31 Sidekicks, Sanity, and Salinity (2/2)

”Bleeeeeeeat.”BugleHead flopped back onto the sand.

”Do you think it's real?” Herby asked.

”I suppose with the medicinal properties it might make more sense to give it to you.” HoneyBeard conceded.

BugleHead popped up again.

Herby shrugged.”That's all just superstition,” she said.”I wouldn't consider it any more than a curiosity.Nothing of real value.”

BugleHead flopped down again.

”So what are we going to do now?” HoneyBeard asked.

We could just go back to our lives.,” Herby replied. ”The centaurs would probably escort you home in return for the alicorn, although I would suggest that you have it held in safekeeping rather than deal with them in trust.

”That option will always be available,” HoneyBeard said. ”In the meantime, we could go to that parlay and find out about this other what-you-say 'who-man'.”

”And why would we do that?”

HoneyBeard scratched his chin and thought a moment. ”One reason might be that prophecy is, by its nature insidious and not easily defeated.So Nelda may well end up back here at some point and need the information.Another is that pictures are open to interpretation, maybe Nelda comes first, then the other who-man, then the nastiness. I hate to think there is just us between the world and a cataclysm, but they do say the gods like to laugh.”

”Hmmm,” Herby played with the sand listlessly.”Or possibly you are making up excuses for an act of sheer idiocy in the protection of our dignity.”

”' Our' dignity, sister?”

”I am certainly not letting you borrow my brother's boat without supervision.That wouldgrossly irresponsible.”

BugleHead popped up again.”Izz we goin' on a 'dventure?”

HoneyBeard winced. ”I suppose I was bound to catch it sooner or later.”