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"I suppose so I haven't looked at a map for a while Anyway, he says that there are quite a few villages on this side where we et us across to Darshiva"

"That's assu that they aren't all deserted," Silk added

Durnik shrugged "We'll never know until we get there"

It was a warrasslands of southern Peldane under cloudless skies About , Eriond rode forward and fell in beside Garion

"Do you think Polgara would allop?" he asked "Maybe to that hill over there?" He pointed at a large knoll off to the north

"She probably would," Garion said, "unless we can coood reason"

"You don't think she'd accept the idea that Horse and Chretienne need to run once in a while?"

"Eriond, you've known her for a long time Do you really think she'd listen if we tried to tell her that?"

Eriond sighed "No, I suppose not"

Garion squinted at the hilltop "We really ought to keep an eye out to the north, though," he said thoughtfully "That's where the trouble's going to break out We sort of need to knohat's happening up there, don't we? That hilltop would be a perfect place to have a look"

"That's very true, Belgarion"

"It's not as if we'd actually be lying to her"

"I wouldn't drea to her"

"Of course not Neither would I"

The two young oing,"

Garion said "We'll let him explain it to her"

"He's the perfect one to do it," Eriond agreed

Garion dropped back and touched his half-dozing grandfather's shoulder "Eriond and I are going to ride over to that hill," he said "I want to see if there are any signs that the fighting's started yet"

"What? Oh, good idea" Belgarath yawned and closed his eyes again

Garion motioned to Eriond, and the two of therass at the side of the trail

"Garion," Polgara called, "where are you going?"

"Grandfather can explain it, Aunt Pol," he shouted back "We'll catch up again in just a bit" He looked at Eriond "Now let's get out of earshot in a hurry"

They went north, first at a gallop and then at a dead run with the grass whipping at their horses' legs The chestnut and the graywith their heads thrust far forward and their hooves pounding on the thick turf Garion leaned forward in his saddle, surrendering to the flow and surge of Chretienne's ht when they reined in on the hilltop

"That was good," Garion said, swinging down froet the chance to do that very often any reed, also disarion"