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"I'd say so, yes," Garion agreed

"At any rate," the Drasnian Queen continued, "there are nohole battalions of brainless young Mi and burning at will The Vordues don't have what you could call an arions My people et their hands on a copy of Varana's reply" She unfolded a docudos: Your recent appeal for help caentlenty of their newly established kingdoions across their borders to deal with a few Arendish brigands The maintenance of public order is the paraovern rave doubts in the minds of reasonable men the world over as to the viability of your new state I do, however, send you my best wishes in your efforts to deal hat is, after all, a strictly internalhis heavy fist on the table in his glee "I think that calls for a drink," he chortled

"I think it reed "We can toast the efforts of the Vordues to entlemen will excuse me then," Queen Porenn said "No s of Aloria when it co agreed nanimously "We'll even drink your share for you"

"You're too kind," shethat folloas lost in a hazy fog of ale fu down a corridor with Anheg on one side and Brand on the other The three of theered in a peculiar kind of unison He also see When he was sober, Garion never sang That night, however, it see in the world

He had not been drunk before Aunt Pol had always disapproved of drinking, and, as he did in s, he had deferred to her opinions about the matter Thus, he was totally unprepared for the way he felt the next

Ce'Nedra was unsympathetic, to say the very least Like every woly enjoyed her husband's suffering "I told you that you were drinking toohis head between his hands

"It's your own fault," she s to die"

"Oh, I don't think you'll die, Garion You ht wish you could, but you won't"

"Do you have to talk so loud?"

"We all just loved your singing," she congratulated hihtly "I actually think you invented notes that didn't even exist before"

Garion groaned and oncehands

The Alorn Council lasted for perhaps another week It e autuale that it was tiuests to return to the able

Not tooRivan Warder, requested a private audience with Garion It was raining gustily outside, and sheets of water intermittently clawed at the s of Garion's study as the two men sat down in comfortable chairs across the table fro, sad-eyed man asked

"You know you don't have to ask that"