Isle of View
Isle of View
Piers Anthony
Contents
1. Chex's Challenge
2. Jenny's Journey
3. Electra's Exam
4. Dolph's Dilemma
5. Chex's Checks
6. Jenny's Jeopardy
7. Nada's Notion
8. Dolph's Direction
9. Cheiron's Chaos
10. Jenny's Jam
11. Electra's Empathy
12. Dolph's Diagnosis
13. Chex's Choice
14. Jenny's Judgment
15. Electra's Election
16. Dolph's Decision
History of Xanth by E. Timber Bram
Author's Note
About the Author
Eos Books by Piers Anthony
Credits
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher
Chapter 1. Chex's Challenge
Chex was desperate. Her darling foal, Che, was lost, and she feared the worst. He was only five years old, and though he had her lightening magic, his wings were not yet developed enough for flight. So he contented himself with extraordinary leaps, and was a happy little centaur—now inexplicably gone.
How could it have happened? She had been inside their cottage stall, using rushes to close the crevices that let the draft in. They were near the region of the Element of Air, and often there was some leakage of wind from it. That was fine on hot days, but chill at night. So she used the rushes, but she had to work quickly and pay close attention, because they were always in such a hurry. They would wedge into any place, not waiting for the right one. So she had concentrated and gotten the job done and somehow hadn't checked on Che for a while.
Now he was nowhere to be found. She had called to him and flown all around the glade, searching with increasing alarm. There was no doubt: he was not here.
Cheiron was away at a winged monster convention and wouldn't be home for another two days. She was almost relieved; how could she face her mate with the news that she had lost their foal? Of course she couldn't do that; she simply had to find Che soon.
She circled the region several times, peering down intently, but all she saw was forest around the glade. She had liked this region because it was private with the trees hiding most of what went on, but now they were hiding her foal from her. She had to get under the canopy of foliage.
She glided down and landed near the cottage. Then she trotted in a complete circle around the glade, looking for signs. The ground was pretty well scuffed in the center where Che had been prancing, but the grass remained green at the fringe. He must have wandered out into the forest, though he knew he was supposed to stay in view of the cottage.
She made another circuit, this time walking at the verge of the trees. Suddenly she spied a little hoofprint. She saw that it was headed out into the forest. He had come this way!
But why? Che knew the rule and had always been a good little centaur. He knew that there were dangers out in the deep forest of Xanth, such as dragons and tangle trees and hypnogourds. He shouldn't have walked out this way.