按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃That's what 'he's said as long as I've known him；〃 Tanda shrugged。 〃And after seeing him shoot； I've got no reason to doubt it。 Why？〃
〃I've never met a genuine Archer before；〃 Aahz said。 〃For a while I was willing to believe the whole dimension was a legend。 Well； if he can shoot half as well as Archers are supposed to； I've got no gripes having him on the team。〃
I started to feel a little better。 Unfortunately； Aahz noticed my smile。
〃The Imp is another story；〃 he said grimly。 〃I'm not wild about working with any Imp； but to hire one without powers is a waste of good money。〃
〃Don't forget he's an Assassin；〃 Tanda pointed out。 〃Powers or no powers； I'll bet we find a use for him。 When we were talking with the Gremlin just now…〃
〃Now don't you start on that！〃 Aahz snarled。
〃Start on what？〃 Tanda blinked。
〃The Gremlin bit；〃 Aahz scowled。 〃Any half…wit knows there are no such things as Gremlins。〃
〃Do you want to tell him that？〃 Tanda smiled。 〃I'll call him over here and 。 。 。 oh； rats！ He's gone again。〃
〃If you're quite through；〃 Aahz grumbled； rising from his chair； 〃we'd best get moving。 There's a war waiting for us； you know。〃
〃Oops！ That reminds me！〃 Tanda exclaimed； fishing inside her tunic。
〃I know I shouldn't ask；〃 Aahz signed； 〃but what…〃
〃Here！〃 Tanda announced； flipping him a familiar object。
It was a metal rod about eight inches long and two inches in diameter with a button on one end of it。
〃A D…Hopper！〃 I cried； recognizing the device instantly。
〃It's the same one you gave Isstvan；〃 Tanda smiled proudly。 〃I lifted it from him when we parted pany。 You'll probably want to undo whatever you did to the controls before you use it； though。〃
〃If I can remember for sure；〃 Aahz scowled； staring at the device。
〃I thought it might e in handy in case we get separated on this job and you need a fast exit；〃 Tanda shrugged。
〃The thought's appreciated；〃 Aahz smiled； putting an arm around her。
〃Does this mean you'll be able to teach me how to travel the dimensions？〃 I asked hopefully。
〃Not now I won't；〃 Aahz grimaced。 〃We've got a war to fight； remember？〃
〃Oh！ Yes； of course。〃
〃Well； get your troops together and let's go；〃 Aahz ordered。
〃Okay；〃 I agreed； rising from my chair。 〃I'll get Gleep and 。 。 。 wait a minute！ Did you say my troops？〃
〃You hired 'em； you lead 'em；〃 my mentor smiled。
〃But you're…〃
〃I'll be your military advisor； of course；〃 Aahz continued casually。 〃But the job of Fearless Leader is all yours。 You're the court magician； remember？〃
I swallowed hard。 Somehow this had never entered into my thinking。
〃But what do I do？〃 I asked desperately。
〃Well；〃 Aahz drawled。 〃First； I'd advise you to move 'em outside so we can all head for Klah together 。 。 。 that is； unless you're willing to leave your dragon behind。〃
That didn't even deserve an answer。 I turned to face the troops； sweeping them with what I hoped was a masterful gaze which would immediately mand their attention。
No one noticed。 They were all involved in a jovial conversation。
I cleared my throat noisily。
Nothing。
I considered going over to their table。
〃Listen up！〃 Aahz barked suddenly； scaring me half to death。
The conversation stopped abruptly and all heads swiveled my way。
〃Aah 。 。 。〃 I began confidently。 〃We're ready to go now。 Everybody outside。 Wait for me by the dragon。〃
〃Right； boss！〃 Brockhurst called； starting for the door。
〃I'll be a minute； youngster；〃 Ajax wheezed； struggling to rise。
〃Here； Gramps；〃 Gus said。 〃Let me give you a hand。〃
〃Name's not Gramps； it's Ajax！〃 the Archer scowled。
〃Just trying to be helpful；〃 the gargoyle apologized。
〃I kin' stand up by myself；〃 Ajax insisted。 〃Just 'cause I'm old don't mean I'm helpless。〃
I glanced to Aahz for help； but he and Tanda were already headed out。
As I turned back to Ajax； I thought I caught a glimpse of a small； blue figure slipping out through the door ahead of us。 If it was the Gremlin； he was nowhere in sight when I finally reached the street。
Chapter Sixteen
〃Myth…conceptions are the major cause of wars！〃
…A。 HITLER
Fortunately； the army had not moved from the position it held when we left for Deva。 I say fortunately because Aahz pointed out they might well have renewed their advance in our absence。 If that had happened； we would have returned to find ourselves behind the enemy lines； if not actually in the middle of one of their encampments。
Of course； he pointed this out to me after we had arrived back on Klah。 Aahz is full of helpful little tidbits of information； but his timing leaves a lot to be desired。
Ajax lost no time upon our arrival。 Moving with a briskness that belied his years； he strung his bow and stood squinting at the distant encampments。
〃Well； youngster；〃 he asked； never taking his eyes from the enemy's formations； 〃what's my first batch of targets？〃
His eagerness took me aback a bit； but Aahz covered for me neatly。
〃First；〃 he said loftily； 〃we'll have to hold a final planning session。〃
〃We didn't expect to have you along； Ajax；〃 Tanda added。 〃Having a genuine Archer on our side naturally calls for some drastic revisions of our battle plans。 〃
〃Don't bother me none。〃 Ajax shrugged。 〃Just wanted to let you know I was ready to earn my keep。 Take yer time。 Seen too many wars messed up 'cause nobody bothered to do any plannin'！ If ya don't mind； though； think I'll take me a little nap。 Jes' holler when ya want some shootin' done。〃
〃Alt 。 。 。 go ahead； Ajax；〃 I agreed。
Without further conversation； Ajax plopped down and pulled his cloak a bit closer about him。 Within a few minutes； he was snoring lightly； but I noticed his bow was still in his grip。
〃Now there's a seasoned soldier；〃 Aahz observed。 〃Gets his sleep when and where he can。〃
〃You want me to do a little scouting； boss？〃 Gus asked。
〃Um 。 。 。〃 I hesitated； glancing quickly at Aahz。
Aahz caught my look and gave a small nod。
〃Sure； Gus；〃 I finished。 〃We'll wait for you here。〃
〃I'll scout in the other direction；〃 Brockhurst volunteered。
〃Okay；〃 I nodded。 〃Aahz； can you give 'em a quick briefing？〃
I was trying to drop the load in Aahz's lap； but he joined the conversation as smoothly as if we had rehearsed it this way。
〃There are a couple of things we need specific information on；〃 he said solemnly。 〃First； we need a battlefield； small with scattered cover。 Gus； you check that out。 You know what we're going to need。 Brockhurst； see what details you can bring back on the three nearest encampments。〃
Both scouts nodded briskly。
〃And both of you； stay out of sight；〃 Aahz warned。 〃The information's no good to us if you don't e back。〃
〃C'mon； Aahz；〃 Gus admonished。 〃What have they got that can put a dent in the old rock？〃
He demonstrated by smashing his forearm into a sapling。 The tree went down； apparently without affecting the gargoyle's arm in the slightest。
〃I don't know；〃 Aahz admitted。 〃And I don't want to know； yet。 You're one of our surprise weapons。 No point in giving the enemy an advance warning。 Get my meaning？〃
〃Got it； Aahz；〃 Gus nodded； and lumbered off。
〃Be back in a bit；〃 Brockhurst said wi