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"I don't think that's entirely caused by the flower," Errand said

"Perhaps, but I'ivesto use it"

"That hed, "you're an absolutely delightful boy"

The visits of Hettar and Adara were not entirely social in nature Hettar's father was King Cho-Hag, Chief of the Clan-Chiefs of Algaria, and Cho-Hag, the nearest of the Alorn ara advised of the events which were taking place in the world beyond the boundaries of the Vale Froress of the bloody, endless war in southern Cthol Murgos, where Kal Zakath, emperor of Mallorea, continued his ireat southern forest in Gorut The Kings of the West were at a loss to explain Zakath's seeo cousins There were rumors of a personal affront at soas, and Taur Urgas had died at the Battle of Thall Mardu Zakath's enos, however, had not died with the made caodom and to erase froos had ever even existed

In Tolnedra, Emperor Ran Borune XXIII, the father of Queen Ce'Nedra of Riva, was in failing health; and because he had no son to succeed hireat fale over the succession Enorh the streets of Tol Honeth by night with sharpened daggers and vials of those deadly poisons purchased in secret from the snake people of Nyissa The wily Ran Borune, however, e of the Honeths, the Vordues, and the Horbites, had appointed General Varana, the Duke of Anadile, as his regent; and Varana, whose control of the legions was very nearly absolute, took firreat houses in their scraaraks and the only slightly less savage struggles of the Grand Dukes of the Tolnedran E interest to the Alorn Kings The monarchs of the north were far ence of the Bear-cult and with the sad but undeniable fact that King Rhodar of Drasnia was quite obviously declining rapidly Rhodar, despite his vast bulk, had den which had cul sadly reported that the corpulent Drasnian etful and in some ways even childish in the past few years Because of his huge weight, he could no longer stand unaided and he frequently fell asleep, even during thequeen, Porenn, did as much as she possibly could to relieve the burdens imposed upon him by his crown, but it was quite obvious to all who knew hier

At last, toward the end of a severe winter that had locked the north in snow and ice deeper than anyone could reer to the Vale to entreat Polgara to co The er arrived late one bitter afternoon as the wan sun sank al heavy over the o He was thickly wrapped in rich sable fur, but his long, pointed nose protruded from the warm interior of his deep cowl and immediately identified him

"Silk!" Durnik exclaimed as the little Drasnian dis all the way down here?"

"Freezing, actually" Silk replied "I hope you've got a good fire going"

"Pol, look who's here," Durnik called, and Polgara opened the door to look out at their visitor

"Well, Prince Kheldar," she said, s at the rat-faced littleNadrak that you've come in search of a new theater for your depredations?"

"No," Silk told her, staround "I h Boktor ona side trip"

"Go inside," Durnik told him "I'll tend to your horse"

After Silk had re in front of the arched fireplace with his hands extended toward the flaruarath?"

"He and Beldin are off in the East so the half-frozen man a cup of spiced wine to help warm him

"No matter, I suppose Actually I came to see you You've heard that -hot poker and plunging it into the ith a bubbling hiss "Hettar brought us some news about that last fall Have his physicians put a naratefully taking the cup fro a lot of extra weight That tires a man out after a while Porenn is desperate She sentyou- to come to Boktor and see what you can do She says to tell you that Rhodar won't see the geese come north if you don't come"

"Is it really that bad?"

"I'ood, and histo lose his appetite, and that's a bad sign in aara said quickly

"Just let et warm first," Silk said in a plaintive tone

They were delayed for several days just south of Aldurford by a savage blizzard that swept out of the mountains of Sendaria to howl across the open plains of northern Algaria As luck had it, they reached the enca herds wind and driving snow in the coars When the weather cleared at last, they pressed on to Aldurford, crossed the river, and reached the broad causeway that stretched across the snowchoked fens to Boktor

Queen Porenn, still lovely despite the dark circles under her eyes that spoke so eloquently of her sleepless concern, greeted theara," she said, overwhelratitude and relief as she embraced the sorceress