Cat Rider spent most of the day trying different spells with the wyverns. The afternoon was growing late when he got a funny look on his face, "I wonder."

He muttered words in the old language. Then looked at father wyvern. * Can you hear me? *

* I can. *

"Did the wyvern say anything, Fuzzy?"

* He said he could hear you. *

"Alright, let's see if it works backward," he began chanting again. "Μοθερ Γοδδεσσ, jου δε τινζεν φαν διζζε μαγσκε ερν jυκκεν ὀμ τροχ ἐλκενιεν τε εἁρρεν!"

* Father wyvern, please say something to me. * Cat looked hopeful.

* I can still hear you. *

* I just heard you! * Cat's thoughts were smiling. * It worked. Wyvern and mage can mind talk. Now, I need to try one last thing. Is anyone loitering, Fuzzy? *

* Your brother looks like he's socializing with his troops. Should I fetch him? * Cat nodded.

* Why do you need another person? * Second Son asked.

As I was walking away, I heard Cat's reply: * I want to see if this will work for someone who is not a mage. *

Since I was retrieving Willam, I decided to sneak up on him. I got as far as three yards away when the eyes of his men focused on me with concern. The movement of their eyes gave me away. Willam turned around and saw me crouched in the grass to stalk him.

"Do I look that tasty to you, Lady Fuzzy?"

* I've been off my feed lately. I thought a little round ear protein might help. * I sat up on my haunches.

"So, what are you after this time, Fuzzy?" He gave me a look of long-suffering patience.

* You didn't look busy and Cat Rider has a spell he wants to try. *

"Oh, not you don't," he started to back away, looking to either side for the best retreat. "I do not want to be the victim of a new spell. With my luck, I would have pink hair and a purple face for a month."

* Do not make me stalk you for real, Prince Willam. You don't stand a chance against me. *

Willam sighed, "what's the spell, Lady Fuzzy?"

* Want to talk with the wyverns? *

"Cat found a spell that works?"

I nodded yes, * Shall we? * I motioned with my paw. * He wants to try the spell on someone who is not a mage. *

Willam had traded his first words with the three wyverns when Duke Sven showed up.

"I heard someone made a breakthrough in mind-talking," the Duke's face said he wanted to try too. "Was it difficult, nephew?"

"The solution was so simple that I overlooked it," Cat shrugged. "All I needed to do was alter the mind-talking spell to cast it on someone else. Fuzzy volunteered Willam as my test subject."

"Surely, you need to replicate your results to be sure it really works," Sven grinned. "I'm volunteering."

Everyone was still talking with the wyverns when Magrat's one-horse cart arrived. She was in her black examiner's office robe and Generalissimo Gargle was in his fancy chain mail. She saw us on the green and drove straight to us without slowing down. She got out to talk while Gargle hobbled the horse.

"Out of all the possible endings to our wyvern problem, I never imagined it would end this way," Magrat looked up at the wyverns with a look of wonder. "I drove through the night to get here as fast as possible. I want to sleep before I speak with them. But it appears all three races are mind talking with the wyverns. How is this even possible?"

"I modified some spells for mind talking," Cat explained. "The trick is to cast a properly customized spell on both sides of a conversation, one spell for each person who wants to talk. But I worry this might not work in Gorgurak because goblin magic doesn't work on living beings. You would need a human or elvish mage to cast the spells."

"We can worry about those details tomorrow, Cat Rider. For now, I need someone to point me toward a bed."

Colonel Tak wearing a haubergeon appeared from out of nowhere, "I can take care of that, ma'am. I have rooms for both you and the Generalissimo. Might I carry your luggage?"

In the morning, after breakfast but before she started negotiations with the wyverns, Magrat came to Cat in our room at the grammar school. She had a small cloth bag with something inside wrapped in silk.

"My sister thought you might have a use for this," she handed him the bag.

He almost dropped it because it weighed more than it looked. He stuck his hand inside and tugged on the silk.

"Oooooooooooooooooh!" Cat looked like a little boy in a candy shop. "I can't accept this," he looked up with longing written on his face. "This is far too grand for me."

"Your eyes are saying otherwise," Magrat smiled in her usual calm and friendly way. "This is from the Queen of Gorgurak, youngster. Rulers have a duty to gift people the things they need but can not acquire for themselves. Rulers also can take it the wrong way when their gifts are turned down."

I bumped Cat's knee gently. * Now, nod your head with gratitude and ask the minister to convey your thanks to Queen Margo. *

Cat swallowed, "this is a wonderful gift. Please convey my thanks to the Queen."

Magrat was amused, "I will certainly do so."

* Well, what is it? What is it? Let me see! * I could smell the magic from where I was standing.

"Gee, I don't know, Fuzz," he grinned, "I might never get it back if you got your paws on this."

* I know where you sleep, young man. *

He reached into the bag and pulled the object out so I could see. It was a perfect crystal ball.

* Can I play with it? PLEEEEEEEEEZE! * I made my very best big cat eyes at him.

"I get to play with it first," he pronounced. "But now we need to go cast some mind talk spells.