"Because we have to take Prince Dolph and Princess Electra to the far side of the moon," Cheiron explained.

"What?" Electra asked.

"Your honeymoon," Chex clarified. "It's traditional."

"I mean—you called me—I'm no—"

"You married the Prince," Naldo said. "You are the first princess in memory to wear blue jeans."

"That's right!" Dolph agreed, realizing. "And when I'm king, you'll be queen."

Electra began to wobble. Naldo caught her and supported her before she fell. "Princesses swoon rather easily," he said. "Especially when they are new. You will have to stay very close to her and keep an eye on her for the next few days, Prince Dolph."

"For the next few weeks," Nada said. "But princesses mend readily with affection."

"Months," Chex said. "Perhaps years." Her voice was authoritative, in the adult manner, but somehow Dolph no longer found that annoying. He would do his best.

Dolph felt a bit dizzy himself. Before he knew it, he was on Cheiron's back, and Electra was on Chex's back, and they became light indeed as the tails of the centaurs flicked them. Then they were in the air, rising above the beach and pavilion, headed for the moon, wherever it might be at this hour of the day.

Dolph looked down. The children were already running to the water's edge to build sand castles around the cat, who did not deign to move out of the way. Except for Jenny Elf. She was standing by herself, looking somewhere. Dolph knew it was toward her home, the World of Two Moons. He knew how she felt, losing one thing she loved while finding happiness with another. Her story was not yet done, he suspected. But he knew that the Muses were on top of the situation now, so they would see her story through, as they had seen his own through.

"Look!" Electra cried, pointing down.

Dolph looked where she pointed. Beyond the central ridge of the Isle of View were two unicorns, a male and a female, walking toward the place where Jenny Elf stood.

"Why, I believe I know of those unicorns!" Chex exclaimed. "They were in a dream we made!"

"Che spoke of a dream he had with Jenny," Cheiron said. "Do you suppose—?"

"With that talent of hers, it could be," Chex agreed.

"Look, Clio is finishing the chapter!" Electra said, looking to where the Muse was putting away her notepad.

"She's finishing the whole volume," Cheiron said. "I'm afraid this honeymoon isn't going to be recorded."

Dolph looked across at Electra, who smiled. The Muse of History was not putting their next week's activity into her book? It was just as well. They were now, after all, part of the dread Adult Conspiracy.

History of Xanth (simplified) by E. Timber Bram

History of Xanth (simplified) by E. Timber Bram