"They're barking up the wrong tree," Griffin commented. "They haven't gotten the information because the military hasn't devised a plan yet."
"Why don't you tell them?" I suggested.
Our guide cocked an eyebrow at me. "I thought you were in a hurry to see the magician," he countered.
"Oh, that's right," I returned, a little embarrassed by the oversight.
"Say, Griffin," Aahz called. "I've been meaning to ask. What started the war, anyway?"
For the first time since we'd met him, our youthful guide showed an emotion other than boredom or fear.
"Those bastards from Veygus stole our Trophy," he snarled angrily. "Now we're going to get it back or know the reason why."
For a change, I didn't need an elbow in the ribs from Aahz to remember to keep quiet. I got one anyway.
"Stole your Trophy, eh?" my mentor commented innocently. "Know how they did it?"
"A pack of ‘em pulled a hit-and-run raid the day after the Big Game," Griffin proclaimed bitterly. "They struck just after sundown and got away before the guardsmen could respond to the alarm."
The memory of the group entering and leaving the Trophy Building while Tananda and I waited flashed across my mind. That explained a couple questions that had been bothering me, like "where did the statue go?" and "how did the guards arrive so fast?" We hadn't triggered any alarms! The group from Veygus had-inadvertently set us up for the guards!
"I'd think you'd take better care of the Trophy, if it means so much to you," Aahz suggested.
Griffin spun on him, and I thought for a minute he was actually going to throw a punch. Then, at the last moment, he remembered that Aahz was a magician and dropped his arms to his side. I heaved a quiet sigh of relief. I mean, Aahz is strong! I was impressed with his strength in my own dimension of Klah, and here on Jahk, I looked strong compared to the natives. If Griffin had thrown a punch, Aahz would have ripped him apart ... literally!
"Our security precautions on the Trophy were more than adequate," our guide announced levelly, "under normal circumstances. The thieves had magikal assistance."
"Magikal assistance?" I said, finally drawn from my silence.
"That's right." Griffin nodded vigorously. "How else could they have moved such a heavy statue before the guards arrived?"
"They could have done it without magik," Aahz offered. "Say, if they had a lot of strong men on the job."
"Normally, I'd agree with you," our guide admitted, "but in this case, we actually captured the demon that helped them."
For a long moment there was silence. Neither Aahz nor I wanted to ask the next question. We were afraid of what the answer might be. Finally, Aahz spoke. "A demon, you say?" he asked, smiling his broadest. "What happened to it?"
His tone was light and casual, but there was a glint in his eye I didn't like. I found myself in the unique position of worrying about the fate of an entire dimension.
"The demon?" Griffin frowned. "Oh, the magician's holding it captive. Maybe he'll let you see it when you meet him."
"The magician? The one we're going to see?" Aahz pressed. "He's got the demon?"
"That's right," our guide answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Is she still unconscious?" I blurted.
The elbow from Aahz almost doubled me over this time, but it was too late. Griffin had stopped in his tracks and was studying me with a new intensity.
"How did you know it was unconscious?" he asked suspiciously. "And why do you refer to it as ‘she'?"
"I don't know," I covered smoothly. "Must have been something you said."
"I said we'd captured a demon," he argued, "not how, and as far as its sex goes..."
"Look," Aahz interrupted harshly, "are we going to stand around arguing all day, or are you going to take us to the magician?"
Griffin stared at us hard for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.
"We're here," he announced, pointing at a door in the wall. "The magician lives there."
"Well, don't just stand there, son," Aahz barked. "Knock on the door and announce us."
Our guide heaved a sigh of disgust', but obediently walked over and hammered on the indicated door.
"Aahz!" I hissed. "What are we going to say?"
"Leave it to me, kid," he murmured back. "I'll try to feel him out a little, then we'll play it by ear from there."
"What are we supposed to do with our ears?" I frowned.
Aahz rolled his eyes. "Kid ..." he began.
Just then, the door opened, exposing a wizened old man who blinked at the sunlight.
"Griffin!" he exclaimed. "What brings you here?"
"Well, sir," our guide stammered, "I-that is, there are two gentlemen who want to speak with you. They say... Well, they're magicians."
The old man started at this and shot a sharp glance in our direction before he covered his reaction with a friendly smile.
"Magicians, you say! Well, come right in, gentlemen. Lad, I think you'd better wait outside here. Professional secrets and all that, you know."
"Urn... actually, I thought I'd be on my way now," Griffin murmured uneasily.
"Wait here." There was steel in the old man's voice now.
"Yes, sir," our guide gulped, licking his lips.
I tried to hide my nervousness as we followed the magician into his abode. I mean, aside from the fact that we didn't have the vaguest idea of this man's power, and that we had no guarantee we'd ever get out of this place alive, I had nothing to worry about. Right?
"Aahz," I whispered. "Have you got a fix on this guy yet?"
"It's a little early to say," my mentor replied sarcastically. "In the meantime, I've got a little assignment for you."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Like, check his aura. Now."
One of the first things I had learned from Aahz was how to check auras, the field of magik around people or things. It seemed a strange thing to do just now, but I complied, viewing our host with unfocused eyes.
"Aahz," I gasped. "He's got an aura! The man's actually radiating magik. I can't do anything against someone that powerful."
"It's possible there is another explanation, kid," Aahz murmured. "He could be wearing a disguise spell like we are."
"Do you think so?" I asked hopefully.
"Well," my mentor drawled, "he's wearing a translator pendant, the same as we are. That makes it a good bet that he's not from this dimension. Besides, there's something familiar about his voice."
Our conversation ground to a halt as we reached our destination, a small room sparsely furnished with a large table surrounded by several chairs.
"If you'll be seated, gentlemen," our host said, gesturing to the chairs, "perhaps you'll be good enough to tell me what it is you wish to speak to me about."
"Not so fast," Aahz challenged, holding up a hand. "We're used to knowing who we're dealing with. Could you do us the courtesy of removing your disguise before we start?"
The magician averted his eyes and began to fidget nervously. "You spotted it, eh?" he grumbled. "It figures. As you've probably guessed already, I'm relatively new to this profession. Not in your class at all, if you know what I mean."
An immense wave of relief washed over me, but Aahz remained skeptical.
"Just take off the disguise, huh?" he insisted...Oh, very well," our host sighed and began fumbling in his pocket.
We waited patiently until he found what he was looking for. Then the lines of his features began to waver ... his body grew taller and fuller... until at last we saw...