Vinia wasn’t sure that would work, but she was not the type to argue, so she accepted the cap and set it on her head. Then she eyed the little Doubt cloud.

  There was a bright triple flash, and the cloud was blasted to fragments of evaporating dark mist. “Oh!” Vinia exclaimed as the cap sailed off her head. Benny quietly recovered it.

  “I suspect it worked,” Ion murmured. Dragoman’s long lip curled in the semblance of a smile, as a puff of his smoke incorporated the last bit of mist.

  “Out with it,” Hilda said. “All three of it.”

  Now, at least, things were clear. “The first flash was mixed doubt and idea,” Vinia said. “The princesses shouldn’t go out to scattered kingdoms, with or without princes. They may not be welcome, any more than they were in the past. We just don’t know, so it’s a gamble. Maybe they should stay here, not as crystals but alive and active.”

  “Now wait half an instant,” the dragon said. “I am looking forward to a peaceful retirement, not a chronic hassle with awakened imperious princesses. It was bad enough when they were frozen. All too soon they’d be quarreling and getting things all up in a heaval, ruffling my scales. I want them out of my lair.”

  “Of course,” Vinia agreed. “That’s the content of the second flash. They would stay here, not in your lair, but on your larger estate. They can form their own feminist kingdom, which the princes can join as consorts, running it themselves in whatever manner they choose. Not in your way at all. You will be like a patron god.”

  “Patron god! To a bunch of narcissistic girls? Only a Demon could enjoy that, but the damsels might not much like the way he did.” Male Demons were known to be grabby, just as female Demons were likely to be seductive.

  “That was the rest of that flash,” Vinia said. “You may dream of retirement alone, but that is unrealistic. You’d very soon be lonely as Hades. No, you don’t really want to be alone, after all these centuries with the princesses, even if they are more like dolls than people, in their crystal state. You need some compatible company. You can’t deny it.”

  Dragoman’s mouth opened to formulate a denial, but all that came out were thoughtful puffs of smoke. He had gotten accustomed to the presence of the princesses. “I must admit that I have been in touch with Chloe, the telepath. We have chatted at some length on occasion, un-dullifying a quiet evening.”

  “Precisely. You like girls. That’s why you have that girl tattoo. Why you agreed to this Service deal for the estate. It prevented you from being alone, in virtual solitary confinement, all this time, since you don’t get along well with your own kind. In your private fancy you really like girls, and want them liking you, hugging you, riding you, kissing your scales, the way damsels in fantasy do with their dragons.”

  The dragon puffed smoke, unable to deny that, either.

  “Well, this is your chance. You let the princesses use your nice estate, and they’ll be girlishly grateful forever after.”

  Now Dragoman had a small objection. “That kingdom they might make—it needs a name. A kingdom is not a kingdom without a significant moniker.”

  “That was the third flash,” Vinia said. “The name of it will be Thanx, like Xanth backward, pronounced Thanks.”

  “That will do,” the dragon agreed.

  “That thinking cap really came through for you,” Ion said.

  “It really did,” Vinia agreed. “But there’s still a trace of doubt I can’t quite spot.”

  “Let me check for that,” Benny said. He put on the thinking cap. There was a flash. They all looked at him. “Got it,” he said. “It’s that we can’t just decide this for the princesses. They need to discuss this among themselves, together, since they are the ones most concerned.”

  “That’s it,” Vinia agreed. “Can we make a joint dream with them all in it together?”

  “And we visitors, too,” Hilda said. “We’re the ones who will have to follow up, locating the princes for them. It makes a difference whether they plan to go to the princes’ home kingdoms, or stay here to form their own.”

  “I will contact Chloe,” Dragoman said. “She will know whether such a large dream is feasible.”

  After an instant more than a moment, Chloe reappeared in Vinia’s mind. “A large joint dream?” she asked.

  Vinia explained the problem. Chloe nodded. “I believe I can do it, but it will stretch my mental resource to the limit. I won’t be able to participate in the dialogue myself. I’ll be too busy keeping everyone else in the picture. You may have noticed that I faded out when enabling your dialogues with the other princesses. This would be more so.”

  “But it’s your decision too. Is there anyone else who thinks as you do, who can speak for you?”

  “Demesne, maybe. She’s a sensible Demoness.”

  “Yes. I have a ring to contact her.”

  “Oh? I didn’t see it.”

  “It’s invisible.” Vinia looked at her ring finger. “Demesne.”

  The Demoness’s face appeared before her. “Time for my interview?”

  “Not exactly. We’re going to have a joint dream for a discussion, all the princesses and all the rest of us, too, but Chloe can’t participate because she’ll be too busy enabling it. Can you speak for her when she needs to answer a question?”

  “That depends on the question.”

  “Whether to make a feminist kingdom here, instead of scattering to the princes’ realms.”

  “Oho! I like that notion.”

  “But does Chloe like it too?”

  “She surely does. She’s an independent cuss, like me. Like us all.”

  “Thank you. You can say that, when you need to.”

  Demesne faded, and Chloe returned. “I heard,” she said. “She’s right; I do like the notion.”

  “Good enough. Now can we make the big dream?”

  “Yes, but you waking folk will need to cooperate by focusing to the point of a near trance.”

  “I will tell the others.” Vinia exited her own trance state. “She can do it, but we need to go into trance states to participate.”

  “On our way,” Hilda said. She and Ion sat back and closed their eyes, and Benny followed suit. So did the dragon.

  Vinia shut her own eyes, returning to the scene. “On their way,” she said.

  “Then welcome to Cloud Nine.” Chloe faded.

  Vinia found herself on a small white cloud with a raised rim so that nothing would roll off it. Beyond it she could see distant mountains. She looked to her other side and saw down to the patchwork of the countryside, similar to the view from the magic carpet. It was floating serenely across the Land of Xanth.

  Dragoman was the first to join her there. “She has used this setting before, in our dialogues,” he said. “Think of it as like your flying carpet, only softer.”

  “I think I just did.” Vinia pinched an errant tuft of cloud. “You’re right: it is softer.”

  Then, one by one, the other princesses and members of the Quest appeared, ten in all, seated around the cloud in two groups using deck chairs made of cloud foam. The Questers knew about the meeting, but it was new to the princesses. “Uh, I think we need a moderator,” Vinia said. “Someone to introduce folk, explain things, and keep order. Maybe you, Demesne?”

  The Demoness nodded. “I said I would help where needed. This must be the first occasion.” She looked around. “First we need to know one another somewhat. I am Demesne Demoness, with the talent of organization of person or place.” She glanced at Vinia. “This is Vinia Human, whom all of you know. Vinia, why did you call this joint meeting?” She knew, of course, but was making it clear to everyone.

  “We got an idea,” Vinia said. “But the princesses need to discuss it and approve it before it goes any further. It is to make a feminist kingdom here on Dragoman’s estate, rather than have you scatter to different kingdoms that may not really be any better for you than our original ones were. To bring the princes in as consorts rather than rulers. To call this kingdom Thanx.”

  “Thank you, Vinia,” Demesne said. “So we have the subject. Now the participants. You all know Dragoman Dragon, of course.” She glanced his way. He was coiled on a third area of the cloud. He puffed a ball of smoke in acknowledgment. “He has a vested interest in the welfare of the princesses and won’t let us go until he is certain we are where we need to be, with whom we should be.”

  The others looked at the dragon, recognizing him.

  “The children are Prince Ion, a Magician of elixirs,” Demesne continued smoothly. Ion nodded. “His twin sister, Hilda, a Sorceress of sewing. There is magic in her craftsmanship. For example, she made the flying carpet that brought them here.” Hilda nodded. “And Benny Buck, Hilda’s associate.” Benny nodded. “They are here because they are the ones actually on the Quest to rescue us. They will have to explain about us to the prospective princes, so they need to know everything they can, including how we look and talk and think. I think they will mainly just be watching our discussion.”

  The princesses looked at the Questers, evidently not completely certain of their relevance, but did not challenge them.

  “And the other princesses. One is Chloe Centaur, who is here in spirit rather than appearance. She is the telepath who is enabling this mutual dream. She looks like this.” The Demoness fuzzed into smoke, then formed into the aspect of Chloe, complete with gently waving wings. “Hello, all,” she said in Chloe’s voice, then fizzed back to Demesne. “Hula Human, who can dance provocatively.” Hula nodded as she stood briefly to flex her hips. Vinia saw both Ion and Benny take note, momentarily fascinated; they were evocative hips. “Elga Elf.” Nod. “Goblette Goblin, whose talent is to intoxicate a man by gazing into his eyes.”

  “It’s a tease,” Goblette said. “And self-defense. My romantic interest is in a princess, not a prince.”

  “And Beetrix Bee,” Demesne concluded. Beetrix buzzed her wings without lifting off the cloud.

  “Now the question,” Demesne said. “Does anyone have pros or cons about the Kingdom, or rather Queendom of Thanx? Show of hands, please, and I will call on you in turn, to maintain some semblance of order.”

  All four other princesses raised their hands.

  Demesne smiled. “I am glad to see such general interest. Hula?”

  “I love the idea. But we can’t just take Dragoman’s land. What does he think of this?”

  “Dragoman?”

  The dragon cleared his throat, puffing smoke. “Vinia pointed out to me that I’d be lonely, retiring alone. I would like to have your continuing company, provided it is voluntary.”

  “Our appreciative company,” Demesne said, glancing significantly at the other princesses.

  Hula took the hint. She got up and walked to the dragon, her hips swaying. She put her arm around his neck. “If you do this for us, dear dragon, we will do this for you.” She kissed a scale.

  Dragoman’s scales turned pink. He was blushing. Vinia realized that in the real world that might not be possible, but this was a dream scene where special effects were easy.

  Goblette walked over. “Me, too, for this scene.” She hugged him from the other side, then gazed into his eye and exerted her power. It was of course intoxicating, at least for that side.

  Elga joined them. She climbed up on Dragoman’s head and kissed an ear. She whispered a sweet nothing. That was apparent by the empty speech balloon that floated up. The balloon itself was heart shaped.

  The dragon practically melted. His secret dream was becoming wonderfully real.

  “I suspect this will be a daily scene, in the Queendom of Thanx,” Demesne said. “Giving thanx should be popular there.”

  In due course, or maybe slightly overdue, the princesses returned to their places, leaving the dragon in a satisfied slump.

  “I think we are agreed that we like the idea of Thanx,” Demesne said. “The presentations we record can specify that the princes must come to us, not we to them. That should be an excellent selective device.”

  The princess bee buzzed. “Yes, Beetrix,” the Demoness said.

  More buzzing. Then the telepathic translation kicked in. “How will our messages be recorded? We can’t transmit dreams.”

  “Good point,” Demesne said. She looked at Dragoman. “Is there anything suitable in your dragon hoard? I know those treasures are not necessarily confined to gems and metals.”

  “There is,” the dragon agreed. “I have half a dozen Dreaming Jewels I saved decades ago in the hope that they might someday be useful. They are extremely rare, being blue rubies.” He flicked his tail. “Here they are.” Six blue rubies appeared.

  Vinia was amazed. They could be brought into this dream? But of course they were evidently the stuff of dreams. As for their color: they had to be rare indeed, as a ruby was red by definition. Anything else was sapphire.

  “How do they work?” Demesne asked.

  “Simply stand before one, invoke it, and do your presentation. When you are done, say ‘Cut,’ and it has your scene. Invoking it again thereafter will play the scene as a spot hologram.”

  “That should do it,” the Demoness agreed. “Thanx.”

  Now Goblette had a comment. “If we are going to have a kingdom, I mean queendom, we should organize it, in case the princes have questions about who’s in charge and how it’s run. For example, who is to be the queen of it?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Demesne said. “Perhaps we should consider nominations and vote.”

  “I nominate you,” the goblin said. “You have the mind for organizing it.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t thinking of—”

  “I second the nomination,” Elga said.

  “All in favor say aye,” Hula said.

  All four princesses said, “Aye.”

  It occurred to Vinia that this could be the good luck Dara’s ring was bringing her friend. The ring had oriented on Demesne to bring them here, so she was the target. But it could also just be coincidence.

  “But Chloe didn’t get to vote,” the Demoness protested weakly.

  “Majority already carries it,” Goblette said. “Would Chloe object?”

  “Well, no. But—”

  “And the other offices,” Hula said. “I believe I could handle Entertainment. I would start with dance classes.”

  “Chloe should handle Communications,” Goblette said. “With her telepathy she can communicate with anyone or any creature. That’s important for interkingdom commerce.”

  “And I can dandle Defense,” Beetrix buzzed. “Once I get my hive going. No one with tender flesh will try to raid more than once.”

  “And I can handle Cuisine,” Goblette said. “I’m a wicked cook. Meals are important.”

  “I know how to keep a castle in order,” Elga said. “Elvin design and maintenance are notorious. My job.”

  Demesne sighed. “It seems we have our assignments.”

  Was being queen really good luck for her? Vinia wondered. Or a duty she would have been satisfied without? It was hard to know.

  “Now those presentations,” Goblette said. “Who first?”

  The Demoness smiled. “You first. You plainly have the initiative for it.”

  “As you wish.” The goblin walked to the dragon’s area and picked up a gem. “Maybe we should have a better setting. How about a poolside interview?”

  Demesne considered. “Chloe made this dream setting. Maybe she can modify it slightly.”

  A lovely blue-green pool formed in the center of the cloud, almost dunking Benny. He backed off, smiling. “More bang for the buck,” he murmured.

  Goblette took her place beside the pool. She set the gem down near it, then stood between the gem and the pool so there would be a poolside background. “Invoke.” A spherical flare of light spread out from the ruby to include the goblin.

  “I am Princess Goblette Gobliness, a resident of the Queendom of Thanx. I am looking for a suitable princess to join me here and help me run the Cuisine.” She continued, neatly summarizing the situation and her place in it. “Cut.” The light sphere faded out. She picked up the gem and tucked it in her hair.

  The other princesses followed, except for Chloe, who would have to do hers later. It was soon done.

  “That’s a relief,” Hula said. “Let’s relax with a nice swim in the pool. I’m sure it is suitably warm and fresh.” She doffed her clothes in a single motion and waded into the water. In three-fifths of a moment Goblette joined her, and then Elga. All three had marvelous figures that the bouncing activity did nothing to conceal. They seemed to have forgotten that there were three males watching. Or had they?

  Beetrix remained clear, as swimming was not a bee thing, but she seemed to be enjoying the show. Chloe, of course, could not participate directly.

  “Oh, bleep, why not?” Demesne asked rhetorically. Her own clothing puffed into smoke, exposing a splendid body, and she sailed up over the pool, coming down in a belly flop that splashed all the spectators. None of them complained.

  Then the four engaged in a happy splash battle, while Dragoman, Ion, and Benny watched, raptly. They did not freak out, quite, as one was a dragon and one or two were underage, and anyway there were no panties in view.

  Hilda’s eye caught Vinia’s. Then they got up as one, doffed their own clothes, and leaped into the pool to join the fun. They were younger than the others, but a good splashing party was not to be missed. It was all just a dream anyway, wasn’t it? What happened in a dream stayed in the dream, no?

  Chapter 4

  Elves

  Back in the air, they relaxed. “You girls were naughty,” Benny said. “Not that I’m objecting.”

  “You always say you want to see more of me,” Hilda said. “Now you have.”