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"Your people? Have you gone that far already?" Silk asked in a bantering tone "You'reuntil you're as corrupt as the rest of us"

"Boktor is full of intrigue, Kheldar," the queen said primly "It isn't just the Bear-cult, you know Merchants froather in our city, and at least half of them are spies I have to protect myself - and my husband"

"Does Rhodar knohat you're up to?" Silk asked slyly

"Of course he does," she said "He gavepresent

"How typically Drasnian," Silk said

"It's only practical, after all," she said "My husband's concerned with dos at ho My operations are a bit s" She looked at him slyly from beneath her eyelashes "If you ever decide to coht just be able to find work for you"

Silk laughed "The whole world seems to be full of opportunities lately," he said

The queen looked at hi hoabond, Silk, and co? My husband misses you veryhis chief advisor than all this flitting about the world"

Silk looked away, squinting into the bright wintry sun "Not just yet, your Highness," he said "Belgarath needsjust now Besides, I' Perhaps someday e're all hed "I ently

"Poor, lonely little queen," Silk said, half- her tiny foot

"One does one's best" He grinned

Hettar had embraced his father andAnheg had provided hiarath," he called as the sailors slipped the stout ropes that bound the ship to the quay, "I'll meet you in teeks at the ruins of Vo Wacune"

"We'll be there," Mister Wolf replied

The sailors pushed the ship away froan to row out into the bay Hettar stood on the deck, his long scalp lock flowing in the wind He waved once, then turned to face the sea

A long plank was run down over the side of Captain Greldik's ship to the snow covered stones

"Shall we go on board, Garion?" Silk said They climbed the precarious plank and stepped out onto the deck

"Give our daughters my love," Barak said to his wife

"I will, my Lord," Merel said in the same stiffly formal tone she always used with him "Have you any other instructions?"

"I won't be back for some time," Barak said "Plant the south fields to oats this year, and let the west fields lie fallow Do whatever you think best with the north fields And don't h pastures until all the frost is out of the ground"

"I'll be most careful of my husband's lands and herds," she said

"They're yours too," Barak said

"As hed "You never let it rest, do you, Merel?" He said sadly

"My Lord?"