"They wanted to burn our holt," Jenny agreed. "That—it's a tree we live in, but we don't get stronger near it, except that we fight harder to save it, because—"

"I think we have affinities," Bud said. "Perhaps, when this ugly business is done, you will visit our Flower Elm, Jenny."

"I—I'd like that," Jenny agreed.

"Now would you like to see the foal?" Godiva asked Electra. "Before you return to the surface."

Electra had almost forgotten her mission, distracted by the developments. "Yes, we'd better."

"I regret meeting you in this circumstance, Electra and Gloha," Naldo said.

"I feel the same," Bud said. "But perhaps a compromise will be worked out."

"I hope!" Electra said fervently. What would Nada say when she learned that her brother was on the other side?

Godiva led the way out of the chamber, and Jenny, Gloha, and Electra followed. Naldo remained, perhaps to talk further with Bud Elf. The naga and the elves, supporting the goblins—this changed things!

They came to another chamber, guarded by a male goblin. "Idiot!" Electra exclaimed, recognizing him.

"Hello, 'Lectra," the goblin said. "Who's your friend?"

"Gloha, meet Idiot," Electra said, smiling. She had never liked goblins, but the females had impressed her, and the three males in Godiva's party had turned out to be all right too, once allowance was made for their ugliness.

"Hello, Idiot," Gloha said, smiling shyly.

"Open the door, Idiot!" Godiva snapped.

The goblin hastened to lift the bar. They trooped in, and the door closed behind them.

Inside stood another goblin girl, beside Che. "This is my daughter, Gwendolyn," Godiva said. "Gwendolyn, these are Electra and Gloha, from the surface. As you can see, Electra is a human girl of about your own age, and Gloha is a winged goblin girl of fifteen. Gloha has been here before, but you have not actually met before; she is my first cousin. They are here to verify the status of Che Centaur."

"Hello, Electra," Gwendolyn said. "Hello, Gloha."

Jenny crossed immediately to join Gwendolyn. "Yes, those wings of Gloha's really work," she said. "She's like Che, only older, so she can fly. A crossbreed."

"Oh, how nice," Gwendolyn said, a bit vaguely.

"I have asked Che Centaur to be my daughter's companion," Go-diva said. "As you can see, he is not being mistreated, and I believe they are getting along well."

Something was slightly odd here, but Electra couldn't pin it down. Gwendolyn seemed like a nice girl, and both Jenny and Che seemed to like her. But why did she need a winged monster for a companion? Why this particular one, who was bringing war to Goblin Mountain? It just didn't seem to make sense to go to such extraordinary trouble for such a minor thing. There were surely plenty of goblin girls available and plenty of harmless animals.