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"I've never found anyone to teach me," Garion said "Faldor reads, I think, but no one else at the farm kno"

"Nonsense," Wolf snorted "I'll speak to your Aunt about it She's been neglecting her responsibility She should have taught you years ago"

"Can Aunt Pol read?" Garion asked, stunned

"Of course she can," Wolf said, leading the way into the tavern "She says she finds little advantage in it, but she and I had that particular arguo" The old man seemed quite upset by Garion's lack of education

Garion, however, was far too interested in the smoky interior of the tavern to pay e and dark with a low, beah it was not cold, a fire burned in a stone pit in the center of the room, and the smoke rose errantly toward a chimney set above it on four square stone pillars Tallow candles guttered in clay dishes on several of the long, stained tables, and there was a reek of wine and stale beer in the air

"What have you to eat?" Wolf derease-spotted apron

"We've a bit of a joint left," theto one side of the fire pit "Roasted only day before yesterday And , and bread nodown "And I'll have a pot of your best ale and milk for the boy"

"Milk?" Garion protested

"Milk," Wolf said fir led his purse, and the sour man looked suddenly less sour

"Why is thatvillager sitting with his head down on one of the tables

"Drunk," Wolf said, scarcely glancing at the snoring man

"Shouldn't someone take care of him?"

"He'd rather not be taken care of"

"Do you know him?"

"I know of him," Wolf said, "and many others like him I've occasionally been in that condition myself"

"Why?"

"It seemed appropriate at the tie was thin and watery, and the bread was stale, but Garion was too hungry to notice He carefully cleaned his plate as he had been taught, then sat as Mister Wolf lingered over a second pot of ale

"Quite splendid," he said,than out of any real conviction All in all he found that Upper Gralt did not live up to his expectations

"Adequate" Wolf shrugged "Village taverns are much the same the world over I've seldoo?" He laid down a few coins, which the sour-looking man snatched up quickly, and led Garion back out into the afternoon sunlight