Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin

Massha scowled.

“Well, I’ve got a little trinket that could track him, if you’ve got something around that he’s worn, that is….”

“Are you kidding? You think court magicians dress this way in Possiltum? Everything I’m wearing and two more closetsful in his quarters belong to the king.”

“. .. But what I can’t figure out is why you need me? Where’s your usual partner . . . whatsisname . . . Aahz? It seems to me he’d be your first choice for a job like this. Wherever he is, can’t you just pop over to that dimension and pull him back for a while?”

Lacking any other option, I decided to resort to the truth, both about Aahz’s permanent departure and my own lack of ability to travel the dimensions without a DHopper. When I was done, Massha was shaking her head.

“So you’re all alone and stranded here and you were still going to give me an out instead of pressuring me into helping? Well, you got my help, mister, and you don’t have to bribe me with an apprenticeship, either. I’ll get your king back for you . . . before that wedding. Then we’ll talk about apprentices.”

I shook my head.

“Right idea, but wrong order. I wasn’t going to bribe you with an apprenticeship, Massha. I told you before I don’t know much magik, but what I know I’ll be glad to teach you . .. whether you find the King or not. I’m not sure that’s an apprenticeship, but it’s yours if you want it.”

She smiled, a smile quite different from her usual vamp act.

“We’ll argue about it later. Right now, I’ve got a king to find.”

“Wait a minute! Before you go, you’re pretty good with gadgets, right? Well, I’ve got a D-Hopper in my quarters. I want you to show me two settings: the one for Deva, and the one for Klah. You see, I’m not all that noble. If things get too rough or it takes you longer than a week to find the king, I want a little running room. If I’m not here when you get back, you can look for your ‘noble’ Skeeve at the Yellow Crescent Inn at the Bazaar at Deva.”