Jewel jumped between Bink and Crombie. 'Don't you dare!' she cried at the griffin. There was the odor of burning paper.
For a long moment Crombie looked at her, his colorful wings partially extended, beating slowly back and forth. She was such a slip of a girl, armed only with the bottle of elixir; there was no way she could balk the magnificent animal. Indeed, her body trembled with her nervousness; one squawk and she would collapse in tears.
Yet she had made the gesture, Bink realized. This was an extraordinary act for a true nymph. She had tried to stand up for what she believed in. Could he condemn her because her courage was no greater than her strength?
Then Crombie rotated, extended one wing fully, and pointed. Toward the lake.
Bink sighed. 'Conjure him into the bottle,' he told the Magician. 'Do it right the first time. If you try to conjure me, you're dead.'
There was a delay while Jewel fetched the bottle from the edge of the lake, where it still floated. She had to scoop it up carefully, not letting the moisture touch her skin, then dry it off and set it within range of the Magician.
Humfrey performed his incantation. The griffin dissolved into vapor and siphoned into the bottle. Belatedly it occurred to Bink that Humfrey could have done the same to Bink, anytime during their battle-had he thought of it. The loss of those smart-pills must really have hurt! Yet it was hard to think of the obvious, when being stalked by a sword. And-the best bottle, the demon's residential one, had not been available, then.
'Now your turn,' Bink told the Magician, 'Into the same bottle-you and the golem.'
'The coral is reconsidering,' Humfrey said. 'It believes that if you knew the full story, you would agree with the coral's viewpoint. Will you listen?'
'More likely the coral is stalling until more of its minions can arrive,' Bink said, thinking again of the goblins. They might not get along well with the brain coral, but if some kind of deal were made
'But it knows the location and nature of the source of magic!' Humfrey said. 'Listen, and it will guide you there.'
'Guide me there first, then I will listen!'
'Agreed.'
'Agreed?'
'We trust you, Bink.'
'I don't trust you. But all right-I'll make the deal. I hope I'm not making a fatal mistake. Show me the source of magic-and not with any one-word riddle I can't understand-then tell me why the brain coral has tried so hard to stop me from getting there.'
'First, I suggest you imbibe a drop of the healing elixir yourself,' the Magician said.
Startled, Jewel turned. 'Oh, Bink-you should have been the first to have it!'
'No,' Bink said. 'It might have been the sleeping potion.'
Humfrey nodded. 'Had I attempted to betray you, it would have shown when the griffin was treated,' he said. 'You maneuvered to guard against betrayal most efficiently. I must say, even with your talent canceled out, you have managed very well. You are far removed from the stripling you once were.'
'Aren't we all,' Bink growled, hand still on sword.
Jewel sprinkled a drop of elixir on him. Instantly his wounds healed, and he was strong again. But his suspicion of the Good Magician did not ease.
Chapter 12
Demon Xanth
'On his way,' Humfrey said. Bink kept his sword drawn as he followed the Magician. Jewel walked silently behind him, carrying the golem.
'Incidentally,' Humfrey said. 'Crombie was not deceiving you. The antidote you seek does lie in the direction of the lake-but beyond it The coral could enable you to obtain it-if things work out.'
'I have no interest in bribes from the enemy,' Bink said curtly.
'You don't?' Jewel asked. 'You don't want the antidote?'
'Sorry-I didn't mean I intended to renege,' Bink told her. 'It's a matter of principle. I can't let the enemy subvert me, even though I do not wish to burden you with my love any longer than-'
'It's no burden, Bink,' she said. 'I never saw anything so brave as-'
'But since the antidote is evidently out of reach, there is no point in keeping you. I'm sorry I inconvenienced you for nothing. You are free to go, now.'
She caught at his arm. Bink automatically moved his sword out of the way. 'Bink, I-'
Bink yielded to his desire at last and kissed her. To his surprise, she returned the kiss emphatically. The scent of yellow roses surrounded them. Then he pushed her gently away. 'Take good care of yourself, nymph. This sort of adventure is not for you. I would like to believe that you are safe and happy with your gems and your job, always.'
'Bink, I can't go.'
