Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin

“Out of the question!” Grimble exploded. “You’re already the highest paid employee on the staff, including myself. It’s outrageous that you would even think of asking for a pay increase.”

“Not a pay increase. Lord Chancellor, a pay cut.”

That stopped him.

“A pay cut?”

“Say, down to nothing.”

He leaned back in his chair and regarded me suspiciously.

“I find it hard to believe that you and your apprentice are willing to work for nothing. Forgive me, but I always distrust noble sacrifice as a motive. Though I dislike greed, at least it’s a drive I can understand.”

“Perhaps that’s why we’ve always gotten along so well,” I purred. “However, you’re quite right. I have no intention of working for free. I was thinking of leaving the court of Possiltum to seek employment elsewhere.”

The chancellor’s eyebrows shot up.

“While I won’t argue your plan, I must admit it surprises me. I was under the impression you were quite enamored of your position here in ‘a soft job,’ I believe is how your scaly apprentice describes it. What could possibly entice you to trade the comforts of court life for an uncertain future on the open road?”

“Why, a bribe, of course,” I smiled. “A lump sum of a thousand gold pieces.”

“I see,” Grimble murmured softly. “And who’s offering this bribe, if I might ask?”

I stared at the ceiling.

“Actually, I was rather hoping that, you would.”

There was a bit of haggling after that, but mostly on the terms of our agreement. Grimble really wanted Aahz and me out of his accounts, though I suspect he would have been less malleable if he had realized he was only dealing with me. There was a bit of name calling and breast beating, but the end result is what counts, and that end result was my heading for my quarters, a thousand gold pieces richer in exchange for a promise that it was the last money I would ever receive from Grimble. It was one more reason for my being on my way as soon as possible.