Two to the Fifth: An Adventure in the Land of Xanth

Xanth faces grave danger from Ragna Roc, a powerful magical bird seeking absolute rule. Those who pledge loyalty to him survive; others have vanished. The Good Magician Humfrey cannot confront Ragna directly, so he recruits Cyrus the Cyborg, a handsome half-human playwright with limited worldly knowledge, to execute a covert plan. Cyrus must organize a traveling theater troupe to capture Ragna's attention. Hidden among the actresses are the young princesses Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm, whose combined magic may rival the evil bird's power. However, Ragna has placed a spy within the group who knows their secrets, including Cyrus's forbidden love for one of the princesses. A mysterious child named Kadence and a cryptic phrase—"Two to the Fifth"—may provide the companions with the advantage needed to thwart Ragna's tyrannical ambitions. This thirty-second Xanth novel combines passion, humor, drama, and deception, featuring wordplay throughout.