Luck of the Draw (Xanth) (16 page)

Another person entered. Bryce sat up. “Hello. I am Bryce Mundane. I—” He broke off, surprised.

“And I am Anna Molly,” she replied.

“You’re a woman!”

“That was my impression,” she agreed, smiling.

“I thought you were my roommate.”

“I believe I am. You have a problem with that?”

“Yes, I have a problem. Unmarried men and women don’t room together.” He reconsidered. “At least they didn’t in my day.”

“Nor in mine,” she said. “Let me explain. My brother was selected as a suitor to the princess, but he’s busy at this time, so I unexpectedly substituted for him. I have no interest in marrying the princess, but I am representing him so that he can marry her if I win.”

“This is unexpected,” Bryce agreed.

“That’s my talent. I cause the unexpected to happen. Sometimes it’s voluntary; sometimes it just happens. So I was assigned to be your roommate. I’m sure we can complain to the management and get it corrected, if you wish.”

Bryce saw the pun, Anna Molly, anomaly. But he was no longer collecting puns. “I did not mean to imply any fault in you,” he said quickly. “It may be that they are crowded and lack rooms for all.”

“Maybe,” she agreed. “Certainly it is anomalous, but I have come to expect that. It occurred to me that there could be complications, since I’m sure all the other suitors will be male. I will manage somehow.” But she looked uncertain.

“Stay,” he said. “We’ll manage.”

“Oh, thank you!”

They talked, and he learned that her brother was Justin Kase, who could summon things that might be needed in the future. She had been talking with him when he abruptly received a summons from the Good Magician to become a Suitor.

“The unexpected,” Bryce said.

“Exactly. It can cost me friends.”

Bryce also discovered another element of her nature. She was thin but fit, no beauty but not ugly, with dark hair bound back. She wore a shirt and trousers, with solid shoes. An ordinary woman, except for one thing. She had one blue eye and one brown eye.

“Yes, my direct gaze is the first surprise,” she said, seeing him pause with the discovery. “It is disconcerting, I am told.”

“Yes. But not bad. My talent is related to my eyes too: my left eye sees ten seconds into the future. That was really disconcerting, the first time.”

“You do understand,” she said gratefully. “I’m glad I met you.”

“We’ll be together here only one night. Will you trust me not to look when you are changing clothes?”

“I am going to be among several males for maybe an extended period of time. I have schooled myself not to be prudish. Look if you want to, but don’t make a scene.”

“That will do,” he agreed. “Ditto here.”

“It has been a wearing trip. I believe I will wash up and change now.”

“Why don’t I take a walk down the hall?”

“Please, I’d prefer you not to. Someone less understanding might come in.”

“Point taken. Let me mention something else: in Mundania I was eighty years old. I think of folk your age as like grandchildren.”

She smiled. “That helps.”

She went to the lavatory, and Bryce lay on the bed gazing at the ceiling. He did see Anna as like a granddaughter, but his body was now also of that generation and he didn’t trust it not to react. So he wasn’t looking.

Anna emerged. Now Bryce looked. She had changed into a simple dress and let her hair down. Her body had progressed from thin to slender. She looked three times as feminine as before. “I like you better this way,” he said. “No affront intended. It’s that in my day girls seldom wore pants.”

“Nor in my day either,” she said. “But for traveling, and the Challenges, and all, pants seemed better.”

“I agree.”

“But for traveling with the suitors, which is better?”

“Pants, I think. Because there may be rough terrain, and a skirt—” He spread his hands. “Could be awkward.”

“Because at any time a gust of wind could come and blow up my skirt, and they would see my panties and freak out?”

“Yes. I freaked out myself when a demoness flashed me. It’s involuntary. So it seems better not to risk it.”

“Thank you. That makes good sense. What about for dinner tonight?”

“Stay with the dress. That way all the suitors will understand who you are.”

“I will. I appreciate your advice.”

Wira appeared at the door. “Dinner is served.”

“Oh, I didn’t wash up myself,” Bryce said.

“Let me help you,” Anna said. She fetched a washcloth and efficiently did his face. She definitely had the female touch. “You look fine.”

“Thank you.”

“Follow the blue line,” Wira said, and moved on.

They followed the line, which neither had noticed before. “I’m not sure it was there until she said it was,” Anna murmured.

“I agree.”

“You’re very agreeable.”

She thought he was trying to cater to her? “I will say so if I disagree.”

They came to what turned out to be a banquet hall. Different colored lines were evidently to guide the others. The four others were already there. Bryce and Anna took the last two seats.

The Gorgon appeared. “I will introduce you, Suitors. Tomorrow you will travel together, going on your several Quests. Stand as I name you, so that you can recognize each other. Piper the Musician.”

Bryce’s jaw dropped. Piper was a Suitor?

Indeed he was. The man stood for a moment, then sat down.

“Another surprise?” Anna murmured. “You shouldn’t have sat next to me. Too many anomalies.”

“You have a question?” the Gorgon asked her.

“She doesn’t; I do,” Bryce said. “I thought Piper had another interest.”

“I do,” Piper said. “But that’s interim, by mutual agreement. If I win the princess, that will be my future.” He sat down.

“The Demon Pose,” the Gorgon said. Her veil quirked. “Small d, apart from his formal name. D Pose.”

The demon stood. “My interest is in taking over the kingdom from within, displacing the present monarch.” He sat down.

Bryce wasn’t the only one surprised. This was an ugly ambition. What made him think that Princess Harmony would cooperate in deposing her mother?

“Arsenal,” the Gorgon said. “Combat expert.”

The man stood. He was stoutly constructed, with muscles to the tips of his fingers. “Don’t get in my way.” He sat down.

Bryce saw Piper smile faintly. He knew why; the man had no need to fear any ordinary man. Neither did the demon, small d regardless.

“Lucky.”

A feckless sandy-haired youth stood. “My talent is to be lucky for a set time.” He sat down.

Well, luck probably would count for as much as any talent.

“Anna Molly.”

Anna stood. “Yes, I am a woman, standing in for my brother, who is the real Suitor. I cause the unexpected to happen, beginning with my presence among you.” She sat. It was plain that she had surprised the others.

“Bryce Mundane.”

Bryce stood. “I’m actually an old man, rejuve—uh, youthened, not in this by choice.” He sat.

“Enjoy your repast, all,” the Gorgon said. Then: “Oh, one more thing: we don’t expect most of you folk to be apt housekeepers, foragers, clothing menders, or whatever, so we have a volunteer to travel with you and perform these chores: Melinda.”

Mindy appeared, looking dowdy. Bryce realized that this was deliberate, because she had not been that way when she danced with him. That surely made sense, in this company. “Just ignore me,” she said. “I’ll be there when you need me.”

Again, Bryce was surprised to the point of amazement, once it sank in. Mindy was coming along? She hadn’t said a word!

Now they fell to eating, with Mindy serving. She was good at it, having evidently rehearsed this role.

“I don’t think I am responsible for all your surprises,” Anna murmured. “That last surprised even me. It’s a relief not to be the only woman along.”

“If you are responsible, your magic is powerful indeed.”

She laughed. “It is mostly mischievous, I think.”

They finished the meal without much socializing. Bryce was covertly studying the others, trying to judge what kind of competitors they would be, for all that Wira had said they were not competing but helping each other. Wira seemed to be a nice person; she probably thought ill of no one. He was sure the others were assessing things similarly.

The Gorgon reappeared as the meal concluded. “We have no entertainments scheduled,” she said. “You will all need a good night’s rest, preparing for what may be an arduous excursion commencing tomorrow.”

There was a general murmur of agreement. In short order Bryce and Anna were back in their room.

“I’m glad I’m rooming with you and not one of the others,” Anna said. “I don’t quite trust them, while you’re a gentleman.”

“And you don’t want to be surprised in the night by someone who is unscrupulous.”

“Exactly. Maybe on the Quest I’ll be able to room with Melinda.”

It occurred to Bryce that that just might be why Mindy was added to the party. Still, she must have volunteered for it. What was on her mind? She had to know that there were bound to be frustrations and crudities along the way, things a proper girl would not care to be exposed to. Unless she had become so surfeit with puns that this was preferable.

“I know Mindy,” he said. “She’s a servant girl at Caprice Castle, where I stayed. She’s a nice enough girl.”

“That’s another relief.”

It occurred to Bryce that Anna was another nice girl he would have been satisfied to know better. Maybe when the Quest was done, and he had washed out, and she was free, he would look her up. If by that time he had gotten accustomed to the extreme difference in their ages.

In the morning they went down for breakfast. Anna wore her jeans, heavy shirt, and sneakers, with her hair bound back again, ready for the day. Bryce was surprised again by the thoroughness of the transformation; clothing really did make a difference.

“I know,” she said. “I look like a tomboy. That seems best.”

“Yes it does.”

The others were starting to loosen up as Mindy served them an excellent meal. “Any hint of the actual nature of this Quest?” Arsenal asked. “All I was told was that we are to search for what the teen princess most needs to help her govern effectively. I think she needs a good man, but that does not seem to be the answer.”

The others laughed sympathetically. “I think we were all told the same thing,” Lucky said. “I find it no more satisfying than you do.”

Lucky looked at Anna. “You’re a woman, or you were last night. What’s your take on this?”

“She’s sixteen,” Anna replied. “When I was that age, I wanted a captive demon to cater to my slightest whim, a cornucopia that would produce endless tasty nonfattening desserts, and to be three times as pretty as I never dreamed of being. I was pretty shallow. If she is similar, there’s no telling what she wants. It could be anything from a bonbon to a pet dragon.”

“Perhaps the real question,” Bryce said, “is whether we are to look for what the princess might want, or for what she actually needs, which may be something she has no present interest in, like discipline.”

“Well spoken,” Piper said. “As I understand it, she will choose from among our offerings, of whatever nature, and unless this Quest is unduly extended, she will still be sixteen when she chooses. So I would be inclined to err on the shallow side.”

“She did not seem shallow when I met her,” Bryce said. “Young, yes, inexperienced, yes, ignorant of the ways of men, yes, but she was learning visibly as we talked. She strikes me as essentially sensible, and she may honestly seek what she deems to be the most useful tool for effective governing.”

“Well spoken again,” Piper said. “I can see you’re not the dullest tooth in the dragon’s mouth.”

“I could be wrong,” Bryce said modestly.

“And you could be right,” Arsenal said.

“Maybe we need the luck to find something that appeals to both natures,” Lucky said. “Like a lovely gem she can wear, that also gives her the power to read men’s minds.”

“And who would have the luck to spy that gem?” Arsenal inquired wryly.

“And which among us would want an innocent girl reading our lusty masculine minds?” Piper asked. “She’d kick the whole lot of us out.”

Anna laughed. “Maybe my brother is smarter than I thought, having me substitute for him. That protects his mind, which I know is as degraded as any man’s, from premature review.”

“Except that she’d read your mind, and know the nature of his,” Lucky said.

“The answer is easy,” Arsenal said. “Don’t bring her such a gem.”

“But if we find it,” Lucky said, “are we going to leave it behind, knowing it might be what she most wants or needs?”

Arsenal nodded. “We might have to draw lots to see who has to bring it to her.”

The dialogue continued. Bryce found it edifying as an indication of the thoughts of the other Suitors. None of them were stupid or close-minded. The Demons seemed to have chosen well.

The Gorgon appeared. “The Quest will commence in an hour,” she said. “You have the intervening time to relax or make yourselves ready.” She looked at Bryce. “Rachel wants to see you.”

Arsenal looked at him. “You have a girlfriend?”

“In a manner,” Bryce agreed.

“May I come too?” Anna asked. “I’m really curious.”

“You can all come,” Bryce said.

They followed the stately Gorgon to a chamber where two grown dogs and three smaller dogs stood. “Rachel!” Bryce exclaimed, getting down to hug her. “Who are your friends?”

“These are our pups,” she replied.

“That’s right. It’s been a year for you,” he said, remembering. “You had time to—to have a family.”

“Yes. Woofer will take them to Caprice Castle. I will return to Mundania now. It is best.”

It surely was. “I’ll miss you,” he told her.

“Have a great Quest, Bryce.” She licked his face. Then she faded from view. She was on her way to Mundania.

Woofer and the pups headed off out of the castle. Bryce knew they would find Caprice, or it would find them. The pups would surely become great pun sniffers.

Bryce stood and turned back to face the others. No one said a word.