Myth-Ing Persons By Robert L Asprin

I was suddenly aware of her eyes on me. Her expression was strange … sort of a bitter half-smile.

“I’ve always heard that really powerful people tended to understate what they can do, that they don’t have to brag. I never really believed it until now.”

I really didn’t know what to say to that. I mean, my reputation had gotten big enough that I was starting to get used to being recognized and talked about at the Bazaar, but what she was displaying was neither fear nor envy. Among my own set of friends, admiration or praise was always carefully hidden within our own brand of rough humor or teasing. Faced with the undiluted form of the same thing, I was at a loss as to how to respond.

“Ummm, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

Her expression fell and she dropped her eyes.

“This is so embarrassing. Please be patient with me, Skeeve … is it all right if I call you Skeeve? I haven’t had much experience with saying ‘I’m sorry’. . . heck, I haven’t had much experience with people at all. Just partners and pigeons. Now that I’m here, I really don’t know what to say.”

“Why don’t we start at the beginning?” I wanted to ease her discomfort. “Did you really swindle the Deveels back at the Bazaar?”

Luanna nodded slowly without raising her eyes.

“That’s what we do. Matt and me. That and running, even though I think sometimes we’re better at running than working scams. Maybe if we were better at conning people, we wouldn’t get so much practice at running.”

Her words thudded at me like a padded hammer. I had wanted very badly to hear that she was innocent and that it had all been a mistake. I mean, she was so pretty, so sweet, I would have bet my life that she was innocent, yet here she was openly admitting her guilt to me.