Myth conceptions by Robert Asprin

“I haven’t even talked with any,” I protested.

“Good!” he retorted, slightly mollified. “There’s hope for you yet, kid.”

“I told you he could stay out of trouble,” Tanda smiled triumphantly. “Isn’t that right, handsome?”

Try as I might, I couldn’t bring myself to answer her.

Chapter Fifteen:

“Fit worry about it tomorrow.”

-S. O’HARA

“UM . . . are the mercenaries waiting outside?” I asked finally.

“You didn’t answer her question, kid,” Aahz observed, peering at me with renewed suspicion.

“Don’t strain your neck looking for your troops, handsome,” Tanda advised me. “There weren’t any. It seems our mighty negotiator has met his match.”

“Those bandits!” Aahz exploded. “Do you have any idea what it would cost us if I had agreed to pay their bar bill as part of the contract? If that’s a nonprofit group, I want to audit their books.”

My hopes for salvation sank like a rock.

“You didn’t hire them?” I asked.

“No, I didn’t,” Aahz scowled. “And that moves us back to square one. Now we’ve got to recruit a force one at a time.”

“Did you try-“ I began.

“Look, kid,” Aahz interrupted with a snarl, “I did the best I could, and I got nowhere. I’d like to see you do better.”

“He already has!” Brockhurst announced, rising from his seat. “While you were wasting time, Skeeve here has hired himself a fighting team.”

“He what?” Aahz bellowed, turning on his critic. “Brockhurst! What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for orders in our upcoming campaign,” the Imp replied innocently.

“What campaign?” Aahz glowered.

“The one on Klah, of course,” Brockhurst blinked. “Haven’t you told him yet, boss?”