Five Portraits by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online Page B

complete.
    Then Kandy got a message from the Demoness Fornax. That reminded Astrid how the Demoness had wanted Kandy to be her intermediary in the Land of Xanth, because Fornax associated with antimatter and could not touch any normal matter without both going up in mutual annihilation. Kandy had been doubtful, but made the deal instantly when Astrid was falling to her likely death, to save Astrid. She had been a true friend in the crisis. Now she was serving that role for Fornax.
    Then Kandy looked at Astrid. “I wonder.”
    â€œHave I made an error in my costume?” Astrid asked.
    â€œNo, not at all. Something has come up.”
    â€œYou heard from Fornax,” Astrid agreed. “I understand.”
    â€œThis time it was different. This is awkward.”
    â€œAwkward?”
    â€œThe Demoness has observed how you and I became friends, and how we both seem happier for it.”
    Astrid felt a hot chill. That was the worst kind. “She resents our friendship?”
    â€œNo. The opposite.”
    â€œI am not following this.”
    â€œFornax asked me to be her friend.”
    â€œWell, you are a food friend, and you did agree to represent her in Xanth.”
    â€œYes. That’s the problem. My association with her is business. I fear that a friendship with her would be a conflict of interest. I’m supposed to represent her objectively. I can’t let any possible distortion prejudice me, because I am dealing with mind-bendingly powerful Demons who insist on absolute clinical neutrality. So I had to tell her no.”
    Astrid nodded. “That seems right.”
    â€œBut I felt bad about it. Remember, Fornax enabled me to save you from death in the Gap Chasm. I feel I sort of owe her, even though what I’m doing for her now is payment for that. So I looked for an alternative. For someone else to possibly be her friend.”
    â€œThat’s sensible,” Astrid agreed.
    â€œYou.”
    The pause was so significant that it almost knocked Astrid down. “Um—”
    â€œAstrid, I’m your friend, and I would not do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. But it seems to me that you could make her a better friend than I could, because you know about isolation. You could understand her, to a degree I could not.”
    â€œBut she’s a Demoness! They have no interest in mortals except as devices for their nefarious bets.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought. Yet she came to me. You saw what you were missing and decided to join the human society, difficult as that was for you. Fornax believes she is missing something, so she is seeking it, just as you did. There’s a similar motive, even if you are quite different beings. Won’t you at least consider it?”
    Kandy was her closest friend. Kandy had sacrificed her power of decision to save Astrid’s life. What could she do? “I will consider it.”
    â€œThank you,” Kandy said with evident relief. “You are not obliged to agree, just to give her a fair chance.”
    â€œI should talk with her. How do I meet her?”
    â€œJust say her name. She will hear you.”
    Astrid shrugged. “Fornax,” she murmured.
    A woman appeared. She was the exact opposite of Astrid, with dark skin, light blond hair, and a dark dress with translucent sequins. This had to be Fornax, assuming a reversed likeness. “Take my hand,” she said.
    Astrid took her hand.
    Then they were flying up off the ground, above the trees, and across the terrain of Xanth, spread out beneath them like a patchwork quilt. Then higher, until the land below assumed the shape of a peninsula embraced by the sea. Then higher yet, until they reached the crescent moon. They landed within the curve of it, where there was a landscape made of honey.
    â€œNo newly married couples are using the honeymoon at the moment, so we can borrow it,” Fornax said.
    Bemused, Astrid could think of only a