"Wewere naturally quite eager to… ah… join you, so weresorted to desperate measures," Higgens continued. "Wetook a side trip to Twixt and sought the aid of the Deveel there. Itcost us a pretty penny, but he finally agreed to teleport our groupto the trail ahead of you, allowing us to make our desired contact."

"Deveel?What Deveel?" Aahz interrupted.

"Frumple.The Deveel at Twixt. The one who…."

Brockhurstbroke off suddenly, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. He shot a darkglance at Higgens, who was casually reaching for his crossbow.

"I'msurprised Throckwoddle hasn't mentioned Frumple to you," Higgenspurred. "After all, he's the one who told us about him."

"YES,Throckwoddle." If anything, Aahz's voice was even more menacingthan the Imp's. "Why didn't you tell me about the Deveel?"

"It…ah… must have slipped my mind," I mumbled.

Witha massive exertion of self-control, I shot my most withering glare atthe Imps, forcing myself to ignore the menace of the cross-bows. Iwas rewarded by seeing them actually look guilty and avoid my gaze.

"Slippedyour mind! More likely you were trying to hold back a bit ofinformation from me," Aahz said accusingly. "Well, now thatit's out, let's have the rest of it. What about this Deveel?"

"AskBrockhurst," I grumbled. "He seems to be eager to talkabout it."

"Well,Brockhurst?" Aahz turned to him.

TheImp gave me an apologetic shrug as he started.

"Well,I guess I've already told you most of it. There's a Deveel, Frumple,in residence in Twixt. He goes under the cover of Abdul the RugMerchant, but he actually maintains a thriving trade in the usualDeva manner, buying and selling across the dimensions."

"What'she doing in Klah?" Aahz interrupted. "I mean there's notmuch business here. Isn't it a little slow for a Deveel's taste?"

"Well.Throckwoddle said…." Brockhurst broke off and shot me alook.

"Goon, tell him." I tried to sound resigned.

"Well,"the Imp continued, "rumor has it that he was exiled from Devaand is in hiding here, ashamed to show his face in a majordimension."

"Barredfrom Deva? Why? What did he do?"

Iwas glad Aahz asked. It would have sounded strange coming from me.

"Throckwoddlewouldn't tell us. Said Frumple was sensitive on the subject and weshouldn't bring it up."

"Well,Throckwoddle?" Aahz turned to me.

Iwas so caught up in the story it took me a few beats before Iremembered that I really didn't know.

"Urn…I can't tell you," I said.

"What?"Aahz scowled.

Ibegan to wonder how much he was caught up in the story and had losttrack of the realities of the situation.

"Ilearned his secret by accident and hold it as a personal confidence,"I said haughtily. "During our travels these last few days, I'velearned some rather interesting items about you and hold them in thesame esteem. I trust you will respect my silence on the matter ofFrumple as I expect others to respect my silence about those matterspertaining to you."

"Okay,okay. You've made your point," Aahz conceded.

"Say…um… Throckwoddle," Higgens interrupted. "I wouldsuggest we all shed our disguises like our friend Perver… um,Pervect here has. No sense in using up our energies keeping up falsefaces among friends."

Histone was casual, but he sounded suspicious. I noticed he had nottaken his hand off his crossbow.

"Why?"argued Brockhurst. "I prefer to keep my disguise on at all timeswhen in another dimension.

Lessensthe chance of forgetting to put it on at a crucial moment."

"Ithink Higgens is right," Aahz stated before I could supportBrockhurst. "I for one like to see the true faces of the peopleI'm talking to."

"Well,"grumbled Brockhurst, "if everyone is going to insist."

Heclosed his eyes in concentration, and his features began to shimmerand melt.

Ididn't watch the whole process. My mind was racing desperately backto Garkin's hut, when Aahz held up the charred face of the assassin.I hastily envisioned my own face next to it and began working, makingcertain obvious modifications to its appearance to repair the firedamage.

WhenI was done, I snuck a peek out of one eye. The other two had changedalready. My attention was immediately drawn to their complexion.Theirs was a pinkish red, while mine wasn't. I hastily re-closed myeye and made the adjustment.

Satisfiednow, I opened my eyes and looked about me. The other two Imps nowShowed the apparently characteristic pointed ears and chins. Aahzlooked like Aahz. The situation had completely reversed since theImps had arrived. Instead of being normal surrounded by threedisguised demons, I was now surrounded by three demons while I wasdisguised. Terrific.

"Ahh.That's better," chortled Aahz.

"Youknow, Throckwoddle," Higgens said, cocking a head at me. "Fora moment there in the firelight you looked different. In fact…."

"Come,come, gentlemen," Aahz interrupted. "We have seriousmatters to discuss. Does Isstvan know about Frumple's existence?"

"Idon't believe so," answered Brockhurst. "If he did, hewould have either enlisted him or had him assassinated."

"Good,"exclaimed Aahz. "He could very well be the key to our plot."

"Whatplot? "I asked.

"Ourplot against Isstvan, of course."

"What?"exclaimed Higgens, completely distracted from me now. "Are youinsane?"

"No,"retorted Aahz. "But Isstvan is. I mean, think! Has he beenacting particularly stable?"

"No,"admitted Brockhurst. "But then neither has any other magicianI've met, present company included."

"Besides,"Higgens interrupted, "I thought you were on your way to helphim."

"That'sbefore I heard your story," Aahz pointed out. "I'm notparticularly eager to work for a magician who pits his own employeesagainst each other."

"Whendid he do that?" Higgens asked.

Aahzmade an exasperated gesture.

"Think,gentlemen! Have you forgotten our stony-faced friend there?" Hejerked a thumb at the figure on the unicorn. "If you recall yourtale correctly, his words seemed to imply he had been sent by Isstvanto intercept you."

"That'sright," said Brockhurst. "So?"

"Whatdo you mean, 'So?' " Aahz exploded. "That's it! Isstvansent him to kill you. Either he was trying to cut his overhead byassassinating his assassins before payday, or he's so unstablementally he's lashing out blindly at everyone, including his ownallies. Either way he doesn't sound like the most benevolent ofemployers."

"Youknow, I believe he has a point there," I observed, determined tobe of some assistance in this deception.

"Butif that's true, what are we to do?" asked Higgens.

"Well,I don't have a firm plan of action," Aahz admitted. "But Ihave some general ideas that might help."

"Suchas?" prompted Brockhurst.

"Yougo back to Isstvan. Say nothing at all of your suspicions. If you do,he might consider you dangerous and move against you immediately.What's more, refuse any new assignments. Find some pretext to stay asclose to him as possible. Learn all about his habits and weaknesses,but don't do anything until we get there."

"Whereare you going?" asked Higgens.

"Weare going to have a little chat with Frumple. If we're going to moveagainst Isstvan, the support of a Deveel could be invaluable."

"Andprobably unobtainable," grumpled Brockhurst. "I've neverknown a Deveel yet to take sides in a fight. They prefer being in aposition to sell to both sides."

"Whatdo you mean 'we'?" asked Higgens. "Isn't Throckwoddlecoming with us? "