"Easy, girl," he laughed. "None of your athletic greetings. I'm not as young as I used to be, ya know."
"You old fraud!" Tanda teased. "You'll outlive us all."
Ajax shrugged dramatically. "That kinda depends on how good a general the youngster there is," he commented.
"Kid," Aahz growled through gritted teeth, "I want to talk to you! Now!"
"I know that temper!" Gus announced, emerging from the back room.
"Gus!" Aahz exclaimed.
"In the stone!" the gargoyle confirmed. "Are you in on this expedition? The boss didn't say anything about working with Perverts."
Instead of replying, Aahz sank heavily into a chair and hid his face in his hands.
"Tanda!" he moaned. "Tell me again about how this kid can stay out of trouble."
"Um... Aahz," I said cautiously, "could I talk to you for a minute ... privately?"
"Why, I think that's an excellent idea... boss," he said.
The smile he gave me wasn't pleasant.
"Kid!" Aahz moaned after I had finished my tale. "How many times do I have to tell you? This is the Bazaar at Deva! You've got to be careful what you say and to whom, especially when there's money involved."
"But I told them nothing was definite until we found out if you had hired someone else," I protested.
"But I didn't hire anyone else, so now the deal is final," Aahz sighed.
"Can't we get out of it?" I asked hopefully.
"Back out of a deal on Deva?" Aahz shook his head. "That would get us barred from the Bazaar so fast it would make your head spin. Remember, the Merchants Association runs this dimension."
"Well, you said you wanted outside help," I pointed out.
"I didn't expect to go that far outside," he grimaced. "An Imp, a senile Archer, and a gargoyle."
"And a salamander," I added.
"Gus is still bumming around with Berfert?" Aahz asked, brightening slightly. "That's a plus."
"The only really uncertain factor," I said thoughtfully, "is the Gremlin."
"How do you figure that?" Aahz yawned.
"Well, he's been following Ajax. The question is, why? And will he follow us to Klah?"
"Kid," Aahz said solemnly, "I've told you before. There are no such things as Gremlins."
"But Aahz, I saw him."
"Don't let it bother you, kid," Aahz sympathized. "After a day like you've been through, I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a Jabberwocky."
"What's a-"
"Is everything set?" Tanda asked, joining our conversation.
"About as set as we'll ever be," Aahz sighed. "Though if you want my honest opinion, with a crew like this, we're set more for a zoo than a war."
"Aahz is a bit critical of my choice in recruits," I confided.
"What's your gripe, Aahz?" she asked, cocking her head. "I thought you and Gus were old foxhole buddies."
"I'm not worried about Gus," Aahz put in hastily. "Or Berfert either. That little lizard's terrific under fire."
"Well, I can vouch for Ajax," Tanda informed him. "Don't let his age fool you. I'd rather have him backing my move than a whole company of counterfeit archers."
"Is he really from Archiah?" Aahz asked skeptically.
"That's what he's said as long as I've known him," Tanda shrugged. "And after seeing him shoot, I've got no reason to doubt it. Why?"
"I've never met a genuine Archer before," Aahz said. "For a while I was willing to believe the whole dimension was a legend. Well, if he can shoot half as well as Archers are supposed to, I've got no gripes having him on the team."
I started to feel a little better. Unfortunately, Aahz noticed my smile.
"The Imp is another story," he said grimly. "I'm not wild about working with any Imp, but to hire one without powers is a waste of good money."
"Don't forget he's an Assassin," Tanda pointed out. "Powers or no powers, I'll bet we find a use for him. When we were talking with the Gremlin just now-"
"Now don't you start on that!" Aahz snarled.
"Start on what?" Tanda blinked.
"The Gremlin bit," Aahz scowled. "Any half-wit knows there are no such things as Gremlins."
"Do you want to tell him that?" Tanda smiled. "I'll call him over here and ... oh, rats! He's gone again."
"If you're quite through," Aahz grumbled, rising from his chair, "we'd best get moving. There's a war waiting for us, you know."
"Oops! That reminds me!" Tanda exclaimed, fishing inside her tunic.
"I know I shouldn't ask," Aahz signed, "but what-"
"Here!" Tanda announced, flipping him a familiar object.
It was a metal rod about eight inches long and two inches in diameter with a button on one end of it.
"A D-Hopper!" I cried, recognizing the device instantly.
"It's the same one you gave Isstvan," Tanda smiled proudly. "I lifted it from him when we parted company. You'll probably want to undo whatever you did to the controls before you use it, though."
"If I can remember for sure," Aahz scowled, staring at the device.
"I thought it might come in handy in case we get separated on this job and you need a fast exit,"
Tanda shrugged.
"The thought's appreciated," Aahz smiled, putting an arm around her.
"Does this mean you'll be able to teach me how to travel the dimensions?" I asked hopefully.
"Not now I won't," Aahz grimaced. "We've got a war to fight, remember?"
"Oh! Yes, of course."
"Well, get your troops together and let's go," Aahz ordered.
"Okay," I agreed, rising from my chair. "Ill get Gleep and... wait a minute! Did you say my troops?"
"You hired ‘em, you lead ‘em," my mentor smiled.
"But you're-"
"I'll be your military advisor, of course," Aahz continued casually. "But the job of Fearless Leader is all yours. You're the court magician, remember?"
I swallowed hard. Somehow this had never entered into my thinking.
"But what do I do?" I asked desperately.
"Well," Aahz drawled. "First, I'd advise you to move ‘em outside so we can all head for Klah together... that is, unless you're willing to leave your dragon behind."
That didn't even deserve an answer. I turned to face the troops, sweeping them with what I hoped was a masterful gaze which would immediately command their attention.
No one noticed. They were all involved in a jovial conversation.
I cleared my throat noisily.
Nothing.
I considered going over to their table.
"Listen up!" Aahz barked suddenly, scaring me half to death.
The conversation stopped abruptly and all heads swiveled my way.
"Aah ..." I began confidently. "We're ready to go now. Everybody outside. Wait for me by the dragon."
"Right, boss!" Brockhurst called, starting for the door.
"I'll be a minute, youngster," Ajax wheezed, struggling to rise.
"Here, Gramps," Gus said. "Let me give you a hand."
"Name's not Gramps, it's Ajax!" the Archer scowled.
"Just trying to be helpfill," the gargoyle apologized.
"I kin' stand up by myself," Ajax insisted. "Just ‘cause I'm old don't mean I'm helpless."
I glanced to Aahz for help, but he and Tanda were already headed out.
As I turned back to Ajax, I thought I caught a glimpse of a small, blue figure slipping out through the door ahead of us. If it was the Gremlin, he was nowhere in sight when I finally reached the street.
Chapter Sixteen:
"Myth-conceptions are the major cause of wars!"