Landscape of the Imagination — Mercedes Lackey

Tarma and Kethry had managed to get stranded in a place where they couldn't find a new job. When their only way out was into the magic-infested chaos of the Pelagir Hills, Tarma was worried, but then Kethry's enchanted sword Need led them to their new employer, and things got truly strange.

This story was originally published in the anthology CROSSROADS, Dec 2005.