I faced them, hands defiantly on my hips. "Well, I've done my job. The kingdom has been protected from the immediate threat. With any luck, you two will learn to work together. I trust King Rodrick can dilute the queen's ambition. I only hope that Queen Hemlock's fiery spirit can put a little more spine and courage into the King."
This time it was Queen Hemlock who was on her feet. "Are you going to let him talk to you like that. Roddie? You're the king. Nobody pushes a king around." "Guards!" Rodrick said tightly. "Seize that man." It had worked! King and Queen were united against a common foe ... me! Now all I had to do was survive it.
One more mind pass, and my comrades stood exposed as the outworlders they were.
Queen Hemlock, unaccustomed to my dealings with demons, dropped into her seat with a small gasp. The King simply scowled as he realized the real reason for the presence of my friends.
"Your Majesties," Badaxe said, stepping forward. "I am sworn to protect the throne and would willingly lay down my life in your defense. I do not see a physical threat here, however. If anything, it occurs to me both throne and kingdom would be strengthened if the Great Skeeve's words were heard and heeded."
"I am not a fighting man," Grimble said, joining Badaxe, "so my duty here is passive. I must add, though, that I also feel the Lord Magician's words have merit and should be said to every ruler." His eyes narrowed and he turned to face me. "I challenge, though, whether they should be said by a retainer to the court. One of our first duties is to show respect to the throne, in word and manner."
"That much we agree on, Grimble," Badaxe nodded, adding his glare to the many focused on me.
"Strange as it may sound," I said, "I agree, too. For that reason, I am hereby tendering my resignation as Court Magician of Possiltum. The kingdom is now secure militarily and financially, and in my opinion there is no point in it bearing the expense of a full-time magician ... especially one who has been insolent to the throne. There is no need to discuss severance pay. The King's reward for my last assignment, coupled with the monies I have already received from the Exchequer, will serve my needs adequately. I will simply gather my things and depart."
I saw Grimble blanch slightly when he realized that I would not be returning his bribe. I had faith in his ability to hide anything in his stacks of numbered sheets, though.
With only the slightest of nods to the throne, I gathered my entourage with my eyes and left.
Everything had gone perfectly. I couldn't have asked for the proceedings to have turned out better. As such, I was puzzled as to why I was sweat-drenched and shaking like a leaf by the time I reached my own quarters.
Chapter Fourteen:
"Some farewells are easier than others."
-P. MARLOWE
"So, where do you go from here?" Tananda asked.
She and Chumly were helping me pack. We had all agreed that having incurred the combined wrath of the King and Queen, it would be wisest to delay my departure as little as possible. Massha was off seeing to Gleep and Buttercup as well as saying her goodbyes to Badaxe.
"I don't really know," I admitted. "I was serious when I said I had accumulated enough wealth for a while. I'll probably hole up someplace and practice my magic for a while... maybe at that inn Aahz and I used to use as a home base."
"I say, why don't you tag along with little sister and me?" Chumly suggested. "We usually operate out of the Bazaar at Deva. It wouldn't be a bad place for you to keep your hand in, magik-wise."
It flashed through my mind that the Mob must have started its infiltration of the Bazaar by now. It also occurred to me that, in the pre-wedding rush, I hadn't told Tananda or Chumly about that particular portion of the caper. Having remembered, I found myself reluctant to admit my responsibility for what they'd find on their return.
"I dunno, Chumly," I hedged. "You two travel pretty light. I've got so much stuff, I'd probably be better off settling down somewhere permanent."
It was a pretty weak argument, but the troll seemed to accept it... maybe because he could see that mountain of gear we were accumulating, trying to clear my quarters.
"Well, think it over. We'd be glad to have you.
You're not a bad sort to have around in a tight spot."
"I'll say." Tananda agreed with a laugh. "Where did you find those rings, anyway?"
"Bought them from a street vendor at the Bazaar."
"On Deva?" Chumly said with a frown. "Two spelled rings like that must have set you back a pretty penny. Are you sure you have enough money left?"
Now it was my turn to laugh.
"First of all, they aren't spelled. That was just a bluff I was running on their royal majesties. The rings are plain junk jewelry ... and I got them for free."
"Free?"
Now Tananda was frowning.
"Nobody gets anything for free at the Bazaar."
"No, really. They were free... well, the vendor did get my permission to say that I use his wares, but that's the same as free, isn't it? I mean, I didn't pay him any money."
As I spoke, I found myself suddenly uncertain of my "good deal." One of my earliest lessons about dealing with Deveels was "If you think you've made a good deal with a Deveel, first count your fingers, then your limbs, then your relatives...."
"Permission to use your name?" Tananda echoed. "For two lousy rings? No percentage or anything? Didn't Aahz ever teach you about endorsements?"
There was a soft BAMPH in the air.
"Is someone taking my name in vain?"
And Aahz was there, every green scaly inch of him, making his entrance as casually as if he had just stepped out.
Of the three of us, I was the first to recover from my surprise. Well, at least I found my voice.
"Aahz!"
"Hi, kid. Miss me?"
"But, Aahz!"
I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. What I really wanted to do was embrace him and never let go. Of course, now that he was back, I would do no such thing. I mean, our relationship had never been big in the emotional displays department.
"What's the matter with everybody?" my mentor demanded. "You all act like you never expected to see me again."
"We... Aahz! I..."
"We didn't," Tananda said flatly, saving me from making an even bigger fool of myself.
"What little sister means," Chumly put in, "is that it was our belief that your nephew, Rupert, had no intention of letting you return from Perv."
Aahz gave a derisive snort.
"Rupert? That upstart? Don't tell me anybody takes him seriously."
"Well, maybe not if "your powers were in full force," Tananda said, "but as things are..."
"Rupert?" Aahz repeated. "You two have known me a long time, right? Then you should get it through your heads that nobody holds me against my will."
Somehow that quote sounded familiar. Still, I was so glad to have Aahz back, I would have agreed to anything just then.
"Yeah!" I chimed in eagerly. "This is Aahz! Nobody pushes him around."
"There!" my mentor grinned. "As much as I hate to agree with a mere apprentice, the kid knows what he's talking about... this time."
Chumly and Tananda looked at each other with that special gaze that brother and sister use to communicate non-verbally. "You know, big brother," Tananda said, "this mutual admiration society is getting a bit much for my stomach. How about you?"
"Actually," the troll responded. "I wasn't hearing all that much mutual admiration. Somehow the phrase 'mere apprentice' sticks in my mind."
"Oh, come on, you two," Aahz waved. "Get real, huh? I mean, we all like the kid, but we also know he's a trouble magnet. I've never met anyone who needs looking after as badly as he does. Speaking of which ..."
He turned his yellow eyes on me with that speculative look of his.