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- "I need to talk to someone who can be a little shy around strangers. One minute." I hopped out of the SUV and walked down the rows of cars until I found two vans parked together. I slipped between them, put the fingers of one hand to my lips, and let out a sharp whistle.
- There was a whirring sound and Toot-toot streaked down from overhead, came to a hover in front of me, drew his little sword, and saluted. "Yes, my liege!"
- "Toot, I have two missions for you."
- "At once, my lord!"
- "No, I want you to do them one at a time."
- Toot lowered his sword, his expression crestfallen. "Oh."
- "First, I want you to find the boat out on the lake that my apprentice is in. She's not more than a mile or two from shore." I took off my silver pentacle amulet, wrapped the chain around it, and handed it to Toot-toot. "Leave this where she will notice it right away."
- Toot accepted the amulet gravely, tucking it under one arm. "It will be done."
- "Thank you."
- Toot-toot's chest swelled out, and he stood a little bit straighter.
- "Second," I told him. "I need to know how many of the little folk you could convince to join the Guard for one night."
- He frowned and looked dubious. "I don't know, Lord Harry. The pizza ration is already stretched as far as it can go."
- I waved a hand. "The Guard's pay won't change. I'll order extra to pay for the new guys' service. Call them the Za-Lord's Militia. We only need them sometimes. How many do you think would agree to that?"
- Toot buzzed in an excited circle. "For you? Every sprite and pixie and dewdrop faerie within a hundred miles knows that you saved our kind from being imprisoned by the Lady of the Cold Eyes! There's not a one who didn't have comrade or kin languishing in durance vile!"
- I blinked at him. "Oh," I said. "Well. Tell them that there may be great danger. Tell them that if they wish to join the Militia, they must obey orders while they serve. And I will pay them one large pizza for every fourscore volunteers."
- "That's less than you pay the Guard, Harry," Toot said smugly.
- "Well, they're amateurs, not full-time veterans like you and your men, are they?"
- "Yes, my lord!"
- I looked at him seriously. "If you can recruit a Militia and if they perform as asked, there's a promotion in it for you, Toot."
- His eyes widened. "Does it come with cheese in the crust and extra toppings?"
- "It isn't a pizza." I said. "It's a promotion. Get this work done, and from that time forward, you will be..." I paused dramatically. "Major-General Toot-toot Minimus commanding the Za-Lord's Elite."
- Toot's body practically convulsed in a spasm of excitement. Had a giant yellow exclamation point suddenly appeared in the air over his head, I would not have been surprised. "A Major-General?"
- I couldn't resist. "Yes, yes," I said solemnly. "A Major-General."
- He let out a whoop of glee and zipped up and down the little space between vans. "What do you wish us to do when I have them, my lord!"
- "I want you to play," I said. "Here's what we're going to do..."
- I rejoined Will and Georgia, and ten minutes later, the Water Beetle came chugging back toward the marina. The grasshopper got my brother's boat into dock with only a mildly violent impact. I secured lines quickly, and Will and Georgia jumped on. Almost before Will's feet were on the deck, I was already untying the lines and following them onto the boat. Molly, for her part, already had the engine in reverse.
- Turn Coat Chapter 38,Page 364-366
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