。 〃Nasty beast；〃 the Evocator hissed； then he shifted his attention back to me。 〃Nonetheless；〃 he said； 〃these charges are serious。 Serious indeed。〃 He gazed lovingly at my father's goods。 〃I have no choice； but to 。 。 。 but to 。。。〃
But I was gaping； numb。 His head gave an impatient jerk； and he stared at me； hard。 〃But to…〃
Light belatedly dawned。 〃Oh。 Oh 。。。 Right！〃 I grabbed my belt and gave the purse a great shake。 His eyes widened at the rattle； and his face glowed as he counted his new wealth。 A burst of chatter from the Favorite hinted at the deep emotions at play。 He absently pinched the creature in rebuke。 As for me； I'd realized my error the instant I'd acted。 Now Prevotant knew what I had； and all I had was his to take。 Disaster lay on one side； humiliation on the other； as I groped for wit。 And the bargaining began。
〃Well； yes；〃 he said at last； 〃there are certain things I should do。 Some would say； am required to do。 But I would need assistance。 Ten colleagues 。。。 or more。〃
I shook the belt again； angry that I had no choice but to plunge on。 〃But； you 。。。〃 I said； wearily joining his game。 〃But you…〃
〃…Don't necessarily have to go by the book；〃 he answered。 〃I've learned to trust my sweet nature in these matters。〃 He eyed the purse； but I kept my hand in place。
〃I could do it myself；〃 he said； willing that hand to free the gold。 〃Except that would require 。。。〃 He looked over the cargo again。 〃My masters wouldn't permit me to tithe you less than 。。。 three coppers for every tenth weight？〃
I sighed。 〃Then I must depart at once to my father's house to bring news of his ruin。〃 I patted the purse。 〃The tithing you ask will take all this…and more。〃
Prevotant looked pained。 His jowls sagged。 But I saw the eyes of his Favorite glint； and its tongue flicked at me； tasting for fear。 I held my nerve； betraying nothing。 The Evocator broke first。
〃I have it；〃 he said。 〃I'll perform a simple purification。 But to be safe； it must include the whole warehouse。 The tithe for that is set at one copper per hundred weight。〃
He lifted a hand。 〃However 。。。 mere's still only my Favorite and myself to perform the enchantment。 There's a great deal of work and prep…〃
I slipped the purse from my belt and gave it to him。 The Favorite hooted greedily as his master swiftly tucked it away。
〃I'll have it done in no time；〃 he said； briskly。 〃No time at all。〃
I sent a slave to fetch his things from his litter； and in a few moments he'd set up a tripod with a brass bowl of hot coals dangling beneath it； and was tossing pinches of various dusts and molds and powders into the bowl。 A ghastly smell arose； but there was no smoke。 His Favorite leaped to the floor； jumping about and shrieking protests at what lay ahead。 I'm sure it would have fled if not for the long； slim chain Prevotant clutched in his fist。
The Evocator had chosen a narrow aisle between crates of wooden toys to place the tripod。 It was to help direct the force of the enchantment； he said。 He waddled down the aisle dragging the Favorite behind。 It fought all the way； squalling like a child and choking itself on the chain。 〃Stop；〃 Prevotant hissed。 〃You'll only make it worse。〃
He eased himself to one knee and scrawled a circle on the floor； then a square enpassing that。 He shortened his grip on the chain and pulled the Favorite to him。 Its little teeth snapped frantically at his fingers； but he finally got it by the neck and hurled it into the circle。 The creature was still for a few moments； stunned by the fall。 Prevotant nodded。 〃Good。 And if you give me any more trouble I'll have you skinned for shoes。〃 The Evocator puffed back to his feet and strode to the tripod。 He motioned for me to join him； and I plied。
〃I need the presence of an owner；〃 he explained； 〃or the purity spell will not be lasting。〃
He dug out another pouch from his kit。 〃I want to make it good and strong；〃 he said。 〃I like to see a satisfied client。〃
There were people scattered about the warehouse； clerks and loaders and prospective customers getting an early look at the goods。 〃Shall I clear the place？〃 I asked。
〃No need。 There's little danger。〃 He dropped a fat fistful of what appeared to be brown shavings into the bowl。 There was a wet hiss as they fell on the coals。 I looked closer and once again noted there was no smoke。
He began abruptly。 〃Oh； demons who dwell in darkness；〃 he intoned。 〃Beware！ Be…ware！〃 There was a hiss as he shook more brown stuff on the coals。 And I saw the coals begin to lose their glow； as if the heat were being sucked from them。
〃Fire to Cold。 Cold to Fire。 I summon flames to seek you out。 Beware； demons！ Be…ware！〃
He emptied the rest of the pouch into the bowl。 There was a flash； and the pile of coals collapsed in the center； gray and dead。 A ghastly howl came from the creature in the chalk prison。 The circle was alive with leaping flames。 The Favorite gibbered in pain； dancing and jerking about as the fire seared it through。 The fire's touch left no mark on its hide； but there was no question it felt the heat。 Its howls of anguish were very real。 The creature suddenly shrank until it was the size of a pebble； even though its screams resounded as loudly as before。 I jumped back as the pebble became dog size； then bulked until the Favorite towered out of the circle that enclosed it； small teeth now big； glistening fangs gnashing in agony。 But size was no escape； for the flames leaped even higher； enveloping all but the howl。 Prevotant shouted； 〃Begone！〃
The Favorite was stricken mute； mouth gaping and ghostly through the flames。 Silence settled。 But I soon heard a ticking； then another。 Then it was as if the roof had opened to let in a storm of insects。 Whole clouds fell dead from the rafters and walls： winged things； boring things； crawling things。 The thick； dry rain stung my flesh as they fell。 I heard another stirring； which became a scurry and a scratch that doubled； then doubled again； and the floor became a sea of fur and scales as rats and lizards fled the warehouse。 There were cries of alarm and disgust from the men and women scattered about the place。
〃Nothing to fear；〃 the Evocator said in a normal voice。 〃The spell is perhaps a bit strong； but at least you'll be rid of vermin； as well。〃 Before I could answer； he flung up his hands； shouting； 〃Finit！〃 A woosh； and the fire vanished。 With a start； I saw the coals in the tripod glow into renewed life。
The Evocator hauled on the chain； dragging his Favorite across the chalk boundaries。 It was normal size； but still furious from its treatment。 〃Now； there's a good job done；〃 he said to me； jerking viciously on the chain。 〃I only need to…〃 Both of us jumped as the Favorite snarled and shot up to half man size。 It jerked on the chain； and Prevotant yelped as the leash slipped from his grasp； cutting soft flesh。
〃Here now；〃 he thundered； 〃what's this all about？ Stop it at once。〃 He waddled forward； fist raised。 The Favorite snarled again； and the snarl became a snap； snap； snapping of hysterical teeth。 It cowered as Prevotant approached； but its size did not diminish and its skin flashed with angry colors。 The Evocator gave it a furious kick。 The beast shrieked and leaped over its master。 The Evocator whirled； cursing and shouting for it to e back。 The Favorite closed its ears and bounded across the warehouse like a dog dosed under the tail with pepper oil。 A richly dressed woman screamed and leaped back into the pany of her slave retainers。 Her scream drew attention； and the Favorite veered and shot past her； scattering the woman's slaves and leaving a bloody bite on the woman's arm。
Prevotant's anger turned to panic。 〃e back to Daddy；〃 he pleaded in high soprano。 〃Daddy has some tasty treats 。。。 Please e back。〃 But the Favorite ravaged on； shredding bundled goods with its teeth； ripping crates open with its claws。 My men tried to pin it in a corner； but it drove them back； growing even larger and charging forward。 Then it was ravaging through the cargo again。 The chaos must have sharpened my wits； for I saw not only that the damage was minimal； but that in that damage was my own escape from the Evocator。
〃Ah； ha！〃 Prevotant shouted； as the Favorite turned and