The Source of Magic Read Online Free PDF Page A

over another little mound of dirt. “You have moles around the palace?” he inquired with a certain edge.
    Crombie squinted at the dirt. “That wasn’t there a moment ago. Maybe a magic mole was attracted by the party. I’ll notify the head groundskeeper, when I get offshift.”
    Bink and Chester moved on in. The palace ballroom had been decorated by Queen Iris, naturally. It was an undersea setting, with streamers of seaweed rising from the rocky deeps, and brightly colored fish swimming through, and barnacles on the walls. Here and there were subaqueous beaches of fine white sand, which shifted location magically, so that if a person stood still the scenery would come to him. A large serpentine sea monster coiled around the entire area, its pulsing, convoluted coils showing here and there in lieu of walls.
    Chester glanced around. “She’s a bitch, and she shows off, but I have to admit her magic is impressive. But I’m worried about the quantity of food; if there isn’t enough—”
    There turned out to be no danger of a shortage. The refreshments were mountainous, and under the personal guard of Queen Iris. She had a picklepuss on a little leash. Wheneversomeone had the temerity to take a delicacy, the picklepuss pickled it. “No one eats until the grand prize is awarded,” Iris announced, glaring about. Since she had garbed herself as a warrior-queen-mermaid, complete with spiked crown, trident, and powerful tail, and the points of the trident glistened with a coating of slime that was probably illusion too but just might possibly be genuine poison, this was an effective enough deterrent even without the picklepuss.
    Bink and Chester separated, mixing with the other guests. Just about every creature of note in Xanth was present, except for Chester’s filly Cherie, who was no doubt still wrapped up in the colt, and Bink’s Chameleon, wrapped up in her misery. And the Good Magician Humfrey, who never socialized voluntarily.
    Bink spotted his father Roland, down from the North Village. Roland was careful not to embarrass him by any overt show of affection. They shook hands. “Nice shoes, son.”
    This was nevertheless a miscue, after the scene with Chameleon. “Fresh from the tree,” Bink said awkwardly.
    “What have you been doing these past few months?” Bubbles rose from Roland’s mouth as he spoke, quivering spherically as they sought the surface of the ocean. When Queen Iris put on an illusion, it was some illusion! Ordinary citizens, with their motley individual magic talents, could only look upon the works of the Sorceress and despair. Which was, of course, why the Queen was putting on this show.
    “Oh, practicing with the sword, tilling the garden, that sort of thing,” Bink said.
    “I understand Chameleon is expecting momentarily.”
    “That, too,” Bink said, again experiencing the frustration of his situation.
    “A son will help fill the house.”
    Provided it turned out to be a normal, talented son. Bink changed the subject. “We have a delicate young lady-slipper plant just blossoming; I think it will bear its first pair of slippers soon.”
    “The ladies will be pleased,” Roland said gravely, exactly as if this were significant news. Suddenly Bink realized that hehad very little to show for his past year. What had he accomplished? Virtually nothing. No wonder he felt out of sorts!
    The illumination dimmed. It was as if dusk were falling, causing the sea to darken, too. But the diffused daylight was replaced by nocturnal fluorescence. The flotation sacs on the seaweed glowed like little lamps, and the neon-coral was brightly outlined in assorted colors. Even the puffy sponges emitted wan beams. The animal life had sharper light, with electric eels flashing searchlight beams, and assorted fish shone translucently. The overall effect was bewilderingly beautiful.
    “If only her personality were as excellent as her taste,” Roland murmured, referring to the Queen.
    “We shall now