Magda gently waved off the concern. “Thank you, but we don’t have time for that at the moment.”

“Some things have happened,” Merritt said. “Magda has been healed, but she needs rest to complete the process or she is going to soon go downhill and then she’s going to be in trouble.”

It was more a warning to Magda than an explanation to Quinn. Magda got the point, but it wasn’t really needed. She knew that she was nearing the end of her strength. It was only her worry after what she had learned from Naja that was driving her on at the moment. Her stomach felt like it was in a knot.

“I can see that,” Quinn said, a look of concern creasing his brow as he leaned in toward Magda, looking into her eyes for any sign of the trouble. “What happened? How were you hurt?”

Magda smiled to dispel his concern. “That’s not important at the moment. We have more urgent business right now.” She looked toward Naja, signaling what she meant. Quinn got the message.

Naja had turned, transfixed by the liquid silver hump of the sliph rising up out of the well that contained her. The swelling bulge of what looked like nothing so much as polished, highly reflective, liquid silver began to rise up until it formed into a head with the aspects of a human face.

The quicksilver features resolved fluidly into those of a beautiful woman. A pleasing smile formed in the expression of what looked like nothing so much as a silver statue that was the sliph, except that it always seemed to be moving.

“Do you wish to travel?” the sliph asked, her silvery voice echoing around the round room.

“No,” Magda said in a blunt tone. “We don’t wish to travel.”

“You will be pleased,” the sliph said.

“Thank you, but not now,” Merritt said on his way past as he helped Naja toward the chair.

“I’ve heard rumors of such a creature, but I never imagined she was real,” Naja said as she dragged Merritt to a halt in order to stare at the silver face watching her.

Quinn cast a rather fond look at the creature in the well. “She’s real, there is no doubt of that. She likes to watch me record things in my journals as I watch over her.”

“May I touch you?” Naja asked the sliph as she stepped close to the waist-high stone wall of the sliph’s well.

“If it pleases you,” came the haunting reply.

Naja reached out and carefully touched her fingers to the gently rolling silver surface. The sliph watched. Feeling no ill effects, Naja submerged her entire hand below the surface.

“You have both sides,” the sliph said with a satisfied smile. “You may travel.”

“Thank you, but I don’t wish to travel right now,” Naja said. “Maybe another time.”