Page 73 (1/2)

The herd ar warrior in black leather, looked at him speculatively "Good horses are expensive, your Majesty ," he ventured, his eyes coht

"That's beside the point Please have them ready in a quarter of an hour -and throw so for me"

"Doesn't your Majesty even want to discuss the price?" The herd master's voice betrayed his profound disappointment

"Not particularly," Garion told him "Just add it all up, and I'll pay it"

The herd ift, your Majesty," he said Then he looked"You do realize, of course, that you've absolutely ruined rin "If I had the tile with you for the whole day -right down to the last penny- but I have urgent business in the south"

The herd master shook his head sadly

"Don't take it so hard, my friend," Garion told him "If you like, I'll curse your name to everyone I meet and tell them all how badly you cheated htened "That would be extreht Garion's amused look "One does have a certain reputation to maintain, after all The horses will be ready whenever you are I'll select thealloped south He kept his horses fresh and strong by changingjourney in quest of the Orb had taught hiood horse, and he utilized them all When a steep hill stood in his path, he slowed to a walk anddownhill slope on the other side When he could, he went around rough terrain He stopped for the night late and was on the

Steadily he rass lying lush and green under the wararian Stronghold, knowing that King Cho-Hag and Queen Silar, and certainly Hettar and Adara, would insist that he stop over for a day or so Regretfully, he also passed a league or so to the west of Poledra's cottage He hoped that there would be tiht now he had to get to Belgarath with the passage of the Codex he had so carefully copied and which now rode in the inside pocket of his doublet

When at last he arrived at Belgarath's squat, round tower, his legs were so tired that they tre down froe, flat-faced rock that was the door to the tower

"Grandfather!" he shouted at the s above, "Grandfather, it's me!"

There was no answer The squat tower looainst the sky Garion had not even considered the possibility that the old ain There was still no answer A red-winged blackbird swooped in, landed atop the tower, and peered curiously down at Garion Then it began to preen its feathers

Almost sick with disappoint aside for Belgarath Although he knew that it was a serious breach of etiquette, he pulled in his concentration, looked at the rock, and said, "Open"

The stone gave a startled little lurch and swung obediently aside Garion went in and quicklyat the last instant to step up over the one where the loose stone still lay unrepaired "Grandfather!" he called up the stairway

"Garion?" the oldfrom above sounded startled "Is that you?"