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"You've got a point there," Atesca said He looked around a little nervously "You do have her confined, don't you?"

"Of course, General," Velvet assured hi care of her babies They're absolutely adorable Why don't you show them to the General, Sadi?"

"Ah" Atesca hesitated "Soarath said, "we've told you e've been doing Now I think it's time for you to share a bit of information with us"

"We haven't really arath The Ea Renn as a staging area I was instructed to lead the advance elean and to occupy Ferra The idea was to cut off Zandramas' reinforcements out of Darshiva so that Urvon's army could annihilate the troops she had in Peldane Then we planned to fall on Urvon--heavily After that, ere going to cross the river and deal hatever force Zandramas had left"

"Good plan," Silk said

"Unfortunately, it didn't work We've got Darshiva cut off, but one of Zandras went down into Gandahar and hired a sizable body of elephant cavalry" Atesca frowned "I think I'll speak with his Imperial Majesty about that I don't really object to mercenaries, but the elephant herders of Gandahar are just a bit unselective when it co themselves out At any rate, there was a battle in central Peldane yesterday, and elephants did what elephants usually do Urvon's ar back toward Celanta, they outflanked the elephants and the rest of the Darshivan aret across into Darshiva, I'll have my work cut out for me I'll have demons and Grolims and Chandim and Hounds and elephants and Karands and the whole arhedto be the short, easy can I'd anticipated"

"Why not just let Urvon and Zandraested

"Policy, Prince Kheldar The Emperor does not want to appear timid--or powerless--and he most certainly doesn't want any army in Mallorea except his own to win any kind of a victory It sets a bad precedent and it ive others certain ideas Mallorea is not as ht appear fro that holds us together"

"I approve of the reasoning," Silk agreed "Stability is good for business"

"Speaking of that," Atesca said "One of these days you and I are going to have to have a long talk about beans"

"Are you buying or selling, General Atesca?" Silk asked iara said "General Atesca, what are the E us?"

"That's for him to decide, my Lady," Atesca replied "His Majesty doesn't always confide in me He was, however, quite distressed about the way you chose to abuse his hospitality in Mal Zeth"

"He knehere ere going," Garion said flatly, "and why"

"That's likely to be one of the things he'll want to discuss with your Majesty It's possible that the two of you ht be able to work out an accommodation of some kind"

"Possible, but not very probable"

"That's up to his I had lifted, but the sky over Darshiva was heavily overcast As Garion stood in the bow of Atesca's ship, he caught a scent that was hauntingly fanant water, and the us He peered ahead and saw a forest cos His heart sank

Atesca quietly joined him "I hope your Majesty isn't offended withyou and your friends"