"True," she said. "You have been my champion," and she kissed me.

Just then, out of nowhere, a paw appeared and fell upon the blade Iheld. Its opposite waved two slips of paper before me. Then a soft voicespoke: "You keep borrowing that sword without signing for it. Kindly do thatnow, Merlin. The other slip is for last time." I found a ballpoint beneathmy cloak and signed as the rest of the cat materialized. "That'll be $40,"it said then. "It costs 20 bucks for each hour or portion of an hour, tovorp."

I dug around in my pockets and came up with the fees. The cat grinnedand began to fade. "Good doing business with you," it said through thesmile. "Come back soon. The next drink's on the house. And bring Luke. He'sa great baritone."

I noticed as it faded that the shroudling family had also vanished.

Kregma moved nearer. _"Where are the others--Glait and Gryll?"_

"I left Grait in a wood," I replied, "though he may well be back in theWindmaster's vase in Gramble's museum in the Ways of Sawall by now. If yousee him, tell him that the bigger thing has not eaten me--and he will drinkwarm milk with me one night and hear more tales yet. Gryll, I believe, is inthe employ of my Uncle Suhuy."

_"Ah, the Windmaster...those were the days,"_ he said. _"Yes, we mustget together and play again. Thank you for calling me for this one,"_ and heslid off in many directions and was gone, like the others.

"What now?" Rhanda asked.

"I am going home and back to bed." I hesitated, then said, "Come withme?"

She hesitated too, then nodded. "Let us finish the night as we beganit," she said.

We walked through the seventh door and she unlocked my mirror. I knewthat she would be gone when I awoke.