They would surely get there in time; mountains were slow to achieve maturity. Overhead the sun floated serenely on, radiating rays of contentment. It was a nice day.
"What is that?" Zyzzyva inquired.
Che looked. There was a small cloud to the side, moving swiftly to intercept their flight path. "A mischievous juvenile cloud, I think."
"That's interesting. I have a much clearer view of it from up here." Zyzzyva twisted around to get a better view. Her body was fit and firm; she was a warrior lass, and he could feel it as she moved. He wondered whether she had been killed in battle; if so, she must have given a good account of herself. "Are those pigtails?"
Che looked again. Sure enough, there were two vapor streamlets trailing behind, with misty bows at their ends. "It's a girl cloud."
The cloud got before them and began to huff and puff into a gray glob. There was an internal rumble, and lightning flashed. "She's trying to block us off," Zyzzyva said indignantly.
"Now I think I recognize her attitude," Che said. "A chip off the old cloud block."
"What block?"
"Fracto. He caught and married Happy Bottom, a storm from Mundania. They stay mostly in the Region of Air, but this one must have sneaked out of the nursery."
"Oh, yes-that encounter happened while I was still alive. The Land of Xanth almost got blown away."
"Fortunately Fracto decided to help."
A face formed on the cloud. It looked at them. Then the mouth opened, sucking in air.
"She is about to blow us away!" Zyzzyva said, alarmed.
"Fray!" Che called loudly. "Does your mother know where you are?"
The cloud choked on her breath, and her pigtails flounced. She scudded hastily away, leaving tiny balls of vapor behind.
"They're so cute when they're little," Zyzzyva said. "I hope I can get the stork's attention soon."
"Surely you will," Che said encouragingly.
They reached the Good Magician's Castle. Che was heading in for a landing on the roof, but unexpectedly lost elevation. He must have recovered too much weight, and was falling. He flicked his tail repeatedly to lighten his body, but it had no effect. Something was wrong.
"Hang on!" he cried. "Crash landing!"
Fortunately there was a large pillow bush growing beside the moat. He was able to steer for it, and landed with a dull whomp! Zyzzyva slid off his back, but seemed to be all right. Zombies were hard to hurt, even the well-preserved ones; it was part of their magic.
"I don't know what went wrong," he gasped. "Suddenly I lost my power of flight."
"No harm done," she said. "We can cross the bridge."
But as they approached the drawbridge, a group of five men appeared. They were bright colors, and were armed with assorted weapons. They arrayed themselves before the bridge in militaristic manner.
"That's a defensive platoon," Zyzzyva said. "We'll have to fight them."
"But I didn't come here to fight!" Che protested. "I just want to find the Ring of Earth."
"Maybe we can reason with them, then." She walked ahead, approaching the group. "We are here on important business. Please let us through to see the Good Magician."
"No," the orange man said, looking quickly around. He had large bright eyes.
"Who are you?" she asked, evidently nettled.
"I am Vita Man A. These are my companions, B, C, D, and E. Now go away, zombie."
Zyzzyva glanced back at Che. "I did ask them nicely," she said.
"Let me try." Che stepped forward. "It is urgent that we speak with Magician Humfrey. Please let us pass, or notify him that we are here."
"If you persist, we shall drive you off, crossbreed."
Che was getting a bit nettled himself. "But this can't wait. We have to find the-"
The orange man drew his sword and swung at Che. But Zyzzyva moved faster. Her own sword whistled as it moved. The orange man's head flew off his body.
Astonished, they both stared. "I thought he would dodge or block," Zyzzyva said.
"That annoys me," the Vita man said. He sheathed his sword, bent down to pick up his head, and set it back on his neck. Then he drew the sword again.
"He's a zombie!" Zyzzyva exclaimed. "He can't be killed."
"But he's not rotting."
"True. Xeth and I are the only zombies with no visible rot. So he must be a golem. An animated thing, not a real man. Curious to find organisms like that here."
"Do you know what?" Che asked. "I believe this is a Challenge! That's why I lost the power of flight."
"But we're not coming here as querents. We have legitimate business."
"There must be a mistake. But if we want to get in, it seems we must fathom the Challenges."
"I am not good at fathoming, since I died."
"Fortunately I haven't died. We simply have to figure out what is required."
"What is required is clearing these obnoxious men out of our way."
"There is surely a way without chopping them up, since that doesn't seem to hurt them."
"Very well. You fathom it, and if that doesn't work, I will chop them to small enough pieces so that we can cross before they get themselves back together."
"I don't think that's the proper way."
"What, are you a pacifist?"
Che hadn't thought about that. "I suppose I do try to find the most expedient solution to any problem. The Good Magician's Challenges generally do have some nonviolent way through, and I think it behooves us to find it."
"Well, it's your quest," she said doubtfully.
"If I can't find it, then we'll try your way."
"Fair enough."
Che considered. The five Vita men were five different colors. Did that mean anything?
"They look good enough to eat," Zyzzyva said. "Too bad I no longer have to eat."
"Eat!" Che said. "Vitamins!"
"Are you spelling that right?"
"Of course. That's the key. He said he was Vita Man A. We assumed he meant he was the first of five men denominated by letters of the alphabet. But it's a pun. These creatures really are supposed to be eaten."
"But zombies don't eat."
"This Challenge isn't for you, but for me. I have to eat them."
She remained dubious. "It will take you a long time."
"Probably one bite of each will do. Chop off a finger or toe, and I'll eat that."