“Have strange magical creature here. Don’t think it represents immediate danger, but wish you would look at it, soon as possible.”

I read it again. It made no more sense the second time.

“Look at this,” I said, handing Joachim the piece of paper. “What do you think he means? If they ‘have’ a magical creature, does that mean that they’ve captured it? Or does he mean that some nixie is flitting around the castle at night? Any magical creature poses potential danger, yet he claims this one doesn’t-or at least not immediately. But if it’s not dangerous, why was he concerned enough to write me?”

Joachim shook his head, with no better idea than I.

“The count’s castle is over at the eastern end of the kingdom,” I said, “so it must be quite near your hermitage. If we go together we can investigate both at the same time. All right, then,” turning to the constable without giving Joachim a chance to object. “Send the count a message to expect us. We’ll leave for his castle as soon as I tell the regent we’re going.”

If nothing else, this certainly solved the problem of what to do while waiting to hear from the king and queen.

III

We sat under a beech tree, eating bread and cheese. Our horses, their saddles off, grazed before us. If I had been going alone, it would have been faster to fly, but flying is hard mental and physical work, and I still wasn’t as good at it as a qualified wizard really ought to be. Besides, I was glad of Joachim’s company.

“You had been starting to tell me about this hermitage,” I said, brushing crumbs from my lap and leaning back against the tree trunk, which rose smooth and white above us.

“Yes, but I’m beginning to wonder if I am wrong to bring a wizard into the affairs of the church without consulting the bishop,” Joachim said slowly.