Mything Persons

"Say, Skeeve," Vilhelm said, appearing at my side.

"It looks like this could take a while. Should I break out

the wine?"

That got my attention.

"Wine? You've got wine?"

"Stocked up on it after your last visit," the vampire

admitted with a grin. "Figured it might come in handy

the next time you came through. I may gripe a bit, but

talking to you and your friends is a lot more fun than

watching the tubes."

"Well bring it out... but I get the first glass. Unless

you've got lots there won't be much left after my part-

ner there gets his claws on it."

I turned back to the proceedings just in time to see

126 Robert Asprin

Pepe kissing my apprentice's hand.

"Do not be afraid, my little flow-air," he was saying.

"Here is one who truly appreciates your beauty, as well

as ... how should I say it, its quantity?"

"You're kinda cute," Massha giggled. "But I never

did go in much for inter-species dating, if you get my

drift."

I caught Aahz's attention and drew him away from

the group.

"Could you take over for a while here, partner?" I

said. "I've been running nonstop since the start of this

thing and could use a little time by myself to recharge

my batteries before we fire up again."

"No problem," he nodded, laying a hand on my

shoulder. "I figure we won't be moving before sunup

... and Skeeve? I haven't had a chance to say it, but

thanks for the bail-out."

"Don't mention it," I grinned weakly. "Tell me you

wouldn't do the same for me."

"Don't know," he retorted. "You've never sucker-

punched me at the beginning of a caper."

"Now that I still owe you for."

Just then, Vilhelm appeared with the wine, and Aahz

hurried away to rejoin the group.

I managed to snag a goblet and retired to a secluded

corner while the party went into high gear. Pepe seemed

to be fitting in well with the rest of the team, if not fu -

tioning as a combination jester and spark plug, but

somehow I felt a bit distant. Sipping my wine, I stared

off into the distance at nothing in particular, letting my

thoughts wander.

"What's the trouble, handsome?"

"Hmmm? Oh. Hi, Tananda. Nothing in particular.

Just a little tired, that's all."

"Mind if I join you?" she said, dropping to the floor

beside me before I could stop her. "So. Are you going

MYTH-ING PERSONS 127

to tell me about it? Who is she?"

I turned my head slowly to look at her directly.

"I beg your pardon?"

She kept her eyes averted, idly running one finger

around the rim of her goblet.

"Look," she said, "if you don't want to talk about

it, just say so ... it's really none of my business. Just

don't try to kid me or yourself that there's nothing

bothering you. I've known you a long time now, and I

can usually tell when there's something eating you. My

best guess right now, if I'm any judge of the phenom-

enon, is that it's a girl."

Ever since I'd met Tananda, I'd had a crush on her.

With her words, though, I suddenly realized how badly

I wanted someone to talk to. I mean, to Guido and

Massha I was an authority figure, and I wasn't about to

open up to Aahz until I was sure he'd take the problem

seriously and not just laugh, and as for Chumley...

how do you talk about woman problems with a troll?

"Okay. You got me," I said, looking back into my

wine. "It's a girl."

"I thought so," Tananda smiled. "Where have you

been keeping her? Tell me, is she beautiful and sen-

sitive?"

"All that and more." I nodded, taking another drink

from my goblet. "She's also on the wrong side."

"Woops," Tananda said, straightening up. "You'd

better run that one past me again."

I filled her in on my encounters with Luanna. I tried

to keep it unbiased and informative, but even I could

tell that my tones were less controlled than I would have

liked.

Tananda sat in silence for a few moments after I'd

finished, hugging her legs and with her chin propped up

on her knees.

"Well," she said at last, "from what you say, she's

128

Robert Asprin

an accomplice at best. Maybe we can let her go after we

get them all rounded up."

"Sure."

My voice was flat. Both Tananda and I knew that

once Aahz got on his high horse there was no telling

how merciful or vicious he would be at any given point.

"Well, there's always a chance," she insisted. "Aahz

has always had a soft spot where you're concerned. If

you intercede for her, and if she's willing to abandon

her partners. ..."

"... and, if a table had wings, we could fly it back to

the Bazaar." I frowned. "No, Tananda. First of all, she

won't give up her partners just because they're in a

crunch. That much I know. Besides, if I put that kind of

pressure on her, to choose between me and them, I'd

never know for sure if she really wanted me or if she was

just trying to save her own skin."

Tananda got to her feet.

"Don't become so wise that you're stupid, Skeeve,"

she said softly before she left. "Remember, Luanna's

already chosen you twice over her partners. Both times

she's risked her life and their getaway to pass you a

warning. Maybe all she needs is what you haven't yet

' given her—an invitation for a chance at a new life with a

new partner. Don't be so proud or insecure that you'd