agreed. “And Chameleon is twenty-nine. But we were youthened over a decade ago. Our chronological ages are ninety-four and eighty-nine. We are of your generation, and beyond.”
Bryce simply stared at them, having trouble believing this.
“This is Xanth, not Mundania,” Mindy reminded him. “Youth happens here.”
“We were twenty-one and sixteen when we were youthened,” Bink said, gazing fondly at Chameleon. “The same age as you and our great-granddaughter Harmony.”
“That seems right,” Chameleon agreed.
“The princess and I have no relationship,” Bryce said quickly. “It’s just a game by the Demons. We won’t be marrying.”
Bink focused on him with renewed interest. “Because she rejects you, or you reject her?”
“Both, I’m sure. She’s not interested in marrying anyone at present, least of all an old Mundane. And I know better than to get involved with a teen girl.”
“But this teen girl is a princess.”
“We don’t have royalty where I come from, so I’m not much impressed. I have been imbued with an artificial love for her, otherwise I would have no interest at all.”
“But you don’t really know her,” Bink said.
“I don’t. But I suspect she’s a spoiled creature, not my type at all regardless of age. And she would find me an old fogy regardless of my apparent age.”
“The girls are Sorceresses,” Bink said.
“There’s more than one?”
“Harmony is one of triplets: Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm. They sing and play music to invoke their magic. Any one of them is as formidable magically as any other Magician or Sorceress. Any two of them square that power. The three together cube it. They tend to stay together, and sometimes they do marvelous things.”
“They made Castle Maidragon,” Chameleon said. “You must see that.”
“And they tackled Ragna Roc,” Bink said. “That was foolish, but showed real courage.”
“We may see Castle Maidragon,” Mindy said. “Searching out puns.”
“I know nothing about it,” Bryce said. “But the fundamentals remain. This is not a likely match.”
“I am not sure of that,” Bink said. “All five of my great-granddaughters are strong-minded and mischievous Sorceresses. No man is likely to oppose them long.”
“Five?” Bryce asked. “I haven’t yet assimilated three. I didn’t know the princess had sisters.”
“The other two are Dawn and Eve,” Chameleon said. “Twins, cousins of the triplets.”
“Dawn runs Caprice Castle,” Bryce said. “I have encountered her.”
“Did she tease you about Harmony?” Bink asked.
“She did,” Bryce admitted. “She thinks that if Harmony should want me, I would be unable to resist her.”
“Dawn is surely correct. It’s her talent to know about any living thing.”
Bryce shrugged. “It’s academic. Harmony has no interest in me.”
Bink and Chameleon exchanged another glance. “How can you be sure of that?” Bink asked.
“Well, it just makes sense. She’ll have far more appropriate suitors. Why should she bother with me?”
Chameleon shook her head. “I am stupid now, but I can still manage Bink. Harmony may have more interest in you than you think.”
“And no Sorceress is to be trifled with,” Bink said. “You seem to have little notion of her potential.”
“So maybe she’s a nice girl,” Bryce said, nettled. “Maybe she can do magic. But I don’t see her out doing useful work like gathering puns. What use is she, really?”
Mindy seemed to choke.
Bink smiled. “Your assistant evidently knows Xanth better than you do. One does not question the use of a princess.”
“And you don’t want to annoy a Sorceress,” Chameleon said.
“I guess it’s my Mundane background,” Bryce said. “I’m just not much impressed.”
“That will change when you formally meet her,” Chameleon said.
Bryce shrugged. “I can wait.”
“We need to get on with our job,” Mindy said. “Thank you for talking with us, Bink and
Bryce simply stared at them, having trouble believing this.
“This is Xanth, not Mundania,” Mindy reminded him. “Youth happens here.”
“We were twenty-one and sixteen when we were youthened,” Bink said, gazing fondly at Chameleon. “The same age as you and our great-granddaughter Harmony.”
“That seems right,” Chameleon agreed.
“The princess and I have no relationship,” Bryce said quickly. “It’s just a game by the Demons. We won’t be marrying.”
Bink focused on him with renewed interest. “Because she rejects you, or you reject her?”
“Both, I’m sure. She’s not interested in marrying anyone at present, least of all an old Mundane. And I know better than to get involved with a teen girl.”
“But this teen girl is a princess.”
“We don’t have royalty where I come from, so I’m not much impressed. I have been imbued with an artificial love for her, otherwise I would have no interest at all.”
“But you don’t really know her,” Bink said.
“I don’t. But I suspect she’s a spoiled creature, not my type at all regardless of age. And she would find me an old fogy regardless of my apparent age.”
“The girls are Sorceresses,” Bink said.
“There’s more than one?”
“Harmony is one of triplets: Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm. They sing and play music to invoke their magic. Any one of them is as formidable magically as any other Magician or Sorceress. Any two of them square that power. The three together cube it. They tend to stay together, and sometimes they do marvelous things.”
“They made Castle Maidragon,” Chameleon said. “You must see that.”
“And they tackled Ragna Roc,” Bink said. “That was foolish, but showed real courage.”
“We may see Castle Maidragon,” Mindy said. “Searching out puns.”
“I know nothing about it,” Bryce said. “But the fundamentals remain. This is not a likely match.”
“I am not sure of that,” Bink said. “All five of my great-granddaughters are strong-minded and mischievous Sorceresses. No man is likely to oppose them long.”
“Five?” Bryce asked. “I haven’t yet assimilated three. I didn’t know the princess had sisters.”
“The other two are Dawn and Eve,” Chameleon said. “Twins, cousins of the triplets.”
“Dawn runs Caprice Castle,” Bryce said. “I have encountered her.”
“Did she tease you about Harmony?” Bink asked.
“She did,” Bryce admitted. “She thinks that if Harmony should want me, I would be unable to resist her.”
“Dawn is surely correct. It’s her talent to know about any living thing.”
Bryce shrugged. “It’s academic. Harmony has no interest in me.”
Bink and Chameleon exchanged another glance. “How can you be sure of that?” Bink asked.
“Well, it just makes sense. She’ll have far more appropriate suitors. Why should she bother with me?”
Chameleon shook her head. “I am stupid now, but I can still manage Bink. Harmony may have more interest in you than you think.”
“And no Sorceress is to be trifled with,” Bink said. “You seem to have little notion of her potential.”
“So maybe she’s a nice girl,” Bryce said, nettled. “Maybe she can do magic. But I don’t see her out doing useful work like gathering puns. What use is she, really?”
Mindy seemed to choke.
Bink smiled. “Your assistant evidently knows Xanth better than you do. One does not question the use of a princess.”
“And you don’t want to annoy a Sorceress,” Chameleon said.
“I guess it’s my Mundane background,” Bryce said. “I’m just not much impressed.”
“That will change when you formally meet her,” Chameleon said.
Bryce shrugged. “I can wait.”
“We need to get on with our job,” Mindy said. “Thank you for talking with us, Bink and
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