“I do understand loneliness.”

  She kissed him. “I mean to see that you will never again be lonely.”

  “It ended the moment you joined me.”

  “For me too.” She kissed him again.

  There was a tap on the door. It turned out to be Demesne. She did not need to tap, as she could have phased through the door, but she was being polite. “I believe you have saved Thanx. Apoca told me what you did.”

  “It was really Wanda, the personification of the magic wand I use to conjure spirits into the figurines Ecstasy makes. I didn’t know it would work out that way, but I am pleased it did.”

  “We owe you more than I can say.”

  Nydia shook her head. “You helped make the Quest possible. There is no debt.”

  “You and your friends will always be welcome in the Queendom.” Demesne faded out.

  Nydia closed the door and returned to Vol. “I believe we were working our way into the One Thing a nymph is good at, unless you are bored with it.”

  “Never.” He kissed her almost savagely.

  There was another tap on the door. “One of those nights,” Nydia muttered, returning to open it. Vol waited, letting her handle her business her way.

  This time it was Wanda and the personalized knife. “We need to clarify something.”

  “The deal was your freedom and a man,” Nydia said. “You did your part, and it saved the Queendom of Thanx. That’s clear enough.” With luck that would end it, and she could get on with what had bored her in the Retreat, but now was something she ardently desired.

  “May we come in? There is more.”

  Nydia sighed inwardly. It really was one of those nights. “Come in,” she said with forced courtesy.

  They entered and sat. Nydia and Vol sat opposite them, he maintaining his silence. “Vol gave you a gift you may not have realized,” Wanda said.

  Nydia was perplexed. “A gift? To me?”

  “My loyalty to you.”

  Had she misheard? “I do not understand.”

  “I need to explain about my companion Knight Knife. He is no ordinary instrument. He is an enchanted hero who excelled with the blade. He was favored by the gods of old, thus could not be killed, but his enemies wanted him permanently out of the picture. So when they finally captured him, suffering horrendous losses in the process, they chose another way. They transformed him into a sword and masked even that by giving it the semblance of a mere hunting knife. Then they threw it away so that it was lost.”

  “Lost,” Nydia repeated, understanding how it had come to the Void.

  “Now he is mine, and I love him and he loves me. We come from wildly different backgrounds, but we are both utilities, and because of you we have joined together.”

  “He was a living man? I didn’t know.”

  “But Vol did. That’s why he chose Knight to join me. It was his quiet gift to you.”

  Nydia looked at Vol. “That’s ridicu—” But the word foundered in midair as she saw his trace nod. Maybe the terminal “lous” was now in the void.

  “He wanted to please you,” Wanda continued. “Without being obvious. He found a way.”

  Nydia shook her head ruefully. “It has been a busy day. I seem to be slow on the uptake. How was helping you a gift to me?”

  “Vol knows my nature. There have been other wands, and some must have gotten lost and wound up in his domain. So he knows that a wand, like a sword, is not complete in itself. It has to be wielded by a sentient creature, like a human being, or it lacks any point in existence. That was the true punishment meted out to Knight. He was rendered lost and useless. With me he has companionship and love, and that’s good, but we both still lack that point. We need to be wielded. Unlike other tools, we now have a choice in whom to be wielded by. And we choose you. Vol knew it would happen.”

  “Me!” Nydia exclaimed. “I’m only a nymph!”

  “You’re a woman and a special one. You are a good person, without selfish designs. You just want to do the right thing. We really respect that.”

  “But—”

  “She’s right,” Anthem said with a background chord of conviction. “You are not only a woman, but a good one.”

  “And so we come to you,” Wanda concluded. “We want you to be the one to wield us. We will do everything we can for you with absolute loyalty. We know you will use us appropriately, always doing the correct thing.”

  “But soon the Quest may end and the adventure will be over.”

  “Not just during the Quest,” Knight said. “During your life.”

  “But even if I am, well, worthy, I’m no warrior. I could hardly lift a real sword, let alone wield it effectively, even if I had the nerve. Your loyalty would be wasted.”

  Wanda smiled. “You need to learn more about magic swords.” She glanced at Knight. “Show her, dear.”

  Knight came to Nydia and took her right hand. He dissolved into the sword, which she now held. It was featherlight.

  “But if an enemy came at me, I still would not know how to, um, wield it.”

  Vol smiled. In his hands appeared a full-sized mock-up of a predatory troll intent on violence, rapine, and worse. It eyed Nydia as Vol stepped back. Its teeth showed in a smile that had nothing to do with niceness.

  The sword leaped forward, hauling Nydia behind it. It plunged into the center of the troll. Nydia shrieked and let go, scrambling backwards.

  The troll stood there, not falling. Because the sword had passed through its body and into the wall beyond, literally pinning the supposed monster in place.

  “You don’t need to know how,” Wanda said. “It knows how.” She went to pull the sword out. The troll collapsed. Vol gestured and it disappeared, returned to the void. Wanda kissed the hilt of the sword and Knight reappeared. Both looked at her expectantly.

  She could indeed be a warrior lass with such a weapon. And there just might come a time when she needed it, for herself or to help another member of the Quest. Yet she was only a nymph, maybe morphing into a woman, not at all a creature of violence, however she appeared.

  Nydia fought off the feeling of being overwhelmed. “I think I need advice.”

  Wanda smiled. “Get it.”

  Nydia rose and went to the door. Vol remained behind. “I do not want to influence your decision,” he explained. “I will talk with these folk.”

  She didn’t argue. She went to Ecstasy’s door and tapped lightly.

  “Nydia!” the woman said, surprised, when she saw her. “I thought you were breaking Vol in.”

  “Something came up. I’m the one being broken in.”

  Ecstasy might look like a bombshell creature at the moment, but now the internal maturity came through. “Come in.”

  Oakley was there, of course, slightly disheveled. “Bleep!” Nydia swore. “I’m interrupting.”

  Both of them laughed. “We make out continuously when alone together,” Ecstasy said. “It’s impossible not to interrupt. Sometimes I revert to my real shape, which the ectoplasm enables me to do without having to fetch my original body, or I add substance and become hugely endowed, and it hardly makes a difference. Oakley likes me any which way and enjoys the variety. We are reveling in it. That activity can wait a moment or three. You need help, obviously. We are happy to provide whatever we can. We owe our acquaintance to your Quest.”

  Nydia quickly explained the situation. “So what is the right thing for me to do? I am not trusting my own judgment at this point.”

  Ecstasy pulled a skein of ectoplasm from the air and quickly fashioned it into what looked like a wide utility belt. Then she put it on Nydia, snapping its clasp shut. “There are pockets for a wand, knife, bag, and other items as necessary.”

  “You—you are saying I should do it?”

  “Obviously,” Oakley said.

  Nydia’s next thought seemed almost irrelevant. “Your ectoplasm makes them solid. How can they still become wand and knife?”

  “Ectoplasm is marvelous stuff. It can be solid or vaporous as necessary. Ideal for them, and they know it.”

  So it was decided. “Uh, thank you.”

  They were already back making out. “Mmmph,” Ecstasy said around her kiss.

  Nydia returned to her own chamber. All three understood the moment they saw her. Wanda and Knight touched the belt, reverted, and fit into adjacent pockets next to the bag. Vol enfolded her, heedless of the belt. So they weren’t alone, technically. It didn’t matter; Wanda and Knight understood perfectly. Nydia set the belt aside, along with her clothing, and delighted in the moment.

  In the morning, Nydia clarified for the others the developments of the night. Then the group went to the communal hall for breakfast before their departure for Andromeda, including those who merely kept company. They liked being together, and it continued being a learning experience for the Elements.

  Demesne was there, and Apoca, together with their spouses and many of the leading citizens. “There has been no more mischief,” Demesne said. “The magic mirror says that will continue. So does the Good Magician. Thanks to your intercession. We hereby award you and all of your Quest members honorary citizenship of the Queendom of Thanx. Your return to us will be welcomed.” The others applauded.

  Soon they were out in a field with the citizens attending. “I can make a tunnel to Andromeda,” Santo said, “but that’s a galaxy, and far away. I can only be sure that there will be land at the other end.” He glanced at the assembled Elements. “We may need your help.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” Flame said. The others nodded.

  Santo gestured. A hole in the sky appeared at the top of a rise, tilting upward, large enough for people to walk through upright single or as couples.

  Nydia’s heart was beating almost painfully hard, but she put on her best social smile. “We shall return,” she said, waving to the citizens. They waved back. Then she nerved herself and strode into the tunnel, Vol beside her. They were on their way to Andromeda Galaxy.

  Chapter 10

  Andromeda

  Nydia led the way, deliberately not looking back, implying that she had absolute confidence in the journey and the endorsement of the others. That it was almost routine to cross between galaxies. But her hand clutched Vol’s with tremulous tightness, betraying her fear. He kept pace with her, firmly sustaining her fingers between his. Anthem Ant relayed his thought: “You comforted me when I was alone. Now I support you when you are afraid.”

  Afraid? “Not anymore,” she responded gratefully. His presence and understanding, backed by his phenomenal power, made all the difference. Her fear retreated, losing the battle for her mind.

  “And now you have us,” Wanda said. “I will conjure what you need to animate, and Knight will make you a formidable warrior lady.”

  That was indeed reassuring. “Thank you both.”

  In fewer than a hundred steps, they reached the exit of the tunnel. It was hard to believe that they had traveled three million light years. Not that she really understood what a light year was, let alone millions of them. The tunnel opened onto a barren plain. Now she hesitated for another reason as a thought erupted. “Is—is there air?”

  Moonroe and Aery stepped forward. “Now there is,” Aery said, gesturing as a gust stirred dust beyond the exit.

  They stepped out. Suddenly it was horrendously cold. “He-heat!” Nydia gasped.

  Noletta and Flame joined them. A blast of heat warmed them. Oh yes, they needed the Elements.

  The others emerged. There was still a problem: they were so light on their feet that even a little jump would send them flying.

  “I could add matter to increase the gravity indirectly,” Eartha said, “but that might mess up this planetoid in other ways. It’s not used to heaviness. We’re probably better off to bear with it briefly while Santo generates another tunnel to wherever we’re going in this galaxy.”

  “This is the galactic periphery,” Santo agreed. He smiled. “The outer edge.” That was for those who lacked his vocabulary. He glanced at Vinia. “Where to next?”

  The girl oriented. She pointed. “That way. I think it’s near the center. That makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  “Absolutely,” Moonroe said.

  Santo nodded. “I will tunnel to it.”

  Something occurred to Nydia. “The old tunnel, the one we came through—what happens to it?”

  “Fear not. I will leave it in place so that you can take it back, should anything happen to me.”

  Noe shuddered. “Please don’t let anything happen to you.” She loved him and didn’t mind showing it, one-sided as the affection might be.

  “You don’t have to shut down the prior tunnels before making new ones?” Nydia asked.

  “Correct. I do not, though I try not to litter the landscape with them. They could be awkward in the wrong hands.” He focused and a new tunnel opened before them.

  They took it of course. This one exited onto a larger planet where there was plenty of gravity, heat, and air. But it was strange in undefinable ways.

  “This is curious,” Rob said. “It’s not like the Land of Xanth or any Mundane planet I am aware of. I think we would be best off learning more about it before we go farther.” He had a certain feeling for planets, as his body was still holding Xanth together.

  Eartha agreed. She, too, had special awareness, her essence being the substance of those planets. “For one thing, it seems to lack magic.”

  That gave Nydia a chill. She felt naked without magic.

  A big book appeared in Vol’s arms. “This is an atlas of the galactic cluster, lost so long ago there is no current record of it or its origin,” he said. “The ancients knew things we have forgotten.”

  “True,” Santo agreed.

  “True,” Lilith echoed. Santo had not humiliated her on the dance floor so much as won her respect. He really was immune to her charms.

  “It should have the information we need.” Vol found a waist-high stone with a flat surface and opened the book on it.

  They pored over it. The atlas was amazing. It identified every star in all the galaxies of the cluster and all their myriad planets. It must have been compiled by a Demon who eventually lost interest and went on to other projects. All they had to do was focus mentally on the type of information they wanted, and the book somehow guided them to it. Soon they were looking at the planet they stood on. It was named GEH, for Galactic Event Horizon, the dread boundary of which it seemed GEH orbited just outside. It was illuminated by the massed stars of the galaxy beyond, and heated by the furnace of the compression of space itself in the vicinity. It had been deformed by the extreme stresses of gravity here and was now not a sphere but a long, flat band.

  “Like my house in the Void!” Oakley exclaimed. “By no coincidence, obviously. Because the only free travel is along or beside, not above or below.”

  “Only this is bigger,” Nydia said nervously. “Much bigger.”

  “Surely larger than most planets,” he agreed. “We should be safe as long as we stay on it and don’t step off the edge.”

  They all looked at the GEH edge, visible not far distant. A suppressed shudder rolled through them like the stress of an approaching earthquake. Beyond it was deadly nothing. They would stay well clear of that!

  “Actually, a person stepping off that edge would not fall,” Santo said. “He would be in orbit beside it. But he might have trouble ever returning.”

  “So it seems best to stay close,” Noe said.

  Nydia wondered passingly whether Noe had a special talent that would be of assistance on GEH.

  Rob answered, mentally. “Her talent is to be anonymous in plain sight, not the best or worst in anything, so folk tend not to notice her. When he is close to her, Santo shares that anonymity. That can be useful.”

  Nydia realized that it could indeed be useful, considering the prejudice against his orientation.

  They resumed their trek across the strange landscape.

  “Who is that?” Noe asked.

  Nydia looked. There, almost hidden by a low hillock, was a vague man-shape right at the edge. But it couldn’t be a man unless the human kind had somehow colonized this galaxy. That seemed quite unlikely.

  “A native, obviously,” Oakley said. “Evidently about to step off.”

  “No!” Noe said in horror. She hurried toward the shape, heedless of any danger.

  “She has a tender heart,” Santo said. “Especially for anyone or anything that’s different. I may have to rescue her.” Yes, Noe’s sympathy evidently extended to any conscious creature. Nydia was getting another inkling why Santo liked her; she was a worthy person. He followed Noe’s path to the hillock.

  So did Nydia and Vol. The figure turned to face them as they approached it, though it did not seem to have a face or even a front. It looked vaguely like a big snail or slug near the ground, with a vertical body formed of what looked like water and air, weird as that was. Above it hovered a flickering fire, vaguely like a head of hair.

  “What is the color around it, as Vinia sees it?” Nydia asked Rob silently.

  “Green.”

  That was a relief. They had to be extremely wary of strangers or odd things here in the alien galaxy.

  “Hello!” Noe called.

  The figure formed an extension with a water-lens and turned it toward her. Its surface shimmered. Sound came from the shimmering torso, rising like a question. “Eeelooo?”

  “Oh, we don’t speak the same language, of course!” She turned to Vol. “Do you have a translator?”