Myth Alliances

As Niki had predicted, the committeefriends conferred and complained, but in the end they agreed with everything we told them to do. The Pervects were relieved. Wensley and Kassery were elated and awed but ready to try. The disenfranchised spokesWuhses were doing their best to influence the new leaders to see their points of view. And I was ready to go home.

"Well, that's that," I stated, shaking hands with Zol Icty. "So, are you going back to Kobol now?"

"No, indeed," the little gray man informed me happily. "I am going to stay here to observe the Pervect Ten assist our young friend there in finally putting Pareley back on the financial map, and then I will go back to Perv with them. I want to study them very closely for the new book I am researching: I'm Okay, You're Pervect. When it's finished I'll send you all copies."

"I'll look forward to it," I thanked him. "I'm going back to my studies. I've still got a lot to learn."

"You're on your way," Zol assured me. "I was very impressed with both your application and your wisdom."

"I'm sorry," Wensley said, turning to me with some embarrassment. "But we can't pay you yet. Wuh is on the financial mend, and your fee will just send us back again into negative territory. I'm sorry."

"How about an in-kind fee instead?" I said.

Wensley looked uncomfortable, but nodded. "We owe you so much. What do you have in mind?" "It's something you already have," I explained. "I'd like to have your D-hopper."

"But you don't need one," the Wuhs said, looking puzzled. "You can already travel the dimensions."

"I know," I acknowledged, "but I do need it. What about it?"

He looked at the others, who were clearly urging him not to give up their precious D-hopper, but he nodded. "It's caused enough trouble here," he decided at last. "I think that once we learn responsibility there will be plenty of time to learn how to travel between the dimensions."

"Thank you," I asserted, tucking the device into my belt pouch. Bu

Paldine came up to join me. "Come on, Skeeve the Magnificent. We've got some Deveels to dazzle."

Oshleen came over to envelop me in a massive, bonecrushing hug. "Any time you need some quality financial work done, honey, you've got a freebie coming."

"I've got a top accountant, thanks," I replied. Bu

"Well, any time you need someone's hindquarters chewed off, we'd be glad to help out," Charilor offered, showing her teeth.

"Gee, where were you a couple of weeks ago?" I asked, i

To give them credit, the Pervect Ten laughed.

"You've got chutzpah, bubby," Vergetta chuckled, crushing my hand in a tight grip. "Don't be a stranger. Okay, ladies, back to the castle. We've got glasses to enchant." She glanced at Wensley. "Come with us, So

Tananda, Bu

I had volunteered to stay, but once I had persuaded Hayner and the others that these Perverts were friends of mine and that any discourtesy to them counted as if it was being done to me, none of them paid much attention to us. I was glad to escape because, as I have said before, one of the few things about the Bazaar that I don't miss is the noise.

Paldine leaned across to shake hands with me before I left.

"I don't know who the Pervect is who befriended you before," she whispered, "but he's lucky. I hope he knows that."

I felt a wrench somewhere around my midsection. "I'm the lucky one. He's been a good friend to me."

Out in the street, where the voices of Deveel merchants and customers weren't bouncing off the walls of a tent, I relaxed.

"Care to join us for a milkshake before we go?" I asked Tananda.

"I have to get to Trollia," Tananda informed us, shoul- dering her small bag. "If Chumley's not in the hospital with a hernia he'll need me to referee between him and Mums. I've already left them long enough."

"I'd better get back to my studies," I agreed, taking my D-hopper out of the side of my boot. "I've left them long enough, too."

"You know, you don't need that thing any more," Tananda nodded. "You know enough places in the dimensions that if you practiced you could use a travel spell instead to hop between them."

"The D-hopper's not foolproof," I replied, "but it works almost all the time, which is more than I could promise right now, considering how tired I am. I don't want to take a chance and get lost, and I sure don't want to be responsible for getting Bu

"All right. Take care of yourself, handsome."

She kissed me warmly. I regretted again that she'd come to be a big sister to me. I could no more imagine us having a relationship than I could with Bu

Tananda winked at Bu

I handed over a bag containing 500 gold pieces and gave it to Tananda. "Here's your share of our fee. Zol didn't want to be paid. I've made good to Bu

"You don't have to do this," Tananda protested.

"Yes, I do. Please." To my relief she accepted it. "And please take this, too."

I handed her the other D-hopper. She looked a question at me. I took a deep breath and plunged in.

"If you see Aahz I want you to give it to him. Tell him… tell him if this would make it more convenient to visit once in a while I'd like him to have it."

" 'Don't be a stranger,' huh?" Tananda translated.

I dug a toe in the dirt. "Uh, yeah. I mean, if he wants to. I'm the one who pushed away from everyone else. Maybe I'm getting over the funk I was in. It's up to him. I just want him to know… he's welcome. I miss him. Studying's a lonely occupation."

"Keep it up. I think you're going to be one hell of a good magician."

She kissed me thoroughly. An affectionate farewell from a Trollop can make you feel like you've been embraced by a tornado.

'The same to you: don't be a stranger," Tananda waved as she sauntered off down the aisle between tents.

"I don't want to be," I murmered quietly. "It'll just take time." I turned to Bu

Bu

I gri

"Yes, indeed. I hope that Gleep and Buttercup haven't trashed the i

Tananda unlocked the door and let herself into the dim anteroom. I waited until she turned around before I sat up. She stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.

She came over to me, reached into her belt pouch, and came out with a D-hopper.

"This is for you, Aahz," she smiled.

I accepted it with a wary look. "What's he using?"

"The same one he had before. This one was his fee for helping out the Wuhses—his whole fee. He just handed it to me and told me to give it to you."