Sidekick Blues

A while back I mentioned that I'm reading the Elric books by Michael Moorcock. They've been my subway companions of late. Here's a passage from The Bane of the Black Sword (book five of the saga) that gave me a chuckle. Elric, as the hero, has gotten the girl, and they are having a roll in the hay. Moonglum, as sidekick, is left to tend to their equipment:

(T)hey lay down, together on the soft turf, oblivious of Moonglum who polished away at his curved sword with wry jealousy.

Ah, poor Moonglum. The sidekick's lot is not a happy one. If this keeps up he's going to have one shiny scimitar.