"You'reright," I said thoughtfully. "I don't understand."

"Lookkid, if we just sat here and waited for him, he could take his timeand choose exactly what he wanted to do and when he wanted to do it.That's an active role and lets him play with his entire list ofpowers. Right?"

"Iguess so."

"Butwe aren't doing that. We're carrying the attack to him. That shouldlimit him as to what he can do. There are only a certain number ofresponses he can successfully use to each of our gambits, and he'llhave to use them because he can't afford to ignore the attack. Mostof all, we'll rob him of time. Instead of leisurely choosing whathe's going to do next, he'll have to choose fast. That means he'll gowith the option he's surest of, the one he does best."

Iconsidered this for a few moments. It sort of made sense.

"Justone question, Aahz," I asked finally. "What's that, kid?"

"Whatif you've guessed wrong?"

"Thenwe drop back ten and punt," he answered lightly.

"What'sa…."

"Thenwe try something else," he amended hastily.

"Likewhat?"

"Can'ttell yet," Aahz shrugged. "Too many variables. We're goingwith my best guess right now. Beyond that we'll just have to wait andsee."

Wesat staring into the dying fire for a few minutes, each lost in ourown thoughts.

"Say,Aahz?" I said at last.

"Yea,kid?"

"Doyou think we'll reach Isstvan before Frumple does?"

"Relax,kid. Frumple's probably drinking wine and pinching bottoms in someother dimension by now."

"Butyou said…."

"I'vehad time to think about it since then. The only reason a Deveel doesanything is for a profit or out of fear. As far as his sticking hishead into this brawl goes, I figure the fear will outweigh theprofit. Trying to sell information to a madman is risky at best. Mybet is he's lying low until the dust settles."

Ireminded myself again of my faith in Aahz's expertise in suchmatters. It occurred to me, however, there was an awful lot ofguesswork in our planning.

"Um,Aahz? Wouldn't it be a little safer if we had invested in a couple ofthose jazzy weapons back in Deva?"

"Wedon't need them," he replied firmly. "Besides, they'resusceptible to Gremlins. I'd rather go into a fight with a crude butreliable weapon than pin my hopes on a contraption that's liable tomalfunction when you need it most."

"Whereare Gremlins from?" I asked.

"What?"

"Gremlins.You said…."

"Oh,that. It's just a figure of speech. There are no such things asGremlins."

Iwas only listening with half an ear. I suddenly realized that while Icould see Quigley's sleeping form, there was no sign of Tanda orGleep.

"Where's…urn… where's Gleep?" I asked abruptly.

Aahzgrinned at me.

"Gleepis standing watch… and just in case you're interested, so'sTanda."

Iwas vaguely annoyed he had seen through me so easily, but wasdetermined not to show it.

"Whenis… um… are they coming back?"

"Relax,kid. I told Tanda to leave you alone tonight. You need the sleep fortomorrow."

Hejerked his head pointedly toward the assassin's robe I had been usingfor a pillow. I grudgingly resumed my horizontal position.

"DidI wake you up, Aahz?" I asked apologetically. "With thenightmare, I mean."

"Naw.I was still up. Just making a few last-minute preparations fortomorrow."

"Oh,"I said drowsily.

"Say,uh, kid?"

"Yes,Aahz?"

"Weprobably won't have much time to talk tomorrow when Quigley's awake,so while we've got a few minutes alone I want to say however it goestomorrow… well… it's been nice working with you, kid."

"Gee,Aahz…." I said starting to sit up.

Arough hand interrupted me and pushed me back down.

"Sleep!"Aahz commanded, but there was a gentle note lurking in his grufftone.

WEcrouched in a grove of small trees on a knoll overlooking the inn,studying our target. The inn was as Quigley had described it, anisolated two-story building with an attached stable squatting by aroad overgrown with weeds. If Isstvan was relying on transients tosupport his business, he was in trouble, except we knew he was doingno such thing. He was mustering his strength to take over thedimensions, and the isolated inn was a perfect base for him to workfrom.

"Areyou sure there are no wards?" Aahz whispered.

Headdressed his question to Tanda. She in turn shot me a glance. I gavea small nod of my head.

"Positive,"she whispered back.

Itwas all part of our plan. As far as Quigley was concerned, Tanda wasthe only one of our group that had any supernatural powers.

"Good,"said the demon hunter. "Demon powers make me uneasy. The less wehave to deal with, the better I like it."

"Don'tget your hopes up," Aahz commented, not taking his eyes from theinn. "They're there all right.

Theeasier it is to get in, the harder it'll be to get out… andthey're making it awfully easy for us to get in."

"Idon't like it," said Tanda firmly.

"Neitherdo I," admitted Aahz. "But things aren't going to get anybetter, so let's get started. You might as well get into disguisenow."

"Right,Aahz," she said.

Neitherof them looked at me. In fact Aahz stared directly at Tanda. Thiskept Quigley's attention on her also, though I must admit it helpedthat she began to writhe and gyrate wildly. Unobserved, I shut myeyes and got to work.

Iwas getting pretty good at this disguise game, which was fortunatebecause I was going to be sorely tested today. With a few masterfulstrokes, I converted Tanda's lovely features into the dubious face ofthe Imp Higgens… or rather Higgens's human disguise. Thisdone, I opened my eyes again.

Tandawas still gyrating. It was a pleasant enough sight that I was temptedto prolong it, but we had work to do. I cleared my throat and Tandaacknowledged the signal by stopping.

"Howdo I look?" she asked proudly.

"Terrific!"I exclaimed with no trace of modesty.

Aahzshot me a dirty look.

"It'suncanny!" Quigley marveled. "How do you do that?"

"Professionalsecret." Tanda winked at him.

"Offwith you!" Aahz commanded. "And you too, Skeeve."

"ButAahz, couldn't I…."

"Noyou can't. We've discussed it before. This mission's far toodangerous for a lad of your inexperience."

"Oh.allright, Aahz," I said, crestfallen.

"Cheerup, lad," Quigley told me. "Your day will come. If we fail,the mission falls to you."

"Isuppose so. Well, good luck…."

Iturned to Tanda, but she was already gone, vanished as if the groundhad swallowed her up.

"Isay!" exclaimed Quigley. "She does move quietly, doesn'tshe?"

"Itold you she could handle herself," Aahz said proudly. "Nowit's your turn, Skeeve."

"Right,Aahz!"

Iturned to the dragon.

"Stayhere, Gleep. I'll be back soon, and until then you do what Aahz says.Understand?"

"Gleep?"said the dragon, cocking his head.

Fora minute I thought he was going to ruin everything, but then heturned and slunk to Aahz's side and stood there regarding me withmournful blue eyes.

Everythingwas ready.

"Well,good-bye. Good luck!" I called, and trudged slowly back over theknoll, hopefully a picture of abject misery.

Onceout of sight, however, I turned and began to sprint as fast as Icould in a wide circle around the inn.

Onthe surface, our plan was quite simple. Aahz and Quigley were to giveTanda enough time to circle around the inn and enter it over thestable roof. Then they were to boldly enter the front door.Supposedly this would create a diversion, allowing Tanda to attackIsstvan magically from the rear. I was to wait safely on the knolluntil the affair was settled.