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Emperor Varana leaned back in his chair with an amused twinkle in his eyes "We will now pause while the Alorn kings go into collective apoplexy," he said

King Anheg scowled at the curly-haired ehed "No, Varana," he said wryly "We all got that out of our systems when Rhodar persuaded us to follow Ce'Nedra into Mishrak ac Thull It's Porenn's house; let her run things"

"Why, thank you, Anheg" The Queen of Drasnia actually sounded a little surprised She paused, gathering her thoughts "As I's ould not normally attend The matter before us, however, concerns us all I've recently received coarion, and the others"

There was an excited stir in the room Porenn held up one hand "They're in Mallorea, close on the trail of the abductor of Belgarion's son"

"That youngFulrach of Sendaria observed The years had given Fulrach a tendency toward portliness, and his brown beard was now streaked with silver

"How did they get to Mallorea?" King Cho-Hag asked in his quiet voice

"It seems that they were captured by Kal Zakath," Porenn replied "Garion and Zakath became friends, and Zakath took them with him when he returned to Mal Zeth"

"Zakath actually beca Nadrak demanded incredulously in his shrill voice "Impossible!"

"Garion has a way about him, sometimes," Hettar murmured

"The friendship, however, ht, Garion and his friends slipped out of Mal Zeth without saying goodbye to the Emperor"

"With the whole iine," Varana added

"No," Porenn disagreed "Zakath can't leave Mal Zeth just now Tell they partner rose to his feet "They've got plague in Mal Zeth," he said "Zakath has sealed up the city No one can go in or out"

"Prithee," Mandorallen asked, "how then was it possible for our friends to ood their escape?"

"I'd picked up an itinerant comedian," Yarblek said sourly "I didn't think much of him, but he amused Vella She's fond of bawdy stories"

"Be careful, Yarblek," the Nadrak dancer warned "You still have your health, but I can fix that for you" She put one hand suggestively on a dagger hilt Vella wore a stunning lavender gown There were a few concessions to Nadrak customs in her dress, however She still wore polished leather boots--with daggers in their tops--and the customary wide leather belt about her waist was still adorned with similar knives

Theher since she had entered No matter how she was dressed, Vella still had the power to attract every eye

"Anyway," Yarblek hurried on, "the fello of a tunnel that runs froot us all out of Mal Zeth with no one the wiser"

"Zakath won't like that," Drosta said "He hates to let people go once he's caught thedoms of Karanda in northern Mallorea," Porenn went on "I understand that there are demons involved"