"They had to flee north until Prince Dolph caught up to them," Metria said. "Then the horde had covered all points south, so they had to plan a route the other way around the Elements, traveling together. It seemed less risky. If the girls had won, the Prince could have taken the smaller party directly through the air to the foal's home."

"Trhoo," the owl agreed.

"So they are all traveling together," Cheiron concluded, "because all are bound to see Che safely to his destination."

"You got it, centaur," the demoness agreed. "Doesn't that make your tail feathers squirm?"

"Why does Goblin Mountain want Che?"

"I wasn't interested enough to investigate that."

"Fhalse," the owl said.

"Oh shut up, you odd bird!" the demoness snapped. Then, to Cheiron: "I just think you'll squirm more if I leave something to your imagination."

"Trhoo."

Cheiron knew he would not get any more useful information from her. "Thank you, demoness," he said. "I will take it from here."

"Aren't you going to go rescue your foal?"

"In due course."

"If you hurry, you can do it before they reach Goblin Mountain."

"I am aware of that."

Her demonic eyes glittered. "So?"

"So I'll wait," he said, wishing she would go away. But there was almost no way to make a demon depart short of an exorcism, and he lacked that talent.

Her eyes rounded in simulated surprise. "You mean you will let the nasty goblins get your innocent foal into their awful mountain, from which little short of all-out war will dislodge him?"

"Yes."

"But why, centaur? Isn't that foolish, even to your kind?"

He knew she was baiting him and getting her demonic jollies therefrom, but he had to answer. "No. It is a question of honor. A deal was made to save Che, and that deal has to be honored. So we shall rescue Che after that deal has been honored."

"But that will require a battalion of the most ferocious monsters you can muster—and then you'll have to dismantle the mountain level by level to reach the foal."

"Yes."

She shook her head. "That should be fun. I shall be sure to watch the show." She faded out.

Some show! But despite her cruel teasing, she was right: it would be one horrendous job to reduce that mountain, and it would expose Che to unconscionable risk. But what he had not told the demoness was that he had another way in mind.

It would be a while yet before the posse was assembled. Now he could relax, getting some necessary rest before the campaign began. As he saw it, the sphinx, traveling at normal sphinx velocity, would not arrive until evening. The night would not be good for an attack by flying creatures. So they had until the following morning to get there and get set up. Then they would see.

One thing was sure: Che Centaur was not going to remain prisoner in Goblin Mountain.