"It is true I do not know you well, and our relations with the Naga folk are not ideal."

Nada was getting to like Godiva better. The woman seemed to be playing things straight. "We found an offshoot from the Gap Chasm that we think will balk the goblins—if we destroy their bridge after using it. So if we can get that far without being captured or killed ourselves—"

"Wonderful! We found nothing; the horde seems to have scoured the region clean. We have been here for an hour, observing, fearing that you would not come. We believe the horde has the foal and elf locked in a hut together; there is a guard pacing near it. There are other guards elsewhere in the camp; if we took out one, the others would hear the commotion and rouse the rest. So we have been unable to act, but we fear they mean to do their thing at dawn."

"I can go in and free them," Nada said. "But it won't do any good, if the whole camp is roused."

"Agreed. So I think I had better distract them. It's a faint chance, but all we have."

"Distract them?" Electra asked.

"With a dance."

"How could a dance distract goblins?" Electra asked. But Nada had a notion, and gave her a let-it-be signal.

"When I do it, you slither in quickly and rescue them," Godiva said. "Perhaps you will get away."

"But what happens to you?" Nada asked.

"Oh, they will no doubt have a great deal of fun with me, before they kill me. But once the foal is safe, perhaps I can be rescued."

Nada was chilled by her realism. "Maybe we should summon our help now."

"And set off the horde for sure! No, we had better try it this way. If I don't make it, you must bargain in good faith with my henchmen for the disposition of the foal."

Nada sighed. She feared disaster for them all, but they seemed to be stuck with it. She turned to Electra. "If I don't make it, you must be the one to bargain. Stay clear, and lead the party to the crossing. Che will follow you if he sees you."

Tight-lipped, Electra nodded.

Godiva turned to the three males. "If I am lost, you support these two. If you win the foal, take him home."

The three nodded grimly.

Dawn was encroaching. But before Nada could go in, one who was evidently the goblin chief marched with a group of henchmen to the hut. The rescue effort was too late!

"We'll have to watch our chance," Nada said. "Maybe this isn't the end."

They watched as the two captives were led out. The gobliness was right: that was the biggest elf Nada had seen. Neither was tied, but the elf seemed to be gagged. That was curious. "Does she have spoken magic?" Nada asked.

"Not that I know of," Godiva replied.