Heaven Cent by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online Page B

is my forest!” the bear said. “You are intruders! No ogres or skeletons allowed here! Get out before I do something to you.”
    Vida? That sounded female. But it still sounded vile—or vila, as the case might be.
    “We are merely passing through,“ Marrow said. ”My companion only wants one drink; then we shall cross on out of your territory."
    “Get out! Get out! Get out!” the bear screamed.
    “Well, if you feel that way,” Marrow said. He turned to Dolph. “How do you feel about it?”
    Dolph would have been glad to get out. But he didn't want to go back to where the harpies lurked, and he did not want to move straight on to the Isle of Illusion, which was farther in the direction they had been going. Also, he was very thirsty; even the thought of not having a drink made him crave it more. “Me think me drink,” he said.
    “You drink, you stink!” the bear screamed. “You'll die and I'll use your corpse for fertilizer for my flowers!”
    That notion did not appeal either. Dolph looked at Marrow for help.
    “I suspect—” the skeleton began.
    “Get out! Get out! Get out!” the bear screamed.
    “—that we shall have to chop her tree down,” Marrow concluded.
    The bear screamed, the same way as originally, but more so. Evidently Marrow's threat really bothered it. It strode toward the skeleton, but Marrow merely ran uphill, eluding it.
    “The tree should be at the top of the mountain,” the skeleton called back to Dolph. “When we find it, I shall assume the configuration of an axe, and you can use me to chop it.”
    “You win! You win! You win!” the bear screamed. “Spare my tree!”
    Marrow paused. “You will unpoison the water and let my friend Prince Dolph drink safely?”
    “Prince Dolph?” the bear asked, amazed.
    “Yes. He is on a Quest, and I am his companion. We never did intend any harm to you; we just want to drink and move on.”
    The bear disappeared. In its place stood a lovely young woman whose curly reddish-brown hair fell in waves to her feet. Her clothing was fashioned from green leaves magically fastened together. “Why didn't you say so before?” she asked.
    “You didn't ask,” Marrow said. He tended to be literal. “Now the water, if you please.”
    “Of course.” Vida Vila pointed at the brook, and the water cleared. “Drink all you want, Prince.” But then she frowned. “Are you sure?” she said aside to Marrow. “He doesn't look much like a prince.”
    “He's a form changer,” Marrow explained. “For forest travel he assumes the form of an ogre. He can assume another form if you promise not to try to hurt him.”
    “I promise!” Vida exclaimed, her hair shimmering in her excitement. “I've always wanted a prince!”
    Dolph reverted to boy form. He got down next to the brook. The water certainly seemed good. If Marrow believed it was safe, it surely was; adults had good instincts about such things. He drank deeply, and it was the finest water he had ever tasted.
    Then, as he got up, he remembered that he was no longer alone with Marrow. There was a woman present, and he was naked. Now he missed his bag of belongings back on the other side of the river; the situation with the harpies had caused him to forget the problem of nakedness. So he had no clothes to change into anyway. It was too late to change to some other form; she had already seen him. He felt a blush developing.
    “You must introduce us,” Vida said to Marrow.
    The skeleton shrugged. “Prince Dolph, this is Vida, the vila of this forest. Vida, this is Dolph, the son of King Dor.”
    “Uh, glad to meet you,” Dolph said doubtfully, extending his hand. He reminded himself that this was not really a human woman, but some kind of forest creature who could change forms, just as he could. That in itself was surprising, but Vida avoided the hand, stepped in close, and embraced him. Her body was marvelously cushiony. He opened his mouth in surprise, only to have it covered by hers. She gave