and to whom； especially when there's money involved。〃
〃But I told them nothing was definite until we found out if you had hired someone else；〃 I protested。
〃But I didn't hire anyone else； so now the deal is final；〃 Aahz sighed。
〃Can't we get out of it？〃 I asked hopefully。
〃Back out of ？ deal on Deva？〃 Aahz shook his head。 〃That would get us barred from the Bazaar so fast it would make your head spin。 Remember； the Merchants Association runs this dimension。〃
〃Well； you said you wanted outside help；〃 I pointed out。
〃I didn't expect to go that far outside；〃 he grimaced。 〃An Imp； a senile Archer； and a gargoyle。〃
〃And a salamander；〃 I added。
〃Gus is still bumming around with Berfert？〃 Aahz asked； brightening slightly。 〃That's a plus。〃
〃The only really uncertain factor；〃 I said thoughtfully； 〃is the Gremlin。〃
〃How do you figure that？〃 Aahz yawned。
〃Well； he's been following Ajax。 The question is； why？ And will he follow us to Klah？〃
〃Kid；〃 Aahz said solemnly； 〃I've told you before。 There are no such things as Gremlins。〃
〃But Aahz； I saw him。〃
〃Don't let it bother you； kid；〃 Aahz sympathized。 〃After a day like you've been through； I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a Jabberwocky。〃
〃What's a…〃
〃Is everything set？〃 Tanda asked； joining our conversation。
〃About as set as we'll ever be；〃 Aahz sighed。 〃Though if you want my honest opinion； with a crew like this； we're set more for a zoo than a war。〃
〃Aahz is a bit critical of my choice in recruits；〃 I confided。
〃What's your gripe； Aahz？〃 she asked； cocking her head。 〃I thought you and Gus were old foxhole buddies。〃
〃I'm not worried about Gus；〃 Aahz put in hastily。 〃Or Berfert either。 That little lizard's terrific under fire。〃
〃Well； I can vouch for Ajax；〃 Tanda informed him。 〃Don't let his age fool you。 I'd rather have him backing my move than a whole pany of…counterfeit archers。〃
〃Is he really from Archiah？〃 Aahz asked skeptically。
〃That's what 'he's said as long as I've known him；〃 Tanda shrugged。 〃And after seeing him shoot； I've got no reason to doubt it。 Why？〃
〃I've never met a genuine Archer before；〃 Aahz said。 〃For a while I was willing to believe the whole dimension was a legend。 Well； if he can shoot half as well as Archers are supposed to； I've got no gripes having him on the team。〃
I started to feel a little better。 Unfortunately； Aahz noticed my smile。
〃The Imp is another story；〃 he said grimly。 〃I'm not wild about working with any Imp； but to hire one without powers is a waste of good money。〃
〃Don't forget he's an Assassin；〃 Tanda pointed out。 〃Powers or no powers； I'll bet we find a use for him。 When we were talking with the Gremlin just now…〃
〃Now don't you start on that！〃 Aahz snarled。
〃Start on what？〃 Tanda blinked。
〃The Gremlin bit；〃 Aahz scowled。 〃Any half…wit knows there are no such things as Gremlins。〃
〃Do you want to tell him that？〃 Tanda smiled。 〃I'll call him over here and 。 。 。 oh； rats！ He's gone again。〃
〃If you're quite through；〃 Aahz grumbled； rising from his chair； 〃we'd best get moving。 There's a war waiting for us； you know。〃
〃Oops！ That reminds me！〃 Tanda exclaimed； fishing inside her tunic。
〃I know I shouldn't ask；〃 Aahz signed； 〃but what…〃
〃Here！〃 Tanda announced； flipping him a familiar object。
It was a metal rod about eight inches long and two inches in diameter with a button on one end of it。
〃A D…Hopper！〃 I cried； recognizing the device instantly。
〃It's the same one you gave Isstvan；〃 Tanda smiled proudly。 〃I lifted it from him when we parted pany。 You'll probably want to undo whatever you did to the controls before you use it； though。〃
〃If I can remember for sure；〃 Aahz scowled； staring at the device。
〃I thought it might e in handy in case we get separated on this job and you need a fast exit；〃 Tanda shrugged。
〃The thought's appreciated；〃 Aahz smiled； putting an arm around her。
〃Does this mean you'll be able to teach me how to travel the dimensions？〃 I asked hopefully。
〃Not now I won't；〃 Aahz grimaced。 〃We've got a war to fight； remember？〃
〃Oh！ Yes； of course。〃
〃Well； get your troops together and let's go；〃 Aahz ordered。
〃Okay；〃 I agreed； rising from my chair。 〃I'll get Gleep and 。 。 。 wait a minute！ Did you say my troops？〃
〃You hired 'em； you lead 'em；〃 my mentor smiled。
〃But you're…〃
〃I'll be your military advisor； of course；〃 Aahz continued casually。 〃But the job of Fearless Leader is all yours。 You're the court magician； remember？〃
I swallowed hard。 Somehow this had never entered into my thinking。
〃But what do I do？〃 I asked desperately。
〃Well；〃 Aahz drawled。 〃First； I'd advise you to move 'em outside so we can all head for Klah together 。 。 。 that is； unless you're willing to leave your dragon behind。〃
That didn't even deserve an answer。 I turned to face the troops； sweeping them with what I hoped was a masterful gaze which would immediately mand their attention。
No one noticed。 They were all involved in a jovial conversation。
I cleared my throat noisily。
Nothing。
I considered going over to their table。
〃Listen up！〃 Aahz barked suddenly； scaring me half to death。
The conversation stopped abruptly and all heads swiveled my way。
〃Aah 。 。 。〃 I began confidently。 〃We're ready to go now。 Everybody outside。 Wait for me by the dragon。〃
〃Right； boss！〃 Brockhurst called； starting for the door。
〃I'll be a minute； youngster；〃 Ajax wheezed； struggling to rise。
〃Here； Gramps；〃 Gus said。 〃Let me give you a hand。〃
〃Name's not Gramps； it's Ajax！〃 the Archer scowled。
〃Just trying to be helpful；〃 the gargoyle apologized。
〃I kin' stand up by myself；〃 Ajax insisted。 〃Just 'cause I'm old don't mean I'm helpless。〃
I glanced to Aahz for help； but he and Tanda were already headed out。
As I turned back to Ajax； I thought I caught a glimpse of a small； blue figure slipping out through the door ahead of us。 If it was the Gremlin； he was nowhere in sight when I finally reached the street。
Chapter Sixteen
〃Myth…conceptions are the major cause of wars！〃
…A。 HITLER
Fortunately； the army had not moved from the position it held when we left for Deva。 I say fortunately because Aahz pointed out they might well have renewed their advance in our absence。 If that had happened； we would have returned to find ourselves behind the enemy lines； if not actually in the middle of one of their encampments。
Of course； he pointed this out to me after we had arrived back on Klah。 Aahz is full of helpful little tidbits of information； but his timing leaves a lot to be desired。
Ajax lost no time upon our arrival。 Moving with a briskness that belied his years； he strung his bow and stood squinting at the distant encampments。
〃Well； youngster；〃 he asked； never taking his eyes from the enemy's formations； 〃what's my first batch of targets？〃
His eagerness took me aback a bit； but Aahz covered for me neatly。
〃First；〃 he said loftily； 〃we'll have to hold a final planning session。〃
〃We didn't expect to have you along； Ajax；〃 Tanda added。 〃Having a genuine Archer on our side naturally calls for some drastic revisions of our battle plans。 〃
〃Don't bother me none。〃 Ajax shrugged。 〃Just wanted to let you know I was ready to earn my keep。 Take yer time。 Seen too many wars messed up 'cause nobody bothered to do any plannin'！ If ya don't mind； though； think I'll take me a little nap。 Jes' holler when ya want some shootin' done。〃
〃Alt 。 。 。 go ahead； Ajax；〃 I agreed。
Without further conversation； Ajax plopped down and pulled his cloak a bit closer about him。 Within a few minutes； he was snoring lightly； but I noticed his bow was still in his grip。
〃Now there's a seasoned soldier；〃 Aahz observed。 〃Gets his sleep when and where he can。〃
〃You want me to do a little scouting； boss？〃 Gus asked。
〃Um 。 。 。〃 I hesitated； glancing quickly at Aahz。
Aahz caught my look and gave a small nod。
〃Sure； Gus；〃 I finished。 〃We'll wait for you here。〃
〃I'll scout in the other direction；〃 Brockhurst volunteered。
〃Okay；〃 I nodded。 〃Aahz； can you give 'em a quick briefing？〃
I was trying to drop the load in Aahz's lap； but he joined the conversation as smoothly as if we