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Errand looked at him, puzzled

"Didn't you know that one of us watches you every tie?"

"Why would you want to do that?"

"You do rehed sadly "Yes," he said

"Don't waste your syot exactly what he deserved"

"Nobody deserves that"

Beldin gave a snort of ugly laughter "He's lucky that it was Belgarath who caught up with him If it had been me, I'd have done a lot more than just seal him up inside solid rock But that's beside the point You remember why Zedar found you and took you with him?"

"To steal the Orb of Aldur"

"Right So far as we know, you're the only person beside Belgarion who can touch the Orb and keep on living Other people know that, too, so youwatched We are not going to let you wander around alone where soet his hands on you Now, you didn't answerall the way down in this part of the Vale?"

"There's so I need to see"

"What's that?"

"I don't know It's up ahead somewhere What is it that's off in that direction?"

"There's nothing out there but the tree"

"That must be it, then It wants to seeword"

Beldin scowled at him "Are you sure it's the tree?"

"No Not really All I know is that so in that direction has been-" Errand hesitated "I want to say invitingto you, not o then"

"Would you like to ride?" Errand offered "Horse can carry us both"

"Haven't you given hih He doesn't seem to feel that he needs one Would you like to ride?"

"Why would I want to ride when I can fly?"

Errand felt a sudden curiosity "What's it like?" he asked "Flying, I ed, to becoine," he said "Just keep your eyes on et over the tree, I'll circle to show you where it is" He stooped in the tall grass, curved out his ar leap As he rose into the air, he shimmered into feathers and swooped away