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When they reached southern Algaria, Cho-Hag and Silar bade thehold The rest of the ride south to the Vale was uneventful

Belgarath stayed at the cottage for a few days and then prepared to return to his tower Alht, he invited Errand to accoara told hireat deal of work ahead of him after this past winter"

"Then it's probably best if the boy is out fro steady look and then finally gave up "Oh, very well, father" she said

"I knew you'd see it my way, Pol," he said

"Just don't keep him all summer"

"Of course not I want to talk with the twins for a while and see if Beldin has co hiarath went on down into the heart of the Vale again and once more took up residence in the old man's tower Beldin had not yet returned froarath had much to discuss with Beltira and Belkira, and so Errand and his chestnut stallion were left largely to find their own a that they turned toward the western edge of the Vale to explore the foothills that oland They had ridden for several , tree-clad hills and stopped in a broad, shallow ravine where a tu sun was very warrant pines was pleasant

As they sat, a she-wolf padded quietly froe of the brook, stopped, and sat on her haunches to look at them There was about the she-wolf a peculiar blue nilow that seemed to emanate from her thick fur

The normal reaction of a horse to the presence or even the scent of a ould have been blind panic, but the stallion returned the blue wolf's gaze calmly, with not even so much as a hint of a tremor

The boy kneho the as, but he was surprised to ," he said politely to her

"It's a pleasant day, isn't it?" The wolf seemed to shimmer in the same way that Beldin shimmered as he assumed the shape of the hawk When the air around her cleared, there stood in the aniolden eyes and a faintly aoas a plain brown such as one al ht envy "Do you always greet wolves with such courtesy?" she asked him

"I haven't met many wolves," he replied, "but I was fairly certain who you were"

"Yes, I suppose you would have been, at that"

Errand slid own off the horse's back

"Does he knohere you are thiswith Beltira and Belkira, so the horse and I just came out to look at soo too o mountains," she advised "There are creatures in these hills that are quite savage"

He nodded "I'll keep that infor me?" she asked quite directly

"If I can"

"Speak to reat evil in the world and a great danger"

"Zandramas?" Errand asked

"Zandramas is a part of it, but the Sardion is at the center of the evil It hter to warn Belgarion His task is not yet finished"