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He did that, grunting slightly at the weight, and then stood s money He had not realized just howcoins She actually glowed as the merry tinkle of money filled her ears A few of the coins had becoly and stopped her count to polish theo down into the city?" he asked, resuuess" She kept on counting A single lock of her hair strayed down across her face, and she absently blew at it from ti another handful of jingling coins out of the drawer and began to stack them carefully on the table in front of her She looked so serious about it that Garion started to laugh

She looked up sharply "What's so funny?" she de, dear," he said and went back to work to the clinking acco

As the summer wore on, the news froit of Cthol Murgos had retreated deeper into the mountains, and the advance of the Emperor Kal Zakath of Mallorea slowed even more The Mallorean army had suffered dreadful losses in its first efforts to pursue the Murgos in that craggy wasteland and it now moved with extreme caution Garion received the news of the near-stalereat satisfaction

Toward the end of suaria that Garion's cousin Adara had just presented Hettar with their second son Ce'Nedra ith delight and dipped deeply into the drawer in Garion's study to buy suitable gifts for both mother and child

The nehich arrived in early autumn, however, was not so joyous In a sadly worded letter, General Varana advised them that Ce'Nedra's father, E fast and that they should make haste to Tol Honeth Fortunately, the autu and his desperately worried little wife ran south before a good following breeze

They reached Tol Horb at the broadupriver to the Ione no ues when their ship was es, which formed up around thees was a chorus of young Tolnedran women who strewed flower petals on the broad surface of the Nedrane and caroled a for to the Imperial Princess

Garion stood beside Ce'Nedra on the deck of their ship, frowning slightly at this choral welcoether appropriate?" he asked

"It's the custom," she said "Members of the Imperial Family are always escorted to the city"

Garion listened to the words of the song "Haven't they heard about your wedding yet?" he asked "They're greeting the Imperial Princess, not the Rivan Queen"

"We're a provincial people, Garion," Ce'Nedra said "In a Tolnedran's eyes, an Imperial Princess is much more i continued as theywhite city of Tol Honeth careeted theionnaires, their scarlet pennons snapping in the breeze and the plu, awaited theh the broad avenues to the grounds of the I professional soldier with short-cropped, curly hair and a noticeable liate His expression was somber

"Are we in tihtened note in her voice

The general nodded, then took the little queen in his ar to have to be brave, Ce'Nedra," he told her "Your father is very, very ill"

"Is there any hope at all?" she asked in a small voice

"We can always hope," Varana replied, but his tone said otherwise

"Can I see hiravely at Garion "Your Majesty," he said, nodding

"Your Highness," Garion replied, re that Ce'Nedra's wily father had "adopted" Varana several years back, and that the general was heir apparent to the Ih theand a door flanked by a towering pair of legionnaires in burnished breastplates