"One thing we wish to say before we depart," Ersatz said. "We have not met your like before. Perhaps this M.Y.T.H., Inc. was as great a fellowship as you say. We depart to be at the side of heroes, but allow me to state that you are of that number as well. I for one am proud to have served with you."
I felt embarrassed. "Get outta here before I melt you down into spoons," I growled. Secretly, though, I was pleased.
"Now you must scatter us to the winds of fate, dear," Kelsa said.
"How?"
"Just move us close together. Then back away."
"Just one thing," I said, pausing. "You've fought in battles for thousands of years. You could have waltzed around me at any time with what you know about strategy. Why didn't you?"
Ersatz's eyes were amused. "Because our heroes must take a hand in their own fates," he said. "Otherwise we are their masters, and not their servants. Besides, you did a creditable job. Asti was never fair to you, but she was challenging you in her own way."
"Yeah, remind me to thank her for that some time."
"You're not so bad after all," Asti said, grudgingly. "For a Pervect."
Ersatz laughed. "You are my most worthy friend, and I am at your service at any time when you find yourself facing an epic challenge. We will help you." He looked fondly at Calypsa, who looked very modest.
"Yeah, well, thanks, but I can handle myself."
"I do believe that," the Sword said.
Calypsa left the middle of the circle one more time to embrace Tananda.
"I nearly forgot," she said. She handed Tanda a small purse. "It is not enough for all you have done for me, but it is what we agreed." The bag jingled modestly.
"Thanks, honey," Tananda said, hugging her back affectionately. "I'd almost forgotten."
"I didn't," Calypsa said, beaming. "And I never will. Goodbye."
She raced back into the midst of the Hoard. "Just out of curiosity…?" I began.
"Ten silver coins," Tananda whispered.
"You're kidding!"
"SHHH! Just wave goodbye to the nice artifacts," she said, firmly taking my wrist and flapping my hand at the Hoard.
Calypsa pulled the Hoard closer to her and Ersatz. Buirnie and his entourage huddled in tight, whistling and thumping to make room. Bozebos glittered like a disco ball in Kelsa's light. The girl pulled Asti and Chin-Hwag close to her, and she sat down on Payge. When the items were all touching one another, the gleam surrounded all of them. Calypsa's big dark eyes picked up the glow, and her feathers seemed to turn gold. She was one of them now.
I didn't need a tour guide or a nuclear scientist to tell me when the Hoard energy hit critical mass. The ground heaved up and down, throwing us both backwards. Tananda grabbed my hand and put up as much of a protective magik shield as she could. I threw one arm over her and the other over my head.
BOOM!
When the blast came, it was practically a nuclear explosion. I hung on as the floor bucked and shimmied. It took a long time to calm down. When I could hear again, the only noise was musical clinking. Hard little objects rained down on me. I opened my eyes to see us and the floor covered by a heap of shiny yellow coins.
"What the…?" I said, brushing gold out of my ears.
"I think," Tananda said with a grin, "that this is the Hoard's parting gift for you. You earned it."
I hesitated for about a microsecond then began shoveling the money into my poke.
"Darned right I did. Where'd Calypsa go?"
"Wherever Ersatz was needed, I guess," Tananda said. "She's riding on his ticket, now. She's going to be a legendary swordswoman. We did a lot more than help her save her grandfather. All the things she went through, like learning all the languages in the universe, make her an extraordinary person, not that she wasn't one to start with. It takes something special for a girl from a backwater dimension to break out of the mold like that. Keep your eyes open for coming epics."
"We seem to specialize in that," I agreed. "She had some great stuff in her, that girl."
"Is that a tear, Aahz?" Tananda cooed. "You, sentimental?"
I snorted.
"Nah, just a little dust. I like to see a legend get launched with a bang." I jingled my refilled purse. I felt better. The Hoard wasn't such a bunch of cranks after all. "I think I'll even go back to the party for a while." I stuck out an elbow. "May I have the next dance?"
Tananda curled herself around my arm. "Right with you, hero."