Anyway.
I turned around to look again at the wonderful person who had brought me here and was surprised to see that he was looking at me. And his eyebrows were raised interrogatively.
“What?” I said automatically, then, “This is an interesting place.” Feeling more was needed, I added, “I feel—different.” And then, after a pause, “Or—well, this place is different—is that right?”
Grendel’s smile broadened, but he said nothing. I smiled back and went to him. I reached out to take his hand, and at the contact felt a stinging pain.
“Ouch!” I grinned. “Still hurts a bit.”
I frowned inwardly. That pain had not been a bit in any sense of the word. Now that my mind was available, it seemed, the pain in both hands had returned, with a vengeance. I lowered the lantern and gingerly let go of the
