Question Quest by Piers Anthony

have been on a boat on a fairly calm lake.
    My fear of riding was quickly becoming pleasure. But I suspected that it would not be like this on a less magical animal. “This is fun, thank you,” I said.
    Uland wiggled an ear. That meant yes. I wasn't guessing; I found that I really did understand his signals, now that I was riding him. That was surely magic. I had not realized before just how wonderful unicorns were.
    Soon we came to a small pond in another glade. It did not look special, but the foliage near it was quite healthy.
    Uland stopped, and I dismounted by putting my right leg back over and sliding off on my stomach. MareAnn had done it more elegantly on her backside. Well, I was a beginner, and she had a better backside than I did.
    I fished two bottles from my pack, the only ones available. I was sorry they weren't larger; this water would be invaluable. But I would not use it to trade anyway; all I needed was enough for MareAnn and Horntense.
    I knelt to dip the first. The bank under my knee gave way, and I tumbled face-first into the pond. The bottles flew from my hand. Realizing what this would mean, I made a desperate grab in air and caught one before I submerged.
    The spring was deep. I sank down, down, taking in a mouthful inadvertently. Then I remembered to try to swim, and paddled my way back up.
    My head broke the surface, and I choked and gasped. But I had the bottle, and it was full. I pulled myself out, dripping, then fished for the stopper.
    My eye fell on Uland. He was shaking with equine laughter. I had to laugh too. I must have looked pretty foolish. I still did, really, for my clothing was dripping and my hair was matted across my face. How clumsy could a gnome like me get?
    I put the sealed bottle into my wet knapsack. Then I approached the unicorn. He was still too tall for me to mount from the ground, and MareAnn wasn't here to boost me with her nice little hands. “Maybe if you moved next to a rock,” I suggested.
    He hooked his nose in the signal for jump.
    I shrugged. Anything was worth a try. I jumped— and to my amazement sailed right up and onto his back.
    How had that happened? I had never before been able to jump like that! My small gnarled legs were only good enough for modest performance. Yet this time they had responded like those of an athlete, and my coordination had been perfect.
    Uland was racing like the wind again. By the time I stopped being bemused, we were back at the path where MareAnn and Horntense waited.
    I slid down, this time doing it expertly. “I have it!” I said.
    “You're all wet!” she exclaimed.
    “I fell in,” I said, abashed.
    “You fell into the healing spring? You must be supremely healthy now!”
    And that was it! I had been completely doused in the elixir, even swallowing a mouthful. I was healthy all over. My muscles were working at their full potential. I realized now that I could also see far more acutely than before and hear much better. My whole body bristled with sheer fitness. So leaps which had been impossible were now easy. Uland had known.
    I brought out the bottle. “No, save it,” MareAnn said. “Just give me your shirt.”
    I got out of my knapsack and shirt. She took the shirt and wrung it out over her extended leg. A few drops fell on the ankle. “Oh, it's working!” she exclaimed. Then, standing firmly on both feet, she turned to Horntense. She wrung out some more elixir on the unicorn's leg. Immediately Horntense put down the leg, standing without pain.
    MareAnn returned the shirt to me. “Thank you so much, Humfrey,” she said. “We really appreciate it.” Then she kissed me.
    I was too stunned even to blush. I felt as if I were floating. An entire new view of girls was dawning on my limited outlook.
    “Now let's go on to the river,” she said. “I'll ride Horntense; you ride Uland.”
    Numbly, I held her leg so she could mount. Then I went and jumped onto the stallion. Then we were at the river. I was still trying