Nada pondered, not completely at ease with this. She didn't trust goblins for one excellent reason: they were untrustworthy. It was true that Godiva had no wish to harm Che, but the moment he was rescued, she would probably try to spirit him away to Goblin Mountain. Still, it was hardly likely that one naga and one human girl could rescue Che alone.

"We have a whistle to summon other search parties here," she said. "Maybe—"

"The goblins aren't deaf," Godiva pointed out. "If they think others are coming, they will simply move up their schedule and boil their captives now. They don't know about us because we hid, but they would know if they heard that whistle."

She had a point. "We also have sparkleberries to summon help from the Good Magician," Nada said.

"The goblins aren't blind, either. They have sentries posted. That is why we did not dare camp closer to them; we would have been spied and wiped out. After we rescue the foal, then you might summon your help."

She did seem to be making sense. "But how will we settle who gets Che?" Nada asked. "We don't want him captive at Goblin Mountain either."

"We can settle that after we rescue him. We can hold a contest or draw straws or something, the loser bound to let the winner have him. In either case, he will be safe."

Nada looked at Electra. "What do you think? Can we trust these goblins?"

"I think we have to," Electra said, evidently no better pleased than Nada was. She handed the wand back to the gobliness.

"Very well." Nada faced Godiva. "We'll act together to rescue Che and the elf girl. Once we have them safe from the horde, we'll decide who keeps Che. But you have to understand that no matter what deal you make with the two of us, Che's parents will not rest until they have him back. They are winged monsters, and I think you could find the winged monsters laying siege to your mountain."

"We had really hoped that no one would know where he was," Godiva confessed. "But I think that once it is clear how well we treat the foal, the objections will fade. I think you would rather see him with us than cooked, and we would rather see him with you than cooked, so let's deal with the present situation and leave the other till tomorrow."

She certainly was practical! But so was Nada. "Even working together, we can't match the power of the Horde. We'll need a ruse or some device to get him out without their knowing right away. Suppose I assume small snake form and sneak unobserved into their camp, and untie him and lead him out. If they spy us, then you loft us high out of their reach with your wand."

"I can't loft two at once," Godiva said. "Not of your size."