'Some farewells are easier than others.'
'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.
'… I notice you're both here… and I definitely heard my name as I phased in. What I need more than fond 'hellos' is a quick update as to exactly what kind of a mess we have to bail the Great Skeeve out of this time.' I braced myself for a quick but loud lesson about 'endorsements,' whatever that was, but the troll surprised me.
'No mess,' he said, leaning back casually. 'Little sister and I just dropped by for a visit. In fact, we were just getting ready to leave.'
'Really?' my mentor sounded both surprised and suspicious. 'Just a visit? No trouble?'
'Well, there was a little trouble,' Tananda admitted. 'Something to do with the King…'
'I knew it!' Aahz chortled, rubbing his hands together.
'… But Skeeve here handled it himself,' she finished pointedly. 'Currently, there are no problems at all.'
'Oh.'
Strangely, Aahz seemed a bit disappointed.
'Well, I guess I owe you two some thanks, then. I really appreciate your watching over Skeeve here while I was gone. He can…'
'I don't think you're listening, Aahz,' Chumly said, looking at the ceiling. 'Skeeve handled the trouble. We just watched.'
'Oh, we would have pitched in if things got tight,' Tananda supplied. 'You know, the way we do for you, Aahz. As it turned out, we weren't needed. Your 'mere apprentice' was more than equal to the task.'
'Finished the job rather neatly, you know?' the troll added. 'In fact, I'm hard pressed to recall when I've seen a nasty situation dealt with as smoothly or with as little fuss.'
'All right, all right,' Aahz grimaced. 'I get the message. You can fill me in on the details later. Right now, the kid and I have some big things to discuss… and I mean big.'
'Like what?' I frowned.
