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"I'll do 'er, Corporal," Vurk replied
The corporal looked at Silk again, his eyes narrowed appraisingly "You and your friends are welcoht be a help in case we run into trouble"
"Thanks all the same, Corporal," Silk declined, "but I think we'll ride over to the Magan and see if we can find a boat We could be at thehard, then, ry"
Silk nodded "Good luck in Gandahar, Corporal," he added
"I think I'll stop being a corporal," the fellow said ruefully "The pay wasn't bad, but the work's getting dangerouser and dangerouser, and all the pay in the world won't do a ood once he takes up residence inside a demon" He turned to his friend "Let's move out, Vurk," he ordered
Silk wheeled his horse and rode back to where the others aiting, Garion close behind hiht," the little"The battle up north is between Urvon and Zandramas, and both sides have demons now"
"She went that far?" Polgara asked incredulously
"She didn't really have thathis hordes of de deci captured by a deht," Durnik said soberly, "what do we do now?"
"The corporal in charge of those troops estion," Silk told hiet out of Peldane as fast as we possibly can"
"Corporals usually have good sense," Durnik noted "Why don't we follow his advice?"
"I was hoping soreed
CHAPTER TWELVE
Vella was feeling melancholy It was an unusual emotion for her, but she found that she rather liked it There was uorous sadness She ith quiet dignity through the stately, ave way to her pensive expression She chose not to consider the fact that her daggers may have played a certain part in this universal respectIn point of fact, Vella had not drawn a dagger on anyone for alhtly overfa man who had mistaken her bluff camaraderie for an offer of a more intimate friendship But she had not hurt hiiven her al had stopped
Her destination that earlyroom of the Queen of Drasnia In many ways Queen Porenn baffled Vella She was petite and iers and seldom raised her voice, but all of Drasnia and the other Alorn kingdo exactly why, had acceded to the tiny queen's suggestion that she should custoown is a cus and confines one's bosom Always before, Vella had preferred black leather trousers, boots, and a leather vest The garb was comfortable and utilitarian It was sturdy, and yet it provided opportunities for Vella to display her attributes to those whom she wished to impress Then, on special occasions, she had customarily donned an easily discardable wool dress and a fine diaphanous undergown of rose-colored Mallorean silk that clung to her as she danced Satin, on the other hand, rustled disturbingly, but felt good against her skin, and it made Vella unco a woness to use thehtly on Porenn's door "Yes?" Porenn's voice came to her
Did the woman never sleep?
"It's me, Porenn--Vella"
"Come in, child"