"You do?" I was suddenly starting to feel better.
"Certainly. Why, in just the time we've been chumming around together, Aahz has changed, you've changed, so have I, though I don't tend to show it as dramatically as you two or little sister. You blokes have just got a bad case of the guilts. Poppycock! You can't take the blame for everything, you know."
"That's good advice," I said, standing up and stretching. "Why can't you ever give me good advice like that, partner?"
"Cause any fool can see it without being told," Aahz snarled, but there was a twinkle in his eye. "The problem is that Pervects aren't just any fool."
"Quite right," Chumley grinned. "Now how about joining me in a little Happy Hour spot of wine while I tell you how clever I am at saving you money."
"I'd rather you impressed us with a solution to our baby-sitting problems." my partner said grimly, heading for the lounge.
I followed in their wake, strangely happy. Things were back to normal... or as normal as they ever get around here. Between us, I was sure we could find a positive course of action. I mean, after all, how much trouble could one little girl...
That thought crumbled in front of an image of elemental-blown tents. I resolved to do more listening than talking in the upcoming war council.
Chapter Nine:
"They never let you live it down. One little mistake!"
-NERO
RELAXING over drinks with Aahz and Chumley, I felt the tensions and depressions of the day slipping away. It was nice to know that when things really got tough, I had friends to help me solve my problems, however complex or apparently hopeless.
"Well, guys," I said, pouring another round of wine for everyone. "Any ideas as to what we should do?"
"Beats me." Chumley said, toying with his goblet.
"I still think it's your problem," Aahz announced, leaning back in his chair and grinning evilly. "I mean, after all, you got into it without our help."
Like I said, it's great to have friends.
"I can't say I go along with that, Aahz old boy," the troll said with a wave. "Although I'll admit it's tempting. The unfortunate reality is that as long as we're living and working as closely as we are, his problems are out problems, don't you know?"
As much as I appreciated the fact that Chumley's logic was moving them closer to lending me assistance, I felt the need to defend myself a little.
"I'd like to think it's a two-way street, Aahz. I've gotten dragged into a few of your problems as well."
He started to snap back, then pursed his lips and returned his attention to his wine. "I'll avoid comparing lists of how often which of us has gotten us in how much trouble and simply concede the point. I guess that's part of what a partnership is all about. Sorry if I seem a little snorky from time to time, but I've never had a partner before. It takes getting used to."
"I say! Well said, Aahz!" Chumley applauded. "You know, you're getting more civilized every day."
"Let's not get too carried away just yet. How about you, Chumley? You and your sister have helped us out often enough, but I don't recall either of you bringing your problems home with you. Isn't that a little lopsided?"
"I've always figured it's our way of kicking in on the rent," the troll said casually. "If our problems ever start interfering with your work, then I'll figure we've overstayed our welcome."
This came as a total surprise to me. I realized with a start, that I was usually so busy with my own life and problems that I never got around to asking much about the work Chumley and Tananda were doing.
"Whoa up a minute here," I said. "Are you two having problems I don't know about?"
"Well, it isn't all beer and skittles," the troll grimaced briefly. "The subject at hand, however, is your problems. There's nothing on my plate that has a higher priority just now, so let's get to work on the latest crisis, shall we? I suggest we all put on our thinking caps and brainstorm a little. Let's just stare at the ceiling and each toss out ideas as they occur to us."
I made myself a little promise to return to the subject of Tananda and Chumley's problems at a later date, then joined the others in staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. Time crawled along, and no one said anything.
"Well, so much for brainstorming," Aahz said, reaching for the wine again. "I'll admit I'm coming up blank."
"Perhaps it would help if we started by defining the problem," Chumley urged. "Now, as I see it, we have two problems: Markie and Bunny. We're going to have trouble figuring out what to do about Bunny until we find out what Don Bruce has up his sleeve, and we've got to come up with a way to keep Markie from totally disrupting our lives until her father comes to pick her up."
"If he picks her up," my partner corrected helpfully.
"I'll admit, I still don't know how you did so well in that game to end up with Markie in the first place," the troll said, cocking one outsized eye at me and ignoring Aahz.
"Dumb luck ... with the emphasis on dumb."
"That's not the way I heard it," Chumley smirked.
"Whatever your method was, it was successful enough to make you the talk of the Bazaar."
"What!?" Aahz said, sitting up in his chair again.
"You would hear it yourself if you weren't spending all your time sulking in your room," the troll winked.
"When I went out after little sister today, it seemed that all I was hearing about was the new dragon poker champion of Deva. Everybody's talking about the game, or what they've heard about the game. I suspect they're embellishing upon the facts, from some of the description of the hands, but there are those who are taking it all as gospel."
I remembered then that when the game broke up, the other players had been very enthusiastic about my playing. At the time, I had been worried about the secret of my night out reaching Aahz (which, you'll recall, it did before I got home). The troubles with Markie and Bunny had occupied my mind and time ever since, so I hadn't stopped to think of other potential repercussions of the game gossip. Now, however ...
Aahz was out of his seat, pacing back and forth.
"Chumley, if what you're saying is true ... are you following this, partner?"
"Too bloody well," I growled.
That got my partner to pause momentarily to roll his eyes.
"Watch yourself," he warned. "You're starting to talk like Chumley now."
"You want I should talk like Guido instead, know what I mean?"
"I don't understand," the troll interrupted. "Is something amiss?"
"We don't have two problems," Aahz announced.
"We've got three! Markie, Bunny, and the rumor mill!"
"Gossip? How can that be a problem?"
"Think it through, Chumley," I said. "All I need right now is to have a bunch of hotshot dragon poker players hunting me up to see if I'm as good as everybody says."
"That's only part of it, partner," Aahz added. "This could hurt our business and public images as well."
I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Spell it out for me, Aahz. I'm still learning, remember?"
"Well, we already know your reputation at magic has been growing fast... almost too fast. The competition hates you because you're taking all the prime assignments. No big deal! Professional jealousy is the price of success in any field. There comes a time, however, when you can get too big too fast. Then it isn't just your rivals you worry about. Everybody wants you taken down a peg or two if for no other reason than to convince themselves that your success is abnormal... that they don't have to feel bad for not measuring up."