"Well, that could mean she would release him and kill Jenny," Dolph said. But Godiva had not seemed like that kind of person. She had been tough, but true to her word.

"I don't think so. Jenny didn't seem frightened, just undecided. And Gwendolyn liked her. I could tell. When Gwendolyn challenged her mother, Godiva backed down. I don't think Gwendolyn wanted Jenny killed, and I don't think she would be killed if Gwendolyn didn't want it. She's in line to be chiefess, you know. She has power, even now, as a child. So it must be something else."

"What about Che? Was he frightened?"

"No. He liked Gwendolyn too. The three of them really seemed to be friends. In fact, he said he liked Gwenny, as he called her, and that he was being well treated."

"If he said it, it was true," Dolph said. "Even a young centaur would not tell an untruth. He might say nothing, but he wouldn't lie."

"That's what I thought. Dolph, I don't think anyone was threatened."

"Then why wouldn't they decide?"

She shrugged. "That baffles me."

"I think we haven't solved the mystery yet," Dolph said, "and I guess maybe we'd better, before there is bloodshed."

"Yes. But how?"

"I'll go in there and find out."

"But you're not a goblin, Dolph!"

"I can become one."

"But you don't know the mountain! You don't know the goblin ways."

She was right. He could get into deadly trouble, blundering around in there. "I could become an ant, or something, and sneak in."

"And somebody would step on you!"

Right again. "Then maybe as myself. Gloha, I've got to go there and find out what's going on, before horrible things happen, maybe from some misunderstanding."

"I'll go with you."

"But you've already risked it once!"

"I can take you right to Che and Jenny Elf."

He nodded. Then he angled his flight toward Cheiron. When he got close, he called "Can you hold off your attack a little longer? I think I should go in there and see if I can bring Che out. I think maybe there's something we don't understand."

Cheiron was grim. "There is too little time. I must commence the attack in time to complete the reduction of the mountain before the land dragons arrive or the siege will fail."

But Chex had closed on them. "Dear—"

"But we can hold back on the smoke and fire for an hour, to give you time," Cheiron said.

"See? Females rule," Gloha murmured with satisfaction.