I had already lost two hours at Kilvin's workshop to prepare my plan. Than I had wasted an other hour with checking Bast's usual dating locations (the inns at Imre, the university's atria, The Eolian and pretty much everywhere else). I'd seen him at the Arteficery in the early morning, when he had returned from Trebon with the sword he'd fashioned for me. Had I only known that I would need his services again, I could have saved me from a lot of fruitless searching then.

But as it was I ran all over Imre, asking this and that person if they'd seen a handsome black haired student with blue eyes. It was sheer luck when I finally discovered him in a pub I'd once visited with Elodin.

"I hope it is something very important, Reshi," Bast complained as I dragged him out of his current rendezvous.

"It's an emergency," I said, "Bast, I'm about to introduce you to the most beautiful and evil woman in Imre, while you're feeding on shrimps." I gestured at the girl that was about to leave and with whose face I was vaguely familiar with.

"I don't like the evil part, Reshi," sighed Bast, but he followed me. "Besides, knowing you I suspect you're not introducing her to me for romantic reasons. You probably want me to divert her, while you follow whatever your plan is this time."

"Correct by all accounts, student," I smiled at him, "You're a fast learner."

As we approached Devi's shop I explained the circumstances and my plan to him. We climbed up to Devi's shop after that. Devi let us both in, then looked at Bast.

"You!"

"I well, yes," said Bast slightly confused, "We parted in friendship, didn't we, Sarah?"

"Devi!" snarled Devi at him. "Sit down!"

Bast sat.

"Kneel and apologize," said Devi, "and make it better sound good, else I'll held young Kvothe here responsible for bringing along such a despicable liar and betrayer as you."

Bast knelt and broke into false tears, clutching at Devi's legs, while I made a further step towards the cupboard I suspected Ison in. "Please forgive me, dear Devi. What I did to you was worse than anything else I've ever done in my life. I feel so ashamed, please. Please forgive me. I'll do anything. You want me to kiss your feet? I'll kiss your feet." Bast bent down further and I made another step towards the cupboard. For once, I seemed to be lucky. I'd counted on Devi falling under Bast's charm but this forgiveness-scene would probably a lot longer. It's a sad truth of the world that forgiving always takes much longer than love.

"You want my public embarrassment?" Bast asked, "Come, dear Devi, out of this door and over all of the world I'll shout you are the most kindest, best and most gracious lover that exists in the world. If only you'll forgive me."

"Stop calling me dear Devi," snapped Devi at him "why do I always have to fall for the bad guys?"

I opened the door of the cupboard. Ison was gone.

Devi unwound from Bast's grip and came back to her desk. She saw me and scowled. "It's not here," she said.

"What, the Lackless box," I said innocently.

"No, that one is just over here," said Devi, placing the box on the table again. "I was talking about the Anthessador lute. I burned it."

"You didn't," I said aghast. "You're bluffing."

But her eyes told me she wasn't. "What use is a lute that is too expensive to be ever played?" asked Devi "Tell me is it a lute at all?"

"An expensive lute," I said, "a lute without the touch of men."

"Such a sad lute it would be," said Bast, "Like a box made to contain, but never open." He bent over the Lackless box and laughed.

"What is it?" I asked, as he collapsed helplessly over the table shaking with laughter. Devi started to smile despite herself at the sight, but looked confused as well. I wasn't, of course. I knew exactly what the fae was doing, hiding the true box under his glamour and putting my makeshift copy of it in its place.

"It's just the Lackless box," Bast exclaimed, falling off his chair and sideways from the table. A box landed on the floor as well. "Lack-less, don't you get it?"

"Obviously not, you idiot," said Devi.

"Well, if you exchange letters two to four, it's Listless," snickered Bast.

As Devi bent down to pick up the Lackless box, he kissed her. She slapped him across the face.

"Get out, both of you!"

"But, Devi-"

"You insulted me. I'll get the box open myself!" She tore the door open, crashing it against the wall.

"But what about-" Mandrag, I wanted to say, as Devi shouted at the top of her voice:

"OUT!"

It is amazing what kind of power a voice has. Bast and I fled, not daring to look back at her. It was the last time I saw her, even though I suspect she had a hand in one or two of the unfortunate events that followed.