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nerd.”
    â€œYou,” returned Zarber, “have been fraternizing with the natives. Sucking up to that Pa-Kai medicine man all week, putting on your silly costumes, clutching your pouches, dangling your spirit bags. You’ve been working on a deal behind my back!”
    Rhys sat up, his own temper on a sudden rise. “What kind of a half-assed accusation is that?”
    â€œRather more than half an ass, I think. Neither my assistants nor I have been blind to your dark plottings. You’ve monopolized not only the Shaman’s time, but its apprentices’, as well. We haven’t been able to get so much as a ten second audience.”
    â€œâ€˜Dark plottings?’ Don’t be so melodramatic. We’re just being friendly and trying to win their respect. There’s nothing sneaky about that.”
    â€œYou’re doing more than being friendly, you’re currying favor. You’re—”
    â€œAnd what are you doing with the Eldest in the meantime?” asked Yoshi unexpectedly. “You and your so-called Chieftain have been having teapots with him every morning and bringing him little imported goodies every afternoon.”
    â€œWe were invited.”
    â€œSo were we. Pa-Lili invited us to fraternize. It’s only courteous to accept the invitation.”
    â€œIs that what you call this silly masquerade—this shamanizing nonsense? Courtesy? You’re making fools of yourselves.”
    Rhys’s mouth puckered thoughtfully. “Maybe you’re right... but would you like to bet on it?”
    Zarber’s eyes narrowed, making him look as if he’d just bitten into a lemon (or into someone who’d just eaten one). “What do you know, Llewellyn, hm? What privileged information have you weaseled out of that Pa-Kai wind bag?”
    Yoshi gasped. “You’re a very rude man,” she told Zarber indignantly. “That’s a terrible thing to say about Pa-Lili. She’s nice!”
    Rhys smothered a laugh. Yoshi reminded him strongly of a certain little girl from Kansas facing down a certain Cowardly Lion. All she needed was to be clutching a little black mongrel. The impression was obviously shared by Zarber.
    â€œAre all of your associates as gullible as Dorothy, here, or is that just an act?” he asked.
    â€œI think Yoshi is right,” said Rhys. “The only wind bag around here is you. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a lot to do before the negotiations begin tomorrow morning.”
    Zarber glared at Rhys, iron-faced. “I’ll just bet you do. Well, I can play charades, too, Llewellyn. Probably better than you can.”
    â€œOoh,” said Rhys, clutching at his collar. “I’m scared.”
    Zarber flushed a deep scarlet and left with long, dignified strides.
    â€œIf he could arrange to turn that color in front of the Pa-Kai, he might score some points,” observed Rick. “Geez, he’s slick. Slick as a wet rock.” He turned an admiring eye on Rhys. “You handled that beautifully, by the way... Are you scared? Of losing this one to the Count, I mean.”
    Rhys nodded. “Terrified.”
    â€œI’m not,” said the stalwart Dorothy. “I know you can out-maneuver him, sir.”
    Rick snorted. “I just hope he’s not better at playing charades than we are.”
    â€œWho’s playing charades?” asked Rhys. “I’m not. I hope you’re not. And if Zarber is, then he might just sabotage his own position.”
    â€œWe could help,” suggested Yoshi. “Just let me get a lock of his hair.”
    â€œGood God, what for?” asked Rick, staring at her.
    â€œDon’t you pay any attention to Hi-Pok and Thuilu? You put the hair in the spirit bowl, immerse it in pure water, and lay the curse. Then, you put it in the spirit bag so the spirits will know what to do, and you wear the spirit bag over your heart so you can help direct