The Dastard by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online Page A

sign by her said A. CAUSE.
    “This is a Challenge,” Melody said, recognizing the type.
    “That means the Good Magician is expecting us,” Harmony agreed. “And will Answer our question,” Rhythm finished.
    They reviewed the Challenge. Obviously the toothy creature was there to chomp anybody who tried to use the drawbridge. The garden must belong to the woman, who liked the flowers.
    “Maybe we can crawl behind the flowers so the beast won't see us,” Melody said.
    They tried it. But the moment they got near one of the flowers, it hissed “Sig!” and waved violently around.
    The toothy creature's sharp ears perked up. “Ition! Ition!” it barked. That explained its odd name.
    The woman stirred. “What is it, pet?”
    “This isn't working,” Harmony whispered.
    “The flowers make a commotion,” Rhythm said.
    They backed away. The flower stopped waving, and the beast settled down. So did the woman.
    “We'll have to use our magic,” Melody said.
    “Is that allowed?” Harmony asked.
    “I think so,” Rhythm concluded.
    They sang and played to make a slumber spell to put the animal to sleep. But it didn't work; instead the animal perked up again and growled, peering all around.
    “Maybe not,” Melody said.
    “We must have to get through without our magic,” Harmony agreed.
    “By figuring out the Challenge,” Rhythm concluded.
    They discussed it. It was Harmony's turn to think of something. “Maybe we have to ask the woman to take away her pet,” she said.
    “Maybe,” Rhythm agreed.
    They walked around the garden and approached the woman. “Please, miz,” Melody said. “Will you take your pet away so we can cross the bridge?”
    The woman turned a gaze on them that reeked of adult contempt. “I will not,” she said.
    “And maybe not,” Harmony said.
    They discussed it some more. They had tried two ideas, and would run out after the next, so it had to be good.
    “We tried going around the flowers, and that didn't work,” Rhythm said. “We tried asking the woman, and that didn't work. So maybe we should ask the beast.”
    “But it's got teeth!” Melody protested.
    “We thought the flowers would be friendly, and they weren't,” Harmony pointed out.
    “We thought Miz Cause would be friendly, and she wasn't,” Rhythm said. “Maybe we're wrong about Ition.”
    The notion of princesses being wrong was formidable, but after some struggle they agreed that it was remotely possible. They were, after all, little princesses. So they nerved themselves and walked down the center path toward the creature.
    “Hello, Ition,” Melody said bravely.
    The beast wagged his tail. “Woof!”
    He was friendly!
    “Will you let us pass?” Harmony asked.
    Ition shook his head. It seemed he wasn't quite that friendly.
    “Maybe if we do something for you?” Rhythm asked.
    The beast wagged his tail.
    “Like what?” Melody asked.
    Ition strained at his chain.
    “Like petting you?” Harmony asked.
    He shook his head.
    “Like letting you loose!” Rhythm concluded.
    The beast nodded.
    So Melody nerved herself and went close to the creature. She reached for his collar and found the snap. She unsnapped the chain. She froze, afraid of what might happen next. Normally they could protect themselves against just about any monster, but that was when they had their magic. It was scary being without it.
    The creature ran through the garden, picking the peculiar flowers. He gathered a bunch and carried them to the woman. “Why thank you, pet,” she said, accepting them. Then she turned to the three little princesses. “What do you suppose is happening here?”
    They were taken aback, but they thought about it. “The beast is bringing you flowers,” Melody said.
    “Not necessarily,” the woman said, which was the adult way of saying no.
    “Ition is fetching sig flowers for Miz Cause,” Harmony said.
    “Perhaps,” the woman said, which was adult for maybe.
    Then a bulb flashed above Rhythm's head, as it had