* * *
Where does it end?[45]
On a summer night, with couples going their own ways, and silky purple twilight growing between the trees. From the castle, long after the celebrations had ended, faint laughter and the ringing of little silver bells. And from the empty hillside, only the silence of the elves.
The End
o;Shoeing the unicorn,” said Nanny, shaking her head. “Only you'd think of shoeing a unicorn, Esme.”
“I've been doing it all my life,” said Granny.
Now the unicorn was a speck on the moor land. As they watched, it disappeared into the evening gloom.
Nanny Ogg sighed, and broke whatever spell there was.
“So that's it, then.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to the dance up at the castle?”
“Are you?”
“Well. . . Mr. Casanunda did ask if I could show him the Long Man. You know. Properly. I suppose it's him being a dwarf. They're very interested in earthworks.”
“Can't get enough of them,” said Casanunda.
Granny rolled her eyes.
“Act your age, Gytha.”
“Act? Don't have to act, can do it automatic,” said Nanny. “Acting half my age . . . now that's the difficult trick. Anyway, you didn't answer me.”
To the surprise of Nanny, and of Ridcully, and possibly even of Granny Weatherwax herself, she slipped her arm around Ridcully's arm.
“Mr. Ridcully and I are going to have a stroll down to the bridge.”
“We are?” said Ridcully
“Oh, that's nice.”
"Gytha Ogg, if you keep on looking at me like that I
shall give you a right ding around the ear."
“Sorry, Esme,” said Nanny.
“Good.”
“I expect you want to talk about old times,” Nanny volunteered.
“Maybe old times. Maybe other times.” The unicorn reached the forest, and galloped onward.
The waters of the Lancre gushed below. No one crossed the same water twice, even on a bridge.
Ridcully dropped a pebble. It went plunk.
“It all works out,” said Granny Weatherwax, “somewhere. Your young wizard knows that, he just puts daft words around it. He'd be quite bright, if only he'd look at what's in front of him.”