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Papa hath told us of a lump of flesh, in the base of the skull, that doth direct how much we grow, Gregory answered. Whate'er the potion was, it must have acted upon that bit of flesh.
Magnus nodded. Yet who was the stranger?
Papa's enemy, Geoffrey thought instantly. It matters not from which side.
"What is it," Groghat asked, "that is brown in the spring, green in the summer, and scarlet in the autumn?"
Gregory started to answer, but Cordelia clapped a hand over his mouth. "Let me think… green… scarlet…" She sighed and shook her head. "I ca
"Nay, thou canst not!" Groghat guffawed, slapping the table top. " 'Tis a tree, foolish child!"
'Why, so 'tis," she cried, fairly beaming. "What is thy question?"
Groghat remembered. "Is thy father a wizard?"
"Nay, he's a warlock. And my riddle is: How can there be a chicken that hath no bone?"
"A chicken that hath no bone!" Groghat stared. "Nay, tell me—for I'd be greatly pleased to dine on fowl that did not crunch!"
"Then thou hast but to fry an egg!" Cordelia said triumphantly.
Groghat stared. Then he threw- back his head and roared with laughter, slapping his leg.
Doth he eat chickens whole? Geoffrey wondered.
Aye, and without plucking the feathers, I doubt not, Magnus answered.
"Now let me see…" Cordelia pressed a finger against pursed lips. "What question shall I ask?"
Wherefore doth he roam the countryside? Magnus prompted.
"Wherefore dost thou roam the countryside?" Cordelia repeated. "Thou hast a pleasant enough lair here, if thou didst put it in repair."
"Why, for that I hate all craven knaves who take orders!" Groghat exploded. "Ever did the old man who reared me give orders: 'Do this! Fetch that!' And I grew wearied, and did resolve that, when I grew large, never more would I do another's bidding! Therefore do I spit on all craven knaves who obey, and make it my commands they answer to!" He leaned back against the table, gazing at the children and brooding. "Thee, now—thou showest no sign of fear, nor of doing another's bidding…"
Could he begin to like us?
Would we want him to?
Papa's enemies do use this poor puppet to help to bring chaos to the land, Geoffrey thought, and he knoweth it not— he, who is so proud of not doing another's bidding!
'Tis true, Magnus agreed, and I doubt me not 'twas Papa's enemies in SPITE, who do hate all government, that did bring him to the old couple and paid them. Yet wherefore do not Papa's other enemies in VETO, who wish to rule all Gra-marye with an iron glove, not attempt to stop him?
Why, for that it will be all the easier for them to step in and conquer all when there's no government left, and no large army with it, but only small armed bands of bandits, Geoffrey answered.
I mislike the way he doth look at us. Cordelia's thoughts were tinged with apprehension. .
" 'Tis time to discover whether thou wilt obey me or no," Groghat rumbled.
Quickly, Gregory thought, I have been tracking the paths his thoughts flow through when they tell his arms or legs to more, or his muscles to tighten or loosen to hold his balance. They all do meet at the top of his belly in one great knot.
'Twould hurt him greatly, an thou didst twist it with thy thoughts. Cordelia shied from the idea.
Greatly daring, Magnus demanded, " 'Tis mayhap more to the point, to know whether or not another doth command thee."
Anger flared in Groghat's eyes. He surged to his feet, bellowing, "Dost thou slander me, bug? Who could command such as I?"
"The man who did bring the potion that fed thee," Magnus answered, with a stroke of insight. "Thou dost have pain if thou dost not drink it, dost thou not?"
For a long moment, Groghat just stared at him, his eyes burning.
Suddenly, his head snapped up, looking toward the window. His lips curved into a wicked grin, and he chuckled. "What is this I hear?"
The children strained their ears, but heard nothing. "I ca
"A maiden," Groghat said, with a throaty laugh, "and naught else—a lone maiden, wandering in the woodland. Nay, she must not go without escort!" He whirled away to the door.
As he opened it, he whirled back, stabbing a huge finger at them. "Do not think to wander—for this door shall be barred and, if thou dost seek to climb from the window, thou'lt fall to they death!" Then he was gone, and the door boomed behind him.
The children stared at each other in the sudden silence.
"Thou'lt not heed him, I trust," came a voice from the hearth.
The children spun about, startled. "Puck!" Cordelia squealed in delight.
"Wherefore art thou amazed? Did I not assure thee thou wouldst be guarded?"
"Truly," Magnus admitted. "Canst thou find a broom for Cordelia, Puck? Then we can fly out the window."
" 'Tis in the corner, yon. Thou hast but to clean ten years' worth of cobwebs from it."
"Ugh!" Cordelia flinched at the sight.
"Art thou so squeamish, then?" Magnus sighed. He went over to pick up the broom and clean it.
"Puck," Geoffrey asked, "what will the giant do with the maiden, when he doth catch her?"
"Eat her, belike," Cordelia said wisely.
"Mayhap summat of the sort," Puck said nervously. "Come, children! We must rescue!"
"Why, certes, we will," Geoffrey said, surprised, "but wherefore dost thou say we must, Robin?"
"For that this maiden ever did cry, ' 'Ware, Wee Folk!' ere she did pour out filthy wash-water, and did ever leave a bowl
of milk by her hearth for the brownies. Shall the Wee Folk desert her now, in her hour of need? Nay!" He raised his voice.
"Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and
groves,
And ye that on the sands with printless foot Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him When he comes back; you demi-puppets that By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make, Whereof the ewe not bites; and you whose pastime
Is to make midnight mushrooms, that rejoice To hear the solemn curfew! Thine aid she doth
require,
Who hath ever paid the tributes which thou dost desire!"
He was silent a moment, his head cocked to one side; then he gave a satisfied nod. "'Tis well. Come, children."
He started toward the window. Puzzled, they followed him, Cordelia dragging the broom.
Howling exploded outside.
The children stared at one another. "What noise is that?" Magnus cried.
Geoffrey gri
"Come see," Puck invited as he hopped up to the window-sill.
The boys levitated, drifting up behind him. Cordelia followed on her broom. They flew out the window, drifting over the woodland to a meadow, bisected by a cow path. A young girl was fleeing away from them, ru
"The Wee Folk did afright her with the semblance of a bear," Puck explained.
"It truly doth sound like one." Geoffrey peered down, then slowly gri
Below them, Groghat was stamping and howling as though he were demented.
"What have they done?" Cordelia gasped.
"Only cozened a hiveful of bees into thinking the giant's a
field of sweet flowers," Puck said i
"'Tis strong magic indeed." Gregory remembered Groghat's odor.
"Aye, but if they stop, he'll pursue her—or go home to find thou art gone, and run amok through the woods seeking his captives. And there are still the count and his family in the dungeons, on whom he might wreak his vengeance."
"Then we must put him to sleep," Magnus said firmly. "Come, Gregory. Where is this thought-path thou hast found?"