neetha Napew - Spellsinger

chain. After adjusting it in his right eye, the rabbit said with considerable

dignity: "Surely you would not set upon a traveler in distress. I am the victim

of antisocial activities." He gestured tiredly upstream to where the boat had

vanished.

"I cast myself on your mercies, being too exhausted to fight or flee any

farther."

"Take it easy," said Talea. "You play square with us and we'll be square with

you."

"An estimable offer of association, beautiful lady." Bending over, the rabbit

shook his head and ran a clutching paw down each long white and pink ear. Water

dripped from their ends.

A few isolated patches of brown and gray spotted the otherwise white fur. Nose

and ears were partly pink. From a hole in the back of his breeches protruded a

white tail. At the moment it resembled a soggy lump of used cotton.

Mudge had been assisting Pog in trimming and tying off the end of his stitchery.

At first he'd paid the new arrival only cursory attention. Now he left the bat

and moved to join his companions. As he did so he had a better view of the

bedraggled but still unbowed refugee, and he let out an ear-splitting whistle.

Expecting the worst, the rabbit flinched back, thinking he was now about to be

attacked despite Talea's announcement of assistance. But when he got his first

look at the otter he let out a sharp whistle of his own. Mudge flung himself

into the taller animal's arms and the two spent several minutes apparently

trying to beat each other to death.

"Bugger me for a fag ferret!" Mudge was shouting gleefully. "Imagine seein' you

'ere!" He turned, panting, to find his friends staring dumbfoundedly at him."

'Ere now, you chaps don't know who this be, do you?" He whacked the rabbit on

the back once more. "Introduce yourself, you vagrant winter coat!"

The rabbit removed his monocle carefully and cleaned it with a dry sleeve. "I am

Caspar di Lorca di l'Omollia di los Enansas Giterxos. However," and he slipped

the now sparkling eyepiece back in place, "you may all call me Caz."

He frowned as he examined his silk stockings and pants. "You must please excuse

my dreadful appearance, but circumstances compelled that I exit hastily and by

unexpected aquatic route from my most recent method of conveyance."

"Good riddance ta 'em," snorted Pog, giving the horizon the finger.

"Ah, the aerial disruption that facilitated my departure." The rabbit watched as

Pog tested his repaired wing. "It was because of your arrival that I was able to

take leave so unbloodily, my airborne friend. Though I had little time for

extraneous observation I saw the disgusting manner in which you were treated. It

was rather like my own situation."

Clothahump had little time for individual tales of woe, no matter how nicely

embroidered. "Talea said that we would treat you fairly, stranger. So we shall.

I must tell you immediately that I am a wizard and that," he pointed at Jon-Tom,

"is an otherworldly wizard. With two wizards confronting you, you dare not lie.

Now then, be good enough to tell us exactly why you jumped off that boat and why

several members of its crew chased you into the water themselves?"

"Surely the sad details of my unfortunate situation would only bore you, wizened

sir."

"Try me." Clothahump wagged a warning finger at the rabbit. "And remember what I

said about telling the truth."

Caz looked around. He was cut off from the rest of the shore. Two humans of

enormous size towered expectantly over him. If the turtle was no wizard, he was

clearly convinced he was one.

"Best do as 'Is Smartship says, mate," Mudge told him." 'E's a true wizard as 'e

says. Besides," the otter hunkered down on his haunches against a smooth section

of sand, "I'm curious meself."

"There's not much to relate." Caz moved over to their smoking camp fire and

continued to dry himself. "It was in the nature of a childish dispute over a

game of chance."

"That sounds about right." Talea grinned tightly. "They did throw you overboard,

then?"

The rabbit smiled slightly, turned, and shoved his tail end toward the fire.

"Sadly, they would not have been content with that. I fear they had somewhat

more lethal designs on my person. I was forced to fend them off until your

friend with the wings momentarily distracted them, thus enabling me to enter the

river intact. Though I first tried my best to reason with them."

"Yeah," said Pog from nearby, "I saw how ya was reasoning wid dem." He flapped

experimentally, rose a few feet into the air. "Dey reasoned ya all over da

ship!"

"Ignorant peddlars of trash and quasi-pirates," said Caz huffily. He studied his

sodden lacework in evident distress. "I fear they have caused me to ruin my

attire."

"What did they catch you cheating at," asked Flor casually, "cards?"

"I beg your pardon, vision of heaven, but that is an accusation so vile I cannot

believe it fell from the lips of one so magnificent as to constitute a monument

to every standard of beauty in the universe."

"It fell," she told him.

"I never cheat at cards. I have no need to, being something of an expert at

their manipulation."

"Which means they caught you cheating at dice," Talea said assuredly.

"I fear so. My expertise with the bones does not match my skill at cards."

Talea laughed. "Meaning it's a damnsight harder to hide a die up your sleeve

than a card. No wonder your shirt boasts so much lace."

The rabbit looked hurt, ran fingers through the fur on his forehead and then up

one ear. "I had hoped to find refuge. Instead I am subject to constant

ridicule."

"Truth, you mean."

Caz readied another reply, but Flor interrupted him. "Never you mind. We're all

busy showing each other how tough we can be. We'll just have to make sure not to

gamble with you."

"Where such loveliness is present, I never gamble," he informed her. Flor looked

nonplussed.

"Well, you're well out o' it, mate," observed Mudge. "From the look o' you,

squelchy as a fish or not, you've done right well since the last we met."

"I recall that encounter clearly." Now the rabbit was cleaning his buckled

shoes. "If I remember correctly, that was also an occasion that demanded a hasty

departure."

High otter-laugh whistled over the water. "I'll never forget it, guv. The look

on that poor banker clerk's face when 'e found out 'ow 'e'd been duked!" Their

voices blended as they reminisced.

Talea listened for a few minutes, then walked to the water's edge. Flor was

sitting there, watching the two furry friends converse.

"Otherworlder," Talea began, "that Caz had a certain look in his eye when he was

talking to you. I know his type. Fast talk, fast action, fast departure. You

watch yourself."

Flor looked up, then stood. She shaded the comparatively diminutive Talea.

"Thanks for the advice, but I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself.

Comprende?"

"Size and wise don't necessarily go together," the redhead said. "I was just

giving you fair warning."

"Thanks for your concern."

"Just remember one thing about him." Talea nodded toward the chattering Caz.

"He'll probably screw anything that walks and likely a few things that don't.

Old Mudge is a talker, but this one's a doer. You can tell."

"I'm sure I can rely on your experienced judgment," replied Flor evenly. She

moved away before Talea could ask exactly what the last comment meant.

"That is my recent history," the rabbit was saying. He examined the otter's