THEREwas a tense, expectant silence as the foursome leaned forward tostudy their captives. It was as if two song-birds had tried to edgethrough a crowd of vultures to steal a snack only to find they werethe intended meal.

Iknelt, watching in frozen horror, fully expecting to witness theimmediate demise of my two allies.

"SinceFrumple's already announced us," Aahz said smoothly, "Iguess there's no need to maintain this disguise."

Theconfident tone of his voice steadied my shattered nerve. We were init now, and win or lose we'd just have to keep going.

Quickly,I shut my eyes and removed Aahz's Garkin disguise.

"Aahz!"cried Isstvan in delight. "I should have known it was you."

"He'sthe one who…." Brockhurst began.

"Doyou two know each other?" Frumple asked, ignoring the Imp.

"Knoweach other?" Isstvan chortled. "We're old enemies. He and acouple other scalawags nearly destroyed me the last time we met."

"Wellit's our turn now, right Isstvan?" smiled Higgens, leisurelyreaching for his crossbow.

"Now,now!" said Isstvan, picking.the Imp up by his head and shakinghim gently. "Mustn't rush things."

"Seemsto me," Aahz sneered, "that you're having trouble findingdecent allies, Isstvan."

"Oh,Aahz," Isstvan laughed. "Still the sharp tongue, eh?"

"Imps?"Aahz's voice was scornful. "C'mon, Isstvan. Even you can dobetter than that."

Isstvansighed and dropped Higgens back in his chair.

"Well,one does what one can. Inflation, you know."

Heshook his head sadly, then brightened again.

"Ohyou don't know how glad I am to see you, Aahz. I thought I was goingto have to wait until we conquered Perv before I got my revenge, andhere you just walk in. Now don't you dare pop off before we'vesettled our score."

"Itold you before," Frumple interrupted. "He's lost hispowers."

"Powers.Hmph! He never had any powers," Quigley chimed in, baited fromhis frightened silence at the insult of having been ignored.

"Well,who do we have here?" Isstvan smiled, looking at Quigley for thefirst time. "Have we met?"

"SayIsstvan," interrupted Aahz. "Mind if I have some of thatwine? No reason to be barbaric about this."

"Certainly.Aahz." Isstvan waved him forward. "Help yourself."

Itwas eerie listening to the conversation: apparently civilized andfriendly, it had a cat-and-mouse undercurrent which belied the casualtones.

"Watchhim!" Frumple hissed, glaring at Aahz.

"OhFrumple! You are such a wart," Isstvan scolded. "Why youwere the one who assured me that he had lost his powers."

"Well,I think he makes sense," Brockhurst grumbled, rising and backingaway as Aahz approached the table. "If you don't mind, Isstvan,I'll watch from over here."

Hesat on the bottom steps of the flight of stairs heading up to themezzanine where Tanda and I were hidden. His tone was conversational,but it was clear he was only waiting for Isstvan's signal to loosehim on the helpless pair.

"Oh,you Imps are worse than the Deveels!" Isstvan scowled.

"That'sa given," Frumple commented dryly.

"Nowlook, Frumple…." Higgens began angrily.

"Asto who this figure is," Frumple pointed to Quigley. ignoring theImps. "That is Garkin's apprentice. He's the one who's beenhandling the magik for our Pervert since he lost his powers."

"Really?"asked Isstvan eagerly. "Can you do the cups and balls trick? Ilove the cups and balls trick."

"Idon't understand," mumbled Quigley vacantly, backing away fromthe assemblage.

Well,if we were ever going to have a diversion, it would have to be now.Closing my eyes, I changed Quigley's features. The obvious choice forhis disguise was… me!

"See,"said Frumple pointing proudly. "I told you so."

"Throckwoddle!"exclaimed the two Imps simultaneously.

"What?"said Frumple narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Iwas ready for them. As the exclamations rose, I changed Quigleyagain. This time, I gave him Throckwoddle features.

"Why,it is Throckwoddle," cried Isstvan. "Oh that's funny."

"Waita minute!" Brockhurst hissed. "How could you beThrockwoddle when we turned you into a statue before we caught upwith Throckwoddle?"

Thisset Isstvan off into even greater peals of laughter.

"Stop,"he called breathless. "Oh stop. Oh! My ribs hurt. Aahz, you'veout-done yourself this time."

"It'snothing really," Aahz acknowledged modestly.

"There'ssomething wrong here!" Frumple declared. He plunged a hand deepinto his robe, never taking his eyes from Quigley. Almost too late Irealized what he was doing. He was going for his crystal, the onethat let him detect disguises. As the glittering bauble emerged, Iswung into action.

Asimple levitation, a small flick with my mind, and the crystal poppedout of Frumple's grasp and plopped into the wine jug.

"Framitz!"Frumple swore, starting to fish for his possession.

"Getyour hands out of the wine, Frumple!" Aahz chided slapping hiswrist. "You'll get your toy when we finish the jug!"

Asif to illustrate his point, he hefted the jug and began refilling theflagons around the table.

"Enoughof this insanity!" Quigley exploded.

Iwinced at the use of the word "insanity," but Isstvandidn't seem to mind. He merely leaned forward to watch Quigley.

"Iam neither Skeeve nor Throckwoddle," Quigley continued, "Iam Quigley, demon hunter extraordinaire! Let any dispute who dare,and man or demon I'll show him who I am!"

Thisproved too much for Isstvan, who actually collapsed in laughter.

"Ohhe's funny, Aahz," he gasped. "Where did you find thisfunny man?"

"Yousent him to me, remember?" Aahz prompted.

"Whyso I did, so I did," Isstvan mused, and even this fact he seemedto find hysterically funny.

Theothers were not so amused.

"Soyou're a demon hunter, eh?" Frumple snarled. "What's yourgripe anyway?"

"Theoffenses of demons are too numerous to list," Quigley retortedhaughtily.

"Wearen't going anywhere for a while," Brockhurst chimed in fromthe stairs. "And neither are you. List us a few of theseoffenses."

"Well…"began Quigley, "you stole my magik pendant and my magik sword…."

"Wedon't know anything about a magik pendant." Higgens bristled."And we gave your so-called magik sword to…."

"Whatelse do demons do?" Frumple interrupted, apparently none tooeager to have the discussion turn to swords.

"Well…you bewitched my war unicorn into thinking he's a dragon!"Quigley challenged.

"Yourwar unicorn is currently tethered in the stable," Higgens statedflatly. "Frumple brought him in."

"Myunicorn is tethered outside the door!" Quigley insisted. "Andhe thinks he's a dragon!"

"Yourunicorn is tethered in the stable," Higgens barked back. "Andwe think you're a fruitcake!"

"Gentlemen,gentlemen," Isstvan managed to hold up his hands despite hislaughter. "All this is quite amusing, but… well, will youlook at that!"

Thislast was said in such a tone of wonder that the attention of everyonein the room was immediately drawn to the spot he was looking at.

Suspendedin midair, not two hand-spans from Isstvan's head, was a small reddart with gold and black fletchings.

"Anassassin's dart!" Isstvan marveled, gently plucking the missilefrom where it was hovering. "Now who would be naughty enough totry to poison me from behind?"

Hiseyes slowly moved to Brockhurst sitting casually on the stairs.

Brockhurstsuddenly realized he was the object of everyone's attention. His eyeswidened in fright.

"No!I… Wait! Isstvan!" he half-rose holding out a hand as ifto ward off a blow. "I didn't… No! Don't. Glaag!"