"You're a frog," Zak said.

"Good," said Elric. "Then answer three riddles. Succeed, and I'll lead you home with something wiser than a map."

Elric blinked slowly. "Not bad. Second: I have cities, but no houses. forests, but no trees. rivers, but no water. What am I?"

"And you're a prince who doesn't know left from right in these woods," the frog replied. "I am called Elric. I've lived here three hundred years. What do you seek?"

Zak opened his mouth — then closed it. He thought of war, of fire, of dragons. The frog waited.