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"You're older than everyone, father," Aunt Pol said

"You didn't have to say that, Pol"

Silk laughed sardonically "I'lad to see that our stupendous friend at least has the bad taste to fall in love with another " The littlecast to it Garion had first seen in Val Alorn when they had spoken with Queen Porenn

"Does the baron know about it?" Durnik asked

"Naturally," Wolf replied "That's the part that et all ht once, stupider than most Arends, who ed hi the duel Since then very few people have found the situation huraceful," Durnik said

"Their behavior's above reproach, Durnik," Aunt Polas it doesn't go any further"

"Decent people don't allow it to happen in the first place," Durnik asserted

"You'll never convince her, Durnik," Mister Wolf told the s with the Wacite Arends They were as bad or worse than the Mimbrates You can'tin that kind of senti off Fortunately it hasn't totally blotted out her good sense She's only occasionally girlish and gushy If you can avoid her during those seizures, it's al with her"

"My time was spent a little more usefully than yours, father," Aunt Pol observed acidly "As I re in the waterfront dives in Ca period you spent aor I'm certain those experiences broadened your concept of hed uncomfortably and looked away

Behind theallop back down the hill The lady stood in the archith her red cloak billowing in the wind, watching him as he rode away

They were five days on the road before they reached the River Arend, the boundary between Arendia and Tolnedra The weather i when they reached the hill overlooking the river, it was alht, and a few fleecy clouds raced overhead in the fresh breeze

"The high road to Vo Mimbre branches to the left just there," Mandorallen rerove near the river and make ourselves a bit more presentable Appearances are very i like vagabonds"

Three brown-robed and hooded figures stood humbly at the crossroads, their faces down and their hands held out in supplication Mister Wolf reined in his horse and approached theave each a coin

"Who are they?" Garion asked

"Monks from Mar Terin," Silk replied

"Where's that?"

"It's a or used to be," Silk told his"

Mister Wolf ures at the roadside "They say that no Murgos have passed here in the last teeks"