"Welcome, Goodman Durnik," the king said. "I can only hope that men may also one day call me a brave and honest man."
Durnik bowed awkwardly, his face filled with bewilderment. "I"m just a simple blacksmith, your Honor," he said, "but I hope all men know that I am your Honor"s most loyal and devoted subject."
"Well-spoken, Goodman Durnik," the king said with a smile, and then he looked at Garion.
Aunt Pol followed his glance.
"A boy, your Majesty," she said rather indifferently. "Garion by name. He was placed in my care some years ago and accompanies us because I didn"t know what else to do with him."
A terrible coldness struck at Garion"s stomach. The certainty that her casual words were in fact the bald truth came crashing down upon him. She had not even tried to soften the blow. The indifference with which she had destroyed his life hurt almost more than the destruction itself.
"Also welcome, Garion," the king said. "You travel in n.o.ble company for one so young."
"I didn"t know who they were, your Majesty," Garion said miserably. "n.o.body tells me anything."
The king laughed in tolerant amus.e.m.e.nt.
"As you grow older, Garion," he said, "you"ll probably find that during these days such innocence is the most comfortable state in which to live. I"ve been told things of late that I"d much prefer not to know."
"May we speak privately now, Fulrach?" Mister Wolf said, his voice still irritated.
"In good time, my old friend," the king replied. "I"ve ordered a banquet prepared in your honor. Let"s all go in and dine. Layla and the children are waiting for us. There will be time later to discuss certain matters." And with that he rose and stepped down from the dais.
Garion, sunk in his private misery, fell in beside Silk. "Prince Kheldar?" he said, desperately needing to take his mind off the shocking reality that had just fallen upon him.
"An accident of birth, Garion," Silk said with a shrug. "Something over which I had no control. Fortunately I"m only the nephew of the King of Drasnia and far down in the line of succession. I"m not in any immediate danger of ascending the throne."
"And Barak is-?"
"The cousin of King Anheg of Cherek," Silk replied. He looked over his shoulder. "What is your exact rank, Barak?" he asked.
"The Earl of Trellheim," Barak rumbled. "Why do you ask?"
"The lad here was curious," Silk said.
"It"s all nonsense anyway," Barak said, "but when Anheg became king, someone had to become Clan-Chief. In Cherek you can"t be both. It"s considered unlucky - particularly by the chiefs of the other clans."
"I can see why they might feel that way." Silk laughed.
"It"s an empty t.i.tle anyway," Barak observed. "There hasn"t been a clan war in Cherek for over three thousand years. I let my youngest brother act in my stead. He"s a simpleminded fellow and easily amused. Besides, it annoys my wife."
"You"re married?" Garion was startled.
"If you want to call it that," Barak said sourly.
Silk nudged Garion warningly, indicating that this was a delicate subject.
"Why didn"t you tell us?" Garion demanded accusingly. "About your t.i.tles, I mean."
"Would it have made any difference?" Silk asked.
"Well - no," Garion admitted, "but " He stopped, unable to put his feelings about the matter into words. "I don"t understand any of this," he concluded lamely.
"It will all become clear in time," Silk a.s.sured him as they entered the banquet hall.
The hall was almost as large as the throne room. There were long tables covered with fine linen cloth and once again candles everywhere. A servant stood behind each chair, and everything was supervised by a plump little woman with a beaming face and a tiny crown perched precariously atop her head. As they all entered, she came forward quickly.
"Dear Pol," she said, "you look just wonderful." She embraced Aunt Pol warmly, and the two began talking together animatedly.
"Queen Layla," Silk explained briefly to Garion. "They call her the Mother of Sendaria. The four children over there are hers. She has four or five others - older and probably away on state business, since Fulrach insists that his children earn their keep. It"s a standard joke among the other kings that Queen Layla"s been pregnant since she was fourteen, but that"s probably because they"re expected to send royal gifts at each new birth. She"s a good woman, though, and she keeps King Fulrach from making too many mistakes."
"She knows Aunt Pol," Garion said, and that fact disturbed him for some reason.
"Everybody knows your Aunt Pol," Silk told him.
Since Aunt Pol and the queen were deep in conversation and already drifting toward the head of the table, Garion stayed close to Silk. Don"t let me make any mistakes, he gestured, trying to keep the movements of his fingers inconspicuous.
Silk winked in reply.
Once they were all seated and the food began to arrive, Garion began to relax. He found that all he had to do was follow Silk"s lead, and the intricate niceties of formal dining no longer intimidated him. The talk around him was dignified and quite incomprehensible, but he reasoned that no one was likely to pay much attention to him and that he was probably safe if he kept his mouth shut and his eyes on his plate.
An elderly n.o.bleman with a beautifully curled silvery beard, however, leaned toward him. "You have traveled recently, I"m told," he said in a somewhat condescending tone. "How fares the kingdom, young man?"
Garion looked helplessly across the table at Silk. What do I say? he gestured with his fingers.
Tell him that the kingdom fares no better nor no worse than might be antic.i.p.ated under the present circ.u.mstances, Silk replied.
Garion dutifully repeated that.
"Ah," the old n.o.bleman said, "much as I had expected. You"re a very observant boy for one so young. I enjoy talking with young people. Their views are so fresh."
Who is he? Garion gestured.
The Earl of Seline, Silk replied. He"s a tiresome old bore, but be polite to him. Address him as my Lord.
"And how did you find the roads?" the earl inquired.
"Somewhat in disrepair, my Lord," Garion replied with Silk"s prompting. "But that"s normal for this time of year, isn"t it?"
"Indeed it is," the earl said approvingly. "What a splendid boy you are."
The strange three-way conversation continued, and Garion even began to enjoy himself as the comments fed to him by Silk seemed to amaze the old gentleman.
At last the banquet was over, and the king rose from his seat at the head of the table. "And now, dear friends," he announced, "Queen Layla and I would like to visit privately with our n.o.ble guests, and so we pray you will excuse us." He offered his arm to Aunt Pol, Mister Wolf offered his to the plump little queen, and the four of them walked toward the far door of the hall.
The Earl of Seline smiled broadly at Garion and then looked across the table. "I"ve enjoyed our conversation, Prince Kheldar," he said to Silk. "I may indeed be a tiresome old bore as you say, but that can sometimes be an advantage, don"t you think?"
Silk laughed ruefully. "I should have known that an old fox like you would be an adept at the secret language, my Lord."
"A legacy from a misspent youth." The earl laughed. "Your pupil is most proficient, Prince Kheldar, but his accent is strange."
"The weather was cold while he was learning, my Lord," Silk said, "and our fingers were a bit stiff. I"ll correct the problem when we have leisure."
The old n.o.bleman seemed enormously pleased with himself at having outsmarted Silk. "Splendid boy," he said, patting Garion"s shoulder, and then he went off chuckling to himself.
"You knew he understood all along," Garion accused Silk.
"Of course," Silk said. "Drasnian intelligence knows every adept at our secret speech. Sometimes it"s useful to permit certain carefully selected messages to be intercepted. Don"t ever underestimate the Earl of Seline, however. It"s not impossible that he"s at least as clever as I am, but look how much he enjoyed catching us."
"Can"t you ever do anything without being sly?" Garion asked. His tone was a bit grumpy, since he was convinced that somehow he had been the b.u.t.t of the whole joke.
"Not unless I absolutely have to, my Garion." Silk laughed. "People such as I continually practice deception -even when it"s not necessary. Our lives sometimes depend on how cunning we are, and so we need to keep our wits sharp."
"It must be a lonely way to live," Garion observed rather shrewdly at the silent prompting of his inner voice. "You never really trust anyone, do you?"
"I suppose not," Silk said. "It"s a game we play, Garion. We"re all very skilled at it - at least we are if we intend to live very long. We all know each other, since we"re members of a very small profession. The rewards are great, but after a while we play our game only for the joy of defeating each other. You"re right, though. It is lonely, and sometimes disgusting - but most of the time it"s a great deal of fun."
Count Nilden came up to them and bowed politely. "His Majesty asks that you and the boy join him and your other friends in his private apartments, Prince Kheldar," he said. "If you"ll be so good as to follow me."
"Of course," Silk said. "Come along, Garion."
The king"s private apartments were much simpler than the ornate halls in the main palace. King Fulrach had removed his crown and state robes and now looked much like any other Sendar in rather ordinary clothes. He stood talking quietly with Barak. Queen Layla and Aunt Pol were seated on a couch deep in conversation, and Durnik was not far away, trying his best to look inconspicuous. Mister Wolf stood alone near a window, his face like a thundercloud.
"Ah, Prince Kheldar," the king said. "We thought perhaps you and Garion had been waylaid."
"We were fencing with the Earl of Seline, your Majesty," Silk said lightly. "Figuratively speaking, of course."
"Be careful of him," the king cautioned. "It"s quite possible that he"s too shrewd even for one of your talents."
"I have a great deal of respect for the old scoundrel." Silk laughed.
King Fulrach glanced apprehensively at Mister Wolf, then squared his shoulders and sighed. "I suppose we"d better get this unpleasantness over with," he said. "Layla, would you entertain our other guests while I give our grim-faced old friend there and the Lady the opportunity to scold me. It"s obvious that he"s not going to be happy until they"ve said a few unkind things to me about some matters that weren"t really my fault."
"Of course, dear," Queen Layla said. "Try not to be too long and please don"t shout. The children have been put to bed and they need their rest."
Aunt Pol rose from the couch, and she and Mister Wolf, whose expression hadn"t changed, followed the king into an adjoining chamber.
"Well, then," Queen Layla said pleasantly; "what shall we talk about?"
"I am instructed, your Highness, to convey the regards of Queen Porenn of Drasnia to you should the occasion arise," Silk said in a courtly manner. "She asks leave of you to broach a correspondence on a matter of some delicacy."
"Why, of course," Queen Layla beamed. "She"s a dear child, far too pretty and sweet-natured for that fat old bandit, Rhodar. I hope he hasn"t made her unhappy."
"No, your Highness," Silk said. "Amazing though it may seem, she loves my uncle to distraction, and he, of course, is delirious with joy over so young and beautiful a wife. It"s positively sickening the way they dote on each other."
"Some day, Prince Kheldar, you will fall in love," the queen said with a little smirk, "and the twelve kingdoms will stand around and chortle over the fall of so notorious a bachelor. What is this matter Porenn wishes to discuss with me?"
"It"s a question of fertility, your Highness," Silk said with a delicate cough. "She wants to present my uncle with an heir and she needs to seek your advice in the business. The entire world stands in awe of your gifts in that particular area."
Queen Layla blushed prettily and then laughed.
"I"ll write to her at once," she promised.
Garion by now had carefully worked his way to the door through which King Fulrach had taken Aunt Pol and Mister Wolf. He began a meticulous examination of a tapestry on the wall to conceal the fact that he was trying to hear what was going on behind the closed door. It took him only a moment to begin to pick up familiar voices.
"Exactly what does all this foolishness mean, Fulrach?" Mister Wolf was saying.
"Please don"t judge me too hastily, Ancient One," the King said placatingly. "Some things have happened that you might not be aware of."
"You know that I"m aware of everything that happens," Wolf said.
"Did you know that we are defenseless if the Accursed One awakens? That which held him in check has been stolen from off the throne of the Rivan King."
"As a matter of fact, I was following the trail of the thief when your n.o.ble Captain Brendig interrupted me in my search."
"I"m sorry," Fulrach said, "but you wouldn"t have gone much farther anyway. All the Kings of Aloria have been searching for you for three months now. Your likeness, drawn by the finest artists, is in the hands of every amba.s.sador, agent and official of the five kingdoms of the north. Actually, you"ve been followed since you left Darine."
"Fulrach, I"m busy. Tell the Alorn Kings to leave me alone. Why are they suddenly so interested in my movements?"
"They want to have council with you," the king said. "The Alorns are preparing for war, and even my poor Sendaria is being quietly mobilized. If the Accursed One arises now, we"re all doomed. The power that"s been stolen can very possibly be used to awaken him, and his first move will be to attack the west - you know that, Belgarath. And you also know that until the return of the Rivan King, the west has no real defense."
Garion blinked and started violently, then tried to cover the sudden movement by bending to look at some of the finer detail on the tapestry. He told himself that he had heard wrong. The name King Fulrach had spoken could not have really been Belgarath. Belgarath was a fairy-tale figure, a myth.
"Just tell the Alorn Kings that I"m in pursuit of the thief," Mister Wolf said. "I don"t have time for councils just now. If they"ll leave me alone, I should be able to catch up with him before he can do any mischief with the thing he"s managed to steal."
"Don"t tempt fate, Fulrach," Aunt Pol advised. "Your interference is costing us time we can"t afford to lose. Presently I"ll become vexed with you."
The king"s voice was firm as he answered. "I know your power, Lady Polgara," he said, and Garion jumped again. "I don"t have any choice, however," the king continued. "I"m bound by my word to deliver you all up at Val Alorn to the Kings of Aloria, and a king can"t break his word to other kings."
There was a long silence in the other room while Garion"s mind raced through a dozen possibilities.
"You"re not a bad man, Fulrach," Mister Wolf said. "Not perhaps as bright as I might wish, but a good man nonetheless. I won"t raise my hand against you - nor will my daughter."
"Speak of yourself, Old Wolf," Aunt Pol said grimly.
"No, Polgara," he said. "If we have to go to Val Alorn, let"s go with all possible speed. The sooner we explain things to the Alorns, the sooner they"ll stop interfering."
"I think age is beginning to soften your brain, Father," Aunt Pol said. "We don"t have the time for this excursion to Val Alorn. Fulrach can explain to the Alorn Kings."
"It won"t do any good, Lady Polgara," the king said rather ruefully. "As your father so pointedly mentioned, I"m not considered very bright. The Alorn Kings won"t listen to me. If you leave now, they"ll just send someone like Brendig to apprehend you again."
"Then that unfortunate man may suddenly find himself living out the remainder of his days as a toad or possibly a radish," Aunt Pol said ominously.
"Enough of that, Pol," Mister Wolf said. "Is there a ship ready, Fulrach?"
"It lies at the north wharf, Belgarath," the king replied. "A Cherek vessel sent by King Anheg."
"Very well," Mister Wolf said. "Tomorrow then we"ll go to Cherek. It seems that I"m going to have to point out a few things to some thickheaded Alorns. Will you be going with us?"