The wizard set the balloon down, but I was out of the gondola before it touched ground, running over to Kato. “Are you okay?”
“That’s a dumb question. I ran into a wall. Of course I’m not okay,” he snapped at me grumpily. I let it slide because I would be grumpy too if I had just flown face-first into a wall.
The Wizard of Is perched atop his bicycle seat and pulled off his riding gloves. “I think his horns have damaged my tower.” He climbed off his bike and took off his helmet and goggles, peering up at the impacted section. Sure enough, there was a Kato head-sized hole in the wall.
I winced and forced a smile. “It’s a good place for a window, don’t you think?”
“Perhaps.” His disapproving frown transformed quickly into a sparkling smile. “Maybe I will leave it if it would make you happy.” He walked away and gave orders to a servant who was trying to tie up the balloon.
We both stared at the wizard while he showed his servant what he wanted done. He was still as gorgeous as I’d remembered him. Even his hair had the perfect wave rather than what should have been a tragic case of helmet head. And his clothes were divine and clearly magically tailored to accentuate each and every muscle.
“You were right. What a hunk.” Rexi sidled up beside me and elbowed me in the ribs.
“You’re drooling, Rexi,” Kato said drily.
Rexi blushed up to her hairline. “So are you. And you smell like wet dog.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it; it was funny. Kato didn’t think so. He sniffed and stalked off.
A hand brushed against my back, and the sandalwood and rose scent filled my nose. “Anything I should know about?” The wizard gave me a winning smile again.
“Have we ever met? I feel like I’ve seen you before,” Rexi said, her face perplexed.
It was probably just my imagination, but I thought I saw his thousand-watt, dimpled smile slip just a little before answering. “Perhaps at the ball. Or I must just have one of those faces. Let’s go inside and take a look at what you’ve brought me.” He led us around the side, to a gilded door.
Inside, everything within sight was cream colored with sharp angles. There were prismatic ivory spindles on the winding staircase, and the floor was marble with gold inlays. As far as towers go, it was grand and opulent but not what you’d call warm and inviting. The wizard was guiding me up the stairs when I heard Kato growling behind me. Several guards barred the doorway into the foyer, forcing him to stay outside.
“It’s okay; he’s with us,” I said, ducking under the wizard’s arm.
By the time I walked back to the door, the guards still hadn’t budged.
The click-clacking of the wizard’s shoes echoed off the marble. “I’m sorry, Princess. This tower simply was not built with such a…magnificent chimera in mind. I think he’d be better off with the other animals, don’t you agree?”
Okay, the wizard was starting to sound like a used carriage salesmen.
I slid away from his attempt to put his arm around me again. “No, I don’t agree. Kato’s not an animal; he just looks like one temporarily.”
The wizard covered his tracks and made a broad gesture with his hand, like he hadn’t intended to touch me at all. “Yes, you’re right of course, but think of his comfort. His claws would slip all over the tile, and there’s no room to stretch his wings.” He walked over to a window and pointed outside. “There’s a lovely courtyard in the rear where he could stay. You could visit him whenever you wish. But for now, I would think you’d be anxious to examine that book of spells and see if we can’t find a way to bring back your parents.”
And those were the magic words—it was what we had left chimera mountain to do in the first place. It was also probably the only thing that would make me leave Kato, aside from the promise of a bath. I no longer had to kneel to look directly into Kato’s eyes. He was now as tall as me. “Will you be all right?”
“Yes, but be careful. Don’t eat or drink anything,” Kato whispered so our host couldn’t hear.
“Don’t worry. I’m not about to get dusted again,” I whispered back and gave his mane a ruffle.
The wizard clapped his hands. “Nikko!” My favorite gorilla butler in his trademark golden fez came out of the side room. “Escort our esteemed furry guest to the courtyard,” the wizard ordered dismissively.
Nikko bowed low to me, then shooed away the guards and led Kato outside, shutting the gilded door behind him. The thud hammered at me. My hair popped and cracked with my unease at being apart from Kato. But knowing that he had Nikko to look after him helped—assuming Kato didn’t try to eat him.