Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

“Right now?” asked Brockhurst.

“With . . . things here so unsettled?” Higgens added, glancing at us again.

“Oh, we won’t be long,” Isstvan assured them. “There’s nothing here we can’t come back and pick up later.”

“That’s true,” admitted Brockhurst, staring at me thoughtfully.

“Umm … Isstvan?”

It was Quigley.

“Are you addressing me?” Isstvan asked with mock formality.

“Yes.” Quigley looked uncomfortable. “Am I to understand you are all about to depart for some place completely populated with demons?”

“That is correct,” Isstvan nodded.

“Could . . . that is … would you mind if I accompanied you?”

“What?” I exclaimed, genuinely startled. “Why?”

“Well . . .” Quigley said hesitantly, “if there is one thing I have learned this day, it’s that I really know very little about demons.”

“Hear, hear!” mumbled Aahz.

“I am undecided as to whether or not to continue in my chosen profession,” Quigley continued, “but in any case it behooves me to learn more about demons. What better place could there be for such study than in a land completely populated with demons?”

“Why should we burden ourselves with a demon hunter of all things?” Brockhurst appealed to Isstvan.

“Maybe we could teach him a few things about demons,” Higgens suggested in an overly innocent voice, giving his partner a covert poke in the side.

“What? Hmm . . . You know, you’re right, Higgens.” Brockhurst was suddenly smiling again.

“Good!” exclaimed Isstvan. “We’ll make a party of it.”

“In that case,” purred Tanda, “you won’t mind if I tag along, too.”