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"Let's go!" Garion barked, and he charged toward the onco Guardsmen These were more serious opponents than the Darshivan soldiers had been, so the choices in dealing with theer than his fellows and astride a heavy-bodied warhorse, was leading the charge, and Garion cut hireat sword

Garion heard the sound of steel on steel off to his left, but he dared not take his eyes off the still-charging Guardsmen He chopped two more from their saddles, and Chretienne crashed into the horse of a third, sending the rider and his h the ranks of their ene hard pressed by two mailed men He had, it appeared, already felled a third but then the other two had come at him, one fro to go to his friend's aid, but Toth was already there With one huge hand he plucked one of Zakath's attackers froe boulder at the side of the road Zakath turned on his other enemy, deftly parried a couple of strokes, then sers were already doing their deadly work One Guards around in a circle, doubled over in his saddle and clutching at the dagger hilt protruding from his stomach The acrobatic little Drasnian then leaped from his horse and landed behind the saddle of a confused Guardser into the side of the ushed froround

The re two armored men tried to flee, but Durnik and Beldin were already on theel and axe They tu in the dirt of the road

"Are you all right?" Garion asked Zakath

"I'h

"Your training see back to you"

"I had a certain amount of incentive" Zakath looked critically at the bodies littering the road "When this is all over, I think I'll order this organization disbanded," he said "The notion of private aret away?" Silk asked, looking around

"Not a one," Durnik told hi for help" Silk frowned "What were they doing this far south?" he asked

"Probably trying to stir up enough trouble to draw the Darshivan troops away froarath replied "I think we'll have to be alert fro with soldiers at any time now" He looked at Beldin "Why don't you have a look around?" he said "See if you can find out what Urvon's up to and where the Darshivans are We don't want to get caught between the to take a while," the hunchback replied "Darshiva's a fairly large place"

"You'd better get started, then, hadn't you?"

They took shelter that night in the ruins of another village Belgarath and Garion scouted the surrounding region, but found it to be deserted The following ed out ahead of the rest of the party, but again they encountered no one

It was al when Beldin returned "Urvon outflanked your areneral who knohat he's doing His troops are in the Dalasian Mountains now, and they're co south at a forced march Atesca had to stay near the coast to meet the Darshivans and their elephants"

"Did you see Urvon?" Belgarath asked hih "Oh, yes He's absolutelyhi parlor tricks to deh of his will right noilt a flower"