Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin

“I’ll say.” Tananda agreed with a laugh. “Where did you find those rings, anyway?”

“Bought them from a street vendor at the Bazaar.”

“On Deva?” Chumly said with a frown. “Two spelled rings like that must have set you back a pretty penny. Are you sure you have enough money left?”

Now it was my turn to laugh.

“First of all, they aren’t spelled. That was just a bluff I was running on their royal majesties. The rings are plain junk jewelry … and I got them for free.”

“Free?” Now Tananda was frowning. “Nobody gets anything for free at the Bazaar.”

“No, really. They were free . . . well, the vendor did get my permission to say that I use his wares, but that’s the same as free, isn’t it? I mean, I didn’t pay him any money.”

As I spoke, I found myself suddenly uncertain of my “good deal.” One of my earliest lessons about dealing with Deveels was “If you think you’ve made a good deal with a Deveel, first count your fingers, then your limbs, then your relatives….”

“Permission to use your name?” Tananda echoed. “For two lousy rings? No percentage or anything? Didn’t Aahz ever teach you about endorsements?”

There was a soft BAMPH in the air.

“Is someone taking my name in vain?”

And Aahz was there, every green scaly inch of him, making his entrance as casually as if he had just stepped out.

Of the three of us, I was the first to recover from my surprise. Well, at least I found my voice.

“Aahz!”

“Hi, kid. Miss me?”

“But, Aahz!”

I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. What I really wanted to do was embrace him and never let go. Of course, now that he was back, I would do no such thing. I mean, our relationship had never been big in the emotional displays department.