The Oathbound Wizard-Wiz Rhyme-2 by Christopher Stasheff Page A

thrown from the saddle could be pretty serious, especially since he didn't have a saddle. The thought reminded him that he could be considerably more comfortable someplace else--almost anyplace else, in fact. "Uh, I see we're back to the top of the pass now."
    "Yeah. Where'd you say you wanted to go?"
    "Down! Look, it's been very good of you to give me a lift, but I really don't want to put you out any further."
    "Look, bucko, I told you--I won't be owing to anybody."
    "You don't owe me! You just paid me back!"
    "For my life? Don't be a donkey! It's gonna take a lot more than one ride to make up for it. Now where'd you say you wanted to go?"
    "Hey, look, really..."
    "Much as I hate it, I could stay up here all day," the dracogriff said, with a note of menace. "You got a love affair with hiking?"
    "No, riding is faster," Matt said with a sigh. "All right, and thanks--I'd be delighted to travel with you."
    "That's better." The dracogriff angled downward.
    "Uh--where'd you say you were going?"
    "I didn't. Where're you going?"
    "Into Ibile."
    The dive leveled off into a glide very abruptly. Then, after a few seconds, the dragon head said, "You were serious about that quest stuff, huh?"
    "Unfortunately--" Matt sighed. "--I was. Still want to go through with it?"
    "Yeah." The dracogriff nodded. "If you're game, I'm game."
    "Only if that sorcerer catches you."
    "Won't do him much good, now," the dracogriff said, grinning. "I'm traveling with the Lord Wizard!"
    Why, Matt wondered, did he have the feeling he had just been conned?

CHAPTER 6
    On Being a Dracogriff

Even walking, the dracogriff made good time---those lion legs were long, and resilient. Matt wondered what it would be like when the beast decided to run, but he wasn't about to ask while they were on a mountainside. He also wasn't about to ask without some kind of cushioning. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Uh, could we try for a rest break now?" The dracogriff pulled to a stop, turning its head back to frown. "After only half an hour? We're never gonna get anywhere if you can't last any longer than that!"
    "I'm just out of shape."
    "Awright, awright," the dracogriff groused, and crouched so Matt could climb down.
    The wizard dismounted, feeling the ache in every limb. He set his palms against his buttocks and leaned back. "Nnngah! Uh, hope you don't mind my saying it..."
    "Of course not," the dracogriff answered with an ominous glare. "What?"
    "Well, you have, shall we say, a very strong backbone." The dracogriff stared at him while it figured out what Matt was talking about. Then its mouth lolled open, and it made the coughing, cawing sound again.
    "Please." Matt squeezed his eyes shut. "Please don't laugh. You don't know what it feels like."
    "And can't, either, I'll be bound. You mean my lumps are hitting you right where you live."
    "I wouldn't put it that way..."
    "Of course you wouldn't--that's why it takes me so long to figure out what you mean. So whatcha gonna do about it?"
    Matt eyed him warily. "Would you object to a saddle?"
    "Saddle?" The beast frowned. "You mean one of those things that horses wear?"
    "Kinda like that, yeah."
    "Yeah, I'd mind," the griff growled, "but I guess I can stand it. I want some kind of fastening I can undo myself, though, in case you decide to go take a hike."
    "That shouldn't be too hard to arrange." Matt felt a surge of relief.
    "I don't think they come in my size, though."
    That gave Matt pause. He eyed the dracogriff's back, frowning. "Well--it'll need a bit of tailoring..."
    "Where're you gonna find a tailor for saddle leather?"
    "Right here." Matt grinned. "Verses to any size or length, that's me. If I can cut the words right, the saddle should come out just as we want it." The dracogriff eyed him narrowly. "Ever conjure up a saddle before?"
    "No," Matt confessed, "but it shouldn't be too tough."
    "Sure," the dracogriff muttered.
    "Oh, come on! Have a little faith. Now, let me see..." Matt looked up at the sky, frowning in