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They both knehy Belgarath sat out the winter in Poledra's cottage with his daughter and her husband Though not one word of the matter had ever passed between them, they knew that the ed -not erased certainly, for no power on earth could erase Belgarath's mehtly so that this thatched cottage ht also remind the old man of happy hours spent here, as well as that bleak and terrible day when he had returned to find that his beloved Poledra had died

After the snow had been cut away by a week of wararath at last decided that it was time to take up his interrupted journey "I don't really have anything pressing," he admitted, "but I'd like to look in on Beldin and the twins, and it ood time to tidy up my tower I've sort of let that slide over the past few hundred years"

"If you'd like, we could go along," Polgara offered "After all, you did help with the cottage -not enthusiastically, perhaps, but you did help It only see your tower"

"Thanks all the sa tends to be a bit too drastic for ht be i up on the dust heap when you clean As long as there's a clear space soh for e"

"Of course not," he replied He looked thoughtfully over at Errand, as quietly eating his breakfast "If it's all right, though," he said, "I'll take the boy with ed "He's coe of scenery Besides, you and Durnik haven't really had a chance to be alone since your wedding day Call it a belated present if you want"

She looked at him "Thank you, father," she said simply, and her eyes were suddenly very wararath looked away, als? From the tower, I mean You've left quite a few trunks and boxes there at one time or another over the years"

"Why, that's very nice of you, father"

"I need the space they're taking up," he said Then he grinned at her

"You atch the boy, won't you? I know youraround in your tower"

"He'll be fine witharath mounted his horse, and Durnik boosted Errand up behind hiarath said "Or at least by midsummer" He leaned down, shook Durnik's hand, and then turned his h the early spring sunshine was very bright The scents of stirring groere in the air, and Errand, riding easily behind Belgarath, could feel Aldur's presence as they pressed deeper into the Vale He felt it as a calentle kind of awareness, and it was do desire to know The presence of the God Aldur here in the Vale was not soue spiritual per palpable

They h the tall, winter-browned grass Broad trees dotted the open expanse, lifting their crowns to the sky, holding the tips of their branches, swollen with the urgency of budding leaves, up to receive the gentle kiss of sun-wararath said after they had ridden a league or more

"Where are the towers?" Errand asked politely

"A bit farther How did you know about the towers?"

"You and Polgara spoke of the is a very bad habit, Errand"

"Was it a private conversation?"