"Certainlynot," I replied in my most injured tones. Actually I was, but Iwould have rather been fed to vampire-slugs than admit it to Aahz.

"Speakingof demon hunters, you'd better check on our friend there," Aahzsuggested. "It could get a bit grisly if an arm or somethingbroke off before we got around to restoring him."

Ihastened to comply. We had rigged a drag-litter for theQuigley-statue to avoid having to load and unload him each night, notto mention escaping the chore of saddling and unsaddling the warunicorn. The bulk of the gear and armor was sharing the drag-litterwith the Quigley-statue, a fact which seemed to make the unicornimmensely happy. Apparently it was far easier to drag all that weightthan to carry it on one's back. "He seems to be okay, Aahz."I reported.

"Good,"he sneered. "I'd hate to think of anything happening to him,accidental-like."

Aahzwas still not happy with our traveling companions. He had onlygrudgingly given in to my logic for bringing them along as opposed toleaving them behind. I had argued that they could be of potentialassistance in dealing with the Deveel, or at least when we had ourfinal showdown with Isstvan.

Inactuality, that wasn't my reasoning at all. I felt a bit guilty abouthaving set Quigley up to get clobbered by the Imps and didn't want tosee any harm befall him because of it.

"Itwould make traveling a lot easier if we restored him," Isuggested hopefully.

"Forgetit, kid."

"ButAahz…."

"Isaid forget it! In case you've forgotten, that particular gentleman'smajor pastime seems to consist of seeking out and killing demons. NowI'm aware my winning personality may have duped you into overlookingthe fact, but I am a demon. As such, I am not about to accept aliving, breathing, and most importantly, functioning demon hunter asa traveling companion."

"Wefooled him before!" I argued.

"Noton a permanent basis. Besides, when would you practice your magik ifhe was restored? Until we meet with the Deveel, you're still our bestbet against Isstvan."

Iwished he would stop mentioning that. It made me incrediblyuncomfortable when he did. Besides, I couldn't think of a goodargument to it.

"Iguess you're right, Aahz," I admitted.

"You'dbetter believe I'm right. Incidentally, since we seem to be stoppedanyway, this is as good a time as any for your next lesson."

Myspirits lifted. Besides my natural eagerness to extend my magicalabilities, Aahz's offer contained an implied statement that he waspleased with my progress so far in earlier lessons.

"Okay,Aahz," I said, looping the unicorn's reins around a nearby bush."I'm ready."

"Good,"smiled Aahz, rubbing his hands together. "Today we're going toteach you to fly."

Myspirits fell again.

"Fly?"I asked.

"That'swhat I said, kid. Fly. Exciting, isn't it?"

"Why?"

"Whadyamean, why? Ever since we first cast jealous eyes on the creatures ofthe air we've wanted to fly. Now you're getting a chance to learn.That's why it's exciting!"

"Imeant, why should I want to learn to fly?"

"Well…because everybody wants to fly."

"Idon't," I said emphatically.

"Whynot?"

"I'mafraid of heights, for one thing," I answered.

"Thatisn't enough reason to not learn," Aahz scowled.

"Well,I haven't heard any reasons yet as to why I should." I scowledback at him.

"Look,kid," Aahz began coaxingly, "It isn't so much flying asfloating on air."

"Thedistinction escapes me," I said dryly.

"Okay,kid. Let me put it to you this way. You're my apprentice, right?"

"Right,"I agreed suspiciously.

"Well,I'm not going to have an apprentice that can't fly! Get me!?" heroared.

"Allright, Aahz. How does it work?" I knew when I was beaten.

"That'sbetter. Actually it doesn't involve anything you don't already know.You know how to levitate objects, right?"

Inodded slowly, puzzled.

"Well,all flying is is levitating yourself."

"How'sthat again?"

"Insteadof standing firm on the ground and lifting an object, you pushagainst the ground with your will and lift yourself."

"Butif I'm not touching the ground, where do I draw my power from?"

"Fromthe air! C'mon, kid, you're a magician, not an elemental."

"What'san elemental?"

"Forgetit. What I meant was you aren't bound to any of the four elements,you're a magician. You control them, or at least influence them anddraw your power from them. When you're flying, all you have to do isdraw your power from the air instead of the ground."

"Ifyou say so, Aahz," I said doubtfully.

"Okay,first locate a force line."

"Butwe left it when we started off to see the Deveel," I argued.

"Kid,there are lots of force lines. Just because we left one of the groundforce lines doesn't mean we're completely out of touch. Check for aforce line in the air."

"Inthe air?"

"Believeme, kid. Check."

Isighed and closed my eyes. Turning my face skyward, I tried topicture the two-headed spear. At first I couldn't do it, thenrealized with a start I was seeing a spear, but a different spear. Itwasn't as bright as the last spear had been, but glowed softly withicy blues and whites.

"Ithink I've got one, Aahz!" I gasped.

"It'sblue and white, right?" Aahz sneered sarcastically.

"Yes,but it's not as bright as the last one."

"It'sprobably further away. Oh well, it's close enough for you to drawenergy from. Well, give it a try, kid. Hook into that force line andpush the ground away. Slowly now."

Idid as I was instructed, reaching out with my mind to tap theenergies of that icy vision. The surge of power I felt was unlike anyI had experienced before. Whereas before when I summoned the power Ifelt warm and swollen with power, this time I felt cool and relaxed.The power flow actually made me feel lighter.

"Pushaway, kid," came Aahz's voice. "Gently!"

LazilyI touched the ground with my mind, only casually aware of the curioussensation of not physically feeling anything with my feet.

"Openyour eyes, kid! Adjust your trim."

Aahz'svoice came to me from a strange location this time. Surprised, myeyes popped open.

Iwas floating some ten feet above the ground at an angle that wasrapidly drifting toward a horizontal position. I was flying!

Theground came at me in a rush. I had one moment of dazed puzzlementbefore it slammed into me with jarring reality.

Ilay there for a moment forcing air back into my lungs and wonderingif I had broken anything.

"Areyou okay, kid?" Aahz was suddenly looming over me.' 'Whathappened anyway?"

"I…I was flying!" I forced the words at last.

"Yeah,so? Oh, I get it. You were so surprised you forgot to maintain theenergy flow, right?"

Inodded, unable to speak.

"Ofall the dumb… look, kid, when I tell you you're going to fly,believe it!"

"But…."

"Don't'but' me! Either you believe in me as a teacher or you don't! There'sno buts about it!"

"I'msorry, Aahz." I was getting my breath back again.

"Ahh…didn't mean to jump on you like that, kid, but you half scared me todeath with that fall. You've got to understand we're starting to getinto some pretty powerful magik now. You've got to expect them towork. A surprise-break like that last one with the wrong thing couldget you killed, or me for that matter."

"I'lltry to remember, Aahz. Shall I try it again?"

"Justtake it easy for a few minutes, kid. Flying can take a lot out ofyou, even without the fall."

Iclosed my eyes and waited for my head to stop whirling.

"Aahz?"I said finally.

"Yeah,kid?"

"Tellme about Perv."

"Whatabout it?"

"Itjust occurred to me, those Imps seemed scared to death when theyrealized you were a Pervect. What kind of a reputation does yourdimension have?"