Free Faun and Games by Piers Anthony Page B

Imbri said.
    "Princess Dawn, who can tell anything about any living thing, so she
    knows about you, and Princess Eve, who can tell anything about any
    inanimate things, so she knows about me."
     
    "But you're alive!" Forrest protested.
     
    "No she isn't," Eve said.   "She's a spirit.   She has half a soul, but no
    body.   She lost that in the Void in 1067."
     
    "They really do know," Forrest said, amazed.   "I've never seen such
    magic."
     
    "That's because no Magicians or Sorceresses ever came to your sandalwood
    tree," Dawn said.
     
    A woman in blue jeans hurried up.   "Girls!   Behave!" she exclaimed.   The
    two little princesses immediately stood back and looked angelic.   "I'm
    sorry," the woman said.   "They're irrepressible.   I i'm Princess
    Electra, their mother."
     
    "He's Forrest Faun, here to see Princess Ida Dawn said. "And she's Mare
    li-nori, who has to guide him through Ptero."
     
    "Oh, you are here on business," Electra said.   "Girls, tell the Princess
    she has a visitor."
     
    The two children dashed off.   "Uh, thank you," Forrest said.   "I didn't
    mean to make a commotion.   I don't know Princess Ida.   I'm supposed to
    go to the land of Ptero."
     
    Electra looked blank.   "Go to the land of what?"
     
    "Ptero.   Where all the might-be folk stay."
     
    "But Ptero ]s-" The Princess paused.   "Well, I'm not sure exactly what
    it is.   But it's not a place you can go to."
     
    "But we have to go there.   Because that's where I'll find my faun."
     
    Electra still looked remarkably doubtful.   "I think I'll just have to
    let Ida explain it."
     
    "I hope someone does.   Imbri hasn't."
     
    The Princess nodded.   "I can appreciate why.   Come this way." She turned
    and led them down the hall.
     
    The twins came dashing back, their red and black pigtails flying.
    "Auntie Ida says to go to the Tapestry!" Dawn cried brightly.
     
    "And she'll meet them there," Eve finished, darkly.   "She says this
    could get com-com-"
     
    "Complicated," Electra finished.   "I'm sure." She changed course
    slightly, and led them upstairs.   Forrest was much impressed, because
    this was only the second time he had used stairs, and these were much
    broader than the ones at the Good Magician's castle.
     
    Soon they arrived at a pleasant chamber with a nice view of the outside
    moat and orchard.   A woman rose to greet them.   She was another
    princess, because she wore a crown.   She looked to be about twenty
    eight, but it was never possible to be quite certain, with women.   There
    was something odd about her head.
     
    "Princess Ida, this is Forrest Faun," Electra said.   "Mare Imbri is with
    him, as his guide and companion."
     
    "Any friend of Imbri is a friend of mine," Ida said graciously. "Please
    have a seat and tell me your concern."
     
    Forrest took the indicated chair.   "I need to find a faun to associate
    with the neighboring clog tree.   The Good Magician told me to look in
    Ptero.   Mare Irnbri has been there, so can show me the way."
     
    Imbri?" the Princess said.   It wasn't exactly a question; she was
    addressing the day mare.   Her eyes went halfway blank and she seemed to
    be listening.   After a moment she smiled.   Imbri must have given her an
    explanatory daydream.   "Ah, I see; that's interesting."
     
    "So if you can just tell me where-"
     
    Ida raised a hand in gentle negation.   "I will, but there are things you
    must first understand.   Consider the Tapestry."
     
    He looked where she indicated and saw a large Tapestry hanging on the
    wall.   It was filled with intricately sewn pictures of Xanthly scenes.
    They were so realistic that they almost seemed to be moving. In fact
    they were moving!   "This is magic," he said.
     
    " It shows all the scenes of Xanth," she explained.   "In all times or
    Xanth, up to the present.   Here is your glade."
     
    The scenes changed, and one part expanded to fill the whole Tap estry.
    It was a picture of his own