"Only one of the Order may bid me," the gorgon says.
"She is one of the Order." Pippa says, pointing to me.
"We shall see," the gorgon hisses.
"Go on, Gemma." Felicity presses."Try."
I step forward, clear my throat. The snakes fan out around the gorgon's head like a writhing mane. They hiss at me, revealing their sharp, pointed fangs. Looking into that horrible face, it is hard to find my voice.
"We wish to go to the Forest of Lights. Will you take us, gorgon?" In answer, one of the boat's grand wings lowers slowly to shore, allowing us passage. Pippa and Felicity can barely contain their joy. They grin like happy fools as they step onto the plank.
"Must we go on this?" Ann asks, hanging back.
"Don't be scared, Ann, darling. I'll be with you," Pippa says, pulling her forward.
The wing creaks and sways as we make our way across it. Felicity reaches out and touches one of the nets hanging from the side of the barge.
"These are light as cobwebs," she says, fingering the delicate fibers."What fish can you possibly catch with them?"
"They are not for catching," the gorgon says in her syrupy thick voice."They are for warning."
Below us, the water swirls, sending a shimmer of pinks and violets to the surface.
"Look how pretty," Ann says, putting a hand to the water. "Wait, do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" I ask.
"There it is! Oh, that is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard," Ann says, putting her face near the water. "It's coming from the river. Something's there, just below the surface."
Ann's fingers touch the shimmery water, and for an instant, I think I see something moving very near her hand. Without warning, the great wing that has been lowered for us lifts quickly, forcing us to scurry onto the ship.
"That was sudden," Ann says. "The music's stopped. Now I'll never know where that lovely song came from." She pouts.
"Some things are best not known," the gorgon says.
Ann shivers."I don't like this. We've no way off now." Pippa gives Ann a kiss on the cheek like a mother soothing all fears."We must be brave girls now. We must go to the Forest of Lights if we are to find the Temple."
The gorgon speaks again."You are my mistress and must bid me go."
I realize she's waiting for me. I look out at the twists and turns of the river, not knowing where it goes from here. "Very well,"I say, taking a deep breath."Down the river, if you please."
The great boat purrs into motion. Behind us, the garden fades from view. We take a bend and the river widens. Immense stone beasts with long fangs and elaborate headdresses guard the distant shores. Like the gargoyles of Spence, they are unseeing but ominous, ancient guardians of what lies within. The water is rough here. Whitecaps rock the boat, making my stomach lurch.
"Gemma, you look positively green," Pippa says.
"My father says if you can see where you are headed, it helps," Felicity offers.
Yes, anything. I'll try anything. I leave my companions to their laughter and stories and step out onto the bow of the boat, sitting on the long, pointed end near our strange navigator.
The gorgon senses me there."Are you well, Most High?"
That slithery black tongue catches me off guard."I am indisposed. I shall be fine in a moment."
"You must breathe deeply. That is the way."
I take several deep breaths. It seems to work, and soon both the river and my belly are calm."Gorgon,'' I ask, when I find my courage,"are there more creatures like you?"
"No," comes the reply."I am the last of my kind."
"What happened to the others?"
"They were destroyed or banished during the rebellion."
"The rebellion?" "It was long, long ago," the gorgon says, sounding weary."Before the Runes of the Oracle."
"There was a time before the runes?"
"Yesss. It was a time when the magic was loose inside the realms for all to use. But it was also a dark time. There were many battles as the creatures fought each other for more power. And it was a time when the veil between your world and ours was thin. We were able to come and go as we pleased."
"You could come into our world?" I ask. "Oh, yes. Such an interesting place."
I think of the stories I've read, stories of fairy sightings, ghosts, mythical sea creatures luring sailors to their deaths. Suddenly, they do not seem like mere stories.