"You are a generous person. That's a good quality, in folk other than goblins."

It was a poor consolation. But Electra couldn't afford to start crying, for now Dolph was coming toward them, smiling. Evidently he was thrilled with the idea.

Electra knew she loved an idiot.

This time there were no challenges at the Good Magician's Castle. Grey Murphy was ready for Electra's Question. He thought.

Ivy greeted them both with abandon. "We saw that siege on the magic mirror!" she said. "I was frightened, but we couldn't interfere. I'm glad it turned out all right. Gwenny and Jenny seem to be doing nicely at the centaur's glade."

"Now for your Question," Grey said.

"Oh, we don't have a Question," Electra said quickly. "Just a favor. We'd like to get two vials from you. One to nullify love, and the other to make it."

"Two vials?" Ivy asked blankly.

"We're following my brother's suggestion," Nada said. "Electra will marry Dolph first, then divorce him, and I will marry him the next day. So she'll live, and Dolph will be happy. But we won't be happy unless we change our own emotions. So we aren't asking you for an Answer."

Grey shook his head, bemused. "Just as well. That was the answer I was going to give you. I don't like it much, but I found it in the Book of Answers, so it must be right."

Ivy went to the storeroom and fetched the vials. "These will be our wedding gifts to each of you," she said. But she did not look happy.

"Make sure you use these correctly," Grey cautioned. "The nullifier is no problem; it simply cancels the magic love, such as the enchantment that caused you to love the prince who woke you, Electra, without touching any other magic. So it won't cause you to age abruptly or to be free of the need to marry Dolph. But there's no need for you to take it until the divorce anyway." He turned to Nada. "But you must be careful to be looking at Dolph when you take this, because if you see another man first, you will love him instead. This is not the type of potion found in some springs, that causes instant, ah, activity; it will just make you love him. But it would be awkward if—"

"I understand," Nada said.

"There's one other thing," Electra said somewhat diffidently. "I don't know how to—to signal the stork. I understand that the marriage won't count until we do that."

Grey shook his head. "You're still technically under age. The Adult Conspiracy—"

"But Dolph doesn't know either," Electra said. "So how do we—?"

Ivy spread her hands. "We're not allowed to tell you. But surely you will be able to figure it out when the time comes. Most folk do."

Electra didn't argue, but she had her doubts.