Page 39 (1/2)

Garion blinked at her, his ears growing suddenly redder

"Ah, Garion," Mandorallen boo into the aardthee Wilt thou excuse us, Countess?"

The young lady shot Mandorallen a look filled with sheer veno Garion away

"We will speak again, Lord Garion," she called after him

"I hope so, my Lady," Garion replied back over his shoulder Then he and Mandorallen ed with the crowd of courtiers near the center of the throne room

"I wanted to thank you, Mandorallen," Garion said finally, struggling with it a little

"For what, lad?"

"You kneho about Nachak, didn't you?"

"Naturally," the knight replied in a rather offhand way

"You could have told the king,- actually it was your duty to tell hie"

"You hadn't, though"

"Thou artupon me as it is upon thee Didst thou not know that?"

Garion was startled by Mandorallen's words The exquisite involveht for hed easily "Of course," he answered, "though I erness to stand as thy charew not entirely out of friendship In truth I found the Murgo Nachak offensive and liked not the cold arrogance of his hirelings I was inclined toward battle before thy need of cha presented itself Perhaps it is I who should thank thee for providing the opportunity"

"I don't understand you at all, Mandorallen," Garion admitted "Sometimes I think you're the most complicated man I've ever met"

"I?" Mandorallen seemed amazed "I ahtly toward Garion "I must advise thee to have a care in thy speech with the Countess Vasrana," he warned "It was that which i lady horeatest beauty in the kingdo a husband worthy of her"

"Husband?" Garion responded in a faltering voice

"Thou art fair game, lad Thy blood is noble beyond arath Thou wouldst be a great prize for the countess"