cross

“You’re changing over again.” Her voice was watery and lilting, slightly evil. “You must have stared at that chess piece too long, you *king*.”

“You said there was treasure here in the High Country,” he declared firmly with iron voice. No joking around for him now.

“There *is*.”

“But not up here.”

“No,” she admitted. “That was a trick. Did you enjoy my trick?”

Axis didn’t answer. The transformation had been completed. “Better go groundside then.”

“In just a minute. I’m going to take an (alchemical) bath first. Clean myself off of all this fairy dust.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll leave without you.”