the echo effect on the size-amplification spell?'
Telemain shook his head. 'Remarkable. The theoretical ramifications-' 'Are very interesting, I'm sure,' Morwen said. 'How permanent is this?' She waved at the gooey robes.
'Not very, I'm afraid,' Telemain said. 'He'll be back in a day or two.'
Killer ambled over to the puddle. 'Is this edible?' he asked in a doubtful tone.
'No!' said Morwen and Telemain together.
'What an awful idea,' said Fiddlesticks, wrinkling his nose.
'What a mess,' said Scorn.
'Don't touch it,' Morwen said to Killer. 'With two spells on you already, you shouldn't take any chances with wizard residuum.'
'Oh,' said Killer. He looked at the puddle again and sighed. 'But I'm hungry. And thirsty. What do donkeys eat?'
'We'll take care of you in a minute or two,' Morwen promised. 'Finish up quickly, Telemain. We're leaving.' Beach or no beach, King Mendanbar and Queen Cimorene had to be found and informed as soon as possible. Morwen started back toward the clover patch to collect her broomstick.
'Don't forget about that staff!' Scorn called after her.
Getting ready to leave didn't take long. Morwen picked up the staff-and Jasper, who was still guarding it- on her way back to Telemain. She noticed with interest that the staff was over three feet long and expanding slowly. Apparently the shrinking spell was wearing off it even without Antorell's help.
When she reached him, Telemain was just stowing the last of his shiny instruments back in one of his pockets. 'Have we got everyone?' the magician asked.
'Everyone but the wizard,' Scorn said. 'And good riddance to him, I say.'
'Yes,' Morwen replied to both Telemain and Scorn. 'If you'll take the staff, Telemain-' 'I wouldn't do that,'Jasper said, jumping down from Morwen's shoulder.
