Free MA10 Sweet Myth-tery of Life by Robert Asprin Page A

Normally I’d speak to her father, but, in this case, you seem to be the closest thing to a father she has.”
    Now I was truly flabbergasted. Mostly because, try as I might, I couldn’t find a hole in his logic. He was right. Even though she was older than me, Massha had never spoken of her family at all ... much less a father. What was more; this was one I couldn’t even fob off on Aahz. Since she was my apprentice, I was responsible for her care and well-being as well as her training. If there was anyone the General should speak to on matters regarding Massha’s future, it was me!
    “I see,” I said, stalling for time to think. “And what does Massha have to say about this?”
    “So far, I haven’t spoken to her directly on the subject,” Badaxe admitted uneasily, “though I have reason to believe the idea wouldn’t be totally unwelcome to her. Frankly, I felt that I should attempt to gain your approval first.”
    “And why is that?”
    I was getting better at this stalling game, and questions were a handy weapon.
    The General eyed me levelly.
    “Come, come, Lord Magician,” he said. “I thought that we had long since agreed there was no need to bandy words between us. You know as well as I that Massha has a great deal of affection for you. What’s more, there is the added loyalty of an apprentice to her teacher. While I have never shied from either battle or competition, I would prefer to spare her any unnecessary anguish. That is, I feel it would aid my case immensely if, at the same time I asked her to be my wife, I could state that I had spoken with you and that you had no personal or professional objections to such a match. That is, of course, assuming you don’t.”
    I was silent for a few moments, reflecting on what he had said. Specifically, I was berating myself for being so selfish in my thinking, of only considering the consequences to me in my decision of whether or not to marry Queen Hemlock. Even when I had been thinking of my friends and colleagues, I had been looking at it in terms of my loss of their friendship, not what it might mean to them.
    “Then again, perhaps I was wrong in my assumption.”
    The General’s words interrupted my thoughts, and I was suddenly aware that he had been waiting for a response from me.
    “Forgive me, General ... Hugh,” I said hastily. I had to think quickly to recall his first name. “I was simply lost in thought for a moment. Certainly I have no objections. I’ve always held you in the highest regard, and, if Massha is amenable, I would be the last to stand between her and happiness. Feel free to proceed with my approval ... and best wishes.”
    Badaxe seized my hand and pumped it hard ... fortunately before I could pull it away in alarm.
    “Thank you, Lord ... Skeeve,” he said with an intensity I had only seen him express in battle planning. “I ... Thank you.”
    Releasing my hand, he strode to the door, opened it, and then paused.
    “Were it not for the fact that, assuming she agrees, of course, I expect Massha will ask you to give the bride away, I’d ask you to honor me by standing as my best man.”
    Then he was gone ... which was just as well, as I had no idea what to say in response.
    Massha and Badaxe. Married.
    Try as I might, I couldn’t get my mind around the concept ... which is a comment on the limits of my imagination and NOT on their respective physical sizes, individually or as a twosome.
    Finally, I abandoned the effort completely. Instead, I poured myself another goblet of wine and settled back for the far more pleasant exercise of speculating on my own upcoming date.

I FOUND MYSELF experiencing mixed feelings as I prepared for my date that evening. On the one hand, I wasn’t real sure about how much fun it would be spending an entire evening with a woman I had never met before. While I had a certain amount of faith in Vic not to stick me with a real loser, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have some vague idea of