and back your moves. By your own logic, Chief, I’m obli-
gated to you the same way you’re obligated to Aahz.”
It was a good argument, and for a moment I was tempted
to let her stay.
“Sorry, Massha,” I said finally with real regret, “I can’t
let you do it.”
“But …”
“… Because you’re going to be my stand-in when the
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 7
rest of the team takes on Queen Hemlock.”
That stopped her, as I thought it would, and she bit her
lip and stared into the distance as I continued.
“It’s bad enough that the rest of the crew is going to
fight my battle for me, but to have both of us sit it out is
unthinkable. They’re going to need all the help they can
get. Besides, part of the reason for having an apprentice is
so that I can be two places at once . . . isn’t it?”
I figured that would end the discussion, but I underesti-
mated Massha’s determination.
“Okay, then you lead the fight against Hemlock and /’//
fetch the Scaly Wonder.”
I shook my head.
“C’mon, Massha. You know better than that. It was my
thoughtlessness that made him leave in the first place. If
anyone should, if anyone can make him come back it’s got
to be me.”
She muttered something under her breath that it’s probably
just as well I didn’t hear, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t
wholehearted agreement. With one problem already at hand
from my lack of attentiveness to my associates’ moods, I
thought it ill-advised to ignore the fact my apprentice was
upset.
“Look, can we take a few minutes and discuss what it
is that’s really bothering you?” I said. “I’d just as soon we