Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

“True enough,” Aahz retorted, “but the fact remains if you overextend yourself you won’t be able to use what you already have. Even gravel can be effective if used at the right time. Don’t underrate what you’ve got or what you’re doing. Right now you’re keeping the finder spear going, maintaining the wards, and keeping my disguise intact. That’s a lot for someone of your abilities to be doing simultaneously. If something happened right now, which would you drop first?”

“Um….”

“Too late! We’re already dead. You won’t have time to ponder energy problems. That’s why you always have to hold some back to deal with immediate situations while you rally your energies from other activities. Now do you see?”

“I think so, Aahz,” I said haltingly. “I’m a bit tired.”

“Well, think about it. It’s important. In the meantime get some sleep and try to store up your energies. Incidentally, let the finder spear go for now. You can summon it up again in the morning. Right now, it’s just a needless drain.”

“Okay, Aahz. How about your disguise?”

“Hmm … better keep that. It’ll be good practice for you to maintain both that and the wards in your sleep. Speaking of which….”

“Right, Aahz.”

I drew my acquired assassin’s cloak about me for warmth and curled up. Despite his gruff manner, Aahz was persistent that I get enough sleep as well as food.

Sleep did not come easily, however. I found I was still a bit wound up over casting the wards.

“Aahz?”

“Yeah, kid?”

“How would you say my powers right now. stack up against the devils?”