Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

“Ease away from the door, kid,” came Aahz’s whispered advice in my ear as he stood behind me. “You’re standing in a patch of moonlight. And you can collapse the tube now.”

Properly notified, I shifted away from the moonlight. I was pleased to note, however, that releasing the tube did not make a significant difference in my mental energies. I was progressing to where I could do more difficult feats with less energy than when I started. I was actually starting to feel like a magician.

I heard a slight noise behind me and craned my neck to look. Aahz was quietly drawing the curtains over the door.

I smiled grimly to myself. Good! We don’t want witnesses.

My eyes were nearly adjusted now. I could make out shapes and shadows in the darkness. There was a dark lump in the corner that breathed heavily. Frumple!

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Aahz pointed out a lamp on a table and held up four fingers.

I nodded and started counting slowly to four. As I reached the final number, I focused a quick flash of energy at the lamp, and its wick burst into flame, lighting the shop’s interior.

Aahz was kneeling beside Frumple, knife in hand. Apparently he had succeeded in finding at least some of our weapons in the dark.

Frumple sat up blinking, then froze in place. Aahz had the point of his knife hovering a hairsbreadth from the Deveel’s throat.

“Hello, Frumple,” he smiled. “Remember us?”

“You!” gasped the Deveel. “You’re supposed to be dead!”

“Dead?” Aahz purred. “How could any harm befall us with our old pal Frumple helping us blend with the citizenry?”