Page 40 (1/2)

He bowed, still blushing, andback Then she turned back to Garion "I hear that you've been busy"

"I had to warn the king," he replied

"You seeWhy didn't you tell randfather"

"I pro"

"Garion," she said firerous You knew that what Lelldorin told you was important, didn't you?"

"I didn't say it was Lelldorin"

She gave hi look "Garion, dear," she told hi that I'm stupid"

"I didn't," he floundered "I wasn't I - Aunt Pol, I gave thehed "We've got to get you out of Arendia," she declared "The place seeood sense The next ti public announceht?"

"Yes, ma'aoing to do with you?" Then she laughed fondly and put her arain

The evening passed uneventfully after that The banquet was tedious, and the toasts afterward interminable as each Arendish noble arose in turn to salute Mister Wolf and Aunt Pol with flowery and formal speeches They went to bed late, and Garion slept fitfully, troubled by nighth endless, flower-strewn corridors

They were up early the next , and after breakfast Aunt Pol and Mister Wolf spoke privately with the king and queen again Garion, still nervous about his encounter with the Countess Vasrana, stayed close to Mandorallen The Miht seemed best equipped to help him avoid any more such adventures They waited in an antechamber to the throne rooth an intricate tapestry which covered one entire wall

About ht Mister Wolf had ordered to spend his days caring for the tree in the plaza, caht," he said respectfully, "the Baron of Vo Ebor hath arrived from the north accoht me that I should seek thee out for the," Mandorallen replied, rising quickly fro "Thy courtesy becohed "Alas that it was not always so I have this past night stood vigil before that arath commended to my care I thus had leisure to consider my life in retrospect I have not been an admirable man Bitterly I repent my faults and will strive earnestly for aht's hand and then followed hi hallway to a room where the visitors waited

It was not until they entered the sunlit room that Garion remembered that the wife of the Baron of Vo Ebor was the lady to whom Mandorallen had spoken on that ept hill beside the Great West Road soreen surcoat, and his hair and beard were touched hite His eyes were deep-set, and there seereat sadness in theht "Thou art unkind to absent thyself fro"

"Duty, my Lord," Mandorallen replied in a subdued voice "Coreet our friend"

The Baroness Nerina wasShe wore a rose-colored gown, and she was beautiful-though, Garion thought, no more so than any of a half dozen others he had seen at the Arendish court