"Hi." He tried for a nonchalant grin. "I'm the new wizard in town. You must be the princess."
Her eyes caught fire, and she came up out of the low, hourglass-shaped chair like a lioness grabbing for a careless gazelle. "Wizard? You are truly such? You do not mock me, sir?"
"Uh-not the world's greatest wizard, mind you - but I do seem to be able to work a few tricks."
"Aye, most truly, if you can bring yourself into this cell! Why came you here?"
"Well, uh, I heard there was a lady around who could use a helping hand. Need anything?"
"Aye! I have great need, if you are truly for me." She straightened slowly, regaining her poise. "Whence come you, sir?"
Matt started to answer, then caught himself. "Uh-it's a little on the complicated side."
"I have no pressing engagements." She had more than looks; she had a sense of humor, too. "Pray tell me whence you come."
"From another world - another universe, really. I was there, and the next thing I knew, I was here. In Bordestang, I mean."
Her eyes widened. "You were witched into our world?"
"You could look at it that way, yes," Matt said judiciously. "Though I think 'witched' might be a little strong..."
"I do not." She was very sure of herself; Matt found it a little unnerving. "Was it a sorcerer brought you here?"
"No, I don't really think so. The only one I've met so far is Malingo, and he seemed a little surprised to see me."
"Good. Then belike you have it aright; no evil one brought you here. Therefore some good and saintly wizard must have transported you."
"Now, wait a minute," Matt objected. "I think you're making a questionable assumption, there---"
She cut him off. "I do not. How escaped you from Malingo?"
"Oh, I told him I wasn't quite ready to make up my mind about which side I was on, so he gave me some time to think it over."
Her eyebrows rose. "He must need your power, then; 'tis not like him to let a wizard live who is not subject to him. Did he wall you up?"
"Did he what? ... Oh, you mean did he throw me into the dungeon! Yeah, right between the salt pork and the extra arrows."
"Aye, in a cell with a spell on it, to prevent your leaving. How did you escape from that?"
"A cell with a what?" Matt scowled. "Are you sure?"
"I heard the guards outside my door speak of it, when first they brought me here. The sorcerer charmed every cell within this keep in such a fashion."
Cogwheels ticked over in Matt's head. "So that's how come I felt so much more power build around me this time! I may have more of a lead than I thought!"
"You will have need of it," she said with full and total certainty. "Why came you to my cell?"
"Huh?" Matt stared, taken aback. Then he spread his hands. "Gee, I should think that would be obvious. Beautiful princess, durance vile, that sort of thing ...
"You have chosen, then, to side with me?" She looked directly into his eyes, a hard, searching gaze. "Be sure you're not mistaken. If you aid me in the slightest way, the sorcerer and his false king will slay you in an instant, if they have the chance."
Matt stood staring back at her while all the aspects of the situation reeled through his mind. But a certain solid determination moved in him, growing, evolving out of resentment into something akin to anger. Matt wondered if it were nascent self-respect. "There really isn't much to choose, your Highness. I've seen the other side."
Savage joy leaped in her eyes. "You are with me, then?"
Matt nodded slowly. "Yeah. At your service, Majesty."
"Highness; I am not yet crowned. I am the Princess Alisande, no more."
"Glad to meet you," Matt said drily. "I'm Matthew Mantrell."
"Well met, Wizard Matthew!" She latched onto his biceps with both hands. "And I implore you, take us out from here!"
Matt felt his chest puffing out a bit; this was the first time in his life he'd really had a chance to impress a girl!
Then he remembered what pride goeth before. "Uh-this isn't exactly a sure thing, you know. I'm kind of new to the wizard business. I've only been playing at it for a few hours."
Alisande's head reared back, appalled. "You are so new to the power as that?"
"Worse," Matt confided. "It's the first taste I've had of any kind of power." He was almost surprised to hear the words. Then he realized that he'd known it all his life and was only just now admitting it to himself. It a was a bitter pill to swallow. "So I'm not too sure of my abilities, you see. You could very, easily wind up dead."
It rocked her, but she swung back quickly, frowning in thought for a moment. Then she lifted her chin and looked him squarely in the eyes. "No doubt I could; yet I know that I will not. You are the only chance I have, wizard, and the only one I'm like to have. I must stake my life and kingdom on you-and I know you will not fail me."
Her total, hundred per cent certainty was unnerving. Matt took a breath. "I hope you're right."
"I am." It was a simple statement of fact. "Take us out of this place."
Matt took a deep breath and clasped an arm about her. It was far more pleasant than it should have been, under the circumstances.
This time he chose a variation on the spell he'd used on the dragon:
The feeling was stronger than ever. There was tremendous power gathering around him, seeking a discharge route. It would take the first one it found, and if that happened to be right through him...
But the woman at his side stood proud and determined, if not completely unafraid, and he couldn't let her see him doubting himself.
The universe swung around ninety degrees, and swung back. A small hurricane blasted Matt's face as light seared his eyes and a roaring filled his ears. The princess clung tightly to him, every flowing curve finding a corresponding niche in him. Unfortunately, Matt was in no shape to appreciate it. He just clung to her as something relatively solid in a crazy world, waiting for the earth to steady beneath his feet.
Slowly, things settled down; the earth solidified, and Matt's eyes adjusted to the sudden sunlight. He took a deep breath and looked about him.
He was in a forest, beside a small stream. A wide, sunlit meadow opened off to his right. The banks of the stream, on his left, were thick with flowers. He recognized wild thyme and violets. That must be eglantine, creeping over the low boughs, there, just above the dragon's head, and ...
"Stegoman!"
The dragon fixed him with a glittering eye. "So - again. I thought that I had done with thee, most foolish of wizards."
Matt had an image to maintain, now. "Foolish? Hey! I got you free, didn't I?"
"To open plains, thou didst say," the dragon reminded him. "I find myself within a wood."
"Oh. Well, you can't expect perfection, can you?" Matt looked around. "I thought it was a nice place."
"So I would guess," the dragon rumbled, "since thou didst seek it after me. Or hast thou come to be so fond of my company?"
"Uh, little bit of both, actually." It was the first piece of scene, description verse that had come into Matt's head.
Alisande pushed herself away from him, albeit a little unsteadily. "How now, Sir Wizard! Have you brought me to your tame, enslaved familiar?"
"Enslaved!" Stegoman roared, torching two bushes and a stretch of underbrush in the process. "I, a shlave? What vile calumny and jackal'zh lie izh thish?"