'It happened I had no hankering for transformation,'' Iris said, giving him an arch glance. 'You left quite a trail of toads and trees and bugs and things. I thought you had been exiled.'
'Times change, Iris. Didn't you observe us in the wilderness?''
'As a matter of fact, I didn't. That jungle is a dreary place, with quite a number of counter-illusion spells, and I had no idea you were back in Xanth. I don't believe anyone knows, not even Humfrey. It was the huge sphinx that attracted my attention, but I could not be sure you were involved until I saw you transform it into Bink. I knew he had been exiled recently, so something was definitely amiss. How did you pass the Shield?'
'Times change,' Trent repeated enigmatically.
'Yes they do,' she said, nettled at being put off. She looked at each of them in turn. Bink had not realized she could project her illusions so effectively, so far afield, or perceive things from such distances. The ramifications of the powers of Magicians and Sorceresses were amazing. 'Now shall we get down to business?'
'Business?' Bink asked blankly.
'Don't be naive,' Trent muttered. 'The bitch means blackmail.'
So it was strong magic opposing strong magic. Maybe they would cancel each other out, and Xanth would be safe after all. Bink had not anticipated this.
Iris looked at him. 'Are you sure you won't reconsider my prior offer, Bink?' she inquired. 'I could arrange things so that your exile would be revoked. You could still be King. The time is ripe. And if you really prefer the innocent look in women-' Suddenly another Chameleon stood before him, as beautiful as the real one. 'Anything you desire, Bink-and with a mind, too.'
That last little dig at the girl's stupid phase annoyed him. 'Go jump in the Gap,' Bink said.
The figure changed back to Iris-beautiful. It faced Chameleon. 'I don't know you, my dear, but it would be a shame to see you fed to a dragon.'
'A dragon!' Chameleon cried, frightened.
'That is the customary penalty for violating exile. When I notify the authorities, and they put their magic-spotters on you three and verify your status-'
'Leave her alone!' Bink said sharply.
Iris ignored him. 'Now if you could only persuade your friend to cooperate,' she continued to Chameleon, 'you could escape that horrible fate-those dragons really like to chew on pretty limbs-and be beautiful all the time.' Iris had claimed not to know Chameleon, but she had evidently figured things out. 'I can make you seem as lovely in your off phase as you are right now.'
'You can?' Chameleon asked, excited.
'The deceptions of the Sorceress are apt,' Trent murmured to Bink, obviously with double meaning.
'The truth is not in her,' Bink murmured back. 'Only illusion.'
'A woman is as a woman seems,' Iris told Chameleon. 'If she looks lovely to the eye and feels lovely to the touch, she is lovely. That is all men care about.'
'Don't listen to her,' Bink said. 'The Sorceress just wants to use you.'
'Correction,' Iris said. 'I want to use you, Bink. I bear no malice to your girlfriend-so long as you cooperate with me. I am not a jealous woman. All I want is power.'
'No!' Bink cried.
Chameleon, following his lead uncertainly, echoed: 'No.'
'Now you, Magician Trent,' Iris said. 'I have not been watching you long, but you seem to be a man of your word, at least when it suits your convenience. I could make you a formidable Queen-or I can have the palace guards on the way to kill you in five minutes.'
'I would transform the guards,' Trent said.
'From longbow range? Perhaps,' she said, raising a fair eyebrow skeptically. 'But I doubt you could be King after such an incident. The whole land of Xanth would be out to kill you. You might transform a great number-but when would you sleep?'
Telling blow! The Evil Magician had been caught before when he slept. If he were exposed before he could surround himself with loyal troops, he would not be able to survive.
But why should that bother Bink? If the Sorceress betrayed the Evil Magician, Xanth would be secure-through no action of Bink's. His own hands would be clean. He would have betrayed neither his country nor his companion. He should simply stay out of it.
'Well, I might transform animals or people into my own likeness,' Trent Said. 'It would then be very hard for the patriots to know whom to kill.'
'Wouldn't work,' Iris said. 'No imitation will fool a magic-spotter, once it fixes on its subject.'
Trent considered. 'Yes, it would be very difficult for me to prevail in such circumstance. Considering this, I believe I should accept your offer, Sorceress. There are some details to work out, of course-'
'You can't!' Bink cried, shocked.
Trent gazed at him, affecting mild perplexity. 'It seems reasonable to me, Bink. I desire to be King; Iris desires to be Queen. There is power enough to share, that way. Perhaps we could define spheres of influence. It would be a marriage of pure convenience-but I have no present interest in any other kind of liaison.'
'Well, now,' Iris said, smiling victoriously.
