Page 76 (1/2)

"That's what so, your Majesty I don't put ht just be the kind of talk you wouldn't want going much further The Warder ell-liked in Riva, and a lot of people have taken to polishing their swords -if you take et ho will it take us to get to Riva?"

The captain thought it over "My ship isn't as fast as a Cherek warship," he apologized "Let's say three days -if the weather holds We can leave on thetide, if you can be ready"

"We'll do that, then," Garion said

It was late summer on the Sea of the Winds, and the weather held clear and sunny Jandra's ship plowed steadily through the sparkling, sun-touched waves, heeling to one side under a quartering wind Garion spentmoodily up and down the deck When, on the third day out froed shape of the Isle of the Winds appeared low on the horizon ahead, a kind of desperate impatience came over him There were so s that had to be done that even the hour or so that it would take to reach the harbor seemed an intolerable delay

It was midafternoon when Jandra's ship rounded the headland at the harbor mouth andon ahead," Garion told the others "Followfast the hawsers, he leaped across to the salt-crusted stones of the quay and started up toward the Citadel, taking the steps two at a ti for hiarbed in a blackdress Her face was pale, and her eyes full of tears "Oh, Garion," she cried as he reached her She threw her arainst his chest

"How long ago did it happen, Ce'Nedra?" he asked, holding her in his arms "Hettar didn't have too o," she sobbed "Poor Brand That poor, dear man"

"Do you knohere I can find Kail?"

"He's been working at Brand's desk," she replied "I don't think he's slept for ht since it happened"

"Aunt Pol and the others should be along shortly I' theet here?"

"Of course, dear" she replied, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand

"We'll talk later," he said "Right now I've got to find out what happened"

"Garion," she said gravely, "they were Chereks"

"That's what I'd heard," he said, "and that's why I've got to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible"

The corridors of the Citadel were roup of roo from which Brand had always conducted the day-to-day business of the kingdom, the servants and functionaries he encountered bowed soberly and stood aside for hiray with fatigue and deep sorrow The orderly stacks of docuave evidence that despite his grief he had been working not only at his own duties but at his father's as well He looked up as Garion entered the room and started to rise

"Don't," Garion said "We have too much to do for formalities" He looked at his weary friend "I'm sorry, Kail," he said sadly "I'm more sorry than I can possibly tell you"