Yon Ill Wind by Piers Anthony Page A

it, she tried to ignore it.  Then, as the darkness rose beyond the Gap and spread across the terrain of Xanth proper, the bird lifted out and flew low over the jungle.  Chlorine saw the lights of little fires below, where the folk of Xanth had their hearths, or maybe those were dragons pumping up their bellies for nocturnal hunting.  It was all rather pretty.
    The lights of a castle came into sight, showing its walls and turrets.  That wasn't pretty, it was perfectly beautiful!
    Chlorine stared in rapt wonder, wishing she could visit a castle like that.  It must be so great to live in such an edifice, to be a Princess, or even a serving maid.  She just felt such longing for the kind of life she would never have.
    She might be beautiful now, but when she stopped keeping company with Nimby she would revert to her normal, dreary self, and her dream of the, moment would be over.
    She would have shed a tear for her lost dream, if she only knew where her last tear was.
    But of course, that was why she was going to see the Good Magician.  So she laughed, instead, but there was a deep tinge of regret in it.
    Then the bird flew right up to that beautiful castle, and landed outside its moat.  This was her destination!
    Nimby climbed out of the basket, and she followed.
    Then the fly-by-night bird departed, swiftly and silently.
    They were alone in the night beside the glorious lighted castle.
    Chlorine was sure she knew better than to try to pass the challenges and enter the castle at night.  She would wait until morning.  That would give her the chance to get some sleep, too.
    Then her bright though sleepy mind thought of something.  “Nimby—do you need to sleep?”
    The handsome man-form shook his head no.
    “So it won't be an imposition for you to stay awake and guard me from possible harm?  I mean, I think you're a great creature, but I don't want to wear you out before your time.” She laughed ruefully.  “In my natural self I wouldn't have thought to ask that, because I wouldn't have cared.  But I'm nice now, so I do care.  And it's practical too, because you're all that makes me so wonderful.  So it's okay?”
    Nimby nodded yes.
    “Okay.  You keep watch, and wake me one instant before dawn, so I can see the sunrise.  I'm sure I'll appreciate its beauty much more than I used to.” She started to gather some leaves to make a bed, then had another thought.
    “Would it bother you to revert to your natural form, so I could use you as a pillow?  Don't hesitate to say no, because—“ Nimby's donkey-headed dragon form was back.  He lay on the ground, and she lay down and put her head against his side.  It had scales, but now the scales were soft.
    “You know, you do look funny,” she remarked.  “But the more things you do for me, the more I like you, even as you are now.  I hope that doesn't embarrass you.”
    Nimby wiggled an ear, seeming pleased rather than embarrassed.  Chlorine stretched, snuggled down, and faded quickly into sleep.
    She woke as something tickled her nose.  “Who?  What?” she asked, surprised.  Then she realized that it was one of Nimby's ears touching her.  She had told him to wake her an instant before dawn, and he had done it.  “Thanks,” she said.
    An instant passed, and dawn-appeared.  Colored rays of light speared up into the sky, brightening it.  Nearby clouds glowed.  Then, when it was safely light, the sun poked its face up from behind the trees.  The sun never came out at night, because it was afraid of the dark.
    “Oh, it's beautiful, just as I knew it would be!” Chlorine exclaimed.  “Thank you.  Nimby, for waking me in time.” She rubbed his donkey ears affectionately.
    She got up and considered.  “You fetch us something good to eat, while I attend to my morning ablutions,” she said.
    Nimby trundled off, and she found a bush for some business, then brought out her brush and went over her hair.
    It was now gloriously luxuriant, glistening