They came to the edge of a little jungle glade. There were four goblins and a well-damped fire. Beside the fire was a little tent. Nada realized that Che must be tied in the tent. Could she slither silently in behind and untie him without the goblins knowing? It seemed worth a try.

She resumed naga form. "I'm going in that tent," she whispered.

Electra nodded. She would wait here and spring in when her help was needed.

Nada became a small snake and slithered around the glade toward the tent. The goblins seemed to be eating their supper. She hoped it wasn't boiled centaur! She was relieved that the party was so small; she could probably handle it alone, in large serpent form. One of them was female, which made it that degree less formidable, because lady goblins were much less nasty than males. But it would be better to untie Che first so that he could bolt free while Nada kept the gobs at bay.

The funny thing was, she didn't smell Che or the odd elf. The closer she got to the tent, the less likely it seemed that either creature was here. What could this mean?

She reached the tent and slithered under its back flap. It was empty. The only smell was that of the female goblin. Evidently she was in charge of this party and had the best facilities.

But why was this little party of goblins camping out here, apart from the main mass? And where was Che? The mysteries were deepening instead of fading.

Nada slithered back out of the tent, disappointed. They would have to resume the trail they had been following before; this was only a diversion.

Then Electra sneezed. Nada knew the sound the moment she heard it, and hoped the goblins wouldn't.

No such luck. "What was that?" the gobliness exclaimed, jumping up so quickly that her long hair swirled about her body.

"It sounded like a human sneeze, Godiva," one of the males replied.

"I know that, Moron!" Godiva snapped. She pointed to the sound with a wand she had.

"Eeeek!" Electra cried, rising into the air. Nada saw her clearly in the moonlight, flying without wings. It seemed that the gobliness had magic—in fact a magic wand.

Nada had to act. She assumed monster serpent form and launched herself at the goblins.

"Look out, Godiva!" a goblin cried.

Godiva whirled. She spied Nada. Her wand whipped around. In a moment Nada was lifted into the air, while Electra dropped to the ground.

"What have we here?" Godiva asked, keeping Nada suspended in the air.

Nada changed to human form, still floating. "You have a naga," she replied, hoping that would set them back or at least take their attention off Electra, so she could do something. This magic wand was another surprise!

"Look at that body!" a goblin exclaimed, ogling her. The other two males stared similarly.