Metria looked as if she were controlling a monstrous aggravation. It made Dolph's heart glad. "How else?" "How else, Sammy?" "Someone tells me to, and I do it." "When someone tells him to," Dolph reported. "Then tell him to find Nada Naga!" "Sammy, go find Nada Naga."

Suddenly the cat was in motion. "After him!" Metria cried, floating in that direction.

Dolph started to run, but immediately slipped in the mud and took a resounding spill.

"You're such a grab!" Metria called.

"A what?" Dolph asked as he hauled himself sloppily up.

"Hold, snatch, grip, seize, entangle—"

"Embroil?" he asked.

"No! Gear, wheel, engage, limited-slip—"

Dolph had heard about something the Mundanes used. "Clutch?"

"Yes! You're such a clutch!" Then she paused. "No, I'm not sure."

"You mean you're not going to insult me?"

"WILL YOU GET MOVING, DOLT!"

Oh. Dolph assumed red racer form and slithered at top velocity after the disappearing cat. He knew the demoness was annoyed, because she had gotten his name wrong. That was some satisfaction.

It turned out to be some distance. Sammy, evidently tired, soon slowed to a walk, but remained intent on his objective, and Dolph was glad of that. This was certainly a better way to find Nada than swimming down the river would have been, especially since they were going directly away from the river. The cat must have had a difficult journey to find Dolph, and now was traveling again.

That was an interesting talent Sammy had. Dolph had not known of many animals with magic talents. It showed that just about anything was possible.

But this business of a foreign elf coming to Xanth—that was something he had never heard of before. What business could she have here?

Another thing bothered him. They seemed to be heading for the territory of the Goblinate of the Golden Horde. Dolph had encountered Chief Grotesk and his evil minions before. If they had captured the girls—

He shoved that thought away and let it drift off behind him. Fortunately his thoughts seemed even tireder than he was, so could not keep up with his body.

Dolph was as tired as the cat looked by the time dawn approached; they had been traveling most of the night! But they must be getting closer to Nada; and with luck Electra and Che would be with her, and Dolph could rescue them all. If the cat's direction was right. It had to be!

There were sounds ahead. The dim uproar of angry goblins and some nearer crashing, as of more goblins forging through the brush. Nada must be running from the horde!

Dolph changed into fire-breathing dragon form and summoned his last strength. He leaped ahead of the cat to intercept the charging party.

He encountered a huge serpent. Behind it were several goblins! This was worse than he had feared to hope! But if Nada was in danger—

He inhaled, about to scorch the serpent's head off its body.