Well-Tempered Clavicle by Piers Anthony Page B

You can invoke it to transport yourself and anyone in physical contact with you instantly to any spot you choose. It is in a manner similar to your Hades pass. Do not invoke it unless it is quite necessary; it is not for casual use, but for emergencies.”
    “Only for emergencies,” Dawn agreed, putting away the spell.
    “You will want to stay the night,” Dara said. “Fracto Cloud has located you and is waiting to drench you.”
    “Skeletons aren’t afraid of water,” Joy’nt said.
    “But fleshly creatures don’t always appreciate getting their clothing or fur or feathers soaked.” Dara’s expressive mouth twitched. “And we have tasty treats for each of you.”
    The interest of the pets intensified.
    “Including some wonderful marble cake the Gorgon made by stoning a flour cake. It has a special edge.”
    Dawn threw up her hands in a mortal expression. She, being a princess, naturally loved special cake. “One night,” she said gruffly.

 
    4
    T RAVEL
    Princess Dawn was given a room of her own, while Joy’nt shared one with the three pets, who weren’t easy being alone in a strange castle. That left Picka alone in his own room. He didn’t need a room, as he didn’t sleep, but he didn’t want to be a bad guest, so he accepted it.
    There was a knock on his door. He opened it, and there was Dawn in her nightie. “We need to talk,” she said, brushing past him.
    “If you wish,” he said.
    She sat on his unused bed, leaned against the wall, and lifted her knees. Her nightie reached only to her knees, so that her legs showed under it, and a section of her sunny panties. “Sit down,” she said.
    He fetched a chair and sat on it, facing her. What was on her mind?
    “Closer.”
    He hiked the chair closer.
    She put her legs down and leaned forward so that her bright bra showed. She caught a chair leg, pulling it closer yet, so that he had to lift his weight to allow it to slide. Now his knees touched hers.
    “You really don’t notice, do you,” she said.
    “Notice what?”
    “I just flashed you with my well-filled panties, and my well-filled bra. You never blinked.”
    “I can’t blink. I have no eyelids.”
    “I think you know what I mean, Picka. Remember when we were children and we went skinny-dipping?”
    “You and Eve floated on the water,” he agreed. “Joy’nt and I sank.” He still did not know what she had in mind.
    “We splashed each other, and then you walked on the bottom and held me over your head so that it looked as if I was swimming without moving my arms or legs. Then I dived down and tried to tickle you, but your bare ribs weren’t very ticklish. We wound up in a tangle of bones and limbs. I kissed your bare teeth. We had a ball.”
    “I don’t remember the ball.”
    “Not a physical ball. I mean we had a lot of fun.”
    “Oh. Yes, we did.”
    “We were children—Eve and I were ten, you and Joy’nt fourteen. You were more responsible than we were, and made sure we did not get into water too deep.”
    “I remember. You wanted to swim too far out, and I had to fetch you back. You tried to make me lose my footing.”
    “I wrapped my legs about your skull,” she agreed. “So that you couldn’t see which way to go. It almost worked.”
    “Until you started laughing,” he agreed. “Then I knew I was going wrong, and reversed direction and got you out.”
    “You were a spoilsport.”
    “I am sorry about that.”
    “I think I could do it better now,” she said. “Because I wouldn’t laugh.”
    “Perhaps.”
    “You doubt? I’ll show you. Let me get my legs on your skull.”
    “But—”
    She pulled him to her on the bed, then lifted her legs and locked them on his skull. His face was caught against the base of her belly. “Can you see anything?” she asked.
    “No,” he said into her bottom. “Your flesh is blocking off my eye sockets.”
    She relaxed. “So it really is true.”
    “Yes, you can hamper my vision.”
    She laughed. “That too.”
    She