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"He's right, Garion," Ce'Nedra said "Kail's absolutely devoted to you He'll do anything you ask hi an adequate job, it's probably best to let hiested Then he se that says, 'If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it' "

The followingship with elaborate structures fore and aft ed into the harbor under an obviously top-heavy spread of sail Garion, who stood atop the battle quietly with Javelin, frowned as he looked down at it "What kind of ship is that?" he asked "I don't recognize the construction"

"It's Arendish, your Majesty They feel the need tolook like a castle"

"I didn't know that the Arends even had any ships"

"They don't have very many," Javelin replied "Their vessels have a tendency to capsize whenever they encounter a stiff breeze"

"I guess we'd better go down and see who it is"

"Right," Javelin agreed

The passengers aboard the clumsy Arendish vessel proved to be old friends Mandorallen, thein full armor At his side stood Lelldorin of Wildantor, and with theowned in dark, rich brocades

"We caedy, Garion," Mandorallen shouted across the intervening water as the Arendish crew laboriously maneuvered their aard ship toward the quay upon which Garion and Javelin waited "Duty and affection, both for thee and they foully htful search for vengeance Korodullin himself would have joined us but for an illness which hath laid him low"

"I suppose I should have expected this," Garion murmured

"Are they likely to complicate matters?" Javelin asked quietly

Garion shuddered "You have no idea"

It was not until two days later that the Seabird, with Barak at the tiller, rounded the headland and sailed into the harbor The rails were lined with burly Cherek warriors in chainmail shirts Their faces were alert, and their eyes ary as Barak steered his ship up to the quay

When Garion reached the foot of the long flight of stone steps leading down froathered The ly, and riot a situation on our hands here," Garion said quietly to Kail, who had accompanied him "I think we'd better try to put the best face on this ry faces of the townspeople pressing toward the wharves "Perhaps you're right, Belgarion," he agreed

"We're going to have to put on a show of cordiality e greet Anheg"

"You ask a great deal, Belgarion"

"I hate to put it this way, Kail, but I''s personal bodyguard If anything starts here, there's going to be a lot of bloodshed -and probably the beginning of a war that none of us wants Now sive it the best possible appearance, Garion led Kail up the gangway to the deck of Barak's ship so that hiscould take place in fullview of the angry crowd Barak, clad in a forer than he had the last time Garion had seen him, strode down the deck to meet them "This is a very bleak time for us all," he declared as he shook hands first with Garion and then with Kail "Anheg and Hettar are beloith the ladies"