Free A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth 1) by Piers Anthony Page A

presume she would have fled him at the outset, had she disliked him--and that he would not have forced her if she trusted him. In a small community like this, people get to know each other very well, and there are few actual surprises. This is not conclusive, but it strongly suggests she had no strong aversion to contact with him, and may have tempted him with consequence she later regretted. I would probably, were this case to come up in formal court, find the man not guilty of the charge, by virtue of reasonable doubt."
    The three men relaxed. Bink became aware of a trickle of sweat on his forehead, generated while he listened to the judge's potential decision.
    "Okay, you have the judge's ifso," said the bailiff. "You girls still want to bring it to open trial?"
    Grim-faced, looking betrayed, the three girls shook their heads, no. Bink felt sorry for his opposite. How could she avoid being seductive? She was a creature constructed for no other visible purpose than ra--than love.
    "Then take off," the bailiff said. "Remember--no talking outside, or well have a real trial, for contempt of court." The warning seemed superfluous; the girls would hardly be talking about this one. The guilty--uh, innocent--man would also shut up, and Bink himself just wanted to get clear of this village. That left only one man who might want to talk--but if he breathed a word, all the others would know who had blabbed. There would be silence.
    So it was over. Bink stood and filed out with the others. The whole thing had taken less than the promised hour, so he was well off. He'd had a night's lodging and was well rested. All he needed now was to find a route past the chasm to the Good Magician's castle.
    The bailiff emerged, and Bink approached him. "Could you tell me if there is any way south from here?"
    "Boy, you don't want to cross the Gap," the bailiff said firmly, the little cloud forming over his head. "Not unless you can fly."
    "I'm on foot."
    "There's a route, but the Gap dragon...You're a nice boy, young, handsome. You did a good job in the hearing. Don't risk it."
    Everybody thought he was so damned young! Only good, strong, personal magic would give him real manhood in the eyes of Xanth. "I have to risk it."
    The bailiff sighed. "Well, I can't tell you no then, son. I'm not your father." He sucked in his paunch, which was almost as impressive as that of the judge, and contemplated the cloud over his head momentarily. The cloud seemed about to shed a tear or two. Again Bink winced inwardly. Now he was getting fathered as well as mothered. "But it's complicated. Better have Wynne show you."
    "Wynne?"
    "Your opposite. The one you almost raped." The bailiff smiled, making a signal with one hand, and his cloud dissipated. "Not that I blame you."
    The girl approached, apparently in answer to the signal.
    "Wynne, honey, show this man to the southern slope of the Gap. Mind you keep clear of the dragon."
    "Sure," she said, smiling. The smile did not add to her splendor, because that was impossible, but it tried.
    Bink had mixed emotions. After this hearing, suppose she accused him of...?
    The bailiff glanced at him understandingly. "Don't worry about it, son. Wynne don't lie, and she don't change her mind. You behave yourself, difficult as that may be, and there'll be no trouble."
    Embarrassed, Bink accepted the girl's company. If she could show him a quick, safe route past the chasm, he would be well ahead.
    They walked east, the sun beating into their faces. "Is it far?" Bink asked, still feeling awkward for assorted reasons. If Sabrina could see him now!
    "Not far," she said. Her voice was soft, somehow sending an involuntary thrill through him. Maybe it was magic; he hoped so, because he didn't like to think that he could be so easily subverted by mere beauty. He didn't know this girl!
    They continued in silence for a while. Bink tried again: "What is your talent?"
    She looked at him blankly.
    Uh-oh. After the hearing, she could not be