Chapter One:
"There's something to be said for relatives
. . . it has to be said because it's unprint-
able!"
ўA. EINSTEIN
This Ace Fantasy Book contains the complete
text of the original trade edition.
It has been completely reset in a typeface
designed for easy reading, and was printed
from new Him.
An Ace Fantasy Book / published by arrangement with
Starblaze Editions of the Donning Company/Publishers
PRINTING HISTORY
Donning edition published 1983
Ace Fantasy edition / September 1985
Second printing / September 1985
Fourth printing / December 1985
Fifth printing / October 1986
All rights reserved.
Copyright й 1983 by Robert L. Asprin.
Cover art by Walter Velez.
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part,
by mimeograph or any other means, without permission.
For information address: The Donning Company/Publishers,
5659 Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502.
ISBN: 0-441-33851-8
Ace Fantasy Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PERHAPS if I hadn't been so preoccupied with my own
thoughts when I walked into my quarters that day, I
wouldn't have been caught unawares. Still, who expects
to get caught in a magikal attack just walking into their
own room?
Okay, okay! So I am the Court Magician of Possil-
tum, and maybe I have been getting a bit of a reputation
