Page 30 (1/2)

"Of course" The lady leaned back and lustily drained her tankard "He was here just a few days ago He came here with some woman in a black satin robe and a little boy" She belched ive that bellpull over there a bit of a jerk, my twisted little friend?" she asked Beldin "I think we've used up all of this cask, and I'm still sort of thirsty"

"I'll see to it at once, me darlin'!" The hunchback stumped to the bellpull

"It's so very nice to have friends about," the archduchess said dreaan to snore

"Wake her up, Pol," Belgarath said

"Yes, father"

It was a very light surge, but the tipsy noblewoman's eyes popped open im us about the visit of the white-eyed man a few days back, your Grace," Silk supplied

"Oh, yes He ca?" Silk asked

"SheShe went to a lot of trouble to keep her face covered The little boy was adorable, though--reddish-blond curls and the bluest eyes you ever saw I got sory Anyway, White-eyes and the hag went off along with my husband, and then they all took horses and rode off The toad, one for a while and that I should send for own suitable for an iet exactly''

"What happened to the little boy?" Ce'Nedra asked in a very tense voice

The archduchess shrugged "Who knows? As far as I know, they did take hihed "I'ive you any hint about where they were going?" Silk asked her

She waved her hands helplessly "I stopped listening to hio," she said "We have a sone, so I think they took that My husband was saying so about those commercial wharves south of the city" She looked around "Has that other cask of ale got here yet?" she asked drowsily

'Twill only be a entle voice

"Oh, good"

"You need anything arath

"I don't think so" The old ain, Pol," he said

"There's no need, father," she replied She looked rather sadly at the lush-bodied noblewoain wrapped her arms about Beldin's neck, burrowed her face into his shoulder, and was lightly snoring Gently, the dwarfed hunchback disengaged her arown, then crossed the room, picked up a comforter from a divan, returned, and covered her with it "Sleep well,her face with one sad hand Then he turned and glared pugnaciously at Belgarath "Well?" he deht

"I didn't say anything," Belgarath said to him