"Beyond Goblin Mountain," Godiva agreed. "But not far as we think of distance. He prefers to recline, because his strength is low, here, but he is in good health." Then, as they stepped close, she introduced them: "This is Bud, of the tribe of Flower Elves." The elf nodded. "And these are Prince Naldo Naga, Gloha Goblin-Harpy, and Electra, betrothed to Prince Dolph of the human folk." They nodded in turn.

Bud Elf looked surprised. "The human folk are allied with you too?"

"No," Electra said quickly. "They aren't in this quarrel, really. Just a few of us who know Che Centaur personally. Gloha and I are here on behalf of Cheiron Centaur to see if we can get Che and Jenny released before the winged monsters destroy the mountain."

"Who is Jenny?" he asked.

"Jenny Elf. She's—" Electra paused, realizing that this was another oddity. "She's not from an elm or from Xanth. She doesn't get weak away from her tree. She's twice your size, and her ears are pointed. But she's definitely an elf, I think."

"I should like to meet her."

"I will bring her here," Godiva said. She stepped out.

"How can you help the goblins, so far from your elm?" Gloha asked Bud. "I mean—"

"I am just here to arrange details," Bud said. "We shall defend one side of Goblin Mountain from intrusion by the winged monsters on that side. That will relieve the goblins of the fear of a flank attack."

It certainly would! The elves were small, but their strength and expertise near their elm was such that no monsters would pass that way.

"I never thought the elves would be in this," Gloha said unhappily. "But I suppose elves have to keep their word, and a covenant is a word."

"You are on the side of the winged monsters?" Bud asked her. "Isn't there a certain ambiguity in your position?"

"No. Che Centaur is a winged monster, and I am too."

"To be sure," he said, indulging in the very most circumspect of male glances at her petite body. Electra knew that glance; it was the kind no one directed at her.

While they talked, Prince Naldo approached Electra. "My sis-ter—where is she now?"

"Nada's with Cheiron," Electra said. "We joined with him after delivering Che here."

"You delivered the centaur here?" he asked, surprised.

"It was a deal. The Goblinate of the Golden Horde was going to cook him, so we joined forces with Godiva to save him. Then we had to decide which group got him, and she won. We don't want him here, but we didn't have a choice. It was—"

"A matter of honor," he concluded. "How well I understand. Tell me, how are matters between the two of you?"

"Nada and I get along fine. We just wish Dolph wasn't going to marry her."