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"Aldur," Belgarath replied He scratched at his cheek

"Would it be safe to tell Hio with us if your arer?" he asked

"I think you could say that, yes" Zakath's eyes widened "Are you trying to say you can actually summon a God?" he asked incredulously

"I'ht word We can talk with Hi to try subterfuge, are you, father?" Polgara asked the old ," he replied "I couldn't deceive Hi point for the conversation Aldur's reasonable, but He's always liked a good argument You should know that, Pol He helped to educate you, after all Let's see if we can talk with Hi?" Eriond asked "I need to talk with Hiarath looked a bit surprised at that He looked for a moment as if he were about to refuse, but then he seeed

"Atesca, could you have your guards escort us as far as that ditch around the outside of the cauards at the door of the tent, and the three were allowed to leave without challenge

"I'd give a great deal to witness this ," Brador murmured "Have you ever seen Aldur, Prince Kheldar?"

"A couple of times, yes," Silk replied in an offhand ain at Cthol Mishrak when He and the other Gods came to claiine that He took a certain satisfaction in that," Zakath said "Aldur and Torak were sworn enereed sadly "No one took any pleasure in the death of Torak He and Aldur were brothers I think UL grieved the h Torak was His son, after all"

"There seey," Zakath mused "I don't think the Grolims even admit the existence of UL"

"They would if they ever saw Hi?" Brador asked

"It's not so ed "It's the sense of His presence It's overwhel"

"He was very nice to me," Ce'Nedra objected

"Everybody's nice to you, Ce'Nedra," Silk told her "You have that effect on people''

"Most of the ti," Durnik suggested "I think Belgarath's going to want to leave just as soon as he gets back" He looked at Atesca "Do you suppose we could get a few things fro way to Kell, and I don't think we'll be able to pick up much in the way of supplies here in Darshiva"

"Of course, Goodeneral replied

"I'll s we'll need, then"

As Durnik sat down at the table to draw up his list, Atesca gave Silk a penetrating look "We never did get the chance to talk about your recent venture in the cohness?" he said

"Are you considering a second career, Atesca?" Zakath asked him

"Hardly, your Majesty I'm quite happy as a soldier Prince Kheldar recently did a bit of speculation in this year's bean crop The Bureau of Military Procureuished consternation when they found out his asking price"