Pet Peeve Read Online Free PDF

perspective. There are just so many remarkable aspects to magic. I would not believe in it at all if I didn't have constant experience with it.”
    “I certainly believe in magic. But it's hard to believe that I could have any of my own. Do you have any hint what kind of magic I might have or develop?”
    “A hint, yes. No more. It is generally protective in nature. Not strong, but perhaps useful when needed.”
    Goody considered that. He had never dreamed he could have a magic talent of his own, but he was not in a position to doubt the Magician. What possible type could he have? “Protective” didn't narrow it down very far.
    Wira returned with a motley bag. She handed it to Grey.
    “Ah, yes, the four spells,” Grey said. “These are potent, but have been used, so may be diminished in force or apt to end abruptly. So it is best not to invoke one until there is immediate need.”
    “Why are there four spells, instead of three or five?”
    Grey laughed. “There are dozens of them. Such as fourwarned, alerting you to danger by heightened senses of sight, smell, sound, and touch. Or fourshadowed, which provides you with four shadows reflecting your immediate past and future. Really intricate spells, but not fully reliable because of their age and wear and tear. In addition, they are all mixed up in the bag, so you can't be sure which one you're getting; you will just have to poke a finger into the bag and invoke the first one you touch.”
    “This seems less than convenient.”
    “It gets worse. Their terminations have been lost, so once invoked, they can't be turned off. So you may have four shadows far longer than you want them. But they are effective spells.”
    “I am not clear why—”
    “Because we have a budget, and these are the most effective spells we can spare for this mission. So I'm afraid you will simply have to make do. With luck you won't need to invoke too many.”
    “With luck,” Goody agreed weakly.
    “But mainly, you will be protected by a bodyguard. We happen to have one who owes the Good Magician a service, and this is the assignment. I'm sure she will be able to get you out of most of the mischief the peeve will generate. So the spells are merely a reserve for when she can't.”
    “She?”
    “Hannah Barbarian. A very effective warrior, and loyal to her mission in the barbarian manner. With her by your side, you won't even see most of the threats of the wilderness. They will stay clear, knowing better than to mess with her.”
    “But I have no desire to travel with a human woman!” Or any woman, he thought, whether goblin, naga, elf, or mer. He was too susceptible to their physical charms, and too unavailable emotionally. That was a bad combination.
    Grey looked at him. “Well, you can turn down the mission. That is probably the better course.”
    That put him on his mettle. “No, I'll accept her protection. But I doubt she'll appreciate guarding a polite goblin.”
    “This is similar in a manner to the problem with the bird. We don't dare allow her to guard a normal goblin male. She would soon feed him to a dragon.”
    Goody appreciated the point. He also realized that the threats of the Xanth wilderness were myriad and deceptive, well worth not encountering. “I will try to get along with her.”
    “Then it is time to introduce you. I will take along the parody.”
    “But it will insult her!”
    “Yes. I will have to clarify that aspect at the outset.” Grey held forth his arm, and the silent bird hopped on.
    “How is it that such a curmudgeon obliges your wish so readily?”
    “It knows we are trying to find it a better situation. The parody is not stupid; satisfy it that a given course is best for it, and it will cooperate readily enough, out of sheer self-interest.”
    They made their way to what appeared to be a small arena. A warrior was practicing martial arts there with a wooden mockup. “Kiai!!” it cried fiercely. Smash with a mailed fist. Then violent chopping