Spellsinger 03 – The Day of the Dissonance by Foster, Alan Dean

purchases you make. There are bonuses and discounts to

be had in that place you may not find to your liking.”

“We’ll watch our step,” he assured her.

She nodded solemnly. “Watch your hearts and souls as

well. Good luck to you, man, and to your companions.

Perhaps if you return by a similar route we can show you

the Cloud Dance.” She looked wistful. “I may even

participate myself.”

“Dancing in the air isn’t as difficult as dancing on the

ground,” said Folly.

Grelgen grinned at her. “That depends on what you’re

doing in the air, infant.” With great dignity she pivoted

and led the four Elders back to the village.

They were free, Jon-Tom knew, and so again were the

enchanted folk.

THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE

203

XII

The map led them out of the narrow defile that was the

enchanted canyon. Music and rhythmic grunts followed

them as they left behind a village full of fairies aerobicizing

like mad. Grelgen had a long way to go before she looked

like Jane Fonda but she was determined to out perform her

subjects, and Jon-Tom didn’t doubt she had the willpower

to do so.

Several days’ march through game-filled country brought

them over the highest mountain pass and down onto the

western slopes. Despite Grelgen’s insistence that the jour-

ney the rest of the way to Cranculam would not be easy,

they were beginning to relax. Since leaving behind the

enchanted village they had encountered no dangerous ani-

mals or sapients, and food was plentiful.

Ahead lay the desert. Jon-Tom felt certain they could

cross it in a couple of days. AH was well.